Send Leanne a message In this episode of First Time Facilitator, I chat with Dr Liz O'Riordan about her leap from the operating theatre to the workshop room. After being diagnosed with cancer and leaving surgery, Liz turned to speaking, writing, and now — facilitation. With only days to prepare, she discovered my book The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint, raided her kitchen cupboards for props, and built a session that participants called “brilliant — don’t change a thing.” We unpack how she: ...

Send Leanne a message I wrote this article this after being on a group call where one person dominated the airtime. You know the ones, right? As facilitators, it’s our job to respect the room, the time, and the energy of everyone there. And sometimes, that means stepping in. Yes, interrupting can feel awkward — but if you do it with care, it can completely transform the vibe of your sessions. In this episode, I share: Why interrupting is actually a public serviceThree reasons we don’t i...

Send Leanne a message Hey, thanks for tuning in today. I just wrapped up a webinar for a long-time client — an organization that delivers live, critical, and completely anonymous support via webinars. That’s right. No faces. No names. Just silence... and a flurry of comments in the chat. So how do you respond when the comments start rolling in — especially when the stakes are high and the people on the other side might be feeling overwhelmed, unseen, or unheard? Today, I share the 4 archetype...

Send Leanne a messageI’m so excited to take you behind the scenes of my rebranding journey—aka Leanne 3.0. In this replay, I chat with Jason Knight, the brilliant mind behind my new brand. Watch our conversation on YouTube to see the brand!Jason and I first connected on my First Time Facilitator podcast back in 2019, and five years later, I finally brought him on board to reimagine how I show up in the world.But this episode isn’t just about the shiny new website (even though I love it)—it’s ...

Send Leanne a messageFresh off a Las Vegas red carpet experience, Leanne Hughes sits down with legendary consultant Alan Weiss for a candid conversation about career risks, professional reinvention, and the art of strategic decision-making. Drawing parallels between Vegas gambling and career moves, this episode delivers unexpected insights about when to hold steady and when to make bold moves in your professional life. Whether you're contemplating a career pivot or looking to level ...

Send Leanne a messageIn this episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, host Leanne Hughes welcomes Mary-Louise (ML) Huppatz, CEO of the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM), to discuss her unique approach to conferences, leading change, and facilitation. ML's passion for people and creating meaningful learning experiences comes through as she shares insights into how she transforms conferences from routine events into transformative experiences.Abut today's guest: ML Hupp...

Send Leanne a messageIn this episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, I am thrilled to welcome Steve Demedio to the show. Steve shares his inspiring journey from a career in sales leadership to becoming a passionate facilitator obsessed with creating engaging and memorable learning experiences.Join us for our retreat: The Red Carpet CampoutPsst.. Come along to our Red Carpet Campout 10-12 March, 2025, only 90 mins from Brisbane, Australia. Only six tents remain!What You'll Learn:Steve’s...

Send Leanne a messageHost Leanne Hughes takes you behind the scenes of the recent "How to Face Change" event she co-hosted with Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS). From brainstorming ideas, locking in the perfect venue, to manufacturing demand for tickets, Leanne spills all the details on how they turned a bold idea into an unforgettable experience.Expect candid reflections, actionable tips, and a whole lot of fun as Leanne shares the highs, challenges, and big wins from this Brisbane-based ev...

Send Leanne a messageIn this episode, we're joined by Hitomi Whitlock, Organizational Change Manager at the University of Washington's Housing and Food Services, and an experienced real estate investor. Hitomi shares her journey from moving to the U.S. as a child to leading change at one of the nation's top universities—all while managing a successful real estate business.🔍 What You’ll Learn:How Hitomi uses her strengths (Futuristics, Discipline, Positivity, Woo, Learner) to drive succes...

Send Leanne a messageCome along to our event! https://lu.ma/rooftopbneIn this episode, host Leanne Hughes chats with Michael Bungay Stanier on their upcoming event in Brisbane together on 3 Sep 2024, and the art of co-facilitation. Reflecting on their first podcast experience in Brisbane, they dive into topics such as managing facilitation dynamics, preparing for keynotes, and what makes their upcoming event in Brisbane unique. They also share personal anecdotes and practical tips for success...

Send Leanne a messageIn this episode, host Leanne Hughes provides an update on her activities as a solopreneur and content creator, sharing insights from her recent experiences and projects. She provides an update on her book, some of the work she's delivered this year, including a recent innovative conference presentation focused on flexibility. She also shares upcoming events like a rooftop workshop in Brisbane with Michael Bungay Stanier and a small group workshop in Las Vegas.&n...

Send Leanne a messageAre you currently running workshops, generating ace ideas, have some cool toolsup your sleeve? Maybe you should turn all of that great stuff into a book!If you're curious how to do that, you'll love today's conversation with fellow first-time authors and Brisbane business owners, Mel Loy and Jade Miller.Both Jade and Mel are experienced workshop hosts, and they share their journeys from facilitating workshops to writing books. We discuss how their workshop experiences inf...

Send Leanne a messageWatch our conversation on YouTube.Alan Weiss returns to the podcast this week, for the third time, to (metaphorically) poke me in the eye again.In this conversation, we riff on:Speedy workshop designHow Alan turns an idea into an offer almost immediatelyHow consultants need to focus on helping their clients innovate, and fail fastHow consultants should market now (vs. 5 years ago)Interactions between AI and Humans, what works?The ageing population in the workforce and how...

Send Leanne a messageToday, I'm joined by Lisa Leong, a broadcaster, author, and facilitator. Watch us chat on YouTube.Her superpowers, which you'll hear very clearly in this episode, are curiosity and creativity.She's a former IP, technology, and wine lawyer—yes, that's actually a thing. She caught the radio bug in 2001, which is exactly why I brought her on the show. Wedelve into the parallels between having talk-back radio and getting listeners to call in to hosting workshops an...

Send Leanne a messageIn the First Time Facilitator podcast, host Leanne Hughes introduces guest Sally Prosser, a voice and confidence coach.We riff on the concept of 'breveloquence', a portmanteau of brevity and eloquence, and how they aim to develop and use this tool in verbal and written forms.We also take you behind the scenes of our new workshop called Get to the Point, which we're co-hosting in Brisbane on 16 April 2024.Find out more about the Brisbane workshop and grab your ticket here....

Send Leanne a messageIn today's conversation, Phil Woods from Catalyst Strategy shares his journey from a legal career to becoming an independent strategy and team development consultant.Watch our conversation on YouTube.Phil outlines how he uses frameworks to guide organisations through transformation, draws on his command and activator strengths for maximum impact, and explains the importance of managing energy in workshops. From strategic ideation to facilitating self-realisations, Ph...

Send Leanne a messageTune in to discover how to design fast and deliver strong without the stress...using Chat GPT!In this episode, host Leanne Hughes discusses five ways she uses chat GPT to improve and enhance her workshop experiences and delivery. She shares examples of how she uses Chat GPT for image creation, generating questions, creating case studies, generating frameworks, and coming up with attractive titles for her workshops. You'll also hear some personal updates and experiences re...

Send Leanne a messageLeanne Hughes’ 2023 Annual Report podcast/video episode, where I share my favourite UNOFFICIAL business metrics, and quarter by quarter highlights/lessons learnt.Some of my unofficial metrics include:📈 # of countries visited📈 Clients I loved partnering with📈 New topics explored📈 Messages about the book and its impact 📈 How often did I wake up, look at my calendar and get excited about the day?What unofficial metrics do you like to report on at the end of the year?Off...

Send Leanne a message Watch our conversation on YouTube!My experience with luck has been, you can actually optimize for luck. So, what is this got to do with workshops and facilitation and hosting group events? I think it has a lot to do with it. If your goal is next year to create more workshops, to work with really great clients, to be more aligned with the work that you do-- yhere's an element of intentionality around that and making a decision and making a choice. And I'm curren...

Send Leanne a messageHow do you personally POWER YOURSELF UP to host a workshop when you're sleep deprived? That's the topic Leanne riffs off in this solo episode, where she shares ideas on:* * Insights from her personal story on powering up after facing challenges like jet lag and disrupted routines.* How personal energy significantly impacts workshop facilitation and the need to show up as your best self.* Exploring various power-up routines, including environment shifts, the magic of music...