EP 254 How to Make Your Retreat a Signature Brand Asset Instead of a One-Off Event

Release Date: 01/15/2026

A Special Edition: A Fireside Chat about The Retreat Industry Forum with Alison, Erin & Shannon

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this special fireside chat, Shannon Jamail, Alison, and Erin pull back the curtain on the evolving energy of the Retreat Industry Forum — and why this year’s attendee profile looks different than ever before. What started as a vision to elevate the retreat industry is quickly becoming a high-level gathering of experienced retreat leaders, business owners, venue operators, and industry professionals ready to scale smarter and connect strategically. The trio discusses: The shift toward seasoned retreat professionals attending Why the Forum is not a beginner workshop —...

EP 258 What I Wish I Had Done Differently When I First Built My Retreat Business

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

When I first started building my retreat business, I made mistakes. Not small ones - real ones that cost time, money, energy, and unnecessary stress. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing: What I personally wish I had done differently in the early days The most common mistakes I see retreat hosts still making today And how to avoid burning out, underpricing, or building a retreat that looks good on paper but feels exhausting in real life If you’re hosting retreats (or thinking about it), this episode will help you build something that’s clear,...

EP 257 Belonging Is the New Luxury: Why Retreats Matter More Than Ever with Dan Berger

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Dan Berger to talk about something the retreat industry doesn’t discuss nearly enough: belonging. Dan shares his personal journey—from selling his event-planning software company for $100M, to grappling with his own sense of belonging, to ultimately creating Assemble Boise, a retreat and gathering space intentionally designed for human connection. Together, Shannon and Dan dive into: Why men are facing a serious belonging and mental health crisis How retreats can act as temporary communities that create lasting impact...

EP 256 Building Pilates Retreats in Europe: Creativity, Logistics, and Expansion with Bessie Refalo

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Bessie Refalo, a yoga and Pilates retreat leader who is carving out a unique lane in the wellness retreat industry - reformer Pilates retreats in Europe. Bessie shares the behind-the-scenes reality of creating retreats that require specialized equipment, including the challenges of finding venues with reformer Pilates machines and the creative solutions she’s used to make her retreats possible. From transporting reformers by lorry in Portugal to discovering bespoke studios in Italy, this conversation is a masterclass in...

EP 255 Building a Soul-Led Retreat Business While Working Full-Time with Amy Jaggers

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Amy Jaggers, a coach and retreat leader who is building a soul-led retreat business while still working full-time. Amy shares how she helps professionals step off autopilot and reconnect with balance, clarity, and purpose through meditation, mindfulness practices, retreats, and wellbeing circles. She opens up about what it really looks like to grow a retreat business alongside a demanding career — including boundaries, time management, and integrating her “soul work” into her corporate role. Together, Shannon and Amy...

EP 254 How to Make Your Retreat a Signature Brand Asset Instead of a One-Off Event

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

Many retreat leaders are stuck running one-off retreats - constantly reinventing the wheel, hustling for new sign-ups, and exhausting themselves with fresh marketing every time. But the smartest, most sustainable retreat businesses? They build signature retreats that become a recognizable, in-demand part of their brand. In this episode, Shannon breaks down how to turn your retreat into a powerful brand asset that builds loyalty, grows every year, and creates recurring revenue through alumni and long-term client pathways. You’ll learn how to create a retreat theme people return to annually,...

EP 253 Everything You Do Either Attracts or Repels and That’s a Good Thing

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

Everything you put into the world is doing something. Your website. Your social posts. Your emails. Your videos. Your interviews. In this episode, Shannon Jamail breaks down a truth most retreat leaders avoid: if you’re not repelling anyone, you’re probably being too generic. Attraction is only half the conversation. Sustainable retreat businesses are built on clarity - and clarity naturally attracts the right people while filtering out the wrong ones. Shannon explains why repelling misaligned guests isn’t a flaw, it’s a leadership skill, and how trying to please everyone leads to...

EP 252 Ethical Marketing, Outsourcing, and Building Trust in Business with Dawni Baxter

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Dawni Baxter — founder of a boutique marketing agency and a multi-passionate entrepreneur leading the movement in ethical, human-first marketing. Dawni brings a refreshing perspective to an industry filled with noise, inflated promises, and confusing pricing structures. Together, Shannon and Dawni dive into: ✨ How to navigate marketing relationships with confidence ✨ Why transparency and trust are the backbone of ethical marketing ✨ What to look for (and avoid) when hiring a marketing agency or contractor ✨ The power of outsourcing — even...

EP 251 Stop Discounting Your Retreats: The Damage It Causes & What to Do Instead

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode, Shannon gets fired up about one of the biggest mistakes retreat leaders make: discounting their retreats. While a discount might feel like an easy way to fill a few spots, the long-term damage is real - it devalues your experience, trains your audience to wait for price drops, signals desperation, and hurts the entire retreat industry. Shannon breaks down exactly why discounting is harmful, what it communicates to potential guests, and better alternatives like early-bird bonuses, pay-in-full perks, and smart payment options. She also unpacks the real reason...

EP 250 Both Sides of the Retreat: Hosting, Supporting, and Finding Balance with Kim DeMoss

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Kim DeMoss - Retreat Ranch’s Executive Assistant, Yoga Teacher Training host, and long-time retreat collaborator - to talk about what it’s really like to experience retreats from both sides: hosting and supporting. From her early days hosting retreats with Shannon to now managing the logistics behind the scenes, Kim shares candid insights on burnout, boundaries, work-life balance, and how she found her groove in the retreat industry. They also dive into the digital...

More Episodes

In this episode, Shannon breaks down how to turn your retreat into a powerful brand asset that builds loyalty, grows every year, and creates recurring revenue through alumni and long-term client pathways.

You’ll learn how to create a retreat theme people return to annually, how to build anticipation year-round, and how to turn your retreat into the top of a pipeline for courses, coaching, memberships, and more.

This is next-level retreat business strategy - and every leader who’s tired of starting from scratch needs to hear it.

Key Takeaways

A signature retreat theme creates recognition, trust, and brand identity.
Alumni are your easiest, most profitable guests - and a signature retreat keeps them coming back.
One-off retreats are exhausting and keep you in constant hustle mode.
A successful retreat begins the day the previous one ends - anticipation-building matters.
A signature retreat becomes a pipeline for courses, coaching, memberships, and next-level offers.
When done right, your retreat becomes a cornerstone asset - not a one-time event.

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TIMESTAMPS

Benefits of a Signature Retreat Theme (00:01:24) Discusses how a signature theme creates consistency, builds trust, and encourages repeat attendance.

Choosing the Right Theme (00:03:46) Advice on selecting a retreat theme that aligns with your brand and attracts annual returnees.

Leveraging Alumni for Retreat Sales (00:04:56) Explains why alumni are the best source for retreat sales and how to nurture them.

Delivering Unforgettable Experiences (00:05:50) Stresses the importance of providing memorable retreats to encourage alumni to return.

Alumni Perks & First Access (00:06:45) Describes offering alumni early booking, priority, and small discounts or bonuses.

Year-Round Alumni Engagement (00:07:42) Shares strategies for maintaining genuine connections with alumni throughout the year.

Pitfalls of One-Off Retreats (00:08:34) Explains how constantly reinventing retreats leads to burnout and inconsistent revenue.

Building Anticipation Year-Round (00:09:36) Outlines ways to keep excitement high for your signature retreat all year, not just before launch.

Content Pillars & Ongoing Promotion (00:12:39) Recommends creating and using content pillars to promote retreats and build anticipation.

Integrating Retreats into a Revenue Pipeline (00:13:47) Shows how retreats can feed into other offers (courses, memberships, coaching) and vice versa.

Final Thoughts & Call to Action (00:15:02) Encourages listeners to build legacy retreats and invites them to the Retreat Industry Forum.

Key Takeaways

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