Facilitating Change: How to create transformative spaces that inspire, empower & drive real change

Playing for Real: Unlocking Team Potential through the Power of Play with Peter Williamson

In this insightful episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida sits down with Peter Williamson, co-founder of Barometer XP, to explore how play can powerfully transform team dynamics and organizational culture. Peter shares his journey from professional athlete to expert facilitator, revealing how play became central to his approach to building strong teams, enhancing empathy, and sparking innovation.
Together, they unpack why incorporating play into retreats and meetings can deeply impact organizational outcomes—from increased trust and empathy to uncovering hidden talents. Peter emphasizes that the magic isn't just in the game itself, but in how we set up and reflect on these playful moments.
This conversation dives into practical tips on introducing play into any workspace, navigating skepticism, and creating meaningful, reflective experiences. Peter’s unique approach, drawn from his own journey as an athlete and co-founder of Barometer XP, provides a blueprint for leaders and facilitators looking to leverage play as a transformative tool.
Join Mentor and Peter as they explore how play can become your team’s secret weapon for learning, connecting, and thriving together.
Learn More about Peter and Barometer XP:
Barometer XP Website
Connect with Peter Williamson on LinkedIn

The Language of Respect: Why Good Intentions Often Miss Their Mark with Dr. Julie Pham

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Cole Hoover speaks with Dr. Julie Pham, an expert on interpersonal dynamics, organizational development, and cross-sector collaboration. Julie unpacks why our traditional understanding of respect often leads to disconnection, despite our best intentions. She shares frameworks from her book The 7 Forms of Respect which places respect on a spectrum and gives us tools to transform the ways we relate with others. 
From misinterpreting signals in the workplace to navigating different expectations in personal relationships, Julie shares practical strategies for using curiosity to better understand what matters to others and to ourselves. She also explains how these frameworks allow us to articulate our own needs more effectively while genuinely honoring others.
If you've ever found yourself frustrated when your well-meaning efforts missed the mark, or if you're looking to build stronger connections across differences, this conversation offers a fundamental shift in how we approach respect in all areas of life. 
 
Show notes:
Check out the great work Julie and her team are doing at: Curiositybased.com
A page dedicated to Julie's book The 7 Forms of Respect and courses you can join to learn how to integrate its frameworks into your work and life: https://formsofrespect.com

Redefining Leadership, Facilitation and Fatherhood: A deep dive with Jeff Hittner

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida speaks with Jeff Hittner, a master facilitator, executive coach, and founder of the Ambitious Dads project. With 25 years of experience building better teams and people, Jeff shares his insights on how vulnerability and safe spaces drive transformation. From designing engaging workshops to helping leaders embrace change, Jeff breaks down his facilitation process step-by-step. He also opens up about his personal journey with the Ambitious Dads initiative, supporting fathers in their parenting roles. If you're curious about how to create environments for profound change, this episode is for you!
Links:
Learn more about Jeff Hittner: JeffHittner.com
Subscribe to Ambitious Dads on Substack: https://ambitiousdads.substack.com/ 
Follow Jeff on LinkedIn: Jeff Hittner

Inside the State of Facilitation 2025: Insights, Surprises, and What’s Missing with Ali Fraenkel, Cole Hoover, and Mentor Dida

In this episode, the Changemaker Allies team, your co-hosts Mentor Dida & Cole Hoover alongside Ali Fraenkel, welcome you to a reflective discussion inspired by THE go-to, global annual report for facilitation. 
We dive into musings, a-has, and reflections inspired by the 2025 State of Facilitation Report from SessionLab. With insights from over 1,000 facilitators across 78 countries, this report is a must-read for anyone who works with teams or holds space for learning, growth, and collaboration.
This is our first all-team podcast format... Tune in now to feel like you’re hanging out with your facilitator friends while sharing a cup of tea, and let’s continue the conversation together! Explore the full report here: https://www.sessionlab.com/state-of-facilitation/

Change Starts Within: A Leader's Guide to Complex Collaboration with Mark Horoszowski

In this conversation, Cole and Mark explore the intricate dynamics of cross-sector collaboration and leadership in social enterprise. They discuss the messy reality of collaboration, where often everyone shows up with their own goals, metrics, and ways of measuring success. The discussion gets personal as they unpack how leaders need to do their own inner work around ego and bias, highlighting why those in power must be willing to look in the mirror before asking others to change. Through stories and practical examples, they tackle the challenging truth that long-term collaborations are constantly in flux, with people, motivations, and priorities shifting along the way. Mark and Cole share insights on creating spaces where organizations can pursue some of their goals in the short term while still working toward bigger shared dreams, offering honest perspectives on what it takes to keep complex partnerships alive and meaningful.
 
Show Notes:
Follow Mark on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhoroszowski/
Learn about the work MovingWorlds does in the world: www.movingworlds.org

Ecosystem Acceleration: How to Build Ecosystems and Establish Power Dynamics with Kenny Clewett

In this thought-provoking episode, Mentor Dida is joined by Kenny Clewett, who co-leads Ashoka’s Hello World initiative, a global effort focused on migration, integration, and refugee movements. Kenny shares his journey from his pastoral work to becoming a facilitator and change leader, spearheading cross-sectoral collaborations to tackle some of the world’s toughest social issues.
Drawing from years of experience, Kenny discusses the art of facilitation, the importance of trust-building across different cultures, and how to navigate power dynamics in a group setting. He also shares the innovative work Ashoka is doing with Ecosystem Accelerators, which bring together diverse stakeholders to scale ideas and create systemic change in the field of migration and beyond. 
Throughout the conversation, Kenny offers profound insights into what it takes to facilitate change at a global scale and how creating space for different voices to emerge is vital in building a better, more inclusive future.
 
Links:
Kenny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyclewett/?originalSubdomain=es Kenny Clewett's Article on Social Innovations Journal
Hello World Report: https://helloworld.ashoka.org/files/peopleonthemove
Hello Europe: https://www.hello-europe.eu/our-team 

Creating Spaces for Social Impact Leaders to Thrive with Nate Wong

In this conversation Cole connects with Nate Wong, a Partner at The Bridgespan Group and social impact educator, to explore how facilitation and transformative spaces can reshape relationships between funders and nonprofits. As a strategic advisor, Nate works to reshape traditional relationships between nonprofits and philanthropists, building new models based on mutual trust and shared ownership. Drawing from his rich background in social impact, he shares practical insights on creating welcoming spaces that truly honor diverse perspectives and lived experiences. The conversation explores trust-based philanthropy, power dynamics in the nonprofit sector, and finding the sweet spot between structured and organic community building. Through stories and examples, Nate offers guidance on designing spaces that foster authentic engagement and lasting change, from small intentional gestures to thoughtful long-term planning. This episode is essential listening for anyone working to create more inclusive and effective spaces for social impact.
Show notes:
Learn more about Nate's work on his site: www.natewong.com
Learn more about The Bridgespan Group here: www.bridgespan.org

Weaving Communities for Change: Building Self-organized & Interconnected Communities with Valentina Raman

In this episode of Facilitating Change, Mentor Dida speaks with Valentina Raman, co-founder of YouthxYouth and The Weaving Lab, about her approach to weaving communities, designing learning experiences, and building capacity for collective action. Valentina shares how she creates spaces for participants to bring their whole selves, the art of holding complex and diverse groups together, and how her work with Youth by Youth empowers young people to lead. They explore the role of the facilitator, the power of emergent strategy, and the importance of weaving ecosystems for the collective thriving of people and planet. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on facilitation, leadership, and co-creating transformative spaces.
Links:
Learn more about Youth by Youth: YouthxYouth
Discover The Weaving Lab: The Weaving Lab
Connect with Valentina Raman on LinkedIn: Valentina Raman

When Deep Listening Guides Design with Nani Vishwanath

In this conversation, Cole and Nani talk about the art of transformative facilitation, exploring how to create spaces where authenticity is more important than assimilation, and deep listening guides design. They dive into Nani's work with the Courage Collective, discussing how her mission to "elevate the voices of the unheard" shapes her approach to DEI facilitation and consulting. The conversation highlights practical insights about building trust incrementally, balancing structure with emergence, and leveraging both virtual and in-person environments effectively. They also explore the importance of facilitators being selective about which spaces they choose to hold in order to ensure meaningful, sustained impact rather than superficial change. Through their discussion of specific techniques and real-world examples, they unpack how facilitators can create environments where multiple truths can coexist and participants feel truly included rather than merely welcomed.
 
Show notes:
 
Learn more about Courage Collective
 
Connect with Nani on Linkedin

How Communication Creates the Space for Transformation with Mohsin Mohi Ud Din

In this episode of Facilitating Change, we sit down with Mohsin Mohi Ud Din, founder and CEO of #MeWe International Inc., to explore how communication, storytelling, and mindfulness are shaping changemakers across the globe. With more than 10,000 youth and caregivers impacted in over 12 countries, Mohsin shares insights from his groundbreaking narrative interventions and leadership programs, offering a fresh perspective on how intention, perspective, and creativity are at the heart of change. He also talks about the power of metaphor, the importance of creating space for both rest and connection, and how facilitators can tap into the rhythms of nature to guide communities through profound transformation. Mohsin’s experience spans strategic communications at the United Nations, Ashoka, and UNICEF, and his expertise in narrative therapy and biomimicry provides transformation for changemakers, educators, and facilitators alike.
Learn more about Mohsin’s work:
LinkedIn: Mohsin Mohi Ud Din
#MeWe International: www.meweintl.org
Mohsin’s Ted Talk: Your story of you keeps score | Mohsin Mohi Ud Din | TEDxBeaconStreetSalon