The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast

22. Confronting the Critics

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.

21. What Do Donkeys Do? with guest Angela Martin

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.

20. What Happened To You? - Judge Paul Herbert

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.

19. Take Your MEDS - Jessica Nowaski

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.

18. Listen to the Mountain - Michael Pooley

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.

17. Gait Snob & Free Loader

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.

16. Mentors and Tormentors

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!

15. Thelma & Louise

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.

14. Between Stimulus and Response Lies Choice

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.

13. Waffles, Peanut Butter, and a Broken Nose

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.