Podcast

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson speaks with Julie Baeb, a Senior Consultant at Team Works. Julie shares her diverse career journey from advertising to architecture and eventually education, where she developed a STEM enrichment program. They discuss pivotal moments in Julie's facilitation career, including a transformative professional development session and a human-centered design retreat she led for school administrators. Julie emphasizes the importance of icebreakers, observation, and incorporating play and movement into sessions to foster engagement and psychological safety. The episode highlights Julie's commitment to building strong, connected teams through thoughtful facilitation.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, Douglas Ferguson talks with Jim Kalbach, Chief Evangelist at MURAL and author, about his facilitation journey and expertise in mapping. Jim shares a pivotal experience leading a workshop at LexisNexis and how it propelled his career. He discusses the influence of room setup on collaboration, the power of visual maps for team alignment, and his interest in Wardley maps. Jim also reflects on the evolution of facilitation with technology, the shift to remote workshops, and the future of facilitation as a widespread skill. The episode emphasizes the transformative role of facilitation and visual tools in improving group collaboration.

In this podcast episode, Douglas Ferguson hosts Neallie Kani, a UX Specialist from Hogan Assessments, who shares her facilitation journey and the impact of leadership classes on her career. She discusses the importance of creating a comfortable environment for teams, inspired by Erik Skogsberg's calming facilitation approach. Neallie applies techniques like icebreakers and working agreements to enhance her meetings, emphasizing trial and error and monthly check-ins for continuous improvement. She uses visual aids like PowerPoint to align her team and stresses the significance of consistent reminders of team values.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, Douglas Ferguson converses with Susan Wilson Go Lab about her evolution from a K-12 district administrator to an expert in educational leadership and facilitation. Susan delves into her career progression, the significance of adapting to different organizational cultures, and the patience needed for effective change facilitation. Her reflections offer valuable insights into the world of professional learning and the art of facilitation.

In this episode, Douglas Ferguson and JJ Rogers delve into the nuances of crafting engaging, delightful, and efficient meetings and workshops. They explore JJ's journey in product design and facilitation, emphasizing the importance of joy and surprise in creating delightful experiences. The discussion highlights strategies for engaging participants, especially in virtual settings, by introducing novel experiences and emphasizing user feedback.

Host Douglas Ferguson interviews Dr. Rebecca Sutherns, a 27-year facilitation veteran and author of "Elastic Stretch Without Snapping or Snapping Back." She discusses her initial discomfort with group work, its impact on her career, and the significance of effective group processes. The episode covers group dynamics across life stages and how structured interactions improve efficiency and minimize awkwardness.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson interviews Eddie Jjemba from the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. Eddie discusses his work in making African cities resilient to climate change and his journey into environmental education. He shares his experiences in facilitation, including the importance of adapting to diverse cultures and contexts. Eddie also talks about the financial barriers to facilitation training in Africa and how the Red Cross is addressing this issue. The conversation also covers the use of games in facilitation, the process of designing meeting agendas, and the future of facilitation in the context of climate change.

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson talks with Roselle, Global Head of Quality Training and Optimization for Concur Expense Audit and Capture Services at SAP. They discuss the importance of facilitation in the workplace, with Roselle sharing her journey and experiences in leading diverse teams. She emphasizes the value of connecting people, understanding multicultural dynamics, and having a growth mindset. Roselle also shares her approach to meetings and the importance of debriefing. She expresses her passion for creating safe, inclusive spaces and her plans to build a facilitation community within her team.

On the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson interviews Dom Michalec, a product coach at Pathfinder Product. Dom delves into his facilitation journey, underscoring effective team collaboration. He shares how implementing liberating structures from "Liberating Structures" enhanced his meetings, boosting idea generation and decision-making. Dom stresses refining facilitation skills over just acquiring tools. The discussion also covers his role at Pathfinder Product, crafting impactful one-hour workshops, and the idea of coaching upwards, presenting insights for facilitators and team leaders.

In the Facilitation Lab podcast, Douglas Ferguson interviews Phil Canning, head of the Human Centered Design Studio at Ally Financial. They explore Phil's path to facilitation and the pivotal role of design thinking in evolving Ally's operations. Phil highlights his workshop experiences, stressing the creation of a secure, inclusive space. The conversation delves into cross-industry learning's significance and facilitation's transformative impact. The episode ends by inspiring listeners to discover facilitation's potential in their own professional settings.