The Strategic Pause cover art

The Strategic Pause

The Strategic Pause

By: Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish
Listen for free

Welcome to The Strategic Pause- Mildly Unhinged Learning and Development pros Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish press pause on the endless to-do list to have the conversations that actually matter.


In aviation and healthcare, a strategic pause can save lives. In business? We skip right past it. But not here. We're taking that pause to dig into what it really means to be in L&D—the work we do, the work people think we do, and why half the organization assumes we're the ones "who do all those trainings everyone hates."


Katrina brings 26+ years training tens of thousands of learners and a recent book on making learning stick. Jill brings her experience as CEO/Founder of ThinkDev an organizational development consulting firm. Together, we're exploring everything from building real community in a virtual world to why we're all so bad at PowerPoint to what we actually do on "no real pants" days.


Expect thoughtful conversations that veer into delightful tangents. Expect us to talk about books, reflection, neurodiversity, imposter syndrome, and the ridiculous things people think we can fix in half a day. Expect laughter (it's literally in our KPIs).


This is for the L&D professionals, the CLOs, the trainers, the facilitators—the people who know that real learning happens in connection, not compliance modules. If you've ever had to explain what you do three times and still got it wrong, this podcast is for you.

2026 Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • What Are You Reading?

    What Are You Reading?
    Sep 22 2026

    In this episode, Jill and Katrina explore their reading habits, favorite books, and how reading intersects with life experiences. They share insights on book organization, finishing books, audiobooks, and the importance of reading for leadership and personal growth.

    Takeaways

    The importance of finishing books

    How reading influences leadership and personal development

    The impact of travel experiences on reading choices

    Strategies for choosing what to read and when to give up

    The role of books in building community and connection

    Insights from specific books like Anne Frank's diary and art history

    The mental models around consensus and decision-making in leadership

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Favorite Books and Organization Styles

    01:55 The Significance of Book Organization and Aesthetics

    03:53 Favorite Books and Personal Connections

    06:06 Travel, History, and Personal Growth Through Reading

    07:53 Reading in Different Life Stages and Contexts

    10:01 Reading About Art and Travel Experiences

    12:04 The Role of Connection and Community in Well-Being

    14:07 Insights from Books on Leadership and Climate Change

    16:06 The Science of Human Connection and Extroversion

    18:03 Decision-Making, Consensus, and Leadership Insights

    20:00 Reading Parameters, Habits, and Nighttime Reading

    22:04 Audiobooks, Narration, and Listening Habits

    23:53 Book Completion, Giving Up, and Personal Preferences

    26:02 The Impact of Parenthood on Reading Habits

    28:01 Strategies for Choosing and Finishing Books

    29:58 Favorite Recent Reads and Recommendations

    31:50 The Art of Audiobook Selection and Narrator Preferences

    34:06 Emotional Impact of Books and Personal Reflection

    35:50 Final Thoughts: The Importance of Reading for Leaders

    🎙️ Hosted by Katrina Kennedy & Jill Parish

    Connect with Katrina & Jill

    ThinkDev

    Katrina Kennedy Training

    Linkedin: Katrina | Jill

    #TheStrategicPause #ThinkDev #LearningAndDevelopment

    The Strategic Pause releases new episodes the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays wherever you get podcasts.

    Resources:

    The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

    You're A Leader: Now What? By Dr. Winters

    What if We Get It Right? By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

    A little More Social by Nicholas Epley

    Winter Dance by Gary Paulsen

    100 Years of Lenny and Margot

    100 Minutes Minus Your age

    The Libby App: Libby - Welcome
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • What’s for dinner? (Rituals and responsibilities)

    What’s for dinner? (Rituals and responsibilities)
    Sep 8 2026

    In this episode, Katrina and Jill explore the concepts of habits, routines, and rituals, and how they shape our personal and professional lives. They share personal stories, discuss how to create meaningful rituals, and connect these ideas to leadership and organizational culture.

    Takeaways

    Difference between habits, routines, and rituals

    How rituals impact engagement and social cohesion

    Examples of rituals in families and workplaces

    How to create effective rituals in teams

    The concept of anti-rituals and toxic behaviors in meetings

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the episode and topic of rituals

    00:06 Personal stories about dinner rituals and system differences

    🎙️ Hosted by Katrina Kennedy & Jill Parish

    Connect with Katrina & Jill

    ThinkDev

    Katrina Kennedy Training

    Linkedin: Katrina | Jill

    #TheStrategicPause #ThinkDev #LearningAndDevelopment

    The Strategic Pause releases new episodes the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays wherever you get podcasts.


    Resources:

    Atomic Habits by James Clear


    The Power of Using Rituals in Company Culture (article)


    The Surprising Power of Team Rituals (HBR article)


    The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions by Dr. Michael Norton (book)


    “We may do both routinely, even unconsciously, but we ascribe more meaning to the latter.”


    Ritual Examples (blog post)
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • What Stands Out from Season One of The Strategic Pause?

    What Stands Out from Season One of The Strategic Pause?
    Jun 9 2026

    In this reflective episode, hosts Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy look back on their first season of the podcast, sharing insights, lessons learned, and plans for future episodes. They explore the value of reflection, the evolution of their content, and the importance of authenticity and fun in their work.

    Keywords

    podcast reflection, learning and development, episode review, host insights, future planning, authenticity, fun in work

    Key topics

    Reflection techniques and exercises

    Podcast evolution and learning

    Host insights on authenticity and fun

    takeaways

    Reflection helps us move forward by looking back.

    Our conversations felt natural and easy, fostering authenticity.

    Listeners' feedback confirms our content's impact.

    Planning and structure will enhance future episodes.

    Humor and authenticity are key to engagement.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the Conversation

    00:04 Exploring Key Themes

    00:05 Season Reflection and Strategic Pauses

    03:06 What Stood Out in the Podcast Journey

    06:07 Emotional Takeaways from the Experience

    09:08 Learning and Development Insights

    12:06 Evolving Podcast Dynamics

    15:05 Looking Forward to Season Two

    19:14 Planning for Season Two

    21:53 Balancing Structure and Enjoyment

    24:48 Listener Engagement and Feedback

    26:48 Reflecting on Podcast Journey

    30:36 Embracing Imperfection and Growth

    🎙️ Hosted by Katrina Kennedy & Jill Parish

    Connect with Katrina & Jill

    ThinkDev

    Katrina Kennedy Training

    Linkedin: Katrina | Jill

    #TheStrategicPause#ThinkDev #LearningAndDevelopment

    The Strategic Pause releases new episodes the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays wherever you get podcasts.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet