Libsyn Directory

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

Release Date: 02/18/2026

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 -...

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...

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...

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...

EP 259 Should You Have a Co-Host in Your Retreat Business?

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

Partnerships can be powerful… and they can also quietly wreck your retreat business. In this episode, Shannon Jamail breaks down one of the most common questions retreat leaders ask: Should you have a co-host? After being asked this question during a keynote in LA, Shannon’s immediate answer-“Don’t.”-got a laugh… and opened the door to a real conversation retreat leaders need to hear. Shannon shares the good, the bad, and the expensive lessons she learned from early partnerships, including a situation involving copied content and the painful reality...

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 —...

More Episodes

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 — it’s a growth accelerator
The power of investing in events (and the real ROI that follows)
High-caliber speakers with proven track records
The importance of treating retreats like a business
Technology, AI, and SEO shaping the future of the industry
The synergy and collaboration behind the Forum itself
Early planning conversations for 2027

If you’re serious about growing your retreat business and surrounding yourself with leaders who are playing at a higher level - this episode will show you why the Retreat Industry Forum is different.

Key Takeaways

The Retreat Industry Forum is attracting experienced, growth-focused retreat leaders.
High-level networking creates exponential business returns.
Investing in events often yields significantly higher ROI than expected.
Professional standards matter — retreats must operate like businesses.
AI, SEO, and technology are shaping the next phase of retreat visibility.
Collaboration and in-person relationships accelerate opportunity.
The Forum is about elevation — not entry-level learning.

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:
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TIMESTAMPS

Fireside Chat Introduction (00:00:55) Shannon previews the fireside chat with Alison and Aaron about the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum in Denver.

Forum Purpose & Audience (00:02:02) Discussion on the Retreat Industry Forum’s focus on seasoned retreat professionals and what sets it apart from other events.

Shift in Attendees & Market Gap (00:03:35) Noticing a shift toward experienced attendees and identifying the lack of advanced spaces for established retreat leaders.

Value of Being an Attendee (00:07:15) Exploring the benefits of attending events as a participant versus as a speaker, including networking and business growth.

Investment & Value Proposition (00:12:13) Emphasizing the importance of investing in high-quality events and the return on investment for attendees.

Speaker Selection & Event Quality (00:13:05) Explaining the intentional recruitment and payment of expert speakers to ensure high-caliber content and credibility.

Opportunities for Future Speakers (00:15:49) Clarifying the process for becoming a future speaker and the importance of first attending and engaging with the forum.

Power of In-Person Collaboration (00:17:09) Sharing personal stories of how in-person investments and collaborations led to meaningful partnerships and growth.

Commitment & Decision-Making (00:19:09) Discussing the necessity of decisive action and commitment to personal and professional growth through event participation.

Synergy & Magic of Collaboration (00:22:12) Reflecting on the unique synergy among the hosts and the “magic” that emerges from curated, high-level gatherings.

Diversity in the Retreat Industry (00:24:19) Highlighting the wide range of retreat types and the inclusive, non-gendered, and non-wellness-specific nature of the forum.

Technology, AI, and Industry Evolution (00:25:10) Addressing the impact of AI, SEO, and technology on retreat business visibility and the need to adapt to new trends.

Business Mindset in Retreats (00:28:59) Advocating for treating retreats as serious businesses, not just passion projects, and integrating standard business practices.

Profit, Impact, and Industry Elevation (00:30:53) Encouraging profit as a means to greater impact, and challenging the stigma around making money in the retreat industry.

Professionalism & Structure (00:31:55) Describing the forum’s professional approach, honoring agreements, and the importance of structure and accountability.

Networking & Attendee Caliber (00:33:54) Anticipating high-level networking and the value of relationships formed among experienced, successful attendees.

Call to Action & Forum Expansion (00:35:04) Encouraging listeners to join, envisioning business growth, and announcing future forums in Paris and other locations.

Podcast Closing (00:35:54) Shannon wraps up, inviting listeners to subscribe, review, and access free resources for retreat leaders.

Key Takeaways

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