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What if people don’t remember your words or actions, but how you made them feel?

In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill and Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend explore why emotional presence shapes every interaction from coaching sessions to training rooms to everyday conversations.

They share personal stories and insights about the subtle ways energy, connection and psychological safety influence how people learn, engage and remember you.

Expect relatable examples, practical reflections and a reminder that sometimes the smallest gestures a pause, a smile, a touch of patience leave the biggest mark.

Whether you lead, teach or simply work with people, this episode will shift how you think about the atmosphere you create.