

In Confidence with Lisa Sun: A Gravitas Podcast
Lisa Sun
What would happen if you let go of fear, stepped off the sidelines, and jumped boldly into the game of life? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking here on In Confidence. Hosted by Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of Gravitas, bestselling author, and confidence expert, this is your go-to space for personal growth, resilience, and stepping into your power.
Because what we share in confidence helps us grow In Confidence.
Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts & follow @GravitasNewYork @LisaLSun
Transcripts: GravitasNewYork.com
Suggestions or questions? Email us at InConfidence@GravitasNewYork.com
Because what we share in confidence helps us grow In Confidence.
Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts & follow @GravitasNewYork @LisaLSun
Transcripts: GravitasNewYork.com
Suggestions or questions? Email us at InConfidence@GravitasNewYork.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 1, 2025 • 1h 24min
Episode 26: What It Really Takes to Make a Career Pivot with Nikkia Reveillac
Career pivots can feel overwhelming, but moments of uncertainty are often turning points. Whether you're stuck in a role that no longer fits, scared to take the leap, or navigating a change you didn’t choose, these crossroads offer a chance to grow in new and meaningful ways.
In this episode of In Confidence, Nikkia Reveillac—former professional dancer turned corporate leader at Netflix and Twitter, now entrepreneur and speaker—joins Lisa to reflect on the mindset, courage, and strategy behind her major career pivots. Each transition has helped her begin breaking free from her cage, and now she’s sharing the insights that have guided her along the way.
Highlights from this episode:
How to grieve a career shift without getting stuck in the past
Why taking a pause can lead to better decisions about what’s next
A bold approach to pivoting industries: a talk on resumes and how to stand out from the rest
Your next chapter may feel uncertain, but it could also be the best one yet. So break from your cage.
00:00 Introduction
06:35 Meet Nikkia Reveillac
19:50 The Pivot Conversation Begins
20:27 First Pivot: From Need to Opportunity
26:26 Grieving Dance and Finding Abundance
31:40 Getting Fired From Twitter
39:34 When Feedback Reflects Culture
49:20 Laid Off Without Severance: What Now?
55:11 How to Pivot: Skills, Experimentation, Outreach
1:00:28 Staying Open to What's Next
1:05:06 Hire for Potential, Not Pedigree
1:06:43 Calming the Inner Critic
1:10:48 Breaking Out of the Cage
1:16:41 Sweet Exhaustion: Knowing the Work Still Fits
1:21:25 What’s Next for Nikkia
1:22:11 Outro
1:23:16 Disclaimer
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 29, 2025 • 23min
Episode 25: Feedback Is a Gift: How to Ask for, Give, and Receive It with Confidence
What if the conversation you’ve been avoiding could be the one that helps you grow most?
In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa breaks down the skill of feedback: how to ask for it, how to give it, and how to receive it with openness and grace. Feedback can feel like dynamite or a gift and your mindset makes the difference. With stories from the workplace and personal life, Lisa gives a practical, trust-based roadmap to feedback that builds relationships, not resentment.
What you’ll learn:
A simple, effective way to ask for feedback that gets real answers
How to give feedback with clarity, care, and purpose
The four-step formula that makes feedback easier and more productive
How to receive feedback without spiraling and actually grow from it
Feedback isn’t always easy, but it’s always a chance to show up for ourselves and each other. For access to the downloadable PDFs for this episode, head to our website, GravitasNewYork.com.
00:00 Intro: Giving, Asking, and Receiving Feedback
02:20 Feedback Is a Gift + Lisa’s Story
03:34 Asking for Feedback: “What’s One Thing I Could Do Better?”
06:33 Leave Nothing to Mystery: Real-World Example
09:36 Giving Feedback: Everyone Starts with an A
11:00 What Great Feedback Looks Like vs. What It Doesn’t
13:41 Lisa’s Formula: 4 Steps to Give Clear, Constructive Feedback
14:40 Feedback in Practice: Personal and Work Examples
18:23 Receiving Feedback: Listen Without Defensiveness
21:07 Responding with Trust, Empathy, and Understanding
22:34 Outro
23:03 Disclaimer
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 19min
Episode 24: How to Ask For a Raise or Promotion with Meggie Palmer, Part 2
Whether you're negotiating for a raise, a new title, or better work-life balance, this episode is your tactical roadmap. In Part 2 of this series, Meggie Palmer joins Lisa to break down what to say, how to say it, and most importantly, how to believe you deserve it.
Prepare for any outcome. Every negotiation ends in Yes, No, or Maybe.
Define your Wish, Want, and Walk figures before you walk into the conversation.
Ask for more than money. Salary is just one part of your total life P&L.
A No today does not mean No forever. Follow up, get creative, and stay in the conversation.
Every negotiation sets a precedent. When you ask for more, you help normalize it for everyone who comes after you.
Want to learn more from Meggie Palmer?
Join the PepTalkHer community
Download the free PepTalkHer appG
et your own set of Career Cards
AS SEEN IN THE EPISODE
From Our Studio to Your Closet
The Maverick Tee (Emmeline Pankhurst)
01:05 Meet Meggie Palmer: Founder of PepTalkHer
02:18 Why Meggie Created PepTalkHer and Her Mission to Close the Pay Gap
19:35 Why We Struggle to Ask for More and How to Reframe It
30:10 Yes, No, Maybe: The Three Possible Outcomes to Plan For
31:45 Wish, Want, Walk: Define Your Salary Boundaries
35:41 Beyond Salary: Non-Monetary Benefits and Your Total Life P&L
46:55 Keep Your Receipts: Why Documentation Matters
52:29 Advocate for More: Not Just for You but for Others Too
56:06 When the Answer Is Still No: Hard Choices and Next Steps
1:00:02 When Your Boss’s Narrative Doesn’t Match Yours
1:05:58 Negotiating as a Freelancer or in the Gig Economy
1:10:15 Meggie’s Wish: Normalize Transparency Around Money
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 22, 2025 • 24min
Episode 23: How to Ask For a Raise or Promotion, Part 1
Ever felt ready for more responsibility, recognition, or compensation, but held back from asking? In this solo episode of In Confidence, Lisa shares a powerful reframe: asking for a raise or promotion isn’t about demanding. It’s about declaring your worth. Drawing from her Gravitas superpower framework, she breaks down how to lead the conversation with clarity, strategy, and self-belief.
This conversation sparked so much interest that we decided to turn it into a two-part series. Stay tuned for Part Two with negotiation expert Meggie Palmer, where we dive even deeper into tactical tips, scripts, and strategies.
In Part 1, you’ll learn:
How to reframe fear of asking into a leadership moment
What to prepare for the three raise and promotion scenarios:
A title change with no money
A pay increase without changing your role
A promotion that comes with both more responsibility and more pay
The next step in your career starts with a single conversation. Let’s make sure you’re ready for it.
00:00 Intro
01:09 The Reframe
05:10 The Three Scenarios We're Exploring
06:04 Title Change With No Pay Increase
13:25 A Pay Increase Without Changing Your Role
18:14 A Promotion With a Pay Increase
21:22 Final Thoughts
22:36 Outro
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 8min
Episode 22: The Secret to Looking Good on Camera with Peter Hurley
The secret to looking good on camera isn’t about being flawless. It’s about capturing a moment you’ll want to remember. That’s what world-renowned headshot photographer Peter Hurley has learned after two decades behind the lens. Lighting is important, but it’s the memory the photo holds that matters most.
On this episode of In Confidence, Peter shares why so many of us fear the camera, how to quiet the inner critic, and what it really takes to feel good in front of the lens. You’ll also hear his five go-to tips for being photogenic in any setting. And if you want to see those tips in action, this episode is one to watch.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The mindset behind photogenic confidence
How to build trust in front of the lens and in life
Why self-doubt shows up the moment the camera does
Why candid, unpolished photos often capture the real you
So don’t skip the photo. It might become your favorite memory.
00:00 Intro
00:40 Meet Peter Hurley
07:37 Pivots and Opportunity Mindset
11:53 Peter's Purpose
13:50 Battling Perfectionism
19:20 What Makes a Great Portrait
21:46 Why People Fear the Camera
24:03 Inner Critic + Building Trust
31:42 Tip #1: Get The Jawline Out
32:20 Trust Comes From Expertise
41:04 Tip #2: Squinching
42:58 More Tips to Get the Best Photo
46:39 Capturing Moments
53:36 Let Your Subconscious Shine Through
55:18 Ideal Camera Angles
59:46 Final Thoughts
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 15, 2025 • 27min
Episode 21: How to Reset After a Job Loss
What happens when your title is stripped away, your inbox goes quiet, and your Monday morning feels like a void? In this deeply personal episode of In Confidence, Lisa opens up about her own experience being fired as a startup CEO and what came next. Whether you've been laid off, restructured out, or let go, Lisa shares emotional insights, mindset shifts, and practical strategies to help you move forward.
You’ll learn:
What happens in your brain and body after a professional loss
How to quiet your inner critic and confront shame
Ways to channel your strengths and maintain momentum
How to redefine success based on resilience, not your resume
If this hasn’t happened to you, it’s probably happened to someone you know and care about. Share this episode with them and remind them (or yourself): your job doesn’t define your worth.
00:00 Intro
01:20 Lisa's Story of Being Fired
07:16 What Happens When There Is a Job Loss
09:21 The Inner Critic Triggered
12:59 Shift Your Mindset and the Self-Sustaining Superpower
16:29 Have Your Shame Buddy
17:33 Don’t Lose Momentum
20:55 Have a Plan
21:40 Redefine Success
23:12 Recognize Your Resourcefulness
24:24 Final Thought and Success Story
26:13 Outro
26:59 Disclaimer
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 11, 2025 • 46min
Episode 20: Heal Your Busy Brain Before You Burn Out with Dr. Romie Mushtaq
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. It’s a brain and body stuck in survival mode.
In this powerful episode of In Confidence, Dr. Romie Mushtaq, brain doctor, Chief Wellness Officer, and bestselling author of The Busy Brain Cure, joins Lisa for a candid conversation about how stress rewires your brain, why so many of us are operating in "busy brain" mode, and how to heal using real science.
What you’ll get from this episode:
-How to decode your Busy Brain Score and what it reveals about your stress levels
-The difference between chronic stress and burnout (and why it matters)
-A science-backed morning ritual to reset your nervous system
-Why hope is a measurable mindset and a leadership superpower
Walk away with practical tools to calm your mind, protect your energy, and move forward with purpose.
00:00 Intro
00:35 Meet Dr. Romie Mushtaq
00:58 Dr Romie's Story: Burnout, Illness, and Finding Purpose
03:00 The Busy Brain Cure: Why She Wrote It
07:14 Understanding Your "Brain Score" and the Busy Brain Quiz
09:20 Busy Brain vs Burnout
10:43 Neuroscience of Storytelling and Self-Talk
14:49 The Importance of Morning Rituals
22:16 Burnout: Where to Begin
24:05 Diet is a Four Letter Curse Word
27:29 Busy Brain Lab Tests
29:18 The Science of Hope
37:12 Is Working 24/7 The Only Path to Success?
42:28 Final Thoughts and Questions
44:49 Outro
45:57 Disclaimer
Want to learn more from Dr. Romie?
Take the Busy Brain Test
Get her book The Busy Brain Cure
Visit her website
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

Jul 8, 2025 • 34min
Episode 19: How to Strengthen Every Relationship in Your Life
In our first episode of Season 2, Lisa shares why trust is the next big idea she’s exploring—drawing from two decades of consulting, leadership, and personal reflection. You’ll learn why trust is often fragile, how our brains process betrayal more intensely than connection, and her four-part framework to help you turn trust into an intentional skill set in every area of your life.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why trust is the foundation of strong relationships
How to turn trust into a teachable, practical skill
The 4 components of trust: Reliability, Congruence, Acceptance, and Openness
A self-assessment to help you reflect and rebuild trust in any relationship
This season, we’re building the trust muscle and it starts here.
00:00 Intro
01:41 Why Lisa Is Passionate About Trust
05:55 Trust Is Everywhere
07:34 Why Trust Matters
11:30 The Trust Deficit
13:46 The Neuroscience of Trust and Betrayal
17:46 The Iceberg Model of Trust
18:50 Lisa's 4 Components of Trust
24:01 Trust Assessment Exercise
27:41 Real-Life Examples (Work and Personal)
30:43 From Transactional to Transformational
31:28 Final Thoughts
32:48 Outro
33:21 Disclaimer
As seen on this episode: The Dragon Collection
https://gravitasnewyork.com/collections/lunar-new-year-dragon
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

May 23, 2025 • 17min
Episode 18: Growing In Confidence | Season 1 Highlight Reel
At the heart of this podcast is a belief: what we share in confidence helps us grow in confidence. Season 1 has been full of honest conversations, hard-won wisdom, and vulnerable truths that made all of us a little braver. To close out this first chapter of In Confidence, we’ve created a highlight reel to reflect on those moments.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Deep dives into the core themes from Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence.
Advice and insights from guests that shifted our thinking and strengthened our resolve.
Mic-drop moments that changed how we lead, connect, and step into our power.
Season 2 is coming. But before we look ahead, let this finale remind you of everything you already are. And in the words we’ve ended every episode with this season: I see you. I value you. I believe in you.
This is In Confidence.
00:00 Intro
01:41 Episode 1 Your Life Story is Your Leadership Story
02:02 Episode 2 It's Time to Stop Apologizing. Say This Instead.
03:26 Episode 4 You Only Need 19 Seconds to Tap Into Your Full Potential.
03:53 Episode 6 You've Been Thinking About Confidence All Wrong. Here's The Truth.
04:40 Episode 9 The Mindset Shift You Need for Returning to Office
06:16 Episode 14 Your Guide on How to Break through Setback With The Power You Already Have
07:00 Episode 16 Have You Ever Been Called Bossy? You're Not Alone and You're Not The Problem
07:41 Episode 17 The Art of Small Talk: A Guide for When You Don’t Know Anyone in the Room
08:17 Episode 5 Keep Moving Forward With Vicky Nguyen
08:54 Episode 7 If We Had Our Own Place with Jenny Nguyen
10:09 Episode 10 Transform Any Moment Into A Win-Win with Dr. Wendy Borlabi
11:05 Episode 11 Art That Meets The Moment with Schele Williams
12:10 Episode 13 The Performing Superpower & How to be Great at Karaoke with Ada Tseng
14:01 Episode 15 Scaling Magic While Normalizing Wobbliness with Lindsay Shookus
14:53 Outro and Thank You
15:57 Episode 8 Why Women Love Romantasy Novels
AS SEEN IN THE EPISODE
From Our Studio to Your Closet
Meet Our Best-Sellers
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com

May 16, 2025 • 12min
Episode 17: The Art of Small Talk: A Guide for When You Don’t Know Anyone in the Room
Like it or not, small talk is part of life. And whether you love it or dread it, it helps to have some gravitas going into the room.
In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa shares how to approach small talk with intention so you’re not just getting through it, but actually making the most of it. Whether you’re at a networking event, a wedding where you barely know anyone, or like Lisa, your college reunion, these moments can turn into something meaningful.
What you'll get from this episode:
The mindset shift that makes walking into a room feel less intimidating.
5 tips to help you make real connections.
How to move from surface chatter to something that feels more personal.
Plus, our downloadable PDF guide to help you prep before your next event.
Small talk isn’t about filling the silence. It’s about creating something real.
00:00 Intro
00:59 Why Small Talk Matters More Than You Think
02:15 Resetting Your Mindset
04:10 5 Tips To Master Small Talk
09:50 Final Thoughts and a Free Downloadable PDF
10:45 Outro
11:09 Disclaimer
AS SEEN IN THE EPISODE
From Our Studio to Your Closet
Meet the Corazon Blouse: https://gravitasnewyork.com/products/corazon-button-down-blouse
Connect With Us So You Never Miss a Moment of Inspiration:
Visit Our Website
Get Our Best-Selling Book in Paperback
Follow Gravitas on Instagram
Follow Lisa on Instagram
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Suggestions or Questions?
Email Us at inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com