How can talent development professionals reclaim time, manage stress, and navigate workplace change? In this episode of ATD Accidental Trainer, executive coach and author of The 25th Hour: How to Thrive (And Gain Ridiculous Amounts of Time) by Getting Out of Your Own Way, Neal Schore shares ways to manage emotional responses and break unhelpful habits. Schore specifically explores strategies for reducing the swirl of overthinking, imagining worst-case scenarios, and getting defensive in difficult stakeholder conversations.

By asking yourself the right questions and making small changes to everyday routines, learn how to become more comfortable with uncertainty, including the changes brought on by AI. Using Schore's simple sequence, pause, identify the intent, and ask questions, L&D professioncals can reduce stress, strengthen workplace relationships, and approach challenges with greater confidence.

Resources:

• The 25th Hour: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-25th-Hour/Neal-Schore/9781668090121
• Neal's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealschore
• Neal's Website: https://www.nealschore.com/

In this episode of ATD's Accidental Trainer podcast, economists and authors Natalia Emanuel and Emma Harrington share insights from their new book, In Person: How Working Together Fuels Creativity, Productivity, and Growth. The two explore what organizations gain when people spend time together, from mentorship and learning to creativity, work friendships, and trust.

Natalia and Emma are quick to point out that this isn't a remote-versus-in-person debate. Instead, they focus on how organizations can preserve the benefits of flexibility while creating the conditions for learning, mentorship, creativity, and connection to thrive.

Resources:

• Grab your copy of In Person: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/795672/in-person-by-natalia-emanuel-phd-and-emma-harrington-phd/
• Natalia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliaemanuel
• Emma's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-harrington-b4ba43147

In a time of shrinking budgets, shifting priorities, and constant change, creativity can feel like a luxury. Josh Penzell, founder of Imagination Applied, argues it's exactly the opposite. Drawing on his background in theater, training, and AI, Josh explores why learning experiences should function more like rehearsal rooms than lectures, and why AI works best as a creative collaborator rather than simply a productivity tool.

This episode discusses artistic intelligence, the power of the "magic if," and what learning professionals can borrow from directors, actors, and performers. Along the way, Josh shares practical ideas for building teams where creativity can thrive, rethinking stakeholder conversations, and designing experiences that lead to meaningful behavior change.

If you've ever felt constrained by limited resources, uncertainty, or the pressure to do more with less, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on creativity, collaboration, and what's possible when we stop searching for the right answer and start asking better questions.

Resources:

• Josh's Website: https://www.joshpenzell.com/
• Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-penzell