What’s the worst thing about driving?

Ask any bibliophile this question and they will all give you the same answer: not being able to read.

All that wasted time, commuting to and from work, wilisten to thout a book in your hands!

Luckily, that’s why audiobooks and their more updated cousins, podcasts, were born. You can learn new things no matter what else you’re supposed to be doing (driving, folding laundry, listening to your significant other) and all it takes is a quick download.

This is especially important for eLearning and training professionals—you’re super busy, but still somehow have to find time to keep up on industry changes and best practices.

To help you out, I’ve scoured the web to find the most pertinent, accessible, and well-done podcasts focused on eLearning, learning management systems, and online training. Even better—they’re all free, so you don’t need to give up that daily chai latte in order to have a more fulfilling commute.

1. The eLearning Coach Podcast

Connie Malamed of the eLearning Coach blog started this podcast in 2013. This is a great listen if you’re into the cutting edge of eLearning and instructional design.

Malamed covers some of the hottest, freshest topics in the space such as designing learning games, Tin Can API, and creating infographics. She also interviews a ton of interesting people such as the author of “Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence,”a learning executive for the BBC, and one of the original innovators behind the Tin Can API.

Everyone in the eLearning space from course designers to instructors can get something out of this series.

Listen on iTunes.

2. Eye on ISD

An infrequent but persistent series (every time I think they’re done, they release a new episode), Eye on ISD brings a lot to the table with its episodes focused on instructional systems design.

Host Chris Mangione covers topics ranging from adaptive design, eLearning buzzwords, badge-based award systems, and interviews with eLearning and instructional design professionals.

Listen on iTunes.

3. The GoodPractice Podcast

Over the course of more than 80 episodes since 2016, host and instructional design manager Ross Garner delves into a wide variety of topics relating to eLearning and design. Garner talks about both the HR and corporate training landscape, including gamification, compliance training, and the true meaning of the term agile.

You can tune in on iTunes or via Spotify.

4. The Online Course Coach Podcast

Wondering why good courses fail? What about ways to market your solo course material? Or even how to teach offbeat material online? Jeff Long has your back, with over 50 episodes devoted to how to design and run the most effective eLearning content you can.

This series is especially useful if you’re a solo or contract content designer, but everyone can get something out of this great series.

Find it on iTunes or Spotify.

5. Rod’s Pulse Podcast

Rodney Murray, the head of academic technology at the University of the Sciences in Pennsylvania, has been running this podcast since 2006. He’s syndicated on and sponsored by Inside Higher Ed and covers everything eLearning tech-focused.

With over 160 episodes over more than a decade (and still going strong!), Murray delves into upcoming eLearning trends, interviews educators and instructional designers, and looks into how to flip classrooms. His clear knowledge of the space makes his content helpful and applicable, and on his blog he includes a full list of show notes with links to resources mentioned in each episode.

Murray is focused on the academic side of eLearning, rather than corporate training, so much of the material relates to things such as Blackboard and other academic-focused tools, but much of his advice is still broadly applicable and offers a lot for business-minded listeners.

Listen on iTunes.

6. Trends & Issues in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, and Learning Sciences

Hosted by Abbie Brown and Tim Gree, professors of instructional design, this podcast publishes every two weeks, and serves as a great roundup of industry news, trends, and developments. The series boasts over 100 episodes and a consistent update schedule—hard traits to find in the eLearning podcast space.

Each episode recommends and analyzes articles from the previous two weeks, makes predictions on learning technology, and adds some great commentary on eLearning as an industry.

Topics covered include how wearable devices will affect eLearning, technologies for student engagement, and augmented reality. Again, this podcast is available in both audio-only and video formats, allowing you to choose the format that holds your interest the best.

Listen to it on iTunes.

Honorable mentions

Some podcasts are gems, but they’re gems that haven’t been updated in a while. Here’s two:

1. E-Learning Academy

Aimed squarely at corporate eLearning practitioners, this podcast hosted by Alison Bickford of Connect Thinking ended in 2014, but you’ll still find nearly 50 hours of excellent content on iTunes.

With topics from how to integrate an LMS into your training, to how to create great video course, to examinations of blended learning trends, the podcast covers a lot of ground.

While most of the episodes are actually done in video format, rather than just audio, you can still play it in MP3 format while you drive. The video accompaniment is supplemental, not essential.

Find it on iTunes.

2. eLearning Stuff

With almost 90 episodes, eLearning Stuff is a potpourri of a show, with different hosts covering a wide mix of eLearning topics each episode. James Clay, the primary host, is the former head of ILT and Learning Resources for City of Oxford College, Banbury & Bicester College, and Reading College.

The eLearning Stuff team, based in the U.K., discusses social learning, e-books and their place in education, as well as eLearning and learning technology conferences.

Though the podcast ended in 2016, their material still remains relevant and interesting, and is worth listening to.

Listen on iTunes.

What’s your favorite eLearning podcast?

Do you have a favorite eLearning podcasts you just can’t enough of? Add them in the comments or tweet me @CapterraHalden!

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