Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

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 notesSign 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 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)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’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).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 recorded this one from the couch—with the heater blasting and my iPad out—while rejigging workshop sequences. Today I confess something small-but-useful I was wrong about: Strava. For years I resisted it (I thought you needed special gear), then a hike with Kirsty flipped the switch. Now I’m loving the seamless Apple Watch sync, the community vibe, route ideas when I travel, and the cheeky status hits (hello, Local Legend 🏅). Plus, a bigger reminder: before we dismiss something, get curious first.In This EpisodeThe cozy couch setup that helped me reset and rethink my workshop sequencingWhy I wrote Strava off for years—and the two misconceptions I hadWhat finally changed my mind (thanks, Kirsty!)The features I actually use: auto-sync from Apple Watch, photo uploads, effort/zone insights, 3D flyover, local routes, “Local Legend” segmentsThe surprising community benefit: reconnecting with friends around the world through activity updatesThe meta-lesson: practice curiosity before you passMy TakeawaysCuriosity beats certainty. Ask “how does this actually work?” before saying no.Make it seamless or it won’t stick. Auto-sync from my Apple Watch made Strava effortless.Community fuels consistency. Seeing others move nudges me to move too.Try ThisIf you’ve resisted a tool, list your assumptions about it, then test one (1) assumption this week.Going interstate or overseas? Open Strava and search local routes instead of guessing.Add one photo to your next workout—it makes the memory richer and your future self will thank you.Tools & MentionsStrava (free with optional paid features like AI effort/zone analysis & 3D flyovers)Apple Watch, Peloton app, Final Surge, Nike Run Club (how I’ve been tracking historically)Mount Coot-tha summit climb (where I became a “Local Legend”)ConnectOn Strava: search Leanne Hughes and say hi 👋 Got your own “I was wrong about…” story? Reply and tell me—might turn this into a mini-series.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 broke my own rules from The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint… then remembered why they exist. I tried to type a workshop outline straight into a doc at the café (hello, friction and tab-opening). So I shut the laptop, ordered a long black, and went old-school: one idea per index card. Suddenly the ideas poured out, the structure revealed itself, and now the only problem is what to cut.What I coverWhy linear tools (docs/slides) can choke early-stage ideasMy café routine: long black, closed laptop, stack of coloured index cards“One idea per card”: how that unlocks subtopics, sequences, and linkagesUsing symbols, tiny sketches, and 2x2s on cards to spark connectionsSorting → building → writing transitions (in that order)How to avoid research rabbit holes while ideatingWhen I still use Post-its vs when index cards winTry this (mini playbook)Leave the laptop shut.Set a 45–60 min timer.One idea/story/data point per card (no full sentences).Mark research items with a “?” and keep moving.Cluster cards into themes; promote/demote subtopics.Lay your “through-line”: intro → 3–5 beats → close.Draft only transitions next. Slides come last.Little cheats I useSymbols: ➡️ transition, ★ key line, Ⓠ audience question, ☁️ story, ? research laterColour code: e.g., blue = data, yellow = stories, pink = exercisesQuick visuals: Venns, simple graphs, 2x2s sketched right on the card“Stuck?” rule: swap the card, don’t open a tabResources I mentionedIndex cards (I grab mine from Officeworks / discount art & craft stores)The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint (my method for fast, engaging design)Your turnTake a photo of your card spread and tag me—I love seeing how your talks and workshops take shape.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 handing the mic to my friend (and brand wizard) Jason Knight. If you’ve ever looked at my site and thought, “Whoa—this is… different,” you’ll love this one. Jason and I share a long backstory—from L&D days to Red Carpet Campout—and in this episode he unpacks a super simple, ridiculously useful framework for becoming dangerously distinctive in how you show up.What this episode is aboutJason shares a three-step “newspaper” playbook you can steal for LinkedIn posts, Substack intros, your homepage, and your keynote slides:Headline – say what you do in clear, vivid, 7-year-old language (bonus: aim for three punchy words)Killer visual – an image that embodies your promise (not you smiling at a laptop)Compelling story – the lead that invites people to keep reading/listening“People don’t get to your story without first going through your headline and your killer visual.”My takeawaysDitch the job title. Go beyond “I’m a keynote speaker/brand strategist/accountant” → say the result. (“I amplify authority.” “I help teams communicate ideas people act on.”)Use the 7-year-old test. If a kid wouldn’t get it, your audience won’t care.Design your vibe on purpose. Decide where your brand sits on sliders like classic–modern, economical–luxurious, approachable–authoritative. Then pick visuals that prove it.Order matters. Hook me with the headline, stop-the-scroll with the visual, then earn the right to tell the story.Try this (5-minute mini-exercise)List three outcomes you create (time, money, transformation).Distil each into a 3-word headline (verb + object works great).Choose one visual metaphor that literalises your promise (what’s your “chainsaw”?).Write a three-sentence lead that tees up your story.Links & mentionsJason Knight — results + to book a call: askjasonknight.comMy site (the “tropical courage / business without boundaries” vibe Jason references): leannehughes.comSign 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 chatting to someone who also shares my love for the Clifton Strengths tool.It’s all well and good to find a tool you love, that echoes back what you think + feel about yourself but more importantly? It’s what you do with it that matters!Today’s guest, Charlotte Blair shares how we can apply and activate our strengths across various contexts: In the way we facilitate, the way we show up to strengthen our network, how we build our business, and how we apply what we learn.Charlotte has a passion for helping others maximise their potential. She’s a a highly experienced Gallup-Strengths Certified Coach, consultant and facilitator with over 20 years proven success managing relationships and developing business in highly complex sales environments.At the end of our conversation, she also shares her favourite workshop activities that you could pretty much design a workshop from, they cover all the key elements!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 poured a long black (Alan poured a martini) and we got spicy about feedback: smile sheets, unsolicited opinions, and why being liked is overrated compared to being respected. Alan shares why he was often hired to discomfort audiences, how to stay buyer-centred (not audience-centred), and when to refund, repeat, or remix. We also riff on The Mom Test, critical mass marketing, and the difference between repeating your “Living on a Prayer” hits and still innovating.What we coverRespect > like: why pleasing the buyer beats chasing tepid standing ovations“Feedback is for the sender”: spotting passive-aggressive advice and status playsSmile sheets: why two “9s” out of 200 don’t matter—and what to do if they doThe buyer test: who actually pays and whose opinion counts (hint: not the event coordinator)Marketing before content: sell to critical mass, then build the thingWhen things go wrong: the one time Alan refunded—and how he turned a bad workshop into a huge Bank of America engagementSignature hits vs. novelty: give people the classics and add a fresh twistBeing “uncoachable” vs. trusting yourself: why greats still use coaches to avoid breathing their own exhaustQuotables“It’s more important to be respected than to be liked.” —Alan“Feedback I didn’t ask for is for the sender, not for me.” —Alan“I’m not here to convert; I’m here to delight the people who like what I do.” —Alan“Minimal success: a sincere thanks. Maximum success: ‘Don’t leave until we book you again.’” —AlanMentionedThe Advice Trap — Michael Bungay Stanier (on why we love giving advice)The Mom Test — Rob Fitzpatrick (don’t validate ideas with compliments; validate with payment)Bon Jovi & Billy Joel (why fans want the classics—plus a fresh surprise)Try thisBefore your next talk, list your buyer, their success metric, and your own min→max success range.After the talk, call the buyer for targeted feedback. Archive the smile sheets.Selling a new offer? Open a 12-hour window and ask for paid commitments first; build the content after you hit your number.If you enjoyed thisShare this episode with a friend who’s drowning in feedback, or tag me with your biggest “unsolicited advice” story. And if you want Alan in Australia for the 80/20 Tour, tell me where we should host 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 week my book The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint has been popping like Jenny Blake’s “serendipity popcorn” — in places and moments I didn’t planIn this episodeThe word that flattens a room (and what to do instead)Why assets beat hustle: books, podcasts, recorded talks = omnipresence without burnoutMy live 45-minute design sprint with PMI QLDFive fast ways to regather a buzzing group without killing momentumMy boldest test yet: a go/no-go experiment for Con Con 2026My 2026 event gamble: Con Con (Consultants’ Convention)Where/When: Gold Coast, June 18–19, 2026Cap: 50 peopleFirst-mover window: Aug 28 — 12 hours onlyRule: If 15 tickets sell in that window, Con Con is on. If not, instant refunds and we shelve it. Why so stark? Because it’s exactly how I coach clients: set constraints, define success before you sell, and test the market with a clean “yes/no.”→ Want the 12-hour link? Join the waitlist and watch the short explainer video (both linked in the post).—Leanne “wondering if Con Con 2026 is a goer” HughesSign 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.

As many of you know, Bangkok is my favourite city in the world. I love it so much my car number plate even says Bangkok. So when I saw Bangkok Airways—Thailand’s boutique airline—making headlines this week, I knew I had to share it.This is the kind of small-but-mighty change that makes me want to high-five an entire organisation: Bangkok Airways is swapping out cabin crew’s traditional footwear for brand-new white sneakers. And not just any sneakers—these are a collaboration with PUMA, built for both men and women, made with 30% recycled materials, and designed under the concept “Move for Better Together.”Why does this matter? Because cabin crew spend long hours on their feet, moving quickly through cramped spaces. Comfortable, supportive shoes aren’t just a perk—they’re essential. And yes, they can still look sharp and professional (these Puma Romas do exactly that).In this episode, I explore:Why this move is more than a fashion statement—it’s about employee well-being.The broader shift in airline uniform culture (and who else is already on board).How footwear affects performance, whether you’re at 35,000 feet or facilitating in a corporate boardroom.My own rules for comfort vs. style in professional settings.What JJ Peterson from StoryBrand told me about the most underrated tool in a facilitator’s kit.Also—yes—I now want a pair of these sneakers myself.If you’ve ever spent a whole day standing, moving, or running workshops, you’ll get why this matters. And maybe, just maybe, this trend will inspire other workplaces to think differently about what “professional” looks like.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.