Training Impact Podcast

In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter sits down with Adam Gaedke of ⁠Freddy Media⁠ to explore how influencer-driven marketing is transforming the automotive industry—and what it means for dealers, brands, and channel performance.
Freddy Media is redefining how companies connect with customers by leveraging a powerful network of social media influencers. Instead of relying on traditional advertising, they help automotive brands build trust, awareness, and demand through authentic, grassroots content that reflects real dealership experiences.
Adam shares how Freddy Media partners with companies to not only market their products, but also help sell them into dealership networks. By combining deep automotive expertise with modern marketing strategies, they focus on driving adoption, increasing revenue, and improving the bottom line for their partners.
A major theme in the conversation is trust. The automotive industry has long struggled with transparency, but influencer content—showing real service work, day-to-day operations, and honest interactions—helps break down those barriers. When customers engage with a dealership on social media before ever walking through the door, their confidence and buying experience fundamentally change.
The episode also explores how platforms like YouTube are shaping the modern buyer journey. Today’s consumers start their research online, and content-driven strategies are becoming essential for capturing attention and guiding buyers through a more transparent path to purchase.
Adam also discusses Freddy Media’s approach to growth—focusing on going deep with select partners rather than scaling broadly—ensuring meaningful impact and long-term success in the automotive space.
If you’re in automotive, marketing, or any channel-driven business, this episode offers a practical look at how influencer networks, content, and trust can drive real performance.
#AutomotiveMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #FreddyMedia #TrainingImpactPodcast #ChannelPerformance #DealershipMarketing #DigitalMarketing #CustomerExperience #SalesStrategy #ContentMarketing

What if your most effective growth channel wasn’t a franchise, dealer network, or sales team—but a network of influencers?
In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter sits down with Emily Vernon, Head of Social Media at ⁠Tote&Carry⁠, to explore how the brand is redefining channel development through ambassadors, affiliates, and creator-driven content.
Tote&Carry has built a distributed ecosystem where influencers act as an extension of the brand, generating content across platforms like TikTok and Instagram to drive visibility, engagement, and revenue. This approach goes beyond traditional marketing and reflects a new model of partner enablement built on authenticity, experimentation, and relationships.
Emily shares how influencer marketing can function as a scalable channel strategy, where repeated exposure across diverse voices builds trust and drives performance. She also explains why authentic, relatable content is consistently outperforming highly polished campaigns—and what that means for brands trying to connect with modern audiences.
The conversation also explores how Tote&Carry structures its ambassador program, combining AI-driven discovery tools with direct outreach to build stronger, more aligned partnerships. Performance is measured through engagement, conversions, and revenue, creating a system that continuously evolves based on results.
Another key theme is experimentation. Tote&Carry operates with a test-and-learn mindset, constantly refining its approach to creators, content, and messaging. This iterative model mirrors modern training and enablement strategies, where feedback loops and continuous improvement are critical to success.
Emily also emphasizes the importance of seeing through the customer’s eyes, evaluating every touchpoint from the user perspective to improve alignment and drive better outcomes.
This episode is especially relevant for learning and development leaders, training managers, and enablement teams looking to understand how distributed networks can be aligned and scaled effectively.
To learn more about Tote&Carry, visit: ⁠https://www.totencarry.com/⁠
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on social media: ⁠https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast⁠
#ToteAndCarry #InfluencerMarketing #AmbassadorProgram #AffiliateMarketing #ChannelStrategy #PartnerEnablement #EcommerceGrowth #CreatorEconomy #TrainingImpactPodcast #LearningAndDevelopment
 

How does safety training protect an entire industry?
In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter speaks with Katherine Henmueller, President and Chief Operating Officer of the ⁠Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair ⁠(CCAR). The discussion explores how specialized safety and hazardous materials training helps prevent accidents across the automotive repair ecosystem.
Founded in 1994 through an Environmental Protection Agency grant, CCAR has grown into a national safety advocate for the automotive industry. The organization develops eLearning programs that help repair shops, dealerships, logistics providers, and trade schools understand how to safely handle hazardous materials commonly found in automotive environments.
Katherine explains how CCAR’s training programs focus on real world risks associated with chemicals, batteries, refrigerants, and other materials that technicians and service teams encounter every day. The training also helps organizations comply with Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations, including the 49 CFR standards that govern safe packaging and transportation.
One of the most interesting challenges discussed in the episode is the perception of compliance training. Because safety training is designed to prevent incidents, its success is often invisible. When it works well, accidents never happen, and workers simply assume safety systems are part of everyday operations.
Jeff and Katherine explore how education helps technicians and automotive businesses understand the bigger picture of safety. By establishing consistent industry standards through training, CCAR helps make the entire automotive repair environment safer for workers and customers alike.
The conversation highlights the broader role of learning in complex industries. Training is not just about knowledge transfer. In sectors like automotive repair, it functions as infrastructure that supports safety, compliance, and operational consistency.
Learn more about CCAR and their safety training programs: ⁠https://www.ccar-greenlink.org/⁠
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Media: ⁠https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast⁠
#TrainingImpactPodcast #CCAR #AutomotiveRepair #AutomotiveSafety #HazmatTraining #ComplianceTraining #AutomotiveIndustry #WorkplaceSafety #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #SafetyTraining

How do organizations turn expert knowledge into scalable digital learning?
In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter speaks with Robert Lunte, founder and CEO of ⁠CourseCREEK,⁠ about the process of transforming expertise into structured online learning programs.
Robert shares his journey from internationally recognized voice coach to leading an eLearning development company. After creating his own digital courses, he discovered how powerful digital education could be for scaling knowledge and helping professionals reach far larger audiences.
That realization led to the creation of CourseCREEK, a company focused on helping experts and organizations convert their knowledge into structured digital learning programs.
The conversation explores why many professionals struggle to scale their expertise. Much of what they know exists as implicit knowledge inside their heads. Instructional design and course development help convert that knowledge into structured training programs that can be delivered consistently to learners anywhere in the world.
Robert explains how CourseCREEK works with clients ranging from executive coaches to healthcare educators and corporate training teams. These organizations often possess valuable expertise but need help transforming it into engaging digital learning experiences.
Jeff and Robert discuss the instructional design process used to develop effective courses. It often begins with gathering existing materials such as presentations, notes, documents, and videos. Instructional designers then organize the information into a storyboard that maps the learning journey, including modules, lessons, and engagement activities.
This structured approach ensures that courses are not simply collections of content but carefully designed learning experiences that help learners absorb and apply knowledge.
The conversation also explores the importance of engagement in digital learning. Modern learners benefit from a combination of multimedia elements such as video instruction, reading exercises, quizzes, and interactive scenarios that reinforce key concepts.
By combining instructional design with modern learning technologies, organizations can create training programs that scale expertise, preserve knowledge, and deliver consistent education to large audiences.
If you are responsible for learning strategy, course development, or digital education programs, this episode offers valuable insight into how organizations convert knowledge into scalable learning systems.
🌐 Learn more about CourseCREEK ⁠https://www.coursecreek.com/⁠
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Media https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast
#TrainingImpactPodcast #CourseCREEK #Elearning #InstructionalDesign #DigitalLearning #CorporateTraining #KnowledgeManagement #OnlineCourses #LearningLeadership

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Steven King, President of U.S. Operations at ⁠Immersivevision Technology⁠, to explore how immersive 3D visualization is transforming medical education and healthcare training.
Steven shares the story of how he discovered the company’s groundbreaking virtual dissection table and helped bring the technology to the United States. The system functions like a seven-foot interactive tablet, allowing students and clinicians to explore the human body layer by layer through fully interactive digital cadavers. Learners can examine male, female, pediatric, and prenatal anatomical models while also accessing libraries of CT scans, MRIs, radiology images, histology slides, and clinical case studies.
The conversation highlights how immersive tools like these move medical education beyond memorization and toward true comprehension. By allowing learners to explore anatomy in three dimensions and visualize spatial relationships between organs, arteries, nerves, and tissues, the technology supports deeper experiential learning and stronger clinical understanding.
Jeff and Steven also discuss how immersive imaging can support real-world healthcare applications, including surgical planning. High-resolution scans can now be converted into detailed three-dimensional anatomical models, enabling clinicians to examine a patient’s anatomy before entering the operating room. These capabilities open the door to improved outcomes, better preparation, and reduced medical error.
The episode also examines the challenges of introducing new technology into healthcare and education. While immersive training tools can dramatically improve learning outcomes, institutions must still address funding, curriculum integration, and faculty training. At the same time, today’s digital-native students expect highly interactive learning environments that match the speed and engagement of modern technology.
Looking ahead, Steven shares his perspective on the future of immersive learning, the role AI may play in building new simulations and training environments, and why hands-on experiential practice will always remain central to developing skilled healthcare professionals.
If you’re interested in the future of healthcare training, immersive simulation, and experiential learning, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how technology is reshaping the way medical professionals learn.
To learn more about Immersivevision Technology and their immersive 3D medical imaging solutions, visit ⁠https://immersivelabz.com/⁠
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on social media ⁠https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast⁠
#TrainingImpactPodcast #MedicalEducation #ImmersiveLearning #HealthcareTraining #EdTech #SimulationTraining #MedicalTechnology #AnatomyLearning #RadiologyTraining #ExperientialLearning

In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter talks with ⁠Ford Saeks⁠, business growth accelerator, keynote speaker, and AI integration strategist, about what it really takes to drive measurable growth in today’s marketplace.
Ford Saeks shares how organizations can bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be through mindset clarity, disciplined strategy, and performance-driven training. The conversation explores AI integration, skill development, and why training must move beyond course completions to real business impact.
They discuss how AI can support role play simulations, personalized learning, and smarter decision making, while keeping the human experience at the center. Ford Saeks also introduces his growth framework focused on message, market, and method, and explains why leaders must diagnose before they prescribe.
If you lead training, manage a franchise system, or want to accelerate performance, this episode delivers practical insight you can apply immediately.
For more from Ford Saeks visit ⁠https://profitrichresults.com/⁠
#FordSaeks #TrainingImpactPodcast #AIGrowth #BusinessGrowthStrategy #FranchiseGrowth #ChannelEnablement #PerformanceDriven #LearningLeadership #GrowthMindset #AIIntegration

In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter welcomes Marla Rosner of ⁠MSA Worldwide ⁠for a powerful discussion about the architecture behind effective franchise training.
Many franchisors believe training begins with content delivery. MSA Worldwide takes a different view. Training begins with documentation. Without clear, well-structured brand standards, franchise systems struggle to scale consistently.
Marla explains how MSA Worldwide helps franchisors convert founder knowledge into explicit brand standards manuals that align with legal agreements, operational requirements, and compliance expectations. She addresses a common misconception: that corporate training materials can simply be repurposed for franchisees. In reality, franchise training requires careful attention to the contractual relationship between franchisor and franchisee.
The episode also explores:
• The difference between corporate employee manuals and franchise brand standards • Why emerging franchisors must prioritize documentation early • How brand standards manuals become the backbone of franchise onboarding • The risk of outdated manuals in mature franchise systems • Why skimping on franchise training hurts both brand and franchisee performance
With deep experience leading franchise training at Supercuts and now advising franchisors through MSA Worldwide, Marla offers practical insights for franchise executives seeking clarity, compliance, and scalability.
If you are building, supporting, or scaling a franchise system, this episode provides a strategic framework for aligning brand standards and franchise training.
Learn more about MSA Worldwide at ⁠https://www.msaworldwide.com/⁠
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Media ⁠https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast⁠
 
 

What does it really take to build a high-performing organization in today’s rapidly changing workforce landscape?
In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Michael Rochelle of Brandon Hall Group to explore the research shaping the future of human capital strategy. From AI-driven workforce disruption to persistent leadership gaps and the measurable impact of employee experience, this conversation goes beyond theory and into data-backed insights.
Michael shares what Brandon Hall Group research reveals about skills transformation, integrated talent ecosystems, and why organizations that align learning to business strategy consistently outperform their peers. They discuss why AI adoption without workforce strategy creates risk, how leadership development must be embedded into enterprise systems, and why measurement must move beyond completion rates to real business outcomes.
If you are a learning leader, executive, HR strategist, or talent development professional navigating growth, scale, or transformation, this episode delivers practical, research-based clarity.
For more information on Brandon Hall Group, visithttps://brandonhall.com/
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Mediahttps://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast
 
#BrandonHallGroup#HumanCapitalStrategy#LeadershipDevelopment#WorkforceTransformation#AIInTheWorkplace#TalentManagement#EmployeeExperience#LearningAndDevelopment#HRStrategy#TrainingImpactPodcast
 

The automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and the need for highly skilled technicians has never been greater.
In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Virginia Oden, Assistant Vice President of ASE Education Foundation, to explore how national accreditation, advisory boards, and industry partnerships are closing the automotive skills gap.
They discuss:
• How ASE Education Foundation aligns career tech programs with real industry needs• Why accreditation serves as a powerful signal for employers• The critical role of advisory boards in workforce development• How modern technicians rely on advanced diagnostics and critical thinking• Why automotive careers demand STEM skills and lifelong learning• The resurgence of career and technical education
If you care about workforce development, technician training, or building a stronger talent pipeline in the automotive industry, this episode is a must-listen.
For more on ASE Education Foundation, visit:https://www.aseeducationfoundation.org/
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Media:https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast
 
#ASEEducationFoundation#AutomotiveEducation#SkillsGap#WorkforceDevelopment#TechnicianTraining#CareerTech#AutomotiveCareers#ASEAccreditation#TrainingImpactPodcast#ExtendedEnterpriseLearning#STEMCareers#AutomotiveIndusty
 
 
 

In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Corey Glassman to explore how ASE developed a national EV safety standard and what that means for technician certification and workforce readiness.
As electric vehicles become mainstream, the automotive industry faces new safety challenges tied to high voltage systems, battery technology, and advanced diagnostics. Rather than reacting passively to change, ASE took deliberate action and developed a formal EV safety standard designed to define competence, reduce risk, and strengthen technician performance across the industry.
Corey shares the story behind the creation of the EV safety standard, including why it was necessary, how it was structured, and how it now shapes certification pathways. The discussion highlights how clear standards reduce variability across service networks, improve safety outcomes, and elevate the professional identity of technicians working on electric vehicles.
If you care about EV certification, technician development, automotive workforce strategy, or the future of service standards, this conversation delivers critical insight into how ASE is anchoring the industry during a major technological shift.
To learn more about ASE certification and the EV safety standard, visit https://www.ase.com
For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Mediahttps://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast