In this very special episode—the first in our Behind the Magic series—we turn the mic on ourselves. Fresh from hosting our first Find Your Magic retreat exclusively for gay men, we sit down just days after the retreat to reflect on everything that went down: the magic, the messiness, the late sign-ups, and the moments of deep connection that reminded us why we do this work.

This is the real, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create spaces of transformation, joy, and deep reset. If you've ever wondered what happens on a retreat, how we choose the program, or what it's like to hold space for a group of gay men from all over the world—this one’s for you.

We talk about:

• The stress and uncertainty that led up to the retreat (and how we handled it)

• What actually happens on the first day and how a group of strangers became a family

• The magic of structured spontaneity and why we don’t share the schedule in advance

• Creating space for joy, intimacy, and expression

• What we learned as facilitators (and as partners)

• Our dreams for the future of FYM retreats for gay men—and mixed groups

This is the first of our ‘Behind the Magic’ conversations—a new format within the podcast where we’ll share real talk about the work we do, how we do it, and what we’re learning as we go.

Next gay men’s retreat: June 5–12, 2026 | Crete, Greece

The Midlife Reset retreat: September 20-27, 2025 | Crete, Greece

Let us know what you think of this new format. We’d love to hear from you.

Ed & Rob xx