Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

If you’ve been hanging around here a while, you’ll know I love sport. Playing it, watching it, analyzing it—I’m in awe of what athletes and high-performing teams pull off under pressure. That’s why I was so excited to chat with today’s guest, Dr. Fergus Connolly.Fergus is a coach, teacher, mentor, author, speaker, and lifelong student of resilience. He’s worked with some of the biggest sporting and business teams in the world—think the San Francisco 49ers, Liverpool FC, the University of Michigan, Cricket Australia, and even elite special forces units. He’s also the author of Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science.This conversation dives deep. We explore:How Fergus builds trust and rapport quickly when parachuting into elite teams.The common challenges he sees across sport, business, and military environments (spoiler: communication always comes up).His three critical questions to uncover who you are, what you do, and why you’re here.Why authenticity and purpose aren’t fluffy concepts—they’re the anchors for resilience.How to hold up the mirror for yourself, gain awareness, and sustain success long-term.Fergus’ workshop prep process, including how he uses graphics to explain complex ideas.I loved this chat—it’s equal parts practical and profound. If you’ve ever wondered how to find your purpose, build influence, or thrive in chaos, you’ll love this one.👉 Find out more about Fergus at fergusconnolly.com.*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Hey, thanks for tuning in today! Yesterday I shared my crazy little experiment with you—what would happen if I gave myself just 12 hours to see if a brand-new event idea had legs? No venue, no speakers, no fancy marketing—just a vision, a date, a location, and a cap of 50 people.Here’s what went down:I put the idea out quietly—via a Substack PS, a couple of LinkedIn + Insta posts, and a waitlist (78 people).At 8:00 AM tickets opened. By 8:21 AM, we’d hit the threshold of 15. Game on.By 2:10 PM, 31 tickets had sold. That’s for an event happening 292 days away. People are flying in from New Zealand and Perth for it.I didn’t send it to my full list. No chasing. Just: idea → test → result.Why I did this: 👉 To validate the idea properly (likes ≠ commitment, credit cards = commitment). 👉 To share the risk of running an event (why should hosts carry 100%?). 👉 To use real scarcity to create action—only 50 seats, only 12 hours, and no expansion.I also share behind-the-scenes lessons:Why I used Luma and Tally instead of freebie tools like Google Forms.How scarcity, mystery, and bold-action language shaped the vibe.Why this approach attracts the kind of people I want to work with—those who thrive in ambiguity and act fast.The result? Con Con 2026 is ON. 🎉 19 tickets remain. And I’m honestly a little scared (in the best way possible).Big thanks to everyone who jumped in early—you’re the bold action-takers. Tonight I’ll go live to debrief the experiment and share what’s next.*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould 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 a first: I’m recording this while riding my exercise bike (training for Nepal waits for no one!).I wanted to share what’s happening in real time with Con Con. At this stage, it’s still a fictional event—but I’ve set up a 12-hour experiment to see if it should actually exist.Here’s the deal:I’ve locked the event at 50 spots only.I’m putting “Bold Action” tickets on sale for 12 hours.If 15 people sign up, Con Con is on.If 14 or less, I refund everyone the next day.It’s kind of like an election-night style launch: I’ll be going live on LinkedIn Thursday night at 8pm to share the results.In this episode, I talk through: 🎟 Why I’m rewarding people who make bold, fast decisions 🎟 How I set up the waitlist and survey 🎟 Why I’m deliberately not over-marketing this 🎟 What it feels like to launch something in real time without being attached to the outcomeIt could be a sell-out. It could be a flop. Either way, I’ll share what happens.*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Truth be told, I had no idea what I was going to talk about when I hit record. So, I did what I often do when I’m stuck: I asked ChatGPT to give me 10 episode title ideas. Instead of choosing one, I decided to read them out loud and riff on each for about 30 seconds. We cover everything from my “two-drink test,” spotting everyday Work Fame moments, and why B-roll is actually the real show, through to my constant battle with perfection when using AI. It’s a bit of a grab bag — but that’s kind of the fun of it.As always, if you’ve got a question you’d love me to riff on, shoot me an email at hello@leannehughes.com or drop me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram.*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould 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 answering a great question from a friend: “Do you decide to write a book and then pick the topic, or do you already have the topic and then decide to write?”For me, the answer was simple — I just wanted to be an author. That identity was important to me. The easiest path? Writing about something I’d already been talking about for years: workshop design. That’s how The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint came to life.In this episode, I share:Why author identity came before topic for meThe role my podcast, community, and hundreds of conversations played in shaping my first bookHow procrastination (and a coffee with Jade Miller) helped spark my SPARK frameworkWhy Substack has become my “book lab” for my next big idea around Work FameThe one reason you shouldn’t write a book (spoiler: it’s not for quick money)If you’re thinking about writing your own business book, this episode will help you reflect on the bigger questions first: Who do you want to become? Who do you want to attract? And what do you want to create in the world?*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

What this one’s about: I riff on a killer Diary of a CEO roundtable (Codie Sanchez, Alex Hormozi, Daniel Priestley) and share a study on grooming, attractiveness and pay—plus my $150 Mecca “makeup school” hack I used before a 350-person talk.My big takeaways:You don’t need capital to start — pre-sell, validate fast, borrow audiences, and use relationships as leverage. That was the common thread from all three guests. AThe beauty premium is (mostly) a grooming premium for women. A 2016 paper using a large U.S. sample found attractive people earn ~20% more on average; for women, that edge comes almost entirely from being well-groomed (makeup/hair/style). For men, grooming explains about half. Agency > genetics. ScienceDirectSciSpaceMy practical play: I booked Mecca’s 90-min lesson (redeemable on product), filmed the steps (with permission), and now have a personalised tutorial I can replay before big stages. Zero YouTube rabbit holes; pro tips, done.Stuff I mention:Diary of a CEO: Money Making Experts: This 3-Step ‘Offer’ Formula… (Codie, Alex, Daniel). Great for no-excuse starters. Apple PodcastsSpotifyStudy: “Gender and the Returns to Attractiveness” — Jaclyn S. Wong & Andrew M. Penner, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (2016). Read the abstract/summary here. ScienceDirectSocial Sciences UCIMedia explainer on the findings (optional primer). TIMEMy POV: I like this research because it gives us levers we can pull. I can’t change my bone structure, but I can decide whether to “play the game” for a high-stakes day. For me, working with pros (shout-outs to Kate Massey, and my stylist-friends who just see outfits I don’t!) is an energy and confidence shortcut.Try this:Book a lesson with a pro, film the steps (ask first), and create your mini-library.Build a simple stage-day checklist (base, brows, eyes, lips; hair plan; outfit A/B).Decide your rule: “I turn it up one notch for key moments.” No moral drama.Question for you: Where do you sit on this? Is “playing the game” strategic… or does it grate? Ping me—I’d love your take.*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

We’re all doing great work… but is it working? Today I chat with Kevin M. Yates, the global L&D detective who measures whether learning fulfills its purpose. He shows us how to move beyond smile sheets and activity metrics to evidence that behaviour changed and business goals budged.What you’ll learnNorth Star clarity: Define results up-front as “measurable activation of behaviour/performance that advances a business goal.”Discovery before delivery: How to run a pre-workshop “investigation” with stakeholders (goals, performance requirements, gaps, risks, context).Performance gaps 101: Establish baselines → agree the “from–to” shift → align measures.Fulfilment of purpose > ‘impact’: Avoid the buzzword. Get specific, intentional, and target-led.Useful post-workshop data: What to ask (and what to ditch) so your survey reveals actions—not platitudes.Being brave + authentic: Kevin’s personal pivot on showing up as himself (on stage, online, and at work).Try this — Detective’s ChecklistDefine the result (before design):Which business goal is at stake?Which behaviour(s) must change?What’s the baseline now? What’s the target after?Map the chain: Workshop → specific behaviour(s) → performance metric(s) → business goal.Co-own measures: With your sponsor, choose 1–3 leading indicators (behavioural) and 1–2 lagging indicators (business).Post-workshop, ask better questions (3–5 only):“Which specific action from today will you do in the next 7 days?”“What could block you, and what support do you need?”“How confident are you to perform X on the job (1–5)? What would raise that by one point?”“Which metric/outcome will this action influence for your team?”“When will you do a quick check-in on progress (date)?” (Skip: food, room, generic ‘did you like it?’)Follow-up cadence: 30/60/90-day nudges to capture evidence (manager confirmation, system data, quick self-report on behaviours used).Nuggets I loved“Not easy ≠ not possible.”Swap “impact” for “fulfilment of purpose.”Discovery conversations transform us from order-takers to performance consultants.About KevinKevin solves measurement mysteries for L&D, using facts, evidence, and data to show whether learning changed behaviour and moved business goals. He’s worked globally for 20+ years and is affectionately known as “The L&D Detective.”*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Guest: Nikki Bush — human potential & parenting expert, bestselling author of Future-Proof Yourself, Certified Speaking Professional, and the first woman inducted into the Professional Speakers Association of South Africa Hall of Fame.Why this episode?If you run virtual workshops and want fast, practical ways to read the room, dial up energy, and keep people with you (without circus tricks), this conversation is your new playbook. Nikki shares smart ways to “test the emotional temperature,” build connection through play, and lead like a facilitative speaker. Also: a parrot lands on her head mid–EXCO call (!) and the metaphor you’ll steal forever for presenting to an “invisible” audience.In this episode, we cover:The 3 human drivers to design for: attention, control, belongingHow to test emotional temperature in the first 5 minutes (exact poll prompts)Why top execs are “just humans” (and how to design accordingly)Turning a keynote into a facilitation—seamlessly“Third-party sell”: why your message lands better when you’re not the bossThe Past / Present / Future thinking check (Caspar Craven) to align teamsMicro-moves that re-energise a Zoom room: elephant ears, cross-body “hookups,” breath resets, figure-8 eyesThe “glider” analogy: presenting to an invisible audience without losing presenceA tidy format for CEO panel Q&A right after your talk (no awkward transitions)Crafting short, sexy soundbites and why media reps are reps that sharpen your sawTry this in your next virtual sessionTemperature Check Poll (90 sec): “Right now I’m feeling… a) Overwhelmed/Confused b) Fearful c) Positive about future possibilities.” Share results, reflect back what you see, tailor tone accordingly.2-minute Brain Reset:Elephant ears (uncurl ears to “switch on” listening)Cross your arms/legs (cross-midline “hookups”)Two slow breaths in/outFigure-8 eye traceThink Mix (Past/Present/Future): Ask everyone to split 100% across past/present/future thinking. Compare in pairs. Who’s anchoring memory? Who’s driving momentum?Links & resourcesConnect with Nikki: nikkibush.comBook: Future-Proof Yourself (Penguin Random House)Casper Craven’s Be More Human (for the Past/Present/Future prompt)Join my facilitator community, The Flipchart, on FacebookMy free weekly Substack: Work Fame — link in the show notes*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I shared fresh stories from last night’s IABC Queensland event where I road-tested my Work Fame concept—no slides, just prompts, energy, and a few spicy truths about standing out.In this episodeThe serendipity start: rocking up to u&u Recruitment on Queen Street and reuniting with Erica Brush—we played state school netball together at 15 (Met West, Roma!).The recruiter reality check:9 out of 10 jobs aren’t advertised—your reputation does the heavy lifting.When roles are posted? Hundreds of applicants. You need a pattern interrupt to be seen.My quarter-life crisis story: leaving Accenture dreams for a Wicked Campers marketing role (with zero marketing experience).The bold move: in 2008, my best friend Camilla and I filmed a two-part mini-doco in a Wicked van, played Volume 1 at her interview and Volume 2 at mine…The twist: one job on offer; they hired both of us.The takeaway: be memorable on purpose—create assets, don’t just submit applications.Key ideasWork Fame > Waiting: If 90% of roles are filled off-market, your visibility is your CV.Pattern Interrupt: Show, don’t tell. Bring a demo, a short video, a mock, a pilot.Create demand: Sometimes the role you want doesn’t exist—until you make it obvious it should.Belong or be bold: Safe blends in. Bold gets callbacks.Try this this weekPick one upcoming opportunity (pitch, interview, intro call). Add one memorable artifact: a 60-second loom, a sketched storyboard, a simple landing page, or a one-pager with a before/after. Make them say, “We could use this.”Links & mentionsIABC Queensland (event host shout-out)u&u Recruitment (venue host + Erica, the surprise reunion)Wicked Campers story (the two-video gambit that turned one role into two)*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I’ve just left Day 1 of the Queensland Association of Special Education Leaders conference (QASEL) at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. I’m speaking on Day 3 (“The Dark Arts of Engagement”), so I snuck in early to get a feel for the room—and wow, the energy is brilliant.My big takeawaysHousekeeping ≠ snoozefest. Use memes/pop-culture to make admin memorable. Simone modelled this perfectly (Coldplay, Taylor Swift, even “no horses in the bathrooms”—gold).Secondary trauma is real—and rampant in education. Adam’s research hit home. I loved this line: “You don’t need to know the story to support me.”Resist the detail spiral. When heavy news hits, fight the urge to collect every detail. Curiosity can compound distress. Ask: “What do you need from me right now?” instead of “What happened?”Try-it-today promptsSwap three housekeeping slides for three memes. Keep it clean, current, and contextual.Set a “detail diet”: limit doom-scrolling on tough stories; focus on presence over particulars.Practice the support script: “I’m here. I don’t need the whole story to stand with you.”People + shoutoutsMC: Simone CooganKeynote: Dr Adam Fraser (author of The Third Space)Designer: Ruby Olive – “Colour Your World”Listener: Tracy Davies (thanks for saying hi!)I’m back on Day 3 with The Dark Arts of Engagement—I’ll report back with what lands (and what I learned).*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.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:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.