Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Everyday Studios and former Air Force pilot turned SpaceX training leader, to dive deep into what it really takes to love your work and build a career that fits the life you want.

We talk about:

✅ Matt’s journey from yard work as a teen to the Air Force Academy and pilot training.

✅ How becoming an instructor pilot led to running training at SpaceX for 7,500+ employees.

✅ Why frontline managers hold the key to engagement, retention, and productivity—and what most compa...

Meet Brenda Noon Schmidt, aka Kick-Ass Modern Mom.

She grew up on a cattle ranch on the Arizona/Mexico border, worked six jobs in college (including teaching swim lessons and working at a cigar shop with retired cops), built a career in marketing and finance, and now runs her own business teaching moms how to outsource, delegate, and reclaim their time.

This episode is pure energy. We talk about:

✅ What ranch life taught her about systems and collaboration

✅ How she balanced multiple jobs, paid her way through college, and married an entr...

How do we help our kids (and learners) grow up with AI — without outsourcing all their thinking to it? In this final episode, Gavin shares the behind-the-scenes of his AI academy for kids and what he’s learned about teaching technology in a way that builds curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

We also explore the massive opportunity AI offers L&D professionals to personalize learning and build truly future-ready teams — and what we, as parents and People leaders, need to do right now.

Get to know Gav:

I’m a husband to an ambitious...

At seven years old, Brianna published her first book and dreamed of changing the world. But her path was far from easy. Bullied in school, battling an eating disorder, and starting a business at 16, she learned grit the hard way. Ten years later, after building a successful agency, she burnt it all down to rebuild life and business on her terms — and birthed Overflow, her global movement helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses while actually enjoying their lives.

In this episode, Brianna shares:

Will AI agents replace people? Or will they just free us from the worst parts of work? In this episode, we explore the future of work with AI agents — intelligent tools that don’t just suggest actions, but take them for you.

We talk about automation, emerging roles, job redesign, and how People functions need to get ready — now. Plus: how to help your workforce shift, reskill, and stay relevant in a world where knowledge work is being redefined.

Get to know Gav:

I’m a husband to an ambitious woman and a dad to t...

What does it take to go from working 17 jobs before age 25 to building a business in Dubai, pitching to investors, and living an adventurous, international life?

In this episode, Elena Agaragimova shares her fascinating journey:

➡️ Moving from Russia to the U.S. as a teen and feeling like an outsider

➡️ Changing majors five times and navigating her way through community college

➡️ Traveling the world recruiting students and living out of a suitcase (while sick in Peru!)

➡️ Moving to Dubai, reinventing herself, and launching a startup from scratch

➡️ Facing rejection, ca...

Ever talked about something random and then got an ad for it the next day? You’re not imagining it — and there’s more going on than you think. In this episode, we dive into how AI-driven algorithms shape what we see, hear, and even believe.

We unpack targeted ads, cookies, echo chambers, and why your AI tools are so agreeable — and how that can be dangerous. Plus: how to use prompts like “act as” to break out of the bubble and get AI to challenge you instead of flatter you.

Get to know Gav:

I’m a...

John Kraski has been an ice cream scooper, UPS loader, aspiring airline pilot, Big Four accountant, author, startup exec, LinkedIn content machine, and maybe, just maybe, a future TV producer.

This episode isn’t about climbing a ladder. It’s about realizing the ladder’s against the wrong wall… and having the nerve to build your own.

We get into:

What’s the difference between machine learning and generative AI? What even is a hallucination in AI terms (and is ChatGPT taking mushrooms)? In this episode, Gavin breaks it all down in plain English — no tech jargon required.

We explore how tools like ChatGPT work, what they can really do, and why understanding the difference between prediction and true intelligence matters more than ever. This is your no-BS AI 101 — and every People leader should hear it.

Get to know Gav:

I’m a husband to an ambitious woman and a dad to two curious girl...

Chris Taylor built his first business at 12, selling homemade "devil sticks" at school fairs. Since then, he’s been on a wild ride, from selling knives to crashing hard as a young leader, to rebuilding from his parents' basement and becoming a trailblazer in behavior change and impact measurement.

In this conversation, Chris shares the real behind-the-scenes story: the failure that humbled him, the habits that changed everything, and why he believes L&D must evolve from content delivery to driving measurable behavior change.

He also opens up about building Actionable (a tech platform now used...

How does a kid stacking shelves in a South African supermarket end up advising Fortune 50 CEOs on AI strategy? In this episode, Gavin Bull — now a Principal at AWS — shares his unexpected journey from retail to tech leadership. We talk about the early jobs that shaped his people skills, the realities of moving across three continents, and the career pivots that led him into cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Whether you’re in HR, L&D, or just curious about real-world tech careers, this is a powerful reminder that your starting point doesn’t define your trajectory.

AJ Lauer, EdD: From Shoveling Snow in a Blizzard to Coaching Scientists Through Imposter Syndrome: a Story of Knowing When to Walk Away

What do snow shoveling, hurricanes, and a room full of grandmothers on a ferry have in common? They're all part of Dr. AJ Lauer’s winding, real-life journey to becoming a leadership coach for scientists, engineers, and STEM professionals.

In this episode, AJ shares her incredible path — from her first job trudging through Wisconsin snowstorms to standing on stage as an executive coach and author of My Monster Mungo, an illustrated book about...

Alyssa Willet: From Cleaning Glasses at 13 to Coaching Women to Ditch the Doubt — a Story of Owning Her Voice

What does it really take to own your voice and design a career you actually love?

In this inspiring and refreshingly honest conversation, I sit down with Alyssa Willett—leadership trainer, certified coach, and talent development powerhouse—who shares her journey from cleaning glasses at age 13 in her stepdad’s optometry shop to coaching women to ditch doubt and design lives they're proud of.

We talk about:

✨ Early jobs, leadership lessons, and the power of...

Everyone says people leave bad managers.

But the truth?

People leave when they don’t see a future.

In this video, we unpack why lack of development and growth opportunities has become the #1 reason employees are quitting, and what Learning & Development can actually do about it.

📉 Braverly. Lattice. Gartner. Deloitte.

The data is loud: employees are craving growth, not more eLearning.

So if you work in L&D, HR, Talent, or People Ops, and you’re tired of feeling like you're patching leaks with training courses...

In this powerful episode, we dive into Desiree’s real, raw, and remarkably relatable story. From working in a nursing home at 15 to leading a dementia facility through the pandemic, from personal tragedy to launching a leadership company, Desiree’s path has been anything but smooth. And that’s exactly what makes it worth listening to.

We talk about:

Learning and Development isn’t just a support function—it’s a critical part of how HR delivers on its strategic goals. So why are L&D and HR still working in silos?

In this episode, we explore how learning and development in human resource management can become a true strategic partnership. We’ll unpack:

✅ Why L&D and HR often operate in parallel

✅ What high-impact partnership really looks like

✅ How integrated L&D–HR teams drive better business outcomes

✅ Where to start—even if you don’t have a seat at...

A Story of Strategic Self-Belief

What do a toy store, a dance dream, and cross-country running have in common with a career in data strategy?

Dr. Alaina Szlachta joins Candice Mitchell to unpack the incredible journey from juggling four jobs at 15 to becoming a data-obsessed entrepreneur, real estate investor, and advocate for building a life of intention. In this episode, Alaina reveals the powerful (and painful) lessons learned from early burnout, undercharging as a consultant, and being undervalued by clients — and how she used all of it to design a business and life that actually wo...

Learning and Development (L&D) and Human Resources (HR) aren’t two separate functions, they’re two sides of the same coin.

If you’ve ever felt like L&D is treated as an afterthought, just the training arm of HR or a line item on someone else’s to-do list—this video is for you. In this episode, we unpack what real partnership looks like between HR and L&D, and why that partnership is the key to unlocking better retention, performance, engagement, and business results.

We’ll explore:

✅ Why HR and L&D...

Shelby Kiernan’s story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the fluffy kind, but the real, raw, what-am-I-worth-now kind. After 12 years in a job she loved, Shelby was laid off and faced a new kind of challenge: rebuilding confidence in a world that quietly tells older women they're past their prime.

In this episode, we trace Shelby’s journey — from her teenage jobs in small-town Wyoming to leading teams in higher education, healthcare, and beyond. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, why being “good with people” is the job, and how she rebuilt her career through 65+ face-to-face c...

They’ve been calling L&D “order takers” since 1975... and it’s still happening.

In this eye-opening episode, we get real about what’s holding Learning and Development professionals back — and how to finally break the cycle.

Candice shares the exact practical framework she uses with corporate clients to align learning initiatives with real business KPIs (and no, it's not just about collecting smile sheets).

You’ll walk away with:

A story of discovering her calling the long way around

When Stacey dropped out of high school in her senior year, she didn’t have a plan — but she did have grit, curiosity, and a quiet belief that things would work out. In this deeply honest episode, Stacey Oliver-Knappe shares the real story behind her career in Learning & Development: from smelling like peanut oil while cleaning fryers at Chick-fil-A, to working at Walt Disney World, and eventually finding herself training teams in Paris (without speaking French).

We talk about mental health, workplace politics, growing up in c...

After the burnout, the misunderstandings, and the never-ending “can you just run a quick training?” requests, this episode is your reminder of why Learning & Development is still one of the most impactful, strategic, and fulfilling careers out there.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why L&D is the infrastructure behind business sustainability

✨ How AI is changing the game (and why L&D is future-proof if you stay strategic)

✨ What makes this work so meaningful, even when it’s hard

✨ The business skills every L&D pro needs to build long-term credibility

✨ And how t...

When Anna and her husband inherited the family business, they thought they’d have time. Time to learn. Time to be mentored by his grandfather—the man who built it. But just a few months after they took over, he passed away unexpectedly… and they were left holding the keys with no playbook.

In this episode, Anna shares what it really looked like to navigate that kind of loss—while keeping the business alive. We talk about what it’s like to run a legacy company for 30 years, the customer story that completely changed her business model, and how a...

If you've ever been asked to fix company culture in a two-hour workshop… or deliver “quick training” with zero context, you're not alone.

This episode dives deep into one of the biggest challenges facing Learning & Development professionals today: managing expectations.

We explore:

🎯 Why L&D expectations are so confusing (and where that history comes from)

📍 What you are actually responsible for (hint: it's not being the company therapist)

🚫 What you aren’t responsible for (say goodbye to being the catch-all solution)

🧠 How to reframe conversations and position yourself as...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not built for the corporate mold—or like the traditional career path just isn’t it, this conversation is your permission slip to do it your way.

In this vibrant, raw, and wickedly insightful episode, I sit down with Mark Gaisford, a video strategist who went from delivering pizzas and motorbike couriering around London to leading a recruitment firm, getting diagnosed with ADHD at 52, and eventually building a business that fits him (not the other way around).

We talk about:

If you work in Learning & Development, you already know, this job is a rollercoaster.

One day you’re facilitating transformation. The next? You’re being asked to “just make it an eLearning.” 🙃

In this episode, we’re talking about what it really feels like to work in L&D:

✅ The highs that make it all worth it

✅ The lows that leave you questioning everything

✅ The emotional whiplash of being essential and invisible

✅ And how to lead with confidence, without burning out

Whether you’re just starting...

This is a story of listening deeply, leading differently, and standing for what matters.

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Andrew Jacobs — independent learning strategist, podcaster, and longtime L&D disruptor — for one of the most honest, wide-ranging conversations we've had yet. From pricing soda cans in the '80s to reshaping L&D in the fire service and public sector, Andrew's story is full of unexpected turns, hard-won lessons, and a level of self-awareness that's rare in any field.

We talk about what it means to put work in i...

Forget the LinkedIn highlight reels—today we’re getting real about working in Learning & Development.

You’ve probably seen posts like:

👉 “Launched a leadership program!”

👉 “Facilitated onboarding for 80 new hires!”

👉 “So grateful to be in this role!”

But what about the real moments?

Like being asked to whip up a training by Friday.

Or being mistaken for the compliance person.

Or constantly explaining that, no, you don’t just make slides.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on w...

Lavinia Mehedințu: From Quiet Teen in a Romanian Village to L&D’s Loudest Cheerleader: A Story of Saying No, Leading Anyway, and Building What Didn’t Exist

She said no to people management. Dropped out of university. Burned out building Offbeat. And still? She built one of the boldest L&D communities on the planet.

She said no to people management. Dropped out of university. Burned out building Offbeat. And still? She built one of the boldest L&D communities on the planet.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lavinia Mehedin...

Ever struggle to explain what you actually do in L&D? You’re not alone.

If you’ve ever mumbled something like, “I create training” while knowing deep down that your role is so much more—this episode is for you.

👀 In this episode, I break down the REALITY of working in Learning & Development, and why it’s time to reframe our work as Talent Enablement. Because you don’t just build courses…

👉 You build capability.

👉 You grow leaders.

👉 You make strategy happen.

🎙 We’ll cover:

What do mowing lawns, being “too social,” and moving your family across the world have in common?

They’re all part of Andy Storch’s journey, from drifting through early career choices to building a purpose-driven life and business. In this episode, Andy and I swap stories on the underestimated power of journaling, why your "weakness" might actually be your greatest strength, and the reality of making trade-offs in your career and your life. He opens up about the conversation that crushed him—and the leader who built a new role around his true strengths. We talk cancer, mi...

Pull up a chair... this episode is a coffee chat with two brilliant minds in Learning and Development who followed wildly different paths to end up co-authoring a book that’s about to change the L&D game.

Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor didn’t plan to work together. In fact, they didn’t even meet in person until after their first joint workshop. But from different sides of the world and through radically different journeys—one with a laser focus on L&D from the start, the other with some unexpected detours through programming, consulting, and digital...

If you've ever felt stuck in a role that didn’t reflect your potential — this episode is your permission slip to dream bigger and move boldly.

In this powerful conversation, JB Ryan shares her career story — from waiting tables in Johannesburg and working as a bank teller, to leading a billion-dollar sales team in the U.S. and writing a book on confident public speaking.

We talk about career growth, learning and development, making the leap into new industries, and how grit (and a little exposure) can change everything. Whether you're in the thick of your o...

If you’re tired of being seen as the “training person”… if you’re done waiting for a seat at the table… this is the episode where everything changes.

In Episode 4 of this series, we’re talking about what it really takes to go from order-taker to strategic partner—and finally be seen as a business-critical leader in Learning & Development.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why most L&D professionals are stuck in support mode—and how to shift out of it

✅ What business leaders actually care ab...

You’re in for a treat (and probably a few spit-take laughs) in this episode with Jo Watson – the copywriter hired by people with great taste in copywriters.

We go back in time to awkward teenage work placements, waitress tips from nuns, misogyny in football, and that moment Jo literally walked out of a toxic meeting — holiday booked, no job lined up, zero regrets. This is what it really looks like to build a business on integrity, humour, and no time for BS.

Jo and I talk about what no one’s saying e...

Let’s be real, most L&D measurement? It’s garbage.

Completion rates, smiley sheets, post-training quizzes… they might look good in a report, but they don’t prove business impact. And leadership knows it.

In this episode, I break down exactly why traditional L&D metrics fall short—and how to start tracking what actually matters. You’ll learn how to:

And I’ve g...

This is a story of quiet confidence and big impact. In this episode, I talk with nonprofit learning strategist Heather Burright about the real impact Learning & Development can have—beyond the slide deck.

We dive into how she accidentally fell in love with instructional design, the power of raising your hand for opportunities, and how to earn respect in a field where you’re often told to "just make it blue." She shares the behind-the-scenes of creating life-saving training for doulas and midwives, building boundaries in work-life, and navigating long-distance love (spoiler: it started in a bar).

Most L&D teams get this completely backward.

They lead with training instead of business strategy—and then wonder why nothing changes.

In this episode, we’re flipping the script.

I’ll walk you through the exact 5-step method I use—called the L&D Satellite View—to align learning with business priorities. This isn’t about running more workshops. It’s about positioning L&D as the function that drives performance, retention, and real business results.

You’ll learn:

Danny Del Vecchio: From Cabana Boy to Video Content King of LinkedIn — a story of grit, growth, and getting paid to be yourself online

What if your lowest moment was actually the beginning of your best chapter?

In this episode, I’m joined by Danny Del Vecchio, the video content strategist behind some of LinkedIn’s most recognizable creators. But before the consistent $30K months and shout-outs from big names, Danny was a cabana boy making tip money on the beach, a burned-out sales director caught in a corporate fraud scandal (yep, really), and a podcas...

In this kickoff episode of the Strategic L&D for Business Impact series, we’re getting straight to the heart of what it really means to be strategic in learning and development.

If you’re tired of being seen as a support function—if you’re done with L&D being the first to get cut when budgets shrink—this episode will challenge how you think, and change how you show up.

We’ll dig into: