Visit us at https://www.thelearningnerds.com

Let me ask you something…

What if the very thing that makes you successful…

is also the thing slowly burning you out?

Because if you’re in Learning and Development — or really any high-performing role — you’ve probably told yourself some version of this:

“I just need to push a little harder.”
“I care too much to step back.”
“I’ll rest when this is done.”

But what if that mindset is exactly what’s costing you your energy… your relationships… and eventually, your ability to do your best work?

Today’s guest, Erika Coleman, calls herself a recovering overachiever — and not in a cute, throwaway way.

She built a million-dollar training company…
worked with top organizations…
and then hit burnout so hard… she had to step away and rebuild from scratch.

And here’s where it gets interesting:

She didn’t just recover — she went deep into the science of stress, motivation, and performance…
and came back with a powerful idea:

You don’t have to give your all… to give your best.

So today, we’re digging into something every L&D professional — and honestly every high performer — struggles with:

How do you stay ambitious…
drive results…
and still build a life that doesn’t leave you completely depleted?

Because if success is costing you everything else…

Is it really success?

Let’s dive in.

Three Key Take-Aways

1. You don’t need 100% effort to deliver your best—sustainable energy beats burnout.

2. It’s the constant small stressors that drain you—build recovery into your day.

3. Stop competing with yourself—protect your energy like it’s your most valuable asset.

About Our Guest:

Erika is a speaker, consultant and recovering overachiever. She believes most successful people are getting accomplishment wrong. Erika founded a million-dollar virtual training company that serviced some of the top organizations in the world. Her curiosity about stress, motivation, and well-being led her to a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from Harvard University. Her recent TEDx talk has reached more than 30,000 views in just 3 weeks. Erika imagines a world where no one needs to choose between achieving their goals and building a life worth living.

Join the Conversation:

Tune in, reflect, and take action — because success without the stress begins with you!

Connect with Erika:

• 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-coleman-1591b435/
• 🎤 TEDx Talk: erikastedtalk.com
• 🌐 Website: erikacolemanspeaks.com
• 📸 Instagram: @evenachieving
• 📧 Email: erika@sageshipway.com
  
  
  

And she’s got a great free resource for you:
Take the Sustainable Performance Scorecard at 👉balanceyourteam.com
— to see if you or your team are thriving… or quietly heading toward burnout.

Connect with the NERDS:

• Email: nerds@thelearningnerds.com
• Facebook: Learning Nerds
• Instagram: @FabLearningNerds
• Website: www.thelearningnerds.com

🎧 Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,

#LearningAndDevelopment #workplaceburnout #stressmanagementatwork #highperformancehabits #employeewellbeing #leadershipdevelopment #productivitywithoutburnout #LDstrategy #professionalgrowth #worklifebalance

Visit us at https://www.thelearningnerds.com

What if the problem isn’t your content… it’s your influence?

In today’s episode, Scott, Daniel, and Sam unpack one of the biggest shifts happening in Learning and Development right now: the move from content creator to strategic influencer.

Because let’s be honest—most L&D teams are busy. Busy building decks. Busy editing videos. Busy launching courses. But busy doesn’t always mean impactful. And content alone doesn’t earn you a seat at the table.

We dive into what actually drives impact: aligning with business KPIs, building executive empathy, earning trust through quick wins, and telling a data story that leadership can’t ignore. We also explore how AI can either trap you in order-taking mode—or free you up to think strategically and lead differently.

If you’re ready to shift from being the person who “builds the training” to the partner who shapes performance and drives results, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Content doesn’t earn influence — results do.
Executives don’t measure success by how many courses you launch. They measure it by behavior change, KPI movement, and business outcomes. Tie everything you build to performance.

2️⃣ Quick wins build trust — and trust builds a seat at the table.
Influence isn’t declared, it’s earned. Deliver small, visible value aligned to leadership priorities and you’ll create momentum for bigger strategic conversations.

3️⃣ AI should free you to think, not trap you in production mode.
Use AI to save time on execution — then reinvest that time in strategy, executive empathy, and telling a compelling data story.

Visit us at https://www.thelearningnerds.com

AI is everywhere right now—but let’s be honest… most AI training is falling flat.
In this episode, the Fabulous Learning Nerds dig into why that happens—and what to do differently.

We go beyond shiny tools and trendy demos to unpack the real reason AI initiatives fail: teaching buttons instead of thinking. You’ll hear a live, behind-the-scenes build of a course on why AI training doesn’t stick, a head-to-head comparison of AI tools for presentation and content development, and practical insights on how to use AI as a collaborator—not a crutch.

If you’ve ever walked out of an AI session feeling overwhelmed, unconvinced, or unsure how any of it actually helps your work… this episode is for you. We’re talking skills over tools, research over shortcuts, and how to design AI-powered learning that actually lands with your audience.

Key Takeaways

1. AI training fails when we teach tools instead of skills
   Real impact comes from teaching how to think, frame problems, and evaluate outputs—not just where to click or what prompt to paste.
2. AI is only as good as the research and inspection behind it
   Speed is powerful, but unchecked AI output creates risk. Effective users validate, iterate, and treat AI like a collaborator—not an autopilot.
3. When used intentionally, AI can dramatically accelerate content creation
   From course design to presentations, AI can cut development time and improve structure—if you understand your audience and design for engagement first.