Let’s be honest: No one wakes up excited to click through a 40-slide module on “Workplace Health and Safety.”

But those same employees will stay up until 2 AM binge-watching The Office, listening to True Crime podcasts, or dissecting the latest reality TV drama.

Why? Because human beings crave narrative, conflict, and familiarity.

As Learning Designers, we often ignore this. We build content in a sterile, corporate vacuum. We invent “John from Accounting,” a soulless clip-art character with zero personality.

It is time to stop being boring. It is time to steal from the best. By weaving pop culture references, styles, and tropes into your learning design, you don’t just get attention, you get instant engagement.

Here is how to turn “Must-Do” training into “Must-Watch” content.

The Psychology: Why Parody Works

Pop culture works because the human brain is wired for narrative structures.

When you introduce a generic character, the learner has to spend cognitive energy figuring out who they are. But if you introduce a character who is clearly a parody of Michael Scott, the learner instantly understands the archetype: The well-meaning but disastrous manager.

You have saved time, triggered an emotional response (humour), and lowered the barrier to entry.

Strategy 1: The Sitcom Audit (Compliance & HR)

The Inspiration: The Office or Parks and Rec. The Application: Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and WHS.

The Office is essentially a documentary on how not to behave at work. It is a goldmine for compliance training.

• Don’t: List 10 bullet points on “Inappropriate Conversation.”
• Do: Create a scenario featuring a Regional Manager who tries too hard to be “one of the guys” and crosses a line.
• The Hook: Because the learner recognises the dynamic, they aren’t defensive; they are entertained. They can critique the behaviour objectively because it feels like watching TV, not being lectured.

Strategy 2: The True Crime Podcast (Fraud & Cyber Security)

The Inspiration: Serial, The Dropout, or generic True Crime. The Application: Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud, or Data Privacy.

Fraud training is usually a dry explanation of legislation. But fraud is actually thrilling; it involves deception, detectives, and high stakes.

• Don’t: Write a text-heavy case study about “The 2002 Act.”
• Do: Record a 5-minute audio episode. Use moody music, a serious narrator, and sound effects. Tell the story of “The Hack that Brought Down the System.”
• The Hook: Treat the learner like the detective. Let them listen to the “evidence” to spot the red flags.

Strategy 3: The Reality Show (Process & Pressure)

The Inspiration: MasterChef or Survivor. The Application: Time Management, Project Management, or Agile.

• Don’t: Show a diagram of a Gantt chart.
• Do: Gamify the module. “You have 3 weeks to ship this product. Here is your team. Here is your budget. Go.” Throw in “Twists” (budget cuts, sick staff) just like a Reality TV producer would.
• The Hook: It adds artificial pressure and stakes, mimicking the adrenaline of the real world (and the shows they love).

A Note on Copyright (The “Legal” Bit)

Disclaimer: Do not rip actual footage from NBC or HBO. That will get you sued.

You are aiming for Pastiche and Parody.

• You don’t use Michael Scott; you use “David, the chaotic Branch Manager.”
• You don’t use the Law & Order theme song; you use a “Sound-alike” from a stock audio site.
• You capture the vibe, the aesthetic, and the archetypes, not the IP.

The Bottom Line

Your learners live in a world of high-quality entertainment. If your training looks like it was made in 1995, you have lost them before you begin.

You don’t need a Netflix budget. You just need a Netflix mindset.

Meet your learners where they are. Make them laugh, make them gasp, or make them cringe. If you can make them feel, you can make them learn.

Learn how to hijack the habits of your learners. Book a coaching session with me and start designing content that sticks.