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In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson converses with Alexis Scranton from Aligned Impact Solutions. Alexis shares her journey from teaching kindergarten and third grade to training teachers on national reform projects, which led her to specialize in facilitating corporate social responsibility and social impact initiatives. The discussion highlights the importance of inclusivity in decision-making, the differences between facilitating adult learning and teaching children, and the role of effective questioning in overcoming resistance. Alexis emphasizes creating environments where all voices are heard, fostering collaboration, and drawing out collective wisdom for impactful outcomes.

In his session at the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit, JJ Rogers shared innovative methods for incorporating joy and surprise into facilitated sessions. Drawing from UX design and the concept of "delight," JJ introduced three Radical Acts of Delight: using drawing to communicate, applying inverted thinking with "The Twist," and utilizing metaphor cards for creative problem-solving. These techniques help facilitators engage participants and unlock fresh insights through play and surprise.

Discover how to rethink AI as a collaborative teammate, not just a tool. In this post, we explore an innovative workshop where AI plays a key role in team problem-solving, using personas and iterative prompts. Learn how this mindset shift can transform your approach to AI, fostering deeper collaboration, enhancing group sensemaking, and enabling richer insights. Embrace the future of AI as a dynamic team member and unlock its full potential in real-time, collaborative settings.

Skye Idehen-Osunde's session at the 2025 Facilitation Lab Summit focused on building psychological safety and credibility in facilitation. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, Skye shared strategies to create inclusive, trust-filled spaces where participants feel heard and valued. Her insights on vulnerability, self-awareness, and building trust provided attendees with actionable tools to enhance their facilitation practice and create impactful, safe environments.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson converses with Jake Knapp, co-founder and general partner at Character Capital, and a former Google employee instrumental in developing Gmail and Google Meet. The episode delves into Jake's extensive experience in product development, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and market differentiation. Jake shares insights from his early coding and game development days, highlighting the value of iterative testing and customer feedback. They discuss the "foundation sprint" and "magic lenses" techniques for refining product ideas and making informed decisions. The episode underscores the necessity of clarity and alignment in successful product development.

Robin Cory shares how Voltage Control helped her enhance her facilitation skills, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Through a transformative certification program, Robin gained confidence and leadership tools to navigate complex group dynamics and drive meaningful collaboration. Her journey, from grassroots community organizing to strategic facilitation for nonprofit leaders, showcases the power of facilitation in creating lasting social impact. Learn how Voltage Control shaped her approach to purposeful, impactful meetings and leadership.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson converses with Caterina Rodriguez (Cat), a facilitator consultant and strategic leader at ADL. Cat shares her journey from anti-bias education to organizational effectiveness, emphasizing the importance of authentic connections in facilitation. She discusses the challenges of adopting a new facilitation style and highlights the transformative power of collaborative group experiences. Kat stresses the need for facilitators to embrace uncertainty and model genuine engagement, advocating for a method-agnostic approach. The episode underscores the value of building trust and fostering inclusive, change-ready cultures within organizations.

At SXSW, Voltage Control explored the intersection of human connection and AI. Through our meetup and workshop, we created spaces for meaningful interactions, tackled loneliness and vulnerability, reimagined meetings, and highlighted the potential of AI as a dynamic team player. Learn how intentional facilitation can drive innovation, transform team dynamics, and foster genuine connections. Explore these insights and more from our SXSW experiences in this blog post.