First Time Facilitator

Epizode

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  FTF261: How to Design High-End Client Experiences with Alan Weiss (Talk the Walk replay) 25.04.2026 28min

  Send Leanne a message Leanne Hughes and Alan Weiss explore what it really takes to design premium client experiences — from large-scale thought leadership conferences to intimate high-touch group gatherings in penthouse suites around the world. Alan shares the frameworks, courage, and lifestyle philosophy behind his most successful events, and Leanne reflects on her own recent red carpet camp-out experience. Topics Covered Defining high-end experiences — Alan's two models: large group confere...
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  FTF260: The Campfire Method with Jan Keck: A Better Way to Build Trust in Groups 02.04.2026 38min

  Send Leanne a message Jan Keck is back on First Time Facilitator for a pop-up episode, and this one is for anyone who wants to create connection without making people cringe. Jan first appeared on the podcast in Episode 156, and in this conversation he shares the thinking behind his new book, The Campfire Method, plus what he’s learned from three years of writing, testing, and refining his ideas in public. We talk about why Jan moved away from the old “icebreakers” framing, and ho...
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  FTF259: Exceptional Experiences with Neen James 17.10.2025 1h 5min

  Send Leanne a message Today, I’m thrilled to welcome back my friend, leadership strategist, and powerhouse of positivity — Neen James — to the show! If you haven’t seen the YouTube version yet, go and watch it. Neen radiates light, energy, and fun — she’s truly a walking champagne moment. Fun links: Discover Your Luxury Mindset Self-Assessment Luxury Is A Mindset Neen James Luxury Mindset Research Executive Summary You might remember Neen from her earlier book Attention Pays. She’s since cont...
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  FTF258: From Surgeon to Facilitator: Dr Liz O'Riordan's First Workshop 19.09.2025 25min

  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: ...
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  FTF257: The Dark Arts of Interrupting Someone 19.06.2025 7min

  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...
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  FTF256: Handling chat like a pro 05.06.2025 8min

  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...
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  FTF255: How we built my new brand in 4 weeks with Jason Knight 17.12.2024 42min

  Send Leanne a message I’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)—...
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  FTF254: Talk the Walk with Alan Weiss (How to avoid gambling away your career) 14.11.2024 31min

  Send Leanne a message Fresh 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 l...
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  FTF253: The Delegate Experience: Conferences Done Differently with Mary-Louise (ML) Huppatz 25.10.2024 32min

  Send Leanne a message In 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...
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  FTF252: Obsess over the participant (not the meeting room) with Steven Demedio + a sneak peak of our Red Carpet Campout 26.09.2024 27min

  Send Leanne a message In 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 Campout Psst.. 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: S...
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  FTF251: How we sold out our event in 24 hours (Behind the scenes of How to Face Change) with solo reflections from Leanne Hughes 09.09.2024 25min

  Send Leanne a message Host 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-base...
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  FTF250: Building trust and driving change in workshops with Hitomi Whitlock 16.08.2024 29min

  Send Leanne a message In 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 s...
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  FTF249 Michael Bungay Stanier's Co-Facilitation Tips & Brisbane Event Preview! 01.08.2024 16min

  Send Leanne a message Come along to our event! https://lu.ma/rooftopbne In 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 ...
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  FTF248: Mid-year check-in + sneak peak of Talk the Walk with Alan Weiss 21.06.2024 37min

  Send Leanne a message In 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 Veg...
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  FTF247: From Workshop to Written Word: Translating Ideas into Books with Mel Loy and Jade Miller 07.06.2024 34min

  Send Leanne a message Are 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 experience...
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  FTF246: Alan Weiss on speedy design + why workshops can be the worst solution for a client 12.04.2024 43min

  Send Leanne a message Watch 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 a...
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  FTF245: Preparing to be spontaneous in your workshops with Lisa Leong 21.03.2024 40min

  Send Leanne a message Today, 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 work...
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  FTF244: Get to the Point with Sally Prosser 29.02.2024 19min

  Send Leanne a message In 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 ticke...
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  FTF243 Unseen facilitation tips: How Phil Woods creates epiphanies in his workshops 30.01.2024 34min

  Send Leanne a message In 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-realisati...
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  FTF242: 5 Workshop Hacks Using ChatGPT with Leanne Hughes 21.01.2024 19min

  Send Leanne a message Tune 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 experienc...