Designing with Love

Bonus Episode: Reflecting on Podcast Growth and Future Plans

In this bonus episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin reflects on the accomplishments of Season Three, including the release of 56 episodes, and shares insights on her experiences with PodMatch. She also discusses her plans for Season Four, highlighting her proactive approach to content creation and the importance of time management and project planning in achieving success. Jackie expresses gratitude for listener engagement and encourages feedback for future episodes.Key TakeawaysThere have been a total of 56 episodes released in Season Three.Jackie interviewed 15 individuals through PodMatch and 5 outside of it.Jackie recorded 32 solo episodes for Season Three.The series on different models and theories sparked her future book.Jackie has 29 episodes already recorded for Season Four.Good planning and time management are crucial for success.Jackie appreciates listener engagement and the sharing of episodes.You can support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee.Feel free to leave a voicemail on the website.Jackie looks forward to staying engaged with listeners in 2026.Send Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!

Embracing AI as Your Creative Partner with T. Renee Smith

The fear of AI taking over jobs has dominated headlines, but what if we're missing the opportunity to harness this technology as a powerful ally? In this enlightening conversation, T. Renee Smith reveals how artificial intelligence became her unexpected partner in navigating the challenges of raising a neurodiverse child and eventually led to her book, "She Leads with AI."Whether you're an instructional designer, educator, entrepreneur, or simply curious about integrating AI into your life with confidence and purpose, this episode delivers practical strategies wrapped in genuine warmth and wisdom. Press play to discover how to make technology work for you while staying true to your values, passion, and purpose.🔗 Website and Social Links:Please visit T. Renee Smith’s website and social media links below.T. Renee Smith’s WebsiteT. Renee's Instagram PageSend Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!

Feedback Without Fear

What if reviews felt collaborative instead of confrontational? In this episode, I walk through a practical, five-pour framework to collect and use feedback from peers, stakeholders, SMEs, QA and accessibility reviewers, and—most importantly—learners, so your projects move faster and land stronger. You’ll get short scripts, simple prompts, and a clear structure to keep conversations focused on outcomes instead of opinions.If you want feedback to become fuel, not friction, this guide gives you the tools to make it happen. Subscribe for more practical instructional design tactics, share this episode with a teammate who reviews your work, and leave a quick review telling us which script you’ll try first.🔗 Episode Links:Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy!Feedback Without Fear PlaybookImproving Instructional Design: Feedback and Iterative Refinement Send Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!

Beyond the LMS: Karen Nix's Instructional Design Journey

Karen Nix's journey from journalism to instructional design showcases how diverse backgrounds can create exceptional instructional designers. After stumbling into professional development as an administrative assistant, Karen discovered her passion for transforming complex information into engaging educational experiences. Now, working as a Design Strategist and Communications Lead at Orbis Education, her recent master's degree from GCU has added theoretical foundations to her practical expertise.For those considering a master's in instructional design, Karen offers encouraging advice: "Come as you are and be prepared to work hard." Her experience demonstrates that diverse backgrounds enrich the field and that practical experience combined with theoretical knowledge creates powerful learning designers. Whether you're transitioning from another field or deepening your expertise, Karen's story reminds us that instructional design offers endless opportunities for creative problem-solving and meaningful impact.🔗 Website and Social Links:Please visit Karen Nix's website and social media links below.Karen Nix’s WebsiteKaren’s LinkedIn Page Send Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!

Scope Creep Survival Guide

Scope creep doesn’t arrive with a siren; it shows up as “just one more” request and quietly doubles your workload. In this episode, I break down a practical, humane way to protect your timeline and still make room for good ideas—so you ship value now and again soon, without burnout.We start by drawing clean edges around the work: a one‑page scope brief, an explicit out‑of‑scope list, and a shared definition of done. From there, we name one final approver to end circular edits, set a simple change path, and design feedback rounds that serve the build instead of stalling it. Then we move into team dynamics. You’ll hear how to build a working alliance with your SME—align on behavior‑based outcomes, co‑create a must‑keep vs nice‑to‑have list, agree on response norms, and use a one‑page feedback guide to keep comments focused at the right stage.You’ll leave with ready‑to‑use scripts for out‑of‑scope requests, late feedback, and conflicting SME guidance; a checklist of common pitfalls to dodge; and a steady cadence to deliver learning products on time without gold plating. If this helped you tame scope creep, subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a thoughtful review so more designers can find it.🔗 Episode Links:Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy!Scope Creep Survival ChecklistScope Creep in Project Management📑 References:Adobe for Business (2025). Scope creep in project management. Retrieved October 7, 2025, https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/scope-creep Send Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!