Facilitating on Purpose – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Fernando Murray and Carolina Almeida about strategies they use to create safe learning environments with their groups. Fernando and Carolina share their deep expertise working across cultures, their expertise in Liberating Structures, and more.

Beth, Fernando, and Carolina also discuss:

• fostering an inclusive atmosphere
• inviting participation
• avoiding over-helping
• handling conflicts and challenges
• promoting autonomy and collecting problem-solving

Engage with Fernando Murray and Carolina Almeida

• Website: https://www.virtualfacilitation.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtual-facilitation/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@virtualfacilitation
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualfacilitation/

Other Links from the Episode

• Liberating Structures
• EP 20: Improv in Facilitation with Brett Macdonald
• Outward Bound
• NOLS
• alfaia drum

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Yasser Tamer Atef, a disability advocate and facilitator, about strategies to make learning spaces accessible and inclusive.

Beth and Yasser also discuss:

• involving people with disabilities in the learning design process
• creating accessible documents
• strategies for facilitating inclusive virtual sessions
• the importance of asking participants about their specific needs and preferences individually, and making adaptations accordingly
• designing flexibility into learning experiences for participants
• building inclusive communities and fostering a sense of belonging and safety for all learners

Engage with Yasser Tamer Atef

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasser-tamer-6880911b8/
• X: @yasser_tammer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yasser.tamer2002

Other Links from the Episode

• Equity Unbound
• Soliya Connect program
• MyFest 2024
• Intentionally Equitable Hospitality series
• Dr. Maha Bali
• Dr. Mia Zamora
• Center for Learning and Teaching, American University in Cairo
• Teaching in Higher Ed podcast with Bonni Stachowiak
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on the CAST website
• Priya Parker's Art of Gathering book
• Yasser's article for Mind Brain & Education magazine on "Care and Equity: The View From the Lens of Disability Inclusion"
• Heather Kretschmer
• Verna Rossi's Inclusive Learning Design book
• Dr. Amy Kavanagh
• Radha Agrawal's Belong book, available on her website

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Matthew Rempel about how entrepreneurs who own facilitation-related businesses can create and communicate the value we bring to our clients in various ways.

Beth and Matthew also talk about:

• finding our ideal clients
• dealing with fear around saying no to potential clients
• rethinking the purpose of "the funnel"
• becoming a source of influence rather than an influencer
• creating value via social media

Engage with Matthew Rempel

• Website: https://strategymadesimple.ca/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdGJ6-z9ji5PSJJerJs2JLA

Links from the Episode

• Liberating Structures Nine Whys
• Seth Godin
• Amanda Natividad on X
• Rand Fishkin on X
• Rand Fishkin's blog post: Influence Maps–The Best Marketing Framework You've Never Heard Of
• Session Lab's State of Facilitation 2024 Report

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about timing considerations when planning and facilitating workshops.

Beth explores:

• Cultural considerations related to time
• Using a lesson plan template to help with timing
• How learning outcomes help us make decisions about timing
• Timekeeping while facilitating
• Tracking and reflecting on timing-related issues
• Additional considerations for the virtual and e-learning modes of learning

Links From the Episode

• Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience For Any Group (Beth's book)
• Lesson plan template (scroll to Free Downloads section)
• EP 19: Choosing Activities
• 1-2-4-All from Liberating Structures
• Liberating Structures

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Alexandra Suchman about game-based experiential learning and how games can be leveraged to support teams.

Beth and Alexandra also talk about:

• what game-based experiential learning is
• the levels of depth we can accomplish through games
• choosing games to meet desired outcomes
• including reflective elements in games
• getting confident in facilitating games with groups

Engage with Alexandra Suchman

• Website: https://www.barometerxp.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrasuchman

Other Links From the Episode

• Alex and Beth's episode on the Women Talking About Learning podcast: The Expectation One
• EP 13: Experimenting with Experiential Learning with Romy Alexandra on this podcast
• Barometer XP's iceberg analogy for the depths of play
• Barometer XP's Pressure Matrix with the 9 dimensions of culture
• Barometer XP's certification program for facilitators who want to learn to use games in their work
• Barnga: A Simulation Game on Cultural Clashes

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Michele Mateus about owning who we are, putting ourselves 'out there', and expressing ourselves fully through portrait photography – whether we're facilitators of learning or anyone else who needs or wants to show up in photos.

Beth and Michele also talk about:

• the vulnerability of having our photo taken
• the importance of evoking emotions through photography
• smashing beauty standards and saying no to creating 'cookie cutter' photos
• shifting our relationship with ourselves and our bodies
• the impact of great photography

Engage with Michele Mateus

• Website: www.mateusstudios.com
• Instagram: @mateusstudios and @mateuscoaching

Other Links from the Episode

• Emily Carr University of Art and Design
• Curious George
• Royal Roads University
• Brené Brown
• Art of Hosting 

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Meg Bolger about how facilitators can respond effectively to participants when they say something that could or does cause conflict in the group.

Beth and Meg also talk about:

• Giving more space and agency to people to participate
• Not avoiding conflict when it happens
• Bringing a curious mindset
• Noticing and responding to participants' underlying needs
• Using a three-stepped approach to respond to potentially problematic statements

Engage with Meg Bolger

• Website: http://facilitator.cards/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facilitatorcards/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/facilitatorcards
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megbolger/

Other Links from the Episode

• Katherine Schulz's "On Being Wrong" TED talk
• Quick Overview of Glasser's Choice Theory (Five Needs)
• Bear Hébert on Instagram
• Trainings by Meg and Facilitator Cards (including Holding Space workshop)

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

 
Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the mindsets that she holds as an entrepreneur, leading a team who engages in learning design and facilitation work. Beth talks about abundance vs. competitive mindsets, navigating uncertainty, considerations around being client-centric, ethical decision-making, and having passion for the work.

Links from the Episode

• EP 15: Dealing with Self-Doubt with Beth Cougler Blom

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Mirjam Leunissen about reconnecting to our bodies when working with groups to inspire emergent and serendipitous thinking.

Beth and Mirjam also talk about:

• Playfulness and pushing people out of their comfort zones
• Practicing sensing what's going on in our bodies
• Metaphors and analogies as inspiration
• Building upon the cognitive tasks AI can do with what only we as humans can do

Engage with Mirjam Leunissen

• Mirjam on LinkedIn

Other Links from the Episode

• NeverDoneBefore
• Ofman Core Quadrants (video)
• Richard de la Rosa
• Pippi Longstocking activity
• Street Wisdom
• David Pearl
• Liberating Structures
• Troika Consulting
• Myriam Hadnes - Workshops.work
• Johnnie Moore
• Jan Keck
• Embodiment Coaching
• Mirjam's fireflies activity

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Dr. Marcia Goddard about how our brains work and some of the things that can happen with our brains - as facilitators or participants - in learning environments.

Beth and Marcia also talk about:

• creating psychological safety
• neuroscience's alignments with diversity, equity and inclusion
• recognizing and overcoming different types of biases
• why our brains get tired in virtual sessions

Engage with Dr. Marcia Goddard

• Dr. Marcia Goddard on LinkedIn

Other Links from the Episode

• The Contentment Foundation
• Romy Alexandra on LinkedIn
• Art of Hosting
• Robert Sapolsky's Behave and Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers books

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions