This is it. Episode 365. The last time I open the podcast with those words.
This episode isn’t a neat bow or a highlight reel. It’s a real reflection on what it actually takes to show up every single day for a year, without fireworks, without drama, and without pretending it was always fun.
I talk about why documenting the year mattered more than “performing” it, and how most of the work happened quietly in between the milestones. The Everest Base Camp analogy still holds. You get there… and it’s just another step. The meaning lives in the repetition.
I share what surprised me most.
– Why batching sounded smart but killed the point
– How finding a story in the ordinary became the real challenge
– What outsourcing production changed forever
– Why audio still wins for me, hands down
– And how this project sharpened my ability to think out loud, even when energy was low
I also talk honestly about the limits of the format. The quality dipped at times. Some episodes were rough. That’s the cost of consistency. And I’m okay with that.
This project ends so I can redirect the bandwidth into the next big thing, my book with Wiley. That trade-off matters. Finishing well sometimes means stopping cleanly.
If you listened to one episode or all 365, thank you. You were part of this, whether you ever told me or not.
This feed isn’t dead. It’s just paused, repurposed, and ready for whatever comes next.
No episode tomorrow..!
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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This is the second-last episode of this daily podcast project, and honestly, I didn’t come in with some big, profound lesson lined up.
I just wanted to share something that happened.
On Sunday, Chris and I were out driving his 1979 Trans Am. Black. V8. Screaming chicken on the bonnet. Full Smokey and the Bandit vibes. A bird decided to do its business right on the hood, so we pulled into a servo to wash it off.
As we were about to leave, we noticed eight to ten American classic cars parked nearby. Chevys. A Knight Rider replica. The works. One of the guys waved us over and said, “I thought you were with us.” We weren’t. They were heading to a car meet about ten minutes away and invited us to come along.
We followed the convoy. Told ourselves we could peel off if we wanted to. We didn’t.
We grabbed a coffee, hung around for nearly an hour, met some great people, and Chris walked away with tips, parts advice, and new groups to join. All because a bird crapped on the car.
Here’s the twist.
If that bird hadn’t done that, none of those events would’ve happened.
I also posted a quick 13-second Instagram Reel. No planning. No strategy. Just a point-of-view clip of accidentally ending up at a car meet. It’s now the highest-performing video I’ve ever posted. Higher than Everest Base Camp. Higher than anything I’ve carefully thought through.
It’s a real-time reminder of how interest-based media works.
The people watching it aren’t my audience. I’m not getting clients from it. That wasn’t the goal. But it shows that attention doesn’t belong to the most meaningful or effort-filled content. It belongs to what people are interested in, right now.
Followers still matter for credibility and social proof. But reach today is driven by interest, not loyalty.
And that’s actually encouraging.
It means you don’t need a big platform or years of momentum to get cut-through. You just need to put something out that people want to look at.
That’s it for today.
Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up what this daily podcast project has taught me.
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Only three episodes left in this daily podcast experiment.
In this episode, I’m sharing a deceptively simple icebreaker I picked up at a Brisbane rooftop event that involved good wine, smart people, and an afternoon of intentional pour choices.
During a conversation with Niha, she described a workshop activity called The Animal Game. W
Here’s how it works.
You choose three animals, one at a time, without overthinking it:
For each animal, you note two traits that feel accurate.
The twist in the debrief.
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Today I sat down with Jan Keck (a self-proclaimed “community addict”) whose tagline is “Let’s have conversations that matter.” Jan created Ask Deep Questions, which started as a deck of cards to help friends connect on a camping trip and has since grown into a global tool for facilitating meaningful conversations.
We talked about the real stuff: loneliness in a hyper-connected world, how to build belonging without forcing it, and how to hold space when things get awkward or emotional, especially online.
Jan Keck
Creator of Ask Deep Questions
Mission: helping people feel less alone through meaningful conversations and experiences.
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Today’s guest is Tim Ferguson, CEO of Audience, joining me from Switzerland. If you’ve ever walked into a workshop and felt your soul quietly leave your body, Tim is one of the people trying to stop that from happening.
This conversation is a masterclass in what great facilitation actually looks like when it’s done properly. Tim doesn’t treat “engagement” like a nice-to-have. He treats it like the job.
We talk about Tim’s wild career pivots, starting as a day camp counsellor, then theatre school, then a PhD track in religious studies, and somehow ending up running a global company that designs better corporate meetings and coaches leaders to present well. None of it was planned, which is both annoying and reassuring.
A huge theme in this episode is audience-first design. Tim and his team start with who’s in the room, not what’s on the slide deck. He even asks clients to imagine cancelling the event and selling tickets instead. If people had to pay with their own money and time, what would make it worth it? That question alone is enough to expose how much corporate stuff is built backwards.
We also get into:
If you run workshops, lead meetings, or present for a living, you’ll steal ideas from this one immediately.
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I’m recording this on Christmas Day, full festive mode, about to eat and drink everything in sight. But first, I squeezed in a proper workout. A 45-minute Peloton bike bootcamp with Tunde that absolutely cooked my legs.
After that, I did something very on-brand for me. I impulse-bought a $29 USD online course off Instagram and gave it a crack straight away.
It was an intro to shuffle dancing from an account called Shuffle Mums. If you’ve seen shuffling before, you’ll know it’s fast footwork, cardio-heavy, and way harder than it looks.
I spent about 15 minutes learning three moves:
The teaching style was solid. Break the moves down, then stitch them together at slow, medium, then fast pace. I made it through slow, half-held medium, and completely fell apart after that.
Here’s the honest part. Watching myself in the mirror, I looked stiff, intense, and nothing like the instructors who look chill and effortless. Brow furrowed. Upper body rigid. Very “trying hard” energy.
Which is exactly what learning looks like.
Will I stick with it? No idea. There’s every chance I won’t. And I’m fine with that.
I’m not journalling my why. I’m not blocking time in my calendar. This isn’t a new identity. It’s a 10–15 minute finisher after a workout that’s fun, different, and forces my brain to focus.
That’s enough.
What I loved most was how mentally absorbing it was. The coordination, the footwork, the rhythm. It reminded me of hiking in Nepal, where every step required attention.
I also went down a rabbit hole and learned that shuffling came out of the Melbourne rave scene in the 1990s, dancing in circles, no mirrors, no performance mindset. Just movement, music, and freedom. That context made it even better.
So I’m giving it a go. No pressure. No overthinking. Just movement for the sake of it.
If in a few months I can post a progress video without cringing, that’ll be a bonus.
What’s one thing you could try for 10–15 minutes a few times a week without turning it into a self-improvement project?
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In this Christmas Day episode, I’m recording fresh off a humid Brisbane hike and a lot of thinking time.
I expand on yesterday’s conversation about media and platforms, and get specific about two things I’m genuinely prioritising in the year ahead.
First, private podcasts.
I break down what they are, why I’ve been using them for years, and why I think they’re one of the most underrated tools for client delivery, learning on the go, and building trust without spraying content everywhere. I share how I’ve used them for coaching, webinars, and even my own learning, and why I’m planning a short, locked-down mini series as my primary email sign-up.
Second, the book.
I talk about the behind-the-scenes decision to trial PR for the first time, what I’ve committed to around the launch window, and why locking this in early is changing how I’m thinking about angles, writing, and visibility. This is very much an experiment, and I explain what I’ll be watching to decide if it’s worth the investment.
I also share a simple but sharp exercise I’m using to shape content and offers next year:
What does my audience want more of, and what are they desperate to reduce or remove? No hype. Just practical clarity.
This episode is less about Christmas cheer and more about direction, focus, and choosing fewer things that actually move the needle.
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In this episode, I walk through the social media platforms I actually use, why I still use them, and what’s staying or shifting as I head into the new year.
Earlier this year, I published a deep dive on my $11K tech stack. This conversation is the companion piece, focused purely on social and media platforms. The question I’m asking myself is simple:
Why am I here? And is it still doing the job?
Here’s the rundown.
This is my main business platform. It’s where I share ideas, test thinking, meet smart people, and build momentum for the book. It’s staying. No debate. If my work is business-focused, this is non-negotiable.
This is behind-the-scenes, fitness, travel, and real life. It’s lighter. I’ll sometimes delete the app on weekends or holidays to give myself a break, but I like the entertainment value and the people I stay connected with here.
Still useful, but mainly for groups, Messenger, and local community updates. My Facebook group exists, people still join, but it’s no longer a growth engine for my business. And that’s fine. Not everything needs CPR.
Not really social media, but it’s where a lot of my real conversations happen. Group chats, side chats, logistics, and friendships all live here.
TikTok
This one’s intentional curiosity. I’m using it as a listening tool for Gen Z and emerging leaders, because that audience matters for the book I’m writing. I’ll start creating content here, but I’m realistic. I may need help to make that happen properly.
It’s also brilliant for travel, venues, and local recommendations. The algorithm is sharp, and it rewards curiosity.
Strava
Surprisingly motivating. I’m paying for it. Kudos matter more than they should. Even stretching feels rewarded.
Substack
This is a big one. Weekly writing, clearer thinking, and a strong entry point into the book. This is where longer ideas live first, before they get repurposed elsewhere.
Podcast + YouTube
I’m not continuing daily episodes next year. The feed stays. The episodes stay. The name and artwork will change. Expect fewer episodes, more depth, and tighter alignment to the book themes.
YouTube will continue as a distribution channel for the podcast.
Big picture:
One strong weekly article becomes the pillar. Everything else supports it.
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I recorded this episode late.
All year I’ve been disciplined. Daily episodes. Even from Nepal with poor internet And yet here I am, back home, beachy, relaxed, watching eight hours of cricket… and suddenly a three-minute podcast feels heavy.
That’s the bit I wanted to call out.
It’s not that the work is hard. It’s that the perception of effort ramps up when you’re in soft mode. When you’re already moving, working, exercising, creating, the extra thing barely registers. When you’ve gone full couch, everything feels like a task.
I talk about why the last stretch of anything feels harder, just like the final kilometres of a run. Same effort, louder brain. And how habit stacking and timing matter more than motivation.
The takeaway is simple. Don’t wait to feel ready. Change the context. Do the thing while you’re already in motion.
Because once you start, it’s fine. It’s the thinking about it that’s exhausting.
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The Story Behind “Eat Clean, Drink Dirty”
A while back, my Red Carpet Campout collaborator, Steve Demedio, asked about my dietary requirements. I replied via SMS, “I eat clean and I drink dirty.” That phrase stuck with me, especially recalling a trip to Thailand with Chris.
Our mornings were all about a healthy routine—coffee, hydration, gym sessions, and a fruit-filled breakfast—while our afternoons melted into beautiful sunsets with a Chang or a mojito in hand. That contrast perfectly sums up my lifestyle: keeping things balanced rather than swinging to extremes.
Moderation: The Sustainable Way
I’m not here to dish out advice—this is about sharing what works for me and letting you decide what fits your life. I don’t follow the latest fad diets or extreme regimens; I simply opt for a moderate approach that supports both my well-being and my enjoyment of life. Sure, some folks might say that skipping alcohol entirely gives you extra energy and mental clarity, but I believe in the power of a couple of drinks to spark real conversations and genuine connections. For instance, I’ve seen how a casual beer can break down barriers—reminding me of my mate in the police force, who fondly recalled the old days when cops could wind down together over a few beers.
Balancing Health and Happiness
I’m aware that moderation isn’t for everyone, and there’s a fine line between maintaining a balanced lifestyle and potentially overdoing it. I keep my commitments to eating well, exercising, and living healthily, which helps counterbalance the occasional indulgence. For me, being 40 means I can experiment with this balance—eating clean while enjoying a little dirty drink—and find long-term sustainability without feeling deprived.
Where Do You Stand?
As of February 2025, I’m comfortably navigating my “eat clean, drink dirty” path. I’m curious about your take: do you find that moderation in your habits makes life more sustainable? Do you ever wonder if striving for extreme health benefits is worth sacrificing those spontaneous, fun moments?
Questions for You
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Today I’m pulling you into a conversation I’ve been hanging out to have again, because Julian Treasure is one of those rare humans who makes you rethink how you speak, how you listen, and even how your office is quietly wrecking your brain.
I open by asking a simple question: what’s your favourite TED Talk? Because TED is basically the internet’s global library of “oh wow” moments. I share a few of mine, and then we get into the reason Julian’s back, his talk “How to Speak so that People Want to Listen” is one I use all the time in my workshops.
Julian’s done five TED Talks, his videos have been viewed more than 100 million times, and he’s living proof that voice and listening aren’t “soft skills”. They’re career skills.
1) Open plan offices: productivity killers in a suit
Julian doesn’t mince words: open plan offices are often a nightmare. Noise is the number one complaint and it’s not even close. Too loud, you lose focus. Too quiet, you feel watched and you stop talking anyway. Either way, it’s not the collaboration utopia architects promised.
He also shares the research that open plan can lead to more emails and less talking because people don’t want to be overheard.
2) Noise isn’t just annoying. It’s a health issue.
Julian explains that we’ve got limited bandwidth for conversations and when speech is around you, it hijacks your attention. Long exposure to higher workplace noise isn’t just “a vibe problem”. It can lift stress and impact health over time.
3) The office should be “activity-based”, not one-size-fits-all
We talk about activity-based working: the idea that an office should have different zones for different work types. Quiet space for deep work. Open space for collaboration. Booths for calls. A space designed like a living system, not a factory floor.
4) Biophilia and soundscapes (yes, it’s a thing)
Julian shares what his company has been building: soundscapes designed to improve wellbeing and productivity, using nature-based audio (often water) rather than artificial “coloured noise”. It’s niche, and it’s fascinating.
5) My favourite bit: how facilitators can design the room for better collaboration
Julian gives a simple, practical checklist for any workshop space:
He even suggests the easiest room test: walk in and clap. Your ears will tell you the truth.
6) Why silence is the first lesson in a speaking course
This surprised me too. Julian starts his course with silence because silence is the baseline for real listening. If you can’t listen properly, you can’t speak into what people actually need. Speaking and listening aren’t separate skills, they feed each other in real time.
He drops a question I’m stealing forever:
“What’s the listening I’m speaking into?”
Different room, different time of day, different culture, different mood. If you don’t adapt to that, you’re basically performing at people, not communicating with them.
7) Handling disagreement without getting defensive
This part was gold. Julian says most of our defensiveness comes from two addictions:
Both are understandable. Both will sabotage you in front of a group.
The better move is curiosity: “I don’t agree, but I want to understand how you got there.” He talks about listening with compassion and recognising that people’s assumptions are shaped by their history. Same interaction, totally different interpretation.
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Ronsley was the person who told me, years ago, “If you want to start a podcast, start one about something you want to learn.”
That advice is the reason this show exists.
In this final interview, we don’t talk tactics. We talk identity, energy, reps, and why preparation is not the same thing as control.
We unpack why Ronsley doesn’t see himself as a “facilitator” even though he absolutely is one, how he creates rooms people want to be in, and why return on luck is really return on reps.
We talk about:
This episode is about trusting the process without pretending you’re in charge of it.
If you facilitate rooms, lead conversations, host sessions, or feel yourself in the middle of a professional skin-shedding phase, this one will land.
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I’ve just delivered my final webinar of the year and, honestly, I’m not gliding into the finish line. There’s still work on the table.
In today’s episode, I want to share something simple that worked beautifully in a live client session. A practical way to get buy-in without overcomplicating things.
The move is this
“Here’s what you said.”
That’s it.
This team had been involved earlier in the year, sharing input on their future direction and identity. The leadership team took that raw input away, did the hard thinking, and came back with something clear, sharp, and aspirational. And instead of opening with “Here’s what we’ve decided,” the leader opened with a slide that said, Here’s what you said.
That one move changed the energy in the room.
People could see themselves in the work. They could recognise their language, their intent, their concerns. It showed respect for the process and for their contribution. And importantly, it didn’t try to include everything. It highlighted patterns, not noise.
There’s a myth that if you ask for feedback, you have to use all of it. You don’t. What you do need to do is acknowledge it, synthesise it, and show how it informed the direction you’re taking. Even if you ultimately choose a different path, transparency earns trust.
This is also a timing lesson. If you gather input and then disappear, you do more damage than if you’d never asked at all. Feedback needs a visible return loop.
As we head into the end of the year, when energy is patchy and attention is stretched, this is one of those low-effort, high-impact moves that actually works.
I’m heading into a writing-heavy summer, with fewer client interruptions and, let’s be honest, a bit of sloth mode sprinkled in. We’ll see how disciplined I am.
Thanks for listening. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.
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I negotiated a book deal with Wiley.
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Today’s episode started with a simple client conversation about recognition.
. I shared a moment I’ll never forget from a workshop I ran in India with 30 construction leaders. One card said, “I’d be happy if my leader just said thank you.”
That card stopped the room.
Everyone stood up.
That memory took me straight back to a book I keep coming back to, The Courage to Be Disliked. It’s easily the most annotated book on my Kindle, and honestly, it feels like one long highlight.
I read out passages that question our obsession with recognition, approval, and being liked. The book makes a brutal point: when your sense of contribution depends on recognition, you are no longer free. You start shaping your life around other people’s expectations. You end up loyal to everyone and owned by all of them.
I also touch on workaholism as a “life lie” – using work to avoid other responsibilities and parts of life that feel harder to face. That one stings for a lot of high performers.
The thread that ties it all together is this:
Real contribution doesn’t need applause.
If you genuinely know you’re useful, you stop chasing validation.
This episode is part reflection, part reading, part uncomfortable mirror. If recognition is driving your decisions more than you’d like to admit, this one will land.
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I woke up to the news out of Bondi. A targeted shooting. Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah. It’s horrifying, heartbreaking, and deeply unsettling. Like many Australians, I’m angry, sad, and shocked that this happened here.
I talk about what it’s been like trying to function creatively in the middle of that. And the very real tension between staying informed and protecting your sanity.
I share why I made the call to switch the news off, physically leave the room, and create some distance. Not out of disrespect.
I also reflect on a moment from Nepal, meeting someone who had completely opted out of the news cycle altogether. At first, I judged it. Then I understood it. And that’s where this episode really sits.
This isn’t about ignorance or avoidance. It’s about asking what constant exposure actually does to us. A 24-hour news cycle. Clickbait headlines. Endless updates that pull you back into grief, outrage, and helplessness.
There’s no solution offered here. No tidy takeaway. Just an honest conversation about compartmentalising, protecting your energy, and doing the best you can on days when the world feels overwhelming.
If you’re feeling flat, distracted, or emotionally flooded right now, you’re not broken. You’re human.
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This episode exists because a completely normal Christmas catch-up in Brisbane somehow turned into a 30-minute in-depth chat about bidets.
It started at our Red Carpet Campout reunion. Darts. Drinks. Way too much food.
So today, I’m talking about bidets. Yes, really.
I explain what they actually are, why they’re everywhere in Japan and much of Asia, and how staying in a hotel in Sriracha, Thailand sent me down a very unexpected rabbit hole that ended with installing one at home.
We get into the practical stuff.
How much they cost.
Attachments versus full toilet replacements.
Why occupational therapists are quietly recommending them for accessibility and ease of use.
Then it gets bigger.
Environmental impact.
Water use versus toilet paper.
The strange panic-buying habits we’ve all seen during floods and lockdowns.
And the uncomfortable truth that wiping with paper might not be as “normal” or clean as we think.
There’s also a nod to South Park’s Japanese Toilet episode and the not-so-subtle message underneath the jokes.
Also, yes, “Bidet Mate” is already a real company.
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I’m joined by Jordan Mendoza, a sales and training pro with 25+ years in sales and marketing, and 14 years in the multifamily housing world (he explains what that actually means, so you’re not left guessing). I first heard him on a group Zoom call through Andy Storch’s Talent Development Summit and within minutes I knew: this guy is a live wire. He trains, he sells, he hosts the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, he breakdances, he does impressions, and he’s built a LinkedIn audience of 60,000-plus by showing up consistently and making business content genuinely watchable.
We go deep into the stuff most people avoid. Like imposter syndrome. Jordan tells the story of being sent to an “advanced instructor” course when he was anything but advanced, walking into a room full of experienced trainers… and seeing a camera recording everything. Present. Get the DVD. Watch yourself. Critique yourself. Repeat. It’s brutal. It’s also a fast track if you can handle the discomfort instead of hiding behind “I’m not ready yet”.
From there, we unpack what actually keeps people engaged for long sessions (Jordan runs full eight-hour days in a six-month leadership program). He’s big on open-ended questions, mixing the pace, and designing the day like a system: breaks that hit at the right time, music and snacks to lift the energy, and activities that aren’t random, they’re tied to the content.
We also get practical about virtual selling and trust-building. When COVID killed in-person tours, Jordan’s team didn’t sulk, they rebuilt the whole experience online: virtual tours booked via chatbot, Zoom walk-throughs, even live tours streamed from inside the actual apartment. Then they made the close frictionless: “Here’s the link, apply now, take it off the market today.” The result: a 25% increase in new leases year-over-year, during a pandemic. Translation: virtual doesn’t have to mean weaker. It means you need better design.
Then we talk LinkedIn and content. Jordan’s rule is simple: create content that educates, inspires, or entertains. Most people stay stuck in “professional beige”. Jordan leans into personality, fun, tagging others, and relationship-building at scale. And yes… he drops a Simpsons impression and demos Zoom studio effects mid-conversation to prove the point: you can use tiny moments of play to break the ice and lift attention.
If you’re a facilitator, trainer, consultant, or leader trying to build momentum, this episode is a reminder that “more polished” isn’t the goal. More useful and more human is.
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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
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I came back from Nepal and Alan Weiss immediately “welcomed me back to flat earth”, then we got into the real topic: climbing the mountain when it’s not cute anymore.
This episode starts with the funny stuff (Lukla airport and the “dungeon” accommodation, plus a toilet situation that honestly deserves its own spin-off). But quickly it turns into something sharper: what happens when you’re deep in it, tired, doubting yourself, and looking for an exit.
Alan shares a story I didn’t expect: even with his reputation, his dream book got rejected. Multiple times. So he did what he always does when he hits a wall. He got angry, built a “guns blazing” proposal, and sent it back into battle. It sold. That book is now his fifth coming next year.
So this isn’t really about altitude. It’s about what you do when you’re told “no”, when the conditions are awful, when your own brain is trying to negotiate your retreat.
Morris West on the high place: you don’t always know if the voice you hear is truth, or just the echo of your own “mad shouting”.
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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:
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This year, I ran my entire consulting business solo. No staff. No office. Just me, my laptop, and 51 paid tools doing the work of bookings, editing, hosting, scheduling, storage, marketing, fitness, and even entertainment.
Total spend
$11,899 AUD
Before you jump to judgement, this episode isn’t about flexing tools or convincing you to buy anything.
It’s about decision-making.
I sat down and did a full tech audit. What I’m keeping. What I’ve cut. And what I’m seriously questioning going into next year.
In this episode, I don’t read the full Substack article because it’s long and detailed. Instead, I share:
You’ll hear why:
If you’re a solopreneur, consultant, creator, or anyone running a one-person show, this episode will either make you feel very validated… or very itchy to open your subscriptions list.
The full breakdown, including every tool, cost, category, and rationale, is linked in the show notes on Substack.
Read it. Then audit your own setup.
Because the real cost isn’t the software.
It’s the indecision.
Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.