Top 20 Learning and Development Podcasts to Listen to in 2025
Ready for a surge of new knowledge in the L&D world? Stuck in a pile of unread Learning and Development books? We've got the solution: 20 killer L&D podcasts designed to fit perfectly into your daily grind.
These podcasts serve up learning and growth right to your ears, no matter where in the world you are. They're packed with actionable tips, expert interviews, and inspiring tales – all tailored to turn you into an L&D rockstar.
With so many awesome shows hustling for your attention, it can be hard to know where to begin. So, here's our curated list of the 20 top L&D podcasts for 2025 – promises to leave you feeling inspired, informed, and entertained.
Please Note: All the podcasts below are currently running and have released an episode within the last three months, unless otherwise noted.
Get ready to plug in and hit play!
Can't-Miss L&D Podcasts
These podcasts deliver top-notch L&D excellence directly to your ears. Expect actionable advice, informative expert interviews, and motivational anecdotes – all designed to help you become a true L&D whiz.
All Business Strategy & Learning - The Training Industry Podcast
- Hosts: Michelle Eggleston Schwartz and Sarah Gallo
- Produced by: Training Industry
This podcast delves into the intersection of learning and business strategy, with episodes covering subjects like managing change, fostering human-centered leaders, and supporting employee well-being. It's a must-listen for L&D pros looking to understand their role within their business.
Start Here: Episode 77 - Elevate Employee Engagement with L&D
Learning Tech Nerdery - The Talented Learning Show
- Host: John Leh
John Leh, the founder and lead analyst at Talented Learning, shares his over 25-years and $100m experience in buying and selling complex learning solutions. In this podcast, he gets granular and specific about learning management systems, video skills assessment tools, customer education, and more, providing in-depth insights you won't find elsewhere.
Start Here: Episode 76 - The Power of AI in Microlearning
Honest L&D Talk - Learning Uncut
- Host: Michelle Ockers
Learning Uncut provides an unvarnished look at the realities of learning and development, featuring honest conversations with practitioners. Topics range from social learning at scale to psychological safety in learning and skills portfolio management. Each episode offers practical insights and actionable takeaways.
Start Here: Playbook - Artificial Intelligence in L&D (20th January 2025)
Laughs & Learns - The Mind Tools Podcast
- Host: Ross Garner
This podcast offers a unique blend of expert insights and engaging humor. With episodes released weekly, topics covered range from serious subjects like hybrid work and toxic productivity to fun, themed episodes like 'Star Trek Special: The Future of AI' or 'Burn your bullsh*t'.
Start Here: Christmas Special - L&D Actually (17th December 2024)
Building a Learning Culture - The Learning Culture Podcast
- Host: Andrew Barry
Josh Bersin once said, 'the single biggest driver of business impact is the strength of an organization's learning culture'. That underscores the importance of the Learning Culture Podcast, which provides insights and strategies for achieving this critical goal. Episodes feature interviews with learning leaders, each with a mission to build a thriving learning culture within their organization.
Start Here: Episode 91 - Learning Culture and Game Design
Learning Tech Insight - The Learning Hack
- Host: John Helmer
In 2019, The Learning Hack emerged to provide a forward-thinking perspective on the world of learning and development. Host John Helmer delves into insightful discussions, including podcasts in learning, moving beyond simple applications of AI, and more. Guests include learning leaders and experts like Charles Jennings, Donald H. Taylor, and Kevin M. Yates.
Start Here: Episode 20 - What Are We Playing At? With Juliette Denny
Navigating Your L&D Career - The L&D Career Club Podcast
- Host: Sarah Cannistra
This podcast offers a unique perspective on navigating the learning and development world, grounded in Sarah Cannistra's personal experience of becoming a learning professional overnight with no background or prior experience. New episodes haven't been released since June 2024, but Sarah has expressed her intention to return to the project after settling into a new role.
Start Here: How to Practically Apply Neuroscience in L&D (12th December 2023)
Leadership Mastery - The Learning Leader Show
- Host: Ryan Hawk
Learning and leadership are forever intertwined. Host Ryan Hawk emphasizes, 'the best leaders never stop working to make themselves better'. In this podcast, Hawk interviews entrepreneurs, CEOs, world-class athletes, best-selling authors, and high-profile coaches, offering valuable insights for anyone seeking to level up their leadership skills.
Start Here: Episode 615 - The Art & Science of Storytelling
Learning Geeks Unite - The Learning Geeks Podcast
- Hosts: Nick Day, Dana Koch, and Jake Gittleson
Are you a learning geek? This podcast, hosted by three passionate learning professionals, explores the science of effective learning, with a side of humor and pop culture references. Expect discussions on hot topics like the future of L&D, building learning communities, and combating change fatigue.
Start Here: S7 E5 - Your Brain Chemistry When Learning
The Art of Modern HR and Learning - The HR L&D Podcast
- Host: Nick Day
This podcast focuses on helping both HR and learning and development professionals to maximize the potential of their workforce through expert guidance and advice. Topics covered include talent acquisition, building high-performing teams, using data-driven insights, and more.
Start Here: How to Build High-Performing Teams (15th October 2024)
The Skills Gap Solution - Mind The Skills Gap
- Host: Stella Collins
With 6 out of 10 employees requiring retraining by the end of 2027, the skills gap isn't going anywhere. Fortunately, podcasts like Mind the Skills Gap exist. In a specialty of her own, host Stella Collins provides insights and strategies for closing the skills gap. Episodes explore the obstacles to skill transfer and how to overcome them.
Start Here: Attention and Cognitive Overload (2nd August 2023)
The Talent Development Duo - Bring Out The Talent
- Hosts: Maria Melfa and Jocelyn Allen
In today's fast-paced business world, prioritizing talent and unlocking potential offers a significant competitive edge. That's the focus behind Bring Out The Talent, a lively podcast hosted by two energized learning professionals. Topics include workplace mental wellness, navigating change management, and instructional design strategy.
Start Here: Harnessing Technology for Continuous L&D (12th October 2024)
The Art of Instructional Design - Instructional Design and Online Learning (IDOL)
- Host: Robin Sargent
Hosted by an expert in instructional design and online learning, Dr. Robin Sargent's podcast offers valuable guidance and support for aspiring and experienced instructional designers. Episodes explore topics like the role of generative AI in content creation, project management skills for IDOLs, and gamification frameworks.
Start Here: Learning Measurement on a Shoestring (7th February 2025)
The Learning Portfolio - The eLearning Coach Podcast
- Host: Connie Malamed
Connie Malamed, a learning coach since 2013, offers insightful conversations about instructional design and visual design in this podcast. Guests include well-respected experts such as Julie Dirksen, Cammy Bean, and Brandon Carson. Regardless of who's being interviewed, each episode delivers a deeper understanding of the field and provides strategies to enhance e-learning experiences.
Start Here: Episode 85 - Generating AI Podcasts for Learning
Bonus Listening – Beyond L&D
While these podcasts are not exclusively about L&D, they offer important insights for learning professionals. They challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and inspire fresh approaches to learning and development.
The Modern Career - Squiggly Careers Podcast
- Hosts: Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper
With over 4 million listeners and 700+ 5-star reviews, the Squiggly Careers Podcast is a popular resource for navigating the complexities of modern career paths. Hosts Sarah and Helen are expert career development guides for today's squiggly career landscape.
Start Here: Episode 452 - Influence with Robert Cialdini
Hammering Out HR & HCM - HR Happy Hour
- Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed
Originally launched in 2009, HR Happy Hour is the longest continuously running show dedicated to the world of HR and Human Capital Management (HCM). Its dynamic format and diverse guests offer valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing HR professionals today.
Many of the topics discussed, such as talent development, employee engagement, and organizational culture, are crucial for L&D professionals. By staying informed about HR trends, you can anticipate future needs and align your training programs accordingly.
Start Here: HR's Role in Supporting Employees (24th January 2025)
The Hidden Brain - Hidden Brain
- Host: Shankar Vedantam
Stuck in a creative rut? Hidden Brain explores unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, offering insights that can help unlock new perspectives. It delves into motivations and social influences that shape our choices and actions.
At its core, L&D is about facilitating learning and behavior change. To make this process easier, you'll need to understand the psychological and social factors that influence how people learn, make decisions, and adopt new behaviors. Hidden Brain provides a fascinating starting point for this exploration.
Start Here: Wellness 2.0 - The Art of the Unknown (27th January 2025)
Workplace Wisdom - WorkLife with Adam Grant
- Host: Adam Grant
We spend a quarter of our lives at work, so it's important we make the most of it. WorkLife with Adam Grant explores the "science of making work not suck." Hosted by organizational psychologist Adam Grant, it offers a forum to discuss topics like creating a positive and supportive learning environment, fostering team productivity, and promoting a growth mindset in the workplace.
Guests include entrepreneurs, CEOs, world-class athletes, best-selling authors, and high-profile coaches. By learning from these industry leaders, L&D professionals can contribute to fostering employee success and job satisfaction.
Start Here: The Dark Side of Charisma (15th October 2024)
The Insights and Influences of Freakonomics - Freakonomics Radio
- Host: Stephen J. Dubner
Expanding on the 2006 book, Freakonomics Radio aims to uncover 'the hidden side of everything.' Hosted by journalist Stephen J. Dubner, it explores a wide range of topics, from economics and social issues to the nuances of human motivation and behavior – topics that are valuable for learning and development.
These insights can help L&D professionals design learning programs that tap into intrinsic motivation and encourage engagement, leading to increased knowledge retention.
Start Here: Episode 619 - How to Poison the A.I. Machine
Emotional Intelligence and Connection - Daring Greatly
- Host: Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor, the author of six best-selling books, and the host of multiple award-winning podcasts. This podcast, Daring Greatly, explores the complexity of human emotions and offers listeners a deeper understanding of themselves and their connections with others. The focus on emotional intelligence is valuable for learning and development professionals, as it helps them craft more empathetic and impactful learning experiences.
Start Here: Kamala Harris on Courageous Leadership (28th October 2024)
Final Thoughts
And there you have it – the top 20 L&D podcasts of 2025, ready to supercharge your learning game. With these podcasts on board, you're well on your way to becoming an L&D guru. Whether you're commuting, sweating it out with kettlebells, or conquering household chores, listen up and learn!
Fancy more L&D guidance and resources? Download our 'The L&D Professional's Handbook' for 165 essential tips on success!
Free Resources: The L&D Professional's Handbook Download Now!
Enrichment Data:For learning and development (L&D) professionals seeking actionable insights, expert interviews, and inspiring stories in 2025, these top podcasts prove invaluable:
Top 20 L&D Podcasts for 2025
1. The Training Industry Podcast: The Business of Learning
- Host(s): Michelle Eggleston Schwartz and Sarah Gallo
- Produced by: Training Industry
- Focus Areas: Trends, ideas, and best practices for corporate training leaders
- Notable Features: Expert interviews, actionable tips, insights from industry experts
2. The Learning & Development Podcast (People Managing People)
- Host: David James
- Focus Areas: Innovative approaches to learning and development in the workplace, strategies for enhancing employee learning experiences, and future of workplace learning
- Notable Features: Practical insights, expert debates, and data-driven episodes
3. SmikleSpeaks
- Host: Joanne L. Smikle, PhD
- Focus Areas: Leadership and organizational development
- Notable Features: Engaging learning and leadership tools, updated content
4. Culture Bites
- Focus Areas: Organizational culture and change
- Content: Inspiring stories and expert interviews to aid professionals in driving transformation
5. What’s Wrong With My Organization
- Focus Areas: Diagnosing and improving organizational health
- Content: Expert analysis and practical advice for development professionals
6. The Talented Learning Show (Talented Learning)
- Host: John Leh
- Focus Areas: Learning technology, learning management systems, video skills assessment, and customer education
- Notable Features: Insights from industry leaders and providers
7. The Podcast for Instructional Design, eLearning, and Learning Technologies (The Training Stream)
- Host: Craig Weiss
- Focus Areas: Breakdowns of instructional design, e-learning, and learning technologies
- Notable Features: Discussions with thought leaders and industry experts
8. The eLearning Coach Podcast (Elearning Coach)
- Host: Connie Malamed
- Focus Areas: Infographics, visual thinking, instructional design, and information visualization
- Notable Features: Weekly tips from experts in the industry
9. Branching Out – A Learning Experience Design Podcast
- Host: Jonathan Halls
- Focus Areas: Learning experience design, information design, user experience, knowledge management, and performance improvement
- Notable Features: Expert interviews and practical advice for learning designers
10. The Learning Leader Show
- Host: Ryan Hawk
- Focus Areas: Leadership and personal development
- Notable Features: Insights from business leaders and experts, supportive frameworks and tools for personal growth
11. The L&D Podcast (DP Labs)
- Host: Will Thalheimer
- Focus Areas: Evidence-based practices in learning and teaching, learning evaluation, cognitive load, and knowledge check effectiveness
- Notable Features: Practical strategies for achieving learning goals, educational research, and learning measurement
12. The eLearning Brothers Podcast
- Host(s): Steven Hooper and Ryan Tracey
- Focus Areas: eLearning, instructional design, and learning management systems
- Notable Features: Expert interviews, tips, and strategies from leaders in the industry
13. The Adele Barlow Learning Daddy Podcast
- Host: Adele Barlow
- Focus Areas: Learning, design, development, and leadership
- Notable Features: Insights from learning professionals, curiosity-based learning, and experiments in design and development
14. The Art of Learning – Kirkpatrick Partners
- Host: James Kirkpatrick
- Focus Areas: Learning evaluation, training impact, and learning effectiveness
- Notable Features: Evidence-based practices, discussions with learning experts, and case studies
15. The eLearning Brothers Brain Waves
- Host(s): Cliff Atkinson, Kristin Juliani, and Josh Kahne
- Focus Areas: Storytelling, instructional design, and creating engaging learning experiences
- Notable Features: Tips, insightful discussions, and expert interviews
16. The Helpful Professor
- Host: Trish Tonaj
- Focus Areas: Teaching, educational technology, and academic leadership
- Notable Features: Reflective teaching, educational research, and collaboration with other educators
17. The Workplace Learning & Leadership Podcast
- Host: L&D Masters Collective
- Focus Areas: Learning, leadership, and collaboration in the modern workplace
- Notable Features: Case studies, guest interviews, and practical advice for L&D professionals
18. The Mind Tools Podcast
- Host: Ross Garner
- Focus Areas: Productivity, leadership, communication, and career development
- Notable Features: Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People series, expert interviews, and thoughtful discussions
19. The Day of Learning (PluralSight)
- Host(s): Charles Williams and Kevin Gicale
- Focus Areas: Coding, technology, and learning new skills
- Notable Features: Expert interviews, code challenges, and development best practices
20. Learning while Awkward – An Instructional Design Podcast
- Host: Brad Johnson
- Focus Areas: Instructional design, technology integration, and learning strategy
- Notable Features: Case studies, expert interviews, and discussions around the practical and awkward challenges of making learning engaging and effective
- Closely listening to podcasts like 'All Business Strategy & Learning - The Training Industry Podcast', 'Laughs & Learns - The Mind Tools Podcast', and 'Honest L&D Talk - Learning Uncut' will help you achieve personal growth and advancement in education and self-development.
- Discovering insights from top L&D podcasts such as 'The Learning Leader Show' and 'The Art of Instructional Design - Instructional Design and Online Learning (IDOL)' will equip you with the knowledge needed to become an expert in Learning and Development (L&D).
