In this episode of The Learning Pro Live, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Danielle Hamilton from THRIVE Learning. We explored a topic that is reshaping the way organisations approach training: the shift from the traditional Learning Management System (LMS) to the dynamic Learning Experience Platform (LXP).

Danielle took us under the hood of THRIVE’s platform, showing us exactly how they have reimagined the user experience by “stealing” the best features from the apps we use every day, think Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Here are the key takeaways from our chat on why the LXP is becoming the new standard for modern learning.

Designed for Humans, Not Just Administrators

One of the most striking things about THRIVE is its origin story. Danielle and her team started with a blank slate, listing everything that frustrated them about legacy systems like Moodle and Totara. They realised that most platforms were built for admins to tick compliance boxes, not for learners to actually learn.

Their solution? They researched how people consume content in their personal lives. The result is an interface that feels instantly familiar. The video player mimics YouTube, the content pinning feature borrows from Pinterest, and the recommendation engine works just like Netflix. By mirroring these consumer behaviours, the platform requires almost zero training for end-users.

Social Learning is at the Core

Unlike a traditional LMS where learning is often a solitary, “click-next” experience, THRIVE puts social connection front and centre. Danielle showed us how the platform encourages user-generated content (UGC). Employees can upload videos, write articles, ask questions, and share links just as easily as they would on LinkedIn.

We discussed a brilliant case study with the beauty brand DECIEM. By embracing UGC, they fostered a global company culture where staff in retail stores could share product tips directly with head office via TikTok-style videos. It transformed the platform from a training tool into a community hub.

The “Internal Google”

Danielle described THRIVE’s ambition to become an organisation’s “internal Google.” Instead of employees getting stuck and searching the public web, they can search THRIVE.

The platform’s powerful search engine doesn’t just look for course titles; it indexes everything, from SCORM modules and PDFs to user comments and external content feeds. This makes it a true knowledge repository where the answer to “how do I fix this?” is just a search away.

Data That Actually Means Something

We also touched on the rich data analytics available in an LXP. Because every interaction, like likes, shares, searches, and clicks, is tracked via xAPI, L&D teams get a granular view of learner behaviour.

Danielle highlighted a particularly useful feature for learning designers: search data. By analysing what users are searching for without finding results (orphaned searches), L&D teams can identify genuine content gaps and build resources that people actually need, rather than guessing.

Best of Both Worlds

While the “Netflix of Learning” features are sexy, compliance is still a reality. Danielle reassured us that THRIVE hasn’t ditched the necessary LMS functions. You can still assign mandatory compliance training, track completions, and host SCORM packages. It bridges the gap between the rigid tracking required by the business and the engaging, self-directed experience desired by the learner.

Watch the full interview above to see the platform in action, including the sleek user interface, the campaign management tools, and how it handles integrations with Microsoft Teams.