Bringing Balance to Retreats

Episode 27

238 seconds

With Guest

June 9, 2025

Retreat location: Country of retreat

Retreats are often packed with strategy sessions and team-building activities, but what about supporting the physical and mental well-being of attendees? In this episode, Jordan Carroll, founder of Unlocked Authority, shares why wellness elements like saunas, ice baths, and nutritious food can transform a company retreat. Jordan explains how maintaining healthy routines during travel leads to better focus, energy, and connection among team members. He also introduces creative ways to use wellness spaces—like facilitating “hot topics” discussions in the sauna and icebreaker questions in cold plunges—to spark deeper conversations and build stronger relationships. For leaders planning offsites or team retreats, this episode highlights how wellness isn’t just a perk; it’s a catalyst for higher engagement and better outcomes.

The Hidden Power of Surprise in Company Retreats

With Johanna FeimanisChannableJun 16th, 2025Retreat location: Barcelona, Spain

Keeping the destination secret until departure day might sound risky, but at Channable, it’s become one of the most engaging aspects of their retreat strategy. In this episode, Johanna Feimanis, Event Manager at Channable, shares how this simple element of surprise creates excitement, sparks conversation across teams, and helps foster deeper connections before the retreat even begins. Johanna explains why this approach works particularly well for a cross-country company, where retreats aren’t just about gathering but about strengthening relationships across borders. By turning the reveal into part of the experience, Channable ensures each retreat feels like more than a trip—it becomes a shared story that bonds the entire team.

Episode 29

Offsite Ideas That Overdelivered

With Samantha ColbyJun 13th, 2025Retreat location:

Team-building activities don’t always have to be formal to be effective. In this episode, Samantha Colby, EVP of Global Marketing and Strategic Alliances at HRchitect, shares two unexpected retreat activities that brought her team closer than expected: an escape room challenge and impromptu one-on-one meetings in the pool. Both activities offered a refreshing change from the team’s typically high-stakes, detail-oriented work. The escape room encouraged playful collaboration, while the poolside meetings allowed for authentic conversations without the pressure of formal agendas. Together, they demonstrated how unstructured, creative approaches to team building can foster trust and deeper human connection.

Episode 28

Unforgettable Retreat Locations

With Meredith LawlorJun 11th, 2025Retreat location:

For distributed teams, choosing a retreat destination that feels special can spark excitement long before the trip begins. In this episode, Meredith from Resource Guru shares how her team’s retreat to Cape Town, South Africa became a milestone moment for connection and culture. The experience included jaw-dropping scenery, vintage car rides, penguin encounters, and shared meals in Camps Bay—all of which helped the team bond beyond their day-to-day work. For a company spread across the U.K. and Europe, the retreat offered not just an opportunity to gather but to create memories that continue to strengthen relationships long after returning home. This episode is perfect for teams considering destination retreats and looking for ideas on how to make the travel investment unforgettable for employees.