Circle Holding

By Julia Davis and Tessa Venuti Sanderson

Do you run a group or a circle?

Join us for insights into circle facilitation. We speak to people who have created spaces where people can speak without interruption and listen without judgement. You... more

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FAQs about Circle Holding:

How many episodes does Circle Holding have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.

Circle Holding episodes:

April 26, 2026 Highlights and Reflections: Our Favourite Bits of Series 4 with Tessa and Julia
In this episode, Tessa and Julia review the highlights of the interviews with guest speakers who are circle facilitators representing diverse participants and interests.
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17min
April 19, 2026Neurodiversity and the Power of the Collective with Jewels Wingfield
In this episode, Tessa and Jewels Wingfield (https://jewelswingfield.com/) talked about:
The value of circle lies both in the content and the spaciousness to integrate the process
Going into a deep process with one person in circle can create dysregulation for the others and the importance of checking in after peak moments
The helpful analogy of a 'slow meal' for a trauma-informed approach to circle facilitation instead of 'bolting food' and chasing dopamine the hits of peak moments
Bringing discernment about whether it's you as a facilitator that wants the shift for someone or the participant themselves
Eldership is for those of 70+ who have the lived experience to bring depth to gatherings
Experience allows you to listen to the soul of the circle
Looking for the super powers of neurodivergence and using those strengths to hone the craft of circle facilitation
Being transparent as a facilitator about neurodiversity so people can make a choice about the right circle for them because transparency creates authentic safety
It's possible to co-create a regulated space with people who are neurodiverse and have diverse needs
To meet different learning styles / neurodivergent needs, offering diverse practices around the same topic increases inclusion
Part of the holding of a circle is the place, the land.
Those who know her work refer to Jewels to as a natural group leader, a soul alchemist, an earth steward, a womb-wisdom keeper, high priestess and a wild force of nature. She leads workshops and retreats at Earthheart in the Forest of Dean and online. (https://jewelswingfield.com/)
You can order our book here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
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57min
April 12, 2026 Our Circle Stories
Julia & Tessa's Personal Stories from the Circle Holding Book
In this episode, Tessa and Julia read a couple of circle stories each from their book published in 2024. They unpack those stories and provide an update of what their facilitating circles on in 2026.
You can order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat and Embodied Listening and Somatic Practices training [https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training] (https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training))
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
20min
April 05, 2026Creating Safety Through Presence and Honesty with Natalie Keany
Breathwork and Circle Facilitation Skills
In this interview Tessa spoke to Natalie from https://www.evolvebreathbody.com/ about:
Boundaries and consent
Slowing down consent with practising when body is saying yes and when no
How presence underpins all the other practices
In longer sessions or trainings, it's important not to make big decisions until learning integrated
Honesty is important from the facilitator to create a feeling of safety in people's nervous systems
Sharing your own experience as a facilitator is context dependent - sometimes might be more appropriate to share with those that opt in into a smaller group
Holding space skills are natural to humans - more like a remembering than a learning
You can order our book here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
For instructions on how to craft your own vulva heart decorations or for puberty circles, you can find Tessa's vulva cushions and uterus aprons here: (scroll down towards bottom of webpage) https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/workshop-events/puberty-support
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
40min
March 29, 2026 Why Write A Book About Circle Holding with Julia and Tessa
In this episode, Julia and Tessa talk about how the book came about, the different voices in the book, how to use it if you're a budding facilitator and more.
You can order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat and Embodied Listening and Somatic Practices training [https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training] (https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training))
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
24min
March 22, 2026Taking Circles on Retreat with Cobi Campbell
Building Confidence through Training
In this episode, Julia interviewed Cobi about:
How to use circle on retreat to build community
Using a workshop day to build confidence in clients in the value of circle
Setting up your first talking and listening circle
The wide variety of circle techniques that can be used with clients
The difference between a "yoga holiday" and a "yoga retreat" and the role circle plays in transforming experience
www.cobicampbell.com for more information about Cobi, her retreats and other upcoming offerings.
Social Media
Instagram www.instagram.com/feelgoodyogawithcobi/
Facebook www.facebook.com/feelgoodyogawithcobi/
Cobi Campbell is a London-based Yoga Teacher and Retreat Leader, with a deep love of community, connection, and the quiet magic that happens when people come together to care for themselves.Whether guiding a weekly class or a retreat abroad, Cobi will take you on a holistic journey. Her work is rooted in supporting inner peace, joy, and balance through practices and experiences that explore ancient wisdom, evidence-based science and the body’s own natural intuition and intelligence.
You can order our book here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
52min
March 15, 2026The Power of Being Witnessed in Creative Circles with Claire MacKinnon
In this episode, Tessa and Claire MacKinnon (https://www.clairemackinnon.com/offerings) talked about:
from corporate to coaching - finding meaning through a different kind of leadership
creating a structure in circle to let the magic happen
a focus on the quality of process rather than the outcome
different from coaching because not asking follow up questions about how someone feels or about their experience
important to manage participants' expectations and stay in your lane if you have multiple skills/ professions
the power of being witnessed
sharing creative output without critique or judgement, but how it is received and lands for the audience (e.g. "What your words touch in me is….")
circle format isn't only for talking and listening, but to include other activities like writing in a supportive environment
Next online training of Circle Fundamentals, like the one Claire attended is on 23rd March: https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/circle-workshop or longer training with nervous system focus starts 13th April: https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training
Claire Mackinnon is a transformational coach, creative catalyst, and women's leadership guide devoted to supporting women to reclaim their voices and step into their creative power – in their work, their leadership, and their lives.
An ICF PCC-certified coach with more than 2,000 hours of coaching and facilitation experience, she has supported hundreds of leaders across industries including technology, retail, professional services, and education – as well as an ever-growing community of mission-led women entrepreneurs.
Claire is the founder of The Joy-Led Creativity Collective, an inspiring community of women changemakers reclaiming their voices and creative power for these times.
She's currently completing her debut memoir, Finding Aphrodite: One Woman's Dance from Shame to Aliveness, through which she hopes to spark a wider cultural conversation about women's creative power – and the urgent need for leadership rooted in aliveness, truth, and joy.
You can read more about her work and offerings on her website: https://www.clairemackinnon.com/offerings
You can order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat and Embodied Listening and Somatic Practices training [https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training] (https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/embodied-listening-training))
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
47min
March 08, 2026 Getting Crafty with Tessa and Julia
Transforming Your Circle Experience Through Using Arts & Crafts
In this episode, Julia asks Tessa about bringing crafts into circle. Tessa shares examples of what activities she has used in different types of circles. They discuss why keeping hands and eyes busy can help the talking during the circle and what to do if you're not confident in crafts yourself as a facilitator.
You can order our book here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
For instructions on how to craft your own vulva heart decorations or for puberty circles, you can find Tessa's vulva cushions and uterus aprons here: (scroll down towards bottom of webpage) https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/workshop-events/puberty-support
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat
You can attend Julia's In Person Circles at https://finchleyyoga.com/#workshops
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
20min
March 01, 2026Trauma Informed Creative Writing Circles with Galia Shilo Sum
In this episode Galia shares:
introducing creative writing in a women's shelter
creating a safe enough space to share personal experience
building trust within your circle
creating a space for creative feedback
how best to provide creative writing feedback in circle
the value of writing as an alternative to speaking
the importance of having appropriately trained individuals in trauma spaces
creating a safe enough container - the closed writing circle
creating your writing theme: meaningful writing from the heart
how to promote your writing circle
the ambitious writer in circe
the joy of listening to stories unfold
About Galia:
I am a proactive, positive and innovative entrepreneur in the media business with a substantial track record in starting up two financial newspapers from scratch, journalism and editorial work, projects management, PR strategy and building teams. I have strong presentation skills as well as lead, train and motivate teams to meet challenging performance goals.
You can find Galia:
@galiashilo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/galiashilosum/
You can buy our book here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a third series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Or see Tessa's offerings at https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles including The Art of Holding Space Retreat 9-11 October https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/weekend-retreat
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
56min
February 22, 2026Deep Listening Skills with Tessa and Julia
In this episode Tessa and Julia Share Tips including:
preparing the ground for listening through settling practices
appreciating the importance of caring for people's nervous systems as part of a circle
how your vulnerability may make it safer for others to share
guidelines that are essential for creating the container for deep listening
how pacing the sharing is important, including having time for people to listen to their thoughts before sharing aloud
using a talking object can slow down turn taking
the role of the disrupter to listen to discomfort / undercurrents in the circle
the difference between a listening techniques in circle and specific coaching or counselling techniques
understanding the value in not reflecting back or asking further questions
the use of pairs and triads in the group setting to support deep listening skills
shared the possibility of people talking side-by-side rather than face-to-face to support listening
You can order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles here:
https://www.circleholding.org/book
Support our podcast. If you love the conversations and would love for us to create a fourth series you can support our podcast by donating £5, £10 or any other amount:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:
https://www.circleholding.org
Circle Holding Fundamentals - introductory 3 hour workshop
https://www.circleholding.org/circle-fundamentals
Yoga Nidra & Circle Holding
https://www.circleholding.org/yoga-nidra-circle-holding
Circle Holding Self Study Programme
https://www.circleholding.org/self-study
Circle Facilitator Training
https://www.circleholding.org/circle-facilitator-training
We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]
Music credit: Fabio Venuti
...more
29min

FAQs about Circle Holding:

How many episodes does Circle Holding have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.