Libsyn Directory

EP 243 Profitable Without Pressure: Why You Don’t Need to Do It All to Run a Successful Retreat with Anna VanAgtmael

Release Date: 10/09/2025

EP 268 The Power of Retreats for Midlife Women: Building Community, Healing & Business with SOL Women

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

There is a powerful shift happening - and it’s centered around midlife women. Women who have spent years building careers, raising families, and showing up for everyone else are now asking a different question: What do I want? In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down in person in Austin with the founders of SOL Women to talk about the rise of retreats designed specifically for midlife women - and why these experiences are more needed now than ever. SOL Women creates holistic, supportive retreat experiences that help women reconnect with themselves, prioritize...

Behind the Scenes of the Retreat Industry Forum: Why Logistics & Operations Make or Break Your Retreat

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

There’s what your guests see at a retreat… And then there’s everything happening behind the scenes. In this special edition of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by Alison and Erin (co-hosts of the Retreat Industry Forum) along with two of the Forum’s featured panel presenters - Matt Quinones and Daesha Donze - to talk about the operational side of running successful retreats. You can have an incredible concept, a beautiful location, and a powerful transformation… But if your logistics and operations aren’t dialed in, it will impact the entire experience. Matt...

EP 267 The Retreat Venue Gap: Why Retreat Leaders and Venues Struggle to Find Each Other with Emily Johnson

The Retreat Leaders Podcast

One of the biggest challenges in the retreat industry isn’t marketing, pricing, or programming. It’s the gap between retreat leaders and retreat venues. Retreat leaders struggle to find the right venues. Venue owners struggle to fill their calendars with the right retreats. And somewhere in the middle, opportunities are missed. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Hospitality Collective, to talk about the disconnect between retreat leaders and venues - and how the industry can bridge that gap. Emily brings years of...

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...

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...

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 -...

More Episodes

You do not have to run yourself ragged to host powerful, profitable retreats, and this episode is proof.

In this honest and hilarious conversation, Shannon Jamail sits down with Anna VanAgtmael, founder of Wandering Roots and host of 22 retreats since 2018, to explore how retreat leaders can ditch the pressure, drop the people-pleasing, and build a business that’s both meaningful and sustainable.

They dive into:

The biggest mistakes new retreat leaders make (and how to avoid them)
Pricing with confidence and energetic alignment
Why less on the itinerary often leads to more transformation
How to stop comparing your retreat to everyone else’s

Whether you're an aspiring host or a seasoned retreat pro, this conversation will give you the permission slip you didn’t know you needed: you don’t have to do it all to make it amazing.

Connect with Anna: https://www.yourwanderingroots.com/

Instagram: @yourwanderingroots

Special Offer: Build a profitable retreat in one minute per day: https://retreat.yourwanderingroots.com/

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let’s create a vibrant retreat community together!

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Timestamps:

Introduction & Host Welcome (00:00:02)
Shannon introduces the podcast, its purpose, and encourages listeners to subscribe and leave reviews.

Guest Introduction: Anna’s Background (00:01:13)
Anna is introduced; she shares her experience hosting retreats and helping others plan profitable ones.

Anna’s Journey to Retreats (00:02:23)
Anna describes her transition from lab manager to retreat leader after a car accident and discovering yoga.

Current Retreat Structure & Ideal Guests (00:03:46)
Anna explains her current retreat schedule, types of retreats, and the demographics of her typical guests.

Transitioning & Scaling Back Retreats (00:05:00)
Discussion about scaling back the number of retreats to focus on quality and personal fulfillment.

Avoiding Burnout & Preserving Passion (00:06:04)
Anna and Shannon discuss the importance of not overworking and maintaining excitement for each retreat.

Profitability Without Pressure (00:07:19)
Exploring how retreats can be profitable without feeling pressured to do everything or mimic others.

Retreats: Business vs. Expensive Hobby (00:09:29)
Emphasis on treating retreats as a business, not just a passion project or costly hobby.

Letting Go of People-Pleasing & Overstuffed Itineraries (00:11:03)
Advice on avoiding over-scheduling and people-pleasing, and ensuring retreats have free time and focus.

Pricing, Money Beliefs, and Value (00:13:13)
Discussion on pricing retreats, overcoming limiting beliefs about money, and ensuring energetic alignment with pricing.

Gender Differences in Pricing & Money Mindset (00:15:04)
Comparison of how men and women price retreats, and the impact of cultural money beliefs.

Profit, Burnout, and Lifestyle Alignment (00:17:24)
Importance of pricing for sustainability and creating a lifestyle you enjoy, not just covering costs.

Common Mistakes & Lessons Learned (00:18:34)
Anna shares mistakes like trying to do everything alone, not arriving early, and the value of support staff.

Arriving Early & Staying After Retreats (00:20:15)
Best practices for arriving before and staying after retreats to ensure smooth experiences and self-care.

Self-Care for Retreat Leaders (00:21:34)
The importance of post-retreat downtime, rest, and self-care for leaders after guests depart.

How to Connect with Anna (00:22:40)
Anna shares her websites for those interested in attending or planning retreats with her.

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