Episodes

I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Paul Browning, an educator-turned-founder who’s spent decades in school leadership and is now taking on a much bigger challenge: redesigning education to actually prepare students for the real world. Paul is the founder of Vivedus, a company focused on helping schools teach, assess, and report on creative thinking — the one skill students (and employees) desperately need but are rarely taught. We talk about why creativity gets conditioned out of us, how co...

Today I’m sharing a bit of a rant (slash reflection) on all the media noise surrounding the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Specifically, I wanted to unpack two things: The drama around not sticking to the original venue plan This idea that Brisbane is going to be an “international embarrassment” Here’s the thing: we need to be okay with plans evolving. The world is changing, and smart people pivot when new information lands. That’s not embarrassing — that’s smart leadership. And on the embarrassme...

Hey, it’s Leanne, and today’s episode is a little different—I just wrapped up a personal styling session with the incredible Cate Massi, and I had to bring you along for the debrief. This is actually the second time I’ve worked with Cate, and once again, she absolutely nailed it. In this episode, I chat with Cate about: ✅ How she got into styling and the life-changing conversations she’s had in fitting rooms ✅ The biggest mistakes we make when shopping for ourselves (guilty!) ✅ Why identify...

In this weekend rewind, I bring you a first-time wizard on the show—Dr. Jason Fox—a wizard-philosopher disguised as a motivational speaker and leadership advisor. His expertise lies in guiding clever teams through the complexities of their quests. Join Dr Jason Fox's pop-up museletter. With an impressive list of clients that includes Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, HP, Novartis, Red Bull, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Toyota, and Honda, Dr. Fox has established himself as a trusted advisor...

Today, we explore the intricate emotions that facilitators experience right before a workshop – a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and anticipation. My guest today is the award-winning TV journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sophie Scott OAM. Sophie's multi-faceted career has transitioned her from a household face on TV to a well-renowned speaker and educator, with a prime focus on mental health. What You Will Learn: Sophie's transition from a journalist to an advocate for ...

In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on the idea of “finding” your uniqueness. Too many of us spend years searching for that special something that sets us apart, thinking it’s hidden somewhere out of reach. But what if I told you it’s already right in front of you—hiding in the small, everyday moments of your life? Here’s what I’m diving into in this episode: The Truth About Uniqueness: Why you’re probably looking in the wrong places and how to start uncovering what makes you truly ...

This morning, I was faced with a choice: participate in a 7AM webinar or attend a local Chamber of Commerce coffee event. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: The 7AM Dilemma: Why I opted to ditch the webinar for a local coffee event and how it turned into a surprisingly valuable decision. Local Connections Matter: Meeting a diverse group of professionals—from a physio scaling their practice to a website designer helping restaurants get online orders—and what I learned from each conversat...

Video—you need to start using it now. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Joeri Schilders (a.k.a. The Magic Sauce), and in this episode, we’re talking about how video isn’t about perfect content—it’s about connection. Connect with Joeri on LInkedIn. Joeri helps solopreneurs and self-employed professionals grow their reach using video, and he’s got a rock-solid case for why you should be pressing record. I’ve used video for job interviews (hello, Wicked Campers!), client proposals, and qui...

I'm pumped to bring you this episode with my good friend, Joeri Schilders—also known as The Magic Sauce. Joeri and I go way back. We first connected virtually in 2020 through my Facebook group, The Flipchart (I still don’t know how he found it!). Over the years, we've built a great friendship through voice notes, videos, and WhatsApp chats, eventually launching Virtually Possible—a program designed to help facilitators and corporate teams create engaging online experiences. Joeri has spent 20 ...

🚗 The Porsche 911 is my favourite car of all time. It’s an icon. A masterpiece. The perfect blend of engineering and emotion. But here’s the wild part: it almost didn’t exist. In 1980, Porsche was struggling. For the first time in their history, they didn’t turn a profit. Sales were down, the new models weren’t taking off, and the board decided that the 911—yes, the 911—was outdated and needed to go. Then, a man named Peter Schutz walked in, took one look at the plan to kill the 911, grabbed ...

In this special Weekend Rewind episode, Leanne Hughes flips the script! Instead of replaying an interview where she's the host, she shares an episode from Flourishing Unfiltered, where Dr. Maike Neuhaus and Kerrin Smith interview her. This conversation dives deep into bold decision-making, overcoming self-doubt, and the power of taking action—fast. Leanne also shares never-before-told stories, including the moment that kick-started her First Time Facilitator podcast and how she reframes setbac...

It was a real treat to chat with today’s guest, Scott Armstrong. Scott is a Canadian who has made some bold career moves. He started out as a corporate banker, frustrated with the routine of pushing paper, before taking on a role at Canada’s largest rehabilitation centre for abandoned exotic animals. Imagine swimming with jaguars, running with wolves, playing in the snow with tigers, and even helping an owl take flight again! For the past 20 years, Scott has been helping over 2000 businesses an...

In today’s episode, I’m taking you back to 2020—the year I signed up for a running challenge to clock 2020 kilometers. At first, it seemed simple: 5.5 km a day. No big deal. But within days, I realised the real challenge wasn’t the running itself—it was keeping up. If I missed a day, I had to double it the next. And then, of course, 2020 happened… I share how my routine runs turned into a mental grind—same routes, same scenery, same boredom. But then, a simple insight from Andy Puddicombe (foun...

Great to have you here! I’ve just come back from the physio, and yep, I’m talking about my Achilles again. It’s one of those injuries that’s frustrating but also teaching me a lot about life, patience, and the balancing act of recovery. My physio gave me some straight talk today. I told him I could run through the pain, but I was worried—if I push too hard, will I tear it? His response? “No, but you’ll keep aggravating it.” So now, I’m navigating this fine line between staying fit, getting str...

In this episode, I dive into a concept that’s been rattling around in my head—FOBO, the Fear of Becoming Obsolete. I was chatting with Ronsley Vars in an earlier episode about how ChatGPT told me my greatest fear was irrelevance. That got me thinking… FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a thing, but FOBO? That feels even more real. I’ll share why I’m constantly trying to reinvent myself, why I love working in public, and why I believe that speed of execution is the ultimate differentiator in today’s ...

You know those books where every second page has you reaching for a highlighter? That’s exactly how I felt reading Not Everything Counts, But Everything Matters by Ivan Cleary. In today’s episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest takeaways from his book—insights on leadership, high performance, and why the small things truly matter. Ivan Cleary, head coach of the Penrith Panthers, isn’t just talking about footy—his lessons apply to business, life, and leadership. From the importance of connectio...

Get Roasted by Leanne (only available til 12 March) A few months ago, I posted in a private consultant’s forum, looking for small tweaks or ideas to improve something I was working on. It was just an innocent post. I went to bed, woke up feeling great—coffee in hand, post-run high—until I checked my email. My heart sank. The feedback I received overnight? Brutal. Unexpectedly harsh. And, honestly, I took it personally. If you’ve been listening to this podcast, you know I’m a happy-go-lucky pers...

Hey, messaging is so important, and there’s no one who does it better than today’s guest. About Dr. J.J. Peterson Dr. J.J. Peterson is the Chief of Teaching and Facilitation at StoryBrand. He’s a storyteller, filmmaker, and expert in marketing and communication. Beyond his professional credentials, he’s lived an incredibly fascinating life—dancing in a Missy Elliot music video, acting on The West Wing, and even being baptized in a cattle trough surrounded by Maasai warriors and their cows. J.J...

We’re rewinding just two days because I recorded this episode earlier this week and absolutely loved it. Honestly, it’s one of my favourite Talk the Walk episodes with Alan Weiss. Alan has being inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame, which is a pretty big deal. He’s a legend in the speaking world, and in this episode, he shares a wealth of wisdom on crafting a killer keynote speech. I deliver keynotes myself, and I walked away with so many insights. If you’re a speaker—...

Last weekend was an absolute career highlight – I had the privilege of hosting the Brisbane Roar in Business event at Suncorp Stadium. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I did an episode on how I was preparing for the panel. Now, it’s time to close the loop and share how it all went down. This wasn’t just another speaking gig. It was personal. I’ve been a Brisbane Roar supporter for 20 years – since their very first game. The Panel Line-Up Matt McKay – The legendary captain of Brisba...

Today, we’re talking about Cyclone Alfred. Not Cyclone Leanne—though that has a nice ring to it—but the system set to hit Southeast Queensland on Friday morning. As I’m out for a walk, I want to share some thoughts on contingency planning, how people are responding, and what’s going on here as the winds start picking up. What’s Covered in Today’s Episode: The Warnings and Initial Reactions: The government’s been flagging this for a while, and I’ll admit, at first, I was a bit complacent. Livin...

This episode is part two of my conversation with Dr. Myriam Hadnes, recorded right on my couch. Yesterday, we dove into the idea of unprofessionalism—why getting rejected for who you actually are is better than being accepted for wearing a mask. Today, we keep that thread going and explore: ✅ Why setting boundaries in business is a form of “unprofessionalism” (and why it’s actually freeing) ✅ The problem with getting accepted for a version of yourself that isn’t you ✅ How corporate life can e...

I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with Myriam Hadnes, host of the Workshops Work podcast. Between us, we probably run the most popular workshop-related podcasts in the world (which is an easy claim to make… because it's such a niche!). This episode is part one of our chat on the couch at my place, where we reflect on our past 24 hours together. If you’ve ever questioned what it really means to be "professional" – you’re going to love this. Myriam is writing a book called Unprofess...

Today, I'm excited to share my conversation with my legend of a co-facilitator, Sally Prosser. Together, we host a half-day experience called "Get To The Point," and we're about to launch season three on April 1st in Brisbane. In this episode, Sally and I catch up about what we've learned from our first two seasons of hosting this workshop and what makes it so special. We discuss: The contrasting dynamics we've seen in our previous workshops (from extrovert parties to more considered groups) ...