The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast

In this episode, Sylvia shares a powerful story about bungee jumping in New Zealand—and how, in the moment afterward, she realized she had forgotten to be afraid. That simple phrase becomes the thread that runs through the entire conversation. Kristen takes it a step further, asking a thoughtful question: Is it really a "fear of failure" - as they saying goes - or a fear of how people will judge us after we fail? This honest and meaningful dialogue explores what it takes to face fear and move forward. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we loved recording it.

Kristen and Sylvia discuss a counterintuitive study that suggests that employees value Hope over Trust from their employers. What do they make of this, and how many off-ramps do they take to discuss other topics?

Employees aren't quitting—they're disengaging. They're showing up, but they're not present. It's called The Great Detachment, and it's killing productivity, morale, and innovation. In this episode, Sylvia and Kristen break down why employees are checking out, what leaders are getting wrong, and how to fix it. Spoiler: it's not about perks—it's about purpose, recognition, and trust. If you want a team that actually cares, you have to earn it. Tune in for real talk, tough truths, and actionable strategies to bring your workforce back to life. The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast—because shiny leadership isn't enough.

Sylvia and Kristen are back with another episode of The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, and this time, they're tackling one of the biggest leadership pitfalls—thinking you're being clear when you're not.It all started with what seemed like a simple request, but quickly turned into confusion and frustration. That moment became the perfect metaphor for leadership: when leaders have a vision but don't communicate it well, their teams are left guessing.In this episode, Sylvia and Kristen break down why assumptions lead to misalignment, how leaders unknowingly create obstacles for their teams, and what it really takes to turn vision into action.Want to lead with clarity instead of confusion? Tune in to this episode of The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast.

Our episode begins with Sylvia offering meditation advice that Kristen can get behind, and along the way we learn that bison walk into a snowstorm because they instinctively know they'll get through it faster that way. 

We haven't posted a podcast in a while. Life got in the way, but every obstacle is an opportunity. The result is Episode 42, The Reboot.

Kristen & Sylvia visit with Chris Hsiung, a former police chief and founding board member of "The Curve," a non-profit created with the goal of modernizing police culture from within the profession.

Michael Koonce is the president of H2 Strategics and a pro at helping customers adopt hydrogen as an alternative clean fuel that is profitable and good for the globe. He is known for aiding customers with whole solutions not just a single piece of equipment or delivery. His work ethic, positive attitude, business acumen and holistic approach teaches leaders on various enterprises about becoming indispensable. He is not just a global success, he is a pilot, a chef, and a darn good cribbage player.

Kristen & Sylvia discuss narcissism, how it can benefit leaders (in small doses) and how to handle leaders who have it.

Scott Thuman anchors 7News' 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts every weeknight.Whether it's from the anchor desk or out in the field, Scott has been bringing viewers in the Washington, D.C. region fair, in-depth reporting on some of the world's most critical news events for almost two decades.Over the years, his objective coverage has earned him many awards, including multiple Emmys, AP, Murrow, and Telly honors and was an integral part of a group to receive the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism.Scott spent much of the last decade as Chief Political Correspondent at the Sinclair Broadcast Group before returning to 7News in 2024. He's also a weekly contributor to the national show, Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.

In Sarah LaMont's own words: "When I graduated college with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Washington I had a hard time finding a job in my field, that is when I secured a second job at Nordstrom in Downtown Seattle as a Salesperson in the Women's Petite Department. Admittedly, I didn't think it was a real job… on my very first day I tended to a 5 feet tall woman who was overwhelmed trying to find something memorable to wear to her son's wedding. By the end of the day, not only had we found something that made her feel beautiful but had accomplished the same challenge for her husband. They were so happy I remember them tipping me $100 and told me to use it to buy myself a bottle of vodka because 'I deserved it!' This experience was eye opening to me… I always loved getting dressed and saw it as a way to express who I was and how I wanted people to see me; I cared more about body shape and proportion and how fashion could be incorporated into your every day lifestyle. While working at Nordstrom I encountered people who didn't see getting dressed as a creative expression but as a stressful hassle… and I wanted to help. I do what I love: Styling for both men and women, not just for special occasions and events, but for their Saturday mornings and casual evenings with their family and friends. I believe style should be part of your everyday life and doesn't have to be full of rules and “dry clean only” labels. I started this business so that I can help each one of my clients find function and creativity in their existing closets and never feel embarrassed to bump into people they know while out doing errands again. Why style?… Why not!"

Before she was an entrepreneur, Becky Stickley was an "intrapreneur." Her career path has been more of a jungle gym than a ladder and she has served as a children's librarian, trademark assistant, communications professional, and project manager. Throughout her career, she excelled and collected all the gold stars. Until she got “the promotion that changed everything.” In the midst of overwhelm and a massive case of imposter syndrome, Becky found coaching. It changed the way she manages her day, leads her team, and loves her family and friends. She's never looked back, and now brings all that goodness to her clients.She has more than a decade of experience managing multi-million dollar projects, brand new programs, and both in-person and remote teams. Becky combines this experience, a degree in leadership studies, and a coaching certification to help her clients navigate the evolving work landscape by gaining confidence, building resiliency, better managing relationships, and developing their unique leadership style with less overwhelm and frustration.Becky lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, daughter, dog, cat, and growing herd of cows.

After two guests cancel, Kristen & Sylvia fill the void with a fun-filled and informative conversation ranging from the lessons learned from the Adam Grant book "Think Again," to a discussion about the people in our lives, including "illuminators" and "diminishers," all brought to you by our new sponsors: Naked Attraction, Yellow Legal Pads & No. 2 Pencils, Coach and Tumi (not really).

Jennifer Gonzales is the Chief of Police of Napa, California, despite the fact that she doesn't make her bed every morning. As our chiefs Kristen and Sylvia try to understand how a person so accomplished can be so negligent toward her own bed, they are blindsided by the number of unread emails in Chief Gonzales' phone and how many snooze alarms she has set every morning. The lesson is that there are many different ways to be the right person for the job, and many different right ways to do the job. We hope you enjoy our conversation with this admitted Star Wars nerd. May the force be with you.

What began as a chat about branding and coordinating calendars devolved (evolved?) into a long conversation on a wide range of topics. Included in this discussion: cold plunging, genetalia differences, creating accountability for good habits, gut health, almond milk, breathing through your nose, the obesity epidemic in industrialized countries, Kristen shopping for a Mercedes Revel before realizing the kind of person who owns one is the exact opposite of who she is, and Sylvia the Beekeeper. It's fun, it's all over the place, and we even let Producer Ted sit at the adult table for this one. We hope you enjoy it.

Sunny Lee-Goodman is the Lead Consultant for Inclusion and Diversity with Lapin Consulting International. With over twenty-five years of experience, she is passionate about developing inclusive leaders who inspire and bring out the best in their teams. In this episode, Sunny talks a lot about trust, and the need to give it in order to receive it. Join us for coffee, tequila, and Sunny!

Naren Aryal wil always have a special place in our hearts for publishing Kristen's book Reimaging Blue. The former lawyer began his career in books two decades ago by writing a children's book for his daughter about the mascot at Virginia Tech, where he went to college. In this episode, we learn about the grueling process of writing and re-writing a manuscript, experienced first-hand by Kristen and soon to be experienced by Sylvia. Naren is CEO of Amplify Publishing Group and, for those of us who like to read, gives us hope that books on not headed toward extinction in favor of eBooks, iPads, and smart phones. Naren also answers what has become a regular question on our podcast, Do you make your bed every morning? We hope you enjoy our interesting and enjoyable conversation with Naren Aryal.

Julie Parker's entire career has led to this moment as the CEO of her own consultancy, Julie Parker Communications. With deep experience in all facets of the media industry, she is uniquely positioned to guide government agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations through the intricacies of communications training. Her roles as an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist in Washington, DC, as well as media relations director for two large police departments honed Julie's skills in providing effective, timely and accurate reporting. She is now called upon by such esteemed agencies as the Naval Postgraduate School and the FBI National Academy as a presenter and trainer. Most notably, Julie was brought in 30 days after the January 6th attack and successfully guided the United States Capitol Police through the media and social media aftermath. The transformative results did not go unnoticed as Julie and her team were doubly honored this year by the Ragan CrisisCommunication Awards in the Reputation Turnaround Campaign and Government/NGOs categories. It is just such success stories that led to a feature in the Washington Post highlighting Julie's work and the honor of providing written testimony on technology and social media for The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Alongside her team of seasoned subject matter experts, Julie continues to provide this critical service to organizations no matter their size or communication needs. Connect with Julie on X (formerly Twitter) at @JulieParkerComm and on LinkedIn.

Lieutenant Steve Goard has dedicated 21 years to working in various law enforcement assignments. He has served as a patrol officer, Field Training Officer, sexual assault detective, SWAT Team Member, Assistant Team Leader for the Sniper Team, Press Information Officer, Range Instructor, and Reality Based Training Instructor. Currently, Lieutenant Goard is assigned to patrol as a Watch Commander. Additionally, he is the manager of the Force Options Unit and the Real-Time Crime Intelligence Unit within the agency.Lieutenant Goard became interested in the sauna, fasting, and cold plunge after sustaining multiple injuries while on duty and considering retirement due to the resulting pain.In 2018, he researched the benefits of saunas and infrared saunas, leading him to experiment and ultimately purchase his own. After experiencing the benefits, Lieutenant Goard expanded his wellness routine to include cold plunges. Since then, his pain has significantly decreased, and he has been able to continue pursuing his career.Nowadays, Steve shares his experience and has encouraged other officers to experiment to see if they have similar benefits.

Every once in a while, Kristen & Sylvia like to provide our millions of listeners with a “little nibble” to bridge the gap between full episodes. Enjoy 8 minutes with our chiefs talking about making charitable assumptions.

Jezebel Bardot is Toronto's French-Canadian drag diva. Starting her career with impersonations of comedy tycoon Joan Rivers, Jezebel has modeled her stage persona around strong, inspiring women. By day, Jezebel - aka Jason when he's not in drag - works in education and has a background in Sports Psychology & Physical Education. On stage t his translates into Jezebel's characteristic heart, wit, and striking athleticism. Just like a tall glass of fine French wine, Madame Bardot serves full body, pairs well with meaty dishes and leaves a sweet aftertaste.

Jezebel Bardot is Toronto's French-Canadian drag diva. Starting her career with impersonations of comedy tycoon Joan Rivers, Jezebel has modeled her stage persona around strong, inspiring women. By day, Jezebel - aka Jason when he's not in drag - works in education and has a background in Sports Psychology & Physical Education. On stage t his translates into Jezebel's characteristic heart, wit, and striking athleticism. Just like a tall glass of fine French wine, Madame Bardot serves full body, pairs well with meaty dishes and leaves a sweet aftertaste.

Robert “Bobby” Hollis is the Deputy Chief for the Lacey Police Department and has worked in law enforcement for 23+ years. He has worked with three other agencies, spending the majority of his time with the Kent Police Department. Throughout his career he has worked as a Field Training Officer (FTO), collision investigator, Public Information officer (PIO), recruiting officer and SWAT officer. As he promoted up the ranks he supervised K9, School Resource Officers, Information Technology projects and was the Emergency Management liaison during COVID. Bobby recently completed the Executive Leadership Institute through Cal Chiefs and the Women's Leadership Institute through IACP. Bobby has is undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Master's degree in Public Administration, both earned from the University of Washington. He is married and has one son and two step daughters.

Jonae has over two decades of legal and policy experience in government, non-profit, corporate and private practice. Her most recent roles demonstrate vast experience in folding law and policies together for large scale impact. Jonae currently supports Adelante Healthcare's mission of Healthy People, Sustained by Healthy Communities. As Adelante's Chief Operations Officer, Jonae believes that sustaining healthy people and communities is grounded in sound systems and processes, as well as a commitment to community care. In doing so, she aims to collectively elevate the care and compassion given to those Adelante reaches and serves. As the Equity and Inclusion Manager for the City of Tempe, Jonae oversaw Tempe's AntiDiscrimination Ordinance and the workforce Safe Haven process, which reviewed claims of discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, and harassment. Among other things, she also spearheaded andimplemented two equity initiatives – Equity in Action and The Right to Breathe – to create measurable engagement and access outcomes for Tempe's vulnerable communities. These initiatives required the collaboration of 19 city departments, city council and external stakeholders. Before joining the City of Tempe, Jonae was the Director of Equity and Special Finance Services forChicanos Por La Causa, where she designed and implemented a program division for leveraging new federal tax legislation to bring investment and community-led development in historicallyunderrepresented neighborhoods. While at CPLC, she also laid the framework for the CPLC Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) which advocates for social justice and equity in underserved communities.Jonae's legal background ranges from tax and bankruptcy to immigration and contract work.

Kristen and Sylvia spend time in New York, encouraging a growth mindset and buying Tumi bags.

Amber R. Mondock was raised in Western Pennsylvania and attended Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, competing on the Division ll women's soccer team. Amber graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and then attended Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida. She graduated at the top of her class and in 2015 was admitted to practice law in the state of Florida. The story of Amber starting her own firm was scary in the moment but inspiring now. She specializes in three types of law: Real Estate, Business Law, and Trusts and Estate Planning (which is how she met Kristen). While Amber's professional career is impressive, one of her best accomplishments is helping Kristen become a “sporty ball” fan.

Kristen and Sylvia talk about the different kinds of criticism and how to handle it. Criticism from your allies is welcomed and even invited. Criticism from people who are not in the arena with you is worth noting - you can put it in the "huh" bag - or simply thrown away. But if you're a leader, the critics are coming for you. KZ and Syl help you prepare.

In this episode, Kristen and Sylvia visit with one of Syl's coworkers, Angelina Martin, a public information officer in the Marin County Sheriff's Office. The topics range from a donkey named Mango to a murder attempt on Angelina. It's quite a range, and our remarkable guest handles all topics with grace, honesty, and humor (when appropriate). Angelina's personal story gives her a unique kind of empathy when she shares stories from the Marin County community in her professional role. As a bonus, you will learn at the end of the episode what donkeys do.

Judge Paul Herbert is a lifelong resident of Columbus, Ohio and has been practicing law for 30 years. He and his wife Barb have raised two daughters. Judge Herbert is a graduate of The OhioState University and Capital University Law School while working and attending school at night. After a brief time in private general practice Judge Herbert joined the staff of the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office and served as a trial attorney. In 1996 he assumed the role of Clerk of the Franklin County Municipal Court where he spent the next 7 years before being elected Judge in 2003. Judge Herbert was re-elected to that position in 2009, and again in 2015. While serving as a Judge, he proposed a specialized program focusing on Human Trafficking victims who have been charged with the misdemeanor offense of solicitation. CATCH (Changing Actions to Change Habits) was started in September 2009. The results have been nothing short of miraculous.

Jessica Nowaski is a retired Deputy Police Chief from the Mountain View Police Department, where she spent 25 years. After stepping down from her post in 2021, she began Athena Leadership Coaching, which provides organizational leadership coaching and group training to help businesses, executives, and professionals achieve more effective communication skills. Jessica earned her master's degree in leadership from St. Mary's College, which included an emphasis on coaching and facilitation.

Fresh off the summit of Mount Kilmanjaro, Michael Pooley joins Kristen and Sylvia on the Hollow Bunny podcast. From his humble beginnings in a family of sheep herders living in a trailer on a Native American reservation, he has risen through the ranks to become the Chief of Police with the Apache Junction Police Department. Hear how his family's personal experience with the police has helped him become an officer his father can be proud of. Chief Pooley exemplifies leading from the heart and treating everyone with dignity.

Kristen and Sylvia reunite after a four month break from the podcast. One has been free loading and the other will not date someone who has a weird gait. That and much more in episode 17 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast.

Kristen and Sylvia discuss mentors and tormentors, with a heavy emphasis on the former. They both believe that organic mentorships are better than mentorship programs, and sometimes when trying to reach out to a potential mentor, you have to be prepared to eat humble pie. Tormentors are building brick walls in front of you. Find the strength and find a friend who will help you go around, climb, or dig under that wall, but always focus on the goal and not the obstacle. Also, learn what the most important question is after you've agreed to donate a kidney. Thanks for listening!

Sylvia and Kristen have some thoughts upon their return from being co-presenters at a conference with the LA Women Police Officers and Associates. They talk about the messages they shared and what they hoped resonated with the 800 women "and a sprinkle of dudes" who were there. Kristen big-times us with a reference to an "Ivy League study" that shows the number one regret people have at the end of their lives is that they were not true to themselves but were beholden to the expectations of others. They talk about how important it is not to compete with others - that you should be competing with yourself, leading to another gem of a quote from Sylvia: "Comparison is the thief of joy." You'll even hear how Kristen manages her response to a social media troll.

In this episode, Kristen talks about a moment during a recent presentation when a former officer experienced a moment of PTSD and how his peers responded. Also, KZ and Sylvia discuss the tragedy in Memphis when police officers beat Tyree Nichols to death. What happened in those officers' brains to cause their violent actions, and how can departments train to avoid similar tragedies. It's a heavy episode but an important conversation.

After discussing proper syrup distribution and the choice between natural versus convenient peanut butter, Kristen and Sylvia dive into a discussion about the book “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter. As our lives become more comfortable, what can - and more importantly - what should we be doing to put ourselves into uncomfortable positions? Whether that's sitting in silence for 10 minutes or having a difficult conversation, feeling that kind of discomfort consistently is beneficial in the long run. On an organizational level, Kristen and Sylvia talk about how discomfort leads to big things.

Sylvia and Kristen talk about their current work and how it relates to leadership.

Braden Bishop is a Northern California native who played several sports while growing up, before starring at the University of Washington. The Seattle Mariners drafted Braden in 2015, and he made his major league debut with the club in March 2019. While in college, he learned that his mother Suzy - a former UCLA track athlete and highly successful television producer - was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Braden launched 4mom.org in 2014 after his mother's diagnosis and continues to use his platform to honor her memory and raise money to fund Alzheimer's research. Suzy Bishop passed away in 2019.

Michelle Davey is the Deputy Chief of the Delta Police Department in British Columbia, Canada, and she is the DPD's first female officer to be named to this rank. Before joining the Delta Police, Deputy Chief Davey was a Superintendent with the Vancouver Police Department, overseeing Investigative Support Services. In her 24-year career with the VPD, she worked in operations, investigations and administration, holding a variety of leadership roles. During her time with VPD, she became a recognized subject matter expert in mental health issues, building innovative partnerships to help ensure those experiencing mental health challenges were not criminalized. Deputy Chief Davey has a strong background in administration, with several accomplishments including overseeing the development of the 2017-2021 VPD Strategic Plan, initiating a new Cybercrime Unit and acting as a Discipline Authority in Police Act matters. She played a key role facilitating the creation of the BC Women in Law Enforcement Association, and is a passionate supporter of the Cops for Cancer program. She works at a national level on matters of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Canadian policing, promoting diversity at all ranks. Deputy Chief Davey has a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of the Fraser Valley. She is an accredited Gold Commander for public order incidents, and is a sought-after speaker on a range of public safety topics.

It's been a minute, so we're playing catchup on this episode and going with no guest. We'll hear about Sylvia running the Chicago marathon, how her new job is going, and Kristen's speaking engagements to help prevent mass shootings. They even let their producer Ted ride in the backseat for the whole trip. And if you want to know the best way to eat an apple, you're at the right place.

Andrea Darles is an emmy-nominated TV and radio reporter. Born in Oak Lawn and raised in Orland Park, Darlas joined WGN in 1997 after four years at WJOL 1340-AM and the former WLLI in Joliet. Starting in 2011 she worked part-time as a free-lance reporter for WGN-Channel 9.In addition to winning two Peter Lisagor Awards for her radio and television work from the Chicago Headline Club and five Silver Dome Awards for best newscast from the Illinois Broadcasters Association, Darlas was named best reporter by the IBA Silver Dome Awards in 2017.After more than 21 years as a journalist, Andrea started in 2019 as senior director of constituent engagement at her alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She leads the university's engagement and outreach efforts throughout the metropolitan area and serve as public affairs and media liaison.She's added podcasting to her projects. Chicago's WLS 890 AM added “Show and Tell with Andrea Darlas.” The weekly podcast showcases various Windy City attractions, including cultural experiences, plays, museums, and musicals. In 2019, Darlas was inducted into the WGN Radio Walk of Fame.

Dr. Obed Magny is a former police officer with nearly two decades of experience. An admitted jock in college who wasn't very interested in academics, he has embraced education, and acquired his Masters and Doctorate degrees while still a police officer. His intention was to put himself in a position to create opportunities for himself, and not wait for the opportunities to come to him. As the Founder and CEO of Magny Leadership, Dr. Magny is an executive coach and leadership speaker. His expertise includes areas such as motivation, job satisfaction, diversity, trauma, DEI, and emotional intelligence.

If you're a fan of our podcast, you can imagine how many interesting tangents Kristen and Sylvia take during the course of a routine conversation. Recently, while waiting for one of our guests, we decided to use our time together to create a "Little Nibble," much shorter than a regular podcast but hopefully something that will help fill your bunny. We'll publish these randomly to give fans of the podcast a little something from KZ & Syl in between regular episodes.

Matty Fiorenza is square-jawed and ruggedly handsome with tattoo sleeves down both arms - “twisted steel and sex appeal” as Sylvia says - but he's also a vulnerable and fallible recovering alcoholic who is willing to share his story to help people like him. He's been a firefighter paramedic in Anaheim for 21 years. About 10 years into the job, he began dealing with anxiety and stress and was soon after diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). He helped start a successful first responder-only trauma center in Newport Beach and serves actively as a mentor to first responders.

It's another full episode as Kristen, Sylvia, and guest Michele Freeman tackle subjects ranging from suicide prevention to meditation to someone's dislike for yellow M&Ms. Dr. Michele Freeman began her career as a corrections officer in Las Vegas in 1992. In 2011, she was elevated to the position of Chief of the City of Las Vegas Public Safety, and she served in that role until her retirement in 2020. Since "retiring," Michele earned a doctorate's degree in public policy from the University of Nevada. She attended the FBI National Academy with Kristen, where they bonded over Twizzlers, tank tops, and bangs.

Kristen and Sylvia discuss women in policing and why not enough of them gravitate to the profession. Both former police chiefs, they discuss feeling the need to do more than their male counterparts to advance, how gender roles may still affect the way women approach the profession, and what can be done to get more women to not only join the profession but also aspire to leadership positions.

From a chance meeting on a Southwest flight from Arizona to Chicago, Bob Peshak met Sylvia and a friendship immediately blossomed, although Kristen was a little suspicious at the beginning. Bob is the General Manager of Envirosure, which is an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance service company based in Tempe, Arizona. As Sylvia learned on the airplane, and as you will learn, Bob has an infectious and enthusiastic personality, and the number one thing he looks for when he hires people ... is happiness. He hires happy people.

Kristen and Sylvia visit with Carmen Navarro Gercone, a Chicago native who has worked in law enforcement since 1994. Carmen was sworn-in as a Deputy Sheriff for the Cook County Sheriff's Office. During her tenure, she was promoted through the ranks to become the first Assistant Executive Director for Court Services. She led a department of approximately 1,100 sworn officers and 200 civilian employees with around-the-clock operations, including the service of orders of protections, evictions, and the security of the courthouses throughout Cook County. Recently, Carmen lost a series of court battles that will prevent her from being a candidate on the ballot for Sheriff of Cook County.

Some leaders are full of substance, and others are hollow bunnies. Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir have had both as they rose through the ranks to eventually become police chiefs in their respective departments. They'll share what they've learned and talk with other industry leaders in conversations that will frequently devolve from focused to fun.