First Time Facilitator - podcast cover

First Time Facilitator

Leanne Hughes from the First Time Facilitator blog reveals all of her group facilitation, training and workshop tips and tricks so you can be ahead of the curve the next time you step out in front of a group.Discover how you can tweak elements of your facilitation style, or incorporate new techniques to engage your audience and leave with lasting impact (and 5-star feedback). Icebreakers, leadership, group interaction, preparation, games, conflict, props, flip-charts, delivery, voice, body language, confidence, discussions and everything that works (and doesn’t work) to help you better understand how to deliver and connect with your audience, every single time.

Episodes

FTF255: How we built my new brand in 4 weeks with Jason Knight

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)—it’s...

Dec 17, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 255

FTF254: Talk the Walk with Alan Weiss (How to avoid gambling away your career)

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 level up your...

Nov 13, 202431 minSeason 1Ep. 254

FTF253: The Delegate Experience: Conferences Done Differently with Mary-Louise (ML) Huppatz

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 gues...

Oct 24, 202432 minSeason 1Ep. 253

FTF252: Obsess over the participant (not the meeting room) with Steven Demedio + a sneak peak of our Red Carpet Campout

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: ...

Sep 26, 202427 minSeason 1Ep. 252

FTF251: How we sold out our event in 24 hours (Behind the scenes of How to Face Change) with solo reflections from Leanne Hughes

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...

Sep 09, 202425 minSeason 1Ep. 251

FTF250: Building trust and driving change in workshops with Hitomi Whitlock

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 ...

Aug 16, 202430 minSeason 1Ep. 250

FTF249 Michael Bungay Stanier's Co-Facilitation Tips & Brisbane Event Preview!

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 successf...

Aug 01, 202416 minSeason 1Ep. 249

FTF248: Mid-year check-in + sneak peak of Talk the Walk with Alan Weiss

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 Vegas. You&apos...

Jun 21, 202437 minSeason 1Ep. 248

FTF247: From Workshop to Written Word: Translating Ideas into Books with Mel Loy and Jade Miller

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 ...

Jun 07, 202434 minSeason 1Ep. 257

FTF246: Alan Weiss on speedy design + why workshops can be the worst solution for a client

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 design How Alan turns an idea into an offer almost immediately How consultants need to focus on helping their clients innovate, and fail fast How consultants should market now (vs. 5 years ago) Interactions between AI and Humans, what works? The ageing population in the workforce a...

Apr 12, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 256

FTF245: Preparing to be spontaneous in your workshops with Lisa Leong

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 wor...

Mar 20, 202440 minSeason 1Ep. 245

FTF244: Get to the Point with Sally Prosser

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 y...

Feb 29, 202419 minSeason 1Ep. 244

FTF243 Unseen facilitation tips: How Phil Woods creates epiphanies in his workshops

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-realisations, Ph...

Jan 30, 202434 minSeason 1Ep. 243

FTF242: 5 Workshop Hacks Using ChatGPT with Leanne Hughes

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 experience...

Jan 21, 202419 minSeason 1Ep. 242

FTF241: Leanne Hughes’ Unofficial 2023 Annual Report

Send Leanne a message Leanne 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...

Dec 11, 202332 minSeason 1Ep. 241

FTF240: Get Lucked! How to Cultivate Serendipity in Your Work with Dr. Christian Busch

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 currentl...

Nov 23, 202329 minSeason 1Ep. 240

FTF239: Tactics for powering yourself up to host a workshop (when you’ve had three hours sleep)

Send Leanne a message How 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 mag...

Nov 20, 202314 minSeason 1Ep. 239

FTF238 How to start a workshop: Which comes first - content or an activity? with Leanne Hughes

Send Leanne a message Welcome back to another episode with your host, Leanne Hughes. I received a listener question from my friend, Juraj Holub and thought I'd share my thoughts on the show. Here's the question: I'm thinking about the flow of a session. Let me share more details. Goal: I'd like the workshop participants to practice and learn "how to open a presentation." Option A: - Participants go first and deliver their opening to their current best capabilities. ...

Nov 14, 202317 minSeason 1Ep. 238

FTF237: Deciphering culture and facilitation life as a charismatic introvert with Shane Michael Hatton

Send Leanne a message What does it mean to truly have the character of a leader? Is culture really something we can influence in an organisation? Watch our conversation on YouTube! Shane Hatton is an author, trainer, coach, and speaker who is passionate about developing remarkable leaders and cultures. He works with organizations to close the leadership gap between mid and senior level leaders. Aside from being the author of the books “ Let’s Talk Culture – The Conversations You Need to Create t...

Oct 30, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 237

FTF236: How I organise my facilitator materials to speed up workshop design with Leanne Hughes

Send Leanne a message Welcome to another episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, where your host, Leanne Hughes, goes solo, diving deep into the Keep section of the SPARK framework, a crucial element of her book, " The Two Hour Workshop Blueprint, " now available on Audible. Key Takeaways: Continuous Improvement: Learn about the importance of reflecting on what worked well in your past workshops and what didn't, to continuously improve and design more effectively for future...

Oct 23, 202320 minSeason 1Ep. 236

FTF235: Using the House of Communication to Create Contrast in Your Workshops with Michael Grinder (#bestof episode)

Send Leanne a message Can you use space to create contrast, even in a virtual call? Today’s guest proves that you can! We have an absolute world-leader in the field of nonverbal communication joining us on the show this week, Michael Grinder. Michael has over 40 years of experience training thousands of groups. Known as the pioneer of nonverbal communication, Michael helps executives and educators assess people more accurately, connect with others more deeply, and build their charisma. We explor...

Oct 16, 202349 minSeason 1Ep. 235

FTF234: Behind the Mic: My Co-MC and Committee Reflections with Leanne Hughes

Send Leanne a message In this solo episode, host Leanne Hughes reflects on the world of event planning, MCing, and the unforeseen challenges that can arise during a charity event. Watch the YouTube video Highlights: Committee Dynamics: The initial stages of planning, the process of narrowing down nominees, and how this committee stood out from typical group projects. Communication Platforms: The value of asynchronous communication, the prominence of WhatsApp, and the advantages of immediate mess...

Oct 09, 202320 minSeason 1Ep. 234

FTF233: Inside three facilitators minds: What goes on (and why we love models!) with John Norcross and Tricia Conyers

Send Leanne a message Join host Leanne Hughes as she delves deep into the mind of a facilitator with guests John Norcross and Tricia Conyers from the " Every Little Mode l" podcast, this episode offers a genuine conversation exploring the intricacies of facilitation, sharing personal experiences, challenges, and models that guide their work. Watch the conversation on YouTube. What You Will Learn: The journey of becoming a facilitator: How John and Tricia began leading group conversatio...

Oct 02, 202349 minSeason 1Ep. 233

FTF232: The Power of Frameworks + How to Gift Wrap Your Expertise with Leanne Hughes

Send Leanne a message How do you design fast? You create an underpinning framework! In today's episode, host Leanne Hughes shares why she loves frameworks SO MUCH, and some ideas on how to create your own. Watch the video on YouTube. Key Takeaways Gift Wrapping Information : Organising and packaging information in a way that's digestible and actionable. Overcoming Fears : You don't need a PhD or decades of experience to create a useful framework. Case Study - Pivot by Jenny Blake ...

Sep 25, 202321 minSeason 1Ep. 232

FTF231: Nancy Marmolejo on Navigating Workshops with Quiet Confidence and a Sense of Belonging

Send Leanne a message I love jumping on The Flipchart Facebook group to see where members are hosting their workshops. My guest today, Nancy Mamolejo, hosts her workshops overlooking the Golden Gate bridge, and she also brings amazing ideas and energy into her sessions, including her emotional support kit. Tune in today, to hear us discuss: Creating a Sense of Belonging in Workshops Strategies and tools to foster an environment where everyone feels like they are a valued part of the conversation...

Sep 18, 202337 minSeason 1Ep. 231

FTF230: Turning 40 - Leanne’s 12 Rules for Life

Send Leanne a message As you know, I'm here to help you design fast, deliver strong without stress. That's hat is in the form of workshops, right? But today I'm going to be talking about designing life in general. I'm celebrating and reflecting because I turn 40 this Thursday. What an honour: Every day above ground is a great day. Watch the YouTube recording! Disclaimer: I'm not an Olympic gold medalist. I haven't climbed Everest. I'm just a type of person who ...

Sep 11, 202354 minSeason 1Ep. 230

FTF229: Dancing with Workshop Disruption with Jeff Skipper

Send Leanne a message In today's episode, I'm delighted to introduce our guest, Jeff Skipper. Jeff and I have been colleagues for the past couple of years, sharing insights in our growth cycle mastermind group. We've connected virtually every two weeks and had the pleasure of meeting in person during a memorable gathering in Hawaii, part of Alan Weiss's community. About Jeff Skipper Jeff Skipper is a recognised expert in accelerating change with over 25 years of experience. H...

Sep 04, 202332 minSeason 1Ep. 229

FTF228: On Air with Sophie Scott: Broadcast Journalism Techniques, and Emotional Regulation for Workshop Success

Send Leanne a message In today's episode, we explore the intricate emotions that facilitators experience right before a workshop – a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and anticipation. My guest today is the award-winning TV journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sophie Scott OAM . Sophie's multi-faceted career has transitioned her from a household face on TV to a well-renowned speaker and educator, with a prime focus on mental health. Dive into our conversation as we u...

Aug 27, 202344 minSeason 1Ep. 228

FTF227: Workshops that Deliver: Focusing on What Truly Matters with Brendon Baker

Send Leanne a message In today's episode, I chat with Brendon Baker , a change leader I've had the pleasure of knowing for over a year and a half. Our professional relationship has grown from friendtorshop to active collaboration. We discuss the core of his workshops, how to deliver real value, and his personal experiences with business growth. About Brendon Baker: Brendon is dedicated to helping Change Leaders achieve tangible results. He's been at the helm of over $10 Billion in...

Aug 21, 202332 minSeason 1Ep. 227

FTF226: Stamp Out Boring Workshops with Leanne Hughes and Prina Shah

Send Leanne a message Welcome to a podcast swap! I was a guest on the delightful Prina Shah's podcast, Ways to Change the Workplace recently, and the episode had such wonderful reviews/feedback, I thought I'd bring it onto this feed! What are some common mistakes that workshop facilitators make that lead to boring workshops? How can workshop facilitators create a safe and inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions? What are some creat...

Aug 14, 202337 minSeason 1Ep. 226