Retreats & Offsites Unpacked

About Retreats & Offsites Unpacked

Retreats & Offsites Unpacked by Assemble Hospitality is about what happens when people step away together and find a deeper sense of belonging. We share stories and best practices from retreats and offsites to explore how intentional gatherings create change.

Publisher

Assemble Hospitality Group

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Nov 2025

Latest episode

6 May 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 May 2026

   How Friction During Offsites Is a Good Thing

   Is friction during an offsite a problem — or a signal that something important is happening? In this episode, Dan Berger sits down with Adam Silberstein, a YPO Certified Forum Facilitator and executive coach, to unpack why tension inside peer groups and leadership teams is often the gateway to creativity. Adam shares what nearly 20 years of facilitation has taught him about mastery, onboarding forums correctly, accountability gaps inside peer groups, and why artificial harmony is more dangerous than productive conflict. They dive into Forum Operating Systems (FOS), guiding principles, growth commitments, coaching models, and the role of nature in retreat design. If you lead offsites, moderate forums, or design leadership retreats — this episode reframes friction as fuel. Episode Themes Why friction is creative energy Artificial harmony vs productive storming The “10–12 common issues” every forum faces Onboarding forums the right way Forum Operating System (FOS) thinking Growth areas and guiding principles Coaching vs consulting vs facilitating Using nature to elevate retreat outcomes Trust as the currency of facilitation Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:32 – Mastery after 10,000 hours 03:23 – Discovering what the room needs 05:27 – Common forum dysfunction 06:15 – Why friction is creative energy 07:41 – The calling into facilitation 10:29 – The Adam playbook 13:01 – Forum Operating System (FOS) 16:56 – Coaching models and transitions 19:02 – Designing powerful retreat spaces 21:10 – Fees and pricing transparency 23:34 – Client retention and trust 26:15 – The ancient power of peer groups About the Guest Adam Silberstein is a YPO Certified Forum Facilitator and executive coach who began facilitating at 26 after early mentorship under Jim Warner. Over nearly two decades, he has worked with thousands of executives, teams, and families across YPO and EO, specializing in forum retreats, leadership offsites, and CEO coaching. Website: adamsilberstein.com (https://www.adamsilberstein.com/) About the Assemble Podcast Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group. We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms. This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle. Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community. Learn more: assemblehospitality.com (https://assemblehospitality.com/) Social Media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/assemblehospitality/) | Instagram (https://instagram.com/assembleboise) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/assemble-retreats/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@assemble-hospitality) Credits: Hosted by Dan Berger, Founder & CEO of Assemble Hospitality (https://assemblehospitality.com/). Recorded at Assemble’s Boise Retreat House. Produced by KazCM (https://kazcm.com/), part of the QuietLoud Studios (https://quietloudstudios.com/) podcast network. Distributed on SportsEpreneur (https://sportsepreneur.com/).

2. 

   29 Apr 2026

   How to Create a Men’s Group

   What does it actually take to start a men’s group that lasts? In this episode, Dan Berger sits down with Tony Delmercado and Kris Derentz — co-chairs of Fellows & Fire Pits — to unpack how a small backyard gathering evolved into a thriving men’s community. This conversation isn’t about theory. It’s about structure, participation, leadership, exclusivity, accountability, and the unglamorous early push required to get something like this off the ground. They cover everything from heart warmers and group chats to membership criteria, vibe checks, and why men especially need intentional space as they get older. If you’ve ever thought about starting a men’s group — or strengthening one you’re already part of — this episode gives you the real blueprint. Episode Themes Why men need structured connection Lower barrier to entry, higher barrier to retention The power of conscious exclusivity Designing agendas that drive depth Heart warmers vs surface-level icebreakers Participation as the core success metric Leadership without hierarchy Referral, vibe checks, and protecting culture Why momentum matters early on Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:20 – What Fellows & Fire Pits is 02:07 – What makes a good member 04:04 – Heart warmers and vulnerability 06:06 – Anatomy of a great meeting 07:55 – When members get asked to leave 09:27 – Events and cadence 11:01 – Ideal group size 12:54 – Conscious exclusivity 14:18 – Why men need spaces like this 18:22 – Advice for starting your own group 21:16 – Leadership structure 24:06 – Belonging and accountability 27:13 – Final thoughts About the Guests Tony Delmercado is Founder & CEO of Hawk Media and co-chair of Fellows & Fire Pits, a men’s group focused on authenticity, connection, and growth. Kris Derentz is Founder & CEO of EquippedMD and co-chair of Fellows & Fire Pits, where he helps steward membership, culture, and participation. Website: firepitmensgroup.com (https://firepitmensgroup.com/) About the Assemble Podcast Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group. We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms. This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle. Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community. Learn more: assemblehospitality.com (https://assemblehospitality.com/) Social Media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/assemblehospitality/) | Instagram (https://instagram.com/assembleboise) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/assemble-retreats/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@assemble-hospitality) Credits: Hosted by Dan Berger, Founder & CEO of Assemble Hospitality (https://assemblehospitality.com/). Recorded at Assemble’s Boise Retreat House. Produced by KazCM (https://kazcm.com/), part of the QuietLoud Studios (https://quietloudstudios.com/) podcast network. Distributed on SportsEpreneur (https://sportsepreneur.com/).

3. 

   22 Apr 2026

   What Retreat Leaders Can Learn From a Brother and Sister Team

   What happens when facilitation runs in the family? In this episode, Dan Berger sits down with siblings Kaley Klemp and Paul Warner to explore what retreat leaders can learn from working inside a family system — and what it takes to build trust, credibility, and mastery across generations. As second-generation facilitators, Kaley and Paul share how mentorship shaped their careers, how they developed their own voices apart from their father’s legacy, and why shadowing, apprenticeship, and doing your own personal work are non-negotiables in this field. The conversation moves from sibling dynamics to small-group mastery, business development, referral networks, and the difference between “soft skills” and real strategic execution. If you’re building a facilitation practice — or thinking about entering the space — this episode is a masterclass in craft, humility, and long-game thinking. Episode Themes What siblings can teach retreat leaders about collaboration Second-generation facilitation and finding your own voice The power of shadowing and apprenticeship Small groups as the training ground for facilitators Tools like issue clearing, reflective listening, and the Enneagram Why facilitators must keep doing their own work How referrals actually work in this industry Blending relational work with hard strategy Mentorship and building credibility over time Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and introductions 02:08 – Sibling dynamics in facilitation 04:00 – Growing up with a facilitator father 06:00 – Finding your own voice in the field 06:43 – Early facilitation experiences 08:59 – Advice for aspiring facilitators 10:18 – Working with families 12:28 – Why continual self-work matters 14:02 – Favorite facilitation tools 17:18 – Reflective listening and plexiglass 18:02 – Facilitator camp explained 20:59 – Mentorship in this field 22:30 – Business development and referrals 24:09 – How facilitators choose who to refer 26:44 – Blending strategy with interpersonal work 29:10 – What wasn’t asked About the Guests Kaley Klemp is an expert in small-group dynamics and leadership development who has facilitated retreats and trainings worldwide since 2004. She helps executives and teams strengthen communication, resolve conflict, and foster trust so they can achieve shared objectives. Her work blends strategic clarity with deep relational insight. Website: kaleyklemp.com (https://kaleyklemp.com/)Social Media: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaley-klemp-5483b418/) Paul Warner is a facilitator and coach who works with executive teams, YPO forums, and families to foster transparency, trust, and authentic connection. Through experiential retreats and coaching, he helps participants navigate difficult conversations and strengthen adult-to-adult relationships. Website: thepaulwarnergroup.com (https://www.thepaulwarnergroup.com/)Social Media: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-warner-a6943518/) About the Assemble Podcast Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group. We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms. This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle. Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community. Learn more: assemblehospitality.com (https://assemblehospitality.com/) Social Media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/assemblehospitality/) | Instagram (https://instagram.com/assembleboise) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/assemble-retreats/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@assemble-hospitality) Credits: Hosted by Dan Berger, Founder & CEO of Assemble Hospitality (https://assemblehospitality.com/). Recorded at Assemble’s Boise Retreat House. Produced by KazCM (https://kazcm.com/), part of the QuietLoud Studios (https://quietloudstudios.com/) podcast network. Distributed on SportsEpreneur (https://sportsepreneur.com/).

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Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

13 ratings

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