Episode Summary

What does it really take to design a retreat that transforms a team—not just entertains them?

In this episode, Don Berger talks with Vince Corsaro, veteran facilitator and author of Waking Up: Eight Questions That Will Shift Your Life (or Help You Do Nothing). Vince has spent decades leading retreats and forums across the world, helping groups of leaders move from surface-level interaction to authentic connection.

They explore the power of physical space, why fear is the real blocker, and how facilitators can create judgment-free environments where people actually show up as themselves.

Episode Themes

• What it means to “facilitate from a step behind”
• How fear and power dynamics block real belonging
• Why space and hospitality aren’t just aesthetics—they’re strategy
• The difference between hosting and facilitating
• Creating emotional safety through physical risk
• What CEOs need to understand before their team retreats
• Why vulnerability isn’t a feeling—it’s a decision
• Book & framework recs Vince uses to spark transformation

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

01:20 – Vince’s book: Waking Up and the eight essential questions

03:00 – What “facilitating from a step behind” looks like

05:40 – Forums vs. executive teams and managing power in the room

08:00 – Physical risk → emotional openness

10:00 – Designing for people afraid to show up

12:30 – Why space, seating, and the kitchen all matter

15:00 – Hospitality → safety → engagement

17:00 – How facilitators can step out of the spotlight

19:30 – Book recs: 15 Commitments, Lencioni, Priya Parker

22:00 – Ongoing relationships vs. one-off events

24:00 – What makes a great facilitator (and what doesn’t)

25:30 – Pricing with integrity

27:00 – Final thoughts on purpose, place, and people

About the Guest – Vince Corsaro

A veteran facilitator and leadership coach, Vince Corsaro works with forums, executive teams, and high-trust groups to design experiences that go deep. He’s the author of Waking Up: Eight Questions That Will Shift Your Life (or Help You Do Nothing) and brings decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, group dynamics, and personal transformation.

Learn more: vincecorsaro.com

About the Assemble Podcast

Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Don Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group.

We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms.

This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle.

Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community.

Learn more: assemblehospitality.com

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Credits: Hosted by Don Berger, Founder & CEO of Assemble Hospitality. Recorded at Assemble’s Boise Retreat House. Produced by KazCM, part of the QuietLoud Studios podcast network. Distributed on SportsEpreneur.