PWH 10. MOUSE vs. LION: Strengthen These Characteristics to Help You Lead the Conversation

In today’s episode, I dive into a powerful concept I recently learned from The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring Evy Poumpouras. We explore the four conversation archetypes, with a deep focus on the mouse vs. the lion—two contrasting styles of communication.

Are you someone who tends to sit back, listen, and absorb? Or do you take the lead, guiding conversations and sharing your voice?

If you've ever struggled with speaking up, leading conversations, or valuing your voice, this episode is for you!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How our communication styles resemble different animals
• The difference between the mouse (listener) and the lion (leader)
• How The Midnight Library inspired self-reflection on regrets and decision-making
• How I trained myself to be more vocal and confident in conversations
• The importance of balancing learning and action
• Why podcasting is the perfect space to step into your lion leadership

Resources & Links Mentioned

• The Diary of a CEO episode featuring Evy Pomporus
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Allie Reeves Podcast on 4 Money-Making Habits

Join the Conversation

Did this episode resonate with you? Send me a message on Instagram and let me know—do you lean more into  the mouse or lion?

CONTACT & MORE RESOURCES

Project Start Your Podcast Workbook

Let’s Connect!
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Podcast Inspo:

Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

All In with Allie

Always Supporting:

Planned Parenthood

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Transcript

Introduction

0:00
Today's episode is going to cover something that I just learned in The Diary of a CEO podcast, where he interviewed Evy Pomporus. She shared that during conversations, we fall into different animal characteristics, and today we're going to talk about the mouse versus the lion specifically. I'm so excited—let's get into it!

Welcome to Podcast With Her, where we publish value-driven podcast episodes every week together. We have fun and learn so much while we do it.

Hi, I'm Lexi, and my mission is to teach women how to create an impactful podcast and establish authority in their professional fields. That’s what Podcast With Her is here to help you do—speak confidently, publish consistently, and create value with your voice.

So consider this your accountability check. Where are you on your podcast journey? If you’re just beginning, that’s great! The first three episodes are here to help you get started. Already making episodes? Perfect. The rest will keep you motivated to keep going.

Let’s get into this episode.

Book Reflections: Lessons from Fiction

Last night, I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses series—oh my gosh, if you haven’t read this, it’s so good! It was my introduction to smutty fantasy, and it was everything and more. The end of the book? Absolutely loved it. Nesta and her side of the story, how powerful she and her friends became—it was incredibly inspiring.

After wrapping up that book, I started another one this morning called The Midnight Library. It has started out as such a timely story because I’m making lots of life decisions right now. If you’re in the same boat, this one might be for you too.

The main character, Nora, enters the Midnight Library, where she can pull out books that show different versions of her life based on decisions she could have made. The first book she’s handed is a Book of Regrets—each chapter representing a year of her life filled with regrets. When you read through these, it’s so relatable.

Now, typically, I’m the type of person who says, I made my decision, I’m not looking back, no regrets. We’re moving forward. But reading this from Nora’s perspective, I realized—I do have regrets. There are choices I wish I had made differently, actions I wish I had taken, and ways I wish I had moved through the world.

Personal Reflection: The Power of Communication

This morning, I wrote down my own regrets in my journal, and you know what? A lot of them have to do with communication—miscommunication or a lack of communication.

• Not using my voice to my fullest
• Not believing in myself more
• Not staying consistent—especially with podcasting and content creation

I love podcasting so much. It feels so good to put valuable content into the world, but when I stop, I realize how hard it is to start again.

Regrets about not gathering people into my life. Regrets about not opening my heart more. Looking at my journal, I noticed a pattern—so much of my regret had to do with not valuing my voice.

And that’s why I show up here. That’s why I retrain myself, and why I hope this podcast helps you do the same.

The Mouse vs. The Lion

Let’s talk about the podcast episode I listened to today. It was on The Diary of a CEO—I’ll link it in the show notes.

Evy Pomporus, a former secret agent, now does a lot of training on reading people and having influence. In the two-and-a-half-hour episode, she talks about four different animal characteristics we embody during conversations:

1. The Mouse
2. The Lion
3. The T-Rex
4. The Monkey

Each has positive and negative traits, but today, I want to focus on the mouse vs. the lion because this really clicked for me—and I hope it clicks for you too.

The mouse listens, learns, and gathers information. This is great for receiving knowledge.

The lion, on the other hand, leads the conversation, teaches, and puts information out into the world.

From Mouse to Lion: My Journey

Back in 2017, before I started my podcast, a friend described me as mousy. That shook me. My inner mind is so loud—constantly analyzing, thinking, talking to itself. But I realized... outwardly, I was mousy. I stayed in the comfort zone of learning, listening, and absorbing information instead of leading and being heard.

Stepping into the lion’s role felt vulnerable—to be seen and heard. I used to feel uncomfortable when my friends even listened to me tell a story.

But then, I started my podcast. I taught myself how to be out loud. Every day, through working at restaurants, bartending, and having conversations with strangers, I practiced adding to the conversation instead of just listening.

It wasn’t natural for me at all. Even now, people sometimes call me quiet. But I don’t see it that way anymore. I know my voice has value, and I share it when I choose to. I no longer force myself into conversations I don’t want to be part of—just for the sake of fitting in.

Balancing the Mouse and the Lion

The mouse gathers inspiration. The lion shares it.

Today, I also listened to an episode of Allie Reeves’ podcast about her four money-making habits. Her fourth habit? Inspiration. Gathering knowledge and learning is a safe place—it’s comfortable. But we can’t get stuck there.

It’s harder to take action. But when I consistently step into my lion energy, I connect with people who want to learn as well.

We can’t get stuck in the mouse trap—just consuming, consuming, consuming. We have to practice being a lion, guiding conversations, and putting ourselves out there.

And podcasting? It’s a great place to do that. No interruptions. Just your voice. Your message. Your expertise.

Embracing Lion Leadership

9:12
Sharing is caring.

It’s not about giving away your toys—it’s about sharing opportunities for people to connect with your mind, your knowledge, your expertise, and what you’re able to teach them.

A healthy lion also listens and learns from a mouse. Good conversations, good podcast interviews—those come from the balance between the two.

The best podcast hosts ask great questions, listen, and then flip back into lion mode to share their own perspective and guide the conversation.

When you embrace your lion leadership, you recognize that you’re good at something—and you lead others in that area. You’re not just setting an example; you’re teaching. That’s when you truly understand your skill level.

Final Thoughts

I’m so glad you were here to listen to this. Just a short and sweet dose of motivation today.

Try stepping into your lion leadership—lead a conversation, let people into your space, and give others the opportunity to connect with your knowledge.

Be the expert in your professional field.

Until the next episode, you know where to find all the resources and ways to connect with me—check the show notes.

Until then, go and value your voice.

Cheers. 🎙️