Libsyn Directory

EP 255 Building a Soul-Led Retreat Business While Working Full-Time with Amy Jaggers

Release Date: 01/22/2026

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 -...

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...

More Episodes

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Amy Jaggers, a coach and retreat leader who is building a soul-led retreat business while still working full-time.

Amy shares how she helps professionals step off autopilot and reconnect with balance, clarity, and purpose through meditation, mindfulness practices, retreats, and wellbeing circles. She opens up about what it really looks like to grow a retreat business alongside a demanding career — including boundaries, time management, and integrating her “soul work” into her corporate role.

Together, Shannon and Amy discuss long-term vision, retreat center dreams, the power of visualization, and why retreat leaders must invest in their own development before leading others. This episode is especially powerful for retreat leaders who are still in a full-time job but feel deeply called to build something meaningful and sustainable on the side.

Key Takeaways

You can build a retreat business while working full-time — with structure and boundaries.
Integrating wellbeing and mindfulness into your day job can strengthen both worlds.
Visual planning, time blocking, and templated systems are essential for sustainability.
Soul-led work doesn’t require quitting your job overnight — small, consistent steps matter.
Investing in your own training and leadership development is non-negotiable as a retreat host.
Long-term visions (like owning a retreat center) are built through patience and intention.
Familiarity with your retreat location is a key marker of responsible leadership.

About Amy Jaggers

Amy Jaggers is a coach and facilitator who helps professionals turn awareness into meaningful action through coaching, meditation, retreats, and facilitated circles. Her work creates intentional space for individuals to pause, reconnect, and step off autopilot, supporting greater balance, clarity, and purpose. Amy’s approach is grounded in building resilience and helping people live and lead with greater intention in both their personal and professional lives.

Connect with Amy here: https://lavidalagom.com/ and check out her retreat here: https://lavidalagom.com/meditationmindfulness/

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

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TIMESTAMPS

Amy’s Background & Soul Work (00:01:17) Amy shares her professional background, her focus on mindfulness, and her retreat and wellbeing circles.

Balancing Full-Time Work & Retreat Business (00:02:09) Discussion on juggling a full-time job with building a retreat business, and integrating soul work into her career.

Wellbeing Circles at Work (00:03:13) Amy explains hosting wellbeing circles for colleagues and how it supports both her job and retreat business.

Challenges & Boundaries (00:04:41) Amy discusses the importance of schedules, boundaries, and processes to balance both roles.

Finding Fulfillment in Both Roles (00:05:06) Amy reflects on the fulfillment she gets from both her day job and her retreat business.

Target Audience & Their Needs (00:06:25) Amy describes her colleagues’ challenges and the need for wellbeing practices.

Scheduling & Time Management Practices (00:08:29) Amy shares her practical strategies for managing time and tasks for her soul business.

Retreat Industry Forum Announcement (00:10:00) Shannon promotes the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum event in Denver.

Long-Term Goals & Vision (00:11:33) Amy outlines her goal to own a retreat venue and her vision for the future.

Visualization & Vision Boards (00:12:33) Shannon and Amy discuss the power of vision boards, drawing out goals, and visual manifestation.

Hospitality Background & Inspiration (00:14:08) Amy talks about her hospitality experience and how it informs her retreat vision.

Vision Board Workshop & Manifestation (00:14:38) Amy mentions her upcoming vision board workshop and the importance of seeing goals regularly.

Visualization Practices for Success (00:15:33) Shannon shares techniques for visualizing and feeling future success.

Building the Soul Business Step by Step (00:17:06) Amy and Shannon discuss the importance of incremental progress and baby steps.

Investing in Education & Training (00:18:16) Amy emphasizes the value of professional training and investing in oneself as a retreat leader.

Networking & Community in Retreat Leadership (00:19:51) Amy highlights the benefits of networking and community from attending workshops and trainings.

Professionalism & Industry Standards (00:21:38) Amy calls for higher standards and more rigor in retreat leadership training.

Upcoming Retreat Details (00:23:14) Amy shares details about her next retreat in Menorca, its focus, and why she chose the location.

Choosing a Safe & Familiar Retreat Location (00:25:55) Shannon and Amy discuss the importance of hosting retreats in places that feel safe and familiar, especially for first international events.

Episode Wrap-Up & Contact Info (00:27:47) Shannon thanks Amy, provides info for listeners, and closes the episode.

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