The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir

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Jun 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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46 recent

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.

March 28, 2026Episode 6438 min

Why Do Smart People Stay in Bad Situations?

In this episode of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moir (aka "Sugar Britches") dive deep into the "Competence Trap"—the psychological phenomenon that keeps smart, capable people tethered to broken organizations and unfulfilling relationships. Moving beyond the "hallway conversations" where honesty usually hides, they explore the concept of "accepted misery" and the fear that prevents high-performers from becoming beginners again. From the "moment of reckoning" where awareness demands action to the distinction between technical fixes and adaptive change, Kristen and Sylvia challenge listeners to examine where they are playing small and why they are choosing the comfort of a known struggle over the uncertainty of a new life.

March 13, 2026Episode 6335 min

Books, Bites, and Middle Management

In this episode of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, Kristen Ziman and Sylvia Moyer talk about one of the most influential and overlooked roles in any organization: the middle manager. Well, eventually they talk about this. Prior to that, they took a couple of off-ramps to discuss public speaking and reading books. When they return to their main topic, Kristen and Sylvia have a lively discussion about influence, accountability, and why the real engine of any organization often sits right in the middle.

February 27, 2026Episode 6241 min

Neutrality is not Neutral

Episode 62 explores why leaders who avoid taking a stance often unintentionally reinforce the status quo and weaken trust. Kristen and Sylvia argue that silence in moments of consequence is not peaceful — it’s permissive. Through stories from law enforcement and organizational life, they unpack how neutrality can look like calm but is often self-protection that drains energy, mutes critical thinking, and signals an unwillingness to make hard decisions, leaving others to fill the vacuum. Running alongside the conversation is Sylvia’s heroic battle with a cough that keeps trying to filibuster the episode — a scratchy-throated reminder that even when your voice is under attack, using it still matters.

February 13, 2026Episode 6135 min

A Flaw disguised as a Virtue

Episode 61 centers on the quiet but powerful challenge of asking for help, as Kristen and Sylvia reflect on moments when support arrived by chance rather than intention—and why that happens so often for leaders. Through deeply personal stories, they unpack the barriers that keep people silent: identity tied to self-reliance, fear of burdening others, shame, control, pride, and long-ingrained beliefs that vulnerability equals weakness. Framed as a “flaw disguised as a virtue,” not asking for help robs others of the purpose and meaning that comes from being there for someone. The episode challenges listeners to rethink strength, detach identity from role, ask earlier rather than at a breaking point, and adopt a simple, courageous practice—identify one trusted person and ask, “Can you help me think this through?”—as an act of leadership in action.

January 30, 2026Episode 6048 min

Competetive Suffering

In this episode of the Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast, Kristen and Sylvia kick off a “fresh start” conversation about the communication habits leaders should leave behind. Using a recent article as a springboard, they explore how over-reliance on AI, hyper-efficiency, and passive behaviors like leaving people “on read” quietly erode trust and connection. With humor and candor, Kristen and Sylvia make the case for imperfect, human communication—embracing authenticity, warmth, and intention over polish—reminding leaders that credibility is built not through templates and tools, but through presence, clarity, and real human fingerprints.