EP 203 Crafting Stories That Sell: A Deep Dive with Mellissa Tong
Release Date: 01/02/2025
EP 229 How to Level Up as a Retreat Leader (and Build Profitable Retreats Like a Boss)
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this solo episode, host Shannon Jamail gets fired up and shares exactly what it means to level up as a retreat leader—and why it goes way beyond fancy goodie bags or extra plush pillows in your yurt. Fresh off a transformative retreat teaching experience in France and actively learning from high-level masterminds like Genius Network, Shannon lays out how growth happens through mentorship, aligned community, and being in the right rooms. She also gets real about the flood of new "retreat coaches" in the industry—and why it’s more important than ever to vet your mentors and follow...
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EP 228 Dealing with Objections as a Retreat Leader: Compassion Over Discounts
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this powerful solo episode, Shannon Jamail gets real about something every retreat leader will face: objections. Especially the most common one—“It’s too expensive.” But before you spiral into discounting or self-doubt, Shannon shares a refreshing and aligned way to navigate objections with confidence, compassion, and curiosity. This episode is your permission slip to stop taking objections personally and start using them as powerful conversations rooted in leadership. What You’ll Learn: Why “it’s too expensive” usually isn’t about money The #1 thing NOT to do when...
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EP 227 Sell It Like a Retreat Leader: Why Sales Should Be Your Superpower with Dora Rankin
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this bold and enlightening episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Dora Rankin, a business growth coach and sales strategist who isn’t afraid to tell retreat leaders the hard truth: you’re likely spending way too much time on marketing and not enough on sales. Dora breaks down the key differences between sales and marketing (hint: they are NOT the same thing!) and explains why retreat leaders should be spending at least 70% of their business-building time focused on actual sales activities. From connecting directly with potential guests to having powerful...
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EP 226 Delegate & Elevate: Why Every Retreat Host Needs a Coordinator with Daesha Donze
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this powerhouse episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail sits down with luxury retreat designer and director Daesha Donze to talk all things logistics, style, and sanity-saving support for retreat hosts. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to juggle planning, hosting, and actually enjoying your own retreat—this episode is your permission slip to hand over the clipboard and reclaim your energy. Episode Highlights: Why hiring a retreat planner or coordinator is a total game-changer (Spoiler: so you can finally enjoy your own retreat) How Daesha tailors each...
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EP 225 Boundaries, Burnout & Breakthroughs: Retreat Wisdom with Lesley Martin
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail welcomes trauma therapist and retreat coach Lesley Martin for a raw and insightful conversation about the emotional resilience and energetic boundaries required to lead transformational retreats. Lesley and Shannon dive deep into the often overlooked emotional toll retreat leaders face, especially when carrying their own unhealed trauma or managing the weight of participants’ needs. They discuss how coaching and self-reflection can help retreat leaders grow beyond the therapy room, create healthier emotional...
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EP 224 The Power of Story: How to Sell Out Retreats with Authentic Marketing featuring Renee Frojo
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this inspiring episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail sits down with journalist-turned-content-marketer and storytelling coach, Renee Frojo, to explore how powerful storytelling can transform your retreat business from “meh” to sold out. Renee shares her journey from the newsroom to coaching B2B and B2C entrepreneurs on connecting with their audience in the most human way possible—through story. After selling out her very first international retreat in Costa Rica using just stories and intention (not a massive follower count), she’s now hosting her second...
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EP 223 Hug the Cactus: Leadership, Conflict & Fierce Clarity in Retreats with Adrian Koehler
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail welcomes executive coach and consultant Adrian Koehler, a leadership expert with a bold approach rooted in emotional intelligence and unapologetic honesty. From "hugging the cactus" to "riding the elephant," Adrian shares what it really takes to lead high-impact retreats and teams—spoiler: it’s not all good vibes and holding space. Episode Highlights: Leadership Beyond the Feel-Good: Adrian and Shannon break down why retreat leaders need more than intuition and good intentions—they need structure, clarity, and...
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EP 222 Mastering Sales as a Retreat Leader: Techniques and Insights with Jacob Hicks
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Episode Summary: Join us on the Retreat Leaders Podcast as we dive deep into the art of selling with Jacob Hicks, a seasoned success coach with a decade of sales experience. In this enlightening episode titled "Mastering Sales as a Retreat Leader: Techniques and Insights with Jacob Hicks," Jacob unpacks the essential skills every retreat leader needs to thrive in the competitive world of retreats and personal development. Episode Highlights: Sales Mindset for Success: Jacob stresses the importance of adopting a sales mindset, explaining that everyone in business, regardless of their role, is...
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EP 221 Overcoming Subconscious Blocks in Retreats with Terrie Christine
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
In this enlightening episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail sits down with Terrie Christine, an intuitive energy healer whose transition from a corporate career to mastering the subconscious realm has transformed many lives. This discussion dives deep into how Terrie uses her unique skills to help individuals overcome subconscious blocks that hold them back from living fully empowered lives. Episode Highlights: Journey to Healing: Terrie shares her personal evolution from confronting childhood wounds and past emotional traumas to discovering her true calling in energy...
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EP 220 Move, Market, Connect: Dynamic Retreat Strategies with Ricardo Topete
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Dive into an energizing episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast where host Shannon Jamail connects with Ricardo, a vibrant videographer, photographer, and dance enthusiast from Philadelphia. Explore how Ricardo uses dance as a powerful tool for fostering community and connection in retreat settings. Episode Highlights: Embracing Dance in Retreats: Shannon and Ricardo delve into the transformative power of social dancing, particularly Latin styles like salsa and bachata, to break down barriers and enhance bonding among retreat participants. They discuss the magnetic effect of dance in creating...
info_outlineOverview: In a captivating session of the Retreat Leaders podcast, host Shannon Jamail engages with Mellissa Tong, the storytelling maestro and visionary behind Duck Punk Productions. Mellissa shares her expert insights on the transformative power of storytelling in business and its critical role in connecting with audiences to drive sales.
Mellissa's Journey and Duck Punk Productions: Mellissa Tong, renowned for her storytelling prowess, introduces listeners to Duck Punk Productions, a company that tailors its services to a diverse client base including big corporations, mid-sized companies, and entrepreneurs. The company's offerings span from creating impactful TV commercials and branded content to providing fractional CMO services and storytelling training.
The Art of Storytelling in Business: Mellissa discusses the essential nature of storytelling in today’s business landscape, especially for retreat leaders. She breaks down the four crucial stages of the sales cycle—connection, reaction, transformation, and action—and explains how compelling storytelling navigates these phases to captivate and convert audiences.
Deepening Audience Engagement Through Stories: With her background in TV news as a foundation, Mellissa emphasizes the importance of crafting stories that are not only engaging but also perfectly aligned with the target audience. She highlights how data-driven companies can leverage storytelling to render complex information more relatable and digestible.
Empowering Through Education: Looking ahead, Mellissa is excited about the launch of her Story Selling course next month. This course promises to equip individuals with the skills to craft and narrate personal stories across various formats, enhancing their effectiveness in both personal and professional interactions. She supports this educational journey with a dedicated Facebook group, fostering a community of continuous learning and support.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Shannon commits to enriching the podcast show notes with additional resources including a link to Mellissa's LinkedIn article and the upcoming Story Selling course.
- Mellissa plans to extend a special discount code for the course exclusively for podcast listeners, ensuring that the audience can immediately benefit from her vast expertise.
Conclusion: The episode wraps up with Mellissa reinforcing the value of storytelling in building deep, meaningful connections with audiences, a skill indispensable for anyone in the business of influence, especially retreat leaders looking to attract and engage their ideal guests.
About Mellissa:
Mellissa Tong's journey is a testament to life’s unpredictable paths. Beginning her career in music, she mastered the piano and conducted children's choirs, believing music was her destined path. With a passion for English Literature as well, Mellissa balanced her artistic pursuits with academic rigor, exploring comparative literature alongside her musical endeavors.
Despite a seemingly fulfilled life, Mellissa felt a disconnect, stemming from her upbringing in Hong Kong where emotional expression was stifled. This feeling of isolation fueled her lifelong dream to study abroad, leading her to the United States in 1991. It was here that Mellissa's career took a pivotal turn. Initially feeling out of place, her breakthrough came when she joined a satellite TV station as a newscaster. Tasked with crafting human interest stories, Mellissa honed her skills in interviewing and storytelling, discovering the profound power of connection through narrative.
This experience was transformative, guiding her to found DuckPunk, initially aimed at film and documentary storytelling. Over time, DuckPunk evolved into creating compelling TV commercials and branded content for major brands like Nissan, Verizon, and McDonald’s. Recognizing the shifting landscape during the pandemic, Mellissa pivoted DuckPunk into a StorySelling agency, emphasizing the necessity for deeper connection and authentic storytelling in commerce.
Today, Mellissa uses her unique journey and storytelling prowess to help businesses stand out, connect deeply with their audiences, and drive meaningful engagement. Her story—from a young musician to a leading voice in commercial storytelling—illustrates how our greatest challenges can lead to our most significant achievements.
Connect with Mellissa
LinkedIn Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-stages-sales-cycle-mellissa-tong
Instagram: @duckpunkproductions
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