Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes 🌴116. Energy + Safety = Skill feat. Sean D'Souza (Weekend Rewind)
Today I’m joined by one of the most thoughtful teachers I’ve ever met: Sean D’Souza from Psychotactics in New Zealand.
I first saw Sean speak at the We Are Podcast conference — and let me tell you, I was hooked. Not just because he was engaging and entertaining (he was), but because his philosophy on learning, time, and facilitation absolutely cut through. I knew I had to bring him on the show.
In this episode, we go deep on:
- Why participants really come to your workshop — and it’s not for the information
- The critical link between safety and learning (for both participants and facilitators)
- Why Sean intentionally slows down his workshops to guarantee skill development
- The real reason we forget everything in our notebooks... and what to do instead
- How to use breaks, stories, and simplicity as powerful facilitation tools
- His method for teaching cartooning to complete beginners online (spoiler: it's genius)
We also talk about confidence, the energy cost of learning, and the role of fun (yes, actual fun) in skill acquisition.
💥 My big takeaway? The best facilitators aren’t trying to impress. They’re obsessed with making the learner feel safe, seen, and skilled.
📣 Got a favourite insight? Let me know what hit home.
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:
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.