Happy Hour Podcast

In this fiery solo episode, Shannon Jamail gets real about a truth many retreat leaders need to hear: the biggest block in your retreat business isn’t the economy—it’s you. If you’ve ever said, “People just aren’t spending right now,” or felt tempted to lower your prices just to fill spots—this one’s for you.

Shannon breaks down the mindset shift that will transform the way you sell your retreats and communicate their true value. She’ll show you how to stop apologizing for your prices, own your worth, and confidently sell your retreat as the life-changing investment it is.

Whether you’re hosting your first retreat or scaling your next, this episode is your invitation to stop shrinking and start standing in your power. Tune in and get ready to ditch the discount mindset and step fully into the role of transformational leader.

Episode Highlights:

• Why the economy isn’t the problem (and what is)
• How perceived value impacts retreat sales
• What it means to “sell the transformation, not the features”
• The #1 thing you need to shift before trying another promotion
• How to speak to your ideal client’s soul—and not the bargain shopper’s wallet

Read our full blog here: https://theretreatleadersplaybook.com/the-biggest-block-in-your-retreat-business-is-you-not-the-economy/

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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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In this solo episode, host Shannon Jamail gets fired up and shares exactly what it means to level up as a retreat leader—and why it goes way beyond fancy goodie bags or extra plush pillows in your yurt.

Fresh off a transformative retreat teaching experience in France and actively learning from high-level masterminds like Genius Network, Shannon lays out how growth happens through mentorship, aligned community, and being in the right rooms.

She also gets real about the flood of new "retreat coaches" in the industry—and why it’s more important than ever to vet your mentors and follow leaders with lived experience, not just big promises.

If you’re ready to stop playing small and start treating your retreats like a real business (with profit, purpose, and power)—this episode is your loving wake-up call.

What You’ll Learn:

• What “leveling up” really means in the retreat world
• Why who you surround yourself with determines your growth
• How Shannon’s trip to France & Genius Network shifted her leadership
• A no-fluff truth bomb about BS in the retreat coaching industry
• How the Retreat Leader Membership can give you the support you’ve been missing
• Why treating retreats like a business (not a hobby) is non-negotiable for success

Favorite Quote:

"You don’t get to the next level by doing the same things and hanging with the same crowd." — Shannon Jamail

Read our full blog here with this link

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this powerful solo episode, Shannon Jamail gets real about something every retreat leader will face: objections.
Especially the most common one—“It’s too expensive.”

But before you spiral into discounting or self-doubt, Shannon shares a refreshing and aligned way to navigate objections with confidence, compassion, and curiosity.

This episode is your permission slip to stop taking objections personally and start using them as powerful conversations rooted in leadership.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “it’s too expensive” usually isn’t about money
• The #1 thing NOT to do when someone hesitates to book
• Shannon’s 3-part method to handle objections without losing your power:
• A Soft Place to Land
• A Point of Agreement
• Get Curious
• How to hold space for transformation (not fear)
• Why objections are opportunities in disguise

Favorite Quote:

“Objections aren’t stop signs. They’re starting points.” — Shannon Jamail

Read our full blog here: https://theretreatleadersplaybook.com/dealing-with-objections-as-a-retreat-leader/ 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this bold and enlightening episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Dora Rankin, a business growth coach and sales strategist who isn’t afraid to tell retreat leaders the hard truth: you’re likely spending way too much time on marketing and not enough on sales.

Dora breaks down the key differences between sales and marketing (hint: they are NOT the same thing!) and explains why retreat leaders should be spending at least 70% of their business-building time focused on actual sales activities. From connecting directly with potential guests to having powerful discovery calls, Dora shows us how marketing is just the invitation—sales is where the transformation (and the bookings) happen.

She also dives into the 4 core styles of sales and how to identify which one fits your personality and business model best. Whether you’re a seasoned retreat host or new to the game, this episode will flip your mindset, get you out of hiding behind pretty Instagram posts, and into real, aligned action that fills retreats.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between marketing and sales (and why that matters more than you think)
• Why most retreat leaders are spending their time backwards
• The 4 ways to sell (and which one fits YOU)
• How to confidently step into the sales process without feeling slimy or pushy
• Practical tips to rewire your mindset around visibility, outreach, and relationship-building

Connect with Dora Rankin: Website: https://dorarankin.com

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this powerhouse episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail sits down with luxury retreat designer and director Daesha Donze to talk all things logistics, style, and sanity-saving support for retreat hosts.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to juggle planning, hosting, and actually enjoying your own retreat—this episode is your permission slip to hand over the clipboard and reclaim your energy. 

Episode Highlights:

• Why hiring a retreat planner or coordinator is a total game-changer
  (Spoiler: so you can finally enjoy your own retreat)
• How Daesha tailors each event to the host’s brand, vibe, and clientele
• The difference between hosting and directing—and why you shouldn’t do both
• A quick dive into Seller of Travel laws and how Daesha can legally book and sell travel worldwide
• Her high-touch services: VIP Planning Sessions, Done-for-You Planning, On-Site Coordination, and VIP Weekends

Whether you’re planning your first retreat or looking to level up your next luxury mastermind, Daesha’s insights will leave you inspired (and ready to hand over the spreadsheets).

🛠️ Listener Freebie: https://unique-lake-25474.myflodesk.com/yjom49kjno

Grab Daesha’s Free Retreat Planning Logistics Checklist!

Connect with Daesha:

Instagram: @daeshadonze

Tune in now to learn how to transform your retreat experience from stressed-out host to fully present powerhouse. You deserve to lead with ease—and Daesha shows us how.

About Daesha

My name is Daeha Donze. I am a Luxury Retreat Designer & Director. I do everything from brainstorming with retreat hosts, to planning and doing everything for them, to being on-site coordinating the retreat. Coming from a background in fashion, my passion is styling the retreat to the retreat host, her clients, and the brand. I work with influential leaders that are creating movements and want to go deep with their clients in person. From masterminds, to wellness retreats, to larger scale events, I am there to take the stress and overwhelm of coordinating in-person events and replace it with a seamless experience while having the time of our lives.

MY SERVICES/HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER: VIP Planning Session, DFY Retreat Planning, On-Site Coordination, & VIP Weekends

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this powerful episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail welcomes trauma therapist and retreat coach Lesley Martin for a raw and insightful conversation about the emotional resilience and energetic boundaries required to lead transformational retreats.

Lesley and Shannon dive deep into the often overlooked emotional toll retreat leaders face, especially when carrying their own unhealed trauma or managing the weight of participants’ needs. They discuss how coaching and self-reflection can help retreat leaders grow beyond the therapy room, create healthier emotional boundaries, and avoid the path to burnout.

You’ll also get an inside look at Lesley’s upcoming Morocco retreat for burned-out entrepreneurs, designed to help participants reset through cultural immersion, desert meditation, and intentional stillness in the Sahara.

Episode Highlights:

• Why retreat leaders must address their own trauma to serve powerfully
• Energetic boundaries and grounding practices to prevent burnout
• Behind the scenes of Lesley’s Morocco retreat: A transformational journey for service-based pros
• Coaching vs. therapy: When it’s time to level up your personal growth
• Tools like Lesley’s new digital workbook to reimagine what’s possible
• Special offers for podcast listeners including a $200 discount on Lesley’s upcoming retreat

Whether you're navigating your own healing or simply want to hold space more effectively, this episode is filled with heartfelt wisdom, practical tools, and real talk about what it takes to lead (and live) with intention.

About Leslie

Lesley is the coach, guide, and mentor for entrepreneurs and professionals who’ve been through trauma or adversity and now want to feel better and live more authentic and fulfilling lives. She helps empower people to change their lives for the better. Lesley brings over 20 years of knowledge and training as a holistic psychotherapist into her work to benefit her clients. Her approach is holistic, and she incorporates psychological, meditative, intuitive, and spiritual practices to help her clients heal, deepen their connection, and thrive.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Contemplative World Religions from Naropa University in Boulder, CO, and her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Medaille College. In 2021, Lesley completed a certification program in Life Coaching through The Life Coach School. Lesley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State and is the founder of WNY Holistic Counseling, A Whole-Person Approach to Therapy.  She is also the founder of Blue Lotus Soul Coaching, where she utilizes Life Coaching to help her clients live unencumbered, whole-hearted lives. She offers Akashic Records Readings, Trauma Clearing Sessions, Oracle Card Spreads, Psychotherapy Sessions, 1:1 Coaching Packages and unique Retreat Experiences.

Connect with Leslie

https://lesleymartincoaching.com/ 

Free Gifts:

$200 discount off the Sahara Soul Awakening Retreat if the participant mentions this episode: https://sahara-soul-awakening.myflodesk.com/ 

Possibility Pie workbook: https://sahara-soul-awakening.myflodesk.com/possibilitypie 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this inspiring episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, host Shannon Jamail sits down with journalist-turned-content-marketer and storytelling coach, Renee Frojo, to explore how powerful storytelling can transform your retreat business from “meh” to sold out.

Renee shares her journey from the newsroom to coaching B2B and B2C entrepreneurs on connecting with their audience in the most human way possible—through story. After selling out her very first international retreat in Costa Rica using just stories and intention (not a massive follower count), she’s now hosting her second retreat in Mexico City, and trust us—you’ll want in on what she’s teaching.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• The secret to selling out retreats without a giant following
• Why storytelling is your most underrated sales and marketing tool
• How to align your brand story with your personal values—and why it matters
• The role of authenticity and connection in community-building
• Tips for using your “why” to build stronger marketing narratives

Whether you’re planning your first retreat or scaling your transformational business, this episode is a masterclass in meaningful, human-first marketing that actually works.

📍Learn more about Renee’s upcoming Mexico retreat focused on sustainable business, soulful growth, and the future of work. Connect with her at https://reneefrojo.com

Connect with Renee

https://www.reneelynnfrojo.com/ 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

In this powerful episode of the Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail welcomes executive coach and consultant Adrian Koehler, a leadership expert with a bold approach rooted in emotional intelligence and unapologetic honesty. From "hugging the cactus" to "riding the elephant," Adrian shares what it really takes to lead high-impact retreats and teams—spoiler: it’s not all good vibes and holding space.

Episode Highlights:

• Leadership Beyond the Feel-Good: Adrian and Shannon break down why retreat leaders need more than intuition and good intentions—they need structure, clarity, and accountability.
• The Real Work of Alignment: Learn how to get your support team fully aligned with your retreat's vision, values, and promises so every attendee gets what they came for.
• Handling Conflict Like a Pro: Adrian shares his frameworks for navigating difficult conversations with empathy and precision—so you can be “hard on the problem, soft on the person.”
• Preventing the Parade of Horribles: Discover how addressing small issues early keeps your business relationships strong and your standards high.
• Empathy Meets Accountability: From venue problems to team tension, Adrian shows you how to approach challenges collaboratively while staying fiercely committed to your mission.

Whether you’re a seasoned retreat leader or building your first event, this episode will give you real-world tools to step into your role as a true leader—not just a space holder.

About Adrian

Adrian Koehler, the no-nonsense leadership engagement expert and Senior Partner at Take New  Ground, is the go-to guide for fast-moving leaders. Dedicated to breaking through barriers, he spends his time helping entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders cut through the noise and create transformative outcomes. Adrian coaches executives globally, encouraging authentic leadership and fostering courage for meaningful change. His passion for human performance has led him to diverse contexts, from Fortune 500 organizations to startups and healthcare, making Adrian a catalyst for real talk and impactful results. Adrian Koehler extends his influence beyond the boardroom as the co-host of "Raising The Bar" and "The Naked Leadership Podcast." Drawing on his background in philanthropy, ministry, activism, and medicine, he thrives in difficult conversations and engaging complexity, challenging listeners to live authentically. Currently residing in the heart of Hollywood, with his children Scout and Charli, Adrian is on a mission to inspire authentic leadership, urging individuals to raise the bar in both personal and professional realms.

Connect with Adrian

https://takenewground.com/ 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify

Episode Summary: Join us on the Retreat Leaders Podcast as we dive deep into the art of selling with Jacob Hicks, a seasoned success coach with a decade of sales experience. In this enlightening episode titled "Mastering Sales as a Retreat Leader: Techniques and Insights with Jacob Hicks," Jacob unpacks the essential skills every retreat leader needs to thrive in the competitive world of retreats and personal development.

Episode Highlights:

• Sales Mindset for Success: Jacob stresses the importance of adopting a sales mindset, explaining that everyone in business, regardless of their role, is essentially in sales. He shares insights on how retreat leaders can benefit from embracing this perspective to enhance their business success.
• The Power of Follow-Up: Learn why following up is crucial in sales and networking, with Jacob noting that a significant portion of business comes from persistent follow-ups. Discover strategies to improve your follow-up game and why it's critical not to give up after the first or second attempt.
• Providing Value in Sales: This segment focuses on the importance of offering value through consistent follow-up. Jacob discusses how to engage potential clients by addressing their pain points through insightful questions and leading conversations that demonstrate expertise.
• Handling Objections: Jacob provides practical advice on practicing objection handling and closing sales effectively. He emphasizes that understanding and addressing common concerns about time and money upfront can significantly increase your success rate.
• Sales Strategies and Resources: Wrap up the episode with actionable sales strategies that can transform your approach to selling retreats. Jacob generously offers free resources and a complimentary coaching session to help listeners apply what they've learned.

Tune in to gain invaluable sales knowledge that will empower you to confidently sell your retreat experiences and grow your business. Whether you're a seasoned retreat leader or just starting out, this episode is packed with tips to refine your sales approach and achieve greater impact.

About Jacob

CEO,Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur,

LeadershipCoach,Mindset Expert

Jacob Hicks is a coach and keynote speaker with over a decade of experience transforming lives and businesses. Thanks to 10 years in sales, Jacob has a knack for identifying what drives lasting success and delivering implementable strategies to help clients achieve it. Podcasters love working with Jacob because of his practical insights and engaging storytelling that leave audiences inspired. Known for his strong follow-up systems and mindset-driven coaching, Jacob empowers clients across industries to overcome challenges, implement sustainable systems, and move forward with confidence.

Connect with Jacob

https://jacobhickscoach.com/ 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List 
• Get your legal docs for retreats

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:

 Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify