Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

This week, I’m on the road—somewhere between Brisbane and the Sunny Coast—so I’m bringing you a short, reflective episode inspired by my friend (and fellow podcaster) Andy Storch.Andy sent me a couple of brilliant voice notes responding to last week’s episode on Exposure—and they were too good not to share. In true “Work Fame” fashion, we riff on how exposure and proximity shape our growth, creativity, and courage to try new things.Andy talks about:How seeing other entrepreneurs move abroad helped him realise he could too.Why being around people doing bold things normalises those leaps.The ripple effect of having friends who are constantly experimenting and asking, “How can this be better?”Then I jump in to reflect on:Why growing up in both the analog and digital eras gives millennials a unique edge.How digital proximity (voice notes, DMs, podcasts) makes learning and courage contagious.The compound effect of seeing what’s possible—and how it turns “that’s for other people” into “maybe I can do that too.”🎧 Tune in and reflect: What’s something you’ve seen someone else do that feels equal parts scary and exciting? And what would it look like if you tried it too?✨ Mentioned:Andy Storch — Author of Own Your Career Own Your Life and host of Talent Development Hot SeatSign 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 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 comes from a great question I received from my friend Jonas Rajanto over in Finland. Jonas asked:“Hey Leanne, I know you’ve used and lauded Descript over the years. Can you say why Descript would be better than Loom with its AI features? The overlap is that both transcribe and you can edit the video by editing the transcription. I’m thinking about starting to do more video.”So in this episode, I share: 💻 What Descript actually is (my editing studio and content lab) 🎥 What Loom is best for (communication and collaboration) ⚡ Why I pay for both — but which one I’d keep if I had to choose 🎧 How these tools have completely changed the game for creators 🧠 And some practical use cases — like proposal walkthroughs, client feedback, and podcast editingHere’s the short version:Descript is my production powerhouse. It’s where I record, transcribe, and edit podcast and video content — all by editing text. It handles multi-track editing, studio sound, AI captions, and direct exports to platforms like YouTube and Hello Audio.Loom is my communication ally. I use it for client walkthroughs, quick proposals, and asynchronous feedback. It’s faster, more collaborative, and super user-friendly for clients (with reactions, comments, and timestamps).If you’re creating video content — start with Descript. If you’re sharing quick feedback or explaining a proposal — Loom is your friend.Both are brilliant. But if I could only keep one? Descript wins.🎧 Tune in for the full chat to hear how I use them side-by-side, plus a few workflow hacks you might want to steal.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 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! I’m just a couple of weeks out from heading to Nepal, and while most people would be focused purely on that, my brain’s already leaping ahead to what’s next.Here’s the thing — I love setting the next goal before I finish the current one. It’s like booking your next holiday before your current one ends. It gives you something to look forward to, something that keeps you energized when you come back.So today’s episode is all about why you need to commit before you’re ready — and how there will always be a million and one reasons not to do the thing.I share:🎯 Why I’ve already committed to running the Gold Coast Half Marathon next year🗽 How I’m scheming to run the New York City Marathon in 2026 (and possibly with some friends!)💭 The simple truth that the default mode in life is “no” — and how to override it🧭 Why it’s better to commit first, then figure out how later🌄 How this same mindset got me to say yes to trekking in Nepal, even though I’d never done a multi-day hike beforeThis one’s not just about fitness or travel — it’s about trusting yourself to mobilize, adapt, and make it happen once you say yes.Because there will always be a million and one excuses not to do something… but you only need one good reason to say yes.🎧 Listen if you’re:Sitting on an idea or goal you keep putting offLooking for a nudge to back yourself and commitReady to flip the script from “I can’t” to “I’ll figure it out”💬 Your Turn: What’s one thing you’ve been thinking about doing… but haven’t yet said yes to?🎽 Mentioned in this episode:Gold Coast Half Marathon (July 2026)New York City Marathon (November 2026)Experience Not Felt Possible with Matt (Nepal trekking company)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 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 friends — I’m still buzzing from this morning’s runner’s high! I set out for a three-hour walk around Brisbane to soak in the jacarandas — those gorgeous purple blooms that light up the city — and somehow ended up walk-running a half marathon. Pure joy, no pressure, just great music and sunshine.Somewhere along the river, Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer came on, and it hit me: that key change near the end is everything. You know the one — it lifts, it unites the crowd, it makes you feel like you can do anything.So today’s episode is all about key changes — in music and in life.🎵 What’s a key change?A key change (or modulation) is when a song shifts from one key to another. It’s not a brand-new melody — just a lift, a subtle step up that changes how it feels.That’s why it gives you goosebumps — it breaks the pattern and re-energizes the song.🎤 Famous key changes I mentionLivin’ on a Prayer – Bon JoviI Will Always Love You – Whitney HoustonMan in the Mirror – Michael Jackson(Shoutout to “Danny and the Duplicates” on YouTube for the breakdown I played — absolute gold.)There’s even a Spotify playlist called “Key Changes That Key Changed My Life.” Iconic title, right?💡 Why I love key changesThey wake you up. Just when you think you know the tune, it shifts. They lift the emotional stakes. They demand flexibility — you can’t keep singing the same note. And they build momentum — that little twist keeps things from going flat.In life, we can do the same. We don’t need a total reinvention — just a modulation.🌟 Everyday “Key Changes” for Real LifeHere are some simple ways to add a key change to your week:Work from a café instead of your home office.Walk or run somewhere new.Switch up your soundtrack — new genre, new vibe.Call someone instead of texting.Take a cold shower or do something completely random mid-day.Learn something small but unexpected (like a dance or hobby).It’s not about quitting your job or moving countries. It’s just about shaking up your energy — finding that half-step lift that makes everything feel alive again.🎧 Your turnWhat song gets you with its key change every single time? Send me your pick — I might even add it to my own playlist.Until next time, remember: You can’t stay in the same key forever.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 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 first met Ben Crothers at an asset-management conference in Sydney earlier this year. While I was running a session, he was at the back of the room doing his thing — graphically recording everything we covered. Afterward, we started chatting, and the conversation was so good that I knew I had to bring him onto the podcast.Ben’s been a facilitator for over 15 years and a designer for even longer. Through his consultancy, Bright Pilots, he’s helped teams from organisations like Atlassian, Westpac, the Parliament of Australia, and the Leukaemia Foundation solve problems, formulate strategy, and work better together. He’s also the author of several books, including Presto Sketching: Simple Drawing for Brilliant Product Thinking and Design and Draw in Four.In this episode, Ben and I riff on:How facilitation and design overlap — and why every facilitator is really a designer.His belief that “design wants a better world” and how that philosophy drives his work.Why so many meetings “suck” — and how a little intentional weirdness can make them better.His tip for giving participants the “gift of five minutes’ silence” before a meeting begins.The role of visuals and sketching in helping teams listen better and make meaning together.How he can tell within five sentences whether a presenter is seasoned or still finding their rhythm.The creative warm-up he calls “Spam Can” (it’s brilliant and hilarious).How to make clear gear changes between divergent and convergent thinking.What it means to “call the game” as a facilitator — and why it keeps your group driving the bus.His self-proclaimed two-word personal brand: Corporate Anthropologist.Ben’s work reminds me that facilitation isn’t about filling time — it’s about designing experiences that help people think, feel, and connect differently.You can connect with Ben here: 👉 bencrothers.com 👉 brightpilots.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 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.

On the Weekend Rewind I’m joined by Martin Probst from Profound Leadership—author, career coach, professional mentor, and (brilliantly cheeky) Chief Education Officer. We first connected at the Institute for Learning Professionals Awards Night in Brisbane, where he was a finalist for Learning Professional of the Year. If not for those awards, our paths might not have crossed—and I’m so glad they did.In this conversation, we explore Martin’s fascinating journey from chef → trainer → facilitator → business owner, and what he calls the shift from consumption to creation. We get into practical facilitation mindsets, how to reduce fear in the room, why curiosity beats ego, and yes—how he helps clients bust phobias and even experience unexpected health side-effects (one client ditched their inhaler after clearing an emotional “millstone”—wild).In this episode, we coverConsumption → Creation: Why teaching “what to think” keeps people dependent, while facilitation teaches “how to think.”Two facilitator mindsets: Ego vs. service—and how flipping this switch melts nerves fast.Death by PowerPoint: Why fewer words and more listening creates better outcomes.Find the real problem: Stop fixing the symptom; go deeper (Martin’s “window frames” story that wasn’t about windows at all 👀).Learn → Implement → Teach (LIT): Martin’s simple loop to embed learning for life.Phobia busting & mindset resets: The tools he draws on (NLP, hypnotherapy, coaching) and the surprising ripple effects.Starting a business with meaning: Becoming your own Chief Meaning Officer—why service precedes revenue.Fail fast, improve faster: Rotary talks, messy reps, and learning in public.My favourite moments“Change doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by choice.”“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”“Be comfortable being uncomfortable—ask the question your room actually needs.”“If they truly knew the problem, they would’ve solved it already.”Try this in your next sessionOpen with an agreement frame: align on outcomes, stay flexible on methods.Ask a laser question that feels slightly uncomfortable. (That’s usually the one.)Swap three PowerPoint slides for one image + one prompt. Then listen.Close with LIT: get participants to name 1 thing they’ll learn, implement, and teach this week.Connect with MartinWebsite: Profound Leadership (searchable)LinkedIn: Martin Probst (I’ll pop his links in the episode page.)If you enjoyed thisShare this episode with a teammate who “has all the content” but wants to facilitate outcomes.Subscribe to Work Fame on Substack for weekly, practical ideas.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 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. I’m talking about exposure — and not the kind you get warned about when it comes to sunburn or dodgy business deals.You can read the article here.Exposure is a word that gets a bit of a bad rap. It can mean risk, vulnerability, or danger — “limit your exposure to the sun,” “you’ve been exposed to a virus,” etc. But there’s also this beautiful, positive flip side to it — when exposure means access, visibility, learning, and growth.I’ve been working with a client lately on redefining how we build capability, and it reminded me of the 70:20:10 model of learning — 10% formal training, 20% social learning, 70% on-the-job. Most people make the mistake of obsessing over the 10%, but today, I’m focusing on the 20% — that social learning, the exposure to how other people think, lead, and live.When I think about the biggest turning points in my own life, they’ve all come from exposure:Seeing someone live or work differently from meWatching how they made decisionsRealisng that the way I thought “the world worked” wasn’t the only wayWhen I worked at Wicked Campers, my boss John Webb shattered all my rules about how business “should” be done. After coming from Accenture, where process was everything, it was like walking into the Wild West. No rules. No forms. Just creation and action. Being exposed to that mindset completely changed me.Same thing when I joined the mining industry — suddenly, colleagues were casually mentioning trips to Mongolia. MONGOLIA! That kind of global exposure normalises things you used to think were out of reach.Or when I joined Alan Weiss’s mastermind — it wasn’t the formal learning that moved me most, it was hearing what my peers were doing: what they were charging, how they ran proposals, what they believed was possible. Exposure makes you raise your own standards.So if you’re feeling stuck, flat, or uninspired… maybe it’s not that you need another course. Maybe you just need more exposure.Expose yourself to people who live differently.Play tennis with people who are better than you.Join circles that challenge your worldview.Watch how others operate, not to copy, but to expand what you think is possible.Because yes — exposure can feel risky. But it’s also where the best growth happens.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 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.

Earlier this week, I ran a workshop and had one of those “note to self” moments. The host started reading out my bio—the one I’d sent ages ago—and as she was midway through, I was silently cringing. You know that feeling when something sounds a little too polished, a little too “LinkedIn Leanne”? That was me.Thankfully, I’d thrown in a random line at the end: “Leanne is severely scared of undercooked chicken and is a proud left-hander.” That one sentence saved me. Everyone laughed. We bonded over the fear of salmonella, and I even got a few creative-lefty questions during the day.It reminded me that bios aren’t just for bragging rights—they’re for building relatability. Sure, list your wins, but don’t forget to let people see you.When I used to host the First Time Facilitator podcast, I kicked off each episode with a fun fact (shoutout to Pat Flynn for the idea). It was such a simple way to create instant connection—and sometimes it’s those random, human details that people remember most.One of my favourite icebreaker questions is: “What’s the most boring thing about you?” It removes the pressure to be interesting—and ironically, the answers are never boring.And speaking of connection… earlier this week, I received a beautiful email from a woman who read The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. She told me she’d gone to my website to download the SPARK sheet and noticed the photo of my dogs, Quincy and Milo. Turns out, she has a dog named Quincy too! That one little breadcrumb—sharing a personal detail—sparked a lovely exchange across the world.So today’s reflection is simple: sprinkle more you into your work. The quirks, the small obsessions, the everyday stuff you think no one cares about—that’s what builds real connection.Now, I’m off to rewrite my bio (and maybe check my chicken).— LeanneSign 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 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 was in Victoria yesterday with a group of education leaders talking about leadership capability — and a side conversation popped up that I had to bring here.One of the leaders mentioned how hard it’s been to attract mentors to their new program, even though people are informally mentoring all the time. And honestly, I get it — the word “mentoring” comes with a lot of baggage.Just like Michael Bungay Stanier says about “coaching,” people have preconceived ideas about what a mentor should be: someone wise, polished, and ready to pour hours of time into shaping another person’s career. No wonder people hesitate to sign up.Here’s what I shared with them (and what I believe):💡 Avoid the word “mentoring.⏰ Ditch the one-hour meeting model. Micro-moments matter more — 20-minute chats, asynchronous voice notes, or quick message exchanges can be more valuable.🎧 Use voice notes. That’s actually how Leanne on Demand was born — I started voice-note coaching people around the world, and it completely changed how I think about connection.🧠 Let mentees drive the process. They should initiate, schedule, and set the agenda. Mentors just show up and share their experiences.🤝 Encourage “friendtoring.” Jenny Blake’s phrase sums it up perfectly — peer-to-peer wisdom exchanges that don’t feel hierarchical.At the end of the day, people want to help and give back — they just don’t want another recurring meeting in their diary. Rebrand mentoring as something more fluid, flexible, and fun, and you’ll see engagement rise.Thanks for listening, and I’ll speak to you tomorrow.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 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 most epic balcony ever — seriously, it’s bigger than my entire hotel room. I’m in Melbourne at The Langham, overlooking the Yarra and Federation Square, soaking in the sunshine.In today’s episode, I talk about my Oura Ring — the little wearable that’s teaching me big lessons about recovery, readiness, and stress.Here’s what I cover:💤 What the Oura Ring actually does — readiness, heart rate variability, stress, and recovery scores.📉 How my readiness score plummeted after Milo passed away (and what that taught me about emotional recovery).⚡️ Why I sometimes ignore the data and work out anyway — and when that actually helps.⛰️ Training for Nepal: why I’m intentionally training when I’m tired to simulate altitude, fatigue, and long trekking days.☀️ My “early morning” chronotype results — apparently I’m part of the rare 10% who thrive before dawn (no surprise there).☕️ Cultural contrasts: why Aussie cafes opening at 5 AM make total sense.👯‍♀️ My accountability circle with Steph Clarke — yes, we compare readiness scores like nerds.💡 How I’m using the Oura Ring to build awareness and prevent burnout (instead of reacting too late).If you want to check it out, I’ve popped my Oura Ring referral link in the show notes for a little discount.Thanks for tuning in from my rooftop-bar-of-a-balcony. I’ll chat to you again tomorrow!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 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.