Jonathan Marshall

Our first How To Learn mini-podcast of 2026 is titled.. Perfectionists Anonymous.

Have a listen for some tips on overcoming the perfectionism which some of us - but not all 😊 - are willing to admit to.. www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/perfection...

#Learning #HowToLearn #Perfectionism #L&D #HR

Ok, this one is good enough to have tipped me over into subscribing to @samfr.bsky.social's Comment is Freed. Hugely interesting interview providing the kind of grand, realistic sweep of real policymaking that it is a) really rare and b) insightful from many perspectives.

Great article. I'm on the very positive side- getting used to being mid-table in the Prem, and looking upwards, is a fantastic achievement. Especially as we're at the low end in payroll terms. Now if they could just put our screen back.. #bhafc

Jonathan and Thembi smiling at camera, with How To Learn Podcast mug filled with silver tinsel in the foreground

The last How To Learn mini-podcast of the year is titled.. Switching Off!

Listen to our thoughts on how to switch off properly: www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/switching-...

It's not optional, it's about wellbeing and performance. And we shouldn't save it for the holidays.

Thank you for listening! 🌲🌲🌲

Our latest How To Learn mini-podcast is about Letting Go: what are you holding onto, that's holding you back?

It's tough to delegate, move on and change. But as @thembiwatt.bsky.social says: "It's not a personality flaw, it's a skills gap"

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/letting-go/

#Learning #L&D

Happy Advent to you and your kin! And everyone else's kin too, come to that. As every December so far this decade, I'm going to do an Advent Calendar of beautiful and brilliant carols, with each day's added to a YouTube playlist and also to the ongoing Spotify one, now in its sixth(!) year.

👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

I was there, I wouldn't say people missed very much. But those who left on 85th minute got the worst of both worlds #bhafc

Great article! Personal favourites to add: Schelotto getting yellow card for winding up Zaha whilst warming up as a sub (Feb 2020) and the 4-1 where 25,000+ voices joined in singing 'You're f***ing sh*t' after the third goal went in (Feb 2024) Although I worry that we dislike Chelsea most nowadays

Jonathan and Thembi standing behind office chairs

Chairing is a learning superfood!

Our latest How To Learn mini-podcast takes a quickfire look at how many skills you can practise through chairing meetings.. from time management to diplomacy.

Listen to "Nine Skills from One Chair" ⬇️

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/nine-skill...

#Learning #Facilitation

An Opinionated Guide to Using AI Right Now What AI to use in late 2025

I wrote an updated guide on which AIs to use right now, & some tips on how to use them (and how to avoid falling into some common traps)

A lot has changed since I last wrote a guide like this in the spring, and AI has gotten much more useful as a result. open.substack.com/pub/oneusefu...

That's a coincidence - our most recent How To Learn podcast touched on the Benjamin Franklin Effect and how I stumbled across it courtesy of a double-glazing salesman! www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/random-but...

It has profound implications for learning and community-building. Thank you for the article.

Photo of Thembi and Jonathan standing in a conference room and smiling at the camera

Random.. but Valid.

In our latest How To Learn mini-podcast, @thembiwatt.bsky.social and I talk about things we've learned in roundabout ways.. from minimising airport stress to sales techniques and the concept of Emotional Bank Accounts #Learning

Listen ⬇️
www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/random-but...

Jonathan and Thembi clutching armfuls of post-its and notebooks

Our latest How To Learn mini-podcast is about all those productivity hacks that should work.. but don't.. but also those that do 👍

From reminders and notifications to auto-prompts and notes apps.. have you learned what works for you?!

Listen ➡️ www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/things-tha...

#Learning

Cognitive Scientists Want to know about the science of learning? Ask a scientist! Explore our list of leaders in cognitive science who conduct rigorous research on retrieval practice.

Behind every groundbreaking discovery about learning lies years of hard work, dedication, and countless experiments. Meet the scientists who have changed our understanding of how students learn with their relentless pursuit of knowledge.

"You Are What You Scroll" - our latest How To Learn mini-podcast looks at some of the most powerful techniques out there (repetition, habit) and how you might not want the algorithms of social media to be their biggest users in your life.

🎧 Listen ➡️ www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/you-are-wh...

#Learning

No place like HOME! 😍

Thembi and Jonathan smiling at camera and holding up How To Learn mugs

A new How to Learn mini-podcast:

Asking Questions: A Life Skill

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/asking-que...
@thembiwatt.bsky.social #LearningAndDevelopment #Learning

Tired of letting algorithms divine what you care about, decide what you see, and distract you with ads? Try the Marginalian newsletter—an oasis of undistracted inspiration and illumination, free, ad-free, algorithm-free, fully human since 2006: themarginalian.org/newsletter

Jonathan and Thembi smiling at the camera, on the top floor of the South Bank Centre, which was a bit noisy but just about ok to record a podcast

Three tips for a new job!

In this new How To Learn mini-podcast, we offer some advice for new starters:

- avoid the experts
- be curious and volunteer from the start
- induct THEM to YOU

Listen here ➡️

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/three-tips...

#Learning #L&D #HowToLearn @thembiwatt.bsky.social

The deeper meanings of friendship, love, and heartbreak, the majesty and mystery of night migration, necessary losses and the art of letting go

"All friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness."

David Whyte on friendship, love, and heartbreak mailchi.mp/themarginali...

Latest How To Learn mini-podcast: "A Skill We Need to Talk About"

@thembiwatt.bsky.social talks about the under-rated conversational skills of active listening and building rapport.

📚 Bonus book recommendation: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/a-skill-we...

Dylan Wiliam on How the Brain Learns | Literacy and the Science of Learning Podcast Episode · The Knowledge Matters Podcast · S3 E1 · 30m

Nice podcast on the cognitive foundations of learning. I think they undersell the non-cognitive aspects like motivation, but perhaps that’s a podcast for a different day. :)
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.

slate.com/technology/2...

APPARENTLY IT'S HOTTER THAN GREECE, LISA

A set of eight rectangular cookies arranged on a square white plate against a dark wooden background. Each cookie is inspired by a wallpaper design by Morris & Co. The patterns represented feature different floral and leaf shapes in shades of baby blue, soft pink, leafy green, mustard yellow, cream, and dark grey.

Today is National Biscuit Day, and it’s about time that I populated this account with biscuit (cookie) sets from the past few years. Here are some of my favourites. 🧵

First up, a set inspired by the delicious designs of William Morris and John Henry Dearle.

New How to Learn mini-podcast on meetings and presentations!

"The Messy Art of Improving Your Impact"

@thembiwatt.bsky.social

Listen ➡️ www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/meetings-a...

Strong start to your 1 year of grovelling 😊 😂

Thembi and Jonathan hold up How To Learn mugs and smile at camera

Latest How To Learn mini-podcast 🎧

Are You a High-Training Manager?

(and are you working for one?)

www.howtolearn.org.uk/e/are-you-a-...
#HowToLearn @thembiwatt.bsky.social

"o3, show me a photo of the most stereotypical X and LinkedIn feeds as seen on a mobile device. Really lean into it."