The Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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. 

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 Crisis

Communication 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.