Learning Experience Design for Changemakers

Renee Koster, Learning Design Consultant

Most educators start with content. Renee Koster starts with the outcome. Learning Experience Design for Changemakers is a podcast for nonprofit leaders and heart-led entrepreneurs who want to design learning experiences that engage, transform, and last. No hustle culture. No quick fixes. Just purposeful design that serves your learners and scales your impact.

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#20
October 14 · 12 min
Episode 020: Your Best Intern Just Left. Did Everything They Knew Leave Too? — The workarounds, the tricks, the families who need a reminder call: here's how to keep them.
Picture your best intern's last day. They know which families need a reminder call, how to get the projector working, and which volunteer is great with the little ones. A few weeks after they leave, you realize almost none of it was written down. In this episode, Renee shares how to tell whether your training lives in people instead of in a place, and what to do about it before the next goodbye. In this episode: The three signs your training walks out the door: "Ask Sarah," the binder nobody trusts, and the five-place scavenger hunt What an archaeology field crew knows that most nonprofits don't: excavation is destruction, and the record is all that survives Why a certified CRM consultant is telling you new software won't fix this on its own A quick walk-out audit you can do right now (with a pen, or in your head while you drive) Three moves: capture it while they're still here, give it one home, update it once What next season looks like when new people start from where the last person left off Timestamps [~0:00] Your best intern's last day [~0:52] Welcome and where we are in the series [~1:35] Three signs: Ask Sarah, the binder, the scavenger hunt [~3:15] Excavation is destruction [~5:20] "We just need better software" [~6:54] Try this now: the walk-out audit [~8:12] Three moves to stop knowledge from walking out the door [~10:28] Picture the next goodbye [~11:43] Homework, webinar, and close Resources mentioned Free live webinar, Thursday, October 22: How to Build a Nonprofit That Runs Without You: https://www.kosterlearningdesign.com/optin-page Newsletter: https://www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Last week's episode (sign one, the same ten questions): Ep 19, How to Train Volunteers Without Rebuilding From Scratch Every Season Your homework: Take one item from your walk-out list and get it written down before that person leaves. Then reply to any of Renee's emails with your number: how many places does your information live? If this episode helped, follow the show and leave a quick rating or review. It helps other changemakers find it.
#19
October 7 · 15 min
Episode 019: How to Train Volunteers Without Rebuilding From Scratch Every Season — Stop replanting your orientation every fall and design training that comes back on its own.
Every fall, a new group of volunteers walks in, and a week later the same 10 questions are back at your desk. In this episode, Renee shows why those questions aren’t a volunteer problem: they’re a map of exactly where your training needs support. Grab a pen. You’ll sort your own list and leave with three moves for training you never have to rebuild from scratch. In this episode: Why so much volunteer training gets planted like an annual, rebuilt every season by the same one or two people What Renee learned answering the same questions every August as a first-year college advisor (and the handout she wishes she’d made) The 2 a.m. question: what a simple answer bot can and can’t replace Why a big content-first orientation leaves new people overloaded, and why it all “leaves” by their first shift A 3-minute exercise: list your most-asked questions and sort them into three piles Three moves to design backward from the first shift, give “pile two” a home, and tend your training instead of replanting it This week’s homework: give one question a home Timestamps 0:00 — It’s new volunteer season again 1:00 — Why the same 10 questions matter 1:20 — Annuals vs. perennials 3:05 — The advisor story: predictable questions can be designed for 4:40 — The 2 a.m. advisor bot (and why humans still matter) 6:05 — The questions are a map, not a failure 7:05 — Why content-first training overloads new people 8:20 — Try this now: list and sort your 10 questions 11:00 — Three moves to design training that lasts 13:25 — Picture next fall 14:10 — Your homework this week 14:35 — Free webinar and wrap-up Resources mentioned Free webinar: How to Build a Nonprofit That Runs Without You — Thursday, October 22: https://www.kosterlearningdesign.com/optin-page Newsletter: https://www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Episode 18 — the three quiet signs a program is wearing thin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-experience-design-for-changemakers/id1896864819?i=1000792344592 Tried the sorting exercise? Reply to any of Renee’s emails and tell her which pile won. If this episode helped, follow the show and leave a quick rating or review. It helps other nonprofit leaders find it.
#18
September 30 · 18 min
Episode 018 Why Museums Like the Academy Matter (And How to Help Them Last) — The day before Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences closed, and what every kid-serving program can learn.
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia closed its doors to the public after nearly 200 years. The day before, Renee took her family, along with more than 8,000 other people who showed up in the middle of a nor'easter. This episode is a personal one: why places like the Academy matter so much for kids, and what the rest of us can do to help them last. In this episode: Why a first visit to a museum, nature center or library is never a small thing for a kid The kids who lose the most when a public institution closes (and why public access matters) A high school volunteer who became the Academy's Manager of Animal Programs, and a young volunteer who became a veterinarian A hopeful suggestion for the Academy when the doors reopen. Not if, when. 3 quiet signs your volunteer program is wearing thin (score yourself 0–3) Why "more volunteers" won't fix it, and what will Your two-part homework, including a field trip Timestamps ~0:00 Saturday at the Academy ~1:30 Welcome + what this episode is about ~1:50 Why places like the Academy matter ~2:30 A first encounter: my first science museum ~4:15 A good museum is a one-room schoolhouse ~4:55 What I saw on the final weekend ~6:05 Public access: the kids with the fewest doors ~6:40 What I don't know about why it closed ~7:30 Two volunteers the Academy shaped ~8:55 My son, the future scientist ~11:15 My ripple: organizations wear thin quietly ~12:50 If you're listening, Academy ~14:05 3 quiet signs your program is wearing thin ~16:08 It's not a staffing problem, it's a design problem ~17:00 Your homework (and go visit) Resources mentioned Philadelphia Tribune, "Visitors bid farewell to Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences": https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/visitors-bid-farewell-to-philadelphia-s-academy-of-natural-sciences-as-it-sets-to-close/article_cf1603e1-29c7-43e1-b198-72dcb50fb3dc.html Petition to keep the Academy open: [PETITION LINK] The Kansas museum also facing closure: [KANSAS MUSEUM LINK] Episode 14, "Who Am I" Stay connected If this one meant something to you, subscribe so you don't miss the next episode, and leave a quick rating or review. It helps other changemakers find the show. For more on building programs and volunteer cultures that last, join the newsletter: https://www.reneekoster.com/newsletter
#17
September 23 · 10 min
Episode 017: What Your Learners Are Avoiding (And How to Find Out) — When someone goes quiet, it's rarely about your program. Here's how to hear the real story.
Have you ever had someone in your program just… go quiet? No dramatic exit, no complaint — just an unopened module and a check-in that never comes back. In this episode, Renee shares the time she was that learner, what her coach did that made it safe to tell the truth, and how you can use the same approach to hear what your quiet learners are really avoiding. In this episode: Why a learner going quiet usually has nothing to do with your content The one move Renee's coach made instead of overhauling her whole process on a hunch The reframe that stops the "what did I do wrong?" spiral: avoidance is information, not a verdict What a coach who never cancels her accountability calls — even when nobody shows — knows about follow-up Word-for-word check-in messages for cohorts, coaching programs, and self-paced courses How to feed what you hear back into your design so you realign instead of rebuild A light homework assignment that could change how you see one learner this week Timestamps [0:00] When someone in your program goes quiet [1:00] I was the one who went quiet [2:00] My coach noticed — and asked [3:40] The real reason: self-shame [4:50] Avoidance is information, not a verdict [5:50] Reflection: picture one quiet learner [6:20] The accountability call that never gets cancelled [8:05] Push past your first guess [9:00] The direct, low-pressure question (with scripts) [10:25] Realign, not rebuild [11:20] This week's homework Resources mentioned Book a call with Renee to build check-ins into your program: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/audience-outcomes Renee's newsletter: https://reneekoster.com/newsletter Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you don't miss the next one, and leave a rating or review — it helps other changemakers find the show. Then do this week's homework: send one honest question to one quiet learner.
#16
September 16 · 10 min
Episode 016: How to Find the Data That's Already Hiding in Your Training Program - A monarch caterpillar count taught me exactly where to look for proof my content is working.
What does a swamp milkweed plant have to do with your training program? Renee's backyard ran an accidental experiment this summer, and the results are exactly the kind of data you should be hunting for in your own learning program. In this episode: Why last year's “successful” milkweed patch went completely untouched this year The unplanned A/B test that played out in Renee's own backyard How to spot when two parts of your program are doing the same job — and one is quietly winning Why you don't need a dashboard or analytics platform to find your own version of this data The one question to ask before you copy what's working How “purposeful engagement” separates real results from busywork This week's homework: finding the milkweed hiding in your own learning ecosystem Timestamps: [0:00] The accidental experiment [1:00] Last year's baseline — one plant, four or five caterpillars [2:00] This year's expansion — swamp milkweed goes in [3:00] The mid-August turn [4:00] Sixteen caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies [5:00] Naming the data [6:00] One clear winner, one clear decision [7:00] Become an investigator inside your own business [8:00] Find the two things doing the same job in your program [9:00] The transferable element: purposeful engagement [10:00] “The data's usually loud” [11:00] This week's homework + close Resources & links mentioned: reneeKoster.com/podcast — book a call Subscribe and leave a review, and visit reneekoster.com/podcast to book a call if you want help finding your own version of this data.
#15
September 9 · 7 min
Episode 015: Why Your Training Program Keeps Breaking (And How to Fix It) — The one design mistake behind almost every training that falls apart.
If your training feels like a pile of patches wearing a training's clothes, this episode is your permission slip to stop white-knuckling it alone — and the design method that actually fixes it. In this episode: Why most trainings break down for one very fixable reason (hint: it was never redesigned, just added to) The “shovel test pit” method Renee learned on an archaeology crew — and how it applies to piloting any new training What learning experience design actually is, in plain terms What it looks like when a new hire's first week of training actually sticks The system side of the fix: why a great training still falls apart without a sturdy place to keep it Renee's free next step for diagnosing where your training is patched instead of designed Timestamps [0:00] Permission to Stop Carrying It Alone [1:15] The Problem: Content-First Training [3:00] The Archaeology Method [4:20] What Is Learning Experience Design? [4:50] Picture This [6:45] Your Next Step Resources mentioned Free printable “permission slip” Free 5-day email course on diagnosing patched vs. designed training Grab both at: www.reneekoster.com/podcast Subscribe and leave a review if this reframe landed for you — it helps other program leaders find the show.
#14
September 2 · 14 min
Episode 014: 3 Behind the Work Highlights — The real roots behind a learning experience design career, straight from the source.
You know what I do — but do you know who I am underneath it? In this solo episode, I trade the usual teaching format for my own back-to-school exercise: sharing where my work in learning experience design actually comes from — a childhood love of one-room schoolhouses, an archaeology field crew, and the shovel test pits that taught me backwards design before I had a name for it. In this episode: Why I'm doing a "who am I" episode instead of teaching something today The one-room schoolhouse dream that's still the root of everything I design How leading an archaeology field crew — down to shovel test pits — taught me backwards design before I had the term for it The pivot from adjunct instructor to instructional designer, and the person who named it for me The credential most people don't expect: I'm also a certified Automate Your Hustle CRM Consultant The Roots to Canopy Method, who I actually work with (and who I don't), and why "evergreen" beats "passive income" Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro & hook 0:45 — Guess my background 2:30 — The one-room schoolhouse 3:40 — From archaeology to learning design 10:35 — How I work 11:20 — Who I work with 12:20 — More than a resume 13:45 — Your turn Resources & links mentioned: Newsletter — https://renekoster.com/newsletter Callback: Episode 13 (learning ecosystems / the gardener thread)
#13
August 26 · 11 min
Episode 013: Build Your Learning Ecosystem Before It's Ready — How an evolving backyard garden reveals the real secret to organic audience growth.
Three years ago, our backyard was one overgrown bed and a dying greenhouse. Today it's a full ecosystem — herbs, wildflowers, tomatoes, roses, blackberries, a grapevine-wrapped patio, and enough birds, bees, and butterflies to prove it. This episode is about what got us there, and what it teaches about building a learning ecosystem people actually stick around in. In this episode: Why "if you build it, they will come" doesn't mean it has to be finished first The one decision (no pesticides) that mattered more than anything we planted What happened the first year — and why almost nothing showed up The turning point: what we added, what we removed, and what we refused to introduce Why an ecosystem — garden or business — is never "done," and why that's the point How to think about your own course, membership, or audience as something that evolves in seasons, not a launch you either nail or don't Timestamps: [0:00] Intro — the garden as it looks today [2:30] Year one: the no-pesticides decision, the overgrown bed turned patio, and the quiet first year [4:20] Year two: tomatoes, peppers, and tearing out the greenhouse [5:20] What actually brought the visitors: what we added, removed, and refused [7:15] Present day — why the garden still isn't passive [8:30] The business parallel: building your own learning ecosystem [10:20] Closing — reflection questions + how to keep tending Resources mentioned: Learn more about the Roots to Canopy Method by signing up for the newsletter at www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Call to action: If this metaphor landed for you, subscribe and leave a review — it helps this reach the next multi-passionate coach who's afraid to launch before everything's perfect.
#12
August 19 · 12 min
Episode 012: You Can't Prove It Worked If You Didn't Design For It — Why most program evaluation fails before the program even starts.
Most of us find out we don't have real proof our program works right when we need it most — writing a report, walking into a renewal call, or facing a board. In this episode, Renee breaks down why that's a timing problem, not a talent problem, and walks through exactly how to fix it before your next program launches. In this episode: The one-sentence test that reveals whether you actually have evidence your program works (most people can't pass it) Why “afterthought” evaluation quietly produces thin data you can't hand to a funder or a board The reframe that changes everything: evaluation as a design commitment, not a measurement tool A real example of a program that documented a 50%+ jump in success — with a follow-up email sequence, not a research team The land-trust story that shows what happens when your objective and your evidence aren't built together How the milestones you already run (weekly calls, check-ins) can double as evaluation checkpoints without adding new work Timestamps [0:00] Opening — the one-sentence test and why evaluation is a timing problem [1:00] The pattern: evaluation treated as the last step [2:00] The line to remember — you can't retroactively collect data on a transformation you didn't design for [3:00] The reframe: evaluation as a design commitment [5:00] Thin data vs. thick data, and a 50%+ documented success story [6:00] The land-trust example — an objective with no evidence architecture [8:00] Rebuilding a program backward from one observable behavior [9:00] The milestones you already have (weekly calls, check-ins) [10:00] Milestones as evaluation checkpoints — purposeful engagement [11:00] Recap and what's next for the series Resources mentioned Episode 6 — on designing milestones — referenced as a companion listen. [LINK TO EPISODE 6] Call to action Send Renee your evaluation questions or the places you're getting stuck — email with “podcast share” in the subject line, or send a DM. Listener questions will help shape where the series goes next. renee@kosterfreelancing.com · www.linkedin.com/in/renee-koster
#11
August 12 · 5 min
Episode 011: How to Notice the Data You Didn't Plan to Measure — A five-minute habit that turns unplanned observations into your next big idea.
A goldfinch landing on a basil plant isn't data — until it is. In this short one, Renee tells the story behind her most-requested tangent of the summer and what it taught her about the evaluation plans we build (and the ones we don't). In this episode: The true story of the goldfinches that showed up on Renee's basil plant for the first time ever How the story surfaced mid-training-call while teaching program evaluation — and why a participant told her to "cut that out and post it" The goldfinch metaphor: why the best data often shows up somewhere you never designed your program to look A simple, no-pressure weekly habit for capturing unplanned observations before they disappear A first look at what's coming next on the show: the Evidence Architecture mini-series on program evaluation Timestamps [0:00] Intro — the goldfinch story [0:45] The turn — how a training-call tangent became this episode [1:45] The Goldfinch Metaphor — data you didn't design your program to catch [2:45] More "goldfinches" — coaching calls, content, patterns you almost miss [3:15] This Week's Habit — start your own list [4:00] What's coming — the Evidence Architecture series [4:30] Close — go plant some basil Resources mentioned Newsletter: www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Reply to any email from Renee with "podcast share" in the subject line — she reads every one Subscribe to the show, and get on the newsletter for more between episodes. Reply with "podcast share" in the subject line to tell Renee what resonated.
#10
August 5 · 25 min
Episode 010: Kindness Isn't a Skill You Teach — It's One You Model — Krista Spadt on raising empathetic kids one Smile Bag at a time.
What if teaching kindness was as simple as a drop of food coloring in a glass of milk? In this episode, Renee sits down with Krista Spadt, founder of The Simple Gifts Project, to talk about how one nonprofit turns small gestures into hospital care packages — and how packing those bags changes the kids doing the packing just as much as the kids receiving them. In this episode: How a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grew out of a $100 candy cane fundraiser and one family's hospital stay What's actually inside a Smile Bag, Teen Bag, and Parent Bag — and why each is designed differently Why teaching empathy to second graders is trickier than it sounds (and the one demo that finally makes it click) What happens when high schoolers ask "what else can I do?" after just one volunteer shift Why farmers markets and big events under-delivered compared to word-of-mouth and organic referrals The neighborhood yard sale that turned into 320 donated care bags Krista's simple answer for anyone who wants to bring more kindness into their own life this week Timestamps: [0:00] Meet Krista Spadt & The Simple Gifts Project [1:00] Inside the care bags: Smile, Teen & Parent Bags [3:00] The hospitals they serve — and how the need has shifted [4:00] The origin story: candy canes, a hospital stay, and a 2017 leap [7:00] What packing a bag teaches kids about empathy [10:00] A shared memory: Girl Scouts and Meals on Wheels [13:00] The milk-and-food-coloring lesson that makes kindness visible [17:00] What actually gets people to say yes to partnering [22:00] Why small acts are the whole point [24:00] How to get involved with Simple Gifts Project Guest bio: Krista Spadt is the founder of The Simple Gifts Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched in 2017 after 25 years in education. The organization fills and donates Smile Bags, Teen Bags, and Parent Bags to hospitals across the Philadelphia suburbs, partnering with schools, Scout troops, and families to spread kindness "one smile at a time." Learn more / get involved: simplegiftsproject.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplegiftsproject | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplegiftsproj Resources mentioned: The Simple Gifts Project — simplegiftsproject.org CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) Doylestown, Grandview, and Abington Hospitals If this episode resonated, subscribe to Learning Experience Design for Change Makers and leave a review — and go check out simplegiftsproject.org to get your school, troop, or family involved in packing a Smile Bag.
#9
July 29 · 13 min
Episode 009: More Content Isn't Helping Your Students, It's Hurting Them — Why generosity without structure buries your best material instead of delivering it.
You’ve built the milestones. You’ve built the engagement. Now here’s the last piece of the puzzle: how much content actually belongs in your course — and it’s probably less than you think. In this episode: Why "more content feels safer" is actually avoidance dressed up as thoroughness The fuel analogy that shows exactly how much content each milestone needs (hint: it’s not the same amount every time) Why unused content isn’t wasted — it just belongs on a different tree in your ecosystem A real case study: how Teresa trimmed her "Becoming Her" membership without re-recording most of it The five questions to run on any piece of content you’re not sure belongs How this final piece completes the full Roots to Canopy framework Timestamps [00:00] Recap of the Roots to Canopy series + today’s topic: content [01:00] Content is fuel, not the vehicle — why "more" isn’t automatically better [02:00] The public speaking course example — how much content each milestone actually needs [04:00] Why leftover content isn’t lost — it belongs somewhere else in your ecosystem [06:00] Generosity without structure vs. milestones with direction [07:00] The "give each topic its own tree" principle [08:00] Meet Theresa and her "Becoming Her" membership [09:00] Theresa’s five questions, module by module [10:00] What Theresa ended up with — tighter, not bigger [11:00] Your turn: run one piece of content through the five questions [12:00] Closing thoughts + what’s next Links & Resources Mentioned Roots to Canopy, Episode 6 — Roots: finding your one person Roots to Canopy, Episode 7 — Trunk: your A to B and milestones Roots to Canopy, Episode 8 — Purposeful engagement Newsletter signup: www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Reply to any email with "podcast share" in the subject line to share your results running Teresa’s five questions Teresa's Becoming Her Membership: https://shemanifestsmoney.com/ Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next. Reply to any email from Renee with "podcast share" in the subject line to share what you found. Not on the email list yet? Sign up at www.reneekoster.com/newsletter.
#8
July 22 · 13 min
Episode 008: 3 Milestones To Make Trainings Actually Work — Two real rebuilds show what happens when every action ties to a milestone.
Emoji drops and polls aren't purposeful engagement — they're decoration. In part 3 of the Roots to Canopy miniseries, Renee draws the line between engagement that just holds attention and engagement that actually reinforces what you're teaching, then rebuilds two real trainings live to prove it. In This Episode: Why "purposeful engagement" has to do two jobs at once — earn attention AND reinforce the milestone in front of it The one-sentence test to run on every engagement moment you build, before you build it Why saving all the "doing" for a final project or test backfires on learners A full rebuild of a safety training, milestone by milestone, using a real near-miss scenario A full rebuild of a nonprofit's seasonal volunteer onboarding using the same milestone approach Why the most "boring" trainings — onboarding, safety, compliance — need this the most Timestamps: [~0:00] Opening — the line between decorative and purposeful engagement [~1:00] Recap: roots, trunk, and where canopy picks up [~2:00] The two jobs of purposeful engagement + the one-sentence test [~3:00] Why back-loaded engagement fails learners [~4:00] Do this now — audit your own training [~5:00] Safety training scenario: the real problem in the room [~6:00] Rebuilding safety training as three action-based milestones [~9:00] Volunteer onboarding scenario: the nonprofit case [~10:00] Rebuilding onboarding as three action-based milestones [~12:00] The real test: fun without reinforcement is still decoration [~13:00] Closing — name the milestone, build the moment, what's next Resources & Links Mentinoed: Episode 6 — the root stage (finding "your one person") Episode 7 — the trunk stage (A-to-B journey and milestones) Newsletter signup — https://www.reneekoster.com/newsletter Follow the show so you don't miss part four. If this gave you something to rethink in your own training, reply to any email from Renee with "podcast share" in the subject line.
#7
July 15 · 16 min
Episode 007: Stop Teaching Everything: The A-to-B Rule Every Course Creator Needs — Why trying to teach it all is quietly sabotaging your learners.
You know your person and what you want to teach them — but do you know exactly where you're taking them? In this episode, Renee breaks down the second stage of the Roots to Canopy framework: turning your teaching sweet spot into one clear, reachable transformation, then mapping the milestones that get your learner there. In this episode: Why "teaching everything" (A to Z) exhausts you and your learner — and what to do instead How to define your "A to B": one specific, reachable transformation for this course or offer A simple exercise using your own journey to find your learner's next reachable point What a milestone actually is, and how many your learner's journey needs A full walkthrough: 3 milestones for a public-speaking course, from mindset to practice Why action-taking (not passive content) is what makes learning "sticky" How milestones make your own content decisions easier when building or revising a course Timestamps: 0:00 — The mistake that happens right after the roots stage 1:00 — Welcome back + recap of Episode 6 2:00 — A to B, not A to Z: why teaching everything backfires 3:00 — Finding your own A to B (a reflection exercise) 4:00 — What milestones are: the pit-stop metaphor 5:00 — The map metaphor: plotting your learner's journey 6:00 — The bridge-and-tunnel metaphor 7:00 — Case study: a public-speaking course's 3 milestones 9:00 — Why action beats passive learning ("sticky learning") 11:00 — A note on accessibility: how to use this episode if you can't pause 13:00 — Recap: A to B, milestones, and 10-minute chunking 14:00 — What milestones do for you as the designer 15:00 — Closing: what's next in the canopy + how to share your A to B Resources mentioned: Episode 6 — the Roots stage (finding your teaching sweet spot and your one person) [LINK TO EPISODE 6] If this gave you a clearer next step, follow the show so you don't miss Part 3. Want to share the A-to-B journey you landed on? Reply to any email from Renee with "podcast share" in the subject line — she reads and responds to every one. Not on the newsletter yet? Go to www.reneekoster.com/newsletter and sign up!
#6
July 8 · 13 min
Episode 006: How to Find Your Teaching Sweet Spot in 10 Minutes
A live reflection exercise that turns everything you know into one clear starting point. You know you have something worth teaching — but the second someone asks what your course is actually about, everything comes out at once and it turns into noise. This episode walks you through the exact exercise Renee uses with clients to find the real starting point: the Roots stage of the Roots to Canopy Method. In this episode: Why "more expertise" isn't what's missing — and what actually is The 2–3 year reflection exercise that instantly surfaces your teaching sweet spot Why you don't need to be the leading expert, just a few steps ahead How to name the one person your first offer is actually for (hint: it's not your whole audience) The "cafe test" for understanding how your audience actually consumes what you build Why published is better than perfect — and how to pick your first low-tech way to share How to tell whether your first piece should be free or paid Timestamps [0:00] Why everything you know isn't a course — it's noise [1:00] Welcome back + recap: backwards design and the birth of Roots to Canopy [2:00] The idea that takes the pressure off: no single offer has to do everything [3:00] The reflection: what would you tell yourself 2–3 years ago? [4:00] That gap is your teaching sweet spot — you don't need to be the leading expert [6:00] Naming the gap in your own words [7:00] Newsletter callout — reneeKoster.com/newsletter [8:00] Finding your one person — the cafe test [10:00] Turning the gap and the person into one small, shareable thing [12:00] Free vs. paid — it's about depth, not length [13:00] Recap: you've already done more than when you hit play Resources Mentioned Newsletter — reneekoster.com/newsletter (reply with "podcast share" in the subject line to share your reflection)
#5
July 1 · 11 min
Episode 005: How to Design a Learning Experience That Actually Transforms
You have something powerful to teach — but the moment you sit down to design it, the pull toward content takes over. You start listing everything you know, every story, every framework, every caveat. And suddenly it's a wall of water, not a river. This week, Renee shares the origin story of the Roots to Canopy Method: what backwards design gave her, where it left a gap, and the unexpected moment that changed how she designs everything. IN THIS EPISODE: Why even heart-led educators default to content-first design — and why it stalls the learner before they begin What Renee discovered in Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe) and why it lit her up The honest confession: she slid right back into content-first mode when building her own courses The gap backwards design doesn't fully solve for generous, heart-led leaders and founders How a summit freebie, a blank piece of paper, and a hand-drawn tree became the Roots to Canopy Method What's coming in the next three episodes of this miniseries Your 60-second listener action: one question to answer before next week TIMESTAMPS [0:00] Opening — the crashing waves metaphor for content overload [0:45] Welcome and episode intro [1:30] The generous educator's trap: why starting with content fails learners [2:30] Backwards design: the framework that gave me direction [3:30] Understanding by Design — what my instructors taught, and what the book gave me [5:00] The honest confession: I slid back into content-first without realizing it [6:30] The gap: what backwards design doesn't account for [7:00] The summit freebie and the hand-drawn tree that changed everything [8:30] How Roots to Canopy extends, not replaces, backwards design [9:15] Miniseries preview: what's coming in Episodes 006, 007, 008 [10:00] Your 60-second listener action RESOURCES MENTIONED Understanding by Design — Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Renee's newsletter: reneekoster.com/newsletter Book a free call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/audience-outcomes Subscribe so you don't miss Episodes 006–008 of this miniseries. And if something in today's episode landed for you, share it with another heart-led educator who's been trying to design their way out of content overwhelm. Leave a review — it genuinely helps the show reach the people who need it most.
#4
June 24 · 10 min
Episode 004: 3 Things That Make Any Moment a Learning Experience (Podcast, Coaching, Courses)
Have you ever called what you do a course, a program, or a membership — and felt like something was still slightly off? That feeling might be about more than the name. In this episode, Renee Koster gives you a clear, simple definition of a learning experience and explains why the distinction between learning experience design and instructional design actually changes what you build — not just how you label it. In this episode: Why Renee uses "learning experience" instead of "instructional design" — and what that choice reveals about how she designs A simple, one-sentence definition you can use immediately The difference between passive instruction and active experience — with a medical school example that makes it concrete Why your podcast, coaching sessions, and LinkedIn articles are already learning experiences (whether you've called them that or not) Where a learning experience designer fits in when you've already got the expertise How to know if your program is structured the way it should be — and where to get help when it isn't Timestamps [0:00] Opening — the question Renee gets asked almost every week [1:30] The definition: what a learning experience actually is [2:45] Learning experience vs. instructional design — and why the difference isn't just semantic [4:00] The medical school example: instruction vs. active engagement [5:15] The shift from "what do I need to tell them?" to "what do I need them to do?" [6:00] Learning experiences beyond courses — podcast, video, articles, coaching [6:45] Shoutout to Kim Parkinson, Podcasting for Your Spiritual Business, Episode 65 [7:30] Where learning experience designers fit in with subject matter experts [8:30] CTA and preview of Episode 005 — backwards design and the Roots to Canopy Method Resources & Links Newsletter: reneekoster.com/newsletter Kim Parkinson — Podcasting for Your Spiritual Business, Episode 65: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-for-your-spiritual-business/id1814692686?i=1000771845510 Episode 002 — Learning experience at the Philadelphia Zoo: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-experience-design-for-changemakers/id1896864819?i=1000771981510 If this episode is landing for you and you're looking at something you've already built wondering if it's structured the way it should be, that's exactly what Renee's newsletter is for. Get on the list at reneekoster.com/newsletter — she reads every reply.
#3
June 17 · 33 min
Episode 003: History Is a Mystery: Inside the Morgan Log House With Molly Jobson
A 1774 home, a curious executive director, and the untold stories she's determined to unravel. What does it take to turn a 250-year-old log house into a living, breathing piece of its community? In this episode, Renee sits down with Molly Jobson, executive director of the Morgan Log House, to find out — from her winding path into museum leadership to the food drives and descendant volunteers that keep the house alive today. In this episode: Why Molly's Wisconsin childhood — and a museum called Old World Wisconsin — sparked a lifelong love of history The unconventional 15-year career path that took her from a $75-a-week internship to running her own museum How a Mennonite family's pacifist history shaped Morgan Log House's approach to its own 250th-anniversary programming Why “history is a mystery” is more than a motto — it's how Molly gets kids (and skeptical adults) hooked The food drives, Toys for Tots donations, and descendant volunteers that turn a museum into a true community hub The rope bed story behind “sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite” — and other moments that make history click for visitors Timestamps: [0:00] Introduction [2:30] Molly's Love of History [11:00] Career Journey to Morgan Log House [20:30] Morgan Log House & Community [28:30] Favorite A-Ha Moments [32:30] Visit & Connect About the guest: Molly Jobson is the executive director of the Morgan Log House in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a historic home museum interpreting life from 1774 to 1964. She holds a B.A. in history and anthropology from Ripon College and an M.A. in public and applied history from Southern New Hampshire University. Before joining Morgan Log House in 2023, she held roles at Grey Towers National Historic Site, the Harbor District in Milwaukee, and Historic Bethlehem. Website: www.morganloghouse.org Email: director@morganloghouse.org Social: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn — search “Morgan Log House” Resources & links mentioned: Old World Wisconsin (open-air museum) — https://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/ Grey Towers National Historic Site — https://www.fs.usda.gov/greytowers Historic Bethlehem — https://www.historicbethlehem.org/ Call to action: If this episode resonated, subscribe to Learning Experience Design for Change Makers and leave a review — it helps more change-makers like Molly find the show.
#2
June 10 · 14 min
Episode 002: Immersive Learning: How to Design for Real Engagement
What a tiger at the Philadelphia Zoo taught me about course design I stood in front of the big cat exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo and had a full curriculum design realization — and this episode is about what I learned. The Philadelphia Zoo's Zoo360 is a network of trails that lets animals roam freely through the zoo. The day we visited, a tiger was walking past the lunch tables. Ten feet away. And it changed how I think about learning design. Because the zoo didn't have to do that. They could have put up a sign with facts about tiger behavior. Instead, they built an environment — and that's the shift I want you to make in your course, program, or training. In this episode we cover: The difference between an information panel and an immersive environment Why "purposeful engagement" is not a quiz bolted on at the end Three concrete ways to design contact into your existing content A 10-minute engagement audit you can do on your last module today The goal isn't for your learners to finish your module. It's for their minds to make real contact with the material. That's when something actually changes. 🎙️ Learning Experience Design for Changemakers is for coaches, educators, and nonprofit leaders who have a course, membership, or program out there — and know it can be better. 👉 Want a thinking partner for your engagement audit? Book a free Audience & Outcomes call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/audience-outcomes
#1
June 2 · 32 min
Episode 001: Internship to Impact: How Elise White Is Building Access Through the Let's Change Forward Foundation
What does it look like when someone takes purposeful feedback, applies it in real time, and keeps building? In this inaugural episode of Learning Experience Design for Change Makers, Renee Koster sits down with Elise White — founder and executive director of the Let's Change Forward Foundation, workforce and wellness consultant, and co-host of the Queen Beauty Podcast. Elise shares how a five-day framework challenge sparked immediate, measurable outcomes in her career readiness internship program, what inspired her to launch a nonprofit built around access and connection, and how her Plugged In for Purpose assessment helps people discover their gifts — and actually use them. You'll also hear about the Connection Circle program launching this June, two community partnerships kicking off this month, and why Elise believes feedback isn't criticism — it's a gift. Learn more about the Let's Change Forward Foundation and take the Plugged In for Purpose assessment.

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