In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole talks with Dr. Britt Yamamoto about his book "The Soil of Leadership” and meaningful ways to support social impact leaders right now. A large part of the conversation centers around the core metaphor from the book about “growing soil”. Britt compares conventional farmers who focus on growing plants (short-term, visible results) versus sustainable farmers who prioritize growing soil (long-term, beneath-the-surface conditions). He applies this metaphor to leadership, arguing that effective leadership requires cultivating the deeper conditions that allow teams and organizations to thrive rather than just focusing on immediate, visible outcomes. Throughout the conversation, Britt discusses the compelling resonance of this farming metaphor across cultures, the importance of understanding organizational "seasons", including periods of rest and renewal, and the value of reflection and relationship-building as essential leadership practices. Their conversation ends with some wisdom for leaders navigating challenging times, emphasizing the importance of connection, remembering one's purpose, prioritizing wellbeing, and maintaining hope.

Show notes: 

Grab a copy of the Soil of Leadership: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/leadership-and-management/the-soil-of-leadership/

Learn more about Britt's organization Perennial: https://www.perennial.org/about/

In this conversation, we dive deep with Jenny Sauer-Klein - a master of designing experiences that don’t just tick a box, but truly move people. Jenny has worked with companies like Airbnb, Google, and Genentech to bring their cultures to life, and she's the founder of The Culture Conference, where leaders come together to build workplaces that actually feel human.

Resources Mentioned:

The Primary Shift

Culture Conference

In this soulful conversation, Sarah-Marie Hopf, joins us to explore the deeper art of facilitation - one that doesn’t just solve problems, but awakens possibility.

Sarah-Marie is an executive coach, spaceholder, and facilitator who brings rare presence and clarity into the room. In this episode, we explore:

This episode is a masterclass in deep facilitation. You’ll walk away grounded, inspired, and reminded of the quiet intelligence that lives beneath the noise.

Links

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole sits down with Kori Linn, a professional coach who works with high achievers and individuals navigating complex relationships. Kori shares her insights on creating spaces where healthy conflict can thrive and how facilitation can benefit from coaching methodologies. She explores the concept of "connection orientation" - an approach that centers our desire for connection even during disagreements. Kori opens up about the importance of practicing curiosity when holding discomfort and offers practical advice for ensuring repair after rupture. This episode delves deep into how different coaching mindsets can enhance facilitation, leadership, and community building. Cole and Kori discuss experiences working with high achievers, the challenges of perfectionism, and how small steps taken consistently lead to meaningful change. Whether you're a facilitator, community leader, or someone interested in better communication approaches, this conversation will inspire you to create more intentional spaces where both individual goals and collective priorities can be honored.

In this episode of Facilitating Change, we sit down with Vipul Shaha, creator of 'Mindful Being' and a global facilitator passionate about holistic education, mindfulness, and transformation. Vipul shares his journey from teaching in under-resourced classrooms to integrating mindfulness, nature, and body awareness into his facilitation practice. He opens up about the power of silence, the importance of daily mindfulness practices, and how we can break free from limiting stories that hold us back. This episode delves deep into how mindfulness can enhance facilitation, leadership, and our overall well-being. Vipul discusses his experiences in nature-based therapy, working with youth, and the profound impact of embodiment on transformation. Whether you're a facilitator, changemaker, or someone passionate about mindful living, this conversation will leave you inspired to deepen your practice and create more intentional, transformative spaces.

Learn more about Vipul Shaha:

In this conversation, Cole Hoover and Adam Kahane of Reos Partners explore the art of systems transformation through stories from Adam's remarkable career. They discuss how everyday habits create lasting change and why transformation must inherently be a collective activity. Adam shares insights from his forthcoming book, highlighting the value of collaboration, self-reflection, and making space for diverse perspectives. The dialogue explores how humility and vulnerability strengthen leadership and how skilled facilitation removes obstacles to allow natural emergence. The discussion also covers power dynamics in designing gathering and how inner transformation drives external change. Adam ultimately advocates for "radical engagement", an approach grounded in curiosity that addresses root causes and builds the long-term relationships necessary for sustainable transformation.

Shownotes:

Order a copy of Adam's new book:

https://reospartners.com/everyday-habits-for-transforming-systems 

Learn more about Adam's work:

www.adamkahane.com 

www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kahane

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida sits down with Maria Galaykova, a learning experience designer who is passionate about creating transformative experiences through human-centered design and constructivist psychology. Maria discusses her journey from a certification manager and workplace consultant to discovering the missing link between change and learning, which led her to the field of learning experience design. Together, they explore how people construct meaning from their experiences, the role of vulnerability in learning, and the importance of balancing stress and comfort zones for transformative growth. Maria also shares insights on how facilitators can create spaces that encourage meaningful change by designing for both safety and exploration.

Learn more about Maria’s work by visiting her Medium blog and checking out the article she referenced on "Bildung" here.

Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-galaykova/

In this insightful episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida sits down with Peter Williamson, co-founder of Barometer XP, to explore how play can powerfully transform team dynamics and organizational culture. Peter shares his journey from professional athlete to expert facilitator, revealing how play became central to his approach to building strong teams, enhancing empathy, and sparking innovation.

Together, they unpack why incorporating play into retreats and meetings can deeply impact organizational outcomes—from increased trust and empathy to uncovering hidden talents. Peter emphasizes that the magic isn't just in the game itself, but in how we set up and reflect on these playful moments.

This conversation dives into practical tips on introducing play into any workspace, navigating skepticism, and creating meaningful, reflective experiences. Peter’s unique approach, drawn from his own journey as an athlete and co-founder of Barometer XP, provides a blueprint for leaders and facilitators looking to leverage play as a transformative tool.

Join Mentor and Peter as they explore how play can become your team’s secret weapon for learning, connecting, and thriving together.

Learn More about Peter and Barometer XP:

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole Hoover speaks with Dr. Julie Pham, an expert on interpersonal dynamics, organizational development, and cross-sector collaboration. Julie unpacks why our traditional understanding of respect often leads to disconnection, despite our best intentions. She shares frameworks from her book The 7 Forms of Respect which places respect on a spectrum and gives us tools to transform the ways we relate with others. 

From misinterpreting signals in the workplace to navigating different expectations in personal relationships, Julie shares practical strategies for using curiosity to better understand what matters to others and to ourselves. She also explains how these frameworks allow us to articulate our own needs more effectively while genuinely honoring others.

If you've ever found yourself frustrated when your well-meaning efforts missed the mark, or if you're looking to build stronger connections across differences, this conversation offers a fundamental shift in how we approach respect in all areas of life. 

Show notes:

Check out the great work Julie and her team are doing at: Curiositybased.com

A page dedicated to Julie's book The 7 Forms of Respect and courses you can join to learn how to integrate its frameworks into your work and life: https://formsofrespect.com

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida speaks with Jeff Hittner, a master facilitator, executive coach, and founder of the Ambitious Dads project. With 25 years of experience building better teams and people, Jeff shares his insights on how vulnerability and safe spaces drive transformation. From designing engaging workshops to helping leaders embrace change, Jeff breaks down his facilitation process step-by-step. He also opens up about his personal journey with the Ambitious Dads initiative, supporting fathers in their parenting roles. If you're curious about how to create environments for profound change, this episode is for you!

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