Work Fame 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 Covered

• Defining 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 business
• The intimate group format — Penthouses in London, Paris, and LA; Michelin-starred dinners; provoking IP over socialising
• The role of location — Why venue matters more for small groups, and how Alan used his Kauai suite to transform a stuffy session
• Program design — Overwhelming with value, reframing problems rather than solving them, and the story of Mike Robert's legendary Pebble Beach strategy program
• Courage and filling seats — Becoming an "object of interest," the chain reaction of attraction, and why you should never lead with price
• Accessibility as a brand strategy — Being the most accessible expert in a niche, and where to draw the line
• Curating the right room — Why sophistication and maturity matter more than income, and the one time someone didn't belong
• Lifestyle as the real brand — Why people follow Alan for the life he lives, not just his consulting expertise
• What people get wrong — The experience should showcase you, not the venue; using Broadway plays, tours, and dinners as vehicles for IP
• Virtual high-end experiences — Why Alan believes in-person is essential for high-touch, community-building work

Planning and promotion — Shameless promotion, letting your wife veto the destination, and the 24-hour sign-up experiment

Key Quotes

Resources & People Mentioned

• Dan Pink — Author and speaker
• Jonah Berger — Wharton School professor, author of Contagious
• Michael Bungay Stanier — Author of The Coaching Habit
• Randy Gage — Author, prosperity mindset expert
• The Innovation Formula — Alan Weiss & Mike Robert (1985)

Connect

• Alan Weiss: alanweiss.com
• Talk the Walk — next episode: first week of June

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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]

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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 career
• how a podcast turned into a brand, a book, and real opportunities
• why community is still the most valuable asset I’ve built
• what people get wrong about content and personal brand
• and the parts of running your own business that don’t get talked about enough

We also went deep on things I don’t usually say out loud:

• I’m still figuring things out
• content is how I think, not just how I market
• and 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=38befac491294bc9

Or on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-solo-sauce-podcast/id1876214009?l=en-GB&i=1000755727432

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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]

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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 depth
• How wide interests can make you a stronger marketer and thinker
• The difference between ego and esteem
• Why people are desperate for spaces that go beyond pure business talk
• Alan’s thoughts on confidence, critical thinking, and personal power
• Why capturing everything can stop you from actually living it
• The line that sums it all up: you’re not here to go in the water, you’re here to make waves

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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]

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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 comment
• Obsessively checked feedback scores
• Felt like an imposter despite evidence you’re good at what you do
• Avoided posting, pitching or pushing back

This one’s for you.

Alan 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.

According 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.

Alan 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.

Alan suggests building devices into your life:

• Write 10 great things you did this month
• In the morning, note 3 positive things you’ll do
• At night, record 3 positive things you did
• Screenshot praise and keep it somewhere accessible

Esteem needs reinforcement. If you don’t reinforce it, social media, comparison and criticism will erode it for you.

This is where it gets uncomfortable.

Low-esteem consultants:

• Don’t push back
• Let clients dictate terms
• Slash fees
• Obsess over smile sheets
• Avoid controversy

Alan is blunt:

He also dismantles audience feedback culture.

Smile sheets mean nothing. Ask the buyer if you met their needs. Respect matters more than affection.

One negative comment.

One stranger saying “This makes no sense.”

And suddenly you spiral.

Alan’s advice:

• Consider the source
• Don’t defend yourself against unsolicited critics
• If you want feedback, ask someone you respect

Otherwise, you become a ping-pong ball.

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.

Most 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:

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.

One 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.

Alan closes with this:

If you let other people influence those without filters, you’re not leading your own life.

We’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?

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

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

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.

My latest article is all about extracting your ROI - listen in!

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.

If you’re feeling pressure to make 2026 bigger, faster, cleaner, or more impressive than last year, this episode cuts through that noise quickly.

• Why New Year’s resolutions create unnecessary pressure and disappointment
• The difference between patience and procrastination, and how fear shows up in both
• Why changing expectations is a strength, not a character flaw
• The “mercy rule” we all need for projects, careers, and goals that aren’t working
• How smart people know when to push forward, go around, or stop completely
• Why plans shouldn’t lock you in and why empty space in your calendar matters
• The problem with bucket lists and comparison-based success
• What’s being overhyped right now, and what’s quietly undermining progress
• Why flexibility isn’t flippancy, it’s judgement
• A simple way to rethink success without lowering your standards

What expectation are you protecting out of pride, not because it still makes sense?

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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]

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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 low

I 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!

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]

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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.

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

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

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.

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. W

Here’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.

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

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

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.

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.

• Why we still feel alone even with endless ways to connect
• Jan’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 are
• The difference between:
• connecting based on shared history (where you’re from), and
• connecting based on shared direction (where you’re heading)
• Whether “belonging at work” is real, and why it’s harder when people didn’t opt in
• The concept of challenge by choice (the pool metaphor) for vulnerability and participation
• How Jan “holds space” by designing the right container and community agreements, so the group carries the space, not the facilitator
• The awkward truth about virtual events: the instant drop-off when you hit “Leave”, and why Jan now builds in an informal hangout after sessions
• Jan’s Campfire Formula for engagement: you don’t light a big log first, you build momentum with micro-actions
• The 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 perfectionism
• A line I’m stealing: Presence over perfection

• If 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.

Jan Keck

Creator of Ask Deep Questions

Mission: helping people feel less alone through meaningful conversations and experiences.

• Ask Deep Questions: askdeepquestions.com
• Jan’s site: jankeck.com

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

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

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.