For You, the Retreat Leader:

Read more

Let’s start with a hard truth: your retreat isn’t selling because your funnel is starving. You don’t have a traffic problem—you have a value problem. And no, tossing together another generic “7 Steps to Wellness” PDF isn’t going to fix it.

The whole point of a lead magnet is to stop someone mid-scroll, earn their email address, and plant a flag in their brain that says, “This person gets me.” That means your freebie has to be specific, desirable, and immediately useful. Sexy, yes—but smart. And most importantly? Built to convert.

So if you’re still offering the same vanilla downloads as every other coach or spiritual guide out there, it’s time to level up. Here are five high-converting lead magnets that work—and how to build them fast with ChatGPT at your side.

Read more

This afternoon, the retreat company I contract with hosted a guest speaker on DEI.

A little context: the team is mostly white—two men, seven women, one Black woman… and me.

Credit where it’s due: the company recognized that when working with a diverse client base, cultural differences can surface—and they might not always know how to navigate them. So they brought in a wonderful speaker to lead a two-hour conversation about DEI. We explored if we thought it mattered, why it mattered, and what it might look like inside our work.

I learned a lot about my coworkers. Two have gay siblings. Three have queer kids. One has a trans sister—a sister who is a trans woman, not a radio, as I clarified when she stumbled over her own words. That gave me hope. But it also became clear that most of them had never really sat down and asked their loved ones what it means to live in their shoes.

Read more

Imagine walking into a luxury restaurant and being handed dessert before you’ve even sat down. No starter. No entrée. Just the final course, plopped in front of you with no context or buildup. Sounds disjointed, right? That’s what most retreat businesses look like. They skip right to the sweet part without giving their clients a proper journey.

Too many coaches, healers, and creators are building their businesses backwards. They design a beautiful retreat, price it, pick the destination, build the webpage... and then hope the right people magically find it. But without an ecosystem that supports that offer—without a path that leads someone to confidently say, “Yes, I’m ready”—they're left wondering why it feels so hard to fill spots.

Read more

Read more

Read more

I won’t sugarcoat it—hosting a retreat where 5 of your 8 guests cancel isn’t exactly the dream.

But this week? I learned something every retreat leader should tattoo on their soul:

Success isn’t about the headcount. It’s about the heart count.

The vibe was meant to be playful, masculine, and restorative. A group of grown men remembering what it feels like to laugh too hard, stay up too late, and act like they’re 23 again—with more wisdom and fewer injuries.
But when more than half of them dropped out (due to a wild domino of flight cancellations, work emergencies, and life doing what life does), I had a choice:
Wallow in the numbers, or lean in to the energy that was there.

Read more

Some people glance at my retreats and assume they’re just gay vacations with fewer clothes and more cocktails. And yeah, there are cocktails. And there’s definitely nudity. But if you think that’s all that’s happening, you’re missing the point.

Because here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud: doing nothing is deeply transformational. Especially for men over 50 who’ve been in survival mode for decades—working, caregiving, grieving, repressing, conforming. You want a week filled with 12 workshops and 15 journaling prompts? That’s not rest. That’s just productivity in spiritual drag.

My retreats are built for the kind of man who’s spent a lifetime carrying invisible weight. Many of us came of age during the AIDS crisis. We buried friends in silence. We skipped entire decades of play. We went from fear to funerals without the in-between. And now? Now we get to reclaim what was stolen. Sometimes that looks like skinny-dipping under the stars. Sometimes it’s laughing your ass off over a shared bottle of wine with a stranger who ends up feeling like a brother.

That is transformation.
Even if it’s quiet. Even if it doesn’t come with a certificate.

It’s hard as hell to make friends after 30. Harder still to feel seen once your hair grays or your body shifts or your libido starts sending you mixed signals. But the kind of magic I witness on these retreats—the new friendships, the softening, the fucking joy—it’s not accidental. It’s curated. The way I build these groups ensures that even first-timers leave with a half-dozen real connections. And you tell me: when’s the last time you made six new friends in a week?

So this is a call to retreat leaders:
Build in space. Real, empty, unstructured space.
Don’t over-schedule. Don’t over-coach. Let your people float. Wander. Nap. Get sun-drunk and soul-full. That’s where the real shifts happen—not in the doing, but in the being.

My itinerary might be too slow for some folks. It doesn’t have sound baths or ecstatic dance or plant medicine ceremonies. But it has presence. It has softness. It has 58-year-old men laughing like they’re 12 again. And that’s more healing than any crystal grid.

Let them be.
Let them connect.
Let them remember who they were—before the world told them who they had to be.

The world is loud, demanding, and constantly trying to convince you that “self-care” means buying an $80 candle or booking a luxury retreat in Bali. (Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spa trip—but that’s not the foundation of your wellness.)

True self-care? It’s messy. It’s daily. And it’s deeply personal. Which is exactly why I created this free self-care planner called “Me, Myself & I.” It’s a customizable Canva template that doubles as your personal sanctuary—a space to reconnect with your mind, body, and soul.

Whether you use it as-is or put your own twist on it (yes, you Canva-edit it), this workbook is more than a planner. It’s a commitment. A recalibration. A gentle-but-firm “Hey, you matter too.”

🎁 Download the Free Template Here
(Or keep reading if you want to fall in love with it first.)

Read more

Read more

This was the ad that put me in the Facebook pokey. It’s NOT EVEN A GOOD AD!

It was just a back. A lower back. Not even a butt crack.

And yet—boom. Facebook jail.

Again.

Yep, I recently got tossed into the Zuckerberg slammer for posting a photo in my GoNaked group. The image in question? A tasteful, body-positive shot that showed just the slightest glimpse of a man's lower back. No nudity. No genitals. No scandal. Just skin. Human skin. Shocking, right?

Because I shared it in a private nudist travel group—where literally everyone joined to see body-positive content—I’ve been banned from posting in any group. Let me be crystal clear: I NEVER post full nudity. No full butts. Definitely no fronts. My content is always tasteful and body-positive. And yet, I'm banned. Meanwhile, we've all seen nearly naked women in lingerie ads and suggestive poses splashed across Facebook feeds—those accounts? Still up. Still thriving.

And when I say I banned from posting to any group, I mean:

• Groups I admin

• Groups where I’m a trusted expert

• Groups where I promote events and brands for clients

All of it: off-limits until June 20th.

So let’s talk about Facebook jail—what gets you locked up, why it’s happening more often, and how it screws creators, nudists, and retreat leaders alike.

1. What Even Is Facebook Jail?

You’re banned from posting, commenting, or engaging on Facebook for a set period.

If you’ve never been, it sounds dramatic. If you’ve been, you know how ridiculous and arbitrary it can feel. Some get a warning. Others get 30 days for something that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow on a network TV show.

For me?
Posting a PG-rated nude travel pic in a clothing-optional travel group = Insta-ban.

2. Nudity ≠ Porn—But Facebook Can’t Tell the Difference

Facebook’s AI doesn’t understand context.

Your body-positive beach pic from a GoNaked cruise?
Same as revenge porn in the algorithm’s eyes.

This means gay male nudists, body-positive advocates, queer artists, and creators like me get disproportionately flagged while actual predators slide under the radar.

3. You Don’t Have to Break a Rule to Get Banned

Truth: it’s not always clear what rule you’ve “broken.”

Some bans come from:

• Too many group posts in a short time

• A single person “reporting” your content (even if it’s harmless)

• Using banned phrases or hashtags

• Sharing a link that was fine last week but not today

You don’t get a trial. You get a sentence.
And you’re supposed to just deal.

4. Private Groups Aren’t Really Private

Here’s the kicker: I posted in a closed group.

These are people who opted in. They want this content. They’re here for the clothing-optional resorts, the sunbathing tips, the freedom of being fully themselves. But Facebook moderates private groups the same way it does public ones.

It’s like renting out a private theater and still getting fined for the movie you chose to watch.

5. This Hurts More Than My Ego

My ability to promote upcoming retreats, answer questions, and support other retreat leaders is all cut off.

I can’t:

• Post updates in GoNaked Travel groups

• Promote partner events

• Help new customers get involved

• Share anything in the places where my people hang out

And if your brand relies on groups like mine to grow or sell tickets—guess what?
That little “lower back” just cost you visibility too.

6. This Isn’t My First Time Behind Bars

This isn’t my first trip to the Facebook pokey.

Body-positive content creators live in a weird twilight zone where we get punished for being vulnerable, while trolls run wild with hate speech.

I’ve had images removed, ads rejected, and entire campaigns paused because someone at Meta thinks my body—or yours—is somehow “too much.”

Spoiler: it’s not.
But their system is broken.

7. So, What Can We Do?

A few tips if you're trying to survive this bizarre landscape:

• Diversify your platforms — Instagram, BlueSky, Substack, Discord. But the #1 tip? Build your email list. That’s the one thing you actually OWN. You could get banned from every platform tomorrow—or they could just shut down. But your email list is your safety net, your megaphone, your community lifeline.

• Always keep backups — Of images, captions, and content plans.

• File an appeal — It may not work, but it builds a case history.

• Educate your followers — Let them know what happened and where they can still find you.

• Support nudist-friendly networks — The more we build alternatives, the less we rely on systems that punish us.

"Bottom" Line?
Your lower back is not a crime.
But Meta might treat it like one.

And while I’ll be back on June 20th, I’m not waiting around in silence. The GoNaked community lives beyond Facebook. Thank goodness for my mail list! No algorithm is gonna stop this naked joyride.

🔥 Have you ever been tossed into Facebook jail? What for? Drop your wildest story or vent in the comments. Let’s compare notes.

Leave a comment

This is Michael.
One of the first photos I ever took of him, five years ago.

I fell in love with Michael not just for who he was, but for how he showed up—open, honest, and always putting others first.

I brought him on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, and the group fell for him instantly. He had that kind of heart.

But not long after, he took a job that swallowed him whole.

The next time I saw him, his mind was spinning. Conversations jumped the rails. We’d be talking about travel, and suddenly he was deep in the weeds about combustion engines. It was like trying to talk to a radio flipping stations on its own. That went on for three years. I could feel the fabric of him fraying.

So imagine my shock when the phone rang today—and it was him.
Really him.

The Michael I first met.

Read more

Right now, something strange is happening in the retreat world and no one's really talking about it publicly. Let me say it out loud: retreats aren’t selling like they used to. Not for most people.

I just got off a Zoom with Erin Fish from WanderWell—a company I admire for its ethics, collaboration-first mindset, and above-and-beyond customer service. (I’ve been recommending them to my customers for travel insurance and we all could not be happier.) Erin and I were talking about the state of the American travel industry, and one thing became glaringly clear: people are struggling to fill retreats. Period.

Which, for me, is weird. Mine usually sell out in hours. Maybe a couple of days, tops. But now? I’ve got empty rooms.

And that’s when Erin said something that sparked a wildfire in my brain:

“What if collaboration isn’t just a value we preach—but a literal survival strategy?”

What If We Co-Retreated?

Here’s the idea: instead of one retreat leader trying to fill a 12-person retreat on their own, what if three or four of us teamed up and shared the same retreat space at the same time?

Same venue. Same dates. Different programming.

Say I’m doing a men’s clothing-optional retreat. I already know folks doing clothing-optional yoga and someone else doing a men’s cuddling retreat. What if we pooled our resources and said, “Let’s all head to the Imaloa Institute in Costa Rica the same week”?

Each of us runs our own retreat, tailored to our audience. But we share meals. We meet up for sunset cocktails or cacao ceremonies. We cross-pollinate.

So maybe one of my naked guys gets curious and joins a yoga session. Maybe a yoga guest dips into a cuddle workshop. And suddenly, we’re not just running retreats—we’re creating a community.

Why It Works Now

This kind of model works especially well during economic slowdowns. Why? Because:

• Everyone only needs to sell 4–6 spots instead of 10–12.

• It reduces financial risk for each retreat leader.

• You get built-in cross-promotion from the other leaders.

• Your guests get bonus experiences without extra costs.

It's not permanent. It’s a smart pivot. Like penguins huddling for warmth in a blizzard. As Erin put it, “We survive the storm together.”

When Travel Bounces Back…

…we can go back to running solo, high-margin, deeply immersive retreats. But right now, while interest is shaky, wallets are tighter, and group energy is still healing, this could be the bridge we need.

If you’ve been staring down an empty roster and wondering if it’s just you—it’s not. The travel winds have shifted. But we can adapt, share the load, and keep our magic alive.

So maybe the question isn’t how do I sell my retreat anymore.

Maybe the question is:
Who do I want to retreat with?

You’ve skimmed a dozen retreat guides. You’ve bookmarked articles on “flow” and “vibe.” Yet every time you run your retreat, it’s the same half‑assed dance: amazing moments sandwiched between logistical fuck‑ups. Sound familiar?

Here’s the cold, hard truth: dreaming up a retreat and actually delivering a soul‑shaking experience are two different beasts. If you’re a retreat leader tired of mediocre feedback and cratering ROI, it’s time to stop talking and start doing. No more fluff. No more excuses.

Buckle up. These seven steps aren’t for the faint of heart. They’re for leaders ready to own every detail, force the magic, and leave guests begging to come back.

1. Nail Down Your Emotional Bullseye

Keyword: transformational retreat

Stop pitching “fun and growth.” Get laser‑focused: are you here to shock people out of their comfort zones? To heal old wounds? Define the emotional bullseye—that gut‑punch moment that everyone remembers.

Read more

Nick’s note: I have a little surprise for you! One of the retreat leaders I’ve been working with sent me this article to post. This is what I love about the communities I help build; folks get to share their ideas. I provide a platform and the community helps each other. If you’d like to check out Candice’s website and retreat offerings, head to: https://travelimpactful.com/

Creating a retreat where everybody gets along is both an art and a science—especially for a wanderlust retreat leader like you. Whether you’re hosting a wellness escape, a yoga immersion, or a cultural retreat, the group dynamic will make or break the experience.

So how do you foster authentic connection, minimize drama, and create a retreat community that feels like family?

Here’s a framework that works:

1. Set the Tone Before Arrival

Connection begins long before the plane lands. By prepping your guests emotionally and socially in advance, you reduce anxiety and set the stage for depth.

• Pre-Retreat Zoom Meet & Greet
  
  Host a casual call. Keep it light: “What’s one thing you’re excited about?” works wonders.
  
  

• Start a Group Messaging Channel (WhatsApp, Slack, or Signal)
  
  Let guests share intros, packing questions, or even fun facts about themselves. This builds trust before they meet in person.
  
  

• Send a “Retreat Culture” Welcome Packet
  
  Include shared values like openness, respect, and curiosity, plus a gentle reminder:
  
  This isn’t a vacation. It’s a meaningful, co-created experience.
  
  Include norms around tech boundaries, active listening, and kindness.
  
  

2. Make the First 24 Hours About Bonding, Not Teaching

The first day sets the energetic foundation. Focus on lowering defenses and building psychological safety.

• Opening Circle
  
  Use light, meaningful prompts: “Tell us something about your name” or “Share a story behind a scar or object you carry.”
  
  

• Connection Games
  
  Silly but effective: “Human Bingo,” “Two Truths and a Lie,” or “Speed Meeting” rotations.
  
  

• Small Group Challenges
  
  Think scavenger hunts, collaborative cooking, or treasure maps. These prevent cliques and encourage new bonds.
  
  

3. Daily Rituals That Build Cohesion

Rituals don’t have to be rigid. They create rhythm, grounding, and group flow.

• Morning Check-Ins (5–10 min)
  
  Ask: “What’s one word to describe how you’re feeling today?” It invites honesty without oversharing.
  
  

• Evening Gratitude Circles
  
  A moment to reflect: “What moved you today?” brings depth and closeness.
  
  

• Communal Meals with Rotating Seats
  
  Nourishment isn’t just physical—it’s social.
  
  

• Silent Hour
  
  One hour daily for journaling, walking, or rest. Introverts will thank you.
  
  

4. Create Connection Through Meaningful Activities

True bonding happens when people feel seen and safe to be themselves.

• Creative Expression
  
  Try collage-making, journaling, storytelling, or movement-based practices.
  
  

• Values-Based Conversations
  
  Use prompts like “What do you want to be remembered for?” or “What’s a value you’re reclaiming?”
  
  

• Nature or Service Projects
  
  Plant trees, visit a local elder, or clean a beach. These unify groups through shared impact.
  
  

• Partner or Triad Exercises
  
  With consent and safety in mind, try mirror gazing, eye contact meditations, or co-created rituals. Small groups create big trust.
  
  

5. Establish Clear Rules to Keep Harmony

You don’t need a long list—just the right ones.

• No Gossip Policy
  
  Redirect complaints to a facilitator or support circle. This alone can change everything.
  
  

• Tech Boundaries
  
  Encourage phone-free meals and mindfulness. Make it clear: no filming others without consent.
  
  

• Daily Feedback Loop
  
  Offer a simple, anonymous check-in form:
  
  “What’s going well? What feels off?”
  
  You’ll catch issues early and model responsiveness.
  
  

6. Handling Conflict with Grace

Even the best-planned retreats can hit emotional turbulence. That’s okay—it’s also where the most growth can happen.

• Have a Neutral Point Person
  
  Someone skilled in holding space, mediating, or de-escalating.
  
  

• Use Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
  
  “When you did X, I felt Y, because I needed Z.”
  
  It diffuses emotion and gets to the heart.
  
  

• Recenter Around Shared Purpose
  
  Remind the group:
  
  “Why are we here? What are we creating together?”
  
  

Final Thought

The most unforgettable retreats don’t just show guests a new place—they show them a new way to connect, trust, and belong.

As a retreat leader, you set the tone. With just a little intentionality, you can create a space where everyone feels seen, safe, and inspired to be their best selves—together.

In my previous post I told you about my friend who came to visit me here in San Miguel de Allende. He spent most of the day holed up in the bedroom—cool and quiet—while I worked. When we finally sat down for dinner, I asked what he’d done with his day. He smiled, relieved, and said:

“I deleted over 50 gigs of old photos. I’d never be able to do that at home. I never have the time.”

It wasn’t a task on his to-do list. It wasn’t urgent. But it gave him a sense of clarity. Completion. Breathing room. That kind of deep satisfaction only comes when you finally slow down enough to hear yourself think.

It reminded me of a woman in the UK who runs retreats where all the guests do is read. That’s it. No workshops, no tight itinerary. Some people sit by the pool with a paperback, others curl up in a castle corner with a cup of tea and a stack of books. Sometimes they go out for a glass of wine or a massage, but mostly? They read.

And it works.
Because there’s magic in stillness.

So whether you’re a retreat planner, a burned-out professional, or a daydreamer who loves imagining the kind of escape you could take someday—here are ten “Slow Retreat” ideas to contemplate, borrow, or build on.

Let’s stop glorifying the hustle. Let’s start celebrating the pause.

Need some ideas for these “Quiet Retreats”? Here’s 10 that I think you’ll love.

Read more

Let me tell you about Danny, a young man I’ve known for ten years. He just turned thirty.
Between his job and obligations, he's got no time for anything. None. Zilch. And now, he’s my first guest here in San Miguel de Allende since I bought the house back in November. I was working most of the day—he was hiding out in the bedroom, which mercifully stays cool in this heatwave that feels like the devil’s armpit.

When we finally met up for dinner, I asked what he did all day.

“I went through photos,” he said.
“Like a few hundred?” I asked.
“No,” he said, smiling like he’d just scratched an itch in his soul. “Like fifty gigs worth.”

Fifty. Gigs.
Gone.

You could see the freedom in his face.
“I’d never be able to do that at home,” he said. “I’d never find the time.”

And that hit me harder than I expected.

Because here’s the thing—we’re all suffocating under the weight of shoulds.
Should post.
Should reply.
Should follow up, go out, show up, stay relevant.
Should get ahead.
Should not fall behind.
Should, should, should—until we don’t even remember what stillness feels like.

And stillness?
It’s not a luxury.
It’s a f*cking requirement.

It reminds me of this woman in the UK who runs a retreat for women where they don’t do yoga, or group healing, or curated transformational bullshit. They just… read.

Yep.
They sit in castles or by pools, wrapped in blankets or bikinis, and devour books like oxygen. Maybe someone books a massage. Maybe there’s a wine tasting. But mostly? It’s about checking out of the noise and checking back in with yourself.

Tell me that’s not revolutionary.

We’re so addicted to productivity, we’ve forgotten how to be. Not hustle, not optimize, not improve. Just… be.

So here’s a wild idea.
If you're planning a retreat—or hell, just planning a life—what if you left room for the pause?
Not the filler activity.
Not the optional happy hour.
But the kind of pause where someone can delete fifty gigs of crap they've been too busy to deal with. Or finally nap for three hours without guilt. Or—god forbid—read a damn book from start to finish in the same chair, under the same patch of sun, without needing to prove anything to anyone.

Maybe we don’t need to cram more into our lives.
Maybe we need less.
Less chaos.
Less content.
Less performing.

Just enough space to breathe again.
And maybe that’s where the real magic happens.

So go on. Build your retreat. Plan your days. Live your life.
But for the love of all things sacred—leave room for the stillness.
Leave room for the nothing.

Because sometimes, that’s exactly where everything changes.

I just built a tool in Canva that might be the single smartest thing I’ve ever done for retreat leaders.

It’s not pretty. It’s not spiritual. It’s not something you’ll Instagram. But when the storm hits, the passport vanishes, or someone starts bleeding from the face—this tool is what stands between you and total meltdown.

It’s called the Emergency Protocol Decision Tree, and it turns crisis into clarity with dropdowns, auto-fill logic, and cold, beautiful control. And the best part? You can build it too—with Canva AI.

TEST IT FOR YOURSELF HERE:

Read more

Before one of my trips to Mexico, I started sending my travelers a daily “flashcard.” Not the kind you’d find in a dusty language textbook—but a visual snack. A photo. A few Spanish words. A vibe.

Read more

Let me tell you a quick story about my friend Dara.

Dara is an incredible travel vlogger. She and her husband have a YouTube channel that makes you want to pack your bags and follow them to every dreamy destination. Their videos are personal, helpful, and beautifully shot. You feel like you're right there with them—wandering old towns, tasting street food, learning how to travel smarter.

So when she asked me how to get more people on her mailing list, I asked a simple question:

“Do you blog?”

She said no.

And I totally get it. When you’re creating video content regularly, blogging might feel like extra work. But here’s the truth: you already have everything you need. The content is there—just waiting to be reshaped.

What I told Dara is what I want to share with you:

You don’t have to start from scratch.
You just have to repurpose what you’ve already created.

That amazing story you told in your last video? The one where you found a secret hot spring or finally learned how to use the local bus system in a new country?

That’s not just a video.
It’s also a blog post.
A newsletter.
A social media moment.
A breadcrumb that leads people back to you.

Here's how to do it (gently, and without burnout):

1. Start with your transcript.
YouTube auto-generates transcripts, or you can use a tool like Descript. You already did the hard part—telling the story.

2. Open ChatGPT and ask for help.
Give it the transcript and say:

“Turn this into a blog post in my voice. Make it feel warm, personal, and like I’m inviting readers into the journey with me. End with a gentle call to join my newsletter.”

3. Publish it where your people are.
Substack, your own website, Medium—wherever feels like home.

4. Reuse it again for social media.
Go back to ChatGPT and say:

“Give me five social media posts with different tones—funny, heartfelt, surprising, helpful, and teaser-style—to drive people to read the blog or join my list.”

💌 Your Copy-Paste Prompts

Blog Prompt:

Turn this transcript into a first-person blog post told in my voice. Keep it conversational, warm, and personal—like I’m writing to a friend. Focus on storytelling, keep the most helpful parts, and end with a natural invitation to join my newsletter for behind-the-scenes updates and extra travel tips.

Social Media Prompt:

Using this transcript, write five social media captions for different platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Threads, YouTube Community, and LinkedIn). Each post should have a unique tone—funny, emotional, surprising, helpful, or a teaser—and should invite people to either watch the full video or subscribe to my mailing list.

🗺️ Where to Share Your Repurposed Content

• Substack – blog + newsletter combo

• Your website blog – keeps content searchable & helps with SEO

• Medium.com – ideal for longer-form posts and fresh eyes

• LinkedIn Articles – great for lifestyle + business crossover

• Pinterest – visual links to your content

• Instagram – break into carousels or reels

• Facebook – post longer captions or Notes

• YouTube Community – share blog links and quotes

• Reddit – relevant subreddits like r/travel, r/digitalnomad, r/backpacking

• Quora – drop useful insight and link to the full blog

If you’ve been creating videos but feeling like you're missing something when it comes to building your email list or giving people a next step, this is it.

You already have the magic.
Now let it live in more than one place.

And if you want help turning your transcripts into something that truly sounds like you, I’d love to support you with that.

Just hit reply.