Facilitating on Purpose

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with accessibility consultant Nora Loyst about designing learning experiences that truly welcome everyone. Nora shares how personal experiences led her to this work and explores the shift from a medical model to a social model of disability.

Beth and Nora also talk about:

• Expecting and planning for learner diversity from the start
• Naming what you know to build trust and inclusion
• Moving from one-time accommodations to default accessibility practices
• Designing for all through Universal Design for Learning and beyond
• Interrupting ableism by listening deeply and acting with intention

Engage with Nora Loyst:

• Nora Loyst on LinkedIn
• Untapped Accessibility

Links From the Episode:

• Implicit Bias study (dissertation)
• Implicit Bias study (article)
• Easy Surf
• Universal Design for Learning
• EP 41 Making Caring Learning Environments for People with Disabilities with Yasser Tamer Atef

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.ca

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this solo episode, host Beth Cougler Blom reflects on how to create learning that truly lasts. Beth shares thoughts about how we can shift from simply delivering content to designing experiences that drive behaviour change and embed meaningful memories for learners. She also shares:

• Why behaviour change is the heart of lasting learning
• How relevance and meaning move ideas into long-term memory
• The importance of learner analysis in your design process
• Ways to reinforce learning beyond the session

Links From the Episode

• EP 47 The Pivotal Role of Learning Outcomes with Beth Cougler Blom
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights
• Hollyhock Retreat Center
• Transformational Speaking with Gail Larsen
• EP 13 Experimenting with Experiential Learning with Romy Alexandra

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.ca

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Sumesh Khatua and Simrat Pahwa about the power of storytelling to create lasting impact in learning experiences. They explore how stories help drive clarity, build emotional connection, and support learning transfer both during and beyond structured learning sessions.

Beth, Sumesh, and Simrat also talk about:

• Designing learning with the end impact in mind
• Using storytelling to spark behaviour change and recall
• Building stories that are relatable, inclusive, and grounded in real life
• Navigating missteps and adapting in the moment

Engage with Sumesh Khatua and Simrat Pahwa:

• Sumesh Khatua on LinkedIn
• Simrat Pahwa on LinkedIn | Instagram

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.ca

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Leanne Joe and Amea Wilbur about how they designed a course on Indigenous pedagogies for adult educators at the University of the Fraser Valley. Their conversation offers insights that can inspire all of us, wherever we work, to thoughtfully incorporate Indigenous voices and ways of knowing into our learning environments, enriching the experience for both ourselves and our learners.

Beth, Leanne, and Amea also talk about:

• Starting with story and relationship to land
• Bringing language, gifts, and storytelling into course design
• Navigating colonial structures while honouring Indigenous worldviews
• Using reflection and personal narrative in learning
• Engaging Elders and Knowledge Keepers in learning experiences
• Creating spaces for learners to share forward what they've learned by teaching others

Engage with Leanne Joe and Amea Wilbur

• Leanne Joe: LinkedIn | Instagram | Bluesky
• Amea Wilbur: LinkedIn | Website

Links From the Episode

• Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies by Shannon Leddy and Lorrie Miller
• First People's Principles of Learning

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Guillaume Vermette about his work as a therapeutic clown, using theatre, emotion, and deep listening to build human connection in long-term care homes. While the conversation doesn't focus directly on facilitation, the skills Guillaume shares are highly relevant to facilitation practice.

Beth and Guillaume also talk about:

• Listening beyond words to honour people's emotional realities
• The power of non-verbal communication and presence
• Working in pairs to create more opportunities for connection
• The five core qualities of clowning and how they relate to being human
• How authenticity and lightheartedness can impact well-being

Engage with Guillaume Vermette

• Website: https://www.GuillaumeVermette.com
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/guillaumevermette
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guillaumevermette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clownhumanitaire

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Marisa Gelfusa about how poetry and expressive writing can become powerful tools for facilitators to connect with themselves and with others.

Beth and Marisa also talk about:

• Using poetry as a reflexive practice in facilitation
• Breaking through the inner critic with playful, accessible prompts
• Creating safe spaces where participants share their writing out loud
• Using poetry with healthcare professionals, patients, and educators
• Incorporating poetic inquiry into educational research

Engage with Marisa Gelfusa

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-gelfusa-learn/

Links From the Episode

• Billy Collins, Introduction to Poetry
• Becoming a Poet-Scientist, Interview with Sandra Faulkner
• University of Illinois - Philosophy of Teaching Statements*
• Pat Schneider and the AWA Method
• Ronna Bloom, Poetry in Healthcare
• What I Need From You (WINFY) Liberating Structure
• EP 51 Keeping Burnout at Bay with Beth Cougler Blom
• Some Days poem by Philip Terman
• Parallaxic Praxis: An Artful Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Methodology by Pauline Sameshima and Roxanne Vandermause
• EP 47 The Pivotal Role of Learning Outcomes with Beth Cougler Blom
• Instructional Skills Workshop
• Douglas Kerr
• Teaching with Fire book
• Mary Oliver

*When Marisa went to look for the University of Iowa's teaching philosophy statement website, they had modified it, so she has offered this link instead.

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this solo episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about how podcasting is an act of facilitation and the many behind-the-scenes ways she brings facilitation skills into each episode. Beth reflects on how she approaches podcast conversations with intention, clarity, and care—just like she would in a learning experience.

Beth also talks about:

• Building trust quickly with podcast guests
• Balancing structure with flexibility in conversations
• Deep listening and managing airtime
• Creating an inclusive and emotionally authentic space
• Designing each episode with the listener experience in mind

Links From the Episode

• Mary Chan, Organized Sound Productions
• EP 31 Perfecting Timing with Beth Cougler Blom
• EP 50 Using Our Voice in Facilitation with Mary Chan
• EP 13 Experimenting with Experiential Learning with Romy Alexandra
• Smartless podcast

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Pete Bombaci, founder of the Genwell Project, about the power of human connection and Canada's newly announced social connection guidelines. They explore why social well-being is crucial for our health, happiness, and longevity—and what facilitators can do to foster connection in their workshops, meetings, and daily lives.

Beth and Pete also talk about:

• The story behind the Genwell Project and its mission to promote social health
• What the social connection guidelines are and why they matter
• How facilitators can create spaces that foster belonging and inclusion
• The role of workplaces in encouraging meaningful human interaction
• Practical ways we can all strengthen our social connections, both inside and outside of workshops

Engage with Pete Bombaci, GenWell

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genwellproject/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/genwellproject/posts/

Links From the Episode

• Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health Social Connection Guidelines
• Robert Waldinger
• John Cacioppo
• Robert D. Putnam, author of Bowling Alone
• Julianne Holt-Lunstad
• Dr. Kiffer Card, Simon Fraser University
• Michael Smith Health Research BC
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada
• Victoria BC's Vital Signs Report

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Theresa Southam about her book Transforming Trauma Through Social Change: A Guide for Educators. Theresa shares how educators, facilitators, and leaders—whether in post-secondary, corporate, or nonprofit settings—can play a role in driving social change and supporting healing through the learning experiences they create inside and outside the classroom.

Beth and Theresa also talk about:

• Integrating community and social change work into educational settings
• Gabor Maté's idea of trauma and moral injury as a "big tent" that includes a wide range of experiences
• The importance of devising choice in learning
• The concept of accountable spaces and how they differ from safe and brave spaces

Engage with Theresa Southam

• Website: https://www.southam.space/
• Substack: https://substack.com/@socialchangeeducation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-southam-phd-57702018/

Links From the Episode

• Gabor Maté
• Judith Herman
• Bessel van der Kolk
• Lee Reid
• Briony Penn
• Virgil Seymour, Sinixt - Colville Confederated Tribes and Sinixt Confederacy
• David Kolb
• Cher Hill, Simon Fraser University
• Brianna Strumm, University of the Fraser Valley
• Amea Wilbur, University of the Fraser Valley
• Stó:lō Nation
• Jack Mezirow
• Matty Hillman, Selkirk College

Note: Theresa's book is dedicated to social change. The following are some of the groups that will carry out the work described in the book's chapters. The author's proceeds will be shared between the ICRC (Inchelium Cultural Resource Center), Stqeeye' Learning Society, Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, OneVoice Canada, and Nelson and District Hospice Society

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions

In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with facilitator and business owner Myriam Hadnes about making bold decisions in business, setting boundaries, and the power of saying no. Myriam shares her journey from academia to facilitation, the evolution of her NeverDoneBefore community, and why she ultimately chose to close it in favour of new opportunities.

Beth and Myriam also talk about:

• Recognizing when to pivot and let go of a project, even when it's loved by a community
• How Myriam gamified the process of setting boundaries more consistently
• The importance of doing our own inner work as facilitators

Engage with Myriam Hadnes

• Website: https://workshops.work/

Links From the Episode:

• Art of Hosting
• Myriam's Boundary Tower for setting boundaries
• EP 51: Keeping Burnout at Bay with Beth Cougler Blom
• Simon Sinek

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions