workshops work Podcast

Dr Myriam Hadnes
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

This is a podcast about facilitation: the practice of creating conditions for people to think better together. Whether you’re leading strategy, navigating change or developing leaders, the quality of your conversations shapes the quality of your decisions. Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, behavioural economist, facilitator and founder of workshops.work, each episode explores the human dynamics of working together: how psychological safety is built, why some conversations lead to action while others stall, how leaders foster genuine participation, and what behavioural science can teach us about collaboration. Alongside these conversations, Dr Hadnes shares reflections from her own client work, offering practical insights from the realities of designing and facilitating workshops in organisations. Recognised as the facilitation community’s most-recommended podcast in SessionLab’s State of Facilitation reports from 2024 to 2026, the show has grown into an archive of more than 350 conversations spanning the craft, the inner work, and the unexpected edges of facilitation. Whether you’re a facilitator, leader, consultant or L&D professional, you'll come away with sharper questions and a few ideas worth borrowing.

  1. 4d ago

    356 - Great Facilitation Requires Professional Risk with Rob Evans

    What if being professional is sometimes the very thing that gets in the way of good facilitation? In this conversation, Myriam and Rob Evans explore what happens when we take off the professional armour and bring more of ourselves into the room. Rob shares how humour, warmth and genuine curiosity helped him win over a room of Lufthansa engineers — not because he had performed professionalism perfectly, but because he was the only consultant who seemed to be having any fun. From there, the conversation goes deeper into the tension between expertise and not knowing. As facilitators, clients often expect us to arrive with answers. Yet some of the most important work begins when we can confidently say: I don’t know the answer, but I know how to help this group find it. Together, Myriam and Rob explore authenticity, vulnerability and the risks of showing up without armour. They discuss why playing it safe isn’t always the safest option, how professional responsibility can make us controlling or critical, and why endurance can disconnect us from the signals our bodies are sending. They also challenge a familiar assumption about change: that people change because we give them a convincing argument. Instead, meaningful change often requires an experience — an emotional encounter with the possibility that something different can happen. This is a conversation about facilitation beyond methods and techniques. About trusting curiosity when you don’t know the answer, paying attention to what is happening in yourself as much as in the group, and perhaps taking ourselves a little less seriously along the way. In this episode, you’ll explore: Why lightheartedness can be a powerful facilitation resourceThe difference between warm humour and sarcasmHow to confidently facilitate when you don’t know the answerWhy playing it safe can create its own risksWhat authenticity asks of us when we remove our professional armourHow endurance can disconnect us from the wisdom of the bodyWhy emotional experience matters when people and organisations are trying to changeAbout this episode This conversation was originally recorded for Unprofessionalism, my new podcast exploring the professional rules we follow without questioning them, and what happens when we break them. If you enjoy the places this conversation goes beyond facilitation into how we show up as professionals, you can find Unprofessionalism by Dr. Myriam Hadnes wherever you listen to podcasts. Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    356 - Great Facilitation Requires Professional Risk with Rob Evans

  2. Jul 20

    UPDATE: The Workshops Work Podcast Has Its Own Feed Again

    Sometimes the best decisions only reveal themselves after we’ve made them. Six months ago, I merged my new podcast, Unprofessionalism, with the existing Workshops Work feed. It felt like the right move at the time. But the download statistics told a different story. Many listeners searching for Workshops Work kept finding only the episode titled “The Final Episode of Workshops Work” and understandably assumed the podcast had disappeared. In this short episode, I share why I decided to separate the two podcasts again—and why both shows now have their own dedicated homes. If you’re interested in facilitation, workshop design, group dynamics, and the philosophy behind meaningful conversations, you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast, you’ll find it here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

  3. 12/30/2025

    355 - The Final Episode of Workshops Work with Myriam Hadnes

    And that’s a wrap, folks! After 355 brilliant, beautiful, mind-opening conversations about facilitation, life, and everything in between, I can now confidently say that I have found the magic ingredients that make workshops work. Join me, myself, and I for a final farewell episode of Workshops Work, before I retire this guise of the podcast from the airwaves. I reflect on the beautiful journey of almost 7 years, where my curiosity has led me, and why it’s now time for the start of something new. Next week, Workshop Works shapeshifts into a new chapter, a new direction, a new podcast! Unprofessionalism is set to air on the 7th January, as I begin to explore the real stories, shadows, and inspirations that can help us to celebrate our most human, unguarded selves. But for now, a wholehearted thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Find out about: The evolution of the Workshops Works podcastWhy my curiosity has shifted from that of the facilitator, to that of the participantThe new Unprofessionalism podcast – what it’s about, and what you can expectThe podcast club that I am hosting, to deepen our facilitation learnings togetherConnect with me: LinkedIn Join the Podcast Club on Substack by subscribing to the workshops work Substack: https://substack.com/@myriamhadnes/postsAny thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    355 - The Final Episode of Workshops Work with Myriam Hadnes

  4. 12/24/2025

    353 - How to Facilitate Constructive Discomfort through Brave Spaces with Dr. Dauv Evans

    Brave work is messy work. It’s an invitation into the dōjō – to be humbled, to get vulnerable, and leave behind what you thought you knew. Life-long learner, executive coach, culture consultant and facilitator, Dr. Dauv Evans joins me this week to journey beyond safety into the brave space arena. Together, we explore what it takes to build these spaces: the intentionality, the rules of engagement, and the assumptions we must leave at the door to have courageous conversations. From power imbalances, to conversations on race, Dauv shares his work in helping people to grow together and exist outside of their comfort zone, with generosity and passion. A rich, practical conversation about how leaders can show up with humility when it’s needed most. Find out about: What braves spaces are – and why people must be invited into themHow constructive discomfort can facilitate deeper connection, meaningful learning, and cultural change within organisationsWhy leaders must navigate people’s varying levels of risk tolerance with careHow to use power positively to facilitate a brave conversation for the betterDon’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 Dauv Evans: Brave Space Leadership Cohort Interest Form Website LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    353 - How to Facilitate Constructive Discomfort through Brave Spaces with Dr. Dauv Evans

  5. 12/16/2025

    352 - Less Thinking, More Sensing: Embodiment in Facilitation with Mirjam Leunissen

    Take a moment to tune into your body. Do your muscles feel tense, is your heartbeat slow and steady, is your jaw clamped tight? Embodiment coach and one-week-old facilitator, my fiancée Mirjam Leunissen joins me this week for a podcast first! As a scientist in a past life, Mirjam spent her days distilling data points – and she continues to do so under a new guise, now recognising patterns in the body, in emotions, and how people show up. We explore how embodiment can be a gateway to changing perspective and mastering our own comfort, as Mirjam shares practical tips for making sense of our bodies. A beautiful invitation to think a little less, sense a lot more, and come back to being a whole human being! Find out about: How embodiment can shape how we think and feel, helping us to regulate our nervous system, and respond with greater clarityWhy emotional awareness begins in the body first, when we tune into our physical sensationsWhy facilitating with lightness, play, and curiosity can foster psychological safetyThe importance of using tangible, factual terms about our physiology to bridge understandingWhy shifting our posture can positively transform the way that we thinkDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Links: Connect to Mirjam Leunissen: LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    352 - Less Thinking, More Sensing: Embodiment in Facilitation with Mirjam Leunissen

  6. 12/09/2025

    351 - The Fierce Compassion of Facilitation with Shireen Naqvi

    From a childhood imaginary classroom, to the moments before a traffic light turns green, Shireen Naqvi has been viewing the world as a beautiful facilitation opportunity her whole life. Guided by the divine belief that humans are the best creatures in the universe, Shireen has made it her mission to help others realise the power that lies within them. She joins me this week to share stories from her life in Pakistan, her strategies for enabling self-empowerment in others, and why anger is the perfect ammunition for change. A wise and inspiring conversation rich with Shireen’s passion, as we explore professionalism, injustice, the female experience, cultural nuances, and everything in between! Find out about: Why we should pay attention to our angers in order to understand our personal valuesWomen’s rights in Pakistan, and Shireen’s experience as a female trainer and entrepreneurHow Shireen uses play and authenticity to break the barrier of professionalism in the boardroomHow the concept of professionalism differs across cultures and countriesDon’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 Shireen Naqvi: LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    351 - The Fierce Compassion of Facilitation with Shireen Naqvi

  7. 12/02/2025

    350 - Workshops Without Words: Learning from the Clown with Suzanne Dietz

    Not all clowns hide sadness behind a painted smile. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve, with earnest, overt authenticity, and deep self-awareness! After taking a sign language course, Suzanne Dietz discovered how freeing it was to express herself through non-verbal communication – and it soon changed the course of her life. Hanging up her traditional facilitation hat and swapping it for a red nose, she now brings joy to the lives of asylum seekers and the elderly as a talented care clown. Together, we unravel the wondrous world of non-verbal facilitation: from improvisation and silent connection, to letting go of performance, and developing a sharpened sense for the unspoken. Find out about: The unexpected similarities between facilitators and clownsThe non-verbal craft of clowning, the cues, and the communication formHow Suzanne expresses and plays with emotions with authenticityHow clowning can sharpen our intuition, and reveal emotional clarity in both ourselves and othersDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Connect to Suzanne Dietz: LinkedIn Website Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    350 - Workshops Without Words: Learning from the Clown with Suzanne Dietz

  8. 11/25/2025

    349 - Facilitation in Japan: Silence, Safety, and Subtlety with Yuko Gendo

    Silence is a virtue, and nowhere is this more deeply understood than in Japan. A pause rich with meaning, where thoughts are carefully explored, emotions are quiet, and things are said, without any words at all. So, how do facilitators hold space amidst the subtlety? Facilitator, workshop designer, and coach, Yuko Gendo invites us into the beautifully unique world of Japanese facilitation this week, as a practice shaped by deep respect, harmony, and quiet reflection. She shares how non-verbal cues can soften emotional expression, how consensus forms through alignment, not debate, and together we compare our cultural experiences as two facilitators from opposite sides of the world. Join us! Find out about: The cultural values of silence, hierarchy and emotional restraint, and their role in Japanese facilitationHow Yuko navigates the tension between group harmony and individual expressionThe use of indirect expressions through cards, visuals and metaphor, in place of direct speachWhat Western facilitators can learn from their Japanese counterpartsDon’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 Yuko Gendo: Website LinkedIn Any thoughts? Share them with us! Support the show 👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈

    349 - Facilitation in Japan: Silence, Safety, and Subtlety with Yuko Gendo
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About

This is a podcast about facilitation: the practice of creating conditions for people to think better together. Whether you’re leading strategy, navigating change or developing leaders, the quality of your conversations shapes the quality of your decisions. Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, behavioural economist, facilitator and founder of workshops.work, each episode explores the human dynamics of working together: how psychological safety is built, why some conversations lead to action while others stall, how leaders foster genuine participation, and what behavioural science can teach us about collaboration. Alongside these conversations, Dr Hadnes shares reflections from her own client work, offering practical insights from the realities of designing and facilitating workshops in organisations. Recognised as the facilitation community’s most-recommended podcast in SessionLab’s State of Facilitation reports from 2024 to 2026, the show has grown into an archive of more than 350 conversations spanning the craft, the inner work, and the unexpected edges of facilitation. Whether you’re a facilitator, leader, consultant or L&D professional, you'll come away with sharper questions and a few ideas worth borrowing.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Myriam Hadnes
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    361
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 workshops.work B.V.
  • Show Website
    workshops work Podcast

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