In this interview, Adam sits down with Abi Holmes of Assemble You.

Abi is the Head of Content at Assemble You, bringing over a decade of experience in learning design. She has led teams creating blended programmes, bespoke solutions, and off-the-shelf learning, always with human-centred design at the heart of her work. She now leads the development of Assemble You's audio learning content, solving real organisational challenges from leadership to digital skills.

In this episode, Abi discusses a groundbreaking approach to one of L&D's most dreaded topics: compliance training. She reveals how podcasts can transform this essential but often disengaging subject, including:

1. The Problem with Traditional Compliance: Abi highlights why compliance training often fails—it's too legislation-heavy, irrelevant to daily roles, and seen as a "tick-box" exercise rather than a meaningful learning experience.
2. A Human-Centred Approach: Discover how shifting the focus from the "what" (legislation) to the "why" (personal responsibility) makes learning stick. Abi advocates for using real-world scenarios and expert voices to bring dry topics to life.
3. Compliance You Can Listen To: Learn about Assemble You's innovative audio-first compliance solution. Abi explains how they balance engaging, conversational storytelling with the necessary legislative rigour and robust assessment to ensure organisations remain compliant.
4. Why Podcasts Work for Compliance: Abi argues that podcasts meet learners "where they are," fitting into their daily lives and making complex, intimidating topics approachable through conversation.

Abi offers a fresh and practical perspective on reimagining mandatory training. If you are looking to make your compliance training more engaging, relevant, and effective, this is a must-listen-to episode.

Connect with Abi on LinkedIn: Abi Holmes

And check out our compliance lessons: https://www.assembleyou.com/products/compliance-training

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Nick Lennon-Barrett.

Nick is an award-winning L&D leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformation and building learning cultures. He is the founder of Superpower Mastery and the bestselling author of Organised Chaos: Turbocharge Your ADHD Superpowers. This book blends memoir with practical self-development advice for neurodivergent professionals.

In this episode, Nick shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD late in life and offers a masterclass on turning neurodivergent traits into corporate superpowers. He provides a practical guide for L&D leaders on building inclusive, agile, and human-centric learning environments, including:

• Reframing Neurodivergence: Nick explains how to shift the narrative from "perceived weaknesses" (like emotional regulation struggles) to "inherent strengths" (like hyperfocus, planning, and risk-taking) that can be nurtured into superpowers.
• The "Design, Deliver, Refine" Approach: How to balance business-as-usual with transformation by building flexible, scalable learning solutions that can pivot quickly, rather than relying on rigid end-to-end programs.
• Designing for Different Brains: Practical tips for creating neuro-inclusive learning, such as sending questions in advance, avoiding the "round robin" speaking format, and simply asking people how they prefer to learn.
• Embedded Inclusion: Nick argues that D&I shouldn't be just a standalone initiative, but rather embedded in everything L&D does—for example, featuring diverse characters in compliance training scenarios to make people feel seen.
• Human-Centric Skills in the AI Age: Why "soft skills" like emotional intelligence, curiosity, and inquisitiveness are becoming crucial survival skills in the age of AI, and how this plays to the strengths of many neurodivergent people.

Nick offers an inspiring and actionable perspective on how to navigate the corporate world with neurodivergence and how L&D can build cultures where everyone's unique strengths can shine. If you want to learn how to unlock potential in yourself and your teams, this is a must-listen-to episode.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklennonbarrett/
And check out: Website - Superpower Mastery

Book - https://books2read.com/organisedchaos

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Scott Parkin.

Scott is the Group CEO of the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), an award-winning global body with a mission to support the professionals who help others gain, progress in, and retain work. With nearly 35 years of experience across employment, skills, and social care, Scott has expanded the IEP's reach globally, establishing Centres of Excellence in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

In this episode, Scott explores the vital intersection of employability and skills development. He provides a masterclass on the art of supporting people into work, including:

1. Defining Employability: Scott defines it as the professional "art" of supporting individuals to gain the skills needed to be active in their local labour market.
2. Core Skills for Life: Discover the essential "soft" or "meta" skills that underpin success, including resilience, emotional intelligence, communication, and curiosity, and why these are just as critical as technical qualifications.
3. Early Intervention: Scott advocates for introducing employability and core skills support as early as Year 7 in schools to prevent young people from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
4. AI in Employability: A look at how AI is changing the sector, from reducing administrative burdens to coaching apps. Scott argues that AI should be used to free up time for more human connection, not replace it.

Scott offers a deeply human perspective on a sector that is critical to social and economic well-being. If you are interested in the future of work, skills development, and the power of human connection, this is a must-listen-to episode.

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: Scott Parkin FIEP FRSA

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.