Podcasts about facilitators

Leading Into 2026: Executive Pastor Insights Momentum is real. So is the pressure. This free report draws from the largest dedicated survey of Executive Pastors ever, revealing what leaders are actually facing as they prepare for 2026. Why staff health is the #1 pressure point Where churches feel hopeful — and stretched thin What worked in 2025 and is worth repeating Clear decision filters for the year ahead Download the Full Report Free PDF • Built for Executive Pastors • Instant access Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re sitting down with an executive pastor from a prevailing church to unpack what leaders like you shared in the National Executive Pastor Survey so you can lead forward with clarity. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kayra Montañez, Executive Pastor at Liquid Church in New Jersey. Liquid is a fast-growing multisite church with six campuses stretching from Princeton to communities just outside New York City. In this conversation, Kayra helps unpack one of the biggest concerns surfaced in the National Executive Pastor Survey: the growing gap between attendance and engagement. While many churches are seeing people return, far fewer leaders feel confident that those people are truly connected, discipled, and serving. Is your church seeing full rooms but thin volunteer pipelines? Are you unsure how engaged people really are beyond weekend services? Kayra offers practical insight into why that gap exists—and what churches can do to close it. Attendance is up, engagement is unclear. // Kayra begins with encouragement. Across the country, churches are seeing renewed spiritual openness. People are coming with expectancy, ready to encounter God. At the same time, many leaders sense a disconnect between attendance and belonging. Kayra identifies several common gaps: people attending without joining “people systems” like groups or teams; online attenders remaining anonymous without a clear bridge to community; seasonal attenders who show up for Christmas and Easter but never return; and potential volunteers who are open to helping but hesitant to commit long-term. These patterns aren't unique to Liquid—they're widespread across the church landscape. From prescribed paths to personalized journeys. // One of Liquid's biggest shifts has been moving away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all connection pathway. Kayra compares the old model to the video game Mario Brothers, where everyone must follow the same prescribed path or “die.” Instead, Liquid now operates more like Zelda: a choose-your-own-adventure approach that honors people's seasons, needs, and interests. Rather than telling people where they must plug in, the church focuses on learning what people actually want and helping them find a meaningful next step. Connect and Conversation. // This shift comes to life through a monthly experience called Connect and Conversation, hosted at every campus after the final service. New and not-yet-connected attendees are invited to a meal where they sit at tables with others like them and facilitators. The event begins with relational icebreakers to help people connect naturally, then moves into guided conversation around what attendees are looking for—community, care, serving, support groups, or spiritual growth. Facilitators take detailed notes, which drive personalized follow-up in the weeks ahead. Kayra describes it as “high-touch, concierge-style ministry,” and the results have been significant movement from attendance into engagement. Measuring what matters. // Liquid tracks what happens after people attend Connect and Conversation—not to claim direct causation, but to see correlation. They monitor whether participants join groups, teams, or discipleship environments in the following months. That data has helped the church refine pathways and remove unnecessary friction. Kayra encourages leaders to examine two key metrics: how many first-time guests take any next step within 30 days, and what percentage move into a people system within 60–90 days. These numbers often reveal where engagement breaks down. Reimagining discipleship. // One surprising insight at Liquid came from surveying the congregation about small groups. While relational connection mattered, the top desire was biblical literacy. In response, Liquid “blew up” its traditional small-group model and launched a new midweek Bible study format called Deep Dive. Rather than prioritizing relationships first, these environments put Scripture front and center, with connection as a natural byproduct. The pilot—an in-depth study of Revelation—drew hundreds of participants and revealed a deep hunger for understanding God's Word. Rebuilding volunteer momentum. // Like many churches, Liquid faced a volunteer crisis as growth outpaced serving capacity—especially in kids' environments. In response, the church launched a short-term campaign called For the One, built around a “try before you buy” serving model. New volunteers could serve a few times with a shortened onboarding process (without compromising safety) and then decide whether to commit long-term, scoring exclusive team swag. More than 400 people stepped in to serve, helping stabilize teams and reignite volunteer culture. Short-term fixes and long-term culture. // Kayra emphasizes that engagement is both a systems problem and a culture challenge. Churches need short-term solutions to address immediate gaps, but long-term health comes from storytelling, celebration, appreciation, and consistently casting vision for why serving and community matter. Engagement doesn't happen accidentally—it's cultivated intentionally over time. To learn more about Liquid Church, visit liquidchurch.com, or connect with Kayra directly via email. Watch the full episode below: Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We’ve got a special episode on today where we’re diving into some of the results from the National Executive Pastor Survey. And today we’re super excited to have Kayra Montañez with us from Liquid Church in New Jersey. Rich Birch — And today we’re talking all about engagement. One of the things that jumped out, well, one of the top tier results, kind of concerns that came out, 10% of executive pastors in the open questions, expressed fear around discipleship death depth and volunteer sustainability. At the same time, nearly 12% said they lacked really visibility into participation and involvement data. Another 6% pointed specifically to volunteer and team metrics really being an unmet need, not knowing where they are. Rich Birch — So what does that all that mean? Roughly one in five executive pastors are entering 2026 this year, wondering really how engaged their churches are. And Kayra is going to solve all that for us. So Kayra, welcome to the show. Tell us about Liquid. Tell us a little bit about the church. Kayra Montañez — Well I appreciate the vote of confidence but I’m not sure about that. But, Rich, it’s always so great to be with you and to be a guest on your podcast. Thank you so much for having me. So yes, we are in New Jersey. So our church is called Liquid. I get the incredible privilege of serving there as one of two executive pastors. And we are a multisite church. We have six campuses. If you and know anything about New Jersey, one of them is the furthest one is in Princeton, New Jersey – a lot of people know Princeton. Kayra Montañez — And then probably the closest one that we have up north is closest to New York City, about 30 minutes from the city. So that kind of gives you the breadth and width of how we’re trying to saturate the state of New Jersey with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is our mission. Rich Birch — So good. And Kayra, I really appreciate you jumping in on on today’s conversation, particularly in this area, because I think, man, have so much to offer. You know, so many of our churches, we feel like the volunteer pipelines are thin. How are we getting? It’s like people are underutilized. Maybe are our follow-up process are like overly complex. And you’ve done a great job on on this area. So let’s just jump right in. Rich Birch — Where do you see some of the biggest gaps today in churches, whether it’s Liquid or other churches you interact, between, you know, getting people to attend church attendance and actual engagement. There’s a gap there. what What’s driving that? What do what do you think drives that gap in our churches? Kayra Montañez — Yeah. So I see a couple of things. But before I get to that, you know, I just really wanted to start with something really encouraging because it’s not in my nature to be discouraging. So one of the things that I have noticed, in fact, I was actually spending some time with other pastors from other states in the U.S. And we were talking about like, hey, what is the Lord doing in the in the Big C Church? What are you experiencing in your context? Rich Birch — So good. Kayra Montañez — And one of the things I think that was a theme for all of us is it feels like we don’t have to work as hard to get people to come and be ready for what the Lord has for them. And that feels very exciting. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — And that’s like a theme that I’m seeing repeated across the entire nation with all of my pastor friends from different locations. Having said that, there are still things that we have to do to get people from going to just attending to engaging, like you were saying. I think there’s a couple of things that I saw. Kayra Montañez — One of them is a big one, I would say, is like this idea of, attending versus belonging, right. So like first people actually want to come, but they don’t actually join people systems. So they come in person, they come online, but they don’t actually join any kind of people system. So when I say people system I’m thinking about groups, or dream teams, a support group, a class. That’s actually something that we started seeing a lot post-pandemic, and I would say it’s still here. So that’s one gap that I see. Kayra Montañez — The second gap that I see is digital versus relational. So obviously, we at Liquid have spent a lot of, we’ve invested a lot in our digital ministry, and we really believe online and in-person can both thrive at the same time, and we’re seeing that. Kayra Montañez — However, online services, while they can remove barriers, which is good, it also helps people stay anonymous unless there’s a clear bridge for those people to actually join in-person community. And so churches that haven’t figured out well how to do that will continue to see a gap between people who are attending, whether it’s in person or online, but not actually engaging. Kayra Montañez — There’s also the people who just come for big events, right? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — We’re approaching one of them, even as we film this podcast, next week is Christmas Eve. So we joke at Liquid, we have the CEOs, they come for Christmas, Easter, and other big events, but they don’t actually have a weekly rhythm of attending and engaging. Kayra Montañez — And then there’s people who I would say are curious about serving and for the most part are open to helping, but are not really ready to make a serving commitment and actually take on a very consistent role. So I would say across the breadth and width of churches, that’s probably something that would hit most people, no matter where you are. Rich Birch — Yeah, for sure. Kayra Montañez — Definitely we experience all of them at Liquid. Rich Birch — Yeah, I there was a lot there, in which I appreciate. and i appreciate the way you’ve kind of diagnosed. I think there’s multiple ways to kind of um diagnose or kind of pick apart – Hey, here are different aspects here, or different ways that we’re seeing this kind of attendance versus engagement question. So maybe, you know, pick apart those attending versus belonging. What has Liquid done? What are you doing to try to help move people from just attending, actually getting into those people systems? What does that? What are you learning on that front? Kayra Montañez — Yeah. You know, we’ve had a major shift at Liquid, I would say, in the past two years. The best way that I can explain this is with a gaming analogy, because I have teenagers and they love gaming. Rich Birch — I love it. Kayra Montañez — So if you um go back to when we used to play Mario Brothers, you remember Mario Brothers? Rich Birch — Sure, yeah. Kayra Montañez — Mario Brothers has prescribed path where if you did not follow the path, at some point Mario would die. Like if you stayed behind and the camera kept moving, the character would die. You remember that? Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Kayra Montañez — And that’s the way that a lot of churches, even today, approach helping people connect. There is a prescribed path for you, and we’re going to tell you what you need to do and what you have to do. Then Zelda came into the scene and Zelda is like, hey, choose your own adventure. You can start your adventure anywhere you want. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — And so I feel like Liquid, we’ve shifted in that. We used to be Mario Brothers, like, hey, here’s a prescribed path for you. Here’s all the things that you have to do to connect. Whereas now we’ve shifted over the past two years into like, hey, we have a lot of things that we can offer you. And there are many different things depending on your season of life, on your felt needs, on what you’re looking for, on what you’re interested in, on what makes your heart beat. Tell us what you want to do and we’re going to help you. Kayra Montañez — And so in order for us to understand what is it that people want, we created an event that we do every month called Connect and Conversation. And the whole idea and the way that we market it is if you’re new to Liquid, or if you are not new, but you haven’t connected yet, you haven’t found your people, you haven’t found something that you want to be a part of, come to this event. Kayra Montañez — We feed you. We get to know you. And then we follow up personally with you. It’s very high level concierge, kind of a follow up system, where after we connect with you, we ask you, hey, what are you actually interested in? What are you looking for? Because your needs as an empty nester who’s been married for over 25 years, you’re parenting adult children who are already married are very different than mine who have two team have two teenagers. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — One of them is about to go to college, right? Rich Birch — Yep, yep. Kayra Montañez — And so that has actually produced incredible fruit from getting people who are attending. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — Now I’ve actually offered them something they’re interested in, which is making connections with people. And then from there, we follow up to offer, what do you need? Rich Birch — That’s so cool. Kayra Montañez — And everybody has different needs. Some people just wanna join teams because they’re just like, I just wanna serve. Some people, they really just need a lot of care. And so maybe they need a support group and we’re gonna offer that to you. Kayra Montañez — Some people may need marriage mentoring. We’re gonna offer that to you. So it really depends. And what we’ve seen is people taking significant next steps once they go out of that event. And that has really changed the past. In the past, we would only be marketing teams and groups, role and relationship, join, ah you know, get into a role and connect with a relationship. And while that’s still good, I’m not saying that’s not good or not needed. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — It’s not the only thing that people are looking for. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s interesting. Can we, I’d love to dive just a little deeper on on that because I think there’s ah a really key learning there for lots of us. This idea, and you didn’t say it this way, but where my brain went to, you know, I think we have, we have for sure in the past done the thing where it’s like we have these giant funnels that we’re pushing everyone through. Rich Birch — And and the only question we’re really asking is where do you fit in our funnel? Kayra Montañez — Correct. Rich Birch — Like where, You know, and we and we push and literally, and this is no, you know, kind of slam on other systems, but it’s like, this is the, you know, step one, step two, step three, everyone do step one first, then you do step two, then you do step three. Rich Birch — So the the connecting conversation, that feels like highly, like it’s volunteer intensive. You got to get a lot of volunteers in there because it sounds like you’re having one-on-one conversations or something close to one-on-one. Unpack what that looks like. Maybe as a guest, if I arrive at that, what do I actually experience when I show up there? Kayra Montañez — So you you can register up until the time that we have the event. Rich Birch — Yep, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — So we do math you know magical math with the food and and the preparation so that we can just accept people who are going to come on the day of. Because we promote it, obviously, every week. And then the day of, we actually promote it. We get most people to show up the day of the event. Rich Birch — Right, okay. Kayra Montañez — So people will come. There’s going to be a lunch. And then they’re going to sit at a table with about five other people who have a facilitator at that table. Rich Birch — Okay. Kayra Montañez — And that facilitator is actually going to lead them through a series of relational icebreakers because the event is designed for you to first connect. You want to meet other people who are just like you. Maybe they’re new or they’re not new, but they haven’t connected yet with somebody. Rich Birch — That’s good. Kayra Montañez — And so there’s going to be a lot of relational icebreakers you know during the first part of the event. And then after that, we get into like, hey, what are you looking for? What are you hoping to get out of? What do you need? What are you interested in? We make notes. Rich Birch — How can we help? All that kind of stuff. Kayra Montañez — That facilitator takes really good notes based on what people are saying. And then the follow-up begins. Rich Birch — That’s so cool. I love that. That’s what a great learning. You know, I think so many times we’ve seen that step and for sure that echoes what I’ve seen in in a number of churches. There’s really a trend away from the class being the first step. Rich Birch — It’s like the stand that we used to do that thing where it was like, okay, someone stands up at the front and they’re going to talk for 50 minutes about why we’re such a great church. And, ah you know, that really has gone away. I would I would echo that, that we’ve seen that as ah as a best practice for sure. So let’s talk… Kayra Montañez — When we do measure… Rich Birch — Sorry, go ahead. No. Kayra Montañez — …oh sorry, as I was to say, we measure the activity of everyone who goes to Connect in Conversation and what they do. Rich Birch — Oh, that, tell me about that. Kayra Montañez — And so there’s, or ah how we say it at Liquid is it’s correlation, not causation. Like I can’t prove that if you go to this event, your next steps were a direct result of this event… Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — …but we can correlate that because you came to the event you actually took these next steps, if that makes sense. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — So we’ve seen tremendous, tremendous engagement grow because of that. Rich Birch — And that’s on Sundays. You do it on on campus after the last service, that sort of thing. Kayra Montañez — Every month. Yes, every month at every campus after the last service, we promote it up to the day of the event… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — …and we do it rain or shine. Whether it’s five people or 10 or 50, obviously at our largest location, sometimes we have about 100 people show up every month to these events. Rich Birch — That’s great. I love that. That’s a great. You’re coming in hot, Kayra. Great learnings, even you know, with friends, we’ve got through the first question. Rich Birch — So yeah, and we’re, you know, it’s fantastic. So one of the one of the things I’d love to hear a little bit about, um you know, that when we look in the data, people’s anxiety, there’s there seems to be some anxiety around or concern around discipling people. We offer these discipleship pathways or engagement pathways. And it’s like, we do this stuff, but then people don’t actually take advantage of it. It’s like, we do, we offer small groups, but people don’t do them. Or people we offer classes and people don’t actually engage on them. Rich Birch —What are you doing to try to move to, to ensure people are actually engaging with the various pathways that you’re developing at Liquid to actually get them to use them? Kayra Montañez — So this is a very interesting question in this particular time because at Liquid we’re just about getting ready to or just ready to ah blow up small groups basically. Rich Birch — Oh, nice. Okay. I’d love to hear more. Kayra Montañez — Yeah, so I would say that small groups was the one metric that did not recover for our church post-pandemic. So even though our volunteer pipelines at times felt thin, we were able to have incredible momentum around that. We can talk more about that later. How did we do that? We recovered in attendance and giving, baptism, but we were not able to crack the code on small groups. We were at an all-time low, about 20% our church… Rich Birch — Oh, wow. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — …was engaged in small groups, pretty low. And so we started surveying people. Rich Birch — Yep. We’re like, what is it that people actually want from the small groups? Like, what is it that we’re not offering that they’re looking for? And the one, it was shocking to us that the number one thing, I mean, it shouldn’t be shocking because we are a church. Kayra Montañez — The number one thing that people wanted was to understand the Bible. So for the first time ever, we have uncoupled relational connection from biblical literacy. In the past, our small groups, the thing that was in the driver’s seat, I would say, was the relational connection. We wanted people to connect, to join a group so that they could make friends, do life together. We used to um promote it that way, if you remember. Do life together. Where are the people that you’re doing life together? Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Kayra Montañez — For the first time ever, we’re actually putting biblical literacy in the front seat and relational connection on the passenger seat. So you will actually make connections, but that’s not the goal of this process right now. The process is for you to actually understand and read and study the word of God. In fact, our new tagline is to know the word of God so that you can love the God of the word. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. And is that so if you change the the container that that fits in or are you changing the like, like… Kayra Montañez — We did. We changed the container. Rich Birch — So what’s that look like? Kayra Montañez — So right now we’re offering people different levels of biblical literacy. Kayra Montañez — The biggest vehicle that we’re that we just piloted this fall through the book of Revelations, if you can believe it. So we’re like, why not start with the hardest book of the Bible? Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And what we did was we created a Bible study midweek on a Wednesday night where people would go in person and study the word of God in tables with other people. Now, obviously there’s facilitators who have been trained and vetted. And once you join a table, that was kind of like the table that you were going to go on this journey with, but it’s not a small group. It’s a, it’s a short term. It was 10 weeks. We went through the entire book of Revelations, 22 chapters. We would do homework in order to get ready for this midweek study, we would come, we would have a conversation around what did you put in question 10? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — What did I write? This was hard, I don’t understand. And then there was teaching. Kayra Montañez — And we also piloted doing that same thing with our high school students so that parents could actually come with their kids on the same day, drop their high school kiddos in their own cohort, and then they would go to their own biblical midweek you know Bible study. Kayra Montañez — And that was, too, a great success. So we are trying to figure out like what are the appropriate levels of biblical literacy that we can offer a congregation… Rich Birch — That’s so good. Kayra Montañez — …that is increasingly illiterate in biblic in in the Bible. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — And deep dive, make no mistake, is the highest level. So that’s not for everyone. And we understand that. And so the parts that we’re trying to figure out is what’s like the appropriate next level to that for somebody who’s not willing to come in person 10 weeks to do homework and study, you know, the actual Bible. Kayra Montañez — But, it was fascinating to just uncouple those two things for the first time. And I would say it’s in the right frame of, in the right approach. You’re still making friends. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — You’re just not, that’s just not being the driver. Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, I do wonder. So we for sure have seen that. I’ve seen this conversation. I don’t claim to be a small groups expert. I never have. Kayra Montañez — Me neither. Rich Birch — Like for 20, 30 years, it’s always been a mystery to me. I’m like, it’s like hard. It’s a hard system to run and to to build. And, but for sure, post COVID it it is, I would say that’s a universal concern that it’s like, whatever we used to do, I see this all over the place, whatever we used to do to try to get people into groups, we don’t do that anymore. We’re doing something completely different. I happen to be at Liquid this fall. I think you were speaking at a conference when I was there. Bummer… Kayra Montañez — I was, I missed you. Yeah. Rich Birch — And I saw the deep dive. I think that’s what it was called. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — Deep dive that night. And I remember, i remember thinking, I was like, Whoa, this is like, ah this is incredible. Like, you know, I don’t know how many people were there that night. There was a ton of people all lined up and ready to go. I’m like, that’s, That’s cool. I love that. Rich Birch — Well, let’s pivot. You kind of flagged it there, the volunteer piece. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — I’d love to know what you’re learning on this front, you know, to rebuild volunteer culture. We had this kind of, I don’t know when we’ll stop saying post-COVID. I don’t know whether we’ll be like that generation that was like after the like war or like after the depression where like for 40 years we’re going to be talking about it. Rich Birch — But it does still feel like we’re post-COVID. I don’t know when that is. But what have you done to kind of restart? How what’s going well on that front externally? Liquid feels like a incredibly volunteer you know robust culture – help us understand what’s that looking like what are you learning these days? Kayra Montañez — Sure. Yeah. I mean everything you said is still very much a factor. I mean, we are constantly having to work at this. This is never going to be a problem that I feel we’re ever going to solve. It’s really a tension that we’re managing. And sometimes tension feels better and sometimes it doesn’t feel good. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — In fact, this year, I would say in March, we probably had like our biggest crisis in the broadcast campus where our church growth so far outpaced the amount of people that were serving that we were finding ourselves having to close rooms for Liquid family… Rich Birch — Ooh. Kayra Montañez — …not because we we hit ratios, but because we didn’t have enough volunteers. And that doesn’t feel great… Rich Birch — No. Kayra Montañez — …especially if you’re a new here family, right? Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And so we were like, all right, we need to do something really aggressive. And the best way that I can explain it is we did like a try before you buy. Rich Birch — Okay. Kayra Montañez — Very low approach… Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — …low hanging fruit. We said, hey, we we casted a vision, right? It’s never about we need volunteers, but we actually told a really significant story of where’s all the fruit that the Lord is bringing to this church, all the spiritual fruit that we’re seeing, like people are getting saved, people are getting baptized, they’re coming to get to know Jesus, they’re studying the Bible. Kayra Montañez — It was incredible. Kayra Montañez — But we need people to use their spiritual gifts. And so we came up with a campaign called For the One. And everything was geared for that one person. Like, who’s who are you going to go serve? Who’s the one that you’re going to go serve? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — And the try before you buy was, we’re going to give you a hoodie. We designed a hoodie. It was called, it was, you know, at the tagline For the One. And the key is you only get it after you serve a couple of times. Rich Birch — Okay, that’s cool. Kayra Montañez — So this is the try before you buy. You know, you’re going to try it out. Rich Birch — Yes. You’re not going to go through the whole background, pipeline, covenant process because we need people now and we need them quick. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — So you’re trying before you’re buying. But if you like it and we’re going to make sure that first serve experience is incredible for you, then we want you to buy it. Rich Birch — That’s so good. Kayra Montañez — And we’re going to reward you by giving you swag that’s limited, exclusive. Not everybody’s going to get it. Rich, you would be surprised. Like I’m still to this day, i have been at Liquid, it’ll be 13 years in April. And I am still shocked by how much people, the gamification of playing to people’s particular interests… Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — …whether it’s FOMO, they don’t want to miss out, whether it’s the idea of collecting exclusive apparel. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — There’s something here for everyone that just draws people out. Rich Birch — It’s true. It’s true. Kayra Montañez — We had over 400 people sign up for the one. Rich Birch — Wow. That’s amazing. That’s great. Kayra Montañez — It was incredible. And we were able to tell amazing stories of people who were coming and showing up and serving, whether it was our special needs kiddos or high school whatever you want to call it. We had it. And and I would say the appeal of a try before you buy, how can you shortchange without? So this is key. You don’t want to reduce the quality. But you do want to shorten your pipeline so that you can get people quicker to try it. And then once they actually feel like, hey, I really enjoy this, now we’re going to get you through the whole, you know, rest of the process, right? But you can still serve while we do that. Kayra Montañez — So that was a huge thing. And then obviously, you know, like the free apparel swag, that always is a nice incentive to give to people. So that was huge. Rich Birch — It’s true. Kayra Montañez — It was very successful. And that’s what I would recommend is like, hey, can you run, try before you buy little events with like swag, and like you you get you have people serve for a limited amount of time. Like you don’t give them the swag immediately. You make them work for it. Rich Birch — Right. Yes. Kayra Montañez — They got to serve three, four times before you give it to them. Rich Birch — Yeah, we did a similar thing last summer. Our kids ministry team did a similar thing last summer where we did the summer serve, which we hadn’t done in in actually a number of years. And they they pulled that out and did summer serve. And it was the same thing. If you signed up, you got a t-shirt, a specific t-shirt for that. Rich Birch — And then you, there was, they basically were asking you to serve once in June, once in July, once in August, like once a month, just for the summertime. And if you served, um I forget exactly what the ratio was, but it was, you got entered in a draw for however many times. And basically, so if you served all three, you got like 10 times the number of draw things to win. And it was all this stuff that you, you could win. And it was like really great gifts. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — And you would think that that should not motivate people. Kayra Montañez — But it does. Rich Birch — But it does. Kayra Montañez — It does. Rich Birch — And and you know and it was and, you know, they did it in really fun, you know, hey this is going to be a fun thing to be a part of. Talk to me about the, because there’s a friction thing there to learn around trying to reduce the friction the kind of onboarding friction, I think over time that stuff can become, you know, it’s, it’s the, we actually are like our, we can become just too hard for our people. Kayra Montañez — Yeah. Rich Birch — What did you learn through that process in, in trying to find that balance of like, we want to make it easier to onboard people, but we still want to, is there any kind of lessons from that when you look back on that? Kayra Montañez — To me, the the lesson really is, again, there is a tension between you can’t shortchange, especially when it comes to kids. I can’t emphasize this enough. Rich Birch — No, yeah, absolutely. Yep. Kayra Montañez — Like I oversee all of these ministries and it would be not on my watch will will this happen, right? Rich Birch — No, yeah, yeah. Kayra Montañez — So we have to make be very sure that we’re not shortchanging the safety procedures. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yep. Kayra Montañez — At the same time recognizing these things can take some time, right? Like we ask people to get a background check, they have to be interviewed, they have to sign a covenant, they have to have a reference. I mean, these things this is a lengthy process. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And I stand by it. We have to do that. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — At the same time, can we actually live in a world where we are marrying our need to have someone in the room while also still doing all of these things simultaneously, not actually waiting for all of this to happen so that then they can come. Kayra Montañez — And that’s kind of how we figured it out. Our Liquid family pastor came up with a process where she’s like, okay, we can shorten it this time. They’re only going to do these three things, not four, not six. But while they’re in the room trying it, we’re going to continue to do the other remaining four. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — It’s messy. It’s not always the best thing to do in an ideal world. You are not doing that. But when you’re faced with crisis, then you need to come up with, you know, resourceful ideas. Kayra Montañez — And so what I would say about the volunteer pipeline is this. There are short-term problems that you have to solve while you’re still working on this very long-term. Like this is a culture that you have to create. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — And in order for you to create a culture, you have to tell stories. You have to celebrate what you want to be repeated. have to make people feel thanked, encouraged, appreciated, seen. You those are all long-term things that you have to be doing all the time. This is like nonstop. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Can’t take the, you can’t take the gas off that pedal for sure. Pedal off that gas. Kayra Montañez — Correct. You cannot take your foot off the the pedal. But at the same time, there are things that are short term that you really do have to also do. And sometimes that will require teaching from the stage where you’re actually envisioning people about why this matters so much. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — And this is what we did in March with the For the One. So I would say it’s it’s both/and; it’s not either/or. And so if that’s helpful, that’s how I would approach it. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s super good. That’s good. If there was a church that was, if you were sitting across the table from an executive pastor, maybe you’re at a conference or someone drops in your office and they’re, they’re feeling really stuck on this engagement issue. They feel low. Like it’s people were, maybe it’s groups, it’s teams, it’s all of it. Like it’s, we’re not moving people through any kind of pipeline. Rich Birch — What would be some of those first steps or first recommendations, first things you’d have them look at, maybe like a diagnostic or a first couple of things that you’d have them think about in this area? Kayra Montañez — Well, I would say if there’s a way for them to know of the people who are attending and maybe they figure this out with new here, how many of those people take one next step within the first month? Rich Birch — That’s good. Kayra Montañez — That would be one diagnostic that I would first see if I can do with the data that I have and the data that they collect and they actually figured that out. Rich Birch — Yep. Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — If they’re able to do that, then the next diagnostic would be what percent actually move into a people system… Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — …whether it’s a group, a deep dive experience, a dream team within 60 to 90 days, right? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — Because if you do that, you’re going to find the blockage. You’re actually going to discover Maybe our attendance is fine. We don’t have an invest and invite problem, but maybe what we have a problem with is our conversion rate. And so then you can start to identify what is it about our conversion that we need to fix? Kayra Montañez — Is it that we have ah unclear on-ramps? Or is it that our processes are too high friction? It’s too hard people to get involved. If you actually find like, no, actually people are taking next steps. Great. But they’re not sticking to it. Then you have a different problem. Then you can actually diagnose… Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Kayra Montañez — …oh, maybe the first serve experience actually wasn’t sticky enough. It wasn’t welcoming. Maybe there were issues with scheduling. Maybe we didn’t give clear information. So you can kind of figure out what the problem is based on how you’re measuring it and what you’re discovering. That’s how I would start if I didn’t know what the problem was. Does that make sense? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. That makes total sense. And, you know, it it definitely aligns with one of my bugaboos that I constantly driving with executive pastors. When you look at the actual numbers—I and I have not run into a church yet that this is not the case—most churches actually have a front door problem. They don’t have a back door problem. They their actual problem that we think we feel like, oh, like people aren’t sticking and staying in groups, they’re not staying and volunteering. But statistically, that’s actually not true. When most of the time, if you look at, okay, all the people that end up in a group, what is the kind of churn rate on that? Whatever that number is, I’ve never seen a church where it’s higher than the people we’re missing on the front end with exactly with what you said is how many people are removing from new here to taking the first step in the first month? Rich Birch — Because that you lose a ton of people in that door right there. That is a, you know, by a multiple of 10 or 20, like it’s a lot more that we’re missing out. And, you know, generally in most churches… Kayra Montañez — And can I just [inaudible] to that? Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — Because I just want encourage people, like, figure out a way to target your new here audience. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — So at Liquid, for example, if you come for the first time, not only do we encourage, highly encourage you to tell us that you’re here for the first time because we give you an awesome gift. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — Lots of churches do this, but then we survey people who came for the first time. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — And based on what they answer, they receive a custom follow-up process for the first 30 days. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — We don’t, so in that regard, like it is worth to look at that. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — Because you’re going to find out a lot of information and a lot of data about what people are choosing to do, where are they going, why they’re not sticking to it or why they’re not even going in the first place. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — Like I’m shocked that I’ve been to churches sometimes to speak and they don’t actually really do like a new here call out. Like they don’t. Rich Birch — Yeah, I was going to say that. You said, oh, churches do this. Kayra Montañez — Maybe not. Rich Birch — And I’d be like, Kayra, I’ve been to way too many churches where they don’t do any of that. And they’re like, well, we’re not really sure. And I’m like, this is a solvable problem. We can fix this. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Yes. Rich Birch — There’s like real things you can do here. Actually, I worked with a church last year, a fairly large church in 2024, where they were experiencing some of these issues and so and I was like I basically said the same thing I just said, I’m like you’re losing people on the front end. And they’re like they’re like well we do a gift. And I’m like no you don’t. And I said there’s a and there’s a few things to fix around that. In 2025 the year we just ended, they received we made a few changes it’s not about me there’s about them they made a bunch of changes, they ended up receiving 5,000 more first-time guest contacts than they did 2024. Kayra Montañez — Wow. Just like we’ve always told it to do. Rich Birch — Now they did not grow by people but it’s just by focusing on that, right? Kayra Montañez — Amazing. Rich Birch — It’s just by like saying, hey, how are we what are we going to do to ensure that that step goes well with folks? So anyways, there’s huge opportunity there and in lots of churches. Kayra, you’ve been incredibly generous to give us your time at this time of year. As you’re thinking, kind of last question, as we’re thinking about 2026, what are some of those questions that are floating around in your head as you think about Liquid, as you think about the future? What are some things that you’re wrestling with that you’re wondering about that you’re contemplating as we go into this year? Kayra Montañez — Oh my gosh, Rich, so many. After this conversation, you know, I really am interested to see what’s going to happen with our discipleship model since we just blew it up. Rich Birch — Yes, yep. Kayra Montañez — I’m helping all of that and changing the way that we even onboard leaders. Like I’m really invested in seeing this through. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — I also totally unrelated to this, but we just launched, I think in the survey, one of the questions that was asked was what’s the best idea that you had in 2025? Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah, right. Kayra Montañez — And I was like, well, I feel like one of our best ideas was to use AI to launch a Spanish service. And I am really invested in that in seeing like, how do we continue to grow that service? How do we continue to grow that ministry? We’re launching new ministries in 2025, or 2026. So that always feels exciting and daunting. Kayra Montañez — So there’s just the work never ends. And there’s always it is an exciting and fascinating time to be in the church. I’ll say that. Rich Birch — I would agree. I totally would agree. Yeah, it’s the best. I would think, literally, I think this is the best season that I’ve been involved in ministry for sure. Rich Birch — For folks that don’t know what you’re doing with Spanish ministry, give us the 60 second, explain that again. Because I think I keep pointing churches to you saying, have you heard what Liquid’s doing? You go talk to them. So tell us about that. Kayra Montañez — So basically we have a Spanish service. We do have live hosting in Español. We have live worship in Español. But then we take our English message and we pass it through an AI service called Heygen, which actually uses the communicator’s voice and matches the words to their lips and they’re just preaching, they preach it in Spanish. Even if they’re not bilingual, they will preach it in Spanish. And it’s like you, Rich, are speaking in Spanish. Your words match to your voice. Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah, it’s it’s amazing. Kayra Montañez — People get to hear the the gospel and the message in their language. So it’s been fascinating to learn who we’re reaching, who’s coming, who likes that kind of a thing. You know, as a Spanish speaker myself, I’m like, would I go to a service where the message wasn’t actually authentic Spanish and it’s an AI generated? Kayra Montañez — I believe in the quality of our communication so much that I actually have to say, yes, I would. Because like last year, this year, we took our entire church through the book of Revelation. Tim spent 25 weeks teaching us the hardest book of the Bible. Kayra Montañez — The fruit that that endeavor produced is incredible. And so when I think about what we’re doing, I’m like, I believe in that so much that I do think this is a this is a thing that’s actually good to do. Even if people would who would think like, why would they go to that and not like an authentic Spanish speaker? Rich Birch — Yeah, interesting. And that, and you’re, you’ve been a year, that’s been basically almost a year you’ve been doing that now. Kayra Montañez — A year. A year. Rich Birch — And, and you’re be continuing to do it. So obviously something’s working. There’s some sort of version of like, Hey, we’re, we feel. Kayra Montañez — We’re continuing to do it. we’re seeing We’re seeing the fruit. We’re seeing baptisms, people giving their life to Christ, getting baptized, showing up and joining teams, um reaching families. We’re reaching multigenerational families where the parents go to the Spanish service, the kids go to the English service because it’s simultaneous, right? Well, the English is going on, the Spanish is going on. So families get to decide. It’s just really interesting to watch. Obviously, it’s been challenging in the U.S. to grow a Spanish service because of everything that’s been happening. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah… Kayra Montañez — But it’s just been really fascinating to see like the dynamics of who we’re reaching, who’s is sharing like who’s excited about it, and then using technology to further the gospel. It’s always exciting. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s fantastic. I know I was goofing around with Heygen a little bit. And the part that actually, this was you know almost a year ago when you guys started doing that that, one of the tests I ran that actually convinced me was, so I was like taking videos of me and I would send them to like a friend who speaks Spanish. And I sent to a friend who speaks, you know, a couple of languages that it was doing, but then I did the reverse. There’s a great church, Nouvelle Vie. It’s a French speaking church, large church, be very similar to Liquid, but they’re French speaking. And so I took one of the, the lead pastors from that. I took a clip of his message and translated into English. And I was blown away. I was like, Oh my word. Like, Kayra Montañez — It is getting better and better every day. Rich Birch — I was I was shocked. I was like, oh, that that is, yeah, could I tell? Yeah, but this guy’s an incredible communicator. And you know similar to you and Tim and the team at at Liquid, I’m like, I could see that work anyway. Rich Birch — So that’s exciting. Kayra, it’s so great to see you. Kayra Montañez — Thank you, Rich. Rich Birch — Thanks so much for having time with us today. If people want to connect with you or with Liquid, where do we want to send them online? Kayra Montañez — Sure. So my name Kayra, K-A-Y-R-A at liquidchurch.com. Happy to connect with anybody have questions. Rich Birch — Thanks so much. Thanks for being here today.

Send us a textSpecial Guests: Rev. Lucy Waechter Webb and Nicole Bauman, Facilitators of Weaving New Ritual: a year long community of practice for people with White Christian lineage to reclaim ritual fluencyQuestion of the Week: How can white Christian descendants relate to their spiritual lineage? What does this look like and why does it matter for broader, collective liberation for both white Christians and Christians of color?Weaving New RitualFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Katrina Kennedy explore the themes of learning and development, reflection, and facilitation. Katrina shares her insights on how reflection is not just about looking back but is action-oriented, emphasizing the importance of facilitating effective learning experiences. They discuss the evolution of facilitation, the role of silence, and the importance of connection in the learning process. Katrina also provides an overview of her book, which includes practical activities for facilitators to enhance their skills and engage learners effectively.   Learning and development encompasses various methods to help people perform effectively. Reflection is action-oriented, focusing on what to do next after recalling experiences. Facilitators should prioritize the needs of the learners over their own presentation style. Silence in facilitation can be a powerful tool for reflection and engagement. Facilitators must be adaptable and comfortable with the unknown during sessions. Pre-reflection, mid-reflection, and post-reflection are crucial for effective learning. Follow-up after training enhances behavior change and connection. Individual reflection can be more valuable than group report-outs. Facilitators should focus on outcomes when planning activities. Katrina's book provides structured activities for both novice and experienced facilitators. Learn more about Katrina - https://www.katrinakennedy.com/ Connect with the podcast - podcast@high5adventure.org Support the podcast - www.verticalplaypen.org  

In this episode with Michelle Pascoe, we lift the lid on mystery shopping and what it really reveals about leadership, service, and customer experience. From why traditional surveys fail, to how insight-based mystery shopping exposes what leaders never see when they are not present, this conversation explores how organisations can turn observation into improvement. We also look at generational expectations, the role of robotics, and why human connection still matters more than ever. SOUNDBITES Mystery shopping explained beyond the myths.Why surveys fail when feedback goes nowhere.What leaders miss when they are not on site.How insight-based reports outperform tick-box scores.The role of human connection alongside robotics.What Gen Z expects from seamless service.Why Net Promoter Score needs context to matter.Turning customer data into real improvement. ABOUT MICHELLE PASCOE Contact: https://www.michellepascoe.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe/ Renowned for her expertise in the hospitality industry and backed by over three decades of experience, Michelle Pascoe is a Mystery Shopping expert, a Certified Speaking Professional delivering conference keynotes on the Customer Experience as well as workshops on Customer Service Excellence to frontline teams. ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback, Kindle or audiobook. Amazon USA ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you would be willing to leave a review so others know it's a good read, Nina would appreciate it. === Brainpower Training Australia To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Speaking site: NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host & Daring to Rest founder Karen Brody and a circle of extraordinary women from Sisterhood 10 of our Daring to Rest Facilitator Training as they reflect on their journeys as rest leaders, yoga nidra facilitators, and students of the Daring to Rest Facilitator Training. You'll hear honest stories of stepping into rest leadership, navigating burnout, and breaking generational cycles of overwork and self-denial. Stay to the end for participants' favorite rest words! This episode is ideal for any women craving inspiration, rest, and a powerful reminder that rest is a radical, loving act. It's also ideal if you're interested in joining our next Daring to Rest Yoga Nidra Facilitator Training in January 2026.   Resources Guest Bios: https://daringtorest.com/podcast/114 Daring to Rest Yoga Nidra Facilitator Training: https://daringtorest.com/facilitator  

In this conversation, Phil and Leo explore the concept of connection, particularly in new environments, and how facilitators can foster deeper connections among participants. They discuss the importance of vulnerability, curiosity, and the role of tools like the 52 Fathoms deck in facilitating meaningful interactions. The conversation also touches on lessons learned from Leo's experience on Survivor, emphasizing the significance of observation and reflection in the facilitation process. Connection is a vital part of human interaction. Facilitators can guide deeper connections through thoughtful questions. Vulnerability can lead to more meaningful conversations. Using tools like 52 Fathoms can enhance group dynamics. Observation is key to understanding group interactions. Curiosity drives deeper engagement in conversations. Facilitators should adapt activities to fit their style. Conflict resolution can be learned from real-life experiences. Creating a safe space encourages openness among participants. Reflection on experiences enhances facilitation skills. Learn more about Fulcrum Adventures - https://fulcrumadventures.com/ Connect with the podcast; Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/verticalplaypen/ Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org  

KEY TAKEAWAYSThe new ACO model increases funding for high-risk Medicare patients but requires disciplined execution.Visits — frequent, short, meaningful ones — are the #1 driver of reduced hospitalizations and better outcomes.The target is four visits per patient per month for those with a 2.4–2.8 risk score.Current numbers show only 2.5 visits per patient per month — leaving savings and outcomes on the table.Facilitators are essential: their job is to start conversations, gather information, and initiate telehealth visits.Notes, Mobius recordings, and consistent communication make providers more effective over time.Small, weekly touchpoints outperform long, infrequent visits in both outcomes and cost savings.Every team member plays a role in preventing hospitalizations and improving patient stability. www.YourHealth.Org

In today's episode, Olivia is joined by Julia Slay, founder of Facilitation 101, to explore an often-overlooked part of facilitation: how we end sessions well. With 15+ years' experience across social policy, consultancy and learning design, Julia shares her journey into facilitation and what sparked her growing fascination with powerful endings. They talk about: Why endings matter,and common mistakes at the close of sessions — rushed checkouts, lack of closure, and clunky feedback moments. How to design meaningful endings, using buffer time, reflection, grounding and action planning. The power of circularity too. Extending the ending beyond the room, with follow-ups and reconnection sessions.Plus creative closing practices, from body-based grounding to sound and movement.     Quote highlights "A strong ending creates a feeling of completeness." "Reflection without action feels unfinished."     Links Today's guest: Julia Slay, Founder, Facilitation 101 https://www.facilitation101.co.uk/courses?tag=Intensive https://myfreelancelife.substack.com/?r=b48m9&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-slay-aa02b240/    Today's host: Olivia Bellas - Coach, Faciitator, Learning Experience Designer  https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviabellas/ To find out more about Facilitation Stories and the IAF England & Wales Chapter:

Meet our guest listenerSasha Kullman: Sasha is a PhD student in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba, supervised by Dr. Anna Chudyk. She holds a master's degree from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the same institution, where her research focused on health psychology, health promotion, and patient engagement in research. Funded by a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship, Sasha's doctoral work continues to center on participatory approaches, involving patients and their families in research designed to enhance healthcare experiences.Episode Transcript:Anna Chudyk:Hi everyone! Welcome to onePERspective — a bi-weekly segment where a featured guest shares their key reflections on the latest episode of asPERusual, my podcast all about practical patient engagement in research. I'm your host, Anna Chudyk.Today's episode is a special one in that it's our final asPERusual of 2025. We'll be taking a short break from recording as I get settled into coordinating a new course at the start of 2026. Once that's underway, we'll be back — with a brand new season launching in mid-to-late winter 2026.Before we wrap up the year, I'm thrilled to be joined once again by Sasha Kullman, a doctoral trainee in my lab. Sasha, I'm really looking forward to hearing your key takeaways from Season 3, Episode 9 of asPERusual, which featured Dr. Sharon Hou (a psychologist and assistant professor at Simon Fraser University) and Laesa Kim (a parent partner and family liaison at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute).Sasha Kullman:Hi everyone, and welcome back to this episode of onePERspective. I'm Sasha, a doctoral student at the University of Manitoba, located on Treaty 1 Territory here in Winnipeg— and if you've listened to these mini episodes before, you'll know that I'm also Anna's student.Today, I'll share my key learnings from our last full episode of As PER Usual and reflect on how I can apply what our guests shared to my own research with youth and families.In our last episode, we heard from Dr. Sharon Hou and Laesa Kim, who discussed their CHILD-BRIGHT–funded Pain Pathway Project, which supports community pediatricians in managing pain and irritability in children with severe neurological impairments. They highlighted how involving families from the start strengthens research design and implementation, and how trust, co-creation, and reflective collaboration lead to more compassionate, accessible, and effective care.What stood out most from this discussion was Sharon and Laesa's description of the parent monitoring board, how it was integrated into Phase 2 of their implementation project, and the impactful role Laesa played as both a leader and communicator. She moved fluidly between the board and the research team, supporting the engagement process and shaping many other aspects of the project.Because they've worked on a team that collaborates closely with parent and family partners, Sharon and Laesa were able to share not only practical tips, but also guidance about the spirit of engagement; how it functions as a research philosophy rather than a box to check.Starting with the practical tips, one that I know I'll apply in my own work is the importance of creating a “terms of reference” document (or a “working together agreement,” as we've called it in previous episodes). This helps everyone understand their roles, and gives patient and family partners a moment to shape the type of role they want to have. I just finished writing the major proposal for my thesis, and including a meeting to co-create a terms of reference was one of the steps I outlined. Hearing Sharon and Laesa reinforce its value—alongside what I've heard from my supervisor and the partners I've worked with—makes me even more confident in prioritizing this step.I also appreciated Laesa's reflections on communication and the need to provide multiple ways for patient and family partners to share feedback. We often think of engagement as a big-picture process, but in practice, I see it as being built from many small actions that occur across the entire research journey. Each action—whether it's sharing an email update or asking for input—is a choice about how we want to relate to our partners. When all of these small choices accumulate, they form the larger engagement process.Finding a communication balance is something I'm still learning myself. Laesa talked about wanting to keep partners updated, even when there's no immediate task for them, while also being mindful not to overwhelm people who are juggling full lives outside the research project. My takeaway is that there isn't one “right” approach—communication should be decided together with the partners you're working with. But, when unsure, sending the email is usually better than holding back. Sharing information puts the decision in the hands of patient and family partners about how involved they want to be, instead of us making that choice for them. And when partners know they have flexible ways to offer feedback, they're more likely to share what they can, when they can—while also feeling permission to step back when needed.Thinking about all of these small steps and interactions makes it clear how valuable it can be to have someone leading engagement who has personally experienced being a patient or family partner. I wanted to highlight the significance of Laesa's role as the staff member guiding the parent monitoring board. Engagement is often facilitated by a researcher or student, and while that can certainly work well, having a patient or family partner in this leadership role brings something unique. Laesa understood both the research context and the lived experiences of the parents involved. She could support communication, relationship-building, and trust in ways that might not have emerged otherwise. She helped ensure that those small steps of engagement were intentional and meaningful, that communication wasn't missed, and that partners felt welcome to raise feedback or concerns. She could also connect with parents on a personal level as another parent of a medically complex child—something that likely strengthened rapport in important ways.In my own research, I'm hoping to draw on this by co-leading engagement sessions with a patient or family partner. I know how valuable it is to have someone who can bridge perspectives, surface ideas I might never think of, and help me find more inclusive and responsive approaches.Another important takeaway was the development of a glossary and a visual diagram to help patient and family partners navigate the research protocol. It can be so easy for researchers to take specialized terminology for granted, especially when we're deeply embedded in a field. Glossaries make research more accessible, and I think that accessibility directly improves the quality of feedback partners can give. I'm already thinking about where I can build this into my own work, especially as I dive further into implementation science—which, if I'm being honest, has already left me spinning around more than once with all its terminology.I also want to reflect on how Sharon approaches her work. Engagement and equity came across as core philosophies in her research. She talked about being trained in an environment where patient engagement was valued from the beginning, and how that shaped her practice. Her approach seems grounded in theory and science, but equally in lived expertise, reflexivity, and awareness of her own positionality as a researcher. As a student, I feel lucky to be learning in an environment that centers these same principles. And throughout my program, I want to carry forward the idea that engagement isn't linear—it's cyclical. We act, reflect on what worked and what didn't, and then adjust. There will always be ways to improve, and, as Sharon and Laesa emphasized, we won't always get it right the first time. What matters is staying genuine, humble, kind, and compassionate with ourselves as we learn. Mistakes will happen. What's important is being open to learning and re-learning.One question I'll continue sitting with after this episode is: How can I embed principles of relationship-building and “slow science” within the structured nature of implementation science and the faster timelines of a PhD project? I think it's possible—it will just require paying attention to those small engagement steps that make up the larger process, and trying to approach each one with intention.And I think that's where I'll wrap up for today. Thanks for taking the time to reflect with me on this ONE Perspective episode. Until next time.Anna Chudyk:Great question to ponder, Sasha. Off the top of my head — I think you do this already just by the essence of your very being. You are incredibly thoughtful and intentional, and you naturally slow time down for everyone you work with by truly listening to the meaning behind what they share.Every project I've seen you partner on includes careful tracking of partners' input and a commitment to showing how their ideas were or were not incorporated into next steps. You do this in real time too—by actively engaging teams in the discussions where decisions are made and ensuring the process feels transparent and shared. This well-planned and fully present process allows you to masterfully incorporate “slow science” into fast paced academia like no other!I encourage everyone listening to check out Sasha's latest publication titled “Exploring Patient and Caregiver Perceptions of the Facilitators and Barriers to Patient Engagement in Research: Participatory Qualitative Study.“ It's a great example of what I've just described. It's published open access in the Journal of Participatory Medicine, which means it is free for anyone to read.As always, please be sure to head over to our website at asperusual.substack.com where you can find previous episodes, check out interactive transcripts, and subscribe to our newsletter. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to the podcast, and leave a positive review, wherever you like to listen — it really helps others find us too.You can always reach me directly at anna.asperusual@gmail.com, or connect with me on LinkedIn by searching for Anna M. Chudyk — that's C-H-U-D-Y-K. You can add Sasha to LinkedIn by searching for Sasha Kullman - K-U-L-L-M-A-N.Thanks again for listening — and until 2026, let's keep working together to make patient engagement in research the standard… or asPERusual. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asperusual.substack.com

This podcast episode uses 3 archetypes: the doula, the smuggler and translator to explore the role that many community engaged facilitators take in navigating the institutions that they work within and for. Through the lens of these archetypes, we expand on the ways that community engaged facilitators  leverage their power or position to work towards justice and safety for the communities they are accountable to. Embodying these archetypes as a facilitator is often either a deliberate choice or a reflection of the unique gifts each facilitator carries with them. With hosting, music, and production by Sherry Ostapovitch

Today we're joined by Jay Yu (@0xfishylosopher), research & partner @panteracapital, to discuss x402; a blockchain based micropayments solution built around the 402 HTTP status code.We cover:- Stablecoin payments through HTTP 402- Real-world use cases and current pilot implementations- Wallet adoption trends- Facilitators like Coinbase and market share breakdown- The evolving facilitator landscape and parallels to block building- Comparisons to other payment frameworks like ERC-4804And much more—enjoy!—Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction (05:16) Why 402 was never used(06:03) Giving 402 a stablecoin-powered makeover(11:21) UX tradeoffs vs. new micropayment opportunities(15:35) Use case ideation and ecosystem players(20:23) Adoption status today(23:38) Live applications beyond memes?(25:54) Wallet adoption trends and user numbers(28:20) Facilitator market share(29:57) Facilitator business models and stablecoin swaps(31:55) BD dynamics and payment routing(36:23) Competing protocols like ERC-4804(43:14) Stablecoins, regulation, and the next 3 years(43:40) Outro—Follow the guest:https://x.com/0xfishylosopherFollow the co-hosts:https://x.com/hildobbyhttps://x.com/0xBoxerhttps://x.com/sui414Follow the Indexed Podcast:https://twitter.com/indexed_pod—The Indexed Podcast discusses hot topics, trendy metrics and chart crimes in the crypto industry, with a new episode every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, brought to you by wizards @hildobby_ @0xBoxer @sui414.Subscribe to our channel and leave a comment to help us make the pod better!—DISCLAIMER: All information presented here should not be relied upon as legal, financial, investment, tax or even life advice. The views expressed in the podcast are not representative of hosts' employers views. We are acting independently of our respective professional roles.

Our guest is Teri Dupuy-Gore, Executive Director of Hub Lafayette Urban Ministries, a Christ-centered outreach serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness, chronic poverty, hunger, and difficult life transitions. Teri shares how The Hub and its Lovewell Center at 1515 W. University Avenue in Lafayette, create a place to be present in our community and love people right where they are, offering not only practical resources but dignity, relationship, and restored hope. The Lovewell Center: Eat Well, Dress Well, Style Well, Smell Well Teri explains that Hub Lafayette Urban Ministries “actually unifies two separate ministries,” and that this conversation focuses on The Lovewell Center at 1515 W. University Within the Lovewell, members access four resource “stores”: Eat Well – “kind of like a Walmart where you can get toothpaste, toilet paper, nonperishable canned goods, things of that nature… like a mini Walmart.” Dress Well – gently-used men's and women's clothing: “belts, shoes, pants, coats… new socks and new underwear… gently used backpacks.” Style Well – “where you get your hair cut by a licensed beautician or barber.” Smell Well – “our six stackable commercial washers and dryers so you can wash your clothes.” All of these resources are available to members of the Lovewell Center. Membership & the Points System: “A hand up, not a hand out” Becoming a member is intentionally simple: “To be a member, you simply have to walk in and say, hey, I want to be a member. There's no criteria.” When someone joins, the team takes basic information: name, phone number (if they have one), address (or notes if they're living on the streets), and next of kin — “because we want to become your family… we want to be your family anyway.” New members “automatically get 20 points for just joining us.” The Lovewell uses a points system instead of cash so people can actively participate in their own progress: “You earn points by taking classes because we believe in healing and helping yourself… or you'd bring us your check stub from a job that you have now.” Teri explains that this model is particularly powerful “for people who are struggling in chronic poverty, because we can help you offset the cost of everyday life without using money, but using points… you get to make decisions.” Members can choose to “earn points and store them up, or earn points and spend them,” and that freedom is central to their approach: “We instill dignity and value in you… it's a beautiful, beautiful opportunity for us to be able to be present in our community and love people right where they are.” Classes that Heal Broken Relationships At the heart of Lovewell are the classes that help people earn points and, more importantly, work toward inner healing: “Our classes are geared around broken relationships that we feel everyone has or will have — a broken relationship with God, a broken relationship with yourself, a broken relationship with others, or a broken relationship with creation. So our classes are all geared around healing in those areas.” Classes typically run for eight weeks and meet for one hour, once a week. Facilitators are often people who have personally wrestled with the same issues they're teaching about: “I may overcome something and say, I would love to teach this class… using the experiences that I have and the healing that I've received… and share that with others. Giving them hope.” Communication classes are a key example: “For some of our members… it's very natural to have a confrontational conversation. It's not natural to scale that down to where it is speaking truth with grace. It's usually just truth in your face.” The goal is to help everyone “have a voice and be heard” in “a polite and generous way.” Teri calls these classes “really the heart of the Lovewell Center” and “the heart of the mission of The Hub.” She sums up their mission this way: “Our mission statement is, “We're on a mission to offer everyone in our city access to restored life. And we believe in what we call the four R's: Rescue, Relationships, Resources and Recovery.” Community Meals & Daily Presence The Lovewell Center is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the yard open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. For neighbors experiencing homelessness, it's a safe place simply to belong: “If our friends experiencing homelessness need a place to go, they come and hang out with us, because they are wanted and belong.” Every Tuesday night a community meal is offerred “Every Tuesday night we have community meal, which means we all get together and eat dinner together. Anyone in the community is invited… We start at 6:00 and we're usually finished by 7:15–7:30 p.m.” From 6:00–6:25 p.m., there are large-group activities — bingo, class time, or worship — and if you participate in those events as big group events, you earn ten points for that.” Teri shares that on Tuesday nights they see 125–150 people, and during the day they have “90 to 100 people every day” coming through for services, community, and support. Philosophy: “A hand up, not a hand out” Teri is deeply intentional about not harming the people they serve: “The core of the program is about empowering people through relationships to see themselves the way Christ sees them and to empower them to be all that God has called them to be.” She speaks candidly about common pitfalls in helping: “In a world of ministry where we all feel called to give, at some point giving hurts. We then take from the person and we steal their dignity and their value because we want to do for them what they can do for themselves.” That's why she describes The Hub's posture as, “We are a hand up, not a hand out. We are not there to be sympathetic, we are there to be empathetic. We want to sit in it with you and encourage you and remind you that you're not alone.” How You Can Help Hub Lafayette Urban Ministries is 100% funded by donations by individuals, churches, grants, and in-kind gifts. Teri says: “Money is always welcome. It keeps the lights on. It keeps the coffee in the pots. It allows us to keep food on the shelves.” They also always need physical donations, especially: Canned soups and “top-protein” items Easy-open foods like beanie-weenies, tuna, pocket snacks Toilet paper and full-size toothpaste New men's and women's underwear (“men's underwear… tagless colored brief boxers or they don't leave the shelf”) Meals for Tuesday night community dinners and Wednesday morning breakfasts are donated and served by volunteers, including local partners and cooks like Kent Zerangue, who prepares “the most fabulous meal ever from homemade ice cream… and shrimp stew.” Teri emphasizes that everyone can do something: “Not everyone has the capacity to donate money. Not everyone has the capacity to donate their time… But everyone has the capacity to pray. Everyone has the capacity to pass on the word.” For more information on donating, volunteering, providing meals, or inviting Teri to speak, listeners can visit Hub Lafayette Urban Ministries at https://www.hublafayette.org/or connect via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thehuburbanministrieslafayette or their Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/thehublafayette/?hl=en

Want to know how small, consistent steps can drive big results? How bottom-up ideas with top-down strategy create lasting innovation? This episode features Nigel Collin, an innovation and adaptability expert helping leaders build teams that make improvement a daily habit. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe to catch each episode release.   Soundbites [00:00] Adaptive mindset through curiosity and continuous learning. [00:44] Innovation, creativity, AI, and workplace culture. [01:08] Adaptive teams that make innovation a daily habit. [02:00] Motorbike journey launched grassroots innovation research. [05:00] Indigenous Australians transforming dialysis care. [07:00] Innovation as iterative improvement. [08:20] Operational and relational innovation. [09:00] Communication and inclusion. [10:15] Unlearn creativity – insights from George Land's NASA test. [12:30] Small wins create confidence and momentum for innovation. [13:45] Psychological safety and permission as drivers of innovation. [14:30] One small improvement saving six figures. [15:10] Grassroots ideas with organisational purpose and vision. [18:45] Three actions – give permission, clarify goals, make people feel heard. [19:20] Growth mindset opens curiosity and adaptability. [20:00] Replace “yes but” with “yes and” to keep ideas alive.   CONTACT NIGE|L COLLIN Website: https://www.nigelcollin.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelcollin/ ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your next training didn't just check a box - but actually changed behavior? In this episode, Dr. Carrie Graham joins us to unpack how better learning design can turn information into transformation - whether you're leading a classroom, a corporate team, or a law enforcement agency. Dive into the world of transformative training with Dr. Carrie Graham, where the focus shifts from the facilitator to the learner, ensuring that every educational experience is impactful and lasting. In this episode of "Truth Be Told," host Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Dr. Carrie Graham, a learning solutions architect dedicated to crafting training programs that truly resonate. They explore the science of adult learning, the importance of prioritizing the learner, and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in modern training environments. Dr. Graham shares her insights on creating engaging learning experiences that go beyond checking boxes, emphasizing the need for continuous reflection and adaptation in training practices. Whether you're a trainer, leader, or lifelong learner, this conversation offers valuable takeaways for enhancing educational impact. Check out Dr. Graham's website for her blog, consulting services and other podcast clips! Truths: Prioritize the learner in training programs to enhance effectiveness. Effective training requires continuous reflection and adaptation. Diversity and inclusion are crucial components of modern training. Training should go beyond checking boxes to be truly impactful. Engaging learning experiences are essential for knowledge retention. Adult learning science is key to creating impactful training programs. Facilitators should adapt to the needs of their learners. Continuous learning is vital for personal and professional growth.  

"Containment is the process of creating a permission field, a safe container, a somatic experience of being grounded and held." – Nadia Munla Nadia Munla is an embodiment and intimacy coach known for her pioneering work bridging sensuality, power, and leadership. She's the creator of Embody by Nadia™, a movement method that brings women back into connection with their bodies, pleasure, and truth. With over a decade of experience as a coach and facilitator, Nadia weaves together somatic wisdom, kink-informed energetics, and feminine leadership to help people reclaim safety, depth, and aliveness in how they lead, love, and express. In this episode, Nadia shares: How the worlds of embodiment, kink, and facilitation intersect through energy, trust, and consent. Why healing our relationship to power and control is central to personal and collective transformation. The difference between containment and penetration—and how these dynamics shape every relationship and facilitation space. What it means to lead from loving dominance instead of control. How facilitators can hold stronger containers without losing attunement or softness. Practical ways to build embodied resilience and nervous-system awareness as leaders.   Connect with Nadia https://nadiamunla.com/ Connect with Rachel Rachel's Email List: subscribe Rachel's Website: rachelrickards.com The Field Facilitator Training: www.the-field.com Find us on Instagram The Field Facilitator Training: instagram.com/thefieldfacilitation Rachel Rickards: instagram.com/rachel.rickards/ Our Cover Art was Designed by Oana Serbana Instagram: Oana_flowingart Etsy:  Oana Flowing Art Etsy  

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Rach Davis explore the complexities of facilitation, particularly focusing on the dynamics of introversion, energy management, and the importance of personal style in facilitating workshops. They discuss the need for downtime after high-energy sessions, and the adaptability required in facilitation practices. Rach shares insights on balancing personal and professional energy, the evolution of her facilitation style, and the significance of creating engaging environments for participants. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, flexibility, and continuous learning in the facilitation process.   Selective introversion affects energy levels during facilitation. Facilitators often wear a 'mask' in professional settings. Downtime is essential for recharging after high-energy sessions. Balancing personal and professional energy is crucial. Facilitation does not always need to be high energy. Understanding participant dynamics enhances facilitation effectiveness. Personal facilitation style evolves over time. Flexibility in facilitation techniques is important. Continuous learning is key to effective facilitation. Learn more about Rach - https://www.rachdavis.com/ Connect with Rach - rach@rachdavis.com Connect with Phil - podcast@high5adventure.org Support the podcast - www.verticalplaypen.org Music and sound effects - www.epidemicsound.com

Want to know the secret to leading with creativity, driving innovation, and making AI your competitive edge? Nils Vesk, founder of Ideas with Legs and author of The Reinvention Spirit and Innovation Archetypes, shares how leaders can turn ideas into impact. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe to catch each episode release.   Soundbites [01:44] How AI shifts the role of human imagination [03:08] Moving past fear and resistance to AI adoption [03:27] Three essentials of behavior change [06:49] The four phases of innovation [08:37] Behavioural science, data, and futurist thinking [09:31] Innovation behaviors across organizations [12:44] Continuous improvement vs. Innovation [14:40] Why leaders should ask big-picture questions [15:07] Making innovation a habit – why five minutes is enough [16:35] Psychological safety vs. stopping ideas [17:04] The “20 ideas” muscle technique [19:33] Overcoming a mental blank and strengthening creative neuroplasticity CONTACT NILS VESK Website: https://nilsvesk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilsvesk/overlay/contact-info/   ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to the bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa McInnes-Smith is in the top echelon of corporate speakers, having presented live to more than 2½ million people across 30 countries. This episode we explore: How do we deal with conflict? How do we build trust? How do we get rid of dysfunctional behaviors in a team? How do we build a sense of unity and community when the company works in silos? Here's the link to the video version on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/uRfmpAd8cW8 ⁠ Ask yourselves, "Is it them, or is it how we're feeding them the information? Do they feel like they're not trusted? Are our expectations not clear?" You can say to them, "These are the expectations that we had of you when you came into this position. This is what we're observing. Can you explain to me why you agreed to these behaviors but now are not demonstrating them in this environment?" TALKING POINTS [5:31] You can't trust people you don't know and if you don't know them and know the way they work, the way they think, then you can't work well together. Teaching people how to build trust is an initial thing. [7:05] It's not the person, it's just something they've got into the habit of doing and maybe they need to get out of that habit. [9.30] We all have bad habits, but there's one right now that's driving us crazy and we need to talk about it. [15:42] You can have a third person in the conversation, an observer who doesn't participate. And when we're going to talk about something that's really tough, hen it might be good to have somebody there witnessing it. [18:19] I'm trying to build better people, I'm trying to build better teams and I'm trying to teach leaders how to build those teams by having the conversations that need to be had without people feeling like they're being demeaned or disrespected. [19:00] It's really good to turn up at a meeting where there's a chance of conflict with your notepad and things that you need to say. And when they say, “These are some of my reasons”, then you write them down. Say, “So let me just capture that.” [20:00] What sort of biases should someone self-reflect to check if they're operating under a false bias? [22:44] Finding team players versus kingdom builders. [23:00} Find colleagues who can coach each other. The wisdom we need is usually already in the organization. We just don't know each other well enough to be able to trust each other with our problems.   ABOUT LISA McINNES-SMITH Lisa McInnes-Smith is in the top echelon of corporate speakers, having presented live to more than 2½ million people across 30 countries. The first Australian inducted into the International Speaker Hall of Fame, Lisa is a TEDx Melbourne speaker. Her presentation is called “Winning Words: the phrases that pay”. CONTACT: Website: https://www.lisaspeaks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaspeaks/ ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY To learn more about training programs in your workplace with Nina Sunday (or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd) in Australia Pacific, visit: https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/ Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings: https://www.ninasunday.com/ Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninasunday/ To subscribe to Nina Sunday's personal blog go to https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ and scroll to bottom of page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This conversation with Dee Scarano delves into the concept of psychological safety, emphasizing the importance of honesty and vulnerability in communication. Dee shares how fear of judgment can hinder open expression and explore practical strategies for creating an environment where individuals feel safe to share their thoughts. They highlight the significance of anonymity, comfort zones, and standardized formats in fostering inclusivity and collaboration.    Honesty in communication fosters psychological safety. Psychological safety allows individuals to voice their thoughts without fear. Fear of judgment is a significant barrier to open communication. Anonymity is crucial for creating a safe space for sharing ideas. Building comfort zones is essential before encouraging risk-taking. Standardized formats help ensure equal contributions from all participants. Facilitators must create structures that promote psychological safety. Understanding human behavior is key to effective facilitation. Sharing knowledge within the facilitation community is vital. Vulnerability can lead to stronger connections and collaboration. Learn more about Dee - https://www.deescarano.com/ Dee on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deescarano/ Support the podcast - www.verticalplaypen.org Music and sound effects - www.epidemicsound.com    

Dr. Amy Yorke, PT, PhD, board-certified clinical specialist in neurology, joins host J.J. Mowder-Tinney for an energizing discussion on what it really takes to move evidence into practice. Together, they explore the everyday barriers rehab professionals face, such as time, resources, and habits, and offer practical strategies to help you implement evidence without losing clinical creativity. With examples from Amy's own work in a student-led pro bono clinic, you'll walk away inspired to start small, think critically, and share what you learn. If you've ever felt the tug between research and real life, this episode is for you.Learning ObjectivesAnalyze current evidence on knowledge translation in rehabilitation practiceApply practical, evidence-based strategies to bridge the research-to-practice gapImplement clinical practice guidelines through real-world case scenariosTimestamps(00:00:00) Welcome(00:00:05) Bridging research and practice(00:01:29) Amy's journey into knowledge translation(00:04:12) The importance of evidence in practice(00:08:50) Challenges in implementing evidence-based practice(00:09:36) Adapting evidence to local contexts(00:10:35) The role of patient values in evidence-based practice(00:13:10) The human element in clinical practice(00:14:58) Overcoming barriers to change(00:17:19) Facilitators and barriers in knowledge translation(00:22:10) Creating a supportive environment for evidence use(00:24:50) Innovative podcast ideas for therapists(00:26:05) Bridging gaps in clinical practice guidelines(00:28:05) The role of learning health systems in rehab(00:31:17) Collaborative approaches in neuro rehab(00:33:10) Engaging patients in their recovery(00:37:08) Overcoming barriers to patient engagement(00:40:15) Action steps for clinicians(00:41:55) Real-world application of evidence-based practice(00:47:00) Fun wrap-up and superpower dreams:Neuro Navigators is brought to you by Medbridge. If you'd like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your Medbridge account and navigate to the course where you'll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on Medbridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.To hear more episodes of Neuro Naviagators, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/neuro-navigators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you'd like to subscribe to Medbridge, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/pricing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/medbridgeteam/

How does sparking innovation drive national success? In this episode with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcolm, an award-winning design firm operating across the USA, Canada and Mexico, find out how to embed innovation in team culture. Experience our episodes in a whole new way - watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe now to be the first to catch our next release.   Soundbites [0:09 Whole-brain creativity in leadership [3:27] Layered Leadership drawing from architecture and art [4:25] Culture as a multilayered element [5:52] Career growth through mentoring and coaching [7:24] From architecture into interior, graphic and civil design services [8:06] Cultures across different offices [8:40] Innovation and incremental improvement [10:30] Staff-generated ideas to improve the company [12:44] Balancing top-down leadership to strengthen culture [14:01] Recruiting the right people and Kaizen thinking [14:52] Business books and influences that shaped the company [17:44] Regenerative innovation through constant change [19:10] Anticipating AI's impact on architecture [21:04] Historical innovations and their influence on modern architecture CONTACT LAWRENCE ARMSTRONG Websites: layeredleadershipbook.com  lawrencerarmstrong.com  waremalcomb.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lawrencearmstrong Email: larmstrong@waremalcomb.com   ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read any Kindle eBook on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. === To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Dutton is the Conflict Whisperer; a global expert on difficult conversations, Conflict intelligence®, mediation, emotional intelligence and workplace culture. As a professional speaker he's known as the fun-maker and spoken to over 25,000 professionals as a speaker or facilitator. Q. What makes a culture unravel? What toxic behavior is most prevalent? Where there's an us-and-them culture, where it gets very much management vs. staff, where people do not feel comfortable or safe to have those difficult conversations. Teams need to have a model on how to have those difficult conversations. one I use is based on a Harvard model; start by asking questions to understand. A trap in difficult conversations is if they start provoking the other person and put them on the back foot then - you get defensiveness. It's being mindful about how you start, and also your tone and body language and how that comes across; all those things play a part in whether that conversation is going to go well or not. The purpose initially is to understand each other before starting to look at solutions. It's going in open, curious, trying to understand the other, them understanding you, and then we find a way forward. If everyone has a model like that it makes it easier. “Calling it out” is when you see something inappropriate, you go, 'Hey, hang on there, I'm uncomfortable with that." You make it clear. “Calling it in” is more subtle. What it is, I might see you raise an eye at someone in the meeting, or do something more subtle and I might say, “I just wondered, in the meeting I saw you make an interesting facial expression when Mary was talking. I'm just wondering what was going on for you there?" I'm not coming in with judgment. I'm coming in with a soft curiosity and saying, "Hey what's going on there? I saw that." CONTACT Scott Dutton go to: https://fightingfair.com.au/ contact@fightingfair.com.au contact@fightingfair.com.au ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having travelled to 75 countries and uncovering 37 powerful insights from the world's most creative minds, Fredrik Härén is a global creativity explorer. In this episode, discover fresh ways to think, create, and solve problems from Greece to Bhutan. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe to catch each episode release.   Soundbites [01:11] The World of Creativity and its 37 global insights. [04:47] GREECE: Find the Path: Creativity as process, not failure. [07:50] Kaitakusha: Cultivating the future with generosity of spirit. [09:50] Doing Quotient (DQ). [10:50] Curiosity as the foundation of creativity. [14:40] Hostage negotiator's technique of using positivity to stay creative. [17:30] SWEDEN: Confidently doubting as the creative sweet spot. [20:10] “Tetelestai”: To know when to end.   CONTACT FREDRICK HAREN Website: https://www.professionalspeaking.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikharen/   ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host: Ashley Baker, MSN, PMHNP Guest: Alyssa Schlenz Guest: Shannon Phillps Families of children with sickle cell disease have noted both an abundance of support and significant obstacles when accessing care, ranging from knowledgeable providers and flexible scheduling to transportation concerns and insurance holdups. Joining Ashley Baker to discuss their recent research on these key facilitators and barriers are Drs. Alyssa Schlenz and Shannon Phillips. Dr. Schlenz is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Dr. Phillips is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina.

In this conversation, Phil and Lisa explore the complexities of defining what makes a group great in a facilitation context. They discuss the role of the facilitator's ego, the subjective nature of group dynamics, and the importance of evaluating success beyond personal feelings. The dialogue emphasizes the need for facilitators to balance their own experiences with the goals of the group, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of participant engagement and learning outcomes. A great group often means the facilitator felt liked. Facilitators' egos can influence their perception of group success. Group dynamics are subjective and can vary by facilitator. Struggle in a group can lead to greater learning experiences. It's important to evaluate groups based on goals, not just feelings. Facilitators should embrace their humanity in the process. The definition of a great group can differ among facilitators. Patience and support within a group enhance the experience. Fun and challenge can coexist in group settings. Questions about group success should be more nuanced. Connect with the podcast -  email - podcast@high5adventure.org instagram - https://www.instagram.com/verticalplaypen/ Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

This episode we republish a classic conversation referenced in the new book, Manage Self, Lead Others:Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership and Culture You Can't Fake by Nina Sunday. (Amazon). Brendan Rogers turns the spotlight on Nina Sunday to unpack rookie mistakes new managers make, and how to avoid them. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe to catch each episode.release.   Soundbites [01:00] Why leaders need to hear this conversation [03:08] Link between culture and team performance results [04:37] Turning mistakes into growth and improving team motivation [05:09] Work experience that shapes views on feedback [06:57] Learn to have better conversations [08:22] The big picture of leadership [11:24] Why one-on-ones are essential for communication and trust [15:32] One-on-ones and job rotation to unlock hidden strengths [18:01] The role of psychometric tools in managing individuals [20:30] Balancing laissez-faire leadership [21:26] The danger of shutting down innovation [23:22] Constant reinvention and valuing staff ideas [25:25] Google's Project Oxygen on effective management behaviours [26:36] Culture through informal rituals [29:35] Phone use at work and setting clear expectations [30:58] Choosing the right language for feedback [33:35] Organisational theory and avoiding workplace disharmony [35:12] Leading from the front vs. from the side [38:22] Impact of small irritations left unaddressed [42:29] Not creating a second curve for growth [44:48] New challenges and projects to maintain engagement [47:40] Missed opportunities to offer career progression within roles [49:41] Hiring lessons and using interns as a talent pipeline [51:16] How young professionals value portfolio careers and side projects [52:23] Neglecting your own capability development [53:37] Google's Project Aristotle and the importance of psychological safety [54:32] Conversational equality and inviting all voices [55:50] VW ''Dieselgate'' and the dangers of groupthink [57:14] Brainstorming and continuous improvement [59:29] Leadership skills in associations and community roles [01:01:17] Why leaders must use mistakes as learning opportunities [01:02:57] Systems, checklists, and protecting corporate memory [01:05:04] Asking questions in one-on-ones to improve communication [01:07:02] Cultivating loyalty through acknowledgment [01:08:33] Publicly sharing customer compliments to build confidence CONTACT BRENDAN ROGERS Website: https://leaderbydesign.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/   ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === BLOG To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could 50% of the Fortune 500 vanish within eight years? In episode 169 of Manage Self, Lead Others video podcast, Dan Silberberg, master strategist for large enterprises, and with a storied CEO career, shares how Richard Koch's Star Principle 2.0 redefines market dominance and the shift from static enterprises to uncopyable ecosystems. Experience each episode in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe now to be the first to catch our next release. Soundbites [02:29] Introduction to Richard Koch's The Star Principle and 80 / 20 Principle [02:52] Michael Porter's Five Forces model [06:24] How substitutes impact star businesses [06:59] Market shifts and changing consumer preferences [08:22] From company to ecosystem thinking [08:49] Predictions for Fortune 500 disruption and role of ecosystems [09:52] Service businesses enabling ecosystems [10:10] Adaptive intelligence and rapid market innovation [11:24] Cash cow stage and innovation timing [12:12] Agile innovation alongside existing cash cows [12:54] Static vs. exponential growth markets [15:26] Embedding innovation as standard operating practice [15:41] Shift from enterprise focus to customer-driven strategies [16:47] Key actions for using metrics effectively [17:07] Speed of reacting to data as competitive advantage [17:44] Building network platforms instead of static enterprises [19:27] Preview of “The Uncopyable Enterprise” eBook [20:14] Lessons from Buckminster Fuller [21:07] How to connect and work with Dan Silberberg CONTACT DAN SILBERBERG Website: https://entelechy.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansilberberg/ ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read any Kindle eBook on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for conference speaking, Australia and globally, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Rother joins me at the Virtual Alexandria to discuss his book, Spiritual Psychology: The Twelve Primary Life Lessons: Information for Facilitators of Human Evolution. Let's dive into the essence of human evolution, exploring how spiritual beings cope with a human awakening in a world undergoing a quantum leap. We'll uncover the Twelve Primary Life Lessons that shape our experiences, revealing how free choice and pre-birth contracts orchestrate our paths to mastery. Learn to identify and transform your life's repeating patterns, embracing self-empowerment and intuition to create a reality of passion and joy. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4g7Y9F5

Click here for links to paid offers. Click here to join the BORN FOR MORE Experience with Adi Shakti, the Philanthropic Femme. Summary of Offers:

Wellness Rising welcomes Natalie Canavor & Jan Booth… both teachers, authors, writers and volunteer Poetry Workshop Facilitators at the Wellness House of Annapolis…tell us that creating poetry and reading it aloud has wide-ranging, positive effects for cancer patients and their loved ones.

Want to know how to shape your personal brand so you stand out and attract more collaborative opportunities? In this episode of Manage Self, Lead Others video podcast, find out how you can become a category of one with Kathleen Caldwell, creator of a thriving global community for women entrepreneurs, coaches and consultants. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE Subscribe to catch each episode release.   Soundbites [00:00] Perception of leaders and personal branding [01:15] Growth plans for community of women coaches and consultants [04:10] Principles for standing out [06:00] Connecting with peers and clients [07:35] Professional associations and Chambers of Commerce [08:40] Interacting at events and leadership committees [09:50] Expanding with corporate partners and mentorship opportunities [12:00] Taking responsibility for career progression [13:15] Taking risks and pursuing opportunities with integrity [22:00] Leading others with a hospitable mindset [23:20] Being a guest vs. being part of the host team [24:50] Dressing for the role you want [26:20] Brand development and avoiding stagnation [28:00] Power of positive language [29:30] Importance of asking for and seeking mentors [32:15] Key learnings for action CONTACT KATHLEEN CALDWELL Website: https://www.caldwellconsulting.biz/Caldwell_Consulting_Group_home.html LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleencaldwellcoach/ ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠ You can read the Kindle version on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === Brainpower Training To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === NinaSunday.com To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === LinkedIn: Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Blog To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PSM Show, co-host Damion Morris welcomes Allison Tivnon, strategic advisor, author, and City Councilor for Beaverton, Oregon. Allison has spent nearly two decades guiding AEC firms through the complexities of marketing, planning, and leadership. Damion and Allison explore why so many strategic plans lose momentum after the retreat and how to create alignment that lasts. They discuss the importance of involving marketing in the process, the role of a skilled facilitator, and how to make sure vision translates into action. Guest Bio: Allison Tivnon has dedicated her career to city and regional planning, partnering with municipalities, DOTs, and regional governments on behalf of urban planners, transportation engineers, economists, and policy analysts. She presents for SMPS, ACEC, and AGC, and is the author of Marketing at Low Tide: How to Recession-Proof Your Marketing Department. She also serves as a City Councilor for the City of Beaverton, Oregon. Learn more about Allison at AEC Pursuit Strategies or connect with her on LinkedIn.

“Sometimes in facilitation, it's a dance between creating space for others and offering perspectives that move the conversation forward.” - Robin Cory In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson speaks with facilitation experts Tammy Shubat and Robin Cory, both Voltage Control certification alumni. Tammy shares her journey from leadership to facilitation, focusing on relationship-building and creating safe spaces for bold participation. Robin discusses her facilitation approach, inspired by Tammy, and emphasizes thoughtful session design to foster engagement and creativity. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in the nonprofit sector, highlighting the importance of collaboration, purposeful gatherings, and centering relationships to drive meaningful change within mission-driven organizations.  

Priscila Bala, CEO of LifeLabs Learning, joined us on The Modern People Leader.We explored how AI is transforming learning, the enduring role of middle management, and why the most impactful leadership skills are more human than ever.---- Resources Mentioned:

Ger Driesen is a Thought Leader in Learning & Development and a Learning Innovation Leader from the Netherlands. With a focus on trends in Learning & Development, Ger Driesen is an L&D Trendcatcher.   Soundbites [0:07] What will come after the AI wave; possibility of a pendulum-swing back to a human-centred movement. [2:25] Humans using AI will replace workers not using AI. [3:30] Prompt engineering is a key skill for mastering AI. [4:02] Biggest trends in AI for L&D. [4:47] Using AI for training content, plus performance support in real time. [6:26] AI assisting with both software and people skills challenges. [7:24] AI can validate or extend your own ideas; why human judgment still matters. [8:23] Chatbots evolving into conversational learning tools. [9:37] Tools in the AI landscape. [10:06] NotebookLM creating podcast-style AI host conversations. [10:34] Using AI voices for podcast narration. [11:26] Khan Academy's evolution into an AI-powered intelligent tutor. [13:24] AI highlights what it means to be human; frees leaders to focus on people. [14:57] Why belonging and community at work still matter in the AI era. [16:09] Anticipating the pendulum swing back toward human-centred approaches.   CONTACT GER DRIESEN Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/gerdriesen ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Kindle USA ⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠ Kindle Australia ⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠ You can read any Kindle eBook on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device. Currently 0.99c for a limited time. Feel free to leave a review so others know it's a good read. === To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠ === To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2017 and 2018 I was one of the first in Southern California to receive grant funding from the state of California to implement holistic healing art programs in clinical populations. I was able to put in programming at women's shelters, veterans legions, low income schools, and recovery centers. This work was a pivotal moment where breathwork, Sound healing, and meditation practices were just seeing their ways into a non-aesthetic wellness space. And when I founded The Healing Arts Academy, often referred to as the graduate school for healing arts by my students

This episode, how Kim McCosker turned a simple idea - 4 ingredients - into a 9-million-copy cookbook phenomenon. Kim McCosker is Australia's queen of simplicity in the kitchen. In this high-energy episode, Kim shares business tips, personal stories, and the power of doing more with less - whether ingredients, marketing, or time. Get ready to be inspired by a true self-starter who made cookbook history. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE. Subscribe now to be the first to catch our next release. Soundbites [4:00] The surprising 2-ingredient secret behind satay chicken. [5:04] Why flavor is the #1 priority when cooking with minimal ingredients. [6:11] How the idea for 4 Ingredients was born from one busy mum's frustration. [9:10] Publishers said no - because she wasn't famous. [11:11] Why social media has made self-employment a 24/7 hustle. [12:43] How Kim partnered with health associations to amplify reach. [14:09] Writing a pet cookbook based on market research and smart endorsements. [16:47] The $2.99 dog dental chew you didn't know about. [17:59] What fuels her mission? Daily fan feedback from around the world. [19:35] From commerce degree to keynotes on stages - how her story evolved. [21:44] Why Kim loves speaking, learning from others, and keeping it unscripted. [23:41] The concept of a "b-lesson" - finding blessings in every lesson. [25:22] The single word that has opened the most doors in her life. [27:21] Why being different is the only way to make a lasting impact. [28:02] Effort is the truest measure of passion and success. [28:42] What's next? FODMAPs, travel plans, and perhaps a 20-year anniversary book. [31:00] How 4 Ingredients has saved people time, money ... and stress. [32:35] Team collaboration, contributor strategy, and building a loyal brand. [34:39] Where to get Kim's books worldwide and why it's worth the wait. CONTACT KIM McCosker https://4ingredients.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-mccosker-52718135/ ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠ To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠HERE⁠ To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send Mo a text about this episode!Welcome to a SPECIAL episode of the I love it when podcast! I am interrupting my podcast break to bring you an episode with all 3 of my Retreat Facilitators for September: En-May Mangels, Crystal Novak and Kai Bertrand! We recently met and discussed the energy of this retreat and I've decided to give it a bit of a rebrand and reset! The title of the retreat is now: Unplug From Fear. We are creating a safe space, a beautiful container- by joining us, your vibration will automatically rise. Our goal is to help you unplug from any fear based programming/conditioning that is limiting you. YOU get to choose. YOU have the power to get yourself outside of survival mode- your solutions are beyond that place. In this episode we talk about:-Why we changed the name of the retreat and the image. -What the energy of the retreat FEELS like and why we're excited!-What each facilitator will be bringing that is unique to this experience. -If you're stuck in a place of survival and fear, worried about expenses- but you feel CALLED to this experience- tune in! This is exactly why we're collaborating on this retreat. The 411 on the Retreat: September 26-28th 202515 spots available$1,666/person (lodging & meals not included)Purchase your ticket today: www.iloveitwhen.orgTo learn more about each of our Facilitators, check out their previous podcast episode with Mo:En-May: https://youtu.be/k53EW1JER7E?si=sxRMJmpYXX33OPZA Crystal: https://youtu.be/ekXO2F4PIvs?si=PJYiqgHZcoWEP1wB Kai: https://youtu.be/vgqhWrVR29g?si=8Bmf1VP9K4wfN29E Secure your ticket today and join us at this special retreat in September: www.iloveitwhen.org ----------Follow I love it when

Anneli Blundell is a communication dynamo. In this fast-paced, insight-packed episode, she shares the hidden traps of everyday communication and how to fix them. From busy brain syndrome to prompt hygiene in AI, you'll walk away with tools to speak clearly, structure your message, and increase your influence - whether you're giving feedback, writing emails, or leading a team. If you lead people, you need to hear this. Experience our episodes in a whole new way and watch every video version on our YouTube channel HERE. Subscribe now to be the first to catch our next release. Soundbites [1:12] How Anneli helps teams get heard, and why being a natural communicator isn't required. [2:17] Simple, structured, stakeholder-focused: her 3-part framework for effective communication. [3:03] Why jumbled speech means jumbled thinking, and how to fix it. [4:04] Common communication traps: unclear asks, too much or too little detail. [4:48] Why saying “but” can sabotage your message, and what to say instead. [5:57] Introducing busy brain syndrome - and how to navigate it in conversation. [7:43] The power of written structure applied to spoken communication. [9:20] Why white space helps us think, and how to replicate it in your voice. [11:04] What prompt engineering for AI has in common with talking to humans. [12:37] Why asking great questions can make you a better leader - and human. [13:45] The most common mistake managers make when giving directions. [15:17] The rule Anneli uses to spot lazy communication in emails. [16:14] The art of giving gentle feedback without raising defensiveness. [17:57] “What did you prioritise instead?” - a better way to open performance chats. [19:28] How Anneli's early career shaped her passion for communication authority. [21:15] Intentional communication isn't optional - it's leadership. [22:01] How to connect with Anneli and bring her work into your organisation. CONTACT ANNELI https://www.anneliblundell.com.au/effective-communication-program ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/⁠⁠⁠⁠ To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠HERE⁠ To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠and scroll to bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's podcast is dedicated to Circulation's fifth annual Disparities issue. First, please join Associate Editor Karol Watson and Guest Editor Nilay Shah as they discuss the article "Centering Diné (Navajo) Voices: Barriers, Facilitators, and Perceptions of Cardiac Care Among Patients With Heart Failure in Rural Navajo Nation" with corresponding author Lauren Eberly. Then, Associate Editor Mercedes Carnethon and Guest Editor Nilay Shah discuss the Frame of Reference article "Health Equity: Are We There Yet?" with author Clyde Yancy. Don't miss this important episode! For the episode transcript, visit: https://www.ahajournals.org/do/10.1161/podcast.20250710.251438

Ep. 206

In this episode, Phil interviews Thomas Lahnthaler about his book 'Facilitating Reflections'. They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the role of facilitators, essential skills needed, and the concept of self-harming humility in facilitation. Thomas emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's contributions and the need for facilitators to be aware of their impact on group dynamics. The conversation also touches on the evolution of facilitation practices and the balance between experience and new facilitators.   Critique is essential for growth and care. Facilitators should not be the sole source of answers. Facilitation is about navigating human dynamics. Self-harming humility can hinder facilitators' growth. Facilitators need to acknowledge their contributions. Awareness is crucial for effective facilitation. Facilitators should embrace their unique styles. Reflection is key to improving facilitation skills. Facilitators must adapt to each unique group. The book encourages introspection and personal growth. Learn more about Thomas - https://www.lahnthaler.com/ Connect with Thomas - thomas@lahnthaler.com  Purchase the book - https://a.co/d/4E9fjKc Thomas' LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslahnthaler/ Connect with Phil - podcast@high5adventure.org Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/verticalplaypen/ Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

"Somewhere along the line, as we grow up, we get so used to doing things a certain way that we lose touch with that creative side of the brain. As kids, we tried all sorts of things and never stuck to a certain methodology or structure, but I think facilitation brings out that childlike curiosity, which makes the whole thing very special. And I think that's what's kept me going."- Varsha Prasad In this Facilitation Lab podcast episode, host Douglas Ferguson interviews Varsha Prasad of IdeaCompass about her journey as a facilitator and entrepreneur. Varsha shares insights from her first design thinking workshop, the impact of mentorship, and the importance of creating engaging environments. She discusses navigating cultural differences in facilitation, her transition to independent consulting, and the value of community support. The conversation highlights the power of innovation, structured reflection, and open-mindedness in workshops, offering practical advice for facilitators seeking to inspire creativity and collaboration across diverse teams.  

In this episode, Phil Brown discusses the importance of empowering participants in climbing activities by allowing them to make choices about their experience, particularly the choice to come down when they feel uncomfortable. He challenges traditional mindsets that prioritize reaching the top as the ultimate goal and emphasizes the need for facilitators to listen to participants' needs and create a supportive environment. Phil advocates for a shift in perspective that prioritizes emotional safety and encourages facilitators to critically evaluate their programming and language to enhance the overall experience for all participants.   If a participant wants to come down, always say yes. Celebrating those who advocate for themselves is crucial. Reaching the top shouldn't be the only measure of success. Facilitators must balance challenge and panic for participants. It's important to honor participants' choices for emotional safety. Encouragement should be framed with respect for individual needs. Program design should allow for adequate time and support. Language used in facilitation can impact participants' experiences. Facilitators should continuously critique and improve their programming. Empowering participants leads to better outcomes in climbing experiences. Connect with Phil - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/verticalplaypen/ Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Lauri Ann Lumby explores the power of embodied learning and self-actualization, blending mindfulness, creativity, and spiritual inquiry. Her approach highlights deep personal growth, the role of the facilitator, and fostering a patient and authentic connection for transformative online education.Lauri Ann Lumby has nearly 30 years of experience as an educator, spiritual counselor, and soul guide, and is the author of 11 books. In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Lauri discuss:The goal of courses is to support people in becoming self-actualized.Embodied learning integrates intellectual knowledge into lived experience.Facilitators should focus on guiding rather than lecturing.Personal interaction is crucial for deep learning and course completion.Online courses can reach a global audience, enhancing accessibility.Creativity practices can enhance engagement and learning.Discussion boards are essential for student interaction and accountability.Patience is key in building an audience for online courses.The majority of students may not complete deep-learning courses due to personal challenges.Using diverse materials like poetry and scripture can enrich the learning experience.Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Course Lab and Guest Background03:32 - Lauri's Journey into Online Courses07:12 - Exploring Course Structure and Teaching Methods11:03 - Transitioning from In-Person to Online Learning14:59 - Engagement and Retention in Online Courses18:43 - Embodied Learning and Creative Approaches22:36 - Patience and Building Trust in Online Education25:01 - Exploring Embodied Learning27:04 - The Role of Patience in Course Creation28:47 - Personal Outreach and Student Engagement“All of my work is an integrative approach that supports what I call embodied learning. This is not about intellectual knowledge, because we can all read all the books we want to read, but having embodied the concept.” — Lauri Ann LumbyGuest Bio:Lauri Ann Lumby has nearly 30 years of experience as an educator, spiritual counselor, and soul guide. She has supported hundreds through her one-on-one mentoring, training programs, books, and intentional communities. She earned her master's degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, is a trained Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition, and has certificates in Adult Education and Spiritual Development. She's also a Reiki Master Practitioner in both the Usui and Karuna traditions and an ordained interfaith minister.  Lauri is the author of eleven books, including Authentic Freedom: Claiming a Life of Contentment and Joy and her novel, Song of the Beloved: The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene. Learn more about Lauri at www.LauriAnnLumby.com.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuLauri's website: LauriAnnLumby.comCredits:Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe CrystalProducer: Michi LantzEditor: Andrew ChapmanExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Teaching for Transformation: Creativity, Patience, and Presence (Lauri Ann Lumby) coming soon.

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Devin Farkas discuss the evolving landscape of outdoor education, focusing on accessibility, the importance of experiential learning, and the development of leadership skills in outdoor settings. They explore the core impacts of outdoor education, including confidence building and connection with nature, while also addressing the need to shift perspectives on risk and challenge. The discussion culminates in a vision for the future of outdoor education that emphasizes reducing barriers and enhancing learning experiences through outdoor spaces.   Outdoor education should be accessible to all, not just the adventurous few. Experiential learning is key to achieving educational outcomes. Confidence, connection, and skill development are core impacts of outdoor education. The focus should be on creating meaningful experiences, not just flashy adventures. Leadership development is best achieved in low-risk environments. Facilitators should allow discomfort to foster learning opportunities. The situational leadership model can enhance group dynamics. Outdoor education can be integrated into everyday learning environments. The future of outdoor education lies in reducing barriers and enhancing accessibility. Learn more about Devin - workwithdevin.com Connect with Phil - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/verticalplaypen/ Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome the team behind the Dementia Care Family Support Program.   About Denise M. Brown:   Denise began supporting family caregivers in 1990, launching one of the first online caregiving communities in 1996. She trains Caregiving Consultants, Facilitators, Guides and Navigators. She cared for her father for almost 20 years and for her mother for 8 years.   She's written 16 books for current and former family caregivers.    About Dr. Laura Gitlin:   Dr. Laura Gitlin is the Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Plans4Care. She is an intervention scientist with over 40 years of experience in dementia care and research. Dr. Gitlin currently serves as a multiple Principal Investigator on several NIH-funded grants, where she leads the development and testing of innovative interventions to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.   About Eric Jutkowitz, PhD:   Eric Jutkowitz, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Plans4Care. He is health services focused on improving the nation's long-term care system. He co-founded Plans4Care to bring evidence-based dementia care out of the university and into the hands of all family caregivers.   About the Dementia Care Family Support Program:   Our Certified Caregiving Consultants partnered with Plans4Care, a technology start-up to offer 5 coaching sessions to dementia family caregivers in order to resolve 3 care challenges.   We'll share what we learned about using technology during coaching sessions, the common care challenges we addressed and the insights we gained from tracking our coaching sessions. We also will talk about what we learned about how to best support dementia family caregivers to help ease their stress and worries.

In this conversation, Phil Brown discusses the nuances of training in challenge courses, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and safety protocols. He recounts a near miss incident involving a participant and a helmet, highlighting the lessons learned and the need for vigilance among facilitators. The discussion encourages a culture of continuous learning.   Facilitators should encourage discussions about impactful moments. Safety protocols must be adapted based on real experiences. Helmets can be both beneficial and problematic in certain scenarios. Vigilance is crucial when managing participants on challenge courses. Facilitators should practice lowering techniques before climbing. Sharing stories helps build a learning community. Anecdotal experiences can provide valuable lessons not found in manuals. Continuous learning is essential in the outdoor education industry. Engagement with the community can lead to shared insights and improvements. Connect with Phil - podcast@high5adventure.org Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Ken Weisner explore the significance of play in learning and personal development. Ken shares his journey into the world of play, highlighting key moments that shaped his understanding of its importance. They discuss the barriers adults face in engaging with play, the marketing challenges within the industry, and the profound impact play can have on team dynamics and personal growth. Ken emphasizes the essential qualities of a facilitator in creating a playful environment, underscoring the need for energy and passion in facilitating play. In this conversation, Ken Weisner shares insights on the importance of play in education and personal development. He emphasizes the need for a playful mindset, engaging activities, and the power of empathy in connecting with participants. Ken discusses his favorite activities that foster connection and learning, and he reflects on his journey towards writing a book about the significance of play.   Play is essential for learning and personal growth. Experiences in Montessori education can reshape perspectives on learning. Adults often fear looking silly, which hinders their ability to play. Creating a safe environment is crucial for adult play. Marketing play effectively can change perceptions of its value. Fun experiences can lead to significant personal insights. Team bonding through play can enhance relationships and performance. Facilitators must exude energy and passion to engage participants. Reflection can occur without verbal reporting; internalization is key. Play can break down barriers and foster connections among diverse groups. You have to have a child's mind. Learn more about Ken - https://www.beachplaycompany.com/ Ask me a question - podcast@high5adventure.org Support the podcast - verticalplaypen.org Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com