In Confidence with Lisa Sun: A Gravitas Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

Have you ever been called bossy, cold, or intimidating at work? Or been told you're too quiet to lead? In this episode of In Confidence, we unpack the triple standard women face at work and how it affects how we’re perceived, promoted, and valued. Through personal stories, surprising research, and tactical ways to reframe the narrative, Lisa shares how the Leading superpower can be both your greatest strength and your most misunderstood quality. Learn how to expand the scorecard for success, advocate for yourself in real time, and lead with both clarity and connection.   Let’s redefine what leadership really looks like.   00:00 Intro 00:43 Defining the Triple Standard 02:58 The Hidden Bias Behind Promotion 03:57 Expanding the Scorecard and Helping Women Embrace and Appreciate Their Superpowers 05:40 How to Respond When You've Been Called Bossy 10:04 Balancing Leadership with Connection 13:46 Final Thoughts: You're Not Bossy, You're Leading 14:57 Outro 15:23 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

In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa sits down with Lindsay Shookus—former SNL producer, co-founder of Women Work F#cking Hard, and speaker—to talk about reinvention, resilience, and redefining success.Lindsay shares what it looks like to embrace uncertainty, build a “portfolio life,” and trust in your own talents, even through wobbly moments.   Key Takeaways: Why “normalizing wobbliness” is crucial when navigating career transitions or reinvention How to build a portfolio career based on energy, joy, and trust in your talents Strategies for making meaningful connections (even if you're introverted) Why showing up, especially when you don’t feel like it, can change your life   00:00 Intro 00:50 Meet Lindsay Shookus 03:48 What It Really Takes to Leave a 20-Year Career 11:03 Founding WWFH and Creating a Space for Women to Support Each Other 17:55 Authentic Connection, Showing Up, and Advice for Introverts 21:20 Letting the Universe Guide What's Next 22:52 The Portfolio Life: Reinvention, Speaking, and Creative Problem Solving 33:50 Normalizing Wobbliness and Discomfort 37:06 Final Thoughts and What She's Most Excited About 41:07 Outro 42:01 Disclaimer   Seen on Lisa in this episode: the ⁠Unbossed & Unbought Sweatshirt⁠, inspired by Shirley Chisholm's 1972 Presidential campaign slogan. Chisholm challenged societal norms to give marginalized groups a voice, becoming the first Black Congresswoman and the first Black woman to run for a major-party presidential nomination. Get yours today on ⁠GravitasNewYork.com⁠.    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

This episode of In Confidence gives you two tools to name what’s holding you back and recognize the strengths already within you that will help you push through it. Lisa walks you through a weekend reflection practice on the six forces that fuel your inner critic and invites you to rediscover your confidence through the Gravitas Confidence Language Quiz. You’ll leave this episode with more clarity, more self-belief, and a simple mindset shift: the thing standing in your way isn’t stronger than the power you already have.   Take our Confidence Language Quiz   Head to our website to download the episode worksheets   00:00 Intro 00:39 Exercise 1: Identifying the Six Forces That Hold You Back 01:46 Lisa’s Personal Story: Facing the Satisfaction Conundrum 03:15 Exercise 2: Take the Confidence Language Quiz 03:33 How to Interpret Your Quiz Results 04:31 A Family Breakthrough from the Quiz 06:12 What Changes When You Name Your Strengths 06:31 Outro 06:59 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. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com 

Only 12% of people have the Performing superpower—the ability to shine in front of others with ease. But what if you could practice it in a way that’s low-stakes, joyful, and just plain fun? In this episode, Lisa explores how karaoke can be a powerful tool for building confidence in everyday life. She’s joined by writer, editor, and karaoke journalist Ada Tseng, creator of the LA Times Karaoke Generator, to talk about how karaoke helps us get comfortable with the spotlight on our own terms. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the Performing superpower is (and why so few of us claim it) Why karaoke is actually risk-free confidence training How to pick your perfect karaoke song (with data to back it up) Why letting go of perfection might be your biggest mic-drop moment Whether you're karaoke-curious or a seasoned shower-singer, this episode is your permission slip to take up space, sing your heart out, and have fun doing it.   00:00 Intro: Why karaoke is a powerful tool for building confidence 00:42 The performing superpower and how we develop it 03:46 Real-life growth: Performing in everyday situations 08:10 Karaoke as practice: A safe, joyful way to build the performing superpower 09:54 Meet Ada Tseng, karaoke journalist and creator of the LA Times Karaoke Generator 14:44 Karaoke as culture, connection, and self-care 18:08 From stage fright to spotlight: Building confidence through song 24:44 What makes a great karaoke song and Lisa and Ada’s top tips 27:42 Letting go of perfection and having fun with it 33:30 Are women held to a higher standard? Making karaoke a judgment-free zone 38:57 The Gravitas team’s favorite karaoke songs 43:53 Final thoughts and Ada’s post-marathon karaoke celebration 46:23 Outro 46:41 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. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com 

In this special episode of In Confidence, Lisa shares the story of a tiny plaque on the Brooklyn Bridge that sparked a big realization: women have built the world we live in, but their names are often left out of the story. From Wi-Fi to Monopoly, dishwashers to life rafts, Lisa highlights five surprising everyday inventions created by women and why it’s time we give them the credit they’ve always deserved.   This episode is both a celebration and a reclamation. It’s a reminder that behind every great invention, there’s often a woman whose brilliance made it possible—even if she didn’t get the spotlight. Tune in and be inspired to not just honor the past, but to build boldly into the future.   00:00 Intro 01:40 The Inspiration Behind This Episode 02:10 Five Inventions That Were Created by Women 05:28 Even More Inventions You Didn’t Know Were Invented by Women 06:34 Final Thoughts 06:44 Outro 07:09 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. E-Mail: inconfidence@gravitasnewyork.com