Dear Reader,

When was the last time you started from scratch?

For me it was last week, and I almost cheated.

I'd just joined Substack—a platform where writers share their thoughts without the pressure of personal branding or selling. It seemed like the perfect home for my podcast archive and this newsletter.

As a way of making myself comfortable, I imported not only my full podcast archive but also my subscriber list. And it was with pride that I looked at the number of 6,000 next to my name.

I felt relieved. Why start from zero when the community already exists?

Then, lying in bed that night, a thought crept in: You never gave me permission for this.

Another one followed: You didn't sign up for content on a different platform.

And then the truth I'd been avoiding: I'd imported those 6,000 names to hide behind. Not starting from scratch felt safer. No void to speak into. No wondering if anyone would read.

But you hadn't asked for this. And that felt wrong.

So I deleted everyone. 6,000 subscribers—gone.

Suddenly, I was alone with a blank page on a platform I barely understood. It took me hours to edit my first post. I didn't know the norms here, didn't know the audience, didn't know what kind of first impression I'd leave.

Now I'm at 63 subscribers. And I celebrate every single one.

Yesterday, someone became my first paid subscriber—without me even promoting it yet!

Here's what I'm building: A podcast club around my 355-episode archive. Instead of letting those conversations gather dust, I'm keeping them alive. I want to curate episodes, connect listeners to each other and the content, and eventually meeting monthly to explore how we bring facilitation insights from the podcast into our own practice.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, come visit. It's small, curious, and growing one person at a time.

​Click here to check me out on Substack​

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🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

Do you dare to be powerful and confident? Matthew Hill, leadership trainer, conflict mediator, and intercultural facilitator has spent years guiding executives into their inner strength – but his approach might just surprise you.

He invites us to reconsider power not as the most dominant voice in the room, but rather a calm, curious presence, and confidence not as something we muster up once, but a daily practice of small, intentional acts.

From meeting difference with meaningful dialogue, and digging a little deeper beneath the surface of our interactions, to reclaiming our voice – episode 346 is for anyone ready to remove the obstacles standing in the way of their self-belief.

Find out about:

• The cultural nuances of facilitation and learning
• How to build confidence through daily micromoments, such as ‘adding one sentence’
• How to approach opposing views with curiosity, genuine dialogue, and a desire to learn
• How facilitators can use language to foster inclusivity, rather than widen divides

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview

📥 Check out my 1-page summary

​WW_Episode_346-summary.pdf​

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👀 Watch the unedited interview on Youtube

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🎙️ Me on a podcast

On Episode 740 (!) of Mark Walsh's Embodiment Coaching Podcast, I had the opportunity not only to share my facilitation best practices but also to dive into one of the most nuanced - and maybe controversial - conversations I’ve had in years.

We spoke about psychological safety (and I loved how we explored our disagreements with great curiosity and lots of respect for each other's work), the role of AI in facilitation, and how nervous system regulation shapes our work.

And, of course, we talked about the boundaries we set as coaches and facilitators (since we are not therapists) — and soooo much more.

​Click here to listen!

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That’s it from my side! I hope you enjoy the content and find inspiration in the stories and the podcast. I wish you the courage to start from zero — and to trust what’s already clear within you. I’ll see you next week!

Myriam

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