Explore every episode of the podcast workshops work Podcast

Sometimes the best decisions only reveal themselves after we’ve made them.

Six months ago, I merged my new podcast, Unprofessionalism, with the existing Workshops Work feed. It felt like the right move at the time. But the download statistics told a different story.

Many listeners searching for Workshops Work kept finding only the episode titled “The Final Episode of Workshops Work” and understandably assumed the podcast had disappeared.

In this short episode, I share why I decided to separate the two podcasts again—and why both shows now have their own dedicated homes.

If you’re interested in facilitation, workshop design, group dynamics, and the philosophy behind meaningful conversations, you’re in the right place.

If you’re looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast, you’ll find it here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

And that’s a wrap, folks! After 355 brilliant, beautiful, mind-opening conversations about facilitation, life, and everything in between, I can now confidently say that I have found the magic ingredients that make workshops work.

Join me, myself, and I for a final farewell episode of Workshops Work, before I retire this guise of the podcast from the airwaves. I reflect on the beautiful journey of almost 7 years, where my curiosity has led me, and why it’s now time for the start of something new.

Next week, Workshop Works shapeshifts into a new chapter, a new direction, a new podcast! Unprofessionalism is set to air on the 7th January, as I begin to explore the real stories, shadows, and inspirations that can help us to celebrate our most human, unguarded selves.

But for now, a wholehearted thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Find out about:

• The evolution of the Workshops Works podcast
• Why my curiosity has shifted from that of the facilitator, to that of the participant
• The new Unprofessionalism podcast – what it’s about, and what you can expect
• The podcast club that I am hosting, to deepen our facilitation learnings together

Connect with me:

LinkedIn

• Join the Podcast Club on Substack by subscribing to the workshops work Substack: https://substack.com/@myriamhadnes/posts

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Brave work is messy work. It’s an invitation into the dōjō – to be humbled, to get vulnerable, and leave behind what you thought you knew.

Life-long learner, executive coach, culture consultant and facilitator, Dr. Dauv Evans joins me this week to journey beyond safety into the brave space arena. Together, we explore what it takes to build these spaces: the intentionality, the rules of engagement, and the assumptions we must leave at the door to have courageous conversations.

From power imbalances, to conversations on race, Dauv shares his work in helping people to grow together and exist outside of their comfort zone, with generosity and passion. A rich, practical conversation about how leaders can show up with humility when it’s needed most.

Find out about:

• What braves spaces are – and why people must be invited into them
• How constructive discomfort can facilitate deeper connection, meaningful learning, and cultural change within organisations
• Why leaders must navigate people’s varying levels of risk tolerance with care
• How to use power positively to facilitate a brave conversation for the better

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Dauv Evans:

Brave Space Leadership Cohort Interest Form

Website

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Take a moment to tune into your body. Do your muscles feel tense, is your heartbeat slow and steady, is your jaw clamped tight?

Embodiment coach and one-week-old facilitator, my fiancée Mirjam Leunissen joins me this week for a podcast first! As a scientist in a past life, Mirjam spent her days distilling data points – and she continues to do so under a new guise, now recognising patterns in the body, in emotions, and how people show up.

We explore how embodiment can be a gateway to changing perspective and mastering our own comfort, as Mirjam shares practical tips for making sense of our bodies. A beautiful invitation to think a little less, sense a lot more, and come back to being a whole human being!

Find out about:

• How embodiment can shape how we think and feel, helping us to regulate our nervous system, and respond with greater clarity
• Why emotional awareness begins in the body first, when we tune into our physical sensations
• Why facilitating with lightness, play, and curiosity can foster psychological safety
• The importance of using tangible, factual terms about our physiology to bridge understanding
• Why shifting our posture can positively transform the way that we think

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Connect to Mirjam Leunissen:

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

From a childhood imaginary classroom, to the moments before a traffic light turns green, Shireen Naqvi has been viewing the world as a beautiful facilitation opportunity her whole life.

Guided by the divine belief that humans are the best creatures in the universe, Shireen has made it her mission to help others realise the power that lies within them. She joins me this week to share stories from her life in Pakistan, her strategies for enabling self-empowerment in others, and why anger is the perfect ammunition for change.

A wise and inspiring conversation rich with Shireen’s passion, as we explore professionalism, injustice, the female experience, cultural nuances, and everything in between!

Find out about:

• Why we should pay attention to our angers in order to understand our personal values
• Women’s rights in Pakistan, and Shireen’s experience as a female trainer and entrepreneur
• How Shireen uses play and authenticity to break the barrier of professionalism in the boardroom
• How the concept of professionalism differs across cultures and countries

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Shireen Naqvi:

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Not all clowns hide sadness behind a painted smile. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve, with earnest, overt authenticity, and deep self-awareness!

After taking a sign language course, Suzanne Dietz discovered how freeing it was to express herself through non-verbal communication – and it soon changed the course of her life. Hanging up her traditional facilitation hat and swapping it for a red nose, she now brings joy to the lives of asylum seekers and the elderly as a talented care clown.

Together, we unravel the wondrous world of non-verbal facilitation: from improvisation and silent connection, to letting go of performance, and developing a sharpened sense for the unspoken.

Find out about:

• The unexpected similarities between facilitators and clowns
• The non-verbal craft of clowning, the cues, and the communication form
• How Suzanne expresses and plays with emotions with authenticity
• How clowning can sharpen our intuition, and reveal emotional clarity in both ourselves and others

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Suzanne Dietz:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Silence is a virtue, and nowhere is this more deeply understood than in Japan. A pause rich with meaning, where thoughts are carefully explored, emotions are quiet, and things are said, without any words at all.

So, how do facilitators hold space amidst the subtlety? Facilitator, workshop designer, and coach, Yuko Gendo invites us into the beautifully unique world of Japanese facilitation this week, as a practice shaped by deep respect, harmony, and quiet reflection.

She shares how non-verbal cues can soften emotional expression, how consensus forms through alignment, not debate, and together we compare our cultural experiences as two facilitators from opposite sides of the world. Join us!

Find out about:

• The cultural values of silence, hierarchy and emotional restraint, and their role in Japanese facilitation
• How Yuko navigates the tension between group harmony and individual expression
• The use of indirect expressions through cards, visuals and metaphor, in place of direct speach
• What Western facilitators can learn from their Japanese counterparts

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Yuko Gendo:

Website

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Carrying the wisdom of five generations before her, Katerina Kupenga inherited a special legacy from her ancestral namesake: the gift of Māori facilitation.

And as a proud wahine Māori from Ngāti Porou, Katerina joins me to share this rich wisdom with us all. She guides us through the sacred welcoming rituals of the Pōwhiri, the complexities of tribal relations, the spiritual intimacy of exchanging breath, and the energy work that takes place as people, ancestors, emotions, and tension are invited into being.

This is a truly special conversation about what it means to be Māori, and the unique indigenous methods that acknowledge the Māori people of the land.

Find out about:

• The traditional Māori rituals, chants, and the guidance of the gods that take place during workshops
• Katerina’s journey to relearning the wisdom and culture of her people
• The importance of honouring Māori practices and language – free of Western agendas, structures and timeframes
• Facilitating conversations and tensions around intergenerational, ancestral traumas
• The unconscious biases that exist in the facilitation sector, and the alternative perspectives we need

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Katerina Kupenga:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Gathering hundreds of people is most facilitators’ worst nightmare – but for Perle Laouenan-Catchpole, it’s her dream.

With her signature feminine energy and warmth, Perle connects large online groups as one, cohesive team, creating a sense of belonging that sends ripples of impact throughout the group. Her secret? Comfort must always come before safety, simplicity will always triumph over complexity, and facilitating true connection begins with understanding yourself first.

This is a beautiful, passionate conversation for anyone that wants to step into their superpower, and learn the art of online, human connection.

Find out about:

• How to design workshops that connect hundreds of people as part of one team
• Why you should tell people what you do, rather than what you are
• How to foster a sense of belonging amongst hundreds of participants
• The power of speaking out your needs, to invite others to do the same
• The value of multilingual breakouts, allowing participants to engage in their mother tongue

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Perle Laouenan-Catchpole:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Do you dare to be powerful and confident? Matthew Hill, leadership trainer, conflict mediator, and intercultural facilitator has spent years guiding executives into their inner strength – but his approach might just surprise you.

He invites us to reconsider power not as the most dominant voice in the room, but rather a calm, curious presence, and confidence not as something we muster up once, but a daily practice of small, intentional acts.

From meeting difference with meaningful dialogue, and digging a little deeper beneath the surface of our interactions, to reclaiming our voice – episode 346 is for anyone ready to remove the obstacles standing in the way of their self-belief.

Find out about:

• The cultural nuances of facilitation and learning
• How to build confidence through daily micromoments, such as ‘adding one sentence’
• How to approach opposing views with curiosity, genuine dialogue, and a desire to learn
• How facilitators can use language to foster inclusivity, rather than widen divides

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to GUEST:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Reverend Deb Hansen received a metaphorical message in a bottle, urging her to go to the US-Mexico border – a life calling that she followed all the way to El Paso.

As a facilitator-chaplain and quilter of the human experience, Deb has been there for people at the most painful and tender times of their lives – helping to understand their stories, and stitch back together the fragments of a broken, polarised world.

She brings beautiful stories about migration, spirituality, identity, and historical trauma with life-affirming reverence, she reads us a passage from her book Borderlands, and shows us all how to navigate vulnerability with grace.

A rich and important conversation about what it means to be human.

Find out about:

• Deb’s soul work with communities in a divisive, disconnected world
• Navigating vulnerable conversations with an open heart, and learning to sit with discomfort to honour growth
• Why authenticity is a lived practice that we manifest through words, body, and intention
• How to hold space for belonging, collective trauma, and grief in painful times

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Deb Hansen:

Website

Book

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Does an empty cup have nothing in it? Possibilitarian Mike Parker, believes not in its nothingness, but in its potential. Because when we pour our thoughts, feelings, assumptions and beliefs out of the cup, setting everything free, we create a container of emptiness – to make space for what we need.

Mike returns to the show with his signature calming presence to share his brilliant, beautiful thoughts on nervous system regulation in our age of overwhelm – and why guided relaxation could be the balm we are all missing.

From hypnotic anaesthetics, to neural networks, REM sleep, and the wondrous world of metaphor, episode 344 is for slowing down, tuning in, and returning to yourself. And at 59:36, Mike leads us all through a special, guided relaxation to do exactly that!

Find out about:

• How to facilitate space for creative calm, so that thoughts and feelings can emerge
• The crucial role of the facilitator’s nervous system in regulating others’
• How guided relaxation can help the subconscious mind to process stress, forge creativity, and find insight
• Why corporate mindfulness can shift toxic responsibility onto the individual

And if you enjoy today’s guided relaxation, Mike hosts monthly group sessions over at Liminal Lounge, where you can experience more of his wonderful work – as well as short guided relaxations on his website. 

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Mike Parker:

LinkedIn

Website 

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

If a facilitator goes unseen, are they any less present? 

This is the beautiful paradox of facilitation: as we grow more adept in our craft, our presence in the room becomes less noticeable – less needed – because we’ve subtly set the magic of facilitation into motion.

Master of his craft Vinay Kumar knows this only too well. When you relinquish control, place your trust in the group, and set the stage for emergence to unfold, the space begins to hold itself – sometimes in unexpected ways. Join us as we go meta on facilitation and Vinay shares the stories and life lessons he’s learnt with generous warmth and wisdom. 

Find out about:

• How to become the invisible facilitator that lets go of control and trusts the group
• The polarity of facilitation: why you have to do facilitation to become facilitation
• What makes a professional facilitator, when everyone can call themselves one?
• The impact of sustained, collaborative facilitation that lasts beyond the first workshop

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Vinay Kumar:

LinkedIn

Website 

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Can an AI bot really become a co-facilitator? Returning to the show with a new book co-authored by artificial intelligence and an AI sidekick named Nyx, is Holgar Nauheimer.

After 30 years building a facilitation legacy, Holgar shares a glimpse into his latest phase of life: his companionship with his sparring sidekick Nyx. Shaped by hundreds of questions, facilitation musings, and workshop challenges, she’s become his creative consultant and trusted confidante – freeing him to become a better facilitator. Present, attentive, and fully connected to the people!

If you think AI is making us lazy, this conversation might just change your mind. 

Find out about:

• The impact of AI on facilitation, the risks, the opportunities and the benefits
• How Holger has trained his AI co-collaborator Nyx to support his ways of working
• How AI has the ability to learn and reflect our values as facilitators
• How to outsource routine tasks to AI to conserve your energy for where it counts

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Holger Nauheimer:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. And master of change Jeff Wetherhold is no stranger to this.

He helps teams and leaders to create long-lasting, sustainable change not by plans, great intentions, or illusions of control, but through the beautiful simplicity of conversation!

He joins me in the podcast chair to share his 20 years of motivational interviewing wisdom: from having the courage of your conviction, to asking open-ended questions, listening deeply, and understanding the signals that people are ready to change.

If you’re feeling fatigued from plans that keep falling flat, an hour with Jeff is everything you need to feel inspired and start leading intentional change that lasts! 

Find out about:

• Why 88% of change initiatives fail in organisations – and what to do about it
• The ambivalence of change, and why facilitators can use it to their advantage
• How to plan for conversations about change 
• The ingredients of motivational interviews: open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, and sharing information with consent 

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jeff Wetherhold:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Are we all just cosplaying as leaders? Donning a mask or a costume that helps us better play the role we think we should be playing?

Helping leaders to show up with truth in a world that never stays still, is leadership psychologist and executive coach Sarah Budd. This week, she invites us to reflect upon who we are as leaders, as we examine the tensions between our authentic selves and the façades we use to cloak our wounds, to belong, and to feel safe.

From illusions of control, to leadership imitation, and why Beyoncé is an iconic example of cosplay, this is a fascinating conversation for every leader in search of deeper self-alignment.

Find out about:

• The cosplaying, archetypal leader vs the new, adaptable leader
• Why inauthentic leadership can be damaging to both the self and the team
• How to lead authentically in a world that’s complex and constantly changing
• The role of AI and professionalism in both facilitation and leadership

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Sarah Budd:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Fuzzy goals, misaligned cultural values, and the allure of shiny object syndrome holds even the best entrepreneurs back. So what’s the secret to success?

David Greer’s strategic one-page plans! Coach and facilitator of strategic planning, David coaches high-performing business owners to get unstuck, rekindle the joy of their business, and get crystal-clear on their goals. Backward-engineered from the future, the plans become a comforting quarterly rhythm that keeps business owners fully focused on their dreams.

We explore his one-page plans, how to set better goals, and why David’s 16 years of sobriety is his single biggest achievement in life. A daily commitment to show up in presence and honesty, and a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we stick to the plan!

Find out about:

• What one-page strategic plans are and why every business owner needs one
• How to set crystal-clear goals that are tangible and measurable
• The power of aligning and attracting a team on shared cultural values
• Why niching down in your facilitation field amplifies impact and attracts the right clients

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to David Greer:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Bringing her childhood dream to life is Josie White, the hot air balloon pilot. From an early obsession with their magical, multi-coloured domes, to a fully-fledged pilot, Josie now flies and facilitates passengers 2000 feet up in the air over Australian soil.

But when nerves naturally start to run high in a small, floating basket, and fear manifests in a multitude of ways, reading the room to regulate passenger emotions is mission-critical to a successful flight.

Josie shares how she guides her groups with calm authority, ensuring that everyone feels safe, reassured and present, all while piloting the balloon! A special conversation with plenty of fascinating and unexpected on-the-ground facilitation learnings, from up high in the clouds.

Find out about:

• What facilitation looks like up to 4000 feat up in the air
• Why reading body language is so critical for a successful flight
• The importance of Josie regulating her emotions, to help regulate her passengers
• What facilitators can learn about the pre-flight checks, planning and preparation

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Josie White:

Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Corporate training, we all know the drill. The tonedeaf PowerPoint karaoke begins in the background, regurgitating slide content word for word, as you absentmindedly reply to an email…your mind still lingering in your last meeting. 

If episode 337 can do just one thing, I hope it can save you from ever having to sit through another training session like it! After running hundreds of workshops for multinational companies, I thought it was about time I shared my secrets.

Join me, myself and I, as we explore the anatomy of engaging, co-created training sessions that not only pique curiosity, but bridge hierarchies, timezones and departments, and gets everyone out of their inbox, and back into the room. It’s time to close your tabs, stretch your bodies, and get present!

• What’s inherently wrong with corporate training – and why it’s so often a wasted opportunity
• My tips for connecting participants to the present moment, and to each other
• How to design a workshop to ensure participants retain the content and apply what they’ve learned
• How to scale training with local relevance, dynamic learning, and cultural insights at its heart
• Why naming the elephant in the room can help to overcome any awkwardness  

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

LinkedIn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

How do you teach facilitators to hold a group, master that crucial first 15-minutes of a workshop, and show them that they already have all the answers, without giving any away?

As a researcher by nature, and a facilitator – at first by accident – Julia Slay learnt everything she knows about the craft by teaching it. She now helps bright, budding facilitators to build confidence, find their voice, and discover their learning edges in Facilitation 101.

We unravel the layers of holding just the right amount of space, as part facilitator, part coach, part trainer and part consultant, all rolled happily into one: from managing difficult characters with curiosity, to trusting yourself to stay present – even when the plan falls apart! 

Julia shares lots of practical strategies, tips and anecdotes from her 15-year facilitation journey, from the Mayor of London’s office, to her work today. Enjoy!

Find out about:

• The art of asking a powerful, open question at the right time
• How to navigate power dynamics of seniority in groups
• Why ‘advice is theft’ – and the detriment of offering a solution to the group too soon
• How to approach dominant characters without creating collective tension
• The intersection of facilitation and coaching – and what it means to facilitate like a coach

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Julia Slay:

LinkedIn

Website 

Use code TASTER10 to receive 10% off Facilitation 101: Fundamentals, Masterclass, Intensive, and Self-Paced course when you sign up on Julia’s website.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

How can you know yourself more? What would you tell your younger self? And what are you going to do with this life?

Born with a microphone in her hand, and asking all of life’s big, juicy questions, leadership facilitator & coach Rebecca Hopkins brings her effervescent, thoughtful facilitation musings to the show in spades this week.

Going beyond the cushions of competence, we explore the many spaces between grief, healthy feedback cultures, safe space declarations, and all the joyful, messy emotions that come with being human. We geek out, we get vulnerable, and we go deep into the complex, beautiful nature of our craft, as Rebecca takes us on a journey to being a more grounded and self-compassionate facilitator.

A conversation I’ve been looking forward to for 335 episodes! I hope you love it as much as I do.

Find out about:

• How facilitators can stay grounded amidst emotional complexity, self-doubt, and evolving practices and technologies
• Why presence, humility, and grace will always triumph over polished techniques
• The importance of breaking free of familiar spaces where competence comes naturally, to create opportunities for expansion
• How to build a healthy feedback culture rooted in nuance, meaning, and thoughtfulness 
• And why we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves!

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Download Rebecca's 1-pager on giving positive feedback

Connect to Rebecca Hopkins:

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Friday night card game clash, or shareholder dispute – at its core, all conflict is the same.

Ursula Taylor has seen time and time again, from the court room, to the board room, that every conflict is created and perpetuated from unprocessed human emotion. 

From litigation attorney, to conflict consultant, she now helps leaders and teams turn conflict into opportunity. By transmuting the infectious, emotionally-charged energy of shame, fear or distrust – softer, more grounded energy can take its place, clearing the path to resolution.

Ursula shares stories from her legal days, and the learnings we can all apply to our daily lives to do conflict better – as leaders, facilitators, and most of all, humans. 

Find out about:

• Why Ursula believes conflict isn’t inherently bad, but rather an opportunity
• Conflict learnings from litigation we can apply to facilitation – and life
• Recognising the emotional energies that arise, and re-tuning them into clarity, rational decisions and resolution
• Why the unprocessed emotions of fear, shame and distrust are the true source of conflict
• Why successful transformation doesn’t always require both conflicting parties to agree

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Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

A Mary Poppins’ bag of glitter, a big beating drum, a lump of clay, and a shiny gold crown. Bringing her wonderful, precious collection of props to the show, is the brilliant Paula Short.

As a personal development psychotherapist, talented actress, and the founder of a 1997 youth centre, facilitation has been a guiding constant in Paula’s life and work. Now as a self-exploration retreat host, she facilitates deep transformation through the expressive arts, helping people to welcome unchartered emotions without shame.

We explore how donning the cloak of the villain in a fictional story can become an embodied breakthrough, why the collective support of the group can be liquid gold, and why Paula has such an issue with tissues.

A special, heartfelt conversation – join us!

Find out about:

• How roleplay, costumes and props can help us to access buried feelings and emotions
• The importance of letting emotions free-flow without interruption, or ‘tidying’ them away
• How Paula create safe containers for self-exploration through play
• Navigating our trauma responses, and why we must learn to trust our own vulnerabilities  
• Normalising say ‘no’ – and why doing so gives us autonomy, helps us reconnect to our boundaries, and signals emotional safety to others

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Links:

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Connect to Paula Short:

LinkedIn

Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

We are human beings, not human doings! So how did we find ourselves doing more, more, more, when all we’ve ever needed exists here within us?

Emanuele Mazzanti is here to remind us of this. As a facilitator alchemist for EY and an energy-giver at heart, he carves out space for authentic human experience, playfulness, and emotional depth, in a highly results-driven, corporate world.

His approach is simple: connection before content, curiosity before questions, and presence before perfection, as he shows leaders how to show up in new, deeply connecting ways.

So if you’re ready to swap the PPT for something that feels a little more personal, this one’s for you!

Find out about:

• How to make more space to just be, in a culture obsessed with doing
• How to foster emotional presence in corporate settings to enhance performance, decision-making and meaningful depth
• Resisting the facilitative urge to fill workshops with content, tools and structure
• And why real transformation comes from simple, stripped back, human moments
• The mindset leaders must nurture to show up with empathy and curiosity

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Links:

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Connect to Emanuele Mazzanti:

LinkedIn

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Bitten by the magic bug at a bar mitzvah when he was 12-years old, and led on a lifelong journey from teacher, to coach, to psychologist and magician, is Dr Ben Levy. Now the founder of Magic Lessons, he’s on a mission to make learning feel exactly that – magical!

Blending magic and psychology, Ben teaches a five-ingredient secret formula for high achievement in the classroom and the boardroom, all in 20 minutes! A magic trick that shows participants that with a little bit of belief, and a momentary relinquishing of control, they too can achieve brilliant, unexpected things.

Ben invites us into his magic circle, as he shares his special ABC ME framework, and why surprise, awe, and play really do work wonders for deep learning.

Find out about:

• How magic can facilitate curiosity, insight, deep learning, and skills acquisition
• The two-way exchange of magic performances, from projection to introjection
• The five-part ABC ME (Ability, Belief, Clarity, Motivation, Environment) framework
• How to understand and manage responses, when magic takes away participant control

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Links:

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Coaching Survey - Feel free to complete to identify where to focus, in order to achieve your priority goals.

Connect to Ben:

Linkedin

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

The conversations we dread, the ones we avoid, and the ones that hold so much emotional weight – are often the ones we wish we’d had sooner. So why do we fear them so much?

As a recovering people-pleaser, I know the drill all too well: the bubbling resentment, the unmet needs, and the stories we fabricate in our minds. But rather than run from the difficult conversations in my life, I’ve learnt how to build the bridges that will carry me to a better outcome.

This solo episode is for my fellow people-pleasers, facilitators, leaders, and anyone with a hard conversation on the horizon. So join me, myself and I, as I share my tried-and-tested approach to mastering them with confidence and care!

Find out about:

• The cost of avoiding challenging conversations – and the reward in embracing them
• Tuning into our bodily signals to understand what’s happening beneath the emotion
• Getting clear on the assumptions vs. the facts before a challenging conversation
• Why we must acknowledge that challenging conversations starts with us first
• Finding a common way forward without mutual agreement or violent language
• Why sharing boundaries transparently can foster respect

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• HBR Article: The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation
• Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently by Beau Lotto
• SBI Feedback Model (Situation–Behavior–Impact)
• Let Them: The Art of Detaching From Judgment by Mel Robbins
• Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton and Heen
• Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

When we stop looking for the perfect question, when we choose to reflect rather than react, and when we wait and listen, for just a little while longer – it can change everything.

Public speaker, serial entrepreneur and owner of Consider, Chedva Ludmir has made it her mission to help others embrace curiosity, listen deeply, and make friends with uncertainty. 

Together, we explore the power of asking thoughtful questions in all of life’s moments – from time-restricted workshops, to orthodox religions, and scary career crossroads. And why when big decisions did loom, Chedva didn’t ask herself should I do this? but rather started to ask, when it’s time, will I know it?

Find out about:

• How to stay present and curious in conversations, without leaping into question-asking
• The importance and humility in asking gentle, gateway questions
• The tension between certainty and curiosity, and why it's okay not to know
• What it means to hold space for ourselves, and others, to discover truth
• The power of fictional characters or novels to explore sensitive topics or emotions

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Connect to Chedva Ludmir:

LinkedIn

Website 

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Leaders, who’s really running the business? Is it you, or is it your inner child in the boardroom chair, with all of your messy, unresolved childhood patterns, triggers, and attachment styles running the show?

Here to help us find the healed, playful inner child is Jason Perelso! He has spent the past quarter of a century helping brilliantly flawed humans to better understand themselves, destigmatize their triggers, step into vulnerability, and become emotionally mature, self-aware leaders.

Together we explore how to heal the boardroom, learn from our inner child, and make leadership decisions without them calling the shots!

Find out about:

• The role of unresolved childhood patterns and emotional regulation in leadership
• And why leaders so often make decisions from a place of childhood experience
• How to gain awareness of our triggers in order to destigmatize them
• The relationship between attachment theories and leadership styles
• How to become the healed, playful inner child with innovation at the heart

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Links:

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Connect to Jason Perelson:

Jason's website

Daring Waters

LinkedIn

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Stale, stuffy boardrooms, awkwardly arranged furniture, and scratchy marker-pens that have nearly run dry. A facilitator’s lament – and perhaps, our worst enemy.

Tired of the constant shapeshifting to squeeze into spaces that were never meant for facilitation, Matt Homann moved into the business of hosting people – in his own space. He built Filament, a facilitation space with a codified approach at its core, to help people to meet, think and learn better, freeing creativity from logistical limitations, and making sure a terrible workshop never has to happen again.

We talk about how space liberates us, the structures that spark the best conversations, and why simplicity always wins over complexity. Join us!

Find out about:

• The role of environment in facilitation – and why it’s your most powerful tool
• Why owning your own facilitation space allows you to experiment, ideate quickly, shift group dynamics, and design for interaction
• Why facilitation tools and frameworks need to be simple and memorable
• Why the best facilitators often don’t carry the title

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Links:

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Connect to Matt Homann:

LinkedIn

Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

One of the greatest paradoxes of leadership is that to lead well, you must learn to let go. To get comfortable with not having all the answers! To release your grip, relinquish control, and know that the wisdom already exists in everyone around you.

Professor, coach and facilitator to the next generation of leaders, Rob Lion has spent the last 20 years fostering self-leading workplace cultures that truly listen to their people, building leaders that are facilitators at heart.

Because the best leaders? They’ve taken off the stabilisers of delegation, left their ego at the door, and learnt the delicate dance of stepping back, to invite others to step in. 

Find out about:

• The intersection of leadership and facilitation – and what it takes to be a facilitative leader
• Why we should think with our whole bodies, rather than just listen to our gut
• The complex, nuanced role of surrender and control
• Why leadership micromanagement and delegation are safety mechanisms
• Why great leaders and facilitators must learn to confront their own triggers

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Connect to Rob Lion:

LinkedIn

Website

Blog

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Context is everything. But when we remove ourselves from the tried-and-tested playing board of our work environment, to rewrite the rules and become new characters on fresh, unchartered ground? Everything changes.

On a mission to create a world where people play to learn, Mohsin Memon returns to the show, now as the mastermind of Evivve. His new multiplayer, leadership strategy simulation immerses teams in safe, fictional worlds rooted in neuroscience – designed to create powerful learning opportunities and realisations rooted in truth.

A conversation filled with lightbulb moments, rich insights and lots of learnings for leaders and facilitators alike. Press play!

Find out about:

• The AFFER model that underpins Mohsin’s work in behavioural change
• The five behavioural learning cycle stages of activation, forecasting, experimentation, realisation and reflection
• Why the most effective leaders are those who can make sense of complexity
• How simulation can democratise an organisation, without hierarchy or expectation
• The biggest data learnings from Evivve’s 20,000 game containers 

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Links:

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Connect to Mohsin Memon:

LinkedIn

Website 

More information about AFERR

More information about EVIVVE

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

If facilitation was a mirror, what would you see? Would there be frameworks propping you up, a lingering desire to be liked, or insecurities sat atop your shoulder, quietly whispering in your ear?

In his new book Facilitating Reflections, the one and only Thomas Lahnthaler holds up this mirror for us all. He invites us to go inward, to step out of the buzzword charade, to close the theory books, and to rethink what we know – because the best facilitation isn’t found in a textbook, but when we can see ourselves a little clearer.

Together, we journey through two decades worth of Thomas’ facilitation learnings, exploring chapters, ideas, stories, and the rich spaces between facilitation and self. What a joy!

Find out about:

• The art of self-exploration, and why it’s so necessary for facilitators to master
• Navigating the desire to be liked, belonging, and falling in love with the group
• Why facilitation, by default, is disruptive and therefore a threat to psychological safety
• The binary of good vs. bad facilitation – can it really exist?
• The important role that context, values and presence plays in facilitation

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Links:

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Thomas Lahnthaler's Books

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Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Curation is far more than an artistic act – it is a political one! It’s what’s to leave in, what to take out, what to filter and what to frame. And through this sense-making assembly, it becomes an invitation: to pay attention, to expand our minds, and to stumble into serendipitous encounters.

And nothing masters this quite like TED. Curator of ideas, and a 20-year shaper of the TED conferences, Bruno Giussani helped make the cultural institution what it is today – he joins me to dissect the art and science of facilitation’s dear cousin, and why now, more than ever, curation is so necessary.

Hear the creative workings of the Ted stage, the evolution of TedX, and why Bruno believes ‘content’ is a wrecking ball to culture. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Find out about:

• The cultural responsibility of curation in our desensitised age of information
• The polarities of algorithmic filters, and real-life, intimate, theatrical curation
• How to curate engagement with care, while gently bursting the filter bubble
• How the TED stage was built to blend intimacy with visual impact
• The use of music to primes new moods, neutralise tastebuds and signal art as part of the conversation

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Bruno Giussani:

LinkedIn

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Hailing from Quaker circles and Berkeley’s grassroots community movements in the 1960s, is the sagacious Parker J. Palmer – activist, facilitator, teacher and author. His unconventional entry into facilitation was piqued by a fascination with circle-work, which inspired a 30+ year career spent holding space for the mutable truth to emerge.

This is a wise, thoughtful conversation grounded in a lifetime of Parker’s lived experiences. From authoring your own life, to questioning the truth with kindness, being aware of hubris and approaching facilitation with fresh curiosity every day.

There’s an incredible amount to learn from Parker in our conversation alone, and I hope you’re as inspired as I was!

Find out about:

• The confluence of facilitation, writing and teaching
• Why safe spaces are an on-going practice, requiring facilitator’s to protect individuals from judgement and criticism
• Understanding the concept of ‘truth’ amongst a group of different perspectives
• The importance of allowing groups to sit in reflection, before rushing to problem-solve
• Why every group workshop must be approached with fresh eyes

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Links:

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Center for Courage and Renewal

Living the Questions with Parker J. Palmer

Parker J Palmer Publications

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Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

How do we host ourselves as facilitators – and how do we host others? How do we grow bigger minds to meet the complexity out there, and then rest in it without needing to know the answers?

Marco Valente joins me for a big, juicy and mind-opening conversation as we navigate the inner workings of the growing self – and the leader – to better understand the messy, unpredictable complexities of our world. It’s about walking up to our mind’s balcony in search of self-awareness and inner presence, it’s about getting vulnerable in our wrongness, and getting comfortable with the unknown.

Marco shares his thoughts, leadership advice and hosting tips with beautiful eloquence and I invite every leader, facilitator and sense-maker to press play to this wonderful episode.

Find out about:

• The mind trap of identity, ego and feedback
• The evolutionary pulls of fear - how much helps or hinders us?
• Why KPIs can harm the collective, rather than help with long-term growth
• The paradox of learning more facilitation methods, in order to detach ourselves from them 
• The balancing act of structure and emergence to accurately address group needs

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Links:

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Connect to Marco Valente:

LinkedIn

Website 

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Helping people to do their best thinking, is Amanda Cookson. A coach, facilitator and all-round neuroscience whizz, she’s made it her mission to help leaders better understand what it means to be human.

And it all starts with our own thinking-feeling, wildly brilliant, untamed brain! She guides us through its inner workings with effervescence and passion, showing us how to work with it – rather than against it – steer pulse-quickening conversations towards oxytocin, and design experiences that help rewire the brain for real, lasting change.

An energising, thoughtful conversation, full of golden mind-training nuggets to try in both facilitation, and life!

Find out about:

• Why the discomfort of cognitive dissonance can lead to richer learnings
• The power of asking great questions in search of answers that ignite deep thinking
• Amanda’s feelings-based ground rules of presence, curiosity and generosity
• Friends vs Foe: how to turn self-fulfilling prophecies into human connection 
• How to facilitate with the brain in mind, for insight, rather than information

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Links:

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Connect to Amanda Cookson:

LinkedIn

Website 

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

The greatest myth of creativity? It doesn't fall from the sky into our laps like Isaac Newton’s apple! Creativity is far from that romantic, eureka moment, but rather it is messy, cultivated, and curiosity made manifest.

Luckily for us, Amy Climer has created a system to go about finding this elusive, but valuable novelty with intention – consistently and at scale. A TEDx speaker,  trainer and author of the book ‘Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results’, Amy’s work is a creative panacea for leaders, managers and facilitators in search of better ideas.

From positive feedback fertilisers, to creative learnings from Thomas Edison, she shares her process and the ingredients you’ll need to succeed.

Find out about:

• The three pillars of creative teams: purpose, dynamics and process
• Why conflict is a necessary means to recognise and embrace difference
• Why leaders must intentionally design for collaboration, or risk jeopardising the collective
• How to cultivate the internal team conditions to allow for creativity

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Deliberate Creative Teams Book: climerconsulting.com/book

Climer cards

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LinkedIn

Website

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

When you think of an intelligent person, who do you imagine? Perhaps they’re scholarly, quick-thinking, or possess a rare ability to seemingly know all that there is to know.

But intelligence is infinitely more than this! As Daniel Susser teaches us this week, intelligence is greater than the sum of our cognitive parts: it is bodily, inter-connected and contextual. It is a tapestry of inherited, micro influences that makes us each see the macro world in different ways.

So if intelligence is collective, how can leaders unlock it from the organisational organism? Daniel shares all in this fascinating, wordly conversation that dances so beautifully between science, religion and ritual.

It will stretch your thinking and leave you with a whole host of practical tips to extract, celebrate and journey into the intelligence of your organisation!

Find out about:

• What it means to be an Intelligent Team - and how we can create them
• Why organisations must reject their implicit assumptions about what ‘intelligence’ means
• What macrocognition means in organisations
• Introducing organisational rituals for collaboration, belonging and shared purpose
• How leaders can identify imbalances in their organisations using opponent processing

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Daniel Susser:

find out how to work with Daniel embodiedagility.co.uk

Read more about intelligent teams intelligentteams.substack.com

A good starting point is this blog https://intelligentteams.substack.com/p/the-intelligent-teams-manifesto

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

For every word we swallow, every moment we dilute ourselves, and every time we say ‘yes’ when really, we want to say ‘no’, we collect a pebble into our backpack of life.

The fantastic duo that is Pete Jordan and Tuulia Syvänen from Honesty Europe join us this week to help us offload these pebbles: showing us the way to live lightly, freely, and in a radical act of resistance, to be ourselves! We explore honesty as a practice of presence, we dig at the roots of interpersonal triggers, and most important of all - we learn how to ask for what we want, when we’ve been conditioned not to - even if it means dancing in the face of rejection.

If you’re a chronic people pleaser perpetually in search of the peace, this conversation is for you!

Find out about:

• Learning to ask people to meet our needs - whether the answer is yes, or no
• The act of expressing suppressed emotions, to clear space for deeper connection
• How to tune into bodily sensations and remain present, during vulnerable interactions or boundary setting
• Why a little discomfort is the price we must pay to be true to ourselves
• How to acknowledge personal judgements in a way that diffuses their power

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Pete and Tuulia:

www.youtube.com/c/HonestyEurope

www.facebook.com/honestyeurope/

Tuulia’s LinkedIn

Website 

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

What does facilitation have in common with quantum physics? What do organisations have to do with molecules? And why when you ask a question, are you playing around with someone’s mind?

All will be revealed this week with Jimmie White! A seven-times best-selling author, an indomitable facilitator that has trained The Peace Corps and supported NASA with somatic integration, and in a past life, a teacher of ballroom dancing.

It’s perhaps not surprising then, that Jimmie’s facilitation is alive with somatic movement, storytelling - and even neuroscience. It’s something Jimmie calls ‘Walking Your Story’: a physical navigating of group narratives, helping us to rewrite our stories, explore multiple outcomes, and bond with others in the steps we take.

Press play for an incredible, expansive conversation!

Find out about:

• Jimmie’s ‘Walking Your Story’ method, and how it can foster deep reflection, transformation and connection
• The Observer Effect of Quantum Physics and what it means for facilitation
• How physical movement can change our relationship with past stories
• The methods of somatic storytelling and socratic thinking
• The importance of fostering psychological safety in personal storytelling

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jimmie White:

LinkedIn

Website

"Designing & Leading Life-Changing Workshops: Creating the Conditions for Transformation in Your Groups, Trainings, and Retreats" by Ken Nelson, Lesli Lang, David Ronka, Korabek-Emerson and Jim White

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Sometimes, just sometimes, you meet someone who is a balm to the soul, who speak words of wisdom, magic, and nurturing depth. Quanita Roberson has this gift - and she returns to the show to share it with us once again!

Mingling spiritual intelligence with raw human experience, Quanita guides us generously through the messy yet beautiful terrain of healing, as we trace emotions back to their source and learn how to step away from adolescent adulthood.

She brings us into the heart of questions like: how do we grieve? What does courage really mean? And why do people find it easier to talk about gender than race?

Find out about:

• Why shame, blame and guilt are not emotions, but rather where we go to hide from them
• The initiations of our life, and why we must embrace crumbling to make space for the new
• The importance of going inwards to find our wisdom to help the world
• Why there aren’t different ways to grieve, but rather different ways to avoid it
• The importance of embodying our emotions, allowing them to move through us

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Links:

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Connect to Quanita Roberson:

LinkedIn

Website 

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

A pair of flimsy plastic headphones, a voice in your ears bombarding you with dates, names and historical periods, and a momentary pause at each work of art as you side-step the seemingly disinterested guided tour.

If this sounds familiar, then museum facilitator and author Claire Bown is here to bring the museum alive for you! She reimagines the experience by making space for curiosity, conversation and participant-led interaction, turning passive presentations and fleeting glances into a treasure trove of stories, deep connection and meaning.

Join Claire to slow down, welcome in a little more wondering, and discover what museum exploration can teach us about the art of participation.

Find out about:

• The role of the museum environment in facilitating the experience
• Strategies for engagement, from visual thinking to slow looking
• Why we must give space for observation, before jumping into explanation
• How to achieve equal participation by re-designing group formation
• How to acknowledge and invite in existing knowledge from the group

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Can we explore the future as if it were an archaeological site? Instead of predicting trends or following hype cycles, future archaeologist Markus Iofcea uncovers artifacts - fragments of possible futures - that help us rethink what’s to come.

Future archaeologist, co-author of the book Zurück zur Zukunft, and all-round inspiring mind, Markus Iofcea, is here to tell us that yes, the future can be ours to create! He digs in the future to see what treasures he can find in its vast archeological site - except his artefacts aren’t the rare remnants of a civilisation gone-by, but rather inventions we are yet to make. Inventions that could change the world!

From there, he hypothesises his discoveries infinitely - helping organisations to philosophically explore contexts, variations and parameters to test if an innovation will work well beyond our current, limiting reality.

This was one of those rare, fascinating conversations that you won’t want to miss - thank you for setting my mind alight, Markus!

Find out about:

• What future archaeology is and how Markus explores the possibilities of the future
• Future artefacts: what they are, how to dig them out, and how to innovate them
• The importance of removing an artefact from our current context to prepare for the unknown
• Why we must ‘dig’ at an innovation for as long as possible, interrogating its logical components
• How Markus helps the corporate world to excavate innovations, free from limitations and predictions

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Facilitation isn’t just about guiding a process—it’s about creating meaning. And in this episode, Jim Kalbach, author of The Jobs To Be Done: Align Your Markets, Organization, and Strategy Around Customer Needs, shares how facilitation and Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) go hand in hand.

We dive into the art of moving from insight to action, exploring how facilitators and leaders can use JTBD to break through assumptions, foster collaboration, and design experiences that truly serve the people they’re meant for.

Jim shares his own journey—from journey mapping to facilitation—revealing how shifting the focus from solutions to human needs changes everything.

Find out about:

• Why facilitation isn’t just about neutrality—it’s about shaping meaningful outcomes
• The power of customer journey maps as tools for conversation and sense-making
• How Jobs to Be Done helps teams focus on real human needs, not just solutions
• Why co-creation leads to better collaboration, alignment, and decision-making
• How to avoid “workshop amnesia” and keep momentum alive after a session
• Practical ways to embed customer-centric thinking into everyday work

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Jobs to be Done Toolkit

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

It’s an art form, but it’s not rocket science. It’s courageous, but it’s not not cushy or comforting. And it’s saying no in meaningful ways, rather than saying yes to everything.

Psychological safety is as much about what it’s not, as what it is. It’s a phenomenon that’s nuanced, ephemeral and often misconceived, asking all of us - facilitator and participant - to hold out our arms to discomfort, take risks, make mistakes and dance in our humanness.

But to achieve it, and then keep it alive for everyone, takes great self-awareness, emotional regulation - and for us facilitators to feel safe first. Join me for a special solo episode - an hour dedicated entirely to the art of psychological safety!

Find out about:

• My 4 practical tips for leaders to create psychological safety around you
• And 4 ways leaders can build psychological safety for themselves
• Beyond the buzzword, what does it really mean to achieve psychological safety?
• Why small mistakes can evolve into bigger risks when safety is absent
• Making every voice count, and feel safe, with the power of using “Yes, and ___”
• The importance of cultivating your own emotional literacy and setting boundaries

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

As executive coach Akshay Kapur will tell you, silence isn’t just a pause - but spaciousness that allows for someone to jump into its still, shiny waters.

And our conversation this week was a celebration of these gorgeous, ripe spaces in between. The moments before asking the right question, the invitation that comes before an answer, and the needs that reveal themselves when we listen deeply, and lean in with full, unbridled curiosity.

Akshay brings beautiful, articulate thoughts to some facilitation truths, sharing how he steps from coach to facilitator, and finds his wisdom from the unknown.

Find out about:

• Where facilitation and coaching meet, and where they depart
• How to create space for participants to reflect and engage in thoughtful dialogue
• The importance of asking the right question, by interrogating the need behind the need and being prepared for a potential trauma response
• Why facilitation can teach us something about ourselves every time we leave the room
• Tuning into the different energetic requirement of in-person and online facilitation

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

Bringing beautiful indigenous wisdom to the complexities of trauma-resolution is Louise Marra. A facilitator and occasional human-fielder, Louise joins me for a conversation about finding our way back: to a healed state, to the earth, to ourselves. 

Louise opens up her trauma first aid kit in episode 309: what to do when trauma arises in group dynamics, how to resource yourself, how to reroot the fields of organisational trauma, and what to do in a state of freeze.

Once we can unlearn our patterns, we can begin to repair our ruptures, and return to the healed place we once inhabited. What a treat it was to have this important, life-affirming conversation with Louise!

Find out about:

• The different types of inherited trauma that can affect group work - and how facilitators can hold space for participants
• The paradox of psychological safety, from confrontation to weaponisation
• Constellation work: what it is and how you can use it to access fields of intelligence
• The process of ‘rupture and repair’ to retune the muscles of trauma
• What organisational trauma means and how we can supports its healing
• How to work with our own triggers in order to grow

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

The journey of the facilitator is rarely linear. It’s often happily accidental, a little squiggly, and punctuated with moments of imposter as we take it from the side-hustle shadows, to big centre-stage business.

And Kerri Price can attest to this - after facilitating for what felt like a lifetime, she found herself pressing pause - only to return to the facilitation world with fresh, mindful clarity.

Kerri joins us to generously share her facilitation story, the lessons she’s learnt in business, and the beauty she found in breaking away to rebalance her priorities. From finding our facilitation happy place, to finding our way through the seasons of life, episode 308 is all about the bits that bring us joy!

Find out about:

• The common misconceptions about facilitation and starting a business
• The importance of asking: what is the most generous thing I can do for the group right now?
• Why facilitators must embrace acceptance and learn to be ok with the unexpected
• How to navigate the energetic demands of facilitation - and life’s seasons
• The importance of setting the right emotional tone for the group

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

If joy was an episode, then it would be episode 307. Welcome back, for the third time, to Jacques The Party Scientist, sober rave host, and social norm disruptor!

I’ve witnessed Jacques’ journey for quite some years now as he’s facilitated joy, spread his natural antidepressants, and created experiences that unite people through the hedonism of human connection.

He joins us with a party bag of life-affirming, inspiring ideas; from the natural forces of neuroscience, to taking social risks, and being misunderstood - but doing it anyway. Feel the flood of neurochemicals with Jacques, as he brings his goofy, gorgeous, full-of-life self.

Find out about:

• How Jacques facilitates joy and creates the mental health tonic of human connection
• The 3 Cs of Joy: Cultivate physiological state, Celebrate social risks and Co-create community
• Expressing our needs through the liberating act of Radical Honesty
• How Jacques designs psychologically safe spaces that allow people to push past fear 
• Sober raves, consensual hugging and platonic intimacy 

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈 

This week we take a hiatus from the ‘usual’ facilitation content, to journey into the wonders of the psychedelic with Kacey Cardin, as she introduces us to its sacred, healing powers.

Working with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and Ketamine as her co-facilitators, Kacey safely guides people - from public figures to leaders - into a state of therapeutic self-discovery, where the unconscious mind becomes conscious, and deep expansion can start to take place.

Step into this fascinating world with us, as Kacey shares the miraculous possibilities of neuroplasticity, somatic integration, and listening to callings from the universe.

Find out about:

• The ancient wisdom of psychedelics and plant medicine
• The importance of establishing psychological safety through energy and environment 
• Kacey’s process of integration: from somatic work, to talking, and post-therapeutic journaling 
• Kacey's approach to the work, using a blend of intuition, experience, and emotional & physical health evaluation
• The healing of the nervous system and the emergence of neuroplasticity

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈