In today’s episode, I share a powerful acronym that captures the chaotic, unpredictable, and fog-filled world we’re navigating in 2025 and beyond.

You’ve probably heard of VUCA — Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous — a term that's been tossed around in leadership circles for decades. But a new framework, BANI, hit my radar recently (thanks, Yoke Van Dam!), and I think it paints a more accurate picture of the world we're actually leading, working, and living in.

BANI stands for:

• Brittle (systems feel fragile and ready to snap)
• Anxious (decision paralysis, AI disruption, uncertainty)
• Non-linear (no clear cause-and-effect anymore)
• Incomprehensible (some things just don’t make sense anymore)

In this episode, I unpack what each element means and how it shows up in business, leadership, tech, and life. I also riff on why seeking control isn’t the answer—and what to do instead.

And bonus tip: If you need to focus, try the same chill background music I play for my dogs... it works wonders.

Would love to know—does BANI resonate with you more than VUCA?

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

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While I was spinning on my Peloton (shoutout Cody Rigsby), I listened to a super juicy webinar titled: How to Attract and Land Filthy Rich Clients on Social Media.

Now, don’t be turned off by the title—it was actually packed with thought-provoking distinctions between cheap clients vs rich clients (not poor—important difference!). I share some red flags to watch for, why asking “what’s your rate?” is a massive warning sign, and how I've evolved beyond that price-led game. Plus, I reflect on my own journey and moments where I might’ve been the “cheap client” in someone else’s world 👀

This episode is about energy, growth, and mindset—how we show up, how we buy, how we sell, and how we signal our value to the world. It’s about upside thinking, brand positioning, and attracting clients who don’t need convincing—they just know you’re the one.

If you're in the business of consulting, coaching, or selling your expertise, this one will hit.

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Today’s episode was recorded fresh off a spectacular morning hike with Kirsty Lewis — someone I’ve technically known since 2018 but only met IRL for the first time today!

Kirsty runs the School of Facilitation in the UK, and she’s visiting Australia after a facilitation gig in Manila. So we hit the Macchu Picchu trail (not really, but it felt epic), talked facilitation, pricing, and how we both have stacks of unused IP sitting quietly in Google Drive purgatory.

Here’s what came up:

• What it’s like finally meeting someone in-person you’ve worked with for years online
• The “starving facilitator” mindset — why we often sacrifice ourselves for the group
• Why we hoard great ideas in Google Docs and never do anything with them
• My half-baked but exciting experiment connecting ChatGPT to Google Drive and Gmail
• How AI agents could actually help you unearth patterns, generate IP, or even schedule your next dentist appointment 😳
• New asset library idea: A searchable, anonymized database of all my past workshop run sheets
• What happens when you give AI access to your email, calendar, and docs—and what that could mean for your next book or business strategy

Kirsty and I covered SO much—honestly, I should’ve just hit record on the trail. But hopefully this solo debrief gives you a taste of our convo and sparks your own ideas for leveraging what you’ve already created.

If you’ve got Google Docs filled with brilliance, maybe it's time to dust them off… or better yet, let AI do it for you.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

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Excited to share this Weekend Rewind with you!

I found myself telling so many people (colleagues, friends, fellow workshop nerds) about the insights from this episode. Andrew’s approach to marketing, how he frames strategic advisory, and especially the way he gives us permission to stop over-preparing… it was all incredibly refreshing.

If you're someone who designs workshops or feels like you need to be perfectly prepared before facilitating, you'll love Andrew’s perspective on the power of questions and agility. We talk about:

• The year 7 Queen Victoria presentation that kicked off Andrew’s love of organising information
• Why he sees under-preparing as a strategic strength
• How to build marketing momentum through genuine conversations
• What really happens in high-stakes rooms when there’s disagreement—and how to handle it with grace
• A challenge for you: Summarise this convo in 3 sentences on LinkedIn (tag us both!) and win a copy of my book

We also unpacked how to build match fitness as a facilitator (no gym required), and the mindset shift that helped Andrew fall back in love with his work when things started feeling a little... flat.

You can connect with Andrew here:

• Website: https://www.workwell.com.au
• Newsletter: The Five-Minute Strategic Mindset (a Friday staple!)
• Book: From Impossible to Possible
• LinkedIn: Andrew Hollow

This one is for anyone leading strategy, holding space for complexity, or figuring out how to stay sharp and human in the room. Thanks again, Andrew—loved every minute of this.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

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Alan Weiss is back — this time dialing in from Nantucket with a whiskey in hand, while I’m sipping coffee from Brisbane. This episode is less “webinar,” more “walk and swirl the air” style of conversation — a craft chat about the big and little decisions we make every day.

We explore:

• Why most decisions go wrong (hint: it’s not what you think)
• The 3-part decision-making framework Alan swears by (Objectives, Alternatives, Risks)
• Why binary decisions are dangerous — and how to reframe your thinking
• How to evaluate risk properly (without becoming a paranoid over-thinker)
• Why trusting your gut is smart — but it needs support
• What to do when you know a decision is wrong but go ahead anyway (yep, been there)

Alan also drops this wisdom bomb 💣:

We also riff on:

• The surprising genius of the Keurig
• The Coldplay camera incident and public risk
• AI, coin flips, and other ways people outsource their decisions
• Strategic pausing (aka knowing when not to decide just yet)

📍Live from Nantucket and Brisbane, this one’s a swirl of insight, optimism, personal reflection, and a good laugh.

If you’ve been stuck on a decision — or stuck beating yourself up about a past one — this is for you.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

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In this episode, I share a triple shot of mindset fuel:

☕ The Coffee Identity Crisis

It’s 7:24 AM and I’m standing at my usual cafe, battling the social pressure of saying “Long Black” instead of my usual mocha. Why is this so hard? Because even our smallest rituals get reinforced by the people around us. Even our baristas expect us to stay the same.

👷‍♀️ The Rate Buster Problem

Ever been told to "slow down" because you're making others look bad? I discovered the term rate buster and wow—it explains so much. If you're the kind of person who adopts AI, works faster, shares shortcuts... you might be disrupting more than you think. So, how do you lead without alienating?

💸 Return on I

This one’s about sales, self-trust, and why people really don’t buy what you’re selling. It’s not about price—it's about whether they believe they can create value from what you offer. This flips everything, right?

And I’ve got three reflection questions for you:

1. Who are the people around you expecting you to be?
2. Are you dimming your light to make others comfortable?
3. When you invest in yourself, are you backing yourself to do something with it?

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

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Email me: [email protected]

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Today, I’m talking about a phenomenon I see everywhere — in workshops, in virtual calls, in team meetings, and even at home in my kitchen: diffusion of responsibility.

Here’s what I cover:

• Why the more people you have in a room, the less likely it is someone will speak up
• The difference between “we should…” and “I will…”
• How this shows up in virtual breakouts (and what I do to get around it)
• A classic household example (starring Chris and the eternally soaking frypan)
• What it means for accountability in organizations
• The mindset shift from bystander to impact player

You’ll also hear my favourite prompt to cut through ambiguity and indecision:

Why not you? Why not now?

👀 So next time you notice something slipping through the cracks — in life, at work, or at home — maybe that’s your sign to take the lead.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

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Email me: [email protected]

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I’ve been thinking a lot about accountability—that word we see plastered on corporate value statements like it’s the golden ticket to high performance. But here’s my hot take: accountability isn’t binary. You’re not either “an accountable person” or you’re not—it’s contextual.

Today I’m challenging the ever-popular quote: “How you do one thing is how you do everything.”

Honestly? I call BS. I can consistently show up and record this daily podcast (go me!), and at the same time, be completely hopeless when it comes to sending receipts to my accountant (sorry, Amy 😅).

You’ll hear me unpack:

• Why you can be deeply reliable in one domain and chaotic in another
• How people perceive you based on your public consistency
• Why your personality can hold contradictions—and that’s okay
• The power of accountability buddies (like my coach… and my accountant!)
• Why it's okay to be inconsistent in areas that aren’t a priority right now

I hope this episode gives you permission to drop the guilt, celebrate where you do show up, and take stock of where you want to improve—without falling into perfectionism. You’re human. I’m human. Let’s design our accountability, not judge it.

Thanks again for listening, and I’ll catch you tomorrow!

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

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Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

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Hi from Melbourne, where the weather went full four-seasons-in-one-run today 🌦️

In this episode, I share a little travel tale from this morning—one that had me sweating over an Uber notification and questioning whether I should cancel, rebook, or just… wait.

I walk you through:

• My ritual for getting to the airport without stress (spoiler: it involves scheduling an Uber + morning cardio)
• The moment things went off-script with the driver and I had zero control
• The 20-minute window where I had to decide: do I jump in and fix this, or sit tight?

And more importantly, the lesson that showed up in that moment—one I first heard from a brilliant EA named Arlene back in Broome:

That advice popped into my head this morning—and instead of reacting, I gave it space. And you know what? It worked out.

If you’re someone who likes to jump in, solve, fix, and sort everything (hi, me too 🙋‍♀️), this episode is a gentle reminder that sometimes, the best move is to wait and see.

📣 Today’s question for you: Where in your life or work are you jumping in too early—when you could just wait, breathe, and let the system do its thing?

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

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You’re already playing Calendar Tetris, whether you know it or not. The real question is—are you placing your blocks with intention, or are you letting everyone else drop them on you?

This one’s for anyone who feels like their calendar is stacked to the ceiling and teetering on collapse. I walk through eight shifts that help me play a better, more forgiving game of time management—from deleting the dead blocks (bye, recurring meetings!) to stacking similar energy tasks (hello, center-stage days and backstage days).

I share the moment I realized that the luxury wasn’t the three-hour hike—it was the autonomy to shift it without asking permission. That’s when the game started getting fun.

You’ll hear how I:

• Book projects backwards like a Tetris sequence
• Replace meetings with videos, voice notes, and collaborative docs
• Build buffers into every week to absorb life’s curveballs
• Use the "double block" strategy to stack two wins in one time slot
• Align my schedule with seasonal energy shifts (winter sloth mode is real)
• Treat my calendar as one life, not a work-life split

I also share where I still mess it up—like forgetting to leave white space or treating massages like emergency services 😅

🎯 At the end, I ask: What’s one piece you’d move first?

Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work Fame

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

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.