Have you ever noticed how the hardest part of learning is often the middle – the part no one really talks about?

Not the shiny beginning full of ideas, and not the clear ending where everything makes sense, but the in-between space where things are still taking shape.

Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to that part – in my work, in conversations, and in the quiet moments where I’m trying something new myself. And the more I notice it, the more I realize how much learning actually lives there. In the drafts. In the experiments. In the moments of uncertainty before clarity arrives.

Somewhere in that noticing, the messy middle started to look different. Less like a problem to solve and more like a natural part of how we learn – a place where curiosity stretches us, where ideas shift and evolve, and where we begin to see what’s possible.

In this episode, we’ll explore what the messy middle really is, why it shows up in every meaningful learning experience, and how design thinking, brave spaces, and even a good old-fashioned sandbox can help us navigate it with more confidence and heart.

Because maybe the messy middle, like so many parts of life, is where real learning takes shape long before we recognize it.

Listen in as we talk about:

• 1:00 Understanding the messy middle
• 3:57 Learning in the sandbox
• 5:54 Design thinking in real life
• 7:22 Creating safe learning spaces
• 9:16 Clarity through the messy middle
• 11:26 Learning through life’s waves
• 13:44 Making meaning of the messy middle

Connect with Tiana:

• Website: https://tianafech.com
• LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
• Instagram: @tianafech 
• Facebook: @tianafech 
• Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 

“The messy middle is where the learning actually happens.”

The messy middle is the part of learning we rarely talk about, even though most of our growth actually happens there. It’s the space between clarity and confusion, where ideas get tested, reshaped, and sometimes set aside. Kids move through this space naturally. They experiment, adjust, and keep going without worrying about how it looks. Adults still have this ability, but we often forget that uncertainty is part of how we learn. When we start noticing the messy middle rather than resisting it, it becomes easier to see it as a necessary part of moving forward.

At Mount Royal University’s recent Talent Reimagined event, one moment on the Open Recognition panel really caught my attention. Neil Hunter, Chief Learning Officer at Deloitte said something that stayed with me: “The best learning happens playing in the sandbox.” It’s a simple image, but a meaningful one. A sandbox is never perfectly smooth. You build something, change it, add to it, or start again. People join in, ideas shift, and the whole thing evolves. Many adults stop giving themselves permission to work this way, even though experimenting is often what leads to real insight. The sandbox is a reminder that learning doesn’t require a perfect plan. It requires room to explore, adjust, and try again.

Design thinking fits naturally with the messy middle because it’s built on iteration rather than certainty. It starts with empathy, moves into brainstorming, and encourages small tests that reveal what works and what doesn’t. No one expects the first version to be the final one. Each attempt becomes information for the next step. We use this process all the time without naming it – whether we’re troubleshooting a challenge at work or deciding what to make for dinner with whatever ingredients we have on hand. When we embrace learning as an evolving process instead of a straight line, the middle feels a lot less intimidating.

Learning deepens when people feel supported enough to take risks. Safe learning spaces aren’t about removing the challenge; they make it possible to stay with the challenge long enough to learn from it. When people trust that their questions are welcome and mistakes won’t be used against them, they’re far more willing to explore and stretch. Whether it’s a classroom, a team environment, or a community space, the tone we set shapes what people feel able to do. When belonging is present, courage follows, and the messy middle becomes something we can move through rather than avoid.

The messy middle shows up in our own work too. When something doesn’t go the way we hoped, it’s easy to assume it’s a sign to stop. But often, it’s simply information: a nudge toward a new approach, a fresh message, or a different rhythm. When we step back and look again, the middle can bring clarity we didn’t have at the beginning. It helps us see what needs to shift so we can continue moving in a way that feels more aligned with the work we want to do.

On a recent trip to Mexico, I ended up in the middle of the ocean’s break zone – right where the waves build their force before crashing. It was messy, loud, disorienting, and I couldn’t stay on my feet for long. But as soon as I moved a little farther out, the waves shifted from pushing me over to lifting me up. Learning often mirrors this. The hardest moments aren’t setbacks; they’re signals that we’re in the part of the process where growth is taking shape. The momentum we’re looking for usually begins right there.

Reflection helps us make sense of the messy middle while we’re in it. Noticing where things feel challenging, choosing one small step or experiment to try next, and shifting the story we’re telling ourselves about the experience can soften the uncertainty. These small practices don’t erase the middle, but they give us steadiness as we move through it. Over time, we begin to see the learning that’s unfolding, even when it’s not yet visible from the outside.