Send Leanne a message (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1785616/open_sms) Today, I’m thrilled to welcome back my friend, leadership strategist, and powerhouse of positivity — Neen James (https://neenjames.com/) — to the show! If you haven’t seen the YouTube version yet, go and watch it. Neen radiates light, energy, and fun — she’s truly a walking…
Join us for a special Halloween edition of Talk the Walk, where we’ll unwrap: - The “tricks” consultants fall for (and how to avoid them) - The “treats” that lead to repeat clients, referrals, and better projects - Real-world stories from our own consulting adventures (the scary and the spectacular)…
Hey, thanks for tuning in today. I’m talking about exposure — and not the kind you get warned about when it comes to sunburn or dodgy business deals. You can read the article here. (https://open.substack.com/pub/workfame/p/exposure?r=16p8ck&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true) Exposure is a word that gets a bit of a bad rap. It can mean…
Earlier this week, I ran a workshop and had one of those “note to self” moments. The host started reading out my bio—the one I’d sent ages ago—and as she was midway through, I was silently cringing. You know that feeling when something sounds a little too polished, a little…
I was in Victoria yesterday with a group of education leaders talking about leadership capability — and a side conversation popped up that I had to bring here. One of the leaders mentioned how hard it’s been to attract mentors to their new program, even though people are informally mentoring…
I recorded this one from the most epic balcony ever — seriously, it’s bigger than my entire hotel room. I’m in Melbourne at The Langham, overlooking the Yarra and Federation Square, soaking in the sunshine. In today’s episode, I talk about my Oura Ring — the little wearable that’s teaching…
Last week, I shared that I was heading off to my 25-year high school reunion — so in this episode, I report back on how it went (spoiler: no one really changes!) and share a story that came out of a conversation that night that’s been sitting with me all…
Today I’m sharing a conversation I had on Charles Hsuan's Candid Conversations podcast. We riff on designing rave-worthy workshops, curating content (instead of drowning in it), and how one bold reach-out can completely change your career. You’ll also hear why I plan kids’ birthday parties like an engineer (thanks, Dad),…
In this episode, Leanne Hughes engages in a captivating conversation with Douglas Ferguson, the founder of Voltage Control (https://voltagecontrol.com/?ref=71) facilitation academy. Watch the interview on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO4fUM6PK9s) . They dive into various topics, including the art of facilitation, the concept of Integrated Autonomy, and the potential impact of AI on…
Yesterday, my best friend — my fearless four-legged buddy, Milo — crossed the Rainbow Bridge. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know Milo was always by my side: sitting under my desk while I worked, joining me for countless coffee runs, and barking during livestreams just to remind…
In today’s episode, I share a gem of a quote that came from Fiona Kruger (thanks Fiona!) — one her manager used to repeat almost daily: “The first draft is the hardest.” Simple, powerful, and so true. I unpack how that idea plays out across everything from corporate projects to…
In today’s off-the-cuff travel chat, I’m diving into something I’ve been obsessing over lately: carry-on luggage. After my trusty old suitcase zip finally gave up on my flight home from Melbourne, I went down a deep rabbit hole comparing July, Antler, and a surprising dark horse — Kathmandu. I share:…
This weekend marks a pretty wild milestone — it’s my 25-year high school reunion. Yep, class of 2000. I can’t quite believe it’s been that long. I talk about what’s different this time around (spoiler: it’s being held at the actual school), what I noticed at our 10-year reunion (how…
Hey friends, happy Monday (or Sunday, depending on when you’re tuning in)! I’ve just wrapped up a three-hour hike — the first of three workouts today — part of my prep for Everest Base Camp next month. My performance coach Kyle is ramping things up: morning hike, midday jog, and…
This week I’m diving into team development and team dynamics with Phil Brown from High 5 Adventure. Remember those high-ropes days where the best part was the debrief? Same. Phil is the guy who designs those experiences—and, more importantly, the reflections that turn “fun” into behaviour change. We jam on…
This week on Talk the Walk, Alan and I riff on quitting—firing clients, pausing projects, and stopping things that technically “work” but don’t work for you anymore. We dig into ego, sunk-cost traps, scope creep, and how to communicate a graceful stop without burning bridges. Alan shares a simple pre-flight…
It was a massive weekend of sport in Brisbane – and I couldn’t let it slip by without sharing a few reflections (even if you’re not a footy fan, there are still lessons in here about timing, trust, and big-moment leadership). In this episode, I recap: • 🎟️ Why I…
How do you build deep, trusting relationships in business (and in life)? In today’s episode, I dive deeper into Give to Grow by Mo Bunnell—a book I recommended recently that’s already sparking action from listeners like Julia Van Gra. This isn’t your typical business development book; it’s human, practical, and…
I had my week mapped out perfectly. Color-coded Gantt chart, every project, every sub-task—even down to outfits for upcoming events. I was feeling smug, confident, and in control. Then life happened. At midnight, my sausage dog Quincy needed an emergency trip to the vet. Suddenly my “perfect plan” didn’t matter…
📚 Thanks for coming back for part three of my book prescription series! Over the last couple of episodes, I’ve been sharing the books I recommend constantly—not just because they’re great reads, but because they solve specific problems my clients, friends, and colleagues bring to me. In today’s episode, I…
Last week I shared my first seven Book Prescriptions—titles I recommend constantly because they solve very specific problems. Today I’m back with the next seven. These are the books I turn to (and re-read) whenever someone asks me things like: • “How do I come up with a catchy name…
As facilitators, our clients don’t pay for the 50% version of us—they pay for the fully-charged, present, 100% edition. In this chat with Brisbane-based facilitator, trainer, and speaker Nicholas King, we talk about how to show up at our best, design “winning” workshop moments, and make deliberate choices about what…
Today’s convo is an extract from Virtually Possible 2.0 with the brilliant Marissa Agrasut (Singapore) and Joeri Schilders. Marissa walks us through an online spin on the classic Fishbowl format to sharpen listening, observation, and the craft of facilitation—then we demo it live. What’s inside • Why I left the…
Every week, someone asks me: “Leanne, what book should I read next?” And my response is always: “Well…what problem are you trying to solve?” Because you don’t need another list of “top 10 business books” that just recycle the same titles. You need the right book, at the right time,…