A podcast about designing and facilitating learning experiences with host Beth Cougler Blom.
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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.
New episodes published semi-monthly, on the second and fourth Wednesday of most months.
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Latest Episodes
Maintaining Well-Being – Episode 24
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Neelu Kaur about how we can maintain our well-being and prevent burnout, particularly as people who do facilitation work. Beth and Neelu also talk about: Mental health, self-advocacy, and cultural identity, particularly...
Building Community Online – Episode 23
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about how to build online communities when facilitating in the virtual mode. She discusses the importance of understanding our own values and beliefs as facilitators, knowing our participants, and the need to define the purpose...
Music as a Facilitation Tool – Episode 22
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Julias Alego about how music has been a part of his life in Kenya so far, and how he uses it in his facilitation work. Beth and Julias also talk about: Considerations around choosing music for a facilitated event Potential...
Pronouncing Participants’ Names – Episode 21
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Mary Houle and Sarra Ismail about the importance of pronouncing people's names correctly, how to learn how to do it respectfully, and why it's related to inclusive facilitation practices. Beth, Sarra and Mary also talk...
Improv in Facilitation – Episode 20
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Brett Macdonald about learning and using improv skills and techniques in facilitation, and how they may be more available to people who work with groups than we originally might think. Beth and Brett also talk about: The...
Choosing Activities – Episode 19
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the things we should think about when we design activities into our workshops and courses. Beth explores concepts such as using learning outcomes to guide activity choice, designing authentic activities, offering...
Unhurried Facilitation – Episode 18
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Johnnie Moore about his book, Unhurried at Work, and how we as facilitators can embrace unhurried conversations and practices. While working this way isn't always easy, it may just be what we need in the world right now....
Reaching Inward and Outward as Facilitators – Episode 17
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Kirsty Lewis about how we facilitators need to do our own inner and outer work to be able to take care of and invest in ourselves as well as serve our clients. Beth and Kirsty also discuss: finding people to help us at...
Exploring Elasticity in Facilitation – Episode 16
In this episode, Beth talks with Rebecca Sutherns about her book, ELASTIC: Stretch Without Snapping or Snapping Back, and how its insights can apply to facilitators and their groups. Rebecca uses the metaphor of a rubber band to explain how people can try to find the...
Dealing with Self-Doubt – Episode 15
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the ways we might experience self-doubt as designers and facilitators of learning and what to do about it. She reveals some of the ways self-doubt has crept up for her and shares some of the things she thinks...
