A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your businesses as a facilitator or trainer.
You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.
Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Episode 49: From Newsrooms to Workshops: Jo Cook's purposeful facilitator's path
This episode is about decision-making in our businesses, the frameworks we use to say yes or no to work and how becoming more conscious in our decision-making is important to cultivate.
In this engaging conversation, Jo Cook shares with Kirsty her journey from being a trainee journalist to having a multi-income stream business. Jo shares her experiences transitioning from journalism to self-employment, the challenges of working with family, and living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
They emphasize the significance of creating inclusive work environments and the necessity of investing in personal and professional growth. The discussion highlights the need for flexibility in business models and the value of intention in career planning.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Connection
02:45 Navigating Networking and Professional Relationships
05:16 Career Journey: From Journalism to Learning and Development
08:20 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business and Learning
10:54 Transitioning to Self-Employment and Business Challenges
13:51 The Importance of Intention in Career Planning
16:25 Adapting to Change: The Evolution of Business Models
19:18 Working with Family: The Dynamics of Sibling Partnerships
22:10 Health Challenges: Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
24:52 Creating Inclusive Work Environments
27:43 Quick-fire questions
33:18 SOFest, TJ 60th Birthday and wrap up!
I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.
____
A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.
You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.
Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.
Key Links:
Visit Jo's website HERE (https://www.lightbulbmoment.info)
Sign up to TJ's 60th Anniversary conference HERE (https://www.trainingjournal.com/tjconference/)
Connect with Jo on Linkedin HERE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocooklightbulb/)
Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com)
Discover SOFest HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com/sofest/)
Connect with me on Instagram HERE (https://www.instagram.com/schooloffacilitation/)
Connect with me on Linkedin HERE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-schooloffacilitation)
contact@schooloffacilitation.com (mailto:contact@schooloffacilitation.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Oct 2025
Episode 48: The Importance of Community, Connection and Collaboration
In this engaging conversation, Kirsty Lewis and Chad Littlefield explore the evolving landscape of facilitation, the impact of AI, and the importance of community and collaboration.
They discuss the challenges faced by facilitators in a changing business environment, the significance of positioning and value, and actionable advice for those starting out in the field.
The conversation also highlights the upcoming Connector Summit and the importance of investing in personal growth and development.
00:00 Introduction and Connection
02:42 The Role of AI in Facilitation
05:24 Navigating Business Challenges
08:32 Positioning and Value in Facilitation
11:04 Shifting Business Focus
13:56 Personal Stories and Business Insights
21:04 Connection Before Content
24:20 The Shift to YouTube and Online Engagement
29:58 Business Structure and Revenue Streams
36:35 Partnerships and Collaborations in Business
43:05 The Value of Information and Implementation
45:10 Generosity Marketing and Value-Based Pricing
47:17 The Scarcity Mindset in Pricing
50:16 The Importance of Open Conversations About Money
51:46 Positioning and Pricing Strategies
56:51 Navigating Economic Uncertainty in Facilitation
01:01:04 Quick Fire Questions and Final Insights
____
A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.
You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.
Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.
Key Links:
Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com)
Discover SOFest HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com/sofest/)
Connect with me on Instagram HERE (https://www.instagram.com/schooloffacilitation/)
Connect with me on Linkedin HERE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-schooloffacilitation)
contact@schooloffacilitation.com (mailto:contact@schooloffacilitation.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Sept 2025
Episode 47: The brutal truth: My first five years as a freelance facilitator
This episode is about decision-making in our businesses, the frameworks we use to say yes or no to work and how becoming more conscious in our decision-making is important to cultivate.
In this conversation, Kirsty Lewis and Dave Freeman discuss the journey of transitioning from the corporate world to becoming a freelance facilitator and trainer. They explore the challenges faced in the early stages of building a business, the impact of COVID-19 on the training industry, and the importance of finding a niche.
Dave shares his experiences, including the ups and downs of his first year, the evolution of his business, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and the brutal truth of running a business.
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:29 The Brutal Truth of Business
05:36 Leaving the Corporate World
08:10 Transitioning to Facilitation and Training
10:53 Finding Associate Work
13:40 Auditioning for Associate Roles
16:35 Year One Challenges
19:19 Year two and the Impact of COVID
22:06 Adapting to Virtual Training
24:43 Reflections on the Journey
29:58 The Evolution of a Trainer: Year Two to Year Three
33:06 Narrowing the Focus: Year Four and Niching
42:10 The Balancing Act: Associate vs Direct Work
48:10 Quick Fire Insights: Advice and Recommendations
I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.
____
A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.
You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.
Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.
Key Links:
Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com/)
Discover SOFest HERE (https://www.schooloffacilitation.com/sofest/)
Connect with me on Instagram HERE (https://www.instagram.com/schooloffacilitation/)
Connect with me on Linkedin HERE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-schooloffacilitation)
contact@schooloffacilitation.com (mailto:contact@schooloffacilitation.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Clare Walkeden
Barb Davids
Lucy Wheeler
Annette
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
58
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories
Who hosts A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories?
Kirsty Lewis host the show. Published by Kirsty Lewis.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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