Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

eanne Hughes and Alan Weiss explore what it really takes to design premium client experiences — from large-scale thought leadership conferences to intimate high-touch group gatherings in penthouse suites around the world. Alan shares the frameworks, courage, and lifestyle philosophy behind his most successful events, and Leanne reflects on her own recent red carpet camp-out experience.Topics CoveredDefining high-end experiences — Alan's two models: large group conferences (125–150 people) vs. intimate groups (7–10 people in premium locations)The large format event — Outside speakers (Dan Pink, Jonah Berger), a $30–35K AV crew, volunteer wranglers, concurrent sessions, and how to turn a cost-neutral event into $150K in spinoff businessThe intimate group format — Penthouses in London, Paris, and LA; Michelin-starred dinners; provoking IP over socialisingThe role of location — Why venue matters more for small groups, and how Alan used his Kauai suite to transform a stuffy sessionProgram design — Overwhelming with value, reframing problems rather than solving them, and the story of Mike Robert's legendary Pebble Beach strategy programCourage and filling seats — Becoming an "object of interest," the chain reaction of attraction, and why you should never lead with priceAccessibility as a brand strategy — Being the most accessible expert in a niche, and where to draw the lineCurating the right room — Why sophistication and maturity matter more than income, and the one time someone didn't belongLifestyle as the real brand — Why people follow Alan for the life he lives, not just his consulting expertiseWhat people get wrong — The experience should showcase you, not the venue; using Broadway plays, tours, and dinners as vehicles for IPVirtual high-end experiences — Why Alan believes in-person is essential for high-touch, community-building workPlanning and promotion — Shameless promotion, letting your wife veto the destination, and the 24-hour sign-up experimentKey Quotes"You don't solve problems. You recast and reframe them, so people say, 'I never looked at it like this before.'" — Alan Weiss"The higher high-tech goes with AI, the higher touch is required." — Alan Weiss"I prove that you can do it — and more importantly, that you can do it unashamedly." — Alan WeissResources & People MentionedDan Pink — Author and speakerJonah Berger — Wharton School professor, author of ContagiousMichael Bungay Stanier — Author of The Coaching HabitRandy Gage — Author, prosperity mindset expertThe Innovation Formula — Alan Weiss & Mike Robert (1985)ConnectAlan Weiss: alanweiss.comTalk the Walk — next episode: first week of JuneSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I jumped in for a spontaneous popup episode to share a conversation I had on The Solo Sauce podcast.We recorded it just before I flew to Nepal, I was in that messy in-between state where I was trying to wrap things up, thinking about what’s next, and not overthinking my answers. Which means what you’ll hear is probably closer to how I actually think.Joeri and I got into:the workshop disaster in Canada that accidentally kicked off my careerhow a podcast turned into a brand, a book, and real opportunitieswhy community is still the most valuable asset I’ve builtwhat people get wrong about content and personal brandand the parts of running your own business that don’t get talked about enoughWe also went deep on things I don’t usually say out loud:I’m still figuring things outcontent is how I think, not just how I marketand the whole “busy” narrative is mostly perception📺 Watch the full conversation with Leanne on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4444T_ujaic🎧 Prefer audio?Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XZYtEOAfbPJComLn90g1I?si=38befac491294bc9Or on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-solo-sauce-podcast/id1876214009?l=en-GB&i=1000755727432Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

What makes someone more interesting, more insightful, and better at what they do?In this episode of Talk the Walk, Leanne and Alan go well beyond business. They explore why a full life outside work, including hobbies, culture, travel, current events, films, ideas, and even the everyday chaos of tradies and repairs, can sharpen your thinking rather than distract from it.Alan shares why the most valuable consultants are often polymaths, not specialists trapped in a narrow lane. From Oscar film reviews to global politics, first world problems, confidence, self-worth, and the danger of living life through a screen, this conversation moves across the map and lands on one central point: your work gets better when your world gets bigger.They also dig into what it means to live in the moment, why curiosity matters, how confidence fuels great thinking, and why you’re responsible for making something of your life instead of sitting back and waiting.In this conversation:Why having a “whole life” gives your work more depthHow wide interests can make you a stronger marketer and thinkerThe difference between ego and esteemWhy people are desperate for spaces that go beyond pure business talkAlan’s thoughts on confidence, critical thinking, and personal powerWhy capturing everything can stop you from actually living itThe line that sums it all up: you’re not here to go in the water, you’re here to make wavesSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode of Talk the Walk, Leanne and Alan Weiss kick off with ducks, snow and martinis… and end up in a sharp conversation about ego, esteem and why most professionals are letting the wrong thing drive their behaviour.If you’ve ever:Second-guessed yourself after one critical commentObsessively checked feedback scoresFelt like an imposter despite evidence you’re good at what you doAvoided posting, pitching or pushing backThis one’s for you.From ducks to dignityAlan shares stories from his snow-covered property, feeding ducks who respond to his “Berlitz-level quack.” It’s light, it’s funny… and then we pivot.The real conversation begins with a distinction most people get wrong.Ego and esteem are not the same thing.Ego vs esteem: the difference that changes everythingAccording to Alan:Ego is external. It protects your image. It’s how you want to be seen.Esteem is internal. It’s your belief that you are worthy, regardless of success or failure.Ego can be smashed by criticism, comparison or public embarrassment. Esteem doesn’t collapse from attack.It deteriorates from neglect.That’s the kicker.Most people aren’t losing esteem because someone attacked them. They’re losing it because they’ve stopped tending to it.The default problemAlan argues that the default human setting is guilt and fear.We say:“I was wrong.”“I shouldn’t have said that.”“They’re going to find me out.”Leanne references the research on imposter phenomenon. Over 80% of high achievers feel like frauds at some point.That’s not lack of talent. That’s neglected esteem.Practical ways to build esteem (intentionally)Alan suggests building devices into your life:Write 10 great things you did this monthIn the morning, note 3 positive things you’ll doAt night, record 3 positive things you didScreenshot praise and keep it somewhere accessibleEsteem needs reinforcement. If you don’t reinforce it, social media, comparison and criticism will erode it for you.Consultants and low self-esteemThis is where it gets uncomfortable.Low-esteem consultants:Don’t push backLet clients dictate termsSlash feesObsess over smile sheetsAvoid controversyAlan is blunt:If you don’t believe you have value, why should anyone else?He also dismantles audience feedback culture. Smile sheets mean nothing. Ask the buyer if you met their needs. Respect matters more than affection.The LinkedIn trapOne negative comment. One stranger saying “This makes no sense.” And suddenly you spiral.Alan’s advice:Consider the sourceDon’t defend yourself against unsolicited criticsIf you want feedback, ask someone you respectOtherwise, you become a ping-pong ball.No guilt. No fear. No peer.This phrase came from a spontaneous response Alan gave when someone asked why he’s so confident.He walks into rooms with a silent challenge: prove me wrong.That doesn’t mean arrogance. It means he isn’t waiting for permission.The “no peer” piece is important. Stop measuring yourself against everyone else. Focus on your own metrics.Handling fearMost fear is fear of criticism.Alan puts content out globally, daily. Many professionals are terrified to post once a month.You don’t have to defend yourself against every critic. You don’t need universal approval.And as Alan says:There are statues of heroes in parks. There are no statues of critics.On ego (the healthy version)Ego isn’t the villain. It’s a regulatory device.But if it’s fragile, it becomes reactive.Leanne shares her frustration seeing outdated thinking still being rewarded on big stages. Alan reframes it:Don’t go into life rage.Self-effacing humour beats superiority every time.Guilt spirals and perspectiveOne consultant spent 24 hours worrying about a project that the client loved.Alan’s point:Separate worth from efficacy.You are worthy. Full stop. Then evaluate performance based on your own metrics.Did you test for understanding? Did people engage? Were there questions?Questions and objections show interest. Apathy is the real danger.Final takeawayAlan closes with this:You control more than you think. You control your ego. You control your esteem.If you let other people influence those without filters, you’re not leading your own life.Join us next timeWe’re back on 13 March for another Talk the Walk session.In the meantime:Where are you neglecting your own esteem?Are you chasing approval instead of respect?What metric are you using that’s quietly sabotaging your confidence?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

My latest article is all about extracting your ROI - listen in!Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

If you’re feeling pressure to make 2026 bigger, faster, cleaner, or more impressive than last year, this episode cuts through that noise quickly.What you’ll hear in this episodeWhy New Year’s resolutions create unnecessary pressure and disappointmentThe difference between patience and procrastination, and how fear shows up in bothWhy changing expectations is a strength, not a character flawThe “mercy rule” we all need for projects, careers, and goals that aren’t workingHow smart people know when to push forward, go around, or stop completelyWhy plans shouldn’t lock you in and why empty space in your calendar mattersThe problem with bucket lists and comparison-based successWhat’s being overhyped right now, and what’s quietly undermining progressWhy flexibility isn’t flippancy, it’s judgementA simple way to rethink success without lowering your standardsOne question to sit with after listeningWhat expectation are you protecting out of pride, not because it still makes sense?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This is it. Episode 365. The last time I open the podcast with those words.This episode isn’t a neat bow or a highlight reel. It’s a real reflection on what it actually takes to show up every single day for a year, without fireworks, without drama, and without pretending it was always fun.I talk about why documenting the year mattered more than “performing” it, and how most of the work happened quietly in between the milestones. The Everest Base Camp analogy still holds. You get there… and it’s just another step. The meaning lives in the repetition.I share what surprised me most. – Why batching sounded smart but killed the point – How finding a story in the ordinary became the real challenge – What outsourcing production changed forever – Why audio still wins for me, hands down – And how this project sharpened my ability to think out loud, even when energy was lowI also talk honestly about the limits of the format. The quality dipped at times. Some episodes were rough. That’s the cost of consistency. And I’m okay with that.This project ends so I can redirect the bandwidth into the next big thing, my book with Wiley. That trade-off matters. Finishing well sometimes means stopping cleanly.If you listened to one episode or all 365, thank you. You were part of this, whether you ever told me or not.This feed isn’t dead. It’s just paused, repurposed, and ready for whatever comes next.No episode tomorrow..!THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This is the second-last episode of this daily podcast project, and honestly, I didn’t come in with some big, profound lesson lined up.I just wanted to share something that happened.On Sunday, Chris and I were out driving his 1979 Trans Am. Black. V8. Screaming chicken on the bonnet. Full Smokey and the Bandit vibes. A bird decided to do its business right on the hood, so we pulled into a servo to wash it off.As we were about to leave, we noticed eight to ten American classic cars parked nearby. Chevys. A Knight Rider replica. The works. One of the guys waved us over and said, “I thought you were with us.” We weren’t. They were heading to a car meet about ten minutes away and invited us to come along.We followed the convoy. Told ourselves we could peel off if we wanted to. We didn’t.We grabbed a coffee, hung around for nearly an hour, met some great people, and Chris walked away with tips, parts advice, and new groups to join. All because a bird crapped on the car.Here’s the twist.If that bird hadn’t done that, none of those events would’ve happened.I also posted a quick 13-second Instagram Reel. No planning. No strategy. Just a point-of-view clip of accidentally ending up at a car meet. It’s now the highest-performing video I’ve ever posted. Higher than Everest Base Camp. Higher than anything I’ve carefully thought through.It’s a real-time reminder of how interest-based media works.The people watching it aren’t my audience. I’m not getting clients from it. That wasn’t the goal. But it shows that attention doesn’t belong to the most meaningful or effort-filled content. It belongs to what people are interested in, right now.Followers still matter for credibility and social proof. But reach today is driven by interest, not loyalty.And that’s actually encouraging.It means you don’t need a big platform or years of momentum to get cut-through. You just need to put something out that people want to look at.That’s it for today. Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up what this daily podcast project has taught me.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Only three episodes left in this daily podcast experiment. In this episode, I’m sharing a deceptively simple icebreaker I picked up at a Brisbane rooftop event that involved good wine, smart people, and an afternoon of intentional pour choices.During a conversation with Niha, she described a workshop activity called The Animal Game. WHere’s how it works.You choose three animals, one at a time, without overthinking it:For each animal, you note two traits that feel accurate.The twist in the debrief.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I sat down with Jan Keck (a self-proclaimed “community addict”) whose tagline is “Let’s have conversations that matter.” Jan created Ask Deep Questions, which started as a deck of cards to help friends connect on a camping trip and has since grown into a global tool for facilitating meaningful conversations.We talked about the real stuff: loneliness in a hyper-connected world, how to build belonging without forcing it, and how to hold space when things get awkward or emotional, especially online.What we coveredWhy we still feel alone even with endless ways to connectJan’s definition of a close friend: who could you show up to at midnight with a bottle of wine and they’d let you in?The moment a personal goal-setting retreat changed Jan’s path, and why belonging hits different when you feel accepted as you areThe difference between:connecting based on shared history (where you’re from), andconnecting based on shared direction (where you’re heading)Whether “belonging at work” is real, and why it’s harder when people didn’t opt inThe concept of challenge by choice (the pool metaphor) for vulnerability and participationHow Jan “holds space” by designing the right container and community agreements, so the group carries the space, not the facilitatorThe awkward truth about virtual events: the instant drop-off when you hit “Leave”, and why Jan now builds in an informal hangout after sessionsJan’s Campfire Formula for engagement: you don’t light a big log first, you build momentum with micro-actionsThe three levels of Ask Deep Questions cards:Curious: “What are you most grateful for in your life?”Brave: “If you could relive a moment of your life, which one would you pick?”Vulnerable: “How do you want to be remembered?”Scaling connection in large groups using breakout rooms, structure, and clear instructions (plus the link to the bystander effect)Confidence on camera: why Jan credits improv (and repeating discomfort) for killing perfectionismA line I’m stealing: Presence over perfectionPractical takeaways I’m sitting withIf you want depth, design for depth. It doesn’t “happen naturally” on Zoom.The “closing” matters. Virtual events need a deliberate debrief runway.For groups bigger than about 6–7, you need structure or you’ll get silence.Don’t ask for vulnerability first. Earn it.About today’s guestJan Keck Creator of Ask Deep Questions Mission: helping people feel less alone through meaningful conversations and experiences.LinksAsk Deep Questions: askdeepquestions.comJan’s site: jankeck.comSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s guest is Tim Ferguson, CEO of Audience, joining me from Switzerland. If you’ve ever walked into a workshop and felt your soul quietly leave your body, Tim is one of the people trying to stop that from happening.This conversation is a masterclass in what great facilitation actually looks like when it’s done properly. Tim doesn’t treat “engagement” like a nice-to-have. He treats it like the job.We talk about Tim’s wild career pivots, starting as a day camp counsellor, then theatre school, then a PhD track in religious studies, and somehow ending up running a global company that designs better corporate meetings and coaches leaders to present well. None of it was planned, which is both annoying and reassuring.A huge theme in this episode is audience-first design. Tim and his team start with who’s in the room, not what’s on the slide deck. He even asks clients to imagine cancelling the event and selling tickets instead. If people had to pay with their own money and time, what would make it worth it? That question alone is enough to expose how much corporate stuff is built backwards.We also get into:Why facilitation is a marathon, not a sprint (and why that matters if you want to do this work long-term)How to handle the moment someone calls your workshop “a waste of time” without getting defensive or foldingA practical reset method (1-2-4-All) for turning tension into something usefulTim’s preparation routines, including how he memorises names and builds trust fastWhat it actually takes to work internationally (spoiler: relationships, reliability, and zero entitlement)The two underrated skills for new facilitators: presence (body language) and listening for what’s not being saidIf you run workshops, lead meetings, or present for a living, you’ll steal ideas from this one immediately.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’m recording this on Christmas Day, full festive mode, about to eat and drink everything in sight. But first, I squeezed in a proper workout. A 45-minute Peloton bike bootcamp with Tunde that absolutely cooked my legs.After that, I did something very on-brand for me. I impulse-bought a $29 USD online course off Instagram and gave it a crack straight away.It was an intro to shuffle dancing from an account called Shuffle Mums. If you’ve seen shuffling before, you’ll know it’s fast footwork, cardio-heavy, and way harder than it looks.I spent about 15 minutes learning three moves:The running manThe double running manA heel kick variationThe teaching style was solid. Break the moves down, then stitch them together at slow, medium, then fast pace. I made it through slow, half-held medium, and completely fell apart after that.Here’s the honest part. Watching myself in the mirror, I looked stiff, intense, and nothing like the instructors who look chill and effortless. Brow furrowed. Upper body rigid. Very “trying hard” energy.Which is exactly what learning looks like.Will I stick with it? No idea. There’s every chance I won’t. And I’m fine with that.I’m not journalling my why. I’m not blocking time in my calendar. This isn’t a new identity. It’s a 10–15 minute finisher after a workout that’s fun, different, and forces my brain to focus.That’s enough.What I loved most was how mentally absorbing it was. The coordination, the footwork, the rhythm. It reminded me of hiking in Nepal, where every step required attention.I also went down a rabbit hole and learned that shuffling came out of the Melbourne rave scene in the 1990s, dancing in circles, no mirrors, no performance mindset. Just movement, music, and freedom. That context made it even better.So I’m giving it a go. No pressure. No overthinking. Just movement for the sake of it.If in a few months I can post a progress video without cringing, that’ll be a bonus.What this episode is really aboutTrying things without overcommittingLetting fun be the reasonHabit stacking without making it a life philosophyUsing movement to wake up your brainBeing bad at something and not quitting immediatelyWhat’s one thing you could try for 10–15 minutes a few times a week without turning it into a self-improvement project?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this Christmas Day episode, I’m recording fresh off a humid Brisbane hike and a lot of thinking time.I expand on yesterday’s conversation about media and platforms, and get specific about two things I’m genuinely prioritising in the year ahead.First, private podcasts. I break down what they are, why I’ve been using them for years, and why I think they’re one of the most underrated tools for client delivery, learning on the go, and building trust without spraying content everywhere. I share how I’ve used them for coaching, webinars, and even my own learning, and why I’m planning a short, locked-down mini series as my primary email sign-up.Second, the book. I talk about the behind-the-scenes decision to trial PR for the first time, what I’ve committed to around the launch window, and why locking this in early is changing how I’m thinking about angles, writing, and visibility. This is very much an experiment, and I explain what I’ll be watching to decide if it’s worth the investment.I also share a simple but sharp exercise I’m using to shape content and offers next year: What does my audience want more of, and what are they desperate to reduce or remove? No hype. Just practical clarity.This episode is less about Christmas cheer and more about direction, focus, and choosing fewer things that actually move the needle.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode, I walk through the social media platforms I actually use, why I still use them, and what’s staying or shifting as I head into the new year.Earlier this year, I published a deep dive on my $11K tech stack. This conversation is the companion piece, focused purely on social and media platforms. The question I’m asking myself is simple: Why am I here? And is it still doing the job?Here’s the rundown.LinkedIn This is my main business platform. It’s where I share ideas, test thinking, meet smart people, and build momentum for the book. It’s staying. No debate. If my work is business-focused, this is non-negotiable.Instagram This is behind-the-scenes, fitness, travel, and real life. It’s lighter. I’ll sometimes delete the app on weekends or holidays to give myself a break, but I like the entertainment value and the people I stay connected with here.Facebook Still useful, but mainly for groups, Messenger, and local community updates. My Facebook group exists, people still join, but it’s no longer a growth engine for my business. And that’s fine. Not everything needs CPR.WhatsApp Not really social media, but it’s where a lot of my real conversations happen. Group chats, side chats, logistics, and friendships all live here.TikTok This one’s intentional curiosity. I’m using it as a listening tool for Gen Z and emerging leaders, because that audience matters for the book I’m writing. I’ll start creating content here, but I’m realistic. I may need help to make that happen properly.It’s also brilliant for travel, venues, and local recommendations. The algorithm is sharp, and it rewards curiosity.Strava Surprisingly motivating. I’m paying for it. Kudos matter more than they should. Even stretching feels rewarded.Substack This is a big one. Weekly writing, clearer thinking, and a strong entry point into the book. This is where longer ideas live first, before they get repurposed elsewhere.Podcast + YouTube I’m not continuing daily episodes next year. The feed stays. The episodes stay. The name and artwork will change. Expect fewer episodes, more depth, and tighter alignment to the book themes. YouTube will continue as a distribution channel for the podcast.Big picture: One strong weekly article becomes the pillar. Everything else supports it.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I recorded this episode late. All year I’ve been disciplined. Daily episodes. Even from Nepal with poor internet And yet here I am, back home, beachy, relaxed, watching eight hours of cricket… and suddenly a three-minute podcast feels heavy.That’s the bit I wanted to call out.It’s not that the work is hard. It’s that the perception of effort ramps up when you’re in soft mode. When you’re already moving, working, exercising, creating, the extra thing barely registers. When you’ve gone full couch, everything feels like a task.I talk about why the last stretch of anything feels harder, just like the final kilometres of a run. Same effort, louder brain. And how habit stacking and timing matter more than motivation.The takeaway is simple. Don’t wait to feel ready. Change the context. Do the thing while you’re already in motion.Because once you start, it’s fine. It’s the thinking about it that’s exhausting.key ideas I unpackWhy the last leg of the year feels heavier than the restEffort vs perception of effort and why your brain liesSoft mode vs motion mode and how context changes everythingWhy doing the thing is easier than gearing up to do the thingHow habit stacking saves you from yourselfquestions to sit withWhere are you blaming fatigue when it’s really a context problem?What task feels big purely because you’ve stopped moving?What would change if you did that thing earlier, faster, or mid-motion?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

The Story Behind “Eat Clean, Drink Dirty”A while back, my Red Carpet Campout collaborator, Steve Demedio, asked about my dietary requirements. I replied via SMS, “I eat clean and I drink dirty.” That phrase stuck with me, especially recalling a trip to Thailand with Chris.Our mornings were all about a healthy routine—coffee, hydration, gym sessions, and a fruit-filled breakfast—while our afternoons melted into beautiful sunsets with a Chang or a mojito in hand. That contrast perfectly sums up my lifestyle: keeping things balanced rather than swinging to extremes.Moderation: The Sustainable WayI’m not here to dish out advice—this is about sharing what works for me and letting you decide what fits your life. I don’t follow the latest fad diets or extreme regimens; I simply opt for a moderate approach that supports both my well-being and my enjoyment of life. Sure, some folks might say that skipping alcohol entirely gives you extra energy and mental clarity, but I believe in the power of a couple of drinks to spark real conversations and genuine connections. For instance, I’ve seen how a casual beer can break down barriers—reminding me of my mate in the police force, who fondly recalled the old days when cops could wind down together over a few beers.Balancing Health and HappinessI’m aware that moderation isn’t for everyone, and there’s a fine line between maintaining a balanced lifestyle and potentially overdoing it. I keep my commitments to eating well, exercising, and living healthily, which helps counterbalance the occasional indulgence. For me, being 40 means I can experiment with this balance—eating clean while enjoying a little dirty drink—and find long-term sustainability without feeling deprived.Where Do You Stand?As of February 2025, I’m comfortably navigating my “eat clean, drink dirty” path. I’m curious about your take: do you find that moderation in your habits makes life more sustainable? Do you ever wonder if striving for extreme health benefits is worth sacrificing those spontaneous, fun moments?Questions for YouHow do you balance a commitment to healthy living with the desire to enjoy life’s lighter moments?Have you ever noticed that a casual drink or relaxed conversation has led to unexpected clarity or connection?What does long-term sustainability look like for you when it comes to balancing healthy habits with a bit of indulgence?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m pulling you into a conversation I’ve been hanging out to have again, because Julian Treasure is one of those rare humans who makes you rethink how you speak, how you listen, and even how your office is quietly wrecking your brain.I open by asking a simple question: what’s your favourite TED Talk? Because TED is basically the internet’s global library of “oh wow” moments. I share a few of mine, and then we get into the reason Julian’s back, his talk “How to Speak so that People Want to Listen” is one I use all the time in my workshops.Julian’s done five TED Talks, his videos have been viewed more than 100 million times, and he’s living proof that voice and listening aren’t “soft skills”. They’re career skills.What we get into1) Open plan offices: productivity killers in a suit Julian doesn’t mince words: open plan offices are often a nightmare. Noise is the number one complaint and it’s not even close. Too loud, you lose focus. Too quiet, you feel watched and you stop talking anyway. Either way, it’s not the collaboration utopia architects promised.He also shares the research that open plan can lead to more emails and less talking because people don’t want to be overheard.2) Noise isn’t just annoying. It’s a health issue. Julian explains that we’ve got limited bandwidth for conversations and when speech is around you, it hijacks your attention. Long exposure to higher workplace noise isn’t just “a vibe problem”. It can lift stress and impact health over time.3) The office should be “activity-based”, not one-size-fits-all We talk about activity-based working: the idea that an office should have different zones for different work types. Quiet space for deep work. Open space for collaboration. Booths for calls. A space designed like a living system, not a factory floor.4) Biophilia and soundscapes (yes, it’s a thing) Julian shares what his company has been building: soundscapes designed to improve wellbeing and productivity, using nature-based audio (often water) rather than artificial “coloured noise”. It’s niche, and it’s fascinating.5) My favourite bit: how facilitators can design the room for better collaboration Julian gives a simple, practical checklist for any workshop space:Acoustics: soft surfaces, curtains, carpet, irregular shapes helpNoise sources: fans, traffic, hallway machines, anything that drags attention awaySound system: match it to room size and your voice, and consider your own mic rigSetup discipline: arrive early, reset the room at breaks, make it feel cared forHe even suggests the easiest room test: walk in and clap. Your ears will tell you the truth.6) Why silence is the first lesson in a speaking course This surprised me too. Julian starts his course with silence because silence is the baseline for real listening. If you can’t listen properly, you can’t speak into what people actually need. Speaking and listening aren’t separate skills, they feed each other in real time.He drops a question I’m stealing forever: “What’s the listening I’m speaking into?” Different room, different time of day, different culture, different mood. If you don’t adapt to that, you’re basically performing at people, not communicating with them.7) Handling disagreement without getting defensive This part was gold. Julian says most of our defensiveness comes from two addictions:wanting to look goodwanting to be rightBoth are understandable. Both will sabotage you in front of a group.The better move is curiosity: “I don’t agree, but I want to understand how you got there.” He talks about listening with compassion and recognising that people’s assumptions are shaped by their history. Same interaction, totally different interpretation.Links and resources mentionedJulian’s book: How to Be HeardFree listening exercises via Julian’s website: juliantreasure.comJulian’s course: speaking and listening course at speaklistenbe.com (Julian mentions it’s discounted at time of recording)Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Ronsley was the person who told me, years ago, “If you want to start a podcast, start one about something you want to learn.”That advice is the reason this show exists.In this final interview, we don’t talk tactics. We talk identity, energy, reps, and why preparation is not the same thing as control.We unpack why Ronsley doesn’t see himself as a “facilitator” even though he absolutely is one, how he creates rooms people want to be in, and why return on luck is really return on reps.We talk about:Why great facilitation is about standing back, not stepping upHow treating everyone as equal changes the energy of a room instantlyWhy clarity usually arrives late and that’s normalThe difference between winging it and being deeply preparedWhy audio strips away posturing and exposes truth fastHow reps compound quietly while everyone else is chasing shortcutsThis episode is about trusting the process without pretending you’re in charge of it.If you facilitate rooms, lead conversations, host sessions, or feel yourself in the middle of a professional skin-shedding phase, this one will land.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’ve just delivered my final webinar of the year and, honestly, I’m not gliding into the finish line. There’s still work on the table. In today’s episode, I want to share something simple that worked beautifully in a live client session. A practical way to get buy-in without overcomplicating things.The move is this “Here’s what you said.”That’s it.This team had been involved earlier in the year, sharing input on their future direction and identity. The leadership team took that raw input away, did the hard thinking, and came back with something clear, sharp, and aspirational. And instead of opening with “Here’s what we’ve decided,” the leader opened with a slide that said, Here’s what you said.That one move changed the energy in the room.People could see themselves in the work. They could recognise their language, their intent, their concerns. It showed respect for the process and for their contribution. And importantly, it didn’t try to include everything. It highlighted patterns, not noise.There’s a myth that if you ask for feedback, you have to use all of it. You don’t. What you do need to do is acknowledge it, synthesise it, and show how it informed the direction you’re taking. Even if you ultimately choose a different path, transparency earns trust.This is also a timing lesson. If you gather input and then disappear, you do more damage than if you’d never asked at all. Feedback needs a visible return loop.As we head into the end of the year, when energy is patchy and attention is stretched, this is one of those low-effort, high-impact moves that actually works.I’m heading into a writing-heavy summer, with fewer client interruptions and, let’s be honest, a bit of sloth mode sprinkled in. We’ll see how disciplined I am.Thanks for listening. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I negotiated a book deal with Wiley.What I coverWho I’m writing this book for: an earlier version of me, sitting on a train in South Bank three months into a “dream job on paper” that I hated.The trap I fell into: job hunting as avoidance. I thought a new role would fix it. It didn’t.A line I can’t unhear: “The grass isn’t greener… it’s just another shade of brown.” Every job has brown patches. The question is what you do about it.The premise of the book: it’s not about finding your dream job. It’s about making your job a dream through personal agency and deliberate moves.Practical toolkits I’m planning to include: reaching out to people, getting meetings, hosting lunch and learns, building reputation, and understanding what “value” actually means.The deadline pressure: aiming for an October 2026 release, with structure and a couple of chapters due early January.The provocative opening (current working idea): why “be so good they can’t ignore you” is a lie.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s episode started with a simple client conversation about recognition.. I shared a moment I’ll never forget from a workshop I ran in India with 30 construction leaders. One card said, “I’d be happy if my leader just said thank you.” That card stopped the room. Everyone stood up.That memory took me straight back to a book I keep coming back to, The Courage to Be Disliked. It’s easily the most annotated book on my Kindle, and honestly, it feels like one long highlight.I read out passages that question our obsession with recognition, approval, and being liked. The book makes a brutal point: when your sense of contribution depends on recognition, you are no longer free. You start shaping your life around other people’s expectations. You end up loyal to everyone and owned by all of them.I also touch on workaholism as a “life lie” – using work to avoid other responsibilities and parts of life that feel harder to face. That one stings for a lot of high performers.The thread that ties it all together is this: Real contribution doesn’t need applause. If you genuinely know you’re useful, you stop chasing validation.This episode is part reflection, part reading, part uncomfortable mirror. If recognition is driving your decisions more than you’d like to admit, this one will land.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I woke up to the news out of Bondi. A targeted shooting. Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah. It’s horrifying, heartbreaking, and deeply unsettling. Like many Australians, I’m angry, sad, and shocked that this happened here.I talk about what it’s been like trying to function creatively in the middle of that. And the very real tension between staying informed and protecting your sanity.I share why I made the call to switch the news off, physically leave the room, and create some distance. Not out of disrespect. I also reflect on a moment from Nepal, meeting someone who had completely opted out of the news cycle altogether. At first, I judged it. Then I understood it. And that’s where this episode really sits.This isn’t about ignorance or avoidance. It’s about asking what constant exposure actually does to us. A 24-hour news cycle. Clickbait headlines. Endless updates that pull you back into grief, outrage, and helplessness.There’s no solution offered here. No tidy takeaway. Just an honest conversation about compartmentalising, protecting your energy, and doing the best you can on days when the world feels overwhelming.If you’re feeling flat, distracted, or emotionally flooded right now, you’re not broken. You’re human.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This episode exists because a completely normal Christmas catch-up in Brisbane somehow turned into a 30-minute in-depth chat about bidets.It started at our Red Carpet Campout reunion. Darts. Drinks. Way too much food.So today, I’m talking about bidets. Yes, really.I explain what they actually are, why they’re everywhere in Japan and much of Asia, and how staying in a hotel in Sriracha, Thailand sent me down a very unexpected rabbit hole that ended with installing one at home.We get into the practical stuff.How much they cost.Attachments versus full toilet replacements.Why occupational therapists are quietly recommending them for accessibility and ease of use.Then it gets bigger.Environmental impact.Water use versus toilet paper.The strange panic-buying habits we’ve all seen during floods and lockdowns.And the uncomfortable truth that wiping with paper might not be as “normal” or clean as we think.There’s also a nod to South Park’s Japanese Toilet episode and the not-so-subtle message underneath the jokes.Also, yes, “Bidet Mate” is already a real company.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’m joined by Jordan Mendoza, a sales and training pro with 25+ years in sales and marketing, and 14 years in the multifamily housing world (he explains what that actually means, so you’re not left guessing). I first heard him on a group Zoom call through Andy Storch’s Talent Development Summit and within minutes I knew: this guy is a live wire. He trains, he sells, he hosts the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, he breakdances, he does impressions, and he’s built a LinkedIn audience of 60,000-plus by showing up consistently and making business content genuinely watchable.We go deep into the stuff most people avoid. Like imposter syndrome. Jordan tells the story of being sent to an “advanced instructor” course when he was anything but advanced, walking into a room full of experienced trainers… and seeing a camera recording everything. Present. Get the DVD. Watch yourself. Critique yourself. Repeat. It’s brutal. It’s also a fast track if you can handle the discomfort instead of hiding behind “I’m not ready yet”.From there, we unpack what actually keeps people engaged for long sessions (Jordan runs full eight-hour days in a six-month leadership program). He’s big on open-ended questions, mixing the pace, and designing the day like a system: breaks that hit at the right time, music and snacks to lift the energy, and activities that aren’t random, they’re tied to the content.We also get practical about virtual selling and trust-building. When COVID killed in-person tours, Jordan’s team didn’t sulk, they rebuilt the whole experience online: virtual tours booked via chatbot, Zoom walk-throughs, even live tours streamed from inside the actual apartment. Then they made the close frictionless: “Here’s the link, apply now, take it off the market today.” The result: a 25% increase in new leases year-over-year, during a pandemic. Translation: virtual doesn’t have to mean weaker. It means you need better design.Then we talk LinkedIn and content. Jordan’s rule is simple: create content that educates, inspires, or entertains. Most people stay stuck in “professional beige”. Jordan leans into personality, fun, tagging others, and relationship-building at scale. And yes… he drops a Simpsons impression and demos Zoom studio effects mid-conversation to prove the point: you can use tiny moments of play to break the ice and lift attention.If you’re a facilitator, trainer, consultant, or leader trying to build momentum, this episode is a reminder that “more polished” isn’t the goal. More useful and more human is.Key takeaways I took from this chatAsk better questions. Open-ended questions create thinking, and thinking creates conversation.Design for attention, not ego. Long sessions need rhythm: breaks, activities, sensory shifts, and clear purpose.Create “home base”. A physical spot you return to when you need to reset your focus while presenting.Virtual trust is built with video + ease. Show the thing, remove friction, make the next step obvious.Content works when it’s usable. If people can apply it immediately, you’re building future demand.Consistency beats planning. Jordan’s growth came from showing up daily, not over-engineering a content calendar.Mentioned in this episodeAndy Storch’s Talent Development SummitJordan’s podcast: Blaze Your Own TrailLinkedIn content: educate / inspire / entertain“Lack of friction” as a selling and engagement principleZoom studio effects and filters as lightweight icebreakersSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I came back from Nepal and Alan Weiss immediately “welcomed me back to flat earth”, then we got into the real topic: climbing the mountain when it’s not cute anymore.This episode starts with the funny stuff (Lukla airport and the “dungeon” accommodation, plus a toilet situation that honestly deserves its own spin-off). But quickly it turns into something sharper: what happens when you’re deep in it, tired, doubting yourself, and looking for an exit.Alan shares a story I didn’t expect: even with his reputation, his dream book got rejected. Multiple times. So he did what he always does when he hits a wall. He got angry, built a “guns blazing” proposal, and sent it back into battle. It sold. That book is now his fifth coming next year.So this isn’t really about altitude. It’s about what you do when you’re told “no”, when the conditions are awful, when your own brain is trying to negotiate your retreat.moments worth stealingThe mountain rule: you’re either going up or down. You don’t “stay” on the mountain.Rejection as jet fuel: the difference between “woe is me” and “watch me”.Success over perfection: the goal isn’t a flawless climb, it’s forward motion.Help counts: oxygen, guides, coaches, systems. Use what you need.Brand reality check: if you’re not getting critiqued, you might not be cutting through.KPIs vs results: “If you have clients but no KPIs, you’ve got a business. If you have KPIs but no clients, you don’t.”the line that gave me chillsMorris West on the high place: you don’t always know if the voice you hear is truth, or just the echo of your own “mad shouting”.what I want you thinking about after this episodeWhere are you pretending you’re “on the mountain” but actually stalled because it feels safer?What would change if you treated rejection as information, not identity?If you’re serious about visibility, what’s the hill you’ve been circling instead of climbing?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Read the articleThis year, I ran my entire consulting business solo. No staff. No office. Just me, my laptop, and 51 paid tools doing the work of bookings, editing, hosting, scheduling, storage, marketing, fitness, and even entertainment.Total spend $11,899 AUDBefore you jump to judgement, this episode isn’t about flexing tools or convincing you to buy anything.It’s about decision-making.I sat down and did a full tech audit. What I’m keeping. What I’ve cut. And what I’m seriously questioning going into next year.In this episode, I don’t read the full Substack article because it’s long and detailed. Instead, I share:Why I deliberately mix business and personal tech in one auditThe two rules I use to stop tools creeping out of controlThe platforms that genuinely earn their keepThe tools I probably should’ve cancelled earlierWhere I’m torn between “this works” and “this is just habit”You’ll hear why:I still pay a lot for Hello Audio and don’t regret itDescript is the reason this podcast even existsI don’t use a CRM or project management tool and why that’s intentionalI’m questioning long-term loyalty to ChatGPTYouTube Premium quietly became one of my best subscriptionsIf you’re a solopreneur, consultant, creator, or anyone running a one-person show, this episode will either make you feel very validated… or very itchy to open your subscriptions list.The full breakdown, including every tool, cost, category, and rationale, is linked in the show notes on Substack.Read it. Then audit your own setup.Because the real cost isn’t the software. It’s the indecision.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m pulling back the curtain on a concept that sounds ridiculous until you realise it’s the only way a solopreneur actually scales: omnipresence.This episode starts with a text exchange I had with my mate Andy Storch a while back. He messaged me saying I’d shown up in his dream which, honestly, is the most unhinged KPI I’ve ever accidentally hit. We laughed about it, but the truth is this is what consistency does. Show up long enough in enough places and you start slipping into people’s subconscious without even trying.Where founders go wrong is assuming omnipresence requires grinding yourself into dust posting 8 times a day like a Gary V intern on Red Bull. It doesn’t. My daily podcast takes me ten minutes. My Substack does the heavy lifting for discoverability. Loom helps me show up as a human being without booking meetings I don’t need. A few intentional channels, used well, let me look “everywhere” while barely leaving my desk.I share a story from a conversation I had with a director who leads a burned-out team of trainers who believe the only way to deliver value is to be physically present. Their expertise is gold, but they’re treating it like a one-to-one transaction that requires flights, hotels and exhaustion. They’re missing the leverage in tools they already have access to.If you’re a founder or expert who is still relying on being in the room to make an impact, you’re playing far too small. There are easier, smarter ways to scale your influence without sacrificing your sanity, your time or your health.And yes, by the end of the episode, I remind you exactly where you’ll be seeing me next. Everywhere. Including your dreams.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This episode is me calling myself out on one of the least sexy but most critical parts of running a business: money management. I’m great at the fun stuff. Give me a microphone, a client room, a blank page I’m happy. But ask me to open Xero every week and I’ll suddenly find seventeen other priorities.After coming back from Nepal, I finally logged into Xero expecting the usual admin slog. Instead, I found a new beta tool called JAX quietly sitting there waiting. And honestly, it punched way above its weight. It auto-suggested reconciliations, sorted categories and wiped out about 80 percent of the thinking work. For someone who normally has to Google charges and cross-reference my calendar like a forensic accountant, this was wild.But the part that really got my attention wasn’t the reconciling. It’s that JAX can answer financial questions, spot trends and give cash-flow insights on demand. Which makes me wonder: what happens to bookkeeping and accounting when your software starts offering real-time advice before a human even emails you?This episode is a look at the tool, the time it saved me and the bigger question I'm sitting with: Is this just a handy update or the start of a real shift in how small businesses handle finance?Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

There are 22 days left in the year, which means 22 episodes to go. If you want me to dissect anything before we wrap 2025, now is the time to speak up.I also share a big Con Con update. The venue is finally locked, and I drove down to see it myself because I refuse to run an event on “vibes only”. Expectations are high, and they should be. If I’m asking people to fly in, I need to build something that actually earns their time, not just their trust.Then I take you inside Sally Prosser’s book launch for Voiceprint. It was polished, warm, beautifully produced and then something happened that none of us could have scripted. Sally joked on stage that she wanted to give her book to Oprah, who’s in Brisbane this week. Fast-forward to today and… she did it. She literally handed Voiceprint to Oprah Winfrey. On video. In the wild. And the clip is one of the best things you’ll see online this year.More than anything, it’s a reminder that saying your hopes out loud isn’t naïve. It’s strategic. Sally declared it, her network moved, and a ridiculous dream became real within 24 hours. If you keep your ambitions locked inside because you’re scared of looking presumptuous, you’re slowing yourself down.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This weekend was peak Aussie sport energy and I was all in. Cricket at the Gabba. A sweaty 10k run. And then casually bumping into Mackenzie Arnold at South Bank before 7am. Yes, I fan-girled. No, I don’t regret it.But the real fever kicking in right now is World Cup fever. The 2026 draw dropped and suddenly my calendar, my budget and my sense of logic are all in a cage match. I’ve already blocked out the Socceroos match days because let’s be real: nothing meaningful gets done in this country when the World Cup is on. I learned that the hard way in 2006 when I backpacked through Germany, scored golden-ticket access to the Aussie supporters, and ended up having one of the best months of my life sleeping in a makeshift campsite run by locals who fed us bratwurst and beer like it was oxygen.This episode is a mix of stories, nostalgia and a warning: you need to plan your life around this World Cup now, not later. These fixtures are prime time for a reason.If I can snag a ticket, I’m flying over for at least one match. No excuses. Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode, I sit down with the delightful Lisa Evans, who went from midwife and neonatal nurse to executive speaker coach and “story midwife” in her forties. Lisa lost most of her hearing after a virus, had to walk away from a 25-year career, then rebuilt everything with a cochlear implant, public speaking and business storytelling. If you’ve ever told yourself “it’s too late” or “I’m not that type of person,” you need to hear this.We get into the very real stuff that stops smart people from speaking up, contributing in meetings and leading conversations: self doubt, imposter syndrome, dodgy psychological safety and poorly designed meetings that favour the fastest talker in the room. Lisa also shares a much more useful take on introversion and extroversion, and why “I’m an introvert” isn’t a get-out-of-jail card for hiding.We also pull back the curtain on how she actually designs workshops for technical leaders in mining and resources, how she works with hybrid rooms, and why “let’s just move it online” is often the worst sentence in L&D.In this conversation, you’ll hear:How a sudden, permanent hearing loss ended Lisa’s midwifery career and forced a complete reset in her fortiesThe moment a cochlear implant opened the door to speaking, storytelling and a new professional identityWhat really holds people back from speaking up in meetings, presentations and virtual callsWhy psychological safety is not a buzzword, it’s a pre-condition for contributionLisa’s take on introversion vs extroversion, and why it’s about how you recharge, not whether you “like people”How introverts can be powerful speakers and facilitators without pretending to be someone elseThe specific challenges of working with technical leaders and engineers who are told “tell more stories” but don’t know howHow Lisa designs her workshops so they’re customised, story-rich and flexible on the day (including how she “over-prepares” her slides so she can cut and pivot live) • • Why copying someone else’s high-energy style all day is a fast track to burnout and flat roomsSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I brought Sean D’Souza into a live community call and he promptly blew up every assumption we hold about marketing, overwhelm, scale and what it actually takes to run a profitable business without burning your life to the ground.This is the guy who has taken three months off every year for two decades, runs a wildly loyal global audience with zero drama, and still answers emails like a human. He’s the quietest operator in the room and somehow the one everyone keeps recommending.In this episode, we get into things founders hate admitting: spreading ourselves thin across 17 platforms, pretending we “should” be everywhere, chasing growth for no reason and ignoring the tiny cracks that are actually costing us clients.Sean breaks down • why you’re overwhelmed before you’ve even started • how to choose your one plate instead of juggling seven • the real difference between a homepage, a sales page and an article (and why most people butcher all three) • why your list doesn’t need to be big, it just needs to buy • how to market without shouting • why consulting, training and leverage are the only three lanes you need • how he built a business that funds his life instead of consuming itIf you’re tired of being told to sprint harder, this conversation will reset your thinking fast.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode I unpack the strange little origin story behind one of the biggest rivalries in sport and why it matters far more to your career than you think. It’s a reminder that the move that changes everything is usually the one you nearly talk yourself out of. A journalist in 1882 hit publish on a joke, and 140 years later we’re still living with the ripple effects.I also share the message I almost didn’t send to Justin Langer and what happened next. The lesson isn’t about cricket. It’s about upside, timing and the tiny asks we overthink into oblivion. If you’re playing small or rationalising your way out of opportunities, this one will sting a little.Expect stories, strategy, and a call-out on where you might be taking the safe option instead of the smart one.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I unpack my love-hate relationship with LinkedIn, because something has shifted and pretending it hasn’t is a waste of time. I’ve been on that platform long enough to know when the vibe changes, and right now the mix of algorithm chaos and AI sludge is killing the experience.I talk through why I’ve gone from posting daily to posting… barely. Why the dribble in my feed makes me question people’s credibility. And why Substack, of all places, is pulling more of my attention than the platform that built a chunk of my business.This episode is part confession, part strategy check, and part reality check for anyone who’s relying on a single platform to grow their brand. I also share the unexpected upside of still showing up, including a meeting today that could lead to new work.If your relationship with LinkedIn feels off right now, this might hit a nerve.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This morning’s episode comes straight from my parked car, because of course I arrived super early for a workshop again. People assume it’s discipline. It’s actually trauma from living near a bridge that collapses into chaos two days out of five. When you’ve been trapped on a 15-minute drive that suddenly becomes a 60-minute crawl, you learn to get ahead of the nonsense.But today my early arrival came with a twist. The $354 million bridge upgrade finally opened its new lanes this week. And watching it unfold over the last two years has genuinely impressed me. Not because the construction was quick. It wasn’t. It was because the disruption was almost nothing. They managed a massive project in a way that barely touched most people’s day-to-day lives. That’s elite-level execution.It got me thinking about how often we convince ourselves that big goals must wreck our routines. Training for Everest Base Camp showed me the opposite. If you design the load, you can carry it.Then there’s the other side of the bridge metaphor. Are we actually solving the traffic problem, or just pushing the bottleneck further down the road? And how often do we do that in life and business? Delay decisions. Avoid clarity. Say yes to things our future selves will resent. Pretend the problem will magically disappear if we inch it a few kilometres out of sight.Sometimes the bravest move is pulling the issue into the present and asking the uncomfortable question: “If I had to do this today, would I say yes?”Anyway, I'm off to find a coffee before the room opens. Enjoy the episode.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m taking you behind the scenes of a values project I’m running for a client who has operated for twenty years with no formal values. They now want clarity for the next twenty years, and my job is to help them create values that aren’t generic, fluffy or destined to die on a wall.I walk through how I’ve set this up: collecting real employee stories, stripping out my own bias, keeping the integrity of their language, then preparing a core group of twenty to come together tomorrow for the heavy lifting. I share exactly what I’ve told them to expect, why they’ll probably get annoyed with me, and the traps teams fall into when they chase nice-sounding words rather than decision-making tools.You’ll hear the three things I’m setting them up with:Their actual role in the room What good values really feel like when they’re not corporate wallpaper.The red flags that show you’re playing small, copying the ASX top 500 and kidding yourself that “integrity” is a differentiator.I also talk about why stories are non-negotiable, why values are ultimately about trade-offs, and why the hardest part isn’t writing them but operationalising them into the day-to-day reality of the business.If you’ve ever tried to define values or need to refresh the ones you’ve got, this episode will give you a sharper lens and a few hard truths.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s episode is a look behind the curtain at what actually happens when you come home from a massive trip and try to slot straight back into “normal life”. Spoiler: nothing feels normal. I’m juggling a big work week, a suddenly superhuman Peloton ranking, a weighted vest obsession, and a social calendar that went from zero to unhinged in 48 hours.I also talk about a documentary that cracked me open in a way I didn’t expect, the type of planning philosophy that secretly keeps entrepreneurs stuck, and the one question that hit me like a brick while mapping out 2026.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This week I’m talking with someone who knows exactly what it takes to shift people out of old habits and into new ways of thinking and behaving. Yoke van Dam is a behavioural change coach, facilitator and leadership trainer with deep expertise in NLP, emotional intelligence, communication and sales. What I love about Yoke is her ability to take big, psychological concepts and translate them into practical tools leaders can actually use. She’s also got sixteen years of corporate and consulting experience, so she understands the reality of organisations, not just the theory.In this conversation we unpack the real mechanics behind behavioural change: why one-off workshops rarely create breakthroughs, how to get results through repetition and follow-through, and what NLP looks like when it’s applied in the wild, not in a textbook. Yoke shares strong examples around reframing, language patterns, and dealing with difficult groups, plus a fascinating breakdown of how to create your own PR and position yourself as someone worth paying attention to.If you’re a facilitator, coach, speaker or leader who wants people to actually change, not just nod along, this episode gives you the tools, language and structure to make that happen.Key takeawaysNLP techniques create new neural pathways, but they only stick through repetitionReframing language is incredibly effective in conflict and client conversationsOne-off workshops give insight, but long-term coaching creates transformationThe facilitator’s role is to stay neutral, stay present and listen beyond the surfacePR isn’t luck — it’s targeted outreach, relevance and credibility signalsPeople won’t trust your pitch if they can’t find proof of you onlineEnergy shifts when you go live on camera — structuring sessions around that mattersYou build a reputation by showing your work consistently, not waiting to be discoveredSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This week I’m exploring how something as simple and tactile as Lego can open people up, shift conversations, and spark ideas in ways most traditional workshops can’t touch. My guest is Michael Fearne, founder of Pivotal Play and an expert in Lego Serious Play. He works with everyone from startup founders to corporate leaders, helping them break out of business-as-usual thinking and communicate in more human, meaningful ways.What I loved about this conversation is how practical and grounded Michael is. He cuts through the myths, the scepticism, and the “I’m not creative” excuses we all hear in workshops. He explains why Lego Serious Play isn’t about building pretty models, it’s about generating insights, levelling power dynamics, and surfacing the stories and ideas people usually keep buried. We also talk through the messy parts: the sceptical participants, the leadership roadblocks, the workshop that went off the rails, and how he learned to handle high-stakes groups with more confidence and clarity.If you’re a facilitator, trainer, leader or someone who wants a more reliable way to get every voice in the room heard, you’ll get a lot from this one. And if you’re curious about using Lego in your own work, Michael has literally written the book on it and breaks the method down step by step.Key takeawaysLego Serious Play is a tool for thinking, not a toy activityIt democratises conversation by giving every participant a structured voiceThe value is in the stories, not the “model building”Reliability matters more than novelty in workshop designYou must choose clients and environments that match your styleLeadership groups with fixed mindsets can derail a process if you don’t manage themPhysical tools work brilliantly in virtual spaces when designed intentionallyPreparation and environment matter more than most facilitators admitA repeatable warm-up sequence builds trust and confidence every timeWriting a book forces you to codify what you actually knowSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today's Work Fame article. Read it / comment over at: https://www.workfa.me/In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my Everest Base Camp trip. And no, this isn’t a hiking podcast now. This is about what happens when you say yes to something you feel wildly unqualified for, and then get punched in the face by altitude, exhaustion and your own self-doubt.I share the email that kicked off the whole adventure, the training and prep I underestimated, and the three reasons EBC is tougher than people think. More importantly, I unpack the six lessons I walked away with that have nothing to do with hiking and everything to do with how you lead, create and make decisions when you’re stretched past your comfort zone.Highlights include • why the only safe step on ice is a committed one • how invisible “tightness” limits your performance • the hidden wall-and-river sitting inside every “quick job” • what happens when you can’t escape discomfort • the real gap between what your mind says and what your body can actually do • how fear shrinks with repetition, not reflectionIf you want a raw look at resilience, capability, and what you learn when convenience disappears, this one will hit home.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m pulling out two standout passages from my friend Sally Prosser’s new book, Voice Print. Sal and I go way back to a mastermind in 2020 when she was toying with TikTok. Within a year she’d exploded to 300k followers because she’s sharp, specific and actually helpful. We’ve collaborated on workshops, client gigs and public sessions, and she’s the person I trust when it comes to helping people actually use their voice, not just think about it.This episode is really about that. You can have the smartest ideas in the room, but the world judges you on how you communicate. My whole 365 project has been a self-imposed bootcamp to figure out what my voice sounds like when I show up every day. Less than 40 days to go. Wild.I read two excerpts: one on finding your voice and one on breathing. They hit because they expose the real pattern I see constantly. People say the thing after the moment, not in it. Regret, remorse, hindsight bravery. Sal’s book addresses that gap and shows you how to speak the truth when it counts. And on the breathing side, she’s dead right. If your breath is shallow, your voice is shaky. If you ground yourself, the whole tone shifts. It’s the difference between sounding tentative and sounding like you know why you’re here.If communication is part of your work (and if you’re human, it is), you’ll want to grab Voiceprint. Check the link in the show notes.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode I’m back home at my desk, testing my tech before a webinar and settling into the strange, slightly disorienting experience of re-entry after my Everest Base Camp trip. I talk through the mix of appreciation and fatigue that hits on the first day back: the joy of good coffee, hot showers, proper humidity and tap water, alongside the unexpected sadness of leaving the simplicity of mountain life behind. There’s something grounding about being off the grid with no sense of what day it is, and it’s jarring to return to everyday structure so quickly.I also share a small but powerful observation from my flight with Singapore Airlines. During turbulence, the captain announced that the cabin crew could “proceed with caution”, which stood out because most airlines follow an all-or-nothing rule when the seatbelt sign is on. Their approach balanced safety with service, and it sparked a question about where we apply rigid rules in our work or life when a more nuanced, flexible response would be better.The episode is really a reflection on this whole transition phase: noticing what I’ve missed, recognising what I’d lost touch with, and paying attention to the insights that surface before everything slips back to normal.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s episode comes straight from a rooftop bar in Singapore, where I’m easing my way back into city life after weeks in Nepal. The contrast hit me hard. Clear air. Tap water. A sunset skyline instead of dust and diesel. I’m sitting here with a cocktail in hand, a good book, and that classic Singapore view of cranes, towers and ocean. It’s exactly the pause I needed before heading home.I also went deep into my favourite Singapore ritual: shopping. Not the boring, cookie-cutter stuff we get in Brisbane. I’m talking real variety, sharp colours, actual service, and people who know how to style you quickly and well. I had three assistants swapping outfits, belts and accessories like a pit crew. The retail world here plays the status game smartly: loyalty lanes for change rooms, paid stylists you can redeem on purchases, and membership perks that immediately matter. There’s a lot Australian retailers could learn from that.Key takeaway Smart service isn’t complicated. Make people feel looked after, give them speed, give them status, and they’ll spend more and come back.Resource mentioned None today, just rooftop cocktails and retail strategy observations.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I recorded this one from my favourite cafe in Kathmandu (Rise and Grind Coffeee) on my last day in the city. Same table, same first-day coffee spot, but a very different version of me sitting here. This trip has pushed every limit I thought I had and exposed all the places where I cling too tightly to certainty, control, comfort and pace.I share four lessons from the last couple of weeks:Loosen the straps. Literally and mentally. I’ve learnt I grip too hard to outcomes and timelines, and Nepal doesn’t care about any of that.That which can be planned is too small. YouTube, blogs, even this podcast barely scratch the surface of the real thing.Don’t escape-room the hard stuff. The only way through the rough days was to face them. No shortcuts.Always expect five extra steps. Nothing is linear here, and that unpredictability builds range, resilience and sharper awareness.Key takeaway: The world works on its own schedule, and the sooner you stop fighting that, the more interesting your life gets.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This conversation with Sophie Scott felt like a masterclass wrapped in a reality check. She’s one of the few people who can talk about burnout, anxiety, performance and communication without drifting into clichés or soft advice. Her story about hitting the podium, feeling the room spin and realising her nervous system had finally had enough… that lands. It’s the kind of story facilitators rarely admit to, even though half the room has been there in some way.Sophie broke down exactly how she rebuilt herself, why five minutes of meditation every morning matters more than the big “reset” moments, and the way she flips nerves by shifting the focus onto the audience. Her breakdown of panel facilitation was ridiculously useful: pre-interviews, open questions, managing airtime, ditching jargon and remembering that your job is never to be the star… it’s to be the glue.If you ever get jitters before a workshop, want to run cleaner panels, or keep finding yourself skating on the edge of burnout because you “push through”, this episode gives you the truth and the tools.Key quotes• “Your body will tell you before your mind will admit it.”• “If you want a great panel, do the pre-interviews. People forget their best stories on stage.”Resources• Sophie's website: sophiescott.com.au• Insight Timer (meditation app)• Balance appSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This conversation with Jenny Blake was a masterclass in running a business without burying yourself in noise, pressure, and pointless admin. Jenny is one of the few people in the business world who genuinely walks her talk. Her book Free Time isn’t theory, it’s lived experience. Hearing her break down nonlinear breakthroughs, the pressure to niche, the trap of constant productivity, and how she’s built a wildly successful brand without touching social media was a wake-up call.I particularly loved her behind-the-scenes look at how she captures ideas, stories, and quotes using Notion. It’s the most elegant system I’ve seen, and honestly, it exposed just how sloppy my own capture process has been. She also lifted the curtain on licensing, the real economics behind it, and what she had to learn the hard way. If you’re building a business that depends too heavily on you, this episode will shake something loose.Key quotes• “Ask for a nonlinear breakthrough. Stop assuming you have to grind your way there.”• “Success just gets you more email. You need systems, not more stamina.”Resources• Jenny’s book: Free Time – https://itsfreetime.com/book• Nonlinear Breakthroughs episode on Pivot• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks• Notion (for idea capture and systems)Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode of Leanne on Demand, I sit down with Tim just days after he summited Ushba East. He’s still recovering, but he gives me an honest, raw, and vivid look into what it truly took to reach nearly 6,200 meters. From climbing in complete darkness to pushing through sickness, exhaustion, and brutal gradients, Tim shares the reality behind one of the hardest physical and mental challenges of his life.We talk about what “completely destroyed” really feels like, what drives someone to go for a summit when the body is already broken, and how seeing head torches in the sky can make you question whether they’re stars or just other climbers miles ahead. His reflections on redefining the word “hard” and gaining new perspective from this experience really stayed with me.This conversation captures the beauty, brutality, and transformation that comes with testing your limits in the Himalayas.TakeawaysHard gets redefined when you’ve pushed yourself to the edge at altitude.Your capacity is always greater than you think, even when sick and depleted.Climbing in darkness distorts your sense of distance and progress.Support from guides and teammates can make or break a summit attempt.Perspective shifts dramatically after enduring extreme physical and mental strain.Sometimes you can’t rest, even when you need it most, especially at altitude.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’m tucked into a cozy tea house in Perche while our summit team pushed on to 6,200 meters, and this morning we found out they all made it. Hearing that news after imagining them climbing at 1 am in negative 20 degrees on fixed lines in the dark filled me with so much pride and relief.A few of us stayed back, and with partners and loved ones up there, the waiting felt long. But everyone’s safe, and now they’re making their way down toward us. I can’t wait to see them.Meanwhile, I’m finally slowing down after ten intense days. My body still feels the altitude, my readiness score is terrible, and the cold mornings are no joke, but I’m relaxing, eating simple meals, and letting myself recover. Tomorrow we’ll take a helicopter to Lukla and then head into Kathmandu for some warmth and rest.Takeaways• Pride in the team’s summit• Listening to my body was the right call• Recovery is part of the journey• Community makes the hard days easier• The descent brings its own kind of peaceSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

High in the Himalayas at 5,500 meters, the air is thin, the tents are freezing, and every step feels like a test. Tomorrow, we attempt a 6,119-meter summit, and right now it feels like standing on the edge of something enormous, equal parts thrill, fear, and sheer determination. Today’s episode dives into the mental and physical preparation for the climb, and the emotional highs and lows that come with high-altitude adventure.I chat with Matt Stewart about what it’s really like at high camp, sleeping in freezing tents, clipping into fixed lines with your buddy and Sherpa, and tackling a steep 60-degree pitch to the summit. We reflect on the emotional journey, how small victories, moments of pride, and trusting your team carry you forward when the climb feels impossible.We explore the mental game of high-altitude trekking, from embracing discomfort and leaning into uncertainty to celebrating every bit of progress along the way. This episode is as much about personal growth and resilience as it is about reaching the top.Takeaways Lean into the fear. Excitement and anxiety often feel the same, let both drive you Trust your team. Your buddy and Sherpa are essential to your success Small wins matter. Every step toward the summit is progress worth celebrating Prepare mentally and physically. High camp is tough, so sleep, gear, and mindset all count Embrace the journey. The climb is as much about personal growth as the peakGrab your warm drink and join us as we gear up for summit day, soak in the mountains, and step into the challenge together.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Hey, thanks for tuning in! Today’s episode is all about my first-ever experience using crampons, those spiky tools you strap onto your boots to tackle icy, slippery terrain. I take you through the ups and downs of figuring them out on the fly, and the little victories that came with learning how to use them properly. Spoiler: I looked like a baby giraffe stumbling around!Along the way, I realized that these lessons on ice aren’t just for mountaineering—they translate surprisingly well to life and business. I break down three practical tips that helped me find my footing.Broaden your base – Widen your stance for stability. On ice, it keeps you from toppling over; in life, it’s about building a strong foundation and perspective so you don’t get caught off guard by unexpected challenges.Walk on the ice – Once you’ve got the right support, lean into the risk instead of avoiding it. Sometimes the hardest paths lead to the most progress.Flat-foot it – Commit fully, be decisive, and put your full weight behind your steps. Half measures won’t get you anywhere on slippery ground or in life.By the end of the day, I successfully made it to Everest Base Camp, a little bruised but feeling confident in both my crampon skills and my approach to life’s slippery moments.If you’ve ever felt nervous about stepping into something completely new, this episode is for you. Strap in, find your footing, and go all in. You might stumble at first, but you’ll get there.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.