Looking to turn generative AI from a looming threat into your next L&D superpower?

In this high-energy episode of the Learnit Lounge Podcast, host Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, unpacks the real and present revolution that generative AI is bringing to learning and development. Mickey dives straight into the hopes—and the fears—swirling through L&D, sharing his own journey from skeptical experimenter to AI enthusiast who now considers these tools his “superpower.”

With real-world stories, tactical use cases, and concrete strategies, Mickey reveals how forward-thinking L&D pros are leveraging AI as a creative partner rather than a competitor. From custom GPT tools to actionable client insights, Mickey details practical ways to use AI for stakeholder prep, data analytics, storytelling, and more—while emphasizing that the ultimate differentiator will always be your human expertise. If you’re ready to shift from apprehension to action and reimagine your L&D practice, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How the L&D field can move past AI fear and turn new tools into an integrated advantage
2. The four practical use cases for generative AI that are already leveling up learning teams
3. Why stakeholder preparation is being transformed by AI-powered research and data
4. How generative AI can generate stories and diagnostic prompts to spark better conversations
5. Ways AI is revolutionizing analytics and measurement for learning programs
6. The mindset shift L&D leaders need: why experimentation, not perfection, is the new must-have skill.

Timestamps:

00:01 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge Podcast and Mickey’s introduction

00:44 – Where L&D stands in the AI timeline: not too late, not too early

01:02 – Common fears: Will AI replace instructional designers?

01:13 – The critical distinction: AI won’t replace you, but someone using it well might

01:33 – The opportunity: Integrating AI as today’s “collaboration layer”

02:07 – Real-life AI use cases now—not the future

02:25 – Four game-changing use cases for generative AI in L&D

02:34 – Stakeholder preparation: using AI for deep client insights

03:13 – Diagnostic design: better prompts for deeper learning conversations

03:37 – AI-generated storytelling as a tool for learning experiences

03:47 – Measurement & analytics: turning a mountain range of data into action

04:19 – Mickey’s personal AI “origin story”—from bedtime books to business superpower

05:22 – Using AI to prep for client meetings and simulate learner personas

06:00 – It’s about multiplying your capability, not just saving time

06:26 – The big takeaway: don’t wait to be “ready”—jump in and experiment

07:01 – L&D as the bridge between tech and talent

07:44 – It’s not AI versus L&D—it’s AI + L&D that wins

About Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD

Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, helps people lead like humans first. As a Human Skills Facilitator at Learnit, she designs and leads workshops that turn everyday challenges—like feedback, burnout, and prioritization—into practical, people-centered skills. Her workshops are equal parts research, real talk, and humor, creating learning experiences that actually stick.

Before joining Learnit, Mickey spent two decades in higher education leadership,...

The world of corporate learning is transforming fast—and nobody knows it better than this week’s guest, Thomas Fenstermacher. On this episode of The Learnit Lounge Podcast, host Mickey Fitch-Collins chats with Thomas about the seismic shifts facing Learning & Development (L&D) professionals today, from the rise of data-driven training to the power (and pitfalls) of AI. Whether you’re an experienced instructional designer or exploring a new L&D career, this is your backstage pass to what’s changing, what’s trending, and what actually works inside organizations.

From first-generation college struggles to facilitating executive workshops, Thomas shares his candid perspective on why human skills, curiosity, and improv might be your best assets in an age obsessed with metrics. If you want to be a strategic learning leader—not just a trainer—this episode will help you spot new opportunities, navigate digital-first cultures, and rethink how you measure success. You’ll walk away inspired to lead with more connection, adaptability, and business acumen—while avoiding the most common industry traps.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The surprising evolution of L&D roles: Why in-person “soft skills” are missing from today’s job descriptions—and why that’s a problem for organizations.
2. What makes a true strategic business partner: How to move beyond “smile sheets” and deliver real impact for your organization.
3. The myth (and reality) of “AI Ready” workplaces: What AI tools mean for training, and how to balance tech with human connection.
4. Metrics that matter: How to report outcomes leaders actually care about—and why aligning with business goals is non-negotiable.
5. Essential skills for modern L&D pros: The role of improv, theater, and lifelong curiosity in engaging learners and embracing change.
6. Hard truths about leadership: Why failure is more valuable than success, and how outdated management styles persist (plus what you can do about it)

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing The Learnit Lounge and Mickey Fitch-Collins

02:01 – Why “what’s next” in L&D matters now

03:05 – How L&D roles have shifted: Data vs. connection

04:37 – The lost art of facilitation (and why it still matters)

06:44 – Personal stories: Overcoming bad teaching and building skills

10:12 – What future L&D leaders really need to know

12:08 – Improv and theater: The secret sauce for engagement

16:13 – Becoming a strategic partner, not just a trainer

20:42 – AI-ready organizations: What’s real and what’s hype

26:47 – Which metrics matter most—and which don’t

30:15 – Aligning metrics with business priorities

32:38 – Leadership lessons from failure

34:29 – The uncomfortable truth about senior leaders

36:41 – Where to find Thomas online

37:31 – Mickey’s closing thoughts and calls to action

About Thomas Fenstermacher

Thomas Fenstermacher is a passionate educator, facilitator, and L&D thought leader with experience across higher ed, healthcare, and corporate training. As a first-generation college grad with degrees from both coasts, Thomas overcame personal and academic obstacles to become a dynamic speaker and workshop instructor. He’s delivered training sessions nationwide—including at the Training Industry Strategy Summit—and is known for his...

Winning teams don’t move forward on metrics alone—they move with compelling stories that spark action. In this energizing solo episode of the Learnit Lounge Podcast, host Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, reveals the secret to making dashboards and data come alive for executives and stakeholders. If you’ve ever sweated over a report only to have it fall flat in the boardroom, this episode will change the way you communicate impact. Mickey walks you through turning data into narratives that influence decisions, drive business outcomes, and inspire real organizational change.

You’ll hear why storytelling trumps spreadsheets, how to tailor your message for different leaders, and the three questions every dashboard should answer. If your dashboards don’t spark action, Mickey tells you why—and exactly what to do about it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why executives don’t care about your completion rates (and what they actually want instead)
2. How to use the “What happened / So what / Now what?” framework to turn dashboards into stories
3. The surprising metric that matters most: trust and confidence, not just outputs
4. How segmenting your audience (CFOs vs. sales leaders) maximizes impact
5. What Mickey learned from distilling 15 metrics into 1 powerful slide—and what changed after
6. Why leading with narrative sparks action, while leading with spreadsheets leaves people cold

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge Podcast, and this week’s topic

00:43 – Why executives need stories, not just reports

01:12 – The limits of Kirkpatrick, NPS, and completion rates

01:33 – What leaders really want to know from your data

01:38 – The power of trust and confidence as a learning metric

01:52 – Storytelling as an “engine of change” (Keith Ferrazzi’s Open360 model)

02:09 – Building dashboards with narrative first

02:15 – The “What happened / So what / Now what?” framework

02:33 – Segmenting your dashboard for different leadership roles

02:42 – Mickey’s pivotal dashboard moment: From overload to clarity

03:12 – The three questions every story-driven dashboard answers

03:20 – What happened once Mickey changed her storytelling approach

03:40 – Why great dashboards catalyze action, not just analysis

03:48 – If your dashboard isn’t sparking action, it isn’t done

04:01 – The ultimate goal: Drive the business forward, not build reports

04:10 – Closing: How to tell better stories and spread the impact

About Mickey Fitch-Collins

Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD helps people lead like humans first. As a Human Skills Facilitator at Learnit, she designs and leads workshops that turn everyday challenges—like feedback, burnout, and prioritization—into practical, people-centered skills. Her workshops are equal parts research, real talk, and humor, creating learning experiences that actually stick.

Before joining Learnit, Mickey spent two decades in higher education leadership, where she coached and supervised hundreds of professionals through growth, change, and conflict while helping students graduate. That experience fuels her belief that strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about building trust, curiosity, and connection.

Whether she’s facilitating a workshop, hosting The Learnit Lounge podcast, leading a panel, or sharing insights on LinkedIn, her goal stays the...