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The Secrets of Learning & Development
Our podcast is designed for business leaders, managers, consultants, industry experts, and individuals who are passionate about driving change and promoting growth in their organisations or personal development.
Each episode will delve into crucial topics such as mindset recalibration, visibility, and strategic planning. We will have insightful conversations about change management and innovative initiatives that can transform your approach to learning and development.
Our aim is to equip you with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills, business acumen, and personal growth. We are focusing on our leaders and professional guests' unique journeys and the key moments that have shaped their careers. We are passionate about sharing stories that inspire, educate, and ignite a spark within our listeners
Join us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to success in the dynamic world of learning and development.
Stay tuned and get ready to be inspired!
Host Information:
Julia Bend
Executive Career Coach
https://www.premier-coaching.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bend-premier-coaching
Valerie Merrill
Learning & Development Trainer & Advisor
https://www.merrillconsultants.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillvalerie/
Episodes
51 episodes
Dr Seb Fox on Emergent Coaching: Rethinking What Teams Really Need
S3:E6In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie welcome Dr Seb Fox, an experienced team coach, researcher and soon-to-be author for a compelling conversation that challenges conventional coaching models...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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26:37
Cheers to One Year: Curiosity, Connection and Conversations
It’s our podcast anniversary!One year, three seasons, and a whole lot of honest conversation later, we’re celebrating everything The Secrets of Learning and Development has become.In this special episode, we reflec...
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Season 3
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7:45
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Bonus Episode: Reinvention Isn’t Just a New Job It’s an Emotional Shift
What if career change isn’t just about your next role, but who you’re becoming?In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill and Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend uncover the...
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Season 3
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9:41
The Message Behind the Brand: Laurie Kozan on Clarity and Connection
S3 E:5In this episode, we’re joined by Laurie Kozan, founder of Own Source Marketing Studio, whose career spans PR, branding, design and digital strategy, all anchored by a single golden thread: shaping how people experience information....
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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39:39
Bonus: It’s Not What You Say: Why Feelings Shape What People Remember
What if people don’t remember your words or actions, but how you made them feel?In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill and Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend explore why emotional pre...
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Season 3
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8:56
From Neuroscience to TEDx: Gill McKay on Visibility and Voice
S3 E:4In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie are joined by the inspiring Gill McKay, speaker, neuroscience advocate and co-founder of Speak and Shine. Gill shares her fascinating career journey acro...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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38:24
Bonus: From Repetitive to Remarkable: What Superworkers Are Doing Differently
In this special bonus episode, Julia Bend and Valerie Merrill dive into a trend that’s gathering pace across organisations the rise of the Superworker.Far from being a tech buzzword, this is about real people using AI tools to work smart...
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Season 3
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9:12
Beyond Training: Cathy Hoy on How L&D Leaders Can Drive Real Business Impact
S3 E3: In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we sit down with Cathy Hoy, a trailblazer in the L&D space with an impressive career spanning over 25 years at global giants like Tesco, Coca-Cola, and Expedia. Cathy shares...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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34:57
Bonus Episode Beyond Confidence: What’s Really Holding You Back?
What if confidence isn’t the real issue? In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill interviews Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend to unpack a common career assumption: “I just...
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Season 3
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8:18
From Career Crossroads to Purposeful Work: Holly Worton on Reinventing Yourself with Confidence
S3:In this episode, we meet the multifaceted Holly Worton – coach, author, shamanic practitioner and founder of North Downs Publishing. From quitting graduate school to running an eco hotel in Mexico, and later building a thriving publis...
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Season 3
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30:07
L&D in 2025: Personalised, Inclusive and Always Evolving
In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie takes the lead as she and Julia explore the trends shaping L&D in 2025. From the rise of personalised learning and microlearning to the growing emphasis on i...
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Season 3
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6:53
The Mindset Shift You Need to Succeed: Lessons from Sarah Pittendrigh
S3 E1: What does it take to rise from financial devastation and build a thriving business? In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we welcome Sarah Pittendrigh award-winning entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and author of The ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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33:02
Season 3 of The Secrets of Learning and Development has arrived!
This season hosts Valerie Merrill and Julia Bend, bring you fresh, thought-provoking conversations with the people shaping how we learn, lead and grow at work.From bold career moves to innovative approaches to leadership an...
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Season 3
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7:51
Dynamic Alignment: Find Clarity, Energy & Purpose with Brad Borkan & Holly Worton
S2 E:13In this insightful episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie are joined by authors Brad Borkan and Holly Worton to discuss their collaborative book, Dynamic Alignment. Together, they unpack the eight-step p...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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33:39
Global Mindsets Unlocked: Viktoria Kish on Leading Across Cultures
S2:E12In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Valerie and Julia are joined by Viktoria Kish, a global business consultant, entrepreneur, and connector with over 25 years of experience in international business e...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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28:09
Beyond the Numbers: Douglas Lines on Building Trust and Inspiring Innovation
S2:E11 - In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie sit down with Douglas Lines, a seasoned chartered accountant and co-founder of IBEM Group, who has led transformative change across mul...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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34:25
Julia Bend: Why Boundaries Aren’t Harsh – They’re Essential
In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, the spotlight turns to our co-host Julia Bend as she unpacks the power of boundaries in leadership, coaching and life. Together with Valerie Merrill, she exp...
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Season 2
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7:07
Redefining Inclusion and Creativity: Allegra Chapman’s Journey to Empowerment
S2:E10 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie are joined by Allegra Chapman, co-founder of Watch This Sp_ce, a consultancy dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in workplac...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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36:25
Curiosity in Practice: Coaching Meets Training
In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie take a closer look at Curiosity, what it means, how it shows up in their work and why it matters more than ever. While they approach it from different ang...
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Season 2
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5:04
From Saving Lives to Leading Teams: Ashley Brice on Mastering High-Stakes Communication
S2:E9In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Valerie and Julia are joined by Ashley Brice, a former military police officer, police negotiator, and now a highly sought-after communication and leadership expert. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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46:04
Is Your Story Landing? Why Perception Shapes Opportunity
In this reflective bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill is joined by co-host and executive career transition coach Julia Bend to unpack the real impact of perception during times of change.It...
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Season 2
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6:43
Mastering Workplace Harmony: Proactive Conflict Resolution with Nicole Posner
S2:E8In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie welcome Nicole Posner, an expert mediator and executive conflict coach. With a background in PR and psychology, Nicole shares how her early experien...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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32:24
Bonus Episode: Bespoke Training – Why It’s More Than Just ‘How-To’
In this special fireside edition of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia hands the mic to co-host Valerie Merrill for an expert deep dive into the world of bespoke training.If you’ve ever been involved in rolling out a customis...
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Season 2
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6:13
Brad Borkan - Decisions Under Pressure: What Antarctic Explorers Teach Us About Leadership and Resilience
S2:E7 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Valerie and Julia welcome Brad Borkan, an author and decision-making expert with a unique approach to leadership inspired by history. Brad’s career spans f...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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32:33
Cyber Security Essentials with Valerie Merrill: How to Stay Safe Online
In this special bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and co-host Valerie Merrill dive into the crucial topic of cyber security awareness for end users. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, understanding the risks and ...
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Season 2
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11:32
