Episodes

Today’s episode starts off with a voice note from my friend James Carpenter, who’s living the dream right now—watching cricket live in the West Indies. He gives us a front-row seat to the current series, but what really sparked this episode was his mention of West Indies bowler Shamar Joseph—a name that instantly transported me back to his jaw-dropping performance in Brisbane a couple years ago. In this ep, I: 🗣️ Play JC’s audio straight from Kensington Oval in Barbados 🏏 Reflect on the abso...

Thanks for jumping into the weekend with me — and for this one, we're rewinding way back to the early days of First Time Facilitator (think 2018!). In just 40 minutes, Sue dishes out some of the most practical, grounded advice I've heard on facilitation — especially around why preparation is everything. She shares how she moved from nursing and policy work into the world of facilitation, how she navigates introversion, and why her planning process is the thing that gives her confidence to own t...

Hey, it’s Leanne! This one’s a rewind worth re-listening to — my live convo with Alan Weiss on Talk the Walk. We jammed on a topic close to my heart: why ambiguity isn’t the enemy — it’s actually your unfair advantage. If you’ve ever stalled on a decision, waited for clarity before making a move, or felt paralyzed by the unknown — this one’s for you. Alan was in classic form: hilarious, sharp, and wildly quotable. We talk about: ✅ Why waiting for clarity is socially acceptable procrastination...

This one is straight from the Work Fame Substack — and it’s a story I didn’t expect to write when I started typing. I thought I was going to talk about how podcasting has helped my career… but then this angle took over, and I ran with it. So today, I’m sharing: 🧠 How a $107 microphone completely shifted how people perceived me 💥 Why first impressions are less about what you say and more about how you signal your value 🎤 The surprising science behind audio quality and credibility (yes, there'...

This one’s been simmering in my head all week—after so many convos about accountability, ownership, and what it really means to step up, whether you're running a business or just starting your career. We talk a lot about "acting like an owner"—but what does that actually look like? Today, I'm sharing a story I love (yes, it involves a pygmy hippo 🦛), and why the most game-changing moves in your career or business usually aren’t on your position description. Here’s what we cover: The differen...

In this episode, I take you back to 2009—before podcasting, before The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint, before I had even thought about creating a business. This was the year I made my first ever passive income sale. It was $18.95. And honestly? It changed my life. Here’s what I share: The exact moment I discovered the idea of passive income (shoutout to The 4-Hour Work Week 🙌) The niche product I created (hint: netball coaching + teenage shooters) How I used Clippy (!!) and a proofreader from th...

Okay, I need to share something wild with you. I uploaded my book The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint into Google LM Notebook (think: a tool like ChatGPT), and asked it to summarise the key concepts. What it gave me? Not just a summary—but a full-on, human-sounding podcast-style conversation between two people. And honestly? If I didn’t know it was AI, I wouldn’t believe it either. In this episode, you’ll hear that conversation—think of it as a friendly, curious duo discovering the SPARK framework,...

Tonight, I’m not under the lights for footy or cricket. I’m at the Gabba — sleeping out under the stars with some phenomenal humans — all to help stamp out homelessness as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. In this episode, I chat with three legends doing incredible work: 💬 Steve Hodgson shares why mental health and homelessness are closely linked, and why this event is just the beginning of his commitment. 💬 Matt Kratiuk (who I call “the GOAT”) breaks down how fundraising becomes fun-draising...

Absolute blast from the past! I'm diving back into 2020 with this gem: A replay of a webinar I co-hosted with my friend (and innovation guru) Joeri Schilders, who you might remember from his previous appearances on the show. Back when Zoom fatigue was real and the pivot to virtual had us all scrambling, Yuri and I created something called Virtually Possible. We believed (and still do!) that it is possible to recreate the magic of in-person workshops—without needing a studio setup, mega budget, ...

When I first started facilitating, I saw flip charts as a tool to scribble brainstorms or sketch a quick model. That all changed when I met today's guest, Marcel van Hove, who showed me how whiteboards and markers can be used to solve complex problems, de-escalate conflict, and create incredible team collaboration. In this episode, Marcel shares: How he went from software geek to visual facilitation geek The German roots of the Bikablo method (and what it actually means) Why drawing with oth...

Hey friends, welcome back to Leanne on Demand! If you’re listening in real time, it’s Friday and I’ve (hopefully!) just arrived home after sleeping out in the cold for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout — I’ll debrief all of that with you next week. Today’s convo? Well, it’s fresh. Like, still-haven’t-recovered-my-voice fresh. I’ve got the delightful Jade Miller back on the pod — she joined me and Steve Demedio this week as one of the founding participants at the Red Carpet Campout. We’re debriefing fro...

Hey hey! This one’s a little different—recorded from the passenger seat, not the studio, because we’re fresh off the Red Carpet Campout and I wanted to capture the vibe in real-time. I'm joined by my co-host, the always-thoughtful Steven Demedio (driving!) and Jade Miller (in the backseat, with great vibes), as we exit the magical Spicers Canopy retreat. In this debrief, we share: 🔥 Why having no signal was exactly what we all needed 🔥 The surprising benefits of doing less content and creatin...

*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event. Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Red Carpet Campout: Inspire, Indulge, Invent. Let’s take your ideas outside in June 2025. Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne ...

Hey there! I'm currently off-grid at the Red Carpet Campout (yep, the forecast says -4°C 🥶), so today I’m sharing something from my WorkFame newsletter that’s been getting a great response. This episode is based on my article: How to Get a Meeting With Anyone — where I break down the three tactics that have helped me book time with incredibly busy humans (even when they’re “too busy” for coffee). It all started back in my corporate days, when a random lunch invite turned into a surreal opportu...

Welcome back to part two of my mini-series on Nine Powerful Ways to Get Buy-In — tactics I really wish I knew when I first started working on cross-functional projects in big, global companies. Last week, we covered the first five strategies (like pre-sell your idea and ditch the pitch), and today we’re wrapping things up with the final four — and these ones bring the juice. Here’s what I cover in this episode: 6. Use social proof + create FOMO I share why your idea becomes more magnetic when...

This Weekend Rewind takes you back to a rich, practical, laugh-filled conversation with the incredible David Pullin — founder of The Story Spotters, former NIDA grad, professional actor, voice artist, and an absolute legend when it comes to using stories to engage, influence and connect. Since this episode aired, I’ve actually had the chance to hang out with David in real life — we shared a brilliant long lunch with some fabulous folks in London. He’s even more delightful IRL (if that’s possibl...

Welcome to this Weekend Rewind edition of Talk the Walk — where coffee meets conversation and martinis mix with mindset shifts. In this episode, we explore a bold (and slightly cheeky) question: Can you really get paid to be yourself? Alan Weiss — aka the Rockstar of Consulting — says yes, and he should know. From flat tires on Bentleys to 17-day certifications crammed into a weekend, Alan shares hilarious and hard-hitting stories about value, visibility, and self-worth. Inside this episode: ...

Ever struggled with getting buy-in on your ideas at work? You're definitely not alone! I've worked with plenty of clients who need help influencing, leading without formal authority, and just generally getting their projects off the ground. I get it—I used to struggle with this too, playing strictly by the rules and not seeing much traction. But then, I discovered some powerful, unconventional strategies to help move ideas forward. In today's episode, I'm sharing the first 5 of 9 impactful stra...

Uh oh—got one of those emails. You know the kind: subject line screams “Copyright Violation.” 😬 In this episode, I share the full story of how I got caught out using an image of Aussie cricketer David Warner on my website—without the proper license. It wasn’t intentional, and it wasn’t even me who posted it… but that doesn’t matter when it comes to copyright. Here’s what I cover: The honest mistake involving my VA and how it happened My swift response: what I did within 5 minutes of opening ...

This episode begins like my Monday morning: calm, crisp, uneventful... until it wasn't. After a peaceful dog walk and coffee run, I returned home to a full-blown emergency scene—ambulance, police, tow trucks, a flipped car—right outside my house. I share what that moment sparked for me: a reflection on the illusion of predictability. How we think our routines, our streets, even our inboxes are "low risk," until something completely unexpected jolts us out of autopilot. This episode is a gentle...

Hey, thanks for pressing play today! If you’ve ever hesitated before making a bold move — whether it’s sending a message, asking a question, or sharing an idea — then today’s episode is for you. I’m riffing on a rule from my netball days: the three-second rule . It turns out, this isn’t just about passing balls on court — it’s a rule that can apply to all areas of life and work. I explore: How I learned the power of quick decisions playing netball What pickup artists, psychologists, and my...

Hey, I'm Leanne—recovering gearsplainer. In today’s episode, I riff on a hilarious and all-too-real article I found tucked inside a gear package I ordered for my Nepal trek. It's called Gear Splaining by Dan Slater, and wow—did I feel personally attacked... in the best way. You know that moment when someone asks you a simple question and you launch into a TED Talk about the “why” behind every little step? Yeah, guilty. Whether it’s about workshop design, video editing, or hiking in -20 degre...

This one is a facilitator’s dream: We’re riffing behind the scenes on what it actually feels like to lead a room—mentally, emotionally, even physically—with two brilliant guests, Tricia Conyers and John Norcross from the Every Little Model podcast. Now, real talk: This episode didn’t exactly go to plan. 😅 Tech dropped out. My camera froze. Internet disappeared. But Tricia and John were absolute pros and rolled with it. Because that’s what we do, right? As facilitators, we adapt, stay calm, ...

We all know that relationships—business, personal, professional—require maintenance. It’s not set-and-forget. That’s why I’m bringing back this amazing conversation with recognition rockstar Sarah McVanel. She’s someone who deeply understands how small, thoughtful gestures can lead to massive business results. Sarah helps individuals and organizations leverage the power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams, and build sustainable businesses. She’s a certified senior OD pro...