workshops work Podcast

Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes

Management EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

360

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

This is a podcast about facilitation: the practice of creating conditions for people to think better together. Whether you’re leading strategy, navigating change or developing leaders, the quality of your conversations shapes the quality of your decisions. Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, behavioural economist, facilitator and founder of workshops.work, each episode explores the human dynamics of working together: how psychological safety is built, why some conversations lead to action while others stall, how leaders foster genuine participation, and what behavioural science can teach us about collaboration. Alongside these conversations, Dr Hadnes shares reflections from her own client work, offering practical insights from the realities of designing and facilitating workshops in organisations. Recognised as the facilitation community’s most-recommended podcast in SessionLab’s State of Facilitation reports from 2024 to 2026, the show has grown into an archive of more than 350 conversations spanning the craft, the inner work, and the unexpected edges of facilitation. Whether you’re a facilitator, leader, consultant or L&D professional, you'll come away with sharper questions and a few ideas worth borrowing.

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60 recent

July 20, 20263 min

UPDATE: The Workshops Work Podcast Has Its Own Feed Again

Sometimes the best decisions only reveal themselves after we’ve made them. Six months ago, I merged my new podcast, Unprofessionalism , with the existing Workshops Work feed. It felt like the right move at the time. But the download statistics told a different story. Many listeners searching for Workshops Work kept finding only the episode titled “The Final Episode of Workshops Work” and understandably assumed the podcast had disappeared. In this short episode, I share why I decided to separate the two podcasts again—and why both shows now have their own dedicated homes. If you’re interested in facilitation, workshop design, group dynamics, and the philosophy behind meaningful conversations, you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast, you’ll find it here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

December 30, 2025Episode 35520 min

355 - The Final Episode of Workshops Work with Myriam Hadnes

And that’s a wrap, folks! After 355 brilliant, beautiful, mind-opening conversations about facilitation, life, and everything in between, I can now confidently say that I have found the magic ingredients that make workshops work. Join me, myself, and I for a final farewell episode of Workshops Work, before I retire this guise of the podcast from the airwaves. I reflect on the beautiful journey of almost 7 years, where my curiosity has led me, and why it’s now time for the start of something new. Next week, Workshop Works shapeshifts into a new chapter, a new direction, a new podcast! Unprofessionalism is set to air on the 7th January, as I begin to explore the real stories, shadows, and inspirations that can help us to celebrate our most human, unguarded selves. But for now, a wholehearted thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Find out about: The evolution of the Workshops Works podcast Why my curiosity has shifted from that of the facilitator, to that of the participant The new Unprofessionalism podcast – what it’s about, and what you can expect The podcast club that I am hosting, to deepen our facilitation learnings together Connect with me : LinkedIn Join the Podcast Club on Substack by subscribing to the workshops work Substack: https://substack.com/@myriamhadnes/posts Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

December 24, 2025Episode 3531 hr 19 min

353 - How to Facilitate Constructive Discomfort through Brave Spaces with Dr. Dauv Evans

Brave work is messy work. It’s an invitation into the dōjō – to be humbled, to get vulnerable, and leave behind what you thought you knew. Life-long learner, executive coach, culture consultant and facilitator, Dr. Dauv Evans joins me this week to journey beyond safety into the brave space arena. Together, we explore what it takes to build these spaces: the intentionality, the rules of engagement, and the assumptions we must leave at the door to have courageous conversations. From power imbalances, to conversations on race, Dauv shares his work in helping people to grow together and exist outside of their comfort zone, with generosity and passion. A rich, practical conversation about how leaders can show up with humility when it’s needed most. Find out about: What braves spaces are – and why people must be invited into them How constructive discomfort can facilitate deeper connection, meaningful learning, and cultural change within organisations Why leaders must navigate people’s varying levels of risk tolerance with care How to use power positively to facilitate a brave conversation for the better Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube. Connect to Dauv Evans : Brave Space Leadership Cohort Interest Form Website LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

December 16, 2025Episode 3521 hr 4 min

352 - Less Thinking, More Sensing: Embodiment in Facilitation with Mirjam Leunissen

Take a moment to tune into your body. Do your muscles feel tense, is your heartbeat slow and steady, is your jaw clamped tight? Embodiment coach and one-week-old facilitator, my fiancée Mirjam Leunissen joins me this week for a podcast first! As a scientist in a past life, Mirjam spent her days distilling data points – and she continues to do so under a new guise, now recognising patterns in the body, in emotions, and how people show up. We explore how embodiment can be a gateway to changing perspective and mastering our own comfort, as Mirjam shares practical tips for making sense of our bodies. A beautiful invitation to think a little less, sense a lot more, and come back to being a whole human being! Find out about: How embodiment can shape how we think and feel, helping us to regulate our nervous system, and respond with greater clarity Why emotional awareness begins in the body first, when we tune into our physical sensations Why facilitating with lightness, play, and curiosity can foster psychological safety The importance of using tangible, factual terms about our physiology to bridge understanding Why shifting our posture can positively transform the way that we think Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Connect to Mirjam Leunissen : LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

December 9, 2025Episode 3511 hr 18 min

351 - The Fierce Compassion of Facilitation with Shireen Naqvi

From a childhood imaginary classroom, to the moments before a traffic light turns green, Shireen Naqvi has been viewing the world as a beautiful facilitation opportunity her whole life. Guided by the divine belief that humans are the best creatures in the universe, Shireen has made it her mission to help others realise the power that lies within them. She joins me this week to share stories from her life in Pakistan, her strategies for enabling self-empowerment in others, and why anger is the perfect ammunition for change. A wise and inspiring conversation rich with Shireen’s passion, as we explore professionalism, injustice, the female experience, cultural nuances, and everything in between! Find out about: Why we should pay attention to our angers in order to understand our personal values Women’s rights in Pakistan, and Shireen’s experience as a female trainer and entrepreneur How Shireen uses play and authenticity to break the barrier of professionalism in the boardroom How the concept of professionalism differs across cultures and countries Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube . Connect to Shireen Naqvi : LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

December 2, 2025Episode 3501 hr 5 min

350 - Workshops Without Words: Learning from the Clown with Suzanne Dietz

Not all clowns hide sadness behind a painted smile. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve, with earnest, overt authenticity, and deep self-awareness! After taking a sign language course, Suzanne Dietz discovered how freeing it was to express herself through non-verbal communication – and it soon changed the course of her life. Hanging up her traditional facilitation hat and swapping it for a red nose, she now brings joy to the lives of asylum seekers and the elderly as a talented care clown. Together, we unravel the wondrous world of non-verbal facilitation: from improvisation and silent connection, to letting go of performance, and developing a sharpened sense for the unspoken. Find out about: The unexpected similarities between facilitators and clowns The non-verbal craft of clowning, the cues, and the communication form How Suzanne expresses and plays with emotions with authenticity How clowning can sharpen our intuition, and reveal emotional clarity in both ourselves and others Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Connect to Suzanne Dietz : LinkedIn Website Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

November 25, 2025Episode 34944 min

349 - Facilitation in Japan: Silence, Safety, and Subtlety with Yuko Gendo

Silence is a virtue, and nowhere is this more deeply understood than in Japan. A pause rich with meaning, where thoughts are carefully explored, emotions are quiet, and things are said, without any words at all. So, how do facilitators hold space amidst the subtlety? Facilitator, workshop designer, and coach, Yuko Gendo invites us into the beautifully unique world of Japanese facilitation this week, as a practice shaped by deep respect, harmony, and quiet reflection. She shares how non-verbal cues can soften emotional expression, how consensus forms through alignment, not debate, and together we compare our cultural experiences as two facilitators from opposite sides of the world. Join us! Find out about: The cultural values of silence, hierarchy and emotional restraint, and their role in Japanese facilitation How Yuko navigates the tension between group harmony and individual expression The use of indirect expressions through cards, visuals and metaphor, in place of direct speach What Western facilitators can learn from their Japanese counterparts Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube . Connect to Yuko Gendo: Website LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

November 17, 2025Episode 3481 hr 23 min

348 - Reclaiming Indigenous Wisdom in Facilitation with Katerina Kupenga

Carrying the wisdom of five generations before her, Katerina Kupenga inherited a special legacy from her ancestral namesake: the gift of Māori facilitation. And as a proud wahine Māori from Ngāti Porou, Katerina joins me to share this rich wisdom with us all. She guides us through the sacred welcoming rituals of the Pōwhiri, the complexities of tribal relations, the spiritual intimacy of exchanging breath, and the energy work that takes place as people, ancestors, emotions, and tension are invited into being. This is a truly special conversation about what it means to be Māori, and the unique indigenous methods that acknowledge the Māori people of the land. Find out about: The traditional Māori rituals, chants, and the guidance of the gods that take place during workshops Katerina’s journey to relearning the wisdom and culture of her people The importance of honouring Māori practices and language – free of Western agendas, structures and timeframes Facilitating conversations and tensions around intergenerational, ancestral traumas The unconscious biases that exist in the facilitation sector, and the alternative perspectives we need Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube . Connect to Katerina Kupenga: LinkedIn Website Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

November 11, 2025Episode 3471 hr 9 min

347 - When 100 People Feel Like One Team: Crafting Connection Online with Perle Laouenan-Catchpole

Gathering hundreds of people is most facilitators’ worst nightmare – but for Perle Laouenan-Catchpole, it’s her dream. With her signature feminine energy and warmth, Perle connects large online groups as one, cohesive team, creating a sense of belonging that sends ripples of impact throughout the group. Her secret? Comfort must always come before safety, simplicity will always triumph over complexity, and facilitating true connection begins with understanding yourself first. This is a beautiful, passionate conversation for anyone that wants to step into their superpower, and learn the art of online, human connection. Find out about: How to design workshops that connect hundreds of people as part of one team Why you should tell people what you do , rather than what you are How to foster a sense of belonging amongst hundreds of participants The power of speaking out your needs, to invite others to do the same The value of multilingual breakouts, allowing participants to engage in their mother tongue Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube. Connect to Perle Laouenan-Catchpole: LinkedIn Website Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

November 4, 2025Episode 3461 hr 23 min

346 - Power, Confidence and the Courage to Speak Up with Matthew Hill

Do you dare to be powerful and confident? Matthew Hill, leadership trainer, conflict mediator, and intercultural facilitator has spent years guiding executives into their inner strength – but his approach might just surprise you. He invites us to reconsider power not as the most dominant voice in the room, but rather a calm, curious presence, and confidence not as something we muster up once, but a daily practice of small, intentional acts. From meeting difference with meaningful dialogue, and digging a little deeper beneath the surface of our interactions, to reclaiming our voice – episode 346 is for anyone ready to remove the obstacles standing in the way of their self-belief. Find out about: The cultural nuances of facilitation and learning How to build confidence through daily micromoments, such as ‘adding one sentence’ How to approach opposing views with curiosity, genuine dialogue, and a desire to learn How facilitators can use language to foster inclusivity, rather than widen divides Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player . Links: Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube . Connect to GUEST: LinkedIn Website Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈