Jana Thuaud didn’t set out to work in knowledge management. She found her way there through environmental science, development work, and years of documenting what actually happens on the ground.

In this episode, she shares what that journey taught her about KM in the real world. Not the polished version, the human one.

Brittany and Rachel dig into why organizations are still defaulting to websites, repositories, and webinars in 2026. The honest answer? They’re easy to measure, easy to fund, and easy to explain.

They also get into:

• The gap between knowledge products and actual knowledge flow
• Why KM still gets treated like information management
• The role of culture, context, and access in global work
• What it really takes to build trust and connection across teams

The throughline is simple. KM doesn’t move because of tools. It moves because people decide it matters.

A grounded conversation that cuts through the noise and brings KM back to what it’s always been about: people, relationships, and making the work actually work.

Notes:
Check out this great webinar by Jana and her team - https://www.gefislands.org/webinar/islands-forum-setting-bar-synergized-sids-knowledge-chemicals-and-waste

In this episode, Brittany and Rachel sit down with Rob Taylor, a KM practitioner with over 40 years of experience, to explore where knowledge management is headed and what might need rethinking.

They unpack common KM buzzwords, the real impact of AI, and the ongoing tension between technology and human connection. The conversation also dives into community, trust, and why KM works best when it centers people, not just systems.

After almost 40 years of corporate life as both a consultant and functional head Rob is now an AI trainer and KM consultant as www.AIxKM.co.uk

Rob will be speaking at KM World Europe in April 2026 https://www.kmworld.com/Europe/2026 on “Getting back to the core of community”

If you’re in London, UK then contact Rob about joining a friendly group of KMers who meet up every couple of months: Rob@AIxKM.co.uk

Brittany and Rachel sit down with Dr. Matt Finch to explore what the future has to do with knowledge management and why it matters more than we often give it credit for. With a background that spans strategy, foresight, and information science, Matt brings a fresh perspective on how KM practitioners can think beyond the present.

They dig into scenario planning, storytelling as a strategic tool, and why getting comfortable with uncertainty might be one of the most practical skills in today’s work. The conversation also touches on learning through play, engaging audiences who do not think they care about KM yet, and making foresight feel more human and accessible.

Plus, Brittany and Rachel share a behind-the-scenes look at Empower KM, what they set out to build, what they learned, and why it continues to feel like community disguised as a conference.

If you are thinking about what comes next and how KM can help you get there, this episode is for you.

Here are some of the resources mentioned in today's show:
Ramírez and Ravetz on feral futures - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016328710002880

The Oxford Scenario Planning Approach - https://mh.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/20/medhum-2025-013691

Ludi Price's work on fan taxonomies - https://blogs.city.ac.uk/ludiprice/2019/01/30/a-model-of-fan-information-behaviour/

Elizabeth Salzberger-Wittenberg on endings and beginnings - https://www.routledge.com/Experiencing-Endings-and-Beginnings-From-Birth-to-Old-Age/Wittenberg/p/book/9781032264660