How do you create workshops and courses that people really want to attend, where they're highly engaged and actually learn something? The answer is through facilitation.
Facilitators exist wherever learning happens. And great facilitation involves getting clear on what you're doing with your groups, why you're doing it, and how to do it with purpose and intention. Tap into this podcast, "Facilitating on Purpose", as your go-to resource to becoming and being a better facilitator, wherever you work.
Join facilitator and learning designer Beth Cougler Blom and her guests to explore ideas about designing and facilitating learning. You'll gain insights such as how to plan more effectively, build connection with participants, and include meaningful activities.
Level up your facilitation skills at http://facilitatingonpurpose.ca/.
Learning to Facilitate When No One Taught You How with Beth Cougler Blom - EP 80
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about how many people become facilitators of meetings or learning events by accident and what it takes to keep building facilitation skills with intention. She shares some of her own path into facilitation and offers practical ways to notice, learn, practice, and grow over time.
Beth also talks about:
Why many people start to do facilitation work without formal training
The risks of teaching the way we were taught
How to build awareness by observing other facilitators
Why design work matters before stepping into the room
Small, regular ways to keep developing facilitation skills
Links From the Episode
EP 64: The Sound of Silence in Facilitation with Beth Cougler Blom
EP 47: The Pivotal Role of Learning Outcomes with Beth Cougler Blom
EP 19: Choosing Activities with Beth Cougler Blom
EP 6: Learning From Our Mistakes with Beth Cougler Blom
Liberating Structures (https://www.liberatingstructures.com/)
International Association of Facilitators (https://iaf-world.org/)
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 hello@bcblearning.com (mailto:hello@bcblearning.com)
Visit bcblearning.com (https://bcblearning.com) to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
Check out Beth's books (https://bcblearning.com/books), Design to Engage and Everyday Acts of Facilitation
Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn
Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions
10 Jun 2026
Leading Meditations and Mindfulness Practices When You're Not an Expert with Claire Schneeberger - EP 79
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Claire Schneeberger about her book, Holding Space, and how meditation and mindfulness practices can support more grounded, focused, and intentional learning experiences. They explore how simple practices can help participants slow down, arrive, and feel more present in workshops, meetings, and group settings.
Beth and Claire also talk about:
Choosing practices that fit your group and goals
Offering options so participants can take care of themselves
Using anchors like breath, feet, or physical sensations
Practicing by recording yourself and listening back
Bringing mindfulness into sessions through breath, movement, listening, nature, and the arts
Connect with Claire Schneeberger
Holding Space: The Essential Guide to Leading Meditation & Mindfulness Practices (https://www.holdingspaceguide.com/)
Links From the Episode
First People's Principles of Learning
EP 56: Using Poetry and Expressive Writing with Marisa Gelfusa
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 hello@bcblearning.com (mailto:hello@bcblearning.com)
Visit bcblearning.com (https://bcblearning.com) to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
Check out Beth's books (https://bcblearning.com/books), Design to Engage and Everyday Acts of Facilitation
Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn
Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions
28 May 2026
Facilitating Conversations With Ourselves with Erica Barnhart - EP 78
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks with Erica Barnhart about the conversations we have with ourselves and how our internal dialogue shapes the way we show up as facilitators and whole human beings. Erica shares a simple framework for noticing negative self-talk and gently shifting it toward something more useful.
Beth and Erica also talk about:
Why our self-talk is often more negative than we realize
Erica's three-step framework of Notice, Nope, and Nudge
How words like "should" and "just" can undermine our confidence
The connection between self-talk, worthiness, and belonging
Practical ways to ground ourselves and stay present while facilitating
Connect with Erica Barnhart:
Website: EricaBarnhart.com (https://www.ericabarnhart.com/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabarnhart/
Links From the Episode:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Polarity Management video with Barry Johnson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfRcwweWxtQ)
Polarity Mapping resources (https://polaritypracticetools.com/)
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 hello@bcblearning.com (mailto:hello@bcblearning.com)
Visit bcblearning.com (https://bcblearning.com) to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
Check out Beth's books (https://bcblearning.com/books), Design to Engage and Everyday Acts of Facilitation
Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn
Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions
Who has been a guest on Facilitating on Purpose
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sumesh Khatua
Simrat Pahwa
Leanne Joe
Amea Wilbur
Reach and audience
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
94
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
76
Contact Facilitating on Purpose
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