On today’s show, we talk all about internships. How do you develop an internship program? How do you become an intern in someone else’s program? How can you encourage someone who you think would be great at it to start an internship program? You’ll learn the answer to these questions and more in this chat with Hadlee Garrison, one of our Summer 2017 (and beyond!) interns at Yogahealer.

I rap with Hadlee Garrison about Internships:

• How internships relate back to ancient wisdom concepts and practices
• Why an internship program needs to vibe with your interests
• How the exchange of information and skills in an intern-mentor relationship helps both sides get what they need

What you’ll get out of tuning in:

• Learn how to create, guide, and refine an internship program for yourself or your organization
• See how organizations and individuals can change when an intern starts working
• Learn how to get past the roadblocks that might be keeping you from hiring an intern

Links:

• Body Thrive Book
• Body Thrive on Audible
• Yogahealer Retreat
• Banyan Botanicals
• Manduka Yoga Mats
• HANAH Life

Related Podcasts:

• Back to School with Ayurveda
• Does Your Career Work for Your Dosha?
• Building Your Influence + Your Team with Your Values with Nor Franco

Show Highlights:

• 1:50 — Hadlee approached Yogahealer because she has a passion for health, nutrition, Ayurveda and self-improvement. She loved Yogahealer’s accessible, applicable, realistic vibe — it felt like a perfect match for her to pursue an internship here. That’s the feeling everyone should ideally get from a program.
• 6:20 — The way Yogahealer has always arranged internships is by positioning the program as an opportunity for greater learning and relationship development. It ties in with the ancient concept and foundational relationship of gurukula, or mentorship.
• 12:00 — When Hadlee approached us about becoming an intern, it was necessary to create and define a position for her — as it is with any program. We already have a vibrant work-study program, but the internships needed some finessing. Hadlee took over much of the work involved with producing Yogahealer Podcast materials as a result.
• 20:20 — Hadlee is also now working on developing the Yogahealer internship program and creating the guide, structure, and documentation that can help future interns step into the role. Not knowing how to hire and train interns is a big obstacle in people’s reluctance to develop internship programs in the first place.
• 22:40 — Hiring an intern can be very similar to hiring a contractor or hiring for a full-time position. It requires looking at paths to leadership, creating a job description, defining roles, and finding a personality type that fits.
• 24:15 — Hadlee shares her advice for millennial students who want to pursue internships but aren’t sure about how to approach their schools or find a program that works for them.

Favorite Quotes:

• “It’s self-enhancement to the max!” –Hadlee Garrison
• “For anyone who’s self-employed and doesn’t have an intern, you’re kind of missing out on a really interesting exchange.” –Cate Stillman
• “You can make it so sustainable. Yes, you’re going to have to put in the work at first.” –Hadlee Garrison
• “Even just having an intern to create your internship program is going to be so helpful.” –Hadlee Garrison
• “Being a student vs. having a job was like night and day… If I had done some sort of internship, it would’ve given me a clue!” –Cate Stillman
• “When you’re actually applying the stuff that you’re learning, you learn it 10 times more quickly than you do studying theory.” –Hadlee Garrison
• “Exchange value for value at the highest potential level.” –Cate Stillman