The Talent Forge: Shaping Workforce Behaviors with Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson brings a behavioral science perspective to talent development, and it makes for a refreshingly different kind of L&D podcast. As a two-time TEDx speaker and self-described behavioral architect, Jay focuses on why people do what they do at work and how leaders can shape those behaviors intentionally. With 80 episodes and a perfect 5.0-star rating from 7 reviews, the show is newer but growing fast. The format mixes guest interviews with Jay's solo "Solo Mission" episodes, where he unpacks a specific concept in depth. Recent Solo Missions have tackled the automatic yes reflex and burnout prevention, while guest episodes have explored using joy as a business strategy and emotional intelligence in tough conversations. Jay's background means he is always connecting abstract concepts to specific, repeatable actions. What makes The Talent Forge stand out is its focus on the human side of development. This is not a show about learning platforms or course design. It is about understanding the behavioral patterns that drive performance and engagement, then deliberately working with them. Jay targets everyone from emerging leaders to C-suite executives, and the advice scales across levels. If you have ever wondered why your leadership development programs produce great evaluations but no lasting behavior change, Jay has probably covered exactly that problem.