

workshops work
Dr Myriam Hadnes
Welcome to “workshops work,” the podcast that transforms how professionals engage, inspire, and lead groups. Ranked among the top 5% most popular podcasts globally, it is hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, a behavioural economist and facilitation expert. Each episode delves into the techniques and mindsets that make workshops truly impactful.Join us every week as we sit down with world-renowned facilitators and uncover their secrets to creating psychological safety, fostering collaboration, and sparking innovation. Whether you’re a Facilitator, L&D professional, HR leader, manager, coach or trainer, you’ll find practical tips, inspiring stories, and actionable insights to elevate your group dynamics.From navigating conflict to unlocking creativity, “workshops work” blends theory with practice, ensuring you walk away with tools you can immediately apply. Dr Myriam Hadnes doesn’t just interview; she facilitates enriching conversations that shift perspectives and deepen understanding.Subscribe now to change the world, one workshop at a time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 12min
313 - Digging into the Future: The Art of Future Archaeology with Markus Iofecea
Send us a textCan we explore the future as if it were an archaeological site? Instead of predicting trends or following hype cycles, future archaeologist Markus Iofcea uncovers artifacts - fragments of possible futures - that help us rethink what’s to come.Future archaeologist, co-author of the book Zurück zur Zukunft, and all-round inspiring mind, Markus Iofcea, is here to tell us that yes, the future can be ours to create! He digs in the future to see what treasures he can find in its vast archeological site - except his artefacts aren’t the rare remnants of a civilisation gone-by, but rather inventions we are yet to make. Inventions that could change the world!From there, he hypothesises his discoveries infinitely - helping organisations to philosophically explore contexts, variations and parameters to test if an innovation will work well beyond our current, limiting reality.This was one of those rare, fascinating conversations that you won’t want to miss - thank you for setting my mind alight, Markus!Find out about:What future archaeology is and how Markus explores the possibilities of the futureFuture artefacts: what they are, how to dig them out, and how to innovate themThe importance of removing an artefact from our current context to prepare for the unknownWhy we must ‘dig’ at an innovation for as long as possible, interrogating its logical componentsHow Markus helps the corporate world to excavate innovations, free from limitations and predictionsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Link to his book Connect to Markus Iofcea:LinkedInWebsiteSupport the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/

Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 11min
312 - From Mapping to Meaning: Co-Creation Through Jobs to Be Done with Jim Kalbach
Send us a textFacilitation isn’t just about guiding a process—it’s about creating meaning. And in this episode, Jim Kalbach, author of The Jobs To Be Done: Align Your Markets, Organization, and Strategy Around Customer Needs, shares how facilitation and Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) go hand in hand.We dive into the art of moving from insight to action, exploring how facilitators and leaders can use JTBD to break through assumptions, foster collaboration, and design experiences that truly serve the people they’re meant for.Jim shares his own journey—from journey mapping to facilitation—revealing how shifting the focus from solutions to human needs changes everything.Find out about:Why facilitation isn’t just about neutrality—it’s about shaping meaningful outcomesThe power of customer journey maps as tools for conversation and sense-makingHow Jobs to Be Done helps teams focus on real human needs, not just solutionsWhy co-creation leads to better collaboration, alignment, and decision-makingHow to avoid “workshop amnesia” and keep momentum alive after a sessionPractical ways to embed customer-centric thinking into everyday workDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Jobs to be Done ToolkitConnect to GUEST:Jim on AmazonLinkedIn Support the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/

Mar 4, 2025 • 53min
311 - Facilitating Courage: A Deeper Look at Psychological Safety with Myriam Hadnes
Send us a textIt’s an art form, but it’s not rocket science. It’s courageous, but it’s not not cushy or comforting. And it’s saying no in meaningful ways, rather than saying yes to everything.Psychological safety is as much about what it’s not, as what it is. It’s a phenomenon that’s nuanced, ephemeral and often misconceived, asking all of us - facilitator and participant - to hold out our arms to discomfort, take risks, make mistakes and dance in our humanness.But to achieve it, and then keep it alive for everyone, takes great self-awareness, emotional regulation - and for us facilitators to feel safe first. Join me for a special solo episode - an hour dedicated entirely to the art of psychological safety!Find out about:My 4 practical tips for leaders to create psychological safety around youAnd 4 ways leaders can build psychological safety for themselvesBeyond the buzzword, what does it really mean to achieve psychological safety?Why small mistakes can evolve into bigger risks when safety is absentMaking every voice count, and feel safe, with the power of using “Yes, and ___”The importance of cultivating your own emotional literacy and setting boundariesDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Connect to Myriam Hadnes:LinkedInWebsiteSupport the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 10min
310 - Listening Deeper: Finding the Questions That Need to Be Asked with Akshay Kapur
Akshay Kapur, an executive coach specializing in workshops and meetings, shares his insights on the power of silence and the art of asking the right questions. He emphasizes creating spaciousness for reflection and dialogue, bridging the gap between coaching and facilitation. Akshay discusses how understanding group dynamics fosters effective communication and the nuances of virtual engagement. He also explores the emotional dynamics at play in workshops and the importance of preparing for deeper connections and meaningful discussions.

Feb 18, 2025 • 1h 15min
309 - Resourcing the Room: The Art of Holding Space for Healing with Louise Marra
Louise Marra, a trauma resolution expert and facilitator, shares her insights on healing through indigenous wisdom. She discusses how trauma affects group dynamics and offers strategies for holding safe spaces for participants. Louise highlights the significance of recognizing organizational trauma and the 'rupture and repair' process for personal and collective growth. The conversation also delves into fostering emotional awareness and the role of intuition in decision-making, emphasizing the value of vulnerability in leadership and group facilitation.

21 snips
Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 4min
308 - Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Facilitation with Kerri Price
Kerri Price, an experienced facilitator, shares her journey from casual workshops to a successful business, revealing the importance of embracing unexpected detours in facilitation. She discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and the joy of rediscovery, emphasizing self-awareness and authenticity in her approach. Kerri also highlights how the pandemic transformed perceptions of facilitation, advocating for inclusivity and collaboration. Most importantly, she explores the emotional landscape of facilitation, urging facilitators to set the right emotional tone and prioritize self-care.

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 17min
307 - From Sober Raves to Corporate Joy: Facilitating Connection Across Contexts with Jacques The Party Scientist
Send us a textIf joy was an episode, then it would be episode 307. Welcome back, for the third time, to Jacques The Party Scientist, sober rave host, and social norm disruptor!I’ve witnessed Jacques’ journey for quite some years now as he’s facilitated joy, spread his natural antidepressants, and created experiences that unite people through the hedonism of human connection.He joins us with a party bag of life-affirming, inspiring ideas; from the natural forces of neuroscience, to taking social risks, and being misunderstood - but doing it anyway. Feel the flood of neurochemicals with Jacques, as he brings his goofy, gorgeous, full-of-life self.Find out about:How Jacques facilitates joy and creates the mental health tonic of human connectionThe 3 Cs of Joy: Cultivate physiological state, Celebrate social risks and Co-create communityExpressing our needs through the liberating act of Radical HonestyHow Jacques designs psychologically safe spaces that allow people to push past fear Sober raves, consensual hugging and platonic intimacy Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Connect to Jacques Martiquet:LinkedInWebsiteSupport the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/

Jan 28, 2025 • 1h 10min
306 - Creating Psychological Safety in Psychedelic Work with Kacey Cardin
Kacey Cardin, a guide in therapeutic self-discovery through psychedelics and plant medicine, shares her transformative insights. She delves into the ancient wisdom behind psychedelics, emphasizing the creation of psychological safety in therapeutic environments. Kacey discusses the miraculous effects of neuroplasticity and how emotional and physical health assessments guide her treatment. The importance of integration practices, including somatic work and journaling, highlights the healing potential of these journeys, making this an enlightening exploration into the psyche.

Jan 21, 2025 • 1h 9min
305 - From Limiting Beliefs to Inclusive Leadership with Aim-on Wongsaparn
Send us a textHow often do you tell yourself that you can’t do something? We all have a habit of collecting self-fulfilling prophecies in our pockets, that’s just human nature - but what might happen if we dared to say ‘I can’?Joining us for a beautiful, inward-facing episode about the self, the power of the mind, and how to lead in more inclusive ways, is Aim-on Wongsaparn. As a coach and facilitator, a liberator of limiting beliefs, and someone who shares a rather unexpected similarity with Barack Obama, Aim-on is a fervent advocate that everyone can realise their potential - when they know how.Press play to banish the self-doubt, break your bias, and get inspired.Find out about:The practical strategies needed to challenge your own limiting beliefsHow to recognise your self-talk and tune into your thinking mindThe importance of expressing emotions to cultivate compassionate, connected relationshipsWhy we must make the implicit explicit when cultural, hierarchical differences are at playHow to challenge your biases in leadership to enable collective growthDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Connect to Aim-on Wongsaparn:LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 13min
304 - Authenticity and Creativity: Elevating Workshops with Visual Techniques with Patti Dobrowolski
Send us a textFrom Broadway actor, to drama therapist for county jails, a four-times Tedx speaker and now a Live Illustrator, Patti Dobrowolski is a rare, creative talent that has befriended reinvention…And she now helps others to do the same, designing memorable, interactive workshops using illustration to visualise new realities, aspirations and futures. Because when you draw your dreams? That is where the magic starts to happen.This is a wise, worldly conversation that explores the depths of authentic creativity in its many guises, filled with golden aha moments and Patti’s infectious energy. What a privilege to hear her stories, experiences and share in her life lessons!Find out about:Patti’s personal and professional experience in the intentional use of drama for therapeutic gainHow visualisation techniques can help participants to embody their desired futureThe art of breaking habitual patterns and adopting fresh, new perspectivesHow to use AI effectively in facilitation to save yourself timeThe career mistakes we made as beginners - that you can avoid!Links:Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Connect to Patti Dobrowolski:LinkedInWebsiteSupport the show✨✨✨You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/


