EP 253 Everything You Do Either Attracts or Repels and That’s a Good Thing
Release Date: 01/08/2026
EP 269 Why Glamping and Retreats Are the Perfect Pair (And What Retreat Leaders Need to Know) with Sarah Riley
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
The retreat industry is evolving - and one of the biggest opportunities right now sits at the intersection of glamping and retreats. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Sarah Riley, a UK-based glamping industry expert and co-organizer of The Glamping Show America, to explore how glamping and retreats are becoming one of the most powerful combinations in experiential hospitality. Sarah has been working in the glamping and retreat space since 2010, helping entrepreneurs launch lifestyle businesses and navigate the realities of building glamping sites -...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outlineEverything 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 burnout, boundary issues, and low-quality experiences.
She also addresses a critical nuance retreat leaders need to understand: the difference between being purposeful and being polarizing - and why “anti” messaging often does more harm than good in a business rooted in trust, safety, and connection.
This episode is a must-listen for retreat leaders who want aligned guests, healthier group dynamics, and a business that actually feels good to run.
Key Takeaways
-
Everything you create either attracts or repels - and both are necessary.
-
If you’re trying to be liked by everyone, your message is likely watered down.
-
Repelling misaligned people protects your energy, your team, and your guests.
-
Clear messaging prevents boundary issues, complaints, and emotional drain.
-
Strong leadership is about standing firmly in who you are - not pleasing everyone.
-
There’s a difference between purposeful messaging and polarizing, anti-focused content.
-
Being pro what you stand for builds trust far more effectively than being anti anything.
-
Clarity in your brand leads to alignment, ease, and long-term sustainability.
- 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
Subscribe:
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify
----
TIMESTAMPS
The Power of Attraction and Repelling (00:01:27) Explains how everything you do as a retreat leader attracts or repels potential clients, and why repelling is necessary.
Dangers of Being Generic (00:02:30) Discusses the pitfalls of trying to appeal to everyone, leading to diluted messaging and misaligned clients.
Personal Examples of Not Being for Everyone (00:03:46) Shannon shares personal examples of who she is not a fit for, emphasizing the value of clarity over universal appeal.
Benefits of Repelling the Wrong People (00:04:49) Highlights how repelling protects your energy, business, and ensures better alignment with clients.
Retreat Industry Forum Announcement (00:04:49) Brief interruption to promote the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum event in Denver.
Consequences of Appealing to Everyone (00:05:56) Describes negative outcomes when trying to please everyone, such as draining retreats and constant complaints.
Purposeful vs. Polarizing Content (00:07:06) Advises against posting highly polarizing or anti-focused content, distinguishing between being purposefully polarizing and divisive.
Pro-What-You-Stand-For vs. Anti-Others (00:08:28) Encourages leaders to focus on what they are for, not what they are against, and the impact on trust and safety.
Brand Clarity and Authentic Leadership (00:09:46) Urges retreat leaders to clearly communicate who they serve and to lead authentically and inclusively.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action (00:10:50) Wraps up with a reminder to use attraction and repelling wisely, and invites listeners to join her programs and resources.