The Leonie Dawson Show

Ready for some straight talk? This AMA episode covers everything from AI hype (spoiler: Leonie's not that excited) to navigating criticism without giving up and becoming a goat herder in Corsica.
Leonie and Tam dive deep into the real changes happening in online business right now. Forget the $2,000 mega-course era—we're moving into something better. More human. More real. The conversation spans AI's actual limitations (think: unstable intern who hallucinates), why your unique voice is worth more than ever, and how to stay grounded when the world feels like a dumpster fire.
Plus, get nerdy with traffic light reporting—a brilliantly simple system Leonie learned working in government that'll transform how you track your business goals. And if you've ever spiraled after receiving criticism (hello, rejection sensitive dysphoria), this episode is your permission slip to be human.
Topics Covered:
AI in business: realistic perspective vs. evangelist hype
Industry changes and what people actually need in 2026
Traffic light reporting system for business tracking
Handling negative feedback and public criticism
Staying regulated in overwhelming times
The death of the mega-course and what's replacing it
Why your unique voice is your biggest asset
Key Insights:
The $2,000 mega-course era is ending; high-touch transformation experiences and low-cost/high-volume offers are the future
Traffic light reporting (green/yellow/red) lets you visually assess business metrics at a glance—color-code your data for instant clarity
Your unique selling proposition (USP) becomes gold when AI makes everything else sound the same—lean into YOUR voice
Doom scrolling dysregulates your nervous system and keeps you frozen—ground yourself to stay in your power
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is a real trauma response for neurodivergent folks
Truth, integrity, humanity and connection are what people need most right now
Notable Quotes:
"I regard AI as a really bad intern who's not mentally stable, who doesn't have their life together, occasionally is helpful, occasionally gets some shit done, but also has a high propensity for fucking shit up."
"If you are using AI to write all your copy, your sales pages, your social media posts, you are canceling out your unique selling proposition."
"Unless somebody is richer and happier and more loving than me, I don't give a fuck about their opinion."
"When you doom scroll, all it does is make you feel frozen with rage and discontent and dysregulated. We are not built to consume that amount of information."
"This isn't an unprecedented time. Conflict and fuckery and dictators have been a part of human history since the beginning of time."
"Just because it's a trusted person doesn't necessarily mean that it's true. You still need to check in with yourself."
"You're allowed to exist in the world even if you've made mistakes."
Who This Podcast Is For:
This podcast is for creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and spiritual seekers who want real talk about building businesses with integrity. If you're tired of hustle culture, AI evangelism, and guru bullshi*, welcome home.
Links & Resources Mentioned:
Free Annual Stats Spreadsheet Template
Leonie's 2026 Business Goals Workbook
Dealing with Trolls & Criticism Course (available in Leonie's Academy)

Love this episode? Share it with a friend who needs permission to be human in their business. Leave us a five-star review and let us know what resonated. Got questions for our next AMA? Email [email protected] with "podcast question" in the subject line.
Want more support, community, and Leonie's signature blend of practical magic? Join Leonie's Academy where we're creating businesses that actually feel good.

#WomenEntrepreneurs #NeurodivergentBusiness #OnlineBusinessTips #AIInBusiness #CreativeBusiness #SpiritualEntrepreneur #BusinessStrategy #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #AuthenticMarketing #SmallBusinessOwner

Welcome back to 2026, gorgeous! New Year, New Witchy US!
Join Leonie and her biz bestie Tamara Protassow for the most delightful catch-up about their summer break adventures. From explosive mishaps in Big W to summoning wombats by moonlight, this episode is peak "successful creative realness meets witchy chaos."
Tam shares her health breakthrough with dark-sprouted lentils (yes, really), Leonie confesses to a DIY photoshoot involving a wedding dress and kangaroo poo, and they both geek out over rediscovering the joy of long-form content on Substack.
You'll laugh, you'll cringe, you'll want to start your own garden witch era.
Topics Covered:
Why antihistamines were stealing Tam's energy (and her dark-sprouted lentil cure!)
The 12 Magical Nights ritual for manifesting your year
Creating business goals that actually feel good
Rediscovering authentic online communities (hello, Substack!)
Book recommendations: dirtbag billionaires and wellness frauds
The unglamorous reality behind influencer photoshoots
Yungblud concert adventures and middle-aged rocking out
Key Insights:
Setting goals works best when you balance masculine arrow energy with feminine flow
Sometimes the universe tells you what to do and you just need to listen (even if you've been ignoring it for two years)
The early internet vibe is alive on Substack—and it's inspiring AF
Patagonia's founder proved you can build a billion-dollar company without selling your soul
Community gathering in person creates magic that online can't replicate
Sometimes your body knows what you need before your mind catches up
The most authentic content comes from spaces that make you want to create, not compare
Wombat spirit medicine: be truly at home in yourself
Running a business ethically and giving back is actually possible at scale
Notable Quotes:
"When I look at TikTok or Instagram, it zaps me of my desire to create. When I'm on Substack or reading blogs, I get so itchy to go and make something." — Leonie
"I filled in my entire 2026 workbook and I can't tell you how pleased I was. I didn't realize how much the antihistamines were taking from my ability to do things." — Tamara
"Does a self-made multimillionaire shit her pants in Big W? Yeah, she does." — Leonie (keeping it real since forever)
"Wombat spirit reminds you to be truly at home in the world. You need to find comfort within your own skin." — Spirit Animal Oracle
"He donated the business to the planet. All profits from Patagonia now go into environmental conservation." — Leonie on Patagonia's founder
Who This Podcast Is For:
Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, spiritual seekers, and anyone who wants to build a successful life and business without losing their soul (or sense of humor). If you love deep conversations about business, magic, personal growth, and the occasional shi**ing yourself story, you're home.
Links & Resources Mentioned:
Leonie's 2026 Brilliant Year Biz + Life Workbooks
DreamQuest 2026 (free 3-day masterclass):
Canberra 2026 Dreaming Party tickets
Leonie's Substack
That Glasgow Witch (TikTok/Instagram)
Call to Action:
Ready to create your most magical year yet?
Join us for the FREE DreamQuest 2026 masterclass or grab your ticket to the in-person Canberra Dreaming Party!
Love this episode? Leave us a review and tell us your favorite moment—we read and message each other endlessly over every single one! 💖
Hashtags:#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #SpiritualBusiness #GoalSetting #BusinessGoals #FemaleFounders #IntuitiveBusinessCoach #PersonalDevelopment #WitchyBusiness

Ever feel like you're drowning in tasks but can't afford help? Or maybe you've built a team that's bleeding your profits dry? Welcome to the business staffing conversation nobody's having honestly.
In this wildly practical episode, Leonie Dawson and Tamara Protassow dive deep into the messy middle of hiring, firing, and right-sizing your business. From Leonie's experience managing 25+ staff (spoiler: it nearly broke her) to running a 7 figure business with just 1-2 part-time VAs, you'll get the real talk on what actually works.
Topics Covered:
Red flags that you have too little support (and when to finally hire)
Warning signs you've hired too many people (and how to fix it)
The "rescue fantasy" trap that keeps you from leading yourself
What to outsource first (and what to keep doing yourself)
Income-to-staffing ratios that actually make sense
How to protect yourself from "irreplaceable" team members
Systems that save your sanity (and your business)
Key Insights:
If you can't afford to hire, you don't have a proven business model yet—focus on marketing and pricing first
Bookkeeping and tax should be your FIRST outsource—it's affordable and frees crucial brain space
Under $1M in revenue? You only need 1-2 part-time VAs in most online business models
Standard Operating Procedures aren't optional—they're your insurance policy when life happens
More staff = more complexity, not more speed. Small teams move faster.
If someone makes your business seem impossibly complicated, they're the problem (not the solution)
Lower your household expectations before hiring help—are you leading yourself or waiting for rescue?
Templates and systems can save you from "Sharon mode" (ask Leonie's family about that one)
The "delegate everything" advice is BS—some tasks ground you and spark your best ideas
When staff leave, your business should run smoothly. If it doesn't, you have a documentation problem.
Ready to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it? Join Leonie's Academy for workshops on hiring VAs, creating SOPs, and right-sizing your empire. Plus, connect with a community of creative, neurodivergent entrepreneurs who get it.
Notable Quotes:
"If you feel like your business is just far too complicated and absolutely must have this one person or your business will not work, I want you to know that you are wrong and that you need to get rid of that person as soon as possible." – Leonie Dawson
"We are not actually brain surgeons. We are not rocket scientists. And every single person in this world really is replaceable." – Leonie Dawson
"Are you actually leading yourself or are you wanting someone to rescue you?" – Leonie Dawson
"The more somebody makes out that the business is very complicated, the more that person needs to leave because businesses actually aren't that complicated." – Leonie Dawson
"Your best ideas don't come at the laptop. They happen in blank space moments when you're in the shower, when you're cooking dinner, when you're wafting about your raspberry patch." – Leonie Dawson
Who This Podcast Is For:
Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and soul-led service providers who want to build profitable businesses without sacrificing their sanity, values, or family time. Perfect for you if you're tired of "hustle harder" advice and ready for strategies that actually work for human beings.
Links & Resources Mentioned:
Leonie Dawson's Academy – Includes "How to Hire and Manage a VA" workshop and SOP templates
Previous episode: Interview with Claire Wood (accountant)
Previous episode: Interview with Katie Chappell (illustration business)
Tools mentioned: Gmail templates, Asana, Zero accounting software, Repurpose.io, HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, The Laundry Lady (Australia)
Bob Katter on crocodiles
#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessSystems #SolopreneurLife #MindfulBusiness #VirtualAssistant #BusinessGrowth #FemaleFounders

Let's talk about the year I accidentally became everything I tell people NOT to do.
You know that advice I've been giving for 15 years about not getting stuck in eternal student mode? Yeah, well, I completely shit the pooch on that one in 2025. I got so deep into learning and feminine energy that I basically turned into a gorgeously gormless worm with no exoskeleton, just vibing on the floor wondering why my business wasn't growing.
Turns out? When you send 15 emails to your community instead of 50, stop creating content, and spend all your time in "receiving mode," things get a bit wobbly.
But here's the beautiful thing about mistakes: they're fucking excellent teachers when you're willing to look at them honestly. And honey, I'm looking. Hard.
In this episode, I'm spilling everything—the moments I lost my creative voice, the spreadsheet that kicked my ass back into gear, the friendship that saved my podcast, and all the experiments that actually worked (spoiler: there were some absolute crackers).
This is for anyone who's ever overthought themselves into paralysis, bought seventeen courses and opened none of them, or wondered why their business stopped feeling like THEM. Come sit with me and Tam while we laugh about RSD, celebrate the wins, and map out what's coming next.
Topics Covered:
Overthinking vs. taking action in your business
Balancing feminine energy with masculine strategy
The three types of learners: Eleanor, Ruby, and Ingrid
Why I stopped creating (and how I started again)
Learning mode vs. implementation mode
Tracking business metrics that actually matter
Experimenting with new program formats
Running masterminds and coaching differently
Key Insights:
Spending 10-20% of your time in learning mode is the sweet spot—any more and you're avoiding action
When you're too far into feminine/receiving energy without masculine structure, you become "gorgeously gormless"
Your business data tells you when you're off track—I sent 15 emails instead of 50 and wondered why things felt wrong
Creating content is lifeblood—for you and your business
Sometimes you need accountability from a friend who'll say "bitch, where's my email?"
The 100 creations in 30 days challenge can kickstart your creative flow again
Experimenting with new formats (like backstage passes to your launch) triggers your obliger tendency in the best way
Body doubling works for content creation—recording with someone else changes everything
Notable Quotes:"I got my head stuck up my own asshole in overthinking mode. And the thing about overthinking mode is it's just not fun or sexy or adorable or enjoyable."
"When I get too feminine energy influenced, I'm completely gormless—just no exoskeleton, no skeletal manner, anything."
"Creating is my lifeblood and it's the business's lifeblood, and whatever I need to do in order to make that happen is time well spent."
Who This Podcast Is For:Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and spiritual seekers who want honest conversations about building businesses that actually feel good—mistakes, magic, and all.
Links & Resources Mentioned:
Leonie Dawson's 2026 Goal Workbooks
The Leonie Lab on Instagram
Leonie Dawson's Brilliant Biz & Life Academy
Creative Goddess Embodied program
Big Money Big Impact (21-day selling challenge)
Momentum Mastermind
2025 Dream Quest masterclass
Love this episode? Hit subscribe, leave us five stars (your time is too valuable to leave anything less!), and tag us on social media—we want to see what resonated with you.
Hashtags:#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #FeminineEnergy #BusinessStrategy #ContentCreation #OnlineBusiness #SpiritualEntrepreneur #ADHDEntrepreneur #BusinessMindset

Sometimes the world breaks our hearts wide open. And when tragedy strikes—whether it's in our backyard or across the globe—we need to know how to hold both our humanity AND our mental health.
In this deeply important episode, Leonie and Tamara share their wisdom on navigating collective grief, communal trauma, and how to be a good steward of your own nervous system when the news cycle feels overwhelming.
They explore the recent tragedy in Sydney with tender care, offering practical tools for processing difficult events without sacrificing your wellbeing. You'll learn why your empathic nature might be working against you right now, how to protect your energy when you're feeling everything, and concrete ways to help your community heal.
This isn't about toxic positivity or looking away. It's about staying present, connected, and regulated so you can actually show up for the people who need you most.
TOPICS COVERED:
Understanding collective vs. personal grief
Protecting your nervous system from 24/7 news cycles
The surprising science of Tetris for PTSD prevention
How to talk to kids about tragedy (age-appropriately)
Energy boundaries for highly sensitive people
Finding the helpers and celebrating acts of courage
Practical ways to support affected communities
Holding space for nuanced, complex conversations
KEY INSIGHTS:
Collective grief is real and different: When tragedy strikes a community, you can literally feel emotions in your body that aren't yours—this is collective grief, and it requires different processing than personal loss
Your nervous system wasn't designed for this: Humans aren't built to handle 24/7 streaming news and graphic footage. Limiting media consumption isn't avoidance—it's essential mental health care
The Tetris technique actually works: Research shows playing classic Tetris within 24 hours of trauma exposure can help prevent PTSD by engaging your brain's visual processing centers
Empaths need extra protection: If you're highly sensitive or empathic, you MUST actively call your energy back to yourself. You cannot process other people's trauma for them
Look for the helpers, then BE one: From blood donations to checking on vulnerable friends to advocating for policy change—there are always meaningful ways to contribute
Ritual creates healing: Collective ceremonies, vigils, and shared practices help communities metabolize grief and strengthen bonds during crisis
Kids need minimal facts, maximum safety: Give children age-appropriate information, ensure they feel safe, and teach them how to support friends from affected communities
You're allowed to be okay when others aren't: This is a crucial boundary, especially for women conditioned to regulate everyone else's emotions
NOTABLE QUOTES:
"We as humans are not designed to cope with 24/7 streaming news. We are not designed to cope with that level of information." — Leonie
"You can help better when your energy is with you than scattered all around the place." — Tamara
"You are allowed to be okay in your own body even when other people are not okay." — Leonie
WHO THIS PODCAST IS FOR:
This episode is for sensitive souls, empaths, and anyone who feels the weight of the world a little too heavily. It's for women entrepreneurs, creatives, and neurodivergent folks who want to stay informed and compassionate without sacrificing their mental health. If you've ever felt guilty for "not doing enough" during a crisis or struggled with energy boundaries during difficult times, this one's for you.
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (blood donation)
#collectivegrief #mentalhealth #empathboundaries #nervoussystemhealing #traumarecovery #communityhealing #sensitivesoul #energyprotection #selfcare #womenentrepreneurs