Using templates to create eLearning
By
Cath Ellis
In this episode of The Learning Pro Live, I had the pleasure of chatting with the incredible Nyla Spooner. Nyla is a Learning Experience Designer, content creator, and the host of the fantastic podcast, “I’m New Here“.
Nyla has been making waves in the L&D industry, especially with her initiatives like Design by Humanity, which aims to advance Black designers in the learning space. But today, we focused on her podcasting journey and how L&D professionals can start their own show to share knowledge, build authority, and engage learners in a new way.
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation on how to launch a learning podcast, even if you are a complete beginner.
Before Nyla recorded a single episode, she did her homework. Just like any good learning project, she started with a needs analysis. She asked herself: What is missing in the current podcast landscape? What is my unique differentiator?
She realised there were plenty of podcasts discussing high-level L&D theory, but very few that spoke directly to “newbies”—people trying to navigate their first job, understand job titles, and figure out what an instructional designer actually does. By identifying this gap, she created a podcast with a clear purpose and a loyal audience.
One of the biggest barriers to starting a podcast is the fear that you need a professional studio. Nyla debunked this myth completely.
Her setup cost around $70 total. She uses a decent (but affordable) USB microphone and free software like Audacity to record. In fact, her first few episodes were recorded on a cheap $5 headset! The quality of your content matters far more than the quality of your microphone. If you have a message to share, start with what you have.
Nyla’s podcast episodes are “micro-episodes”—short, sharp, and focused. This respects her listeners’ time and makes production manageable alongside a full-time job.
She also uses a clever instructional design technique called scaffolding. At the start of an episode, she will often refer back to the previous week’s “homework” or challenge. This reinforces learning, creates a sense of continuity, and keeps listeners engaged over the long term. It transforms the podcast from a passive listening experience into an active learning journey.
We discussed the huge potential of podcasts for internal training. Imagine replacing a boring compliance PDF with a narrative-driven audio series where you interview real employees about real situations.
If you want to pitch this to your boss, Nyla’s advice is to show, don’t just tell. Create a pilot episode or a demo. Let them hear the quality and the engagement factor for themselves. It is much harder to say “no” to a great product than to an abstract idea.
Finally, Nyla’s biggest piece of advice is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be an audio engineer. You just need to be willing to put yourself out there.
Whether you are starting a public podcast to build your personal brand or an internal one to train your team, the technology has never been more accessible. Tools like Anchor.fm make distribution a breeze. The only thing stopping you is you.
Watch the full interview above to hear more about Nyla’s production process, her work with Design by Humanity, and her tips for growing an audience.
