HRD PHILosophy & TOMfoolery

HRD PHILosophy & TOMfoolery is the 30-minute podcast where we answer Human Resource Development questions based on the powers of reflection and gut reaction. Host, Darren Short, is joined by Dr. Phil Graham and Dr. Tom Shindell, in the hope that their combined 90+ years of HRD experience helps them with the episode’s question. In each episode, one of the Docs has been given the question a week ahead of time so they can come prepared with the power of reflection … and the other Doc has no idea what the question will be and so is armed with the power of gut reaction. To share your own answer to the questions or to suggest future questions for the series, email darren@allbypodcast.com. 

Questions Answered in Season 1

Episode 1: When Is Training The Solution? (The Squirrel & Duck Episode)
Episode 2: How To Work With HRM? (The Selling AC to Alaska Episode)
Episode 3: How To Select An HRD Consultant? (The Kinky Contract Episode)
Episode 4: How To Prepare For Ethical Situations? (The "Emails Not To Send" Episode)
Episode 5: How To Talk To Business Leaders About HRD? (The "Phil Has His Way" Episode)
Episode 6: How HRD Adapts To The Faster Pace Of Organizations? (The Punster Phil Episode)
Episode 7: What Books, Theories, And Models Have Proved Most Useful? (The "Phil Is A Super Tool" Episode)
Episode 8: How Do You Evaluate HRD? (The "RoI of RoI Is Microscopic" Episode)
Episode 9: Is Being An External HRD Consultant The Right Career Move For Me? (The "Two Ticks, No Dog" Episode)
Episode 10: How To Design And Deliver Training That Transfers To The Job? (The "Olives Up The Nose" Episode)
Episode 11: When To Use Technology To Deliver HRD? (The "Tedious & Boring E-Learning" Episode)

About The Hosts

Dr. Phil Graham spent more than 40 years as an organization development professional.  He served as the President of a small consulting firm (Perspectives, Inc.) and as an organization development specialist and senior advisor in the Federal Aviation Administration.  He also served as an adjunct professor for more than 10 years at Virginia Commonwealth University, teaching courses in adult development, organization development, organizational learning, and ethics.  His doctoral dissertation focused on organizational learning and ethics. Phil has worked on a variety of strategic planning, change management, instructional design, leadership development, and organizational learning projects with Owens & Minor, the U. S. Army Cadet Command, the U. S. Air Force Accessions Command, and the Federal Aviation Administration Offices of Talent Development and Security and Hazardous Materials Safety. Phil and his wife, Jeanie, have three children and eight grandchildren living in New York City, Chicago, and Silverthorne, Colorado.  They spend their winters in Tucson, Arizona in order to avoid Chicago winters and enjoy exploring the Arizona desert and mountains.  Phil is an avid Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears, and Bulls fan (in that order) and thoroughly enjoys kicking around the golf course.

Darren Short has 31 years of experience building and managing HRD functions in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in both North America and Europe, and was President of the Academy of Human Resource Development from 2012-2014. Darren’s writing and editing includes journal monographs on research-to-practice and the role of the scholar-practitioner. He has presented at over 20 international conferences on topics ranging from leadership development to virtual learning, and has been the recipient of the HRD International Journal article of the year and the AHRD Excellence in Scholarly Practice Award for his work on training through virtual reality. Darren’s work on podcasting was recognized by AHRD through its Forward Award in 2023. Darren is the host of several podcasts, including Human Resource Development Masterclass. Darren has tree children and lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son.