It’s the last working week for me in 2024 and I’m taking the opportunity to look back on the most read, commented, liked, and shared posts on the last 12 months. We’re at number two and count down to number one tomorrow.

The second most shared and engaged with post was from February. We wrote how we wanted to expand the list of speakers for the Women Talking About Learning podcast. The response was incredible; some 10k+ views, comments, likes, and reposts later we had assembled a list of guests which has carried us through the whole year and into May 2025.

I have always said how the podcast is my favourite activity in workplace L&D. I get to hear really smart people say smart stuff all the time. I get to meet people who I’d never have been able to, and engage with communities and groups in a way I’d never anticipated.

The post has demonstrated the enduring power of the podcast. We’ve just hit 100 episodes and recorded a special episode to reflect upon it.

I know some people feel uncomfortable that a man is introducing and co-producing a podcast called Women Talking About Learning! I was recently asked about allyship (a hateful word) and this is about using my male privilege to make things better for other people. Behaving fairly rather than saying ‘behave fairly’. As I have always said, if a team of women want to take it over they are more than welcome as long as:

• The fortnightly release is maintained
• The podcast is free at the point of entry requiring neither registration nor payment to access it
• It remains unsponsored and free of advertising; sponsorship creates editorial influence over topics and the podcast is not an advertorial

I ‘know’ the podcast has had an impact. 250+ guests later we regularly receive messages from them about opportunities which the podcast has created, as well as from listeners who have listened and then taken their first steps in podcasting. We have had more first time podcast guests than any other podcast I know and that pleases me immensely.

To our listeners, we appreciate you massively. We know we have regular listeners and you are the core of why we do this. To our guests, as always, the podcast is nothing without you. To the people who haven’t listened yet, what’s keeping you!