EP 250 Both Sides of the Retreat: Hosting, Supporting, and Finding Balance with Kim DeMoss
Release Date: 12/04/2025
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...
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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...
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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...
info_outlineIn 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 evolution of the industry - how AI and online visibility are reshaping the way leaders must market their retreats - and why self-awareness is key to finding your place in this ever-changing landscape.
Whether you’re leading retreats, supporting them, or figuring out which role fits best, this episode will give you real-world perspective, practical advice, and a reminder that your version of success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Key Takeaways
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Retreat leadership has many layers — and not everyone is meant to be front and center.
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Supporting retreats can be just as fulfilling as leading them (and sometimes less stressful).
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Work-life balance matters — especially for women juggling careers, families, and personal growth.
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The retreat industry is evolving fast with AI and digital marketing — adapt or find your unique niche.
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Attracting the right participants is key to creating aligned, transformational retreat experiences.
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Streamlining your focus can lead to more fulfillment and sustainable success.
Learn about Kim’s YTT: https://www.
projectmindfulmovement.com/ The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:- Learn to Host Retreats
- Join our private Facebook Group
- Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
- Get your legal docs for retreats
- Join Shannon in Denver at the Retreat Industry Forum
- Join our LinkedIn Group
- Apply to be a guest on our show
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!Subscribe:
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TIMESTAMPS
Kim and Shannon’s History (00:00:59) They discuss how they met, their decade-long relationship, and collaborative projects.
Roles in the Retreat Space (00:02:05) Kim shares her experience as both a retreat host and support, and her preference for support roles.
First Retreat at Retreat Ranch (00:03:48) Kim recalls hosting the first retreat at Retreat Ranch and lessons learned from minimal resources.
Balancing Personal Life and Retreat Hosting (00:04:46) Kim explains why she hosts only one retreat a year, citing personal and family circumstances.
Learning from Career Shifts (00:06:05) Shannon relates her own career pivot and how skills transfer to new roles, paralleling Kim’s journey.
Letting Go of Expectations (00:07:22) Kim discusses the challenge of disappointing others versus honoring personal capacity and boundaries.
Retreat Industry Forum Announcement (00:08:01) Shannon promotes the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum event in Denver.
Navigating Life Seasons and Work Choices (00:09:06) They talk about making choices that fit current life seasons, especially with family and career changes.
Marketing and Selling Retreats Today (00:10:40) Discussion on how retreat marketing has evolved, becoming more complex and demanding.
Alternative Roles in the Retreat Industry (00:11:51) Exploring ways to stay involved in the industry without hosting, especially if marketing isn’t appealing.
Evaluating Retreat Marketing and Audience Fit (00:12:48) Kim reflects on attracting the right participants and lessons from her first retreat’s marketing.
Listening to Inner Guidance and Pivoting (00:13:21) They emphasize the importance of listening to intuition and being open to change.
Kim’s Strengths and Transition to Support Roles (00:14:24) Kim and Shannon discuss Kim’s organizational skills and her move to more supportive, creative roles.
Benefits of Support Roles and Life Transitions (00:16:16) Kim shares the relief and satisfaction of support work during her husband’s military retirement transition.
Continued Learning and Growth (00:18:07) They discuss ongoing personal and professional growth, and Kim’s involvement in events and trainings.
Differences Between Training and Wellness Retreats (00:18:53) Kim explains how training retreats differ from wellness retreats in focus and participant expectations.
Structuring Training Retreats for Balance (00:20:28) Advice on scheduling downtime in training retreats to avoid burnout for both leaders and attendees.