EP 266 The Power of Proximity for Retreat Leaders and Entrepreneurs
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Success in business isn’t just about strategy. It’s also about proximity - who you’re around, the conversations you’re exposed to, and the standards of the rooms you choose to enter. In this solo episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail shares why being in the right rooms can dramatically accelerate your growth as a retreat leader and entrepreneur. For many years Shannon’s business was doing well. But about five years ago, something shifted. She started attending conferences, joining masterminds, and intentionally placing herself in rooms with other high-level...
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Special Edition: Stop Wasting Money on Ads: What Retreat Leaders Need Before Running Facebook & Instagram Ads with Jenn Possick
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Running ads to fill your retreat sounds like the obvious next step… But for most retreat leaders, it’s actually where they start losing money. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by Alison, Erin, and Jenn Possick (The Ads Maven) to break down what retreat leaders really need to know before investing in Facebook and Instagram ads. Jenn specializes in helping coaches, wellness professionals, and retreat leaders run strategic, data-driven ad campaigns - offering both done-for-you and done-with-you services. And here’s what she makes very clear: Ads are...
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EP 265 The Communication Shift That Can Transform Your Retreats with Joel Weldon
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Retreat leaders spend months planning the location, the schedule, the experiences, and the transformations they want their guests to have. But there is one skill that quietly determines whether your retreat truly lands with your audience. Your ability to communicate. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Hall of Fame speaker Joel Weldon to talk about the powerful role communication plays in the success of retreats - from filling the room to creating deeper breakthroughs for attendees. Joel has been paid to speak at more than 3,000 events and has coached over...
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The Future of the Retreat Industry: Why We Need Standards, Community & Leadership with Holly Porter
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
The retreat industry is growing so fast. Especially in the last 6 years. But here’s the problem: There has never been a central place for retreat leaders, venues, and professionals to connect, collaborate, and operate at a higher standard. Until now. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by Alison, Erin, and Holly Porter, founder of the International Retreat Association, to talk about the future of the retreat industry - and why the timing for this shift couldn’t be more important. Holly shares her powerful personal story - from building 12...
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EP 264 Building Momentum: Staying the Course When Results Feel Slow
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
One of the hardest moments in the retreat business is the quiet period after you launch something. You announce your retreat. You post about it. You send emails. And then… crickets. In this solo episode, Shannon Jamail talks about why slow results are not a sign that something is wrong. In fact, momentum in the retreat industry is rarely sudden — it’s usually the result of consistent, focused action over time. Shannon breaks down the common traps retreat leaders fall into when results don’t appear quickly, including shiny object syndrome, comparison traps, and abandoning strategies too...
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EP 263 Trust Leaks in Retreat Businesses: The 5 Places Retreat Leaders Lose Credibility with Debbie Simmons
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Trust is the currency of the retreat industry. Guests invest their time, money, and emotional energy into retreat experiences expecting transformation, connection, and professionalism. But often, trust doesn’t break in big dramatic moments - it slowly leaks through small gaps in leadership, communication, and delivery. In this episode, Shannon sits down with Debbie Simmons to discuss the five most common “trust leaks” in retreat businesses and how retreat leaders can repair them before they damage reviews, referrals, and long-term loyalty. They break down where trust most often breaks...
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EP 262 Culture Building: How to Create a Retreat Experience That People Come Back To with Nathan Jamail
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Most retreat leaders focus on the itinerary. But what makes guests come back year after year isn’t the schedule - it’s the culture. In this episode, Shannon is joined by leadership expert and culture strategist Nathan Jamail (whom she is biased to say is amazing) to break down how retreat leaders can intentionally build culture instead of just planning programming. They discuss: How culture impacts everything How to create loyalty beyond a single event Alumni communities that actually stay engaged Setting customer experience standards Why some retreats create raving fans -...
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EP 261 The Truth About Confidence: Why Some Retreat Leaders Struggle to Fill Their Events with Nathan Jamail
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Confidence isn’t just mindset crap. It affects your pricing, your messaging, your sales conversations and your boundaries. And ultimately - whether your retreat fills or flops. In this episode, Shannon is joined by leadership expert, sales strategist, and bestselling author Nathan Jamail (she is biased, but he is pretty damn amazing) to unpack the real reason many retreat leaders struggle to sell out their events: lack of business confidence. They discuss: Imposter syndrome in the retreat industry Underpricing rooted in insecurity Overexplaining instead of leading What confident...
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A Special Edition: Announcing WeTravel as a Sponsor of the Retreat Industry Forum + Why Their Platform Is Built for Retreat Leaders
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Running a retreat business requires more than just creating transformational experiences. Behind every successful retreat is a system that manages payments, bookings, logistics, guest communication, and operations. In this special episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by Erin and Alison, co-hosts of the Retreat Industry Forum, along with Mariana from WeTravel, to officially announce WeTravel as a sponsor of the upcoming forum. During the conversation, Mariana from WeTravel shares how their platform was specifically designed to support retreat...
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EP 260 Not All Events Are Equal: How to Discern Real Value in a Noisy Event Space with Dora Rankin
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In today’s entrepreneurial world, there is no shortage of conferences, summits, masterminds, and learning forums. But here’s the real question: How do you know which ones are actually worth your time, energy, and money? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Dora Rankin to talk about discernment in business spaces - especially in a post-COVID world where the coaching and event industry has exploded with noise, hype, and inflated promises. They dive into: Why entrepreneurs are more discerning than ever The rise of “smoke and mirrors” marketing How to vet event hosts and speakers...
info_outlineEpisode Overview: Join Shannon and Nathan as they delve into the valuable lessons learned from their own mistakes, both personally and in managing their retreat. This episode is a candid exploration of how errors can lead to significant growth and understanding.
Key Discussion Points:
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Introduction to the Topic:
- Shannon and Nathan introduce the theme of the episode, emphasizing the importance of embracing mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement.
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Personal Mistakes and Lessons:
- The hosts share their own experiences with mistakes they've made while running the retreat and in their personal lives. They discuss specific instances and the lessons each mistake taught them.
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The Role of Mistakes in Personal Growth:
- Exploration of how facing and acknowledging mistakes is crucial for personal development. They talk about the process of transforming regret into proactive learning.
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Strategies for Handling Mistakes:
- Practical advice on how to effectively recognize, address, and learn from mistakes. Tips include maintaining a positive mindset, using mistakes as a feedback mechanism, and the importance of accountability and resilience.
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Encouraging a Culture of Learning:
- Discussion on fostering an environment at work and home where mistakes are seen as part of the learning curve rather than failures. Shannon and Nathan emphasize how creating a supportive atmosphere encourages innovation and growth.
Conclusion:
- Recap of the insights shared about learning from mistakes. The hosts reiterate that mistakes are inevitable but managing them wisely can lead to invaluable personal and professional growth.
Call to Action:
- Shannon and Nathan encourage listeners to reflect on their own past mistakes and consider what lessons can be drawn from them. They invite the audience to share their stories of learning from errors to help inspire and educate the community.
The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:
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