In Confidence with Lisa Sun: A Gravitas Podcast

Episode 35: Social Media Series, Part 1: Rethink Your Approach

Why do we keep reaching for our phones, even when we know too much scrolling isn't good for us? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Lisa unpacks our relationship with social media and shares a healthier way to approach it.
 
Key moments from this episode:
The brain science that explains why social media feels addictive
A four-part framework to define your relationship with each platform
How to spot pitfalls like comparison, FOMO, and the “superhero facade”
Mindset shifts that move you from validation-seeking to abundance
 
This series is not about quitting social media. It’s about choosing how you engage with it so it builds confidence instead of draining it.
 
00:00 Intro
04:41 How Social Media Affects the Brain
11:03 Create Balance with Social Media
11:52 Not All Platforms Are the Same
13:53 Define Your Relationship with Each Platform (Download the PDF!)
24:45 Mindset Shift: Abundance Over Validation
30:30 Reality Check: Impact on Daily Life
32:25 Preview of Part 2
32:49 Outro
33:16 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 34: How to Actually Make Friends as an Adult

Friendships are vital to our health and happiness. When they are good, they give us energy, support, and joy. But even with those benefits, many of us still struggle to make and keep friends as adults. Between shifting life stages, busy schedules, and the awkwardness of “friend dating,” connection can feel daunting.
 
In this episode, Lisa explores:
Why making friends as an adult feels so daunting and how to overcome the “friend dating” stage
The circles of friendship: leaf, branch, and root people and how to know who belongs where
Simple ways to nurture your inner circle and let go of friendships that no longer serve you
 
Friendships need care, and this conversation shows you where to start.
 
00:00 Intro
03:36 How do you make friends as an adult?
11:32 Not all friendships are created equal
16:51 How to nurture your friendships
25:12 Reflection questions
26:34 A simple way to show someone you’re thinking of them
27:15 Outro
28:11 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 33: Keep Marching on Women’s Equality Day with Jill Furman

Every great movement needs its storytellers. On this Women’s Equality Day, we’re going behind the curtain with Jill Furman, Tony Award-winning producer of In the Heights, Hamilton, and now Suffs, the Broadway musical about the women who fought for the right to vote. From tough rewrites to building inclusive teams, Jill shows us how producing art can shape how we see equality, leadership, and each other.
 
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The behind-the-scenes journey of Suffs and its Tony wins
Why progress is messy, but still worth marching for
How Jill leads with compassion in an industry built on uncertainty
Celebrate Women’s Equality Day with Gravitas:
 
See Suffs on tour and experience the story inspiring audiences nationwide 
 
Shop our new Forward Into Light Rebel Sweatshirt designed to honor this day and suffragist Inez Milholland who fought for our right to vote
 
00:00 Intro00:55 Meet Jill Furman07:08 Women’s Equality Day07:47 Suffs Musical15:08 Choosing Projects & Why Suffs19:45 Struggles That Still Apply Today21:17 Walking the Talk27:08 Building Trust & Jill’s Leadership32:17 Jill’s Confidence Language36:40 The Role of a Producer38:48 Suffs on Tour40:15 Celebrating Women’s Equality Day41:25 Outro42:43 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 32: The Leadership Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making with Sabina Nawaz

Power and pressure can bring out your best or quietly push you into habits that damage trust, communication, and confidence. In this conversation, Lisa sits down with Sabina Nawaz, best-selling author of You’re the Boss, global executive coach, and former senior leader at Microsoft, who has spent her career helping leaders at the highest levels navigate these forces with clarity and humanity. Sabina shares proven strategies and simple tools anyone can use to lead (and be led) better.
 
You’ll learn:
Why pressure, not power, corrupts and how to keep it from squeezing out your humanity
Four common leadership mistakes (and the counterintuitive fixes that actually work)
Simple, actionable tools to close the power gap, hear the truth, and grow from feedback
 
No matter your role, walk away ready to handle pressure and lead in a way that inspires.
 
⁠Buy Sabina's Best-Selling Book⁠
 
00:00 Intro
01:39 Meet Sabina Nawaz
05:13 Rethinking the Leadership Playbook
09:37 Pressure, Power, and Permission
11:47 Four Myths of Leadership
12:40 Authenticity is Not Singular
17:34 Values in Action
19:26 “Yeah, But” and Confirmation Bias
23:51 Business Is Personal
26:03 Sabina's Tips on Changing How You Lead
26:45 Step One: Shut Up
28:31 Step Two: Use Numbers
31:21 Step Three: Do Nothing
35:31 The Wake-Up Call: Simple and Specific Feedback
39:25 Lisa’s Leadership Lesson
42:56 Hidden Power Dynamics
50:26 Final Thoughts
53:21 Outro
54:15 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 31: Ask Lisa Anything: Workplace Conflicts, Tough Feedback, and Office Gossip

Have you ever finished one of our In Confidence episodes feeling inspired, only to face a situation that puts those ideas to the test? In this “Ask Lisa Anything” episode, Lisa answers three listener-submitted workplace dilemmas and shares the tools to navigate them with confidence.
 
In this episode, we tackle:
 
A respectful, trust-building way to challenge a higher-up’s decision
 
How to process and act on tough feedback without losing momentum
 
Practical steps to avoid the gossip trap and strengthen workplace relationships
 
We love hearing your questions and stories. Keep them coming so we can continue learning from each other and growing stronger together because what we share in confidence helps us grow in confidence. 
 
00:00 Intro
01:58 How to Challenge the Decision from Someone Higher Up
05:28 What to Do After a Bad Performance Review
13:05 Office Gossip About Someone Who Is Tough to Work With
19:14 Outro
20:03 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us. 

Episode 30: Why the Secret to Success is Chasing Failure with Jane Park

We’re taught to chase success, but what if the real growth comes from chasing failure? In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa sits down with her best friend, Jane Park, founder of Julep and Tokki, and former director at Starbucks and leader at BCG, to talk about why she sets “failure goals” on purpose. Jane shares how reframing failure as a target instead of a setback can help you aim higher, take bigger risks, and uncover who you’re truly meant to be.
 
You’ll learn:
Why avoiding failure is the enemy of growth and how to rewire your brain to seek it out
The “next time this happens, I will…” method to turn regrets into learnings
How to process rejection, face worst-case scenarios, and keep the conversation going when you hear “no”
 
This conversation will inspire you to rethink your relationship with failure and see it as proof that you are stretching, growing, and playing bigger than before.
 
00:00 Intro
01:37 Meet Jane Park
08:22 Why Jane Thinks We Should Strive to Fail
12:00 What Is a Failure Goal?
17:37 No Regrets, Only Learnings
19:51 Why Jane Adopted This Philosophy
22:47 Jane’s Failure of Character Story and What She Learned from It
32:53 How to Process Shame and Embarrassment
34:56 Shame Buddies, Holding Space, and Recognizing Toxic Positivity
39:07 Quick Questions: Ritual to Stay Grounded, Rewards for Failing, Normalizing Failure in the Workplace, Jane’s Professional Failure Rate
48:39 Why Great Risk-Taking Means Being an Expert in Failure
53:16 Try This Failure Goal This Week
55:10 Outro
56:25 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 29: How to Own the Room (Even If You Hate Public Speaking)

Only 12% of people feel confident speaking in front of others, which means the rest of us are winging it, sweating through it, or avoiding it altogether. Are you part of the 88% who don’t feel ready for the spotlight? Let’s change that.
 
In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa shares the rituals, strategies, and mindset shifts that helped her go from a shy immigrant kid to a confident keynote speaker.
 
What you'll get from this episode:
Lisa’s 3-part framework for public speaking (no stage required)
How body language, breathwork, and playlists can help you show up with power
The storytelling formulas and connection tricks that make your words stick
 
Public speaking isn’t just for performers. It’s for all of us. And with the right tools, you can get better at it.
 
00:00 Intro
04:06 What to Expect: 3 Tips for Public Speaking
04:26 Tip 1: Embrace Your Body
13:10 Tip 2: Practice Storytelling
15:24 Tip 3: Energize and Enthuse
20:19 Use Season 1, Episode 1 as a Practice Too
l21:35 Outro
22:05 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 28: Why K-Pop Matters More Than You Think with Dr. Grace Kao

This week on In Confidence, Lisa sits down with Dr. Grace Kao, IBM Professor of Sociology at Yale University and K-pop expert, to explore why Korean idol groups have taken the world by storm and what their global rise reveals about identity, belonging, and the forces that shape confidence. 
 
This episode unpacks:
The rigorous training system that gives idols unshakable confidence
How fandom creates deep belonging and challenges stereotypes
Why K-pop may be shifting how the world sees Asian identity
 
Stay with us because this isn’t just about K-pop. It’s about the power of being seen.
 
*This episode contains discussion of mental health, suicide, and body image. If those topics are sensitive for you, please take care in choosing how and when to listen.
 
Listen to Dr. Grace Kao's YouTube Playlists:
 
10-Song Intro to K-Pop
 
40 Song Intro to K-Pop
 
00:00 Intro
02:01 Meet Professor Dr. Grace Kao
10:48 How Grace Got Into K-pop
13:07 Lisa’s Story: Reclaiming Identity Through K-pop
16:41 What Makes K-pop Fandom Different
21:50 How Fandom Shapes Identity and Belonging
27:14 How East Asian Men Are Viewed in Media and Dating
31:49 Why K-pop Crossed Over While Other Asian Music Hasn’t
37:33 Biases, Archetypes, and the “Someone for Everyone” Formula
40:52 Idol Romance Rules, Western Collabs, and K-pop’s Film Takeover
45:16 Unrealistic Beauty Standards in K-pop
48:31 Confidence Through Preparation: The Idol Training System
50:08 Mental Health Pressures in the Industry
53:13 The Global Rise of Asian Desirability
56:08 Quick-Fire Round: Music Videos, Bias Picks, and Billboard Highlights
01:01:44 Outro
01:03:32 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 27: The Key to Understanding Your Coworkers, One Generation at a Time

Think your coworkers are difficult or you just can’t seem to work well together? With Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all sharing the same workplace, it’s no wonder that collaboration can feel harder than it should. In this episode of In Confidence, Lisa breaks down the values, habits, and communication styles that shape each generation and how to use that insight to build stronger team dynamics at work.
 
You’ll learn:
Strengths and triggers of each generation and how they show up at work
Why trust starts with curiosity, openness, and acceptance
Practical tools for cross-generational communication and collaboration
 
Whether you’re managing, mentoring, or just trying to be understood, this episode offers insight for every generation at the table.
 
00:00 Intro
01:59 What to Expect: 4 Generations in the Workplace
06:19 Generation Overview: Strengths & Challenges
11:07 How to Build Trust Across Generations
12:09 What Each Generation Teaches Us and What Triggers Them
19:00 Resolving Cross-Generational Conflict
30:35 Final Takeaways
31:51 Outro
32:15 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 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   
 
Follow Gravitas on TikTok 
 
Follow Gravitas on Substack 
 
Suggestions or Questions? Email Us.