The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Some leaders are full of substance, and others are hollow bunnies. Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir have experienced 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.

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51 recent

August 14, 2026Episode 7447 min

Promotion by Personality

In our latest episode, Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir tackle the "selection problem" in modern organizations, debating whether leaders are too often promoted based on surface-level traits like charisma, confidence, and visibility rather than true substance. Using their signature "hollow bunny" metaphor to describe leaders who look the part but lack depth, Kristen argues that standard interview panels routinely reward high-visibility personalities over quiet competence and team-building capability. Sylvia offers pushback by introducing the Ivey Business School Leader Character Framework, emphasizing that robust leadership evaluation must test multidimensional character traits - such as judgment, humanity, courage, and temperance - under pressure. Ultimately, Kristen and Sylvia examine how leaders frequently promote others based on shared personal values, offering a compelling look at how organizations can look beyond charm to assess authentic character and capability.

July 31, 2026Episode 7343 min

The Cliff is Not Optional

In this episode of The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast , former police chiefs Sylvia Moir and Kristen Ziman explore personal transformation and leadership after stepping away from executive roles, drawing on concepts from Jim Collins, David Brooks, and Colin Powell. They break down a four-part framework for navigating life's major transitions: confronting the Cliff (defining, trajectory-altering life events), navigating the Fog (the uncertain period after a crisis that demands disciplined patience rather than hasty action), tending the Fire (the enduring internal purpose that outlasts any job title), and cultivating Self-Knowledge (continually re-evaluating one's identity across different seasons of life). Ultimately, the hosts highlight that true fulfillment comes from separating your personal worth from your position, using resilience and inner purpose to guide your next chapter.

July 17, 2026Episode 7237 min

Fantasize About Pop-Tarts

In Episode 72, co-hosts Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir dive into the psychology of workplace productivity by unpacking Parkinson’s Law – the famous adage that work expands to fill the time allocated for its completion. Trading witty banter about childhood Trapper Keepers and questionable snack choices, the duo dissects how this law manifests in organizations, particularly through "artificial busyness" and bureaucratic bloat (illustrated by the humorous trap of managers hiring multiple assistants who simply create more work for one another). To combat this, they connect Parkinson's Law to the Law of Triviality (where committees obsess over minor details they all understand) and the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule), offering actionable leadership strategies to trim the fat. Ultimately, they argue that modern leaders should use constraint as a tool for impact – recommending shorter deadlines, breaking large projects into bite-sized milestones, replacing hour-long calendar blocks with highly structured 15-minute syncs, and focusing strictly on outcomes rather than the illusion of being busy.

July 3, 2026Episode 7142 min

Evolution of Leadership

In Episode 71 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast , Kristem and Sylvia examine the historical shifts in leadership theories. Using the context of the United States' 250th anniversary, the co-hosts debate whether leaders are born or made by tracing the evolution from the "Great Man" trait theory to modern behavioral and situational frameworks. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds in law enforcement, they challenge the "Peter Principle" and the corporate habit of promoting individuals solely based on technical test scores rather than human and conceptual competencies. Ultimately, Kristen & Sylvia emphasize that true, impactful leadership requires an agile, situationally fluid approach that bridges the vital gap between formal institutional authority and earned cultural legitimacy.

June 19, 2026Episode 7039 min

Intellectual Tramp Stamp

In Episode 70 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast , co-hosts and former police chiefs Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir take aim at the ubiquitous corporate advice to "always be yourself," arguing that modern notions of leadership authenticity have devolved into an oversold, diluted word salad. While acknowledging that vulnerability can build trust, they contend that unfiltered "authenticity" often serves as a convenient shield for poor behavior, self-indulgence, or a total lack of emotional regulation. Drawing from their own high-stakes law enforcement careers – including the distinct ways they maintained composure and managed teams during the intense pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic – Kristen & Sylvia assert that true leadership demands situational behavior and strict emotional control to protect the crew and serve the mission. Interspersing this heavy leadership critique with sharp wit, banter about a live tour, and a debate over getting matching ampersand tattoos, the hosts deliver a definitive bottom line for the modern leader: your core values must remain fixed, but your behavior and delivery must adapt to what the situation requires.

June 5, 2026Episode 6942 min

Flattery Will Get You Everywhere, But Should It?

Episode 69 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast features former police chiefs Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir diving into the complicated relationship between leadership, influence, and authenticity through the lens of Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer’s book The Power Playbook. The conversation explores everything from executive presence and personal branding to networking and mentorship, while also challenging some of Pfeffer’s more controversial ideas about flattery, image, and apologies in leadership. Throughout the episode, Kristen and Sylvia wrestle with the tension between perception and substance, ultimately arguing that strong leadership is built on credibility, self-awareness, and the willingness to own mistakes while continuing to grow.

May 24, 2026Episode 6844 min

Shirts vs. Skins

In Episode 68 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership podcast, "Shirts vs Skins," former police chiefs Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir dive into the ultimate trial of leadership: what to do when something goes wrong on your watch and the spotlight lands squarely on you. Rejecting the instinctual urge to protect the ego or retreat into "hollow" silence, they challenge leaders to face public scrutiny with thick skin and unshakeable character. Through a breakdown of their own decision-making frameworks – and a deep dive into an iconic pressroom scene from The American President – Kristen and Sylvia lay down a powerful blueprint for confronting accusations, distinguishing between mere noise and genuine accountability, and avoiding the trap of professional obfuscation. Tune in to learn how true leaders stop managing the damage and start leading the narrative with courage, truth, and decisive action.

May 8, 202632 min

This Ain't No Dumpster Fire

In this episode of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, Kristen and Sylvia explore why some leaders feel their agency is slipping and begin to withdraw under constant pressure, scrutiny, and uncertainty. They argue that while brief moments of retreat can be healthy, chronic disengagement harms organizations and often shows up as avoiding hard decisions, playing it safe, or becoming reactive. The conversation emphasizes that leadership today requires courage, resilience, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Through stories and examples, they challenge leaders to recognize when withdrawal is happening, examine what they may be avoiding, and recommit to shaping culture instead of hiding from the choices that define it.

April 24, 2026Episode 6639 min

Is Obsolescence A Word?

In Episode 66 of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, Producer Ted unexpectedly stays on mic and camera—rarely heard but fittingly present—adding to the group’s candid, unscripted dynamic as Kristen and Sylvia dive into a core leadership question: when is it your responsibility to confront someone whose behavior is damaging their reputation or harming others? Beneath the humor and back-and-forth, the conversation wrestles with “open secrets,” the tendency to avoid hard conversations due to fear or self-interest, and the moral gray areas around credibility, relationships, and firsthand knowledge. They explore real-world examples, including public figures and workplace dynamics, to highlight how silence can enable harmful behavior, while also acknowledging the risks of speaking up. Ultimately, the episode lands on a clear challenge: leaders—and really anyone—must develop the judgment and courage to step in when it matters, especially when others are being harmed, recognizing that while outcomes aren’t guaranteed, the responsibility to act often is.

April 10, 2026Episode 6541 min

Low-Key Secondhand Anxiety

In this episode of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, former police chiefs Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir use a chaotic, uncomfortable round of golf to explore a bigger question: how do you know when it’s time to leave—whether in a situation, a relationship, or a leadership role? Through candid storytelling and reflection, they unpack the tendency to “stay too long,” often driven by fear, identity, or a desire to be kind, and examine how that choice can impact both personal well-being and others. The conversation expands into leadership, highlighting the responsibility to build a strong bench, avoid clinging to power, and recognize when staying serves self over mission. Ultimately, they challenge listeners to be honest with themselves, noting that true leadership is measured not by how long you stay, but by what happens after you leave.