Together at the Top

California lobbyist, former state and local government leader, and Aspen Rodel fellow Kristin Olsen-Cate joins Nick on the podcast to share what it looks like to lead with civility in an era of toxic politics. From moderating the recent Central Valley gubernatorial debate to building a bipartisan dialogue program through California Rodel, Kristin offers a window into a career spent at the center of the biggest issues, and the convictions that have kept her grounded along the way.Together, Nick and Kristin explore what she calls the "exhausted majority" and her belief that real change happens not at the Capitol, but at dinner tables and in neighborhoods. They discuss her path from the Modesto Planning Commission to the State Assembly to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, the realities women still face in leadership, and the "don't tread on me" moment that taught her how to reshape perception. The conversation also covers stress, family, and her 2026 word, rest, alongside her enduring belief that "clear is kind" and that hard work paired with grace can still move mountains.Episode Highlights:00:00 - Introduction02:32 - Moderating a Bipartisan Gubernatorial Debate in the Central Valley06:35 - The Exhausted Majority and Choosing Rest as Her 2026 Word10:37 - From Capital Fellows to a Career in California Public Policy14:03 - Returning to Modesto, Planning Commission, and the City Council Run17:00 - Outworking the Field to Win a State Assembly Seat22:40 - Women in Leadership and the Power of Being Asked25:23 - Never Let Them See You Sweat and Reshaping First Impressions30:03 - Clear is Kind: Civility, Smiles, and Choosing Joy32:20 - Trust, Relationships, and What Makes a Great Lobbyist36:39 - California Rodel and Transformational Change One Conversation at a Time49:14 - Team Building, Stress Management, and Failing ForwardKey Takeaways:"We don't need to be people's greatest critics. We need to be their greatest encouragers.""Clear is kind. We can treat each other with kindness and with respect while at the same time being adamant about our policy positions.""Walk through the doors that open and don't get too disappointed over the doors that close, and you might be surprised what's right in front of you.""Relationships are primary. Everything else is derivative.""True transformational change in a society and in people's lives happens one conversation at a time, one dinner table at a time, one neighborhood at a time.""Goals are just a wish without a plan.""Never apologize for your kids.""Failures are fingertips on the way to achievements.""We need to lead through politics and have friendships that are more important than political disagreements.""Choose joy. You can always find a reason to smile and make somebody else's day better."Links:Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/Kristin Olsen-Cate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-olsen-cate-41b2446California Strategies: https://calstrat.com/