Episode Summary

How do you help people speak the truth—with courage and compassion—without shutting others down?

In this episode, Coach In Motion founder Kim Mensch Weinberg joins host Don Berger to explore how leaders can elevate self-awareness, strengthen team trust, and navigate difficult conversations with honesty and care.

From her CLEAR communication model to her experiences teaching at UVA and Georgetown, Kim shares how she blends candor with compassion, structure with humanity, and professionalism with presence.

Whether you lead a team, facilitate groups, or just want to get better at hard conversations—this episode’s for you.

Episode Themes

• Courage + compassion—the dual mindset of effective leadership
• Bringing candor into coaching and facilitation
• Managing “terminal politeness” and getting real in teams
• Kim’s CLEAR Model for courageous communication
• Handling “jerks” with awareness and empathy
• Holding space without losing authority
• When connection matters more than correction

About the Guest – Kim Mensch Weinberg

Kim Mensch Weinberg is an executive coach, facilitator, and organizational consultant with over 30 years of experience helping leaders grow through conscious awareness and action. She’s a UVA and Georgetown faculty member, YPO-certified facilitator, and founder of Coach In Motion, where she helps teams transform how they lead, communicate, and connect.

Learn more: coachinmotion.com

Social Media: LinkedIn

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.

Episode Summary
Most men don’t get spaces to slow down, feel, and connect. Sascha Lewis decided to build one.

As co-founder of EVRYMAN, Sascha turned men’s emotional wellness into a movement—creating retreats where real conversation replaces performance.

Host Dan Berger talks with Sascha about the reality behind these experiences: how they work, why they matter, and what it takes to make them sustainable. From 10,000-person yoga events in Central Park to deeply human men’s circles in the Berkshires, this episode explores what happens when culture, business, and consciousness meet.

Episode Themes

• The state of modern masculinity and belonging
• How men’s retreats create community and release pressure
• Real talk vs. performative vulnerability
• Marketing and scaling authentic experiences
• Sustaining connection after the high of a retreat

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
Dan Berger introduces Sascha Lewis—founder, builder, and cultural entrepreneur.

01:20 – The 10,000-person yoga class
Central Park, JetBlue yoga mats, thunder, lightning, and lessons learned.

05:00 – Starting EVRYMAN
How a simple men’s group became a global movement.

07:00 – Why men need spaces to feel
Breaking through the armor—fear, purpose, and emotional honesty.

10:00 – Designing emotional retreats
What makes men open up—and what doesn’t.

15:00 – Fun as healing
Why tug-of-war and talent shows matter more than you’d think.

19:00 – Marketing meaning
The hardest part of the retreat business—and how EVRYMAN found its audience.

25:00 – Scaling heart-driven work
Why EVRYMAN paused retreats to focus on sustainable community.

28:00 – Closing
Sascha’s advice: build the community first, the business second.

About the Guest – Sascha Lewis

Sascha Lewis is a co-founder of EVRYMAN , a global men’s emotional wellness platform helping men connect more deeply with themselves and others.

He’s also Director of Culture & Commerce at Dutchfield LLC and previously co-founder of Flavorpill Media, pioneering digital culture and live experiences.

His career spans creative entrepreneurship, large-scale events, and leading wellness-driven communities worldwide.

Learn more: evryman.com
Social Media: LinkedIn

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.

Episode Summary
Emmy Award–winning coach Tim Peek once led through fear—until a career meltdown forced him to rebuild from the inside out.

In this episode, Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality, sits down with Tim to explore what real leadership looks like under pressure: emotional intelligence, radical responsibility, and the courage to be vulnerable.

They talk failures, retreats gone wrong, and how creating safety and humor can unlock growth—at work and in life.

Episode Themes

• Emotional intelligence in high-stakes leadership
• Building safety and belonging in teams
• Vulnerability as a performance advantage
• Leadership lessons from failure and humility
• How retreats reveal what daily life hides

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
Dan introduces Tim Peek, Emmy-winning coach and former NBC executive.

01:20 – From newsroom to boardroom
How leading through fear backfired—and what forced Tim to change.

03:00 – The turning point
A book, a coach, and a moment of truth that shifted everything.

05:00 – Fired mid-retreat (twice)
Why even facilitators fail—and what “readiness” really means.

09:00 – Emotional intelligence under pressure
What great leaders do when chaos hits.

13:00 – Creating psychological safety
The role of presence, hospitality, and space in building trust.

15:00 – Vulnerability-based trust
Why people connect fastest through honesty, not polish.

17:00 – Exercises for connection
“If you really knew me…” and other prompts that open teams up.

22:00 – Retreats that work
A story of transformation through storytelling and shared history.

24:00 – Closing reflections
Why “Peek” means looking deeper, not higher.

About the Guest – Tim Peek

Tim Peek is an Emmy Award–winning executive coach and facilitator who helps leaders and teams surpass themselves.

A former NBC News producer, he combines storytelling and emotional intelligence to build cultures of trust and self-awareness.

Learn more: timpeek.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.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Assemble Podcast, host Don Berger sits down with Jonathan Hermida, Managing Director of the Center for Transformational Coaching, to unpack what true coaching looks like — and what it isn’t.

Jonathan explains how authentic coaches use lived experience, not just credentials, to help people navigate identity shifts and purpose. He and Don explore the stages of personal power, the role of community and retreats, and why presence matters more than process.

They also discuss how technology and AI are reshaping the coaching landscape — and why, despite all the tools, real transformation still happens face-to-face.

If you care about leadership, facilitation, or creating spaces where people feel seen and connected, this one’s worth your time.

Episode Themes

• What makes transformational coaching real
• How to tell authentic coaches from marketers
• The business side of coaching and personal growth
• The “Stages of Power”: moving from achievement to purpose
• Designing environments that build trust and clarity
• The growing need for community and belonging
• Retreats as catalysts for presence and transformation
• AI as a coaching tool — opportunity and caution

Chapters

0:00 — Welcome and introduction
1:10 — What is transformational coaching
2:36 — How Jonathan found his path and mentor
4:13 — Everyone’s a coach? Sorting authenticity from noise
6:00 — Learning the business of coaching
8:10 — Understanding the Six Stages of Power
10:09 — Who joins the Center and why
12:20 — Success stories from the program
13:08 — The power of in-person retreats
14:40 — Presence as the foundation for transformation
16:17 — Trends: AI, connection, and the future of work
18:02 — Can AI coach humans?
20:08 — Designing retreats that truly move people
21:46 — Balancing structure with flow
23:49 — Blending Eastern and Western mindsets
24:28 — Vulnerability in facilitation
25:46 — How to connect with Jonathan

About the Guest – Jonathan Hermida

Jonathan Hermida is a leadership and transformational coach and Managing Director of the Center for Transformational Coaching. A three-time founder and global mentor, he helps leaders and teams move from reflection to purpose through deep, conscious work and immersive retreats

Learn more: centerfortransformationalcoaching.com

Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram

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.

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.

Episode Summary

What happens when people step away from their routines and into an environment built for connection? In this conversation, Don Berger talks with Scott Jones, M.S., founder of Becoming Ultra, about how retreats create the kind of belonging and transformation that one-on-one coaching can’t touch.

With over 20 years of experience training Olympians, pro athletes, and everyday runners, Scott shares what he’s learned about designing retreats, balancing training and recovery, and building inclusive communities where people push toward big goals together.

Episode Themes

• Origins of Becoming Ultra and how retreats took shape
• Designing retreat days: balancing training, recovery, and connection
• The belonging effect — what happens in groups that can’t happen 1:1
• Making retreats inclusive for beginners and seasoned athletes alike
• Why bonds formed in small groups change performance and perspective
• Ensuring the lessons and relationships last when people return home
• Practical advice for leaders or coaches who want to launch their own retreats

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Assemble Podcast
02:10 – Scott’s path from coaching to retreats
07:30 – Designing the structure of a retreat
14:05 – Why belonging and group dynamics matter
18:45 – Inclusivity: balancing beginners with experienced athletes
24:20 – How bonds form and transform performance
29:00 – Lasting impact beyond the retreat
32:00 – Scott’s advice to leaders considering retreats
34:00 – Upcoming Becoming Ultra retreats

About the Guest – Scott Jones, M.S.

Scott Jones started Becoming Ultra to bridge the gap between athletes doing amazing things and the rest of us. With a master’s in exercise science and over 20 years of coaching experience, Scott has trained Olympians, professional athletes, and countless runners chasing big goals.

He is the host of the Becoming Ultra podcast, the voice behind Athlete on Fire, and the organizer of training camps and retreats worldwide. His mission is to make the life-changing experience of training and belonging in a community accessible to all.

Based in Fruita, Colorado, Scott shares life with his wife Lauren and their two sons, Wyatt and West — who, as Scott likes to admit, can probably beat you up the mountain.

Learn more: becomingultra.com

Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube

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.