Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes
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Leanne on Demand is your unfiltered backstage pass to bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and the messy magic of life beyond the boardroom. Think of it as your daily dose of scrappy creativity, served up while I’m walking, working in public, or just living out loud.Every day, I’ll bring you real-time reflections on business, leadership, and the random sparks of inspiration that pop up along the way. From behind-the-scenes peeks into my work to off-the-cuff chats with brilliant minds (or solo rants while I’m on a run), these bite-sized episodes are all about keeping it raw, relatable, and ridiculously actionable.This isn’t your typical polished business podcast – no overthinking, and no-fluff.Perfect for big thinkers, go-getters, and anyone itching for a fresh perspective on how to show up, take action, and make moves.New episodes drop daily. Grab your headphones and let’s take this outside.

  1. 22H AGO

    🌴291. From Chef to Chief Education Officer feat. Martin Probst (Weekend Rewind)

    On the Weekend Rewind I’m joined by Martin Probst from Profound Leadership—author, career coach, professional mentor, and (brilliantly cheeky) Chief Education Officer. We first connected at the Institute for Learning Professionals Awards Night in Brisbane, where he was a finalist for Learning Professional of the Year. If not for those awards, our paths might not have crossed—and I’m so glad they did. In this conversation, we explore Martin’s fascinating journey from chef → trainer → facilitator → business owner, and what he calls the shift from consumption to creation. We get into practical facilitation mindsets, how to reduce fear in the room, why curiosity beats ego, and yes—how he helps clients bust phobias and even experience unexpected health side-effects (one client ditched their inhaler after clearing an emotional “millstone”—wild). In this episode, we coverConsumption → Creation: Why teaching “what to think” keeps people dependent, while facilitation teaches “how to think.”Two facilitator mindsets: Ego vs. service—and how flipping this switch melts nerves fast.Death by PowerPoint: Why fewer words and more listening creates better outcomes.Find the real problem: Stop fixing the symptom; go deeper (Martin’s “window frames” story that wasn’t about windows at all 👀).Learn → Implement → Teach (LIT): Martin’s simple loop to embed learning for life.Phobia busting & mindset resets: The tools he draws on (NLP, hypnotherapy, coaching) and the surprising ripple effects.Starting a business with meaning: Becoming your own Chief Meaning Officer—why service precedes revenue.Fail fast, improve faster: Rotary talks, messy reps, and learning in public.My favourite moments“Change doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by choice.”“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”“Be comfortable being uncomfortable—ask the question your room actually needs.”“If they truly knew the problem, they would’ve solved it already.”Try this in your next sessionOpen with an agreement frame: align on outcomes, stay flexible on methods.Ask a laser question that feels slightly uncomfortable. (That’s usually the one.)Swap three PowerPoint slides for one image + one prompt. Then listen.Close with LIT: get participants to name 1 thing they’ll learn, implement, and teach this week.Connect with MartinWebsite: Profound Leadership (searchable)LinkedIn: Martin Probst (I’ll pop his links in the episode page.)If you enjoyed thisShare this episode with a teammate who “has all the content” but wants to facilitate outcomes.Subscribe to Work Fame on Substack for weekly, practical ideas. Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    38 min

  2. 1D AGO

    🌴290. Exposure

    Hey, thanks for tuning in today. I’m talking about exposure — and not the kind you get warned about when it comes to sunburn or dodgy business deals. You can read the article here. Exposure is a word that gets a bit of a bad rap. It can mean risk, vulnerability, or danger — “limit your exposure to the sun,” “you’ve been exposed to a virus,” etc. But there’s also this beautiful, positive flip side to it — when exposure means access, visibility, learning, and growth. I’ve been working with a client lately on redefining how we build capability, and it reminded me of the 70:20:10 model of learning — 10% formal training, 20% social learning, 70% on-the-job. Most people make the mistake of obsessing over the 10%, but today, I’m focusing on the 20% — that social learning, the exposure to how other people think, lead, and live. When I think about the biggest turning points in my own life, they’ve all come from exposure: Seeing someone live or work differently from meWatching how they made decisionsRealisng that the way I thought “the world worked” wasn’t the only wayWhen I worked at Wicked Campers, my boss John Webb shattered all my rules about how business “should” be done. After coming from Accenture, where process was everything, it was like walking into the Wild West. No rules. No forms. Just creation and action. Being exposed to that mindset completely changed me. Same thing when I joined the mining industry — suddenly, colleagues were casually mentioning trips to Mongolia. MONGOLIA! That kind of global exposure normalises things you used to think were out of reach. Or when I joined Alan Weiss’s mastermind — it wasn’t the formal learning that moved me most, it was hearing what my peers were doing: what they were charging, how they ran proposals, what they believed was possible. Exposure makes you raise your own standards. So if you’re feeling stuck, flat, or uninspired… maybe it’s not that you need another course. Maybe you just need more exposure. Expose yourself to people who live differently. Play tennis with people who are better than you. Join circles that challenge your worldview. Watch how others operate, not to copy, but to expand what you think is possible. Because yes — exposure can feel risky. But it’s also where the best growth happens. Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    6 min

  3. 2D AGO

    🌴289. Relatability

    Earlier this week, I ran a workshop and had one of those “note to self” moments. The host started reading out my bio—the one I’d sent ages ago—and as she was midway through, I was silently cringing. You know that feeling when something sounds a little too polished, a little too “LinkedIn Leanne”? That was me. Thankfully, I’d thrown in a random line at the end: “Leanne is severely scared of undercooked chicken and is a proud left-hander.” That one sentence saved me. Everyone laughed. We bonded over the fear of salmonella, and I even got a few creative-lefty questions during the day. It reminded me that bios aren’t just for bragging rights—they’re for building relatability. Sure, list your wins, but don’t forget to let people see you. When I used to host the First Time Facilitator podcast, I kicked off each episode with a fun fact (shoutout to Pat Flynn for the idea). It was such a simple way to create instant connection—and sometimes it’s those random, human details that people remember most. One of my favourite icebreaker questions is: “What’s the most boring thing about you?” It removes the pressure to be interesting—and ironically, the answers are never boring. And speaking of connection… earlier this week, I received a beautiful email from a woman who read The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. She told me she’d gone to my website to download the SPARK sheet and noticed the photo of my dogs, Quincy and Milo. Turns out, she has a dog named Quincy too! That one little breadcrumb—sharing a personal detail—sparked a lovely exchange across the world. So today’s reflection is simple: sprinkle more you into your work. The quirks, the small obsessions, the everyday stuff you think no one cares about—that’s what builds real connection. Now, I’m off to rewrite my bio (and maybe check my chicken). — Leanne Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    5 min

  4. 3D AGO

    🌴288. Why Mentoring Needs a Rebrand

    I was in Victoria yesterday with a group of education leaders talking about leadership capability — and a side conversation popped up that I had to bring here. One of the leaders mentioned how hard it’s been to attract mentors to their new program, even though people are informally mentoring all the time. And honestly, I get it — the word “mentoring” comes with a lot of baggage. Just like Michael Bungay Stanier says about “coaching,” people have preconceived ideas about what a mentor should be: someone wise, polished, and ready to pour hours of time into shaping another person’s career. No wonder people hesitate to sign up. Here’s what I shared with them (and what I believe): 💡 Avoid the word “mentoring.⏰ Ditch the one-hour meeting model. Micro-moments matter more — 20-minute chats, asynchronous voice notes, or quick message exchanges can be more valuable.🎧 Use voice notes. That’s actually how Leanne on Demand was born — I started voice-note coaching people around the world, and it completely changed how I think about connection.🧠 Let mentees drive the process. They should initiate, schedule, and set the agenda. Mentors just show up and share their experiences.🤝 Encourage “friendtoring.” Jenny Blake’s phrase sums it up perfectly — peer-to-peer wisdom exchanges that don’t feel hierarchical.At the end of the day, people want to help and give back — they just don’t want another recurring meeting in their diary. Rebrand mentoring as something more fluid, flexible, and fun, and you’ll see engagement rise. Thanks for listening, and 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.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    6 min

  5. 4D AGO

    🌴287. Oura Ring Reality Check

    I recorded this one from the most epic balcony ever — seriously, it’s bigger than my entire hotel room. I’m in Melbourne at The Langham, overlooking the Yarra and Federation Square, soaking in the sunshine. In today’s episode, I talk about my Oura Ring — the little wearable that’s teaching me big lessons about recovery, readiness, and stress. Here’s what I cover: 💤 What the Oura Ring actually does — readiness, heart rate variability, stress, and recovery scores.📉 How my readiness score plummeted after Milo passed away (and what that taught me about emotional recovery).⚡️ Why I sometimes ignore the data and work out anyway — and when that actually helps.⛰️ Training for Nepal: why I’m intentionally training when I’m tired to simulate altitude, fatigue, and long trekking days.☀️ My “early morning” chronotype results — apparently I’m part of the rare 10% who thrive before dawn (no surprise there).☕️ Cultural contrasts: why Aussie cafes opening at 5 AM make total sense.👯‍♀️ My accountability circle with Steph Clarke — yes, we compare readiness scores like nerds.💡 How I’m using the Oura Ring to build awareness and prevent burnout (instead of reacting too late).If you want to check it out, I’ve popped my Oura Ring referral link in the show notes for a little discount. Thanks for tuning in from my rooftop-bar-of-a-balcony. I’ll chat to you again tomorrow! Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    6 min

  6. 5D AGO

    🌴286. Listen to the Coach

    Last week, I shared that I was heading off to my 25-year high school reunion — so in this episode, I report back on how it went (spoiler: no one really changes!) and share a story that came out of a conversation that night that’s been sitting with me all week. I caught up with my friends Saji and Tim, we were talking about our old classmate, former Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay, and how — while he might not have been the most naturally gifted player — he became one of the most successful. Why? Because he listened to the coach and did the work. That’s it. No secret formula. No flashy shortcuts. Just following instructions, doing the drills, and showing up consistently. And when I spoke to Matt at a recent event I hosted at Suncorp Stadium, he said the same thing about playing under Ange Postecoglou — that repetition and discipline were everything. They drilled the same plays over and over until it became instinct. It got me thinking about how this applies to our work too. We often glorify talent and inspiration, but the real game-changer is being match fit — committing to the basics, trusting the process, and following the plan long enough for it to pay off. So if you’re in a season where things feel repetitive or boring, maybe that’s exactly where your next level is being built. Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    4 min

  7. 6D AGO

    🌴285. Booked Out by Serendipity feat Charles Hsuan interviewing Leanne (Weekend Rewind)

    Today I’m sharing a conversation I had on Charles Hsuan's Candid Conversations podcast. We riff on designing rave-worthy workshops, curating content (instead of drowning in it), and how one bold reach-out can completely change your career. You’ll also hear why I plan kids’ birthday parties like an engineer (thanks, Dad), how my PNG family taught me the value of unstructured connection (thanks, Mum), and the three levers that quietly book you five more workshops from every one you deliver. What we coverMy “engineered fun” origin story: mapping party games → mapping workshopsWhy I left corporate (and somehow travel more now)The serendipity stack — the tiny moves that create big luck (Asia tour, Chanel gig)The 3 Cs that book you out: Connections, Content, CraftWhy curators beat encyclopedias: helping clients find the right thing fastWhy most brilliant facilitators are actually introverts (and that’s an advantage)The myth of “work harder” vs. designing for joy, ease, and impactWhat I’d tell 2019 me: stop selling to buyers who don’t control the budgetMy favourite metric: did the conversation flip a switch inside someone?Key takeawaysPlan the experience, not just the agenda. Transitions, energy beats, prizes — they all count.Return on luck is real. Reach out, follow up, be useful — then let compounding do its thing.Show your craft. Host micro-events, share clips, seed contagious moments.Be a curator. In a world of infinite info, clients pay for speed to the right answer.Sell to decision-makers. Lovely people ≠ budget holders. Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    37 min

  8. OCT 10

    🌴284. When the Room Surprises You feat. Douglas Ferguson (Weekend Rewind)

    In this episode, Leanne Hughes engages in a captivating conversation with Douglas Ferguson, the founder of Voltage Control facilitation academy. Watch the interview on YouTube. They dive into various topics, including the art of facilitation, the concept of Integrated Autonomy, and the potential impact of AI on the field. Douglas shares insights from his experience in software development, his passion for music, and his deep understanding of facilitation. About our guest: Douglas Ferguson: Douglas Ferguson is the founder of Voltage Control, a facilitation academy that supports facilitators in honing their craft and building their business. With a background in software development and a passion for music, Douglas brings a unique perspective to facilitation. He is known for his expertise in liberating structures and is constantly exploring new ways to elevate the facilitation experience. Episode highlights: Understanding the concept of Integrated Autonomy: Douglas explains how Integrated Autonomy, derived from liberating structures, allows organizations to embrace both integration and autonomy. He highlights the paradoxical nature of this approach and explores how individuals can apply it to navigate challenges effectively.The importance of intentionality in facilitation: Douglas emphasizes the need for facilitators to be mindful of their choices and the impact they have on participants. He shares how he crafts his workshops and sessions based on specific goals and desired outcomes, ensuring that each activity serves a purpose.The future of AI in facilitation: Douglas sheds light on the potential of AI in facilitation, including the synthesis and perception capabilities it can offer. He discusses the emergence of chat UI and the possibility of AI-driven tools enhancing collaboration and connection in workshops and meetings.Quotes: "Integrated Autonomy allows organizations to be both integrated and autonomous by showing up differently at different times and in different ways.""Facilitators are there to guide, to coach, to make things easier, not to do everything themselves. We are the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage.""The more we embrace AI and automation, the more we can focus on what it truly means to be human and lean into the psychology of connection and relating." Links and Resources: Voltage Control: WebsiteFree resources and templates for facilitators: Voltage Control ResourcesDouglas Ferguson on LinkedIn: Profile"Control the Room" Podcast: Listen Here Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame. Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.  Let's connect on all the channels: Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn Leanne Hughes on Instagram Visit my website: leannehughes.com Email me: hello@leannehughes.com Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

    39 min
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About

Leanne on Demand is your unfiltered backstage pass to bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and the messy magic of life beyond the boardroom. Think of it as your daily dose of scrappy creativity, served up while I’m walking, working in public, or just living out loud.Every day, I’ll bring you real-time reflections on business, leadership, and the random sparks of inspiration that pop up along the way. From behind-the-scenes peeks into my work to off-the-cuff chats with brilliant minds (or solo rants while I’m on a run), these bite-sized episodes are all about keeping it raw, relatable, and ridiculously actionable.This isn’t your typical polished business podcast – no overthinking, and no-fluff.Perfect for big thinkers, go-getters, and anyone itching for a fresh perspective on how to show up, take action, and make moves.New episodes drop daily. Grab your headphones and let’s take this outside.

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