DevLearn remains one of the most reliable indicators of where corporate learning is heading. This learning and development conference is where ideas are tested, where experiments are shared, and where learning leaders gather to make sense of what is changing and what truly matters. At DevLearn 2025, the Being Intrepid team recorded six conversations live at the conference and created a holiday-themed podcast series called DevLearn Unwrapped.
Taken together, these six episodes reveal a clear message. While technology continues to accelerate, the fundamentals of human learning remain the bedrock of effective development. The organizations that will succeed in 2026 are not the ones that adopt the most tools. They are the ones that take a disciplined approach to performance, empower their teams with clarity and confidence, and use AI in ways that support real capability building.
Below is Intrepid’s perspective on what each episode signals for learning leaders planning the year ahead.
Episode 1: AI Skills, New Roles, and the Human Machine Future of L&D
Featuring Josh Cavalier
AI adoption has moved beyond experimentation. Learning leaders are now being asked to operationalize it. In our conversation with Josh Cavalier, one of the most recognized voices in AI for learning, it became clear that success depends less on the tools themselves and more on the human expertise that organizes them.
Josh described a shift from casual prompting to structured workflow design. The most mature teams are creating repeatable processes that blend human insight with machine capabilities. They are automating assets while strengthening their ability to focus on more complex design and stakeholder alignment. His concept of a Human Machine Performance Analyst points to a role that understands both the business problem and the mechanics of AI supported development.
For learning leaders, the takeaway is practical. Start with the work, not the technology. Identify where speed, consistency, or cognitive load create bottlenecks. Build small but durable AI workflows around those tasks. And create communities inside the organization where teams can share prompt patterns, mistakes, and experiments without fear. AI maturity grows faster when collaboration is intentional.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Episode 2: Spaced Learning, Cognitive Science, and Real Performance
Featuring Clark Quinn
While new tools dominate the conversation at DevLearn, Clark Quinn’s episode offered an important reminder. The science of how people learn has not changed. A program succeeds when it aligns with how the brain takes in information, forms memories, and turns insight into behavior.
Clark outlined why spaced learning remains one of the most reliable strategies for retention and transfer. He cautioned against misusing terms like microlearning and learning in the flow, which often signal convenience rather than cognitive alignment. And he reinforced the difference between knowledge checks and real capability building, a distinction that becomes even more important in an AI heavy content environment.
For Intrepid, this episode reinforces something central to our philosophy. Technology can accelerate production, but it cannot determine whether learning is structured in a way that improves performance. The role of the learning professional is to design with cognition and learning theories in mind. Spacing, retrieval, application, and social learning still shape outcomes. These elements matter whether content is created by a person or supported by AI.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Episode 3: Practical GenAI for L&D Teams
Featuring Nick Bird
Many organizations are still searching for real examples of AI in learning creating measurable value. Nick Bird delivered exactly that. His team at American Tire Distributors began with a simple challenge related to audio quality and used AI to produce clearer, more consistent output in less time. That early success opened the door to more ambitious use cases.
Nick explained how his team built prompt templates to scale scenario creation and shift weeks of development into days. They used RAG and AI enabled search inside the LMS to support frontline workers. They also compared tools like GPT, Claude, and Gemini to determine which was best suited for different instructional tasks.
The principle is clear and aligns tightly with Intrepid’s view of applied learning. Start with meaningful work. Prove value with a specific use case. Expand deliberately. Avoid AI for its own sake. And support the people doing the work so that their confidence grows along with their capability. This approach builds momentum without overwhelming teams or creating unnecessary complexity.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Episode 4: The Future of Virtual Facilitation in the Age of AI
Featuring Cindy Huggett
Virtual learning continues to evolve, yet many organizations still rely on adaptations created during the urgent pivots of 2020. In our conversation with Cindy Huggett, one of the most respected voices in virtual facilitation, the central message was clear. Virtual learning succeeds when it is designed with purpose and delivered with skill, not when it is treated as a simple translation of classroom content.
Cindy described how AI is expanding what is possible. Live translation allows global cohorts to engage more confidently. Intelligent captioning supports accessibility. Avatars enable participation without requiring a camera, which increases inclusivity and reduces fatigue. At the same time, she emphasized that human connection remains the engine of a successful virtual session. Technology can enhance experiences, but it cannot replace the presence, judgment, and adaptability of a skilled facilitator.
For learning leaders strengthening virtual capability, this episode signals that the future will require a blend of design discipline, human connection, and AI supported enhancements. Virtual learning is no longer an emergency measure. It is a strategic asset that can scale reach without sacrificing learner engagement.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Episode 5: Agile Learning, AI, and Designing for Change
Featuring Megan Torrance
Speed, alignment, and adaptability are increasingly essential for learning teams. According to Megan Torrance, the combination of Agile methods and thoughtful AI adoption gives L&D a clearer path toward meeting business needs with greater consistency and less rework.
Her Lean Learning Agile Methods Approach (LLAMA) framework shows how traditional Agile concepts can be translated into practical routines for learning teams. Kickoff rituals, iteration cycles, and structured communication make work more transparent and manageable. Her Design for Change mindset encourages teams to anticipate the parts of a program most likely to shift and build flexibility into the design.
Megan also provided a helpful model for AI adoption across three zones. Personal productivity, learner facing tools, and process level change each require different mindsets and governance. This structured approach prevents the shiny object problem and keeps attention on the business outcomes the learning team exists to support.
For learning leaders, Megan’s insights reinforce the need for operational clarity. Tools only matter if the underlying workflow is sound. Design quality only scales when adaptability is built into the process. And AI only delivers value when teams use it with intention.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Episode 6: Imposter Syndrome, L&D Confidence, and Navigating AI Change
Featuring Betty Dannewitz
The final episode brought the human side of L&D into focus. Betty Dannewitz explored how imposter syndrome affects learning professionals across levels and roles. Her interviews reveal that self-doubt often increases during periods of technological change, especially when AI appears to match or surpass tasks that once relied entirely on human skill.
Betty emphasized that this emotional response is normal, but it becomes a barrier when people interpret it as evidence of inadequacy. Her practical reframing strategies encourage learning professionals to remember their existing expertise, name what they bring to the work, and view AI as a partner rather than a threat. She also reminded us that learners experience similar feelings when they encounter new content, and that acknowledging this reality can strengthen learning design.
For organizations adopting AI, this episode is a critical reminder. Confidence is as important as capability. Psychological safety influences experimentation, collaboration, and performance. Investing in the emotional resilience of the team is not separate from operational excellence. It supports it.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Why DevLearn Unwrapped Matters for Learning Leaders in 2026
Across the six episodes, a set of shared themes emerged.
- AI is accelerating work, but learning professionals remain essential to designing for performance.
- Cognitive science still anchors the most effective learning strategies.
- Operational agility is now a strategic requirement for L&D.
- Virtual learning cannot rely on past adaptations. It must evolve with purpose.
- Learners and practitioners need confidence and safety as the landscape shifts.
At Intrepid, we believe the most effective learning experiences engage people in solving real problems together and applying ideas in context. The insights from DevLearn Unwrapped reinforce this belief and highlight how AI, agile methods, virtual design, cognitive science, and human connection will shape the year ahead.
As you plan your 2026 strategy, we hope this series provides clarity and momentum. Subscribe to Being Intrepid on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.
