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Instructional Design Episodes

Aug. 25, 2025

176: Audit Your Life: Leena Saleh on Turning Teacher Skills into Stre…

In this episode of EdUp L&D, host Holly Owens welcomes back Leena Saleh, a former teacher and current content strategist at Canva. They discuss the emotional journey of transitioning from teaching to corporate roles, the impo...

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Aug. 20, 2025

175: Visible, Valuable, Hired: Stephanie Yesil on Career Pivots, Grow…

In this episode of EdUp L&D, host Holly Owens interviews Stephanie Yesil, founder of Elevated Careers, who shares her journey from education to corporate learning and development. Stephanie discusses the importance of buildin...

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Aug. 18, 2025

174: Making the Invisible Visible: Nicole L’Etoile on Building Inclus…

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nicole L'Etoile discuss the critical importance of accessibility in education and corporate environments. They explore the need for proactive approaches to accessibility, the challenges faced ...

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Aug. 6, 2025

171: Stop Waiting for Permission—Start Leading with Joy: James Gilchr…

In this episode of EdUp L&D, Holly Owens interviews James Gilchrist, an influential figure in the Learning and Development (L&D) space. James shares his unique journey from theater to L&D, emphasizing the importance of storyt...

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Aug. 4, 2025

170: Don’t Just Apply—Align: What’s Actually Hiring Now (And Why Clar…

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, Holly Owens and Chelsea Maude Avirett discuss the evolving landscape of learning and development (L&D), focusing on career transitions, job market saturation, the impact of AI, and strategies for standing out in job applications. They emphasize the …

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July 30, 2025

169: You’re Not Just a Teacher: Lisa Harding’s Blueprint for Career R…

In this episode, Holly Owens interviews Lisa Harding, co-founder of the Teacher Career Transition Academy. They discuss Lisa's journey from the EdTech world to helping teachers transition into new careers. The conversation co...

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July 28, 2025

168: Smarter, Faster, More Human: Fred Thompson on Designing the Futu…

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens interviews Fred Thompson, founder of Thirst.io. They discuss the intersection of technology, innovation, and learning, exploring the challenges faced by L&D p...

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July 23, 2025

167: How to Stop Losing Great People: Taresa Scott’s "Bleuprint" for …

In this episode of EdUp L&D, host Holly Owens welcomes back Taresa Scott, founder of Bleuprint, to discuss the critical aspects of onboarding, employee retention, and the role of middle management in organizational success. T...

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July 21, 2025

166: The Future Isn’t Flashier—It’s Smarter: Christy Tucker on Buildi…

In this episode of EdUp L&D, Holly Owens welcomes back Christy Tucker, a seasoned expert in instructional design and scenario-based learning. They discuss Christy's journey from K-12 education to corporate training, the nuanc...

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July 16, 2025

165: From “Not Yet” to “Now”: Ben Erwin on Turning Rejection Into Rei…

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, Ben Erwin shares his journey from being a writing instructor to becoming an instructional designer at Purdue University. He discusses the challenges of burnout in education, t...

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