First Time Facilitator

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Hey there! I wanted to take this solo episode to share some insights from my recent experiences. 

Last week, I had the opportunity to chair a two-day conference in Malaysia where I was brought in to run a session on corporate strategy. But then I got invited to be the chairperson for the entire two days. So I wanted to share some of the insights I learned from that experience.

I also attended Andy's Talent Management Development think tank conference in California, where I met so many incredible people. If you're one of the new people I met there, hello and welcome to the podcast! 

Shout out to Adina and Christine for inspiring me to think more deeply about how to bring my workshop philosophies into the context of hosting a two-day event.

In this episode I share:

• The four key roles of a chairperson
• How I prepared for panel conversations
• Other tips for working with audio, visuals and the room setup

Overall, these were my key reflections from my recent experiences as a chairperson and attendee at various events. I hope you found them insightful and helpful, and I'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback you might have!

Resources mentioned in the show

• The Flipchart Facebook group
• Join the 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint book launch team
• Slido: https://www.sli.do/
• "How to Moderate Meaningful Conversations on Clubhouse" by Leanne Hughes: https://www.leannehughes.com/blog/2021/1/14/how-to-moderate-meaningful-conversations-on-clubhouse

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

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Here's a quick life and work update and announcement! I'd love to hear from you and feature you/get your feedback on a book I'm working on about workshop design.

Be a workshop wing-mate!

Workshops are all about co-creation. So, it makes sense when writing a book about workshops, that there should be an element of co-creation, too.

I’d love you to be part of this journey.

What's the book about?

It's pretty much a co-pilot for anyone wanting to turn the gold inside their head (your content, experience and expertise), into an awesome, interactive workshop experience, with zero stress.

I'll cover some of the core philosophies I've shared with you on the podcast, and my masterclasses in this book.

I really want this book to be a playbook that book-ends all of the incredible conversations from 200 episodes of the First Time Facilitator podcast.

What's involved?

To start

• Jump in and vote on the title of the book.

After that, consider:

• Would you like to be featured in the book? There's also a little section in the survey asking if anything I've shared on my podcast, or in any of my programs that's helped you. If that applies to you, complete that part.
• In a few weeks, I'll kick off a Workshop Wing-Mate Whatsapp (WWW) group, sharing behind the scenes on the book-writing process, and hearing your thoughts, answering your questions, too.
• If you know anyone who might find the book helpful, share the love with them.

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

In this episode, I'm joyfully bringing you a conversation with the author of the book “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness”, Owen Eastwood.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

Have you been in work situations where you might have started in a company and you just didn’t feel like you belonged, which then led to a lot of stress and tension? Join us as we learn how to create a sense of belonging with the Belonging author, Owen Eastwood.

Owen draws on his own Maori ancestry and weaves together insights from our evolutionary story and our collective wisdom as he helps people create a sense of belonging, especially in workplaces. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Owen and I discuss: 

• His book, “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness”
• What the concept of Whakapapa is all about
• How he felt when he was called in to create an intervention for the South African cricket team
• How to create a collective feeling of belonging
• Why he dispels the myth that we all, as individuals, need a purpose
• The impact of environment and how that affects your ability to be resilient and to feel like you belong
• Our central nervous system (the cues that our body gives us)
• Rapid round

Conversation moments:

• Introduction + Talking about today’s guest and his bookSome stories about his intervention at the camp of the South African cricket team, the Proteas
• Make them listen to themselves: Having the brutal honesty come out of the conversation
• From being a lawyer to then working with different teams
•  Owen’s advice on how to create a sense of belonging and connection: “Build relationships”
•  What the Maori concept whakapapa is all about + the definition of a strong culture
• Why Owen doesn’t believe that we need a purpose at an individual level
•  The central nervous system: Our body’s cues and why we should pay attention to each

 Notes/Mentions:

• Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness
• Leap of Perception: The Transforming Power of Your Attention

 Connect with Owen Eastwood:

• Owen on LinkedIn

 Rapid Round Recommendations:

• Book: Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson
• Song: My Hometown by Bruce Springsteen
• Quote: “Never judge a day at lunchtime.” – Owen’s mother

 Click here for show notes and to subscribe to Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large podcast.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. See you next week.

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

I'm jumping in with a bonus episode I recorded for my friend, Andy Storch's podcast The Talent Development Hot Seat.  In this episode we talk about the tactics of facilitation, and marketing your program, so that people show up!

I'm speaking at Andy's event in Sonoma, USA in February 2023 and I'd love to see you there! 

Here's a link to find out more about the conference. 
I'll be delivering a breakout session during the conference, as well as sharing my 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint on the third day.

Here’s why you need to be at Talent Development Think Tank 2023. 

You’ll get:

• The latest industry trends/insights to help attract, develop and retain the best
• people in your organization
• Examples of best practice and proven strategies - so you get can results
• faster (and avoid common pitfalls)
• Networking with industry peers, experts & thought leaders - so you can build
• valuable connections that will help you excel in your current role (and your future career

The Talent Development Think Tank Conference was even featured in Forbes as one of the top 10 conferences to have on your radar!

Will I see you there?

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

Who doesn’t love a good cocktail party? 

Watch our conversation on Youtube!

I love going to events and meeting new people but gosh, sometimes I feel like I’m not even keeping up the great relationships with the amazing people I already know! Cue this book: The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray.

After reading the first chapter, I set a date for my cocktail party and luckily, the day after, I debrief it in this conversation with the author of the book Nick Gray.  

Nick Gray moved to New York City with few friends and less-than-stellar social skills. But Nick craved new relationships and exciting opportunities. He started hosting non-traditional parties—a move that opened doors he could never have imagined.

Today, after hosting hundreds of 2-hour parties, he counts business owners, artists, and inspiring teachers among a circle of friends that helped him launch a multi-million dollar company called Museum Hack. Featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Nick has been called a host of "culturally significant parties" by New York Magazine.

See his best-rated photos online at www.NickGray.net or @NickGrayNews on Instagram and Twitter, email him directly to [email protected], or see his party tips on How to Host a Party: www.party.pro 

In this conversation, you'll hear Nick discuss:

• How Nick started his career and founded the Museum Hack
• His book, "The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to build big relationships with small gatherings."
• The value of hosting 2-hour cocktail parties

 Listen to this, grab his book and start hosting your own cocktail parties!

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. 

Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
Thanks for being here. 

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

"What if you were already there?"

I started journalling on this prompt recently and it reminded me of the great questions we ask our clients, like "What does success look like?", "What would be different if this workshop/gig/project was a 10/10?"

In this solo episode, I riff on my thoughts related to this question, and also just CHECK IN with all of you!  I also give a shoutout to Tim Guinea, Mel Kettle, Dr Maike Neuhaus and Petra Zink.

Some cool things I share on the show:
- Two by Tuesday mailout
- Unghostable workshop in London
- Leanne on Demand
- Booked Out Facilitator

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

Hey First Time Facilitators! I'm dropping a quick episode on this feed as I think some of you may relate to this: You’ve launched a mentoring program in your business. Congrats! Through the first few months of check-ins, you discover that your pairings are meeting together. 

Then, after three months, you notice the enthusiasm has waned a little. Meetings become less frequent. Business priorities take over.

If you’re in this situation, don’t be alarmed. It’s what I prescribe as Mentor Fade. It’s completely normal.

So, what can you do instead? In this sharp, 10 min episode, I share a cool approach to creating more friendtor relationships in your business (thanks to Jenny Blake for sharing that awesome word on her Pivot podcast).

Subscribe to Leanne's bi-weekly mailout.

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. 
Support this channel by subscribing, it would mean a lot!

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

Aloha! I've just returned from a week in Kauai with my fellow Alan Weiss Growth Cycle group. What better way to reflect on what we discussed and learnt over there, than by a quick, solo episode. Oh, of course I also reflect on Kauai as a travel destination (spoiler alert: it's awesome).
 
 Here are some things I shared in the episode:

• My bi-weekly Two by Tuesday newsletter
• The Calf-Path by Sam Foss
• Instagram post with my Top 10 Kauai tips
• Jump on the waitlist for the only live Booked Out Facilitator program this year

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

For suggestions, collaborations and queries, email me [email protected]. Support this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review, it would mean a lot!
 Thanks for being here. See you next week.

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

I created this episode for my new podcast but thought I'd share it on this feed today because it's definitely a facilitator-focused question!

Watch my video walk-through of this episode.

In today's Two by Tuesday I answer a question I get a lot: What virtual tool could I use to ramp up the engagement in my virtual event?

Firstly - purpose we know is the most critical element. That aside, what else is important to consider?

In this episode I think two key considerations are your group size and accessibility requirements. 

What I find is often: The simpler, the better/ Don't go too crazy. Don't think you need to ham up your workshops with all these tech tools, just because you want to impress people, it really has to connect to that purpose. 

 What your favorite tech tool is for your virtual events?

Two by Tuesday is a weekly segment on Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large Podcast.

Subscribe to Leanne's weekly mailout.

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show

Send Leanne a message

You know how you have those friends from a while ago, and you mainly stay in contact with them by occasionally seeing what they're up to on social media? 

I've been friends with today's guest since 2008, and when I glance at his socials, I'm pretty amazed to see him taking groups mountain biking around Nepal, on the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea, and running marathons in NYC.

At an early age, Matt had some profound experiences that taught him how powerful they are at bringing perspective and clarity to life. Wanting to help businesses and individuals dream big and have their own experiences, Matt become uniquely qualified as a Physiotherapist and Chiropractor.

He is the CEO of The Custodian Way which owns a group of companies that all share one common mission which is: " To create a global movement and deliver 30 Million Impact Moments every year by the year 2030".

The Custodian Way owns these brands:

1. PEAK Sport And Spine Centre
2. Employ Health Aust and NZ
3. Experience Not Felt Possible

Matt also sits on the Board of the 4ASDKids Charity.

In this conversation, you'll hear how Matt:

• Casts away constraint to dream big
• Creates non-traditional ways of working (including pragmatic, overhauled approaches for recruitment and remuneration)
• Lives his values through daily decisions
• Acknowledges the power of language to dismiss social constructs  

Conversation moments

• 04:20: What does Work and Live Large mean to Matt
• 06:00 What’s an Experience Not Felt Possible?
• 10:51: Story examples of busting out of limiting beliefs
• 16:38 Decision-making frameworks in Matt’s businesses
• 23:24 A new way of thinking about your recruitment process
• 33:10 Values, recognition and performance management
• 42:44: The use of language in business (and the stigma attached to it)
• 49:18 Rapid Round

Connect with Matt Stewart

• Matt’s adventures online
• Matt on Instagram
• Matt on LinkedIn

Rapid Round Recommendations:

• 📘 Books: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, Neurodharma by Rick Hanson and Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin
• 🔨 Tool: Brave Browser
• 🎵 Song: Happiest Man Alive by Machel Montano
• 🗨️ Quote: “If it is to be, it's up to me “

Click here for show notes and to subscribe to Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large podcast.

Connect with Leanne Hughes on all the platforms:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Your name can feature on Leanne's Wall of Work Fame.

Just pre-order her book by 30 Sep 2026; and follow the details to claim your star.

Also, there are a ton of bulk order incentives as well!

Support the show