The Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson
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The Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay Johnson

Welcome to The Talent Forge! Where we are shaping the future of training and developmentI am your host, Jay Johnson. Through my 20+ years as a coach, trainer, and leader, I have seen the best and the worst of talent development across the globe. That has inspired and compelled me to create a show that helps other professionals like me navigate the challenging waters of growing people.The Talent Forge isn't your typical tips and tricks podcast. We delve deeper, explore the future, and pioneer new thinking to help our audience achieve transformation with their programs and people. In each episode, we talk with industry thought leaders, dissect real-world case studies, and share actionable strategies to help you future-proof your training programs.  Whether you're a seasoned L&D professional or just starting out, The Talent Forge is your one-stop shop to shape a thriving learning culture within your organization.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Psychology of Presence: How to Connect and Influence Through Body Language with Richard Reid

    Richard Reid takes us on a fascinating journey from his classics degree and IT consulting days to his current role as a psychologist working with executives and organizations.  The discussion opens with a counterintuitive insight: being too polished in your presentation style can actually make people distrustful. Instead, Richard advocates for finding that sweet spot between authentic self-expression and professional delivery.  Whether you're looking to enhance your presence as a trainer, develop stronger connections with your team, or simply communicate more effectively, Richard's insights offer a refreshing blend of psychological depth and practical application. His emphasis on curiosity, authenticity, and psychological safety provides a framework for transforming not just how we present information, but how we connect with others on a fundamental human level. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    42 min

  2. MAY 9

    Bridging Cultures: How Understanding Differences Improves Business Outcomes with Sanjyot Dunung

    Cultural intelligence has become the hidden competitive advantage in today's global business landscape. When your teams can navigate the subtle nuances of cross-cultural communication, everything from customer satisfaction to operational efficiency improves dramatically. Sanjyot Dunung brings her fascinating journey from banker to cultural anthropology expert to this episode, sharing how her unique background—born in India but raised in Chicago—provided the perfect foundation for helping organizations bridge cultural divides.  What sets this conversation apart is the emphasis on measurable business impact. Cultural training isn't presented as a nice-to-have diversity initiative but as a strategic imperative with clear ROI.  Whether you're managing global teams, serving international customers, or simply working in our increasingly diverse workforce, this episode provides practical frameworks for bridging cultural divides. Visit https://www.atmaglobal.com/ to connect with Sanjyot and explore how cultural intelligence can transform your organization's effectiveness. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    45 min

  3. MAY 2

    Digital Overwhelm in the Workplace with Dr. Craig Mattson

    The digital workplace isn't just changing how we work—it's fundamentally altering how we communicate, learn, and connect. After spending years interviewing dozens of Millennial and Gen Z professionals, Dr. Craig Mattson uncovered surprising patterns in how people cope with the constant barrage of platforms, tools, and digital expectations. While popular advice suggests digital minimalism as the solution, Mattson's research reveals a more nuanced reality. For most professionals, simply using fewer tools isn't an option. Instead, developing what he calls "digital flexibility" proves far more effective—the ability to navigate between different communication modes depending on the situation. Whether you're leading remote teams, designing training programs, or simply trying to stay sane in your own digital workday, this conversation provides practical strategies for turning digital overwhelm into digital flexibility. Check out Dr. Mattson's book "Digital Overwhelm" and connect with him at themodeswitch.com to continue the conversation. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    37 min

  4. APR 25

    The 86% Solution: Why Accountability Partners Transform Goal Achievement with Aaron Helton

    What if the leadership development initiatives you're pouring resources into aren't delivering measurable results? In this eye-opening conversation with Aaron Helton, leadership consultant and author, we uncover the science behind truly effective coaching and development programs—and it's all in the numbers. The statistics are startling: people with accountability partners achieve their goals 86% of the time versus just 16% for those going it alone. That's a 70% difference that directly impacts your organization's bottom line. Aaron breaks down how replacing senior executives can cost up to 400% of their annual salary, transforming a modest investment in coaching into a massive ROI. Drawing from his background in industrial organizational psychology and his personal experience as a professional on the autism spectrum, Aaron offers fresh perspectives on working with neurodivergent individuals. His approach centers on meeting people exactly where they are—a philosophy that transcends labels and leads to more inclusive, effective leadership. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    37 min

  5. APR 18

    Beyond Visualization: The Mind-Body Connection That Changes Everything with Dominika Staniewicz

    Could your brain be lying to you? What if everything you thought about motivation and training is fundamentally flawed? In this eye-opening conversation with Dominika Staniewicz, we dive deep into how neuroscience is revolutionizing corporate training and personal development. Drawing from her extensive background as an HR director, career coach, and advisor to the Polish president on education standards, Staniewicz reveals how neuroencoding—a practical application of neuroscience—creates lasting behavioral change by rewiring the brain. Unlike traditional visualization techniques that only engage the visual cortex, neuroencoding involves practicing scenarios with full body engagement before they happen, allowing us to default to optimized behaviors when faced with real-world triggers. Whether you're a training professional looking to enhance your programs, a leader wanting to develop your team more effectively, or someone interested in personal growth, this episode offers practical neuroscience-based strategies that can transform how you approach development. Check out https://yourbraincoachd.com/ to learn more about her work in neuroencoding and brain health. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    46 min

  6. APR 11

    The Dance of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Your Whole Self at Work with Dr. Jennifer Nash

    Dr. Jennifer Nash takes us on a profound journey into what it truly means to lead with humanity in today's complex workplace. Drawing from her background in piano, dance, foreign languages, and eventually the automotive industry, she shares how these seemingly divergent paths converged to form her unique leadership philosophy. Nash reveals the powerful concept behind her book "Be Human, Lead Human," explaining that authentic leadership begins with recognizing that people—not products or services—create organizational value. She articulates how organizations function best when viewed as spaces where people both work and evolve as human beings, rather than merely delivering output. For talent development professionals, Nash offers fresh perspectives on how to incorporate personal passions into professional practice.  Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    53 min

  7. APR 4

    The Elite Mindset: Transforming How Athletes and Executives Reach Their Peak with Gary Chupik

    What separates truly exceptional performers from the merely talented? According to mental performance coach Gary Chupik, it's not motivation, talent, or even discipline—it's self-leadership. Drawing from his extensive work with professional athletes and high-performing executives, Chupik challenges conventional thinking about performance psychology. While most focus on fixing weaknesses, he advocates for a strength-based approach that identifies what's working well and replicates it. This shift in perspective—from the "training room" of mental health to the "gym" of mental performance—reveals hidden reservoirs of potential in even the most accomplished individuals. Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    47 min

  8. MAR 28

    Strategic Storytelling: The Key to Transformational Training with Aleya Harris

    How do you turn mandatory corporate training from a dreaded box-checking exercise into an engaging experience that actually changes behavior? The answer lies in strategic storytelling. In this eye-opening episode, Aleya Harris, a strategic storytelling consultant, reveals how the same storytelling frameworks used in marketing can revolutionize leadership development and corporate training. Drawing from her background as a marketing executive and entrepreneur, Aleya shares how she accidentally discovered the power of storytelling in building high-performing teams and authentic leadership. Whether you're designing onboarding programs, leadership development initiatives, or mandatory compliance training, this episode offers practical strategies to engage participants as active heroes in their own learning journey rather than passive recipients of information.  Meet the Host Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/ Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

    38 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Talent Forge! Where we are shaping the future of training and developmentI am your host, Jay Johnson. Through my 20+ years as a coach, trainer, and leader, I have seen the best and the worst of talent development across the globe. That has inspired and compelled me to create a show that helps other professionals like me navigate the challenging waters of growing people.The Talent Forge isn't your typical tips and tricks podcast. We delve deeper, explore the future, and pioneer new thinking to help our audience achieve transformation with their programs and people. In each episode, we talk with industry thought leaders, dissect real-world case studies, and share actionable strategies to help you future-proof your training programs.  Whether you're a seasoned L&D professional or just starting out, The Talent Forge is your one-stop shop to shape a thriving learning culture within your organization.

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