The Secrets of Learning & Development · 2026-06-25 · 8 min
Key moments - from our scoring
Substance score
13 / 100
Five dimensions, 20 points each
Valerie Merrill and Julia Bend tackle critical thinking as an essential skill in an AI-saturated world, arguing that the ability to pause, question, and evaluate information has become more urgent - not less - as AI tools deliver increasingly persuasive but potentially flawed outputs. They define critical thinking as an intentional five-step process: pause, question what you're being told, check assumptions, look for evidence, consider alternatives, and decide with conviction. The hosts acknowledge real friction points - critical thinking takes time, can create organizational discomfort when challenging "we've always done it this way" thinking, and risks analysis paralysis - but contend the payoff is higher-quality decisions, earlier risk detection, and confidence to stand behind contextual choices even when they diverge from norms. For L&D leaders, operations managers, and anyone drowning in information flow, this bonus episode offers a practical antidote to reactive decision-making and blind AI adoption, grounding the abstract concept of critical thinking in concrete everyday application.
Pause (don't react immediately), question what you're being told or shown, check assumptions (yours and others'), look for evidence rather than just opinion, consider alternatives about what could be true, and then decide and be comfortable with that decision.
AI can sound very confident and persuasive but can be wrong or convincingly wrong, so instead of assuming the tool must know best, you need to shift to asking: does this make sense, is this relevant in my context, and what is it not telling me?
It takes time, can create friction when you challenge established ways of doing things, may lead to discomfort in organizations with "we've always done it this way" mindsets, and risks overthinking that leaves you stuck in analysis mode without making a decision.
Pause before accepting something as true, ask one extra question, and get comfortable saying "I'm not sure, let me think about that" - the pause itself creates time and space for critical thinking to begin.
When you've thought something through properly using critical thinking, you're much more comfortable standing behind your decision and defending it, even if it goes against the norm or organizational norms.
Our reviewer’s read on each dimension, with quotes from the episode.
The episode is almost entirely composed of platitudes and generic advice about critical thinking, with no novel claims or actionable frameworks a B2B operator wouldn't already know. The entire 8-minute runtime yields little beyond 'pause before you accept something as true.'
pause before you accept something as true. Ask one extra question
AI can sound very confident. You know, it can be very persuasive and it can be wrong.
Every point made is a well-worn cliché: AI can hallucinate confidently, 'we've always done it this way' is dangerous, critical thinking means being curious. There is zero contrarian or first-principles thinking anywhere in the episode.
it's not about being negative or critical in the traditional sense. It's about just being curious and considered
we've always done it this way. It's still quite a strong mindset.
There are no external guests - the episode is simply the two co-hosts, a training consultancy founder and a career transition coach, chatting with each other. Neither brings demonstrated depth or scale of experience on AI, cognitive science, or organisational decision-making.
I'm Valerie Merrill, founder of Merrill Consultants, a training and development company. And I'm joined by Julia Bend, founder of Premier Coaching and a career transition coach extraordinaire.
Well, I've loved this little chat, Valerie, so thank you.
The episode contains zero named companies, zero data points, zero research citations, zero real-world case studies, and zero concrete metrics. Every claim is purely abstract and anecdotal.
when you apply critical thinking, you're less likely to follow something blindly. You spot risks earlier.
AI has made critical thinking, I think, even more important, not less.
Questions are introductory-level softballs ('So when we say critical thinking, what is it we actually mean?') with no follow-up probing, no challenge, and no productive disagreement - the hosts agree with each other throughout the entire conversation.
Wow, I'm an influence there. Who'd know? You are, you are.
Yeah, and I like that. It's not about being negative or critical in the traditional sense.
Computed from the transcript - who did the talking, and the words that came up most.
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie leads a timely conversation with Julia on critical thinking in the age of AI and everyday decision-making. Together, they explore why it is no longer enough to accept information at face value, especially when AI tools can produce answers that sound confident but may not always be accurate or relevant. The conversation highlights the importance of pausing, asking better questions, checking assumptions and looking for evidence before making decisions. Valerie and Julia also consider the challenges of critical thinking, from the extra time it can take to the discomfort of questioning established ways of working. They reflect on why phrases such as “we’ve always done it this way” can limit progress and how a more thoughtful approach can support better decisions, greater confidence and stronger outcomes. A practical and timely conversation for anyone who wants to think more clearly, question more carefully and make decisions with greater intention. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!
Transcribed and scored by The B2B Podcast Index.
Valerie Merrill: Just before we dive in, a quick moment to say, we won.
Julia Bend: The Secrets of Learning and Development has officially been named Podcast of the year 2025. And we're still smiling. We didn't create this podcast with awards in mind. We started it because we love real conversations about growth, challenge, leadership, and learning.
Valerie Merrill: But this award, it tells us that those conversations are landing, that they matter. So if you've been listen, listening, sharing, joining as a guest, thank you. Let's get into today's episode and keep that conversation going.
Narrator: Welcome to the Secrets of Learning and Development bonus episode. In these special short form episodes, your hosts Valerie and Julia and guests bring you quick insights and practical tips to supercharge your personal and organizational growth. Each bonus episode focuses on a specific topic, delivering actionable advice you can immediately use to enhance your learning and development practices. Whether it's streamlining processes, improving collaboration tools, or exploring fresh ideas, these episodes are designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools for success. Let's dive in and uncover today's nugget of insight.
Valerie Merrill: Hello and welcome back to the Secrets of Learning and Development. I'm Valerie Merrill, founder of Merrill Consultants, a training and development company. And I'm joined by Julia Bend, founder of Premier Coaching and a career transition coach extraordinaire.
Julia Bend: Hello, everyone. Today we're diving into something that feels incredibly relevant right now. Critical thinking. Not just in relation to AI tools, but in how we make decisions in everyday life.
Valerie Merrill: And yes, and I think it's one of those topics that everyone agrees is important, but we don't always stop and think about how we actually do it.
Julia Bend: Yes. So let's start there. So when we say critical thinking, what is it we actually mean?
Valerie Merrill: Well, that's a good question, Julia. For me, it's about being intentional. It's not just accepting something at face value, whether that's something an AI tool gives you, something a colleague says, or even something you've always believed. It's about pausing and asking, is this right? What's missing? What assumptions are we making?
Julia Bend: Yeah, and I like that. It's not about being negative or critical in the traditional sense. It's about just being curious and considered, really.
Valerie Merrill: And I think the process is where this really gets interesting, because it's not just one step for me. And actually, I think you've had a, uh, hand in some of this. For me, if I'm honest, it tends to look something like pause, don't react immediately, question, what am I being told or shown? Check assumptions, mine and others. Look for evidence, not just opinion. Consider Alternatives, what could be true and then decide, be comfortable with that decision.
Julia Bend: Wow, I'm an influence there. Who'd know? You are, you are. And that last bit is key, isn't it? Because critical thinking doesn't really remove uncertainty. It just helps you make a better informed decision, really. And so let's bring it into the AI space, because obviously that's front of mind for a lot of people.
Valerie Merrill: Yeah, absolutely. And, uh, AI has made critical thinking, I think, even more important, not less. Because the reality is AI can sound very confident. You know, it can be very persuasive and it can be wrong.
Julia Bend: Yeah. I mean. Yeah. And sometimes convincingly wrong, some would say.
Valerie Merrill: Exactly. Yeah. So instead of just thinking, the tool must know best. We have to shift it to does this make sense? Is this relevant in my context? And, um, what is it not telling me?
Julia Bend: Yeah, this is relevant in my context. It's something that, you know, that I always have in front of my mind when I'm using it. Now, let's be honest. Critical thinking sounds great in theory, but it's not always easy, is it?
Valerie Merrill: No, no, not at all. No. And there are real downsides. First of all, it takes time and it can create friction. Uh, sometimes it leads you to challenge people or establish ways of doing things,
Julia Bend: and that can feel uncomfortable, especially in organizations where we've always done it this way. It's still quite a strong mindset.
Valerie Merrill: Yes. And there's also a risk of overthinking and you can get, uh, you know, end up stuck in analysis mode and not actually making a decision at all.
Julia Bend: So what makes critical thinking worth it?
Valerie Merrill: Well, for me, it comes down to the quality of decisions, better decisions, and stronger thinking. So when you apply critical thinking, you're less likely to follow something blindly. You spot risks earlier. Indeed, if there are risks. Mhm. And you make decisions that are fit for your context, not generic.
Julia Bend: And I think there's a confidence piece there as well.
Valerie Merrill: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And you've thought something through properly. You're much more comfortable standing behind it. Even if it goes against the norm.
Julia Bend: Mhm. That's right. Let's backtrack a bit. So when we talk about that phrase, we've always done it that way.
Valerie Merrill: Mhm. Yeah, that's the. It's a kind of dangerous sentence in
Julia Bend: learning and development or in any organization, really.
Valerie Merrill: Yeah. Critical thinking gives you permission to challenge that, you know, not in an aggressive way, but with curiosity. You know, why do we do it this way? Is it still working and what's changed? Or has anything changed? And often, especially now with AI and the rapid change, the answer is it doesn't work as well as it used to.
Julia Bend: And it's not just about work, is it, really?
Valerie Merrill: No, no, no. It shows up everywhere, doesn't it? How we consume information, how we make personal decisions, even how we interpret conversations and situations. It's m about not just reacting, but thinking things through with intention.
Julia Bend: So if someone's listening and thinking, this all makes sense. But where do we start? Where would you suggest?
Valerie Merrill: Well, I'm a great one now for keeping it simple. Hey, so pause before you accept something as true. Ask one extra question and perhaps get comfortable saying, I'm not sure. Let me think about that. Because that pause gives you time and that's where that critical thinking can start.
Julia Bend: M I'm a great fan of that, so I love that you know that. And it's not about being perfect. It's about being a bit more intentional.
Valerie Merrill: Exactly. Especially in a world where we're being given more information more quickly than ever before.
Julia Bend: Yeah, exactly. Well, I've loved this little chat, Valerie, so thank you. And if you've enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe and share it with someone who might need a little reminder to pause and think.
Valerie Merrill: And we'll see you next time on the Secrets of Learning and Development. Thank you.
Julia Bend: Thank you.
Narrator: Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes. If you enjoyed this one, we would appreciate it if you could leave us a review as it helps others find the show. Thanks again for joining us. We look forward to exploring more secrets of learning and development with you next time. Until then, keep learning and stay curious.
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