35: From Content to Context: The Real Shift in Learning | Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD.

Release Date: Jan 6

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Catalogs stuffed with good intentions don’t drive real learning–context does. In this solo, insight-packed episode of The Learnit Lounge Podcast, host Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, breaks down why the most effective L&D strategies happen in and around actual work—not inside a rigid course directory. Mickey draws on her experience as a human skills facilitator and learning designer to debunk the myth that content is king, and show why supporting real decisions in real workflows is the secret to powerful learning.

From resilience training requests that masked deeper decision fatigue, to tools like GPTs, prompts, and coaching resources built in the flow of work, this episode is a hands-on guide for HR, L&D, and people-centric leaders craving relevant, actionable impact. Discover why designing for “just-in-time” moments creates behavior change faster than traditional curriculum—and get inspired to help your people lead, act, and solve in real time.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why course catalogs often miss the mark—and how to transform “graveyard content” into living support
• The difference between designing for knowledge vs. designing for decisions
• How to uncover what’s actually preventing your team’s growth (hint: it’s not always mindset)
• What building frictionless workflows and in-context learning really looks like
• How decision trees, GPT-powered prompts, and fast coaching tools fuel behavior change
• Why workshops should support everyday action—not take center stage

In This Episode:

• 00:00 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge Podcast intro
• 00:42 – Why great learning experiences aren’t found in catalogs
• 01:10 – Content isn’t king anymore—context is
• 01:18 – Shifting the design question: knowledge vs. decisions
• 01:48 – Learning’s new role: enablement at the moment of need
• 02:16 – Embedding learning in the workflow, not outside of it
• 02:28 – A real-world example: team resilience request revealed decision fatigue
• 03:05 – Solution: decision trees, prompts, GPTs, and speed coaching
• 03:17 – Informal learning = fast behavior change
• 03:34 – The right place for workshops in a modern learning strategy
• 03:54 – Context drives relevance—friction reveals opportunity
• 04:01 – Final takeaway: design for the moment, not the module

About Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD

Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD helps people lead like humans first. As a Human Skills Facilitator at Learnit, she designs and leads workshops that turn everyday challenges—like feedback, burnout, and prioritization—into practical, people-centered skills. Her workshops are equal parts research, real talk, and humor, creating learning experiences that actually stick.

Before joining Learnit, Mickey spent two decades in higher education leadership, where she coached and supervised hundreds of professionals through growth, change, and conflict while helping students graduate. That experience fuels her belief that strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about building trust, curiosity, and connection.

Whether she’s facilitating a workshop, hosting The Learnit Lounge podcast, leading a panel, or sharing insights on LinkedIn, her goal stays the same: make professional development feel less like a checkbox and more like a conversation worth having.

Resources Referenced:

• Learnit: https://www.learnit.com
• Connect with Mickey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyfitchcollins/

Want to Learn More?:  

• Website: www.learnit.com
• Email: podcast@learnit.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

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