Most retreat leaders say they want to "give back."
But what if the way you're doing it… is actually hurting your business?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, I'm joined by Lori McDowell, transformational strategist, retreat curator, and author of The Re-Invention Mindset, to break down a powerful (and often misunderstood) concept in the retreat space:
You cannot give from a business that isn't profitable.

Together, we unpack:
▪️ Why discounting your retreat is NOT the same as giving back
▪️ The hidden cost of underpricing (for both you and your clients)
▪️ Why guests will often pay MORE for experiences that create real impact
▪️ The mindset shift from "my business is a charity" → "my business funds impact"

Lori shares real examples, from corporate retreats building bicycles for children's homes to immersive give-back experiences that deepen connection, purpose, and transformation.

We also explore the psychology behind giving, decision-making, and why profitable retreats create a bigger ripple effect in the world.

If you've ever struggled with pricing, felt guilty charging more, or wondered how to align purpose with profit, this episode will challenge the way you think about your business.

And honestly… it might change how you design your retreats forever.

🌐 Connect with Lori:
https://yourextraordinarylife.net
Instagram & Facebook: @lori.mcdowell.5

🎟️ Want to Go Deeper?
Lori is also one of our featured workshop leaders at the Sellout Retreat Summit in Mexico, where we'll be taking these concepts even further.
If you're ready to design retreats that are both profitable and impactful, this is where it happens:
⬛️ Learn more: https://reimagineu.thrivecart.com/retreats-done-right/

💬 Loved This Episode?
If this conversation shifted your perspective, share it with someone who needs to hear it 🖤
And don't forget to leave a rating + review, it helps more retreat leaders build businesses that actually work.

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What does it really take to lead a retreat, especially when you're still questioning your own voice?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, Leni Cavazos sits down with Amy Leffler, life and business coach, retreat facilitator, and co-founder of Be Well Ladies Retreats, to explore the internal shift that every retreat leader must make before anything else works.

With over 20 years of experience in human resources and organizational leadership, Amy shares what it looked like to be successful on paper… while still feeling like she didn't belong in the room. From corporate boardrooms to retreat spaces, this conversation dives into the real work behind stepping into leadership: self-worth, visibility, and the courage to be seen.

This episode is part of our speaker series for the Sellout Retreat Summit, and Amy's story is a powerful reminder that building a retreat business doesn't start with logistics, it starts with identity.

Inside this episode, we explore:
▪️ Why confidence and self-worth are foundational to retreat leadership
▪️ The connection between visibility and attracting the right retreat clients
▪️ How showing up online shapes trust before your retreat even begins
▪️ The truth about building a retreat business while still working a corporate job
▪️ Why success in retreats is built through consistency, not overnight wins
▪️ How one decision to "be seen" can open unexpected opportunities

Amy also shares her personal turning point after attending the Sellout Retreat Summit, and how choosing visibility completely changed the trajectory of her business.

If you've been holding back, waiting to feel "ready," or wondering if you have what it takes to lead a retreat… this episode will challenge that narrative. ❕

Because your retreat doesn't start when you arrive at the venue, it starts the moment you decide to lead. 🖤

🎧 Listen now and step into the version of you your future clients are already looking for.

Connect with today's guest:
Amy Leffler
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSuJVHfK4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who's ready to step into their next level of leadership, and don't forget to leave a rating and review. 🎧💬

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What if the reason your retreat, or event, isn't creating real transformation… is the way you're framing it?

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Bridget James Ling, founder of Freedom Queen and creator of one of the fastest-growing global movements for women building high-impact, high-profit businesses.

We go beyond the surface of "retreats" and unpack what actually creates momentum, identity shifts, and real results inside in-person experiences.

Bridget shares why she once said "I hate retreats"… and how that perspective led her to design events that generate million-dollar months, deep breakthroughs, and immediate implementation.

We talk about:
▪️ Why most retreats fail to create lasting change
▪️ The difference between a retreat, a mastermind, and an expansion experience
▪️ How being "in the room" rewires your identity faster than anything online
▪️ The real reason people leave events inspired… but don't implement
▪️ How to design experiences that create momentum, not just emotions
▪️ Why selling at your event is not optional, it's your responsibility

I also share my own journey, from building luxury experiences with brands like Marriott to discovering why 80% of retreat leaders don't profit, and what needs to change.

This episode will challenge how you think about retreats, events, and what it really means to create transformation that lasts.

If you're building (or thinking about building) a retreat, this is a conversation you need to hear.

🎧 Connect with Bridget:
https://freedomqueenlive.com/
Instagram: @bridgetjamesling

🎟️ Get your tickets for Freedom Queen Live:
https://freedomqueenlive.com/

✨ Want to learn how to build a profitable retreat business?
Join my free masterclass:
https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

If you loved this episode, share it and leave a rating, it helps more retreat leaders build experiences that actually change lives. 🖤🎧

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What if wellness wasn't just about one area of life, but about the full picture of how we live, lead, work, and connect?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, I'm joined by Dr. Aimee Harris, founder of Dimensional Wellness and creator of the Dimensional Wellness Matrix. With a PhD in corporate wellness and a deep background in leadership development, employee well-being, and transformational programs, Dr. Aimee brings a perspective that is both highly strategic and deeply human.

We talk about why true wellness cannot be separated into neat little boxes, and how emotional, physical, social, workplace, financial, and spiritual well-being all influence each other more than most people realize. Dr. Aimee shares how her work evolved beyond traditional clinical models into a more complete, multidimensional approach that helps people identify where they are out of balance and what needs support.

Inside this episode, we explore:

▪️ Why wellness must be approached as an interconnected system
▪️ What the Dimensional Wellness Matrix is and how it helps identify imbalance
▪️ Why corporate wellness is a massive opportunity for retreat leaders
▪️ What companies are really looking for when they invest in wellness experiences

This conversation is especially powerful if you want to create retreats and experiences that go beyond inspiration and lead to measurable transformation.

🎧 Listen in to hear how Dr. Aimee is redefining wellness leadership through a more complete and integrated lens.

Connect with Dr. Aimee Harris:
http://www.thedimensionalwellness.com
https://www.instagram.com/dimensional.wellness/

Ready to build retreats that are aligned, strategic, and profitable?
Join my free masterclass here:
https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it and leave a rating for the show 🖤🎧💭

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What actually makes a retreat successful… and why do so many fail?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, I'm joined by Sheri A. Rosenthal, a leader in the retreat industry who has designed and led over 1,000 retreats worldwide.

Together, we break down what it really takes to create retreats that are not only transformational, but also profitable and sustainable.

We talk about:
▪️ Why retreats are inherently transformational (even when you don't expect them to be)
▪️ The biggest mistake retreat leaders make when choosing their ideal client
▪️ How pricing impacts perceived value (and why underpricing actually hurts your sales)
▪️ What most people don't understand about designing a retreat that truly sells out

If you've ever thought about hosting a retreat, or you're already running them but want to do it at a higher level, this episode will shift how you think about your business.

🎧 Connect with Sheri

▪️ Website: http://www.wanderlustentrepreneur.com
▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderlustentrepreneurs/

🎟️ Resources & Next Steps

💭 Join Sheri's event:
Rock Your Sold-Out & Profitable Retreats
https://gs227.isrefer.com/go/rysr26lc/Leni/

💭 Join us live in Mexico:
Sell Out Retreat Summit
https://womensretreatsworldwide.com/registration?am_id=lenicavazos1523

🎧 Love the show?

If this episode supported you, share it with someone who is ready to step into their next level as a retreat leader 🖤
And don't forget to leave a rating & review, it helps us reach more people who are ready to build profitable, impactful retreat businesses.

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What if your retreats sold the way Broadway shows do, months in advance, at multiple price points, with built-in demand?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, I'm breaking down the exact mechanics behind how theater producers consistently sell out shows… and how you can apply the same strategy to your offers.

Because Broadway isn't lucky.
It's engineered.

Inside this episode, you'll learn how to design an offer that feels clear, compelling, and impossible to ignore, without adding more bonuses, more complexity, or more noise.

⬛️ We dive into:
▪️ The "Power of One Thing" and how focus drives demand
▪️ The Broadway Method: filters, seasons, scarcity, and pricing tiers
▪️ How to create urgency that actually feels real (and converts)
▪️ A 9-step blueprint to build your own irresistible offer

This isn't about doing more.
It's about designing smarter.

When your offer is structured the right way, selling becomes a natural outcome, not a constant struggle.

🖤 If you've been tweaking your messaging, adding more bonuses, or second-guessing your pricing… this episode will shift how you see your entire business.

💭 Imagine this:
A clear audience.
A defined season.
Limited seats.
Tiered pricing.
A transformation people can repeat in one sentence.

That's how offers sell.

❕ Ready to build your own?
Join my free Sold Out & Profitable Masterclass, where I walk you through the exact structure behind retreats that generate $25K–$100K in profit.

Save your seat here:
https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone building their retreat business and leave a rating, it helps more people step into profitable, sustainable offers.

Because transformation without profit isn't sustainable…
and when you learn to sell like Broadway, everything changes.

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What if the retreat industry had global standards, real support, and a space where leaders didn't have to figure everything out alone?

In this episode of How to Run Profitable Retreats, I sit down with Holly Porter, retreat industry visionary and founder of the International Retreats Association, to talk about the future of this rapidly growing space and what it actually takes to build retreats that are both transformational and sustainable.

Holly shares how a deeply personal, spiritual calling led her to create an organization designed to unify, elevate, and bring integrity to the global retreat industry, something that has never existed at this level before.

But we don't stop there.

We also go into the real conversations most retreat leaders avoid:
▪️ The truth about the booming wellness travel industry, and why it's full of ready-to-buy clients
▪️ Why attending other retreats is one of the smartest growth strategies you can make
▪️ The shift from online burnout to in-person experiences, and what that means for your business

This episode is a powerful reminder that you are not just hosting retreats, you are building a business, leading transformation, and shaping an entire industry.

And if you're doing that… you deserve to be supported, connected, and profitable.

https://HollyPorter.com
https://linktr.ee/hollyporter

Join the International Retreats Association waitlist:
https://internationalretreatsassociation.org

Join my next masterclass:
https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge-418498

If you loved this episode, share it with another retreat leader and leave us a rating 🖤🎧

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner

What makes a retreat truly transformational?

In this episode, Leni Cavazos sits down with Agathe Lazaro, designer, retreat space curator, and founder of sacred retreat properties in Provence, France and Pondicherry, India, to explore the deeper layers of retreat creation.

This conversation bridges the worlds of hospitality, neuroscience, sensory intelligence, and retreat leadership, revealing why the most powerful retreats are designed with far more than schedules and workshops.

⬛️ In this episode, you'll discover:

▪️ Why the retreat experience begins long before participants arrive
▪️ How sensory intelligence impacts transformation during retreats
▪️ The connection between beauty, safety, and the nervous system
▪️ Why retreat leaders must act as the "weavers" of the experience
▪️ How subtle details in space, scent, sound, and environment influence the entire journey

As Leni often says, a profitable retreat isn't just about filling the room, it's about creating an experience that people remember, recommend, and return to.

This episode reveals the deeper layer of how that happens.

💬 Connect with today's guest

Agathe Lazaro
🌐 http://www.agathelazaro.com
📱 https://www.instagram.com/agathe.lazaro.harmonies/

🖤 Enjoying the podcast?

If this episode resonated with you:

⬜️ Share it with a retreat leader
⬜️ Send it to a friend building transformational experiences
⬜️ Leave a rating or review for the show

Your support helps more leaders learn how to build retreats that are both meaningful and profitable.

Plan a Profitable Retreat

Start here to get the tools, support, and strategy you need:

Book a free consult → https://theretreatplanner.com/go

Download the Profit E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/profitebook

Download the Loyalty Marketing E-book → https://theretreatplanner.com/loyaltyebook

Join the Sold Out & Profitable Intensive → https://theretreatplanner.com/challenge

Attend the Live Workshop → https://theretreatplanner.com/live

Follow on Instagram → https://instagram.com/theretreatplanner