In Confidence with Lisa Sun: A Gravitas Podcast

Episode 54: Micro-Moment #9 Worst, Best, Most Likely

Welcome to Season 3, the Last Quarter Challenge. Think of it as a training plan for your confidence with weekly micro-moments that ladder up so you enter 2026 stronger than ever.
 
This week's micro-moment is Worst, Best, Most Likely. When we face uncertainty, our brains tend to jump straight to the worst case and treat it as fact. This practice helps you widen the lens. By naming the worst case, imagining the best case, and grounding yourself in the most likely outcome, you interrupt fear, regain perspective, and create more choices. Perspective itself becomes a confidence practice.
 
Try it today. Think about one situation that feels uncertain. Write down the worst case, the best case, and the most likely outcome. Notice how your body settles and your thinking becomes clearer when fear is no longer running the show and you're back in control.
 
00:00 Intro
00:30 Micro-Moment #9: Worst, Best, Most Likely
02:57 The Science of Worst, Best, Most Likely
09:37 Saying It Out Loud or Writing It Down
11:38 How to Practice This Challenge
15:11 Outro 
15:37 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 53: Plan Your Life Like a CEO

Every January starts the same way.Big goals. High hopes. And a familiar sense of pressure.But not this January.
 
In this solo episode of In Confidence, Lisa Sun shares a practical planning strategy designed to help you step out of resolution pressure and into clarity. Drawing on 11 years advising Fortune 500 CEOs and more than a decade building Gravitas through growth, setbacks, and reinvention, she adapts how companies plan their one year and three to five year strategies and applies it to your life.
 
You will learn how to:
Identify what is worth building on and what needs to change before you set new goals
Stress test your 2026 plans against your time, energy, and real constraints, so they work in practice, not just on paper
Eliminate goals that cancel each other out and prioritize the ones that compound
Decide what deserves your attention this year and what can wait, without constant overwhelm
Create a plan you can adapt over time instead of abandoning at the first setback
This episode includes a downloadable workbook so you can plan alongside the conversation and create a strategy that feels realistic, focused, and sustainable.
If you are ready to stop repeating the same January cycle and start building real momentum, it is time to plan your life like a CEO.
 
Download our PDF at GravitasNewYork.com
 
00:00 Intro
02:44 Step 1 - Your Personal Diagnostic
13:38 Step 2 - Brainstorm Your Goals
21:15 Step 3 - Sort Your Goals
25:25 Step 4 - Backward Plan
29:01 Step 5 - Calendar It Out
36:11 Outro
37:10 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 52: The Real Reason We Judge People with Kim Lear

Why do we judge so quickly, especially at work, across generations, and in moments of change? What if the real reason is simpler than we think, and what if curiosity is the fastest way back to connection?
 
Kim Lear, generational researcher and speaker, joins to unpack how culture, technology, and the events of our formative years shape what we value, what we fear, and what we are willing to sacrifice. Through stories from her research and Lisa’s own life, Kim shares how to ask better questions, lead with compassion, and still keep your backbone.
 
What we cover in this episode:
How the generational lens helps us understand change in a more human way.
Why we judge, and how curiosity interrupts conflict before it escalates.
The new rules of sacrifice, and what people will trade for purpose, convenience, and community.
This week’s micro-moment, Lead with Compassion and Curiosity: how to pause, assume positive intent, and seek to understand.
Stay curious, stay grounded, and remember, the best relationships and the best leadership start with one good question.
 
00:00 Intro
01:19 Meet Kim Lear
09:00 Kim's Purpose and Curiosity
15:53 The Idea of Generational Sacrifice
31:35 Micro-Moment #8: Compassion and Curiosity
34:16 Why We Judge, but Should be Curious Instead
42:30 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 51: Micro-Moment #8: Lead with Compassion and Curiosity

Welcome to Season 3, the Last Quarter Challenge. Think of it as a training plan for your confidence with weekly micro-moments that ladder up so you enter 2026 stronger than ever.
 
This week's micro-moment is Lead with Compassion and Curiosity. The easiest thing to do when someone frustrates you is to judge. The hardest thing, and the one that builds confidence, is to stay curious. When you take a moment to ask what else might be true, you shift from reacting to reflecting, and you open the door to connection rather than conflict.
 
Try it today. When frustration shows up, pause. Take a breath, assume there is more to the story, and stay open to what you may not see yet. Notice how differently you respond when you lead with compassion and curiosity instead of judgment.
 
00:00 Intro
00:38 Micro-Moment #8: Compassion and Curiosity
03:30 The Science of Leading with Compassion and Curiosity
06:45 Teams Perform Better with Compassion and Curiosity
07:31 Join the Challenge
09:39 How Lisa Practiced this Micro-Moment
13:54 Outro
15:28 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 50: Why Awkward People Rise Faster With Henna Pryor

What happens when the fear of looking awkward keeps you from speaking up or trying something new? How do you stop chasing perfection and start building courage instead? And what if awkward moments are actually proof that you are growing?
 
On this episode of In Confidence, Henna Pryor, workplace performance expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and author of Good Awkward, joins Lisa to talk about awkwardness, the science of discomfort, and the confidence that comes from being brave before you feel ready. Through her research and personal stories from early career missteps to jokes that fell flat onstage she shows how naming awkwardness, lowering the stakes, and improving your comeback rate create more connection, improvement, and possibility.
 
What we cover in this episode:
Why our social skills are shrinking and how to rebuild them through small, deliberate interactions.
The cringe chasm and why jumping is often the only way forward.
The difference between awkwardness and vulnerability and how both strengthen trust.
This week’s micro-moment, Try Something New: how embracing discomfort builds real confidence.
Let yourself be a beginner. Release the pressure to get it right immediately and discover the power that comes from showing up, trying again, and recovering faster each time.
 
Enter Our Last Quarter Challenge Giveaway
Get Your Copy of Good Awkward 
 
00:00 Intro 
01:00 Meet Henna Pryor 
03:27 Are Our Social Skills Atrophying? 
09:21 Henna's Best-Selling Book, Good Awkward 
13:56 Vicarious Embarrassment & Your Comeback Rate
20:29 When It's Time to Jump the "Cringe Chasm"
22:06 Awkwardness vs Vulnerability 
25:45 Are You Playing Not to Lose?
30:50 What's Really Holding You Back
33:16 Micro-Moment #7: Try Something New 
38:03 Outro 
40:29 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 49: Micro-Moment #7 Try Something New

Welcome to Season 3, the Last Quarter Challenge. Think of it as a training plan for your confidence with weekly micro-moments that ladder up so you enter 2026 stronger than ever.
 
This week's micro-moment is Try Something New. Confidence grows in moments of discomfort. Every time you try something new, you stretch your comfort zone, build resilience, and prove to yourself that you can handle uncertainty. The goal is not to be perfect. It is to be a beginner. Let go of the need to get it right and focus instead on being brave enough to start.
 
Try it today. Do one thing that feels unfamiliar or a little awkward. Speak up in a meeting, take a new class, or say yes to something you usually turn down. Notice how good it feels to grow and lean into a beginner’s mentality.
 
00:00 Intro
00:36 Micro-Moment #7: Try Something New
05:17 The Science of Trying Something New
07:30 How Lisa is Participating
09:51 How to Practice This Challenge
10:33 Join the Challenge
11:48 Outro
13:40 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 48: There Isn’t One Way to Mother with Ruthie Ackerman

What happens when the life you built no longer fits?
How do you untangle inherited expectations, question long held narratives, and choose a future that feels true to you? 
Are you asking yourself whether you want to become a mother or not? 
 
Ruthie Ackerman, journalist, author of The Mother Code, and founder of the Ignite Writers Collective, joins to talk about motherhood ambivalence, generational myths, and the bravery required to rewrite your own story. Through her deeply personal journey, she shows how breaking silence and letting go of a life that no longer serves you opens the door to connection, support, and possibility.
 
What we cover in this episode:
How to identify the “Big Lie” at the center of your story and why naming it unlocks transformation
Motherhood Ambivalence: what it is, why so many feel it, and why we rarely talk about it
The nontraditional paths to parenthood that deserve to be normalized
This week’s micro-moment, Superhero Facade: how letting people see your struggle creates more belonging, not less
Release the pressure to have it all figured out, share the truth of where you are, and discover the power that comes from dropping the cape.
 
Enter Our ⁠Giveaway⁠
Get Your Copy of ⁠The Mother Code⁠ 
 
00:00 Intro
01:26 Meet Ruthie Ackerman
04:52 The Mother Code
9:36 Inherited expectations and rigid roles
16:11 Ruthie’s path to motherhood and ambivalence
24:06 Micro-moment: Superhero Facade
27:00 When Ruthie wore the superhero cape
35:13 The power of sharing struggles, community, and connection
43:07 Outro
44:28 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 47: Micro-Moment #6 Superhero Façade

Welcome to Season 3, the Last Quarter Challenge. Think of it as a training plan for your confidence with weekly micro-moments that ladder up so you enter 2026 stronger than ever.
 
This week's micro-moment is Superhero Façade. It is about dropping the cape of perfection and asking for help instead of doing it all yourself. When you let others in, you create connection and remind yourself that strength is not about carrying everything alone. Vulnerability does not weaken confidence. It deepens it.
 
Try it today. Ask for help with something, share how you really feel, or simply admit that you do not have it all figured out.
 
00:00 Intro
00:37 Micro-Moment #6: Superhero Facade
03:12 The Science of Superhero Facade
04:59 What Happened When Lisa Took the Cape Off
06:45 How to Practice This Challenge 
09:04 Outro
11:32 Join the Challenge
12:27 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 46: Learn How to Experience Luxury Every Day with Neen James

What if luxury was about time, attention, and intention? How do you protect your energy, stay confident, and say no without guilt?
 
Neen James, Client Experience Expert, keynote speaker, CEO coach, and author of Exceptional Experiences, joins to talk about confidence, generosity, and redefining luxury as the art of making people feel seen, heard, and valued. With her signature wit and wisdom, she shares how saying no can be the most luxurious and liberating choice you make.
 
What we cover in this episode:
How to Systemize Thoughtfulness so you can create exceptional experiences for everyone in your life.
Why luxury is a mindset, not a price tag, and how to discover your own luxury language.
This week’s micro-moment, Say No: how protecting your time, attention, and energy becomes a daily act of confidence.
Protect your capacity, choose yourself, and make confidence your most luxurious investment.
 
Get Your Copy of Exceptional Experiences 
 
Take The Luxury Mindset Quiz 
 
00:00 Intro 
01:00 Meet Neen James
08:10 Luxury is for everyone - inclusive and exclusive - divisive word
10:05 Systemized Thoughtfulness
12:15 Luxury is a mindset. 4 luxury languages (story of mom)
19:14 Business development with luxury in mind. What brands are doing it right. 
26:22 The 5 Luxury Levers- your luxury playbook
31:33 Last quarter challenge: say no 
45:08 make sure it's aligned with your values and assume you belong 
51:18 Outro
53:09 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 45: Micro-Moment #5 Say No

Welcome to Season 3, the Last Quarter Challenge. Think of it as a training plan for your confidence with weekly micro-moments that ladder up so you enter 2026 stronger than ever.
 
This week's micro-moment is Say No. It is about protecting your time, energy, and focus. Every confident no makes space for a more intentional yes. When you say no, you teach others how to value your time and remind yourself that boundaries are a form of self-respect.
 
Try it today. Say no to one thing that does not serve you. Notice how it feels to choose yourself.
 
00:00 Intro
00:24 Saying No Builds Confidence
02:59 The Science of Saying No
04:54 From People-Pleaser to Self-Sustainer
07:21 Lisa's "No, And" Rule + Decision Framework
10:11 Join The Challenge
14:35 Outro
15:04 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us.