Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

In today’s episode, I’m taking you back to 2020—the year I signed up for a running challenge to clock 2020 kilometers. At first, it seemed simple: 5.5 km a day. No big deal. But within days, I realised the real challenge wasn’t the running itself—it was keeping up . If I missed a day, I had to double it the next. And then, of course, 2020 happened … I share how my routine runs turned into a mental...

Great to have you here! I’ve just come back from the physio, and yep, I’m talking about my Achilles again. It’s one of those injuries that’s frustrating but also teaching me a lot about life, patience, and the balancing act of recovery. My physio gave me some straight talk today. I told him I could run through the pain, but I was worried—if I push too hard, will I tear it? His response? “No, but y...

In this episode, I dive into a concept that’s been rattling around in my head—FOBO, the Fear of Becoming Obsolete. I was chatting with Ronsley Vars in an earlier episode about how ChatGPT told me my greatest fear was irrelevance. That got me thinking… FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a thing, but FOBO? That feels even more real. I’ll share why I’m constantly trying to reinvent myself, why I love work...

You know those books where every second page has you reaching for a highlighter? That’s exactly how I felt reading Not Everything Counts, But Everything Matters by Ivan Cleary. In today’s episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest takeaways from his book—insights on leadership, high performance, and why the small things truly matter. Ivan Cleary, head coach of the Penrith Panthers, isn’t just talkin...

Get Roasted by Leanne (only available til 12 March) A few months ago, I posted in a private consultant’s forum, looking for small tweaks or ideas to improve something I was working on. It was just an innocent post. I went to bed, woke up feeling great—coffee in hand, post-run high—until I checked my email. My heart sank. The feedback I received overnight? Brutal. Unexpectedly harsh. And, honestly,...

Hey, messaging is so important, and there’s no one who does it better than today’s guest. About Dr. J.J. Peterson Dr. J.J. Peterson is the Chief of Teaching and Facilitation at StoryBrand. He’s a storyteller, filmmaker, and expert in marketing and communication. Beyond his professional credentials, he’s lived an incredibly fascinating life—dancing in a Missy Elliot music video, acting on The West...

We’re rewinding just two days because I recorded this episode earlier this week and absolutely loved it. Honestly, it’s one of my favourite Talk the Walk episodes with Alan Weiss. Alan has being inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame, which is a pretty big deal. He’s a legend in the speaking world, and in this episode, he shares a wealth of wisdom on crafting a killer keynote...

Last weekend was an absolute career highlight – I had the privilege of hosting the Brisbane Roar in Business event at Suncorp Stadium. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I did an episode on how I was preparing for the panel. Now, it’s time to close the loop and share how it all went down. This wasn’t just another speaking gig. It was personal . I’ve been a Brisbane Roar supporter for 20 y...

Today, we’re talking about Cyclone Alfred. Not Cyclone Leanne—though that has a nice ring to it—but the system set to hit Southeast Queensland on Friday morning. As I’m out for a walk, I want to share some thoughts on contingency planning, how people are responding, and what’s going on here as the winds start picking up. What’s Covered in Today’s Episode: The Warnings and Initial Reactions: The go...

This episode is part two of my conversation with Dr. Myriam Hadnes , recorded right on my couch. Yesterday, we dove into the idea of unprofessionalism —why getting rejected for who you actually are is better than being accepted for wearing a mask. Today, we keep that thread going and explore: ✅ Why setting boundaries in business is a form of “unprofessionalism” (and why it’s actually freeing) ✅...

I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with Myriam Hadnes , host of the Workshops Work podcast. Between us, we probably run the most popular workshop-related podcasts in the world (which is an easy claim to make… because it's such a niche!). This episode is part one of our chat on the couch at my place, where we reflect on our past 24 hours together. If you’ve ever questioned what it really...

Today, I'm excited to share my conversation with my legend of a co-facilitator, Sally Prosser. Together, we host a half-day experience called " Get To The Point, " and we're about to launch season three on April 1st in Brisbane. In this episode, Sally and I catch up about what we've learned from our first two seasons of hosting this workshop and what makes it so special. We discuss: The contrastin...

Hey, it’s the Weekend Rewind! And today, I’m bringing you a conversation that takes me back—not to high school days exactly, but to what’s happened since for one of my classmates. And wow, what a story. My guest today is Pita Taufatofua a dual Olympian (yes, dual —both Summer and Winter Olympics!), a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and the founder of Tonga Strong. B ut you probably remember him best a...

Move over virtual workshops, let’s talk about virtual marathons - more specifically, online events that can span over a couple of days. It’s a different game, with longer interaction, so how do you maintain your energy, and keep your participants wanting more, too? This week’s guest is the perfect person to answer this question because she’s been running online events since 2007! I'm joined by Suz...

Today, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at something special I've been working on – the Red Carpet Camp Out retreat that I'm co-hosting with Steve Demedio from Mind Body Travel . Final tent remains. Keen? Send me a note! What is the Red Carpet Camp Out? I'm taking 8 dynamic consultants to a luxury glamping site about 90 minutes west of Brisbane for a completely different networking experien...

Hey, great to have you here. In this episode, I share the story behind my recent experience with paperwork that inspired me to rename the episode from “Bureaucracy” to “Bureaucrazy.” I felt that swapping the C for a Z better captured how frustrated I was with the process. What Went Down: I was dealing with a never-ending loop of paperwork at the Department of Transport. It all started when I was t...

I talk about my love for Vietnamese food and how visiting a cluster of similar stores showed me that competition isn’t something to fear—it’s an opportunity. I recount my personal experience at different food spots where I discovered that when businesses are close together, they naturally push each other to improve. I invite you to think about how this approach can apply to your own work or busine...

Today, I share my personal framework that has helped me host engaging and lively panel discussions. I break it down into four essential parts that I call the 4Ps. By the end of our chat, you’ll see how a bit of preparation and a clear vision can make all the difference. 1. Philosophy I start by explaining how having a strong vision and clear values sets the tone for your panel. I talk about why ba...

Hey there! Today's episode is super fresh because I've been actively putting these strategies into practice. I want to share with you my process for dealing with overwhelm, and how I've discovered that treating everything as a project brings amazing clarity. What Overwhelm Feels Like For Me You know those moments when you're in the shower, driving, or trying to sleep, and suddenly remember "Oh no,...

In this episode, I chat with Mel Kettle , an inspiring thought leader on connected leadership. We share some laughs about past podcast experiments, discuss the importance of knowing when to fail fast, and explore what it means to be fully connected. You’ll learn about Mel's professional journey, moving from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, and the balance between pushing through challenges and know...

In this episode of the Weekend Rewind, I sit down with Nick Gray , the author of 'The 2 Hour Cocktail Party '. You'll hear about Nick's innovative approach to socializing, which led him to create a thriving community and launch his multimillion-dollar business, Museum Hack. Learn how Nick's formula—name tags, icebreakers, cocktails only, and a strict two-hour limit—can help you host seamless and e...

You won’t believe what ChatGPT admitted when I asked it about its biggest fear. The answer? Irrelevance. And honestly, that hit home. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay relevant in a world moving at lightning speed —especially with AI shaking things up—this episode is for you. I’m joined by my good friend Ronsley Vaz , the reason I started my podcast in the first place. He’s the founder of We Are...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kate Karanges from The Latest , a photographer and creative powerhouse who has helped shape my brand presence through the lens. We just wrapped our third shoot together and I thought it'd be fun to run a debrief, on some things like: ➡️ When less is more —the power of simplicity, minimalism, and strategic restraint. ➡️ When more is more —going big, embracing colou...

Over the weekend, I had the incredible experience of seeing poet-philosopher David Whyte live in Byron Bay. His words didn’t just land—they cut straight to the core. In this episode, I share some of his most profound passages, including a powerful take on branding and identity that shook me. David Whyte challenges the way we see ourselves, reminding us that branding—something so many of us chase—c...

Bureaucrazy. Yup, that' show I spell it. Hear about my Achilles journey, my humorous experiment with redundant work reports, and the value of questioning long-standing processes. You'll also learn about Elon Musk's take on bureaucratic inefficiency and my little life hacks that defy everyday systems. By the end, I encourage you to reflect on the 'limestone mines' in your life and consider if it's...