Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

Today's episode is brought to you by none other than the international man of questions himself, Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS).MBS left me two voice notes—both sharp, generous, and classic MBS—and I decided not to choose one. I tackled both.🟡 Q1: What did I need to unlearn from 2024 to become the person I want to be in 2025? I riff on the shift I’m making—from seeking wisdom from the usual suspects, to diving head-first into what Gen Z creators and online writers are doing. What’s possible when we stop looking up and start looking sideways?🟡 Q2: What’s the burden I need to put down? Oof. This one hit. I speak honestly about the enormous (and maybe unnecessary) weight I’ve placed on my next book. I get into the irrational pressure I’m putting on the title, the concept, the reaction I want from people, and the fear of putting something “vanilla” out into the world.Thanks again, Michael!And hey, if you want to throw a question my way, just like Michael did, hit me with a voice note.PS: Michael just launched a brilliant new podcast called Change Signal. If you care about navigating change—personally or in orgs—it’s a must-listen.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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 buzzing from one of those brilliant, unexpected moments where everything just clicks.A couple of weeks ago, I launched an offer called Roasted by Leanne, where I’d roast your product or offer page, giving kind but constructive feedback. One roast in and I was already loving it. The person said it was “a full-bellied roast full of generosity” which I’ll take as a compliment!But here’s the kicker…Off the back of that offer, I found myself reflecting: “If someone could roast my work, who would it be?” Instantly, I thought of Rob Fitzpatrick — author of Write Useful Books and The Mom Test. I reached out to his community on a whim… and got a polite no. Then, a few weeks later — boom 💥 — I get invited to join a brand-new pilot where Rob himself is roasting select authors. I'm one of them.What started as a slightly cheeky experiment turned into a next-level opportunity to have my next book idea reviewed by someone I deeply admire.In this episode, I unpack:Why return on luck matters more than ROI sometimesThe surprising upside of putting out low-risk offersWhat happens when you follow your curiosity (and email strangers)So even if no one had booked a roast, this still would’ve been a win.Let’s normalise measuring success differently — and making moves that invite magic.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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 had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Paul Browning, an educator-turned-founder who’s spent decades in school leadership and is now taking on a much bigger challenge: redesigning education to actually prepare students for the real world.Paul is the founder of Vivedus, a company focused on helping schools teach, assess, and report on creative thinking — the one skill students (and employees) desperately need but are rarely taught.We talk about why creativity gets conditioned out of us, how compliance is crushing the love of teaching, and what trust really looks like in a school or a workplace.We also cover:Why school leaders often get stuck in old ways of thinkingWhat employers really want from graduatesThe power of teaching for impact, not just assessmentPaul’s reflections on leadership, culture, and the cost of bureaucracyDr Paul Browning was a school principal for over 25 years. His passions are leadership, organisational culture and creativity. He believes that trust is the fundamental resource for successful leadership and a healthy organisational culture and creativity is the future of education.  Paul has spoken at numerous conferences, both nationally and internationally, and lead workshops on leadership, teacher improvement, school culture and improvement to well in excess of 4000 school leaders and CEOs across several continents.He is the author of “Compelling Leadership: The importance of trust and how to get it” (Apple iBooks), and “Principled: 10 leadership practices for building trust”Paul has been listed amongst the top 50 most influential people in education in Australia, awarded Australia’s best non-government school principal, and awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to education. Paul is currently the Managing Director of Vivedus, a Learning Activation Model revolutionizing education by unlocking students' creative intelligence. In collaboration with the University of Melbourne,Vivedus provides schools with an AI-powered, SaaS-based framework integrating pedagogy, assessment tools, and teaching strategies.As the only Learning Activation Model with a digital AI-enabled platform, it empowers educators to teach and assess creative intelligence while giving school leaders real-time insights into teaching quality.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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 sharing a bit of a rant (slash reflection) on all the media noise surrounding the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Specifically, I wanted to unpack two things:The drama around not sticking to the original venue planThis idea that Brisbane is going to be an “international embarrassment”Here’s the thing: we need to be okay with plans evolving. The world is changing, and smart people pivot when new information lands. That’s not embarrassing — that’s smart leadership.And on the embarrassment front… come on. Do people really remember venue issues after the closing ceremony? No. If the water's clean-ish and the medals shine, we move on.I also share some thoughts on:Why estimating anything long-term is basically impossibleWhat we can learn from the way World Cups are hostedWhy we don’t need to be flashy — we just need to be functionalThis episode is a bit off-the-cuff, but I had to get it out of my head. Let me know your thoughts, especially if you’re in Australia and just as over the Olympic venue back-and-forth as I am.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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, it’s Leanne, and today’s episode is a little different—I just wrapped up a personal styling session with the incredible Cate Massi, and I had to bring you along for the debrief. This is actually the second time I’ve worked with Cate, and once again, she absolutely nailed it.In this episode, I chat with Cate about:✅ How she got into styling and the life-changing conversations she’s had in fitting rooms✅ The biggest mistakes we make when shopping for ourselves (guilty!)✅ Why identifying your personal style genre is key to feeling confident✅ The three pillars of great style: fit, functionality, and flair✅ Why shopping with a stylist is actually a money-saver, not just a splurge✅ The standout pieces we picked up—including my new favourite sneakers and the ultimate trench coatCate has a gift for getting you to try things you’d usually walk straight past—and making them work perfectly. She also breaks down how to shop with purpose so you build a wardrobe that actually works for your lifestyle.If you’ve ever stared at your closet thinking, I have nothing to wear, or you’ve fallen into a style rut, this episode is for you.💡 Want to work with Cate? You can find her at Cate Massi Styling.🎧 Listen now—and let me know, have you ever had a personal styling session? Would you try one? DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn with your thoughts!Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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.

In this weekend rewind, I bring you a first-time wizard on the show—Dr. Jason Fox—a wizard-philosopher disguised as a motivational speaker and leadership advisor. His expertise lies in guiding clever teams through the complexities of their quests.Join Dr Jason Fox's pop-up museletter.With an impressive list of clients that includes Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, HP, Novartis, Red Bull, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Toyota, and Honda, Dr. Fox has established himself as a trusted advisor to senior leadership teams worldwide.During our discussion, we embark on a magical journey through various topics. We explore the delicate balance between nurturing ideas and valuing individuals, the importance of holding space for emergent insights, and the personal rituals and preparations that enhance facilitation sessions.We also delve into the struggle with titles and labels, seeking more meaningful and playful ways to communicate one's role and expertise. Moreover, we uncover the concept of channeling the muse, allowing intuitive insights to guide conversations and workshops, resulting in transformative experiences.Dr. Fox has shared his wisdom as a lecturer at three universities and is the bestselling author of "The Game Changer" and "How to Lead a Quest." His remarkable ability to engage skeptical audiences and senior leaders who have "seen it all before" has made him a sought-after keynote speaker.When not liberating the world from the delusion of progress, you'll find Dr. Fox residing in an old chocolate factory in Melbourne, Australia, alongside an illustrator-veterinarian and a feline companion. His passions outside of his work include extreme sports like reading, sun-avoidance, and indulging in the art of coffee snobbery.Prepare to be captivated by this thought-provoking conversation filled with enchanting insights and practical wisdom. Join us as we uncover the secrets of working with groups, gaining clarity, embracing the power of intuition, and unleashing your own magical potential.Resources mentioned:Choose One Word: Jason Fox's program focused on finding one word to serve as a fuzzy contextual beacon. Choose One Word"Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" by John Vervaeke: A 50-part YouTube series exploring the concept of meaning and its implications in society. Awakening from the Meaning CrisisMarshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication: A philosophy and communication method emphasizing empathic listening and effective dialogue. Nonviolent CommunicationJason's websites: Dr Jason Fox or FoxWizardSign up for free for my best articles every week: 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, we explore the intricate emotions that facilitators experience right before a workshop – a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and anticipation. My guest today is the award-winning TV journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sophie Scott OAM. Sophie's multi-faceted career has transitioned her from a household face on TV to a well-renowned speaker and educator, with a prime focus on mental health. What You Will Learn: Sophie's transition from a journalist to an advocate for mental well-being and a sought-after speaker. The personal story of Sophie's encounter with burnout, which she faced while in the public eye. The "Spotlight Effect" – A mechanism to center oneself and focus on the audience while facilitating. Physical Reactions to Anxiety: Even when well-prepared, your body might still show signs of anxiety, but recognizing these signs and continuing to move forward can be beneficial. Facilitation vs. Journalism: Both roles involve extracting information and insight, and the techniques used in journalism can apply to facilitation. Tips and ideas on how to host engaging panels or events.About Sophie Scott OAMIn addition to an extensive career as an award-winning medical TV journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sophie is a professional speaker and educator with expertise in mental health.She has an extensive presence on social media, has been an invited speaker at the World Congress on Positive Psychology, has written two books (Live a Longer Life (ABC Books) and RoadTesting Happiness (Harper Collins), and has won major awards for her journalism and medical reporting including a prestigious Eureka AwardSophie’s mission is to help people help themselves, using evidence-based science and her own personal journey.She is an ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia, Pain Australia and is a patient reviewer for the British Medical Journal.Sophie is a highly sought-after keynote speaker on topics such as preventing burnout, managing your mental well-being during times of change, the science of high-performance habits, and how to use neuroscience to stick to new habits and overcome unwanted ones.Her talks and workshops help people take better care of their mental health through science-backed techniques so they can build emotional resilience, maximise their potential and thrive at work and at home.Links and Resources:Sophie Scott's Website - A central hub where you can find all of Sophie's content, including links to her social media platforms.Insight Timer and Balance App: These apps are mentioned in the conversation, suggesting they might be tools for personalization or well-being.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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.

In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on the idea of “finding” your uniqueness.Too many of us spend years searching for that special something that sets us apart, thinking it’s hidden somewhere out of reach. But what if I told you it’s already right in front of you—hiding in the small, everyday moments of your life?Here’s what I’m diving into in this episode:The Truth About Uniqueness: Why you’re probably looking in the wrong places and how to start uncovering what makes you truly unique.B-Roll and Your Uniqueness: A deep dive into how the subtle, often overlooked moments of your life—your B-roll—are what really define you.Unveiling, Not Finding: The key to discovering your uniqueness isn’t about seeking it out; it’s about letting it surface naturally.Everyday Moments That Matter: How the smallest actions—like grabbing a coffee or a walk with a friend—are the building blocks of your individuality.Live Your Life, Don’t Seek Your Uniqueness: I share why the more you live authentically, the more your true uniqueness will shine through without you even trying.Tune in to hear how you can start seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary and why the uniqueness you’ve been looking for is already here, just waiting for you to notice it.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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.

This morning, I was faced with a choice: participate in a 7AM webinar or attend a local Chamber of Commerce coffee event. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:The 7AM Dilemma: Why I opted to ditch the webinar for a local coffee event and how it turned into a surprisingly valuable decision.Local Connections Matter: Meeting a diverse group of professionals—from a physio scaling their practice to a website designer helping restaurants get online orders—and what I learned from each conversation.Milton Dick MP: A candid conversation with Australia’s Speaker for the House of Representatives about leadership, respecting differences, and how he navigates heated debates in Parliament.Language & Respect in Politics: How language shapes debates in Parliament and why it’s critical to attack ideas, not people.Behind the Scenes of Question Time: A peek into the world of Australian politics and how virtual tools have transformed parliamentary meetings post-COVID.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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.

Video—you need to start using it now.This is Part 2 of my conversation with Joeri Schilders (a.k.a. The Magic Sauce), and in this episode, we’re talking about how video isn’t about perfect content—it’s about connection.Connect with Joeri on LInkedIn.Joeri helps solopreneurs and self-employed professionals grow their reach using video, and he’s got a rock-solid case for why you should be pressing record.I’ve used video for job interviews (hello, Wicked Campers!), client proposals, and quick check-ins—but after this chat, I’m realising I could be doing a lot more.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🎥 Why video beats text when it comes to building relationships—it’s not about going viral, it’s about connection.📱 You don’t need fancy equipment—if you’ve got a phone, you’ve got everything you need.📩 Why video messages can replace meetings—asynchronous communication = more efficiency.🚀 Forget perfect, embrace the cringe—polished content doesn’t build trust, real moments do.📝 The one challenge for you today—record a short video and send it to just one person.This episode is packed with practical tips and a serious push to just start—so if you end up posting a video, tag us! We’d love to see it.🎧 Hit play and let’s get into it.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: 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.