I'm recording this episode ahead of a big week—I'm heading to Sydney for a mix of events and workshops, but before all that, I’m hosting something a little different. On Wednesday morning, I’m running a live webinar on May 21st, where I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes, never-before-shared ideas from my workshops.

DONATE TO ACCESS THIS MASTERCLASS.

Think of this session as the extended director’s cut of The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. When I wrote the book, I had to cut a lot of the more advanced stuff—either it would’ve turned into a side quest, or I’d lose people before they got the quick wins. So in this webinar, I’m pulling back the curtain on what didn’t make the book—but absolutely deserves the spotlight.

I’ll also show you how I’ve been using AI (in real-time, no fluff) to make workshops smoother, more engaging, and a little bit magical.

And—this is all for a bigger purpose. I’m doing it to raise funds for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, happening in June. Last year, I had FOMO seeing the impact people were making. So this year, I’m in. Big shoutout to my friend Cherie Canning from Illuminate Leadership who inspired me (and happens to be one of the GOATs—greatest of all time—supporting the cause this year).

Homelessness is something that hits home. I’ve lived in Brisbane since 2016, and on my morning runs, I’ve noticed a massive increase in people sleeping rough—tent cities where there weren’t any before. This issue deserves attention, and this is a small way I can contribute.

So if you're around Wednesday morning, come along. Learn some cool stuff. Support a powerful cause.

Let’s raise ideas and raise funds. 🧡

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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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

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This weekend rewind is a special one. I'm celebrating the two-year anniversary of my first real book — The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. (Yes, I did write a netball coaching manual back in the day, 😄).

To mark the occasion, I’m replaying a juicy interview I did with Jessica Mudditt on her podcast. Jessica’s the founder of Hembury Books and an all-round publishing legend — if you're thinking of writing or launching a book, she’s someone to follow on LinkedIn.

In this convo, we go deep behind the scenes of the book’s creation, the 52-day sprint from idea to print, marketing wins (and a couple of misses), the role of Amazon ads, building flywheel momentum, and the unexpected power of low-hanging watermelons 🍉.

Here’s a taste of what we cover:

• The actual timeline from idea to physical book (hint: it’s under 2 months)
• Why speed was more important than strategy (for my first book, anyway)
• How I got to 100+ Amazon reviews without being annoying (hopefully!)
• My unusual street-team approach to validating the title and cover
• Book marketing tricks that worked — and the few that didn’t
• What I’d do differently next time (yes, there will be a next time)
• Why I’d still choose self-publishing in a heartbeat

Whether you're a fellow author, aspiring one, or just curious how a book can become a business asset — I think you’ll find this fun and practical.

🎧 Listen in, and let me know: Have you ever thought about writing a book? What’s stopping you?

Check out Hembury books, too!

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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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I decided to re-release this conversation because earlier this week, I joined Ryan So Fly's YouTube creator community (only $5/month — well worth it), and it reminded me just how brilliant this chat was.

Ryan So Fly is one of my favourite travel YouTubers. He’s funny, honest, insightful, and has a killer eye for capturing raw, real travel experiences — from flight reviews to Aussie pub meals in remote towns.

In this episode, we cover:

✈️ What life was like working 4AM shifts in corporate Singapore

🌏 How Ryan planned a 10-year migration journey to Australia

🛫 Why he believes travel builds empathy (and what real travel looks like)

🚙 That unforgettable trip to Cape York — solo, wet season, and full of heart

🐍 The story of nearly stepping on a snake while filming a GoPro segment

🎥 What it takes to balance content creation with staying present while travelling

🍽️ Why a pub dinner in a small Aussie town is the ultimate connection point

💡 His method for planning epic trips — involving inflight magazines and spontaneity

📺 Behind the scenes of being a YouTube creator: from burnout to raw honesty

🌏 Ryan’s favourite airlines, emotional moments, and why Cape York still gives him goosebumps

You can follow Ryan and check out his videos 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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would 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 my Everest Base Camp (and peak!) training journey — the real stuff. Injuries, gadgets, gear, and the surprising power of voice notes.

In this episode, I share:

• Why I enlisted coach Kyle Mooney from Experience Not Felt Possible
• How we’re using the Final Surge app + voice note coaching to build momentum
• What it’s like walking with a weighted vest for the first time (spoiler: weirdly energising!)
• A surprising mention of weighted vests on Diary of a CEO (thank you Petra Zinc for the heads-up!)
• My experience using a TENS machine for recovery — and Kyle’s take on whether it actually works
• Why voice note coaching is so underrated (and how I use it in my own offer, Leanne on Demand)

If you're prepping for a big goal, curious about behind-the-scenes athlete coaching, or just love a peek into someone else's process, this episode's for you.

🎧 Links + Mentions

• Contact Kyle Mooney

Thanks for tuning in — and wish my Achilles luck!

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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’ve got a couple of dogs—Quincey and Milo—and while I don’t talk about them enough on the pod, they’re a huge part of my life.

Quincey is 14 now, and recently we’ve been getting some tests done because, well… he’s showing signs of ageing.

Because when I requested health reports from the vet, I was like… what does any of this even mean?! So I turned to ChatGPT uploaded the documents, and asked it to pretend it was the best vet in the world. The insights it gave back? Gold.

I talk about:

• What Quincey’s test results showed
• Options for next steps
• How ChatGPT helped clarify the situation and even gave us a monitoring plan
• Why I might start uploading my own blood test results next time I get them 🤓

This episode isn’t medical advice. It is a look at how technology + curiosity can help us make more informed decisions—especially when we feel a bit out of our depth.

Big takeaway? When in doubt, get the data, give it context, and ask smart questions.

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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would 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 inspired by a magical, unexpected post-speech conversation I had with a woman named Susan.

Susan is originally from Ghana, and before I even got up to speak at the Mother’s Day event, she walked right up to me and said:

"I feel like I need to be here."

Then she gave me a message: Allow and accept. Be the water.

Now, I’m not always on the woo-woo train—but still....!

In today’s episode, I reflect on:

• The power of allowing things to unfold instead of always pushing
• The Ghanaian proverb: “Not every insect is attracted to every plant”—and why this is gold for content creators, speakers, business owners, and basically anyone who puts themselves out there
• How specificity is a filter—and the more you you are, the more your right people will find you
• The freedom that comes from realising rejection ≠ failure… sometimes it’s just misalignment

💭 I’ll also leave you with a question:

Are you still shape-shifting your scent to attract the wrong insects?

This one’s a little reflective, a little soulful, and super relevant for anyone trying to do work that matters (without constantly second-guessing yourself).

🎧 Listen in—and maybe, let yourself be the water today.

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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the live speech I gave at a high school Mother’s Day event, in front of 300 daughters and mums sipping tea and passing cupcakes.

It starts with me at ten years old, ashamed to be picked up in our brown, overheated Holden Camira… until my mum did something that completely changed my view of her — and, honestly, my view of life.

You’ll hear about:

• Why there are thousands of guides on how to parent… but none on how to daughter
• The power of showing up scared and doing it anyway
• My three “rules” for being a better daughter (inspired by netball)

If you’ve ever tried to navigate the weird, wonderful, complex relationship that is being someone’s daughter — or someone’s mum — this one’s for you.

Let’s celebrate the little moments that made us.

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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In today’s quick hit, I’m responding to a very interesting question I got from a friend-client on LinkedIn:

“If AI can simulate different stakeholder perspectives, do we still need to engage them?”

Here’s my take:

Yes, use AI for speed, but not as a substitute for relationships.

You can ask ChatGPT to pretend it’s your procurement manager and offer advice—but here’s what that misses...

AI gives you logic, but influence lives in the grey.

Stakeholder engagement isn’t just about getting facts or advice—it’s about pre-selling, building alignment, and navigating the real, messy dynamics of perception, politics, and respect.

Bring people on the journey—don’t just show them the destination.

A huge part of change leadership is making people feel involved. AI can’t do that. You still need to read the room, have the conversation, pick up on energy shifts and tone.

📚 I also touch on the Benjamin Franklin Effect—that people are more likely to support you if you’ve asked them for something first. It’s a bit of psychology magic that AI can’t replicate.

🤖 Where AI is useful?

→ Roleplaying to surface objections

→ Helping you prepare

→ Sharpening your proposal

→ Making admin easier

But buy-in? That’s still a human-to-human game.

Thanks for tuning in today—and if this sparked any thoughts, I’d love to hear them!

Chat 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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Hey, welcome to the Weekend Rewind

My guest is Mike Knapp, and this chat was actually born from an unrecorded conversation we had where I said mid-way, “Wait—why aren’t we capturing this?!”

Mike is a strategy advisor, coach, mural template wizard and meditation teacher (yep, all those things). In this episode, he shares how he went from IT specialist to a sought-after facilitator for complex digital transformation projects—and the mindset shift that helped him step into the role of “guide” (not expert).

Here’s what we cover:

• Why contrast is the secret sauce for engaging sessions (and how to create it)
• How Mike runs 4-hour Zoom sessions that keep people energised
• His Mural template obsession—and how to build one that tells a story
• Why you don’t need more tech hacks—you need human connection
• What meditation and running have to do with workshop energy
• The surprising reframe for nervousness that will change your prep game

🎧 Hit play, enjoy the ride—and let us know your biggest takeaway by tagging us on LinkedIn!

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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I'm re-sharing my second chat with the world's leading body language expert, Mark Bowden. This was originally recorded during peak Zoom-fatigue era, when facilitators (myself included) were scrambling to figure out how the heck to connect, engage, and energise through a webcam.

Why am I bringing this back now? Two reasons:

1. I just quoted this episode in a webinar, and it landed hard.
2. His tips STILL apply—and are more important than ever.

Here's what we cover:

• Why reading the room (especially virtually) is a waste of energy
• How to lead behaviour instead of trying to read it
• What Mark does to instantly make virtual sessions more engaging (without expensive tech)
• Why body language still matters, and how to ramp yours up on screen
• The surprising power of asking “What’s been most useful so far?”
• How to use your background and status intentionally to connect

If you’ve ever felt flat during a virtual session—or wondered how to make your facilitation feel more human—you’ll love this episode.

🎧 Enjoy the rewind. And hey, 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:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. 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: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.