Episode 309: Jiu Jitsu & the Practice of Learning with Stewart Carroll

As practitioners of a learning-centered approach, we have much to learn from the physical discipline of jiu-jitsu, a grappling-based martial art derived from Judo. Professor Stewart Carroll owns Grail Jiu Jitsu in Carmel, NY and has been a practitioner of jiu jitsu and traditional Chinese medicine for many years. In this episode, he shares insights […]

Read More

Episode 308: Context is Key with ideas42

At ideas42, brain and behavioral science are not theoretical or abstract. In this episode, Cassie Taylor, Principal Behavioral Designer, shares how she uses human-centered design to apply and scale behavioral insights in post-secondary education. Cassie highlights how context is key – everything from systemic racism to the seemingly innocuous ‘default’ options can hinder adults in […]

Read More

Episode 307: Cross-Cultural Facilitation Skills with IAF

Professional facilitators bring people together to discover creative solutions and resolve differences in ways that value inclusion while saving time, money and morale. The International Association of Facilitators (IAF) believe that there are some core competencies that hold true no matter where in the world (or on the web) you are. On this episode, we’re […]

Read More

Episode 306: Executive Function’s Critical Role in Adult Learning with LaDonna Pavetti

In adult learning settings, we’ve seen that “sit and get” rarely works to help adults gain the knowledge they need to succeed. To understand what the latest in brain science tells us about why a traditional approach often fails adults, we talk to LaDonna Pavetti, Vice President for Family Income Support Policy at Center on […]

Read More

Episode 305: BONUS – Focus on the Who – 10k Small Businesses

GLP Chief Business Officer Rebecca Hutchins was accepted as a scholar to the 10,000 Small Businesses program through Goldman Sachs and Babson College. Rebecca noticed that Manuel Alexander, National Lead Faculty, facilitated in ways that felt very familiar to our learning-centered approach. In this episode, Manuel shares stories of entrepreneurship, including his own family’s legacy. These […]

Read More

Episode 304: Fertile Ground – Facilitation + Leadership with Andres Marquez-Lara

As a long-time facilitator, improv actor, therapist and social entrepreneur, Andres Marquez-Lara, is in the business of healing. He channels this passion as Founder and CEO of UFacilitate where he helps purpose-driven leaders create spaces for deep connection, collaboration and transformation. In this episode, Andres and Tyler explore some of the key points of effective […]

Read More

Episode 303: The Circle of Trust with Parker J. Palmer

Parker J. Palmer is a celebrated author, activist, and Founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Parker created the Circle of Trust® approach after a decade of living and learning at Pendle Hill, a Quaker community and retreat center. The approach is a social technology of time-tested principles and practices to create a safe […]

Read More

Episode 302: Building Equity through Restorative Approaches with Troi Bechet

Troi Bechet founded the Center for Restorative Approaches in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. For Troi, a restorative approach offered an alternative to the culture of punitive justice systems – a way to resolve conflict and build equity through dialogue. Through their creativity, innovation, and a vision of peace at the center, restorative circles and […]

Read More

Episode 301: The Power of Strategic Storytelling with Bill Baker

Bill Baker, Founder and Principal of BB&Co Strategic Storytelling, knows the value of a good story. Whether you’re garnering support in your organization for a new strategic plan or teaching parents about child healthcare, stories help people make meaning that sticks. In this episode, Bill shares key insights on how to pick and tell the […]

Read More

BONUS Episode 211: Revolutionizing Learning at a Medical University in Chile

At the end of the violent dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in 1990, Chileans united for a newfound democracy. The short interview you are about to hear picks up at this historic time, when primary care doctors at Chile’s leading medical school called for a revolutionary approach to their own learning, and that of the communities […]

Read More

Episode 210: Who’s on the line? Reflecting on Inclusion – Featuring Andrea Van Liew

 With the recent rise in remote work, many of us are faced with the challenge of designing and facilitating engaging and inclusive meetings while in a virtual setting. Today we’re joined by Andrea Van Liew – GLP Consultant and leader of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team – to talk about how we can […]

Read More

Episode 209: Embracing Blended Learning – Featuring Claudia Quinonez

 Over the last year, as more and more learning is moving to an online or virtual setting, we have begun fully embracing the importance of “blended learning” within GLP. Today we are going to talk to GLP Consultant Claudia Quinonez about what we mean by “blended learning” and why we think this should be […]

Read More

Episode 208: Building Bridges Between Sessions – Featuring First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County funds innovative programs and advocates for policies that produce better futures for children up to age 5. Beth Hoch from First 5 Alameda and Shawn Bryant from the Teaching Excellence Center talk about adapting “Mind in the Making”, an impactful training on children’s brain development, to a virtual setting. GLP consultant […]

Read More

Episode 207: Stepping Back to Light the Way – Featuring New Moms

New Moms positioned themselves as a leader in the field of workforce development through their science-informed social enterprise, Bright Endeavors. In 2019 GLP had the opportunity to document insights from their work through a learning-centered case study. These insights were later incorporated in a toolkit for other organizations involved in workforce development and employment social enterprise. Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal and Dana Emanuel from New Moms join us to share the impact of the case study one year later – within New Moms and in the broader […]

Read More

Episode 206: Resistance is Not Futile – Featuring Tonjala Eaton

 Sometimes our learning designs go off without a hitch… and sometimes, they don’t! We’ve all been there – you’ve thoughtfully planned out your learning tasks and facilitation techniques, but when you get in the room it’s just not working for one (or more) of your learners – the resistance is palpable! GLP Consultant Tonjala […]

Read More

Episode 205: A Re-Design Worth the Time – Featuring Sinapis

Sinapis Group started in 2010 in Kenya as an accelerator program for entrepreneurs. Since then, they have grown to operate in 9 different countries. Scaling up meant stepping back to take a hard look at their training design. Sylvie Somerville, Director of Training for Sinapis Group, and GLP Senior Partner Jeanette Romkema talk with us about their collaborative effort to re-design Sinapis’ training program to maximize impact for their entrepreneurs. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or virtually anywhere podcasts are found! This […]

Read More

Episode 204: The Right Design Goes the Distance – Featuring The ASPCA

During a year infamous for Zoom fatigue, the annual Right Horse Summit went virtual – and the results were surprising. GLP Consultant Val Uccellani and Christie Schulte Kappert from The Right Horse Initiative – the ASPCA’s equine adoption program – share the unique strategies they used to design a virtual summit that had participants engaged – on and away from the screen. The virtual summit fostered […]

Read More

Episode 203: No Bandwidth? No Problem! – Featuring Sylvia Saenger

How to design for learners who just don’t have the time.  Most of us share at least one workday challenge: finding time and capacity to fit all the meetings and events we need into our workload. It can be a challenge to convene and design meetings that will successfully engage people who are stretched thin. GLP Consultant Sylvia Saenger shares three key strategies she swears by when designing for people with […]

Read More

Episode 202: Not Your Average Zoom Convening – Featuring Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

  Jon Baratta from the Summer Jobs Connect (SJC) Program at Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and GLP‘s Tyler Phillips talk with us about their recent experience moving SJC’s annual convening to a virtual space. They talk about how encouraging relationship-building, highlighting participants’ expertise and creating a flexible space for meaningful exchanges increased engagement and strengthened the learning community.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or virtually anywhere podcasts are found! This show is produced by Global Learning Partners and Greg […]

Read More

Episode 201: Organizational Change is a Slow Cook – Featuring Elanco

 Christian MacKinnon with Elanco, an international animal pharmaceutical company, and GLP’s Jeanette Romkema speak with us about how Elanco came to embrace a learning-centered approach throughout their organization. They share the story of how a “learning-centered spark” ignited a years-long journey of organizational change within every level of Elanco – from the veterinarians, to the sales […]

Read More

BONUS Episode 111: Peter Gets a Call from the Prime Minister’s Office

Ahead of the holiday season, Shift the Power co-host Peter Noteboom got a call from Prime Minister Trudeau’s office. The ask: to convene a virtual conversation between the Prime Minister and faith leaders across Canada about responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the bonus episode today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen […]

Read More

Episode 110: Reflecting with Jane on the School of the 80’s

Dr. Jane Vella, Founder of Global Learning Partners, is loving what she calls “The School of the 80’s” – not the 1980’s… her 80’s. Jane shares how in the last decade she has discovered a new way of learning that is rooted in leisure, experience and vulnerability. Listen to how her thinking about her original teachings on Dialogue Education™ has expanded through these insights. Read Jane’s full blog post here. You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google […]

Read More

Episode 109: Principles in Action – Confessions of a Former Workshop Rockstar

Cindy Stover used to say her engaging style, appealing PowerPoints, dynamic videos, and great jokes made her feel like a workshop rockstar! We share her reflections on how Dialogue Education™ led to her “aha moment” about the importance of seeing your learners as rockstars too. Listen for tips on moving from a teaching-centered to a […]

Read More

Episode 108: Designing for Change in International Development

Applying a learning-centered approach within the context of international development comes with its own unique set of challenges. In this episode we talk to Julia Rosenbaum, GLP Board Member and self-described midwife of change, and Dina Shafaqouj, Certified Dialogue Education Teacher from our Dialogue Education hub in Jordan. They share insights on navigating the tensions between funder goals and learners’ needs, and tips for shifting traditional education practices and power dynamics before the learners even step into the room.   Follow […]

Read More

Episode 107: The Legacy of Paulo Freire

Paulo Freire framed education as a pathway to liberation in his seminal work “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” His work has influenced generations of educators, including GLP Founder, Dr. Jane Vella. In this episode we talk with Robb Davis of California and Alex Ciconello of Brazil – two long-term Dialogue Education™ practitioners who hold the legacy of Freire’s principles dear to heart. They share stories of how this revolutionary approach to education is still alive today around the world, from city governments to grassroots social justice movements.  You […]

Read More

Episode 106: Reflecting with Jane on “The Art of Changing the Brain”

GLP Founder Dr. Jane Vella joins us to read a passage from a book that has stuck with her through the years: The Art of Changing the Brain by James Zull. We’ve talked a lot about the principle of “Safety” this season and its importance to learning. In this episode we reflect with Jane on the biology behind this […]

Read More

Episode 105: Engaging the Whole Person Virtually

Guests Jeanette Romkema and Andrea Van Liew share how the 3C Model – Connecting to Content, Connecting to Self and Connecting to Others – is crucial to engaging the whole person in a virtual setting. They share their recent revelations with clients about the surprising benefits of shifting to remote meetings and trainings – including increased connections and equalized […]

Read More

Episode 104: Powerful Questions + Transformative Learning

Guest Peter Tate – a member of our International Certified Network – shares his experience facilitating faiths and cultures trainings in Southall, London. When facilitating change, Peter says “the outcome is not guaranteed” – but combining a blended approach with powerful questions enabled him to create a safe holding environment for transformative learning.   Warning for some parents: powerful questions about Santa Claus within! Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you […]

Read More

Episode 103: Principles in Action: Safety Takes Courage and Bravery

Here we reflect on the need to address courage and bravery when facilitating learning through the ideas put forth by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens in their 2013 writing, From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces. They note brave spaces are especially important when in dialogue on complicated diversity and social justice issues. Read the GLP blog post by Andrea Van […]

Read More

Episode 102: The Creation of Dialogue Education

Dr. Jane Vella, the founder of Global Learning Partners, shares how her journey as an international teacher brought to life the core principles of adult learning that we now call Dialogue Education. She reflects on how the approach has evolved through praxis and explores a vision for the future of learning-centered approaches in the quest […]

Read More

Episode 101: What is a Learning-Centered Approach?

On our inaugural episode of Shift the Power, we explore the revolutionary “learning-centered approach” to education and training with Val Uccellani and Philip Silva. We also discuss how principles of safety and respect are brought to bear in education, and how a learning-centered approach can “shift the power” for teachers and for learners. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to […]

Read More