Libsyn Directory

A Special Edition: A Fireside Chat about The Retreat Industry Forum with Alison, Erin & Shannon

Release Date: 02/18/2026

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

In this special fireside chat, Shannon Jamail, Alison, and Erin pull back the curtain on the evolving energy of the Retreat Industry Forum — and why this year’s attendee profile looks different than ever before.

What started as a vision to elevate the retreat industry is quickly becoming a high-level gathering of experienced retreat leaders, business owners, venue operators, and industry professionals ready to scale smarter and connect strategically.

The trio discusses:

The shift toward seasoned retreat professionals attending
Why the Forum is not a beginner workshop — it’s a growth accelerator
The power of investing in events (and the real ROI that follows)
High-caliber speakers with proven track records
The importance of treating retreats like a business
Technology, AI, and SEO shaping the future of the industry
The synergy and collaboration behind the Forum itself
Early planning conversations for 2027

If you’re serious about growing your retreat business and surrounding yourself with leaders who are playing at a higher level - this episode will show you why the Retreat Industry Forum is different.

Key Takeaways

The Retreat Industry Forum is attracting experienced, growth-focused retreat leaders.
High-level networking creates exponential business returns.
Investing in events often yields significantly higher ROI than expected.
Professional standards matter — retreats must operate like businesses.
AI, SEO, and technology are shaping the next phase of retreat visibility.
Collaboration and in-person relationships accelerate opportunity.
The Forum is about elevation — not entry-level learning.

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

Fireside Chat Introduction (00:00:55) Shannon previews the fireside chat with Alison and Aaron about the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum in Denver.

Forum Purpose & Audience (00:02:02) Discussion on the Retreat Industry Forum’s focus on seasoned retreat professionals and what sets it apart from other events.

Shift in Attendees & Market Gap (00:03:35) Noticing a shift toward experienced attendees and identifying the lack of advanced spaces for established retreat leaders.

Value of Being an Attendee (00:07:15) Exploring the benefits of attending events as a participant versus as a speaker, including networking and business growth.

Investment & Value Proposition (00:12:13) Emphasizing the importance of investing in high-quality events and the return on investment for attendees.

Speaker Selection & Event Quality (00:13:05) Explaining the intentional recruitment and payment of expert speakers to ensure high-caliber content and credibility.

Opportunities for Future Speakers (00:15:49) Clarifying the process for becoming a future speaker and the importance of first attending and engaging with the forum.

Power of In-Person Collaboration (00:17:09) Sharing personal stories of how in-person investments and collaborations led to meaningful partnerships and growth.

Commitment & Decision-Making (00:19:09) Discussing the necessity of decisive action and commitment to personal and professional growth through event participation.

Synergy & Magic of Collaboration (00:22:12) Reflecting on the unique synergy among the hosts and the “magic” that emerges from curated, high-level gatherings.

Diversity in the Retreat Industry (00:24:19) Highlighting the wide range of retreat types and the inclusive, non-gendered, and non-wellness-specific nature of the forum.

Technology, AI, and Industry Evolution (00:25:10) Addressing the impact of AI, SEO, and technology on retreat business visibility and the need to adapt to new trends.

Business Mindset in Retreats (00:28:59) Advocating for treating retreats as serious businesses, not just passion projects, and integrating standard business practices.

Profit, Impact, and Industry Elevation (00:30:53) Encouraging profit as a means to greater impact, and challenging the stigma around making money in the retreat industry.

Professionalism & Structure (00:31:55) Describing the forum’s professional approach, honoring agreements, and the importance of structure and accountability.

Networking & Attendee Caliber (00:33:54) Anticipating high-level networking and the value of relationships formed among experienced, successful attendees.

Call to Action & Forum Expansion (00:35:04) Encouraging listeners to join, envisioning business growth, and announcing future forums in Paris and other locations.

Podcast Closing (00:35:54) Shannon wraps up, inviting listeners to subscribe, review, and access free resources for retreat leaders.

Key Takeaways

TOPICS