In times of rising authoritarianism and social upheaval, how do we find hope without falling into toxic positivity? This week, I sit down with my dear friend Abigail Somma, founder of Gratitude Buddies and mindfulness teacher, to explore gratitude as a tool for resistance and refocusing.

Abbie taught me about loving-kindness meditation nearly a decade ago, and her approach to gratitude as a practice—not just a feeling—completely shifted how I understand presence and self-compassion.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why gratitude becomes accessible in moments of crisis (and why it's harder during prolonged depression)
• How to practice loving-kindness toward people who disagree with us
• The difference between empathy and toxic positivity
• How workplace gratitude has evolved from transaction to inner wellness—and what comes next
• Gratitude Buddies: a platform for skill-sharing and community building beyond traditional capitalism
• Why we need "compassionate wise action" instead of judgment
• Using gratitude as a refocusing tool in moments of conflict

Abigail Somma (Abbie) is the founder of Gratitude Buddies, a platform where people swap small joys and meaningful skills. She has coached and trained hundreds of people in mindfulness, gratitude and emotional wellbeing, and delivered workshops to international organizations, businesses, and leading universities. Previously, she worked in international policy as a speechwriter for business leaders, celebrities and multiple United Nations figureheads. Her writing has appeared in Scary Mommy, Foreign Policy, the Globe and Mail and others. She is also a poet and playwright, with degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Villanova University. Abbie lives in Vienna with her two children. Learn more at gratitudebuddies.com and abigailsomma.com.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction and how we met through Priya Parker
• 3:00 Gratitude vs. toxic positivity
• 8:00 Is gratitude innate or learned?
• 11:00 Practicing loving-kindness toward difficult people
• 15:00 Finding balance between empathy and effectiveness
• 17:00 What is Gratitude Buddies?
• 23:00 Europe vs. US: different responses to social regression
• 28:00 Technology, AI, and staying human
• 33:00 How to stay grounded in uncertain times

Sehreen Noor Ali came on the podcast, and she shifted how I think about the word "visionary" forever. Turns out, way more of us are visionaries than we might believe.

Sehreen runs Te Cura Labs where she helps leaders think about strategic visibility. But what I love about her is how she sees the world with both curiosity and empathy. Every time I sit down with her, I leave completely shifted.

In this conversation, Sehreen talks about influence as "the marriage of inner clarity and external resonance"—which finally makes this loaded word feel tangible instead of manipulative.

I especially loved our conversation about radicals versus diplomats. How some of us agitate by working within systems, others by standing outside them, and how we desperately need both right now.

We also dove into:

• Why the gap between how others see us and how we see ourselves is so painful
• The cost of showing up authentically (and how to navigate it)
• Why knowing the playbook first actually helps you agitate better
• How AI is asking us fundamental questions about what it means to be human
• Why claiming your spot and putting down roots is the key to personal brand

This conversation reminded me that you don't have to be on a TED stage to be a visionary. You just need to see the world differently in a way that others need to understand.

About Sehreen: Sehreen Noor Ali is the founder of Te Cura Labs, where she works with experienced leaders to turn hard-earned insight into clear, strategic visibility. After years spent building startups and working across government and tech, she now helps launch modern leaders into their next chapter—those looking to deepen their influence through resonance, not performance.

Before Te Cura, Sehreen co-founded Sleuth, a pediatric AI company shaped by her journey navigating her daughter’s rare diagnosis. By gathering over 60,000 caregiver-contributed health stories, Sleuth surfaced patterns often missed by clinical systems and was recognized by Fast Company as a World-Changing Idea in 2024. The experience cemented her belief that AI and care—separately and together—can transform systems when surfaced with thoughtfulness and intention.

Earlier in her career, Sehreen served at the U.S. Department of State, where she helped build its first Persian-language digital platforms. She later took on leadership roles in edtech and equity-focused networks, served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Brown University, and leads VC-Backed Moms NYC.

Through Te Cura, Sehreen brings care and clarity to the work of visibility—helping leaders show up fully and intentionally in an AI-saturated world, with depth that’s never diluted for optics and always aligned with ambitious impact.

For more information about Sehreen's work, visit www.tecuralabs.com. 

I sat down with entrepreneur, strategist, and community builder Deepti Sharma to explore what entrepreneurs can learn from organizers. From building FoodtoEat—a mission-driven platform that helped immigrant and underrepresented food vendors grow—to running for New York City Council and teaching the next generation of entrepreneurs, Deepti shares her journey of bending tools towards justice and creating opportunities for those who are systematically overlooked.

As a daughter of immigrants and a New Yorker through and through, Deepti brings a unique perspective on collective action, community organizing, and how we can rebuild with care at the center during these exhausting times.

Learn more about Deepti: https://www.deeptisharma.com/

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction and Deepti's multihyphenate identity
• 02:00 Growing up in Queens and early community service
• 05:00 From politics to starting FoodtoEat
• 09:00 Why entrepreneurship keeps calling
• 14:00 What entrepreneurs can learn from organizers
• 21:00 How capitalism can be bent towards justice
• 23:00 The line between entrepreneurship and politics
• 26:00 Running for office and learning from constituents
• 32:00 Bending tools towards justice in unjust times
• 37:00 Dealing with exhaustion and rebuilding with care

In this timely conversation, I sit down with S. Leigh Thompson—a published and award-winning organizer, strategist, professional coach, and organizational development consultant who has spent over 20 years helping organizations and leaders "Do Good Work—BETTER." Leigh brings a unique perspective to transformation work, having guided everyone from Fortune 500 companies to grassroots organizations through strategic change that builds stronger, more cohesive cultures.

We explore how empathy becomes a strategic tool for creating lasting change, why creativity is essential for transformation, and how empathetic practice can break us out of binary thinking to build truly inclusive cultures.

Leigh shares insights from working with thousands of organizers, educators, and advocates worldwide—including at organizations like the ACLU, GLSEN, and Race Forward—on leadership development, movement strategy, and adaptive leadership.

Leigh's approach is rooted in critical analysis, meaningful relationships, creative problem-solving, and transformative change. Their impressive client roster spans values-driven organizations, Fortune 500 companies, creative and cultural institutions, and leading educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience as a Theater of the Oppressed practitioner, Leigh specializes in supporting complex dialogue and learning through emergent, participatory facilitation that incorporates interactive and embodied engagement while fostering growth, movement, and joy in the workplace.

Leigh holds an Individualized MA from NYU Gallatin, with coursework on change theory, community studies, nonprofit management, public policy, and campaign strategies.

Links:

sleighthompson.com

linkedin.com/in/sleighthompson

instagram.com/sleighthompson

• 00:00 Introduction to S. Leigh's work
• 01:00 Theater of the Oppressed methodology
• 04:00 Art and creativity in organizational change
• 07:00 Moving beyond binary thinking
• 09:00 Defining empathetic practice
• 15:00 Individual vs. organizational empathy work
• 18:00 How equity fits with empathetic presence
• 24:00 Can you have equity without empathy?
• 26:00 Building equitable movements and accountability
• 35:00 Why we all need this work

In this episode of Empathetic Presence, I sit down with Chana Ginelle Ewing, a storyteller, cultural entrepreneur, and Founder & Chief Creator at littlebigworld. We dive deep into how queer imagination and care-centered politics can inform strategic marketing to move our world forward.

This conversation is personally meaningful during Pride month, as queer lives continue to be under attack. Chana shares how we can understand our identities as sources of power rather than limitations, and why bringing our whole selves to our work creates more authentic and effective leadership.

Links & Resources

• Connect with Chana at littlebigworld
• Learn more about my work at PresentVoices.com

With so much dividing us right now, what if conflict could actually deepen our connections rather than tear us apart? I sit down with conflict facilitator and transformative justice practitioner Nicole Bauman to explore how empathy is not a weakness but a revolutionary tool for liberation.

Nicole shares their journey from conflict avoidance to seeing conflict as an opportunity for growth, revealing how self-empathy becomes the foundation for navigating even the most challenging conversations. Together, we explore why empathy has been "stolen from us" by systems of domination, how we can reclaim our capacity to feel as an act of decolonization, and practical ways to stay grounded in our humanity even when the world feels overwhelming.

My conversation with Nicole brought up both tender vulnerability and fierce wisdom if you are seeking to transform your relationship with conflict, in your community, workplace, or in movements for justice.

We discuss:

• Self-empathy as the starting point for all conflict navigation
• The weaponization of empathy and why disconnection serves power structures
• Somatic practices for building safety and capacity in difficult conversations
• Moving beyond binary thinking in a polarized world
• Practical tools for staying embodied during conflict
• The connection between personal healing and collective liberation

About Nicole Bauman:

Nicole is a facilitator working at the intersections of transformative justice, somatics, and nonviolent communication. They see building conflict resiliency as essential for the world to come and are passionate about creating spaces where personal and collective liberation feel possible.

Links from Nicole:

• Learn more about their work at https://www.nicolebauman.com
• Free Assessments for Queer Folks during the month of June
• Learn more about Nicole’s one-on-one work here
• Navigating Conflict: Building Resilience for Your Working Relationships
• Navigating Feedback: Deepening Collaboration in the Conversations We Need
• Unraveling Whiteness: An Introduction to Embodied Antiracist Practices
• Weaving New Ritual

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction and Nicole's current work
• [02:00] How Nicole uses their voice and shows up in the world
• [06:00] Defining empathy and its role in conflict
• [10:00] Rethinking conflict as opportunity rather than threat
• [14:00] Cultivating safety in unsafe situations
• [18:00] Is empathy learned or stolen from us?
• [22:00] Empathy in corporate and dominating environments
• [26:00] Nicole's offerings and upcoming programs
• [31:00] Self-care and community care practices

In this episode of Empathetic Presence, I explore something that's helped my anxiety - how to find the present moment and return to it when we inevitably get lost in thought again.

It's particularly challenging to be present right now. With the constant news cycle and daily overwhelm many of us experience, it's natural to slip into hyper-vigilance. Focusing on presence rather than perfection has been transformative for my confidence and reducing anxiety.

I share my personal journey from being trapped in an endless cycle of anxiety to finding liberation through presence. For years, I experienced debilitating panic attacks that would send me to the emergency room convinced I was having heart attacks. Over a decade ago, I made a commitment to address my anxiety holistically, which became the foundation for the work I do today.

In this episode, I discuss:

• How I define presence as "getting out of my head and into my body"
• The scientific connection between the vagus nerve and our "gut brain"
• Practical techniques I use daily to return to the present moment
• A guided practice for anchoring to sound that we can experience together
• The importance of self-compassion when practicing presence

I would love to hear what helps you find presence and what presence means in your life. Please share your thoughts at [email protected].

If you'd like to practice presence with me directly, I host a complimentary live workshop via Zoom where we work on these techniques together. You can register at presentvoices.com/collective.

Wishing you presence, not perfection. 

00:00 Introduction to Empathetic Presence

00:53 The Struggle with Anxiety and the Journey to Presence

03:04 Understanding and Practicing Presence

04:04 The Role of the Vagus Nerve and Gut Brain

06:02 Practical Tools for Finding the Present Moment

08:17 The Importance of Being Over Doing

08:41 Guided Practice: Anchoring to Sound

10:01 Managing Expectations and Using Tools to Stay Present

13:38 Conclusion and Invitation to Connect

In this episode of Empathetic Presence, I sit down with Christina Blacken, founder of The New Quo, to explore what leadership really means and how more of us can see ourselves as leaders. Christina talks about how storytelling and narrative shape our behaviors and leadership styles - something she's passionate about in her work. We dive into how true leadership isn't just about being in charge, but about influencing people toward goals that benefit everyone.

Christina shares some powerful insights about navigating leadership challenges, bringing ethical and cultural wisdom into our decision-making, and how each of us can step into leadership in our everyday lives. What I love about our conversation is how Christina balances pragmatic optimism with the importance of collective action - reminding us that meaningful change rarely happens through individual efforts. If you're looking to expand your definition of leadership and find your own authentic way to lead, this episode is for you!

Visit Christina's website: https://www.thenewquo.com/

Learn about her learning community: https://courses.thenewquo.com/products/communities/tnqcommunity 

Want to experience Empathetic Presence in action? Join my free monthly workshop and learn tools to express yourself in every setting. Register here. 

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic

00:29 Meet Christina Blacken

01:44 The Power of Narrative in Leadership

02:43 Redefining Leadership

05:52 Understanding Narrative Intelligence

11:17 Pragmatic Optimism and Collective Leadership

20:54 Ethical and Cultural Wisdom

24:40 Engaging with Christina's Work

27:53 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode, I explore what's truly holding us back from speaking with confidence and introduce a powerful alternative to "executive presence" that can transform how we show up in our most important moments.

What You'll Learn:

• The shocking data: 88-90% of professionals struggle speaking in high-pressure situations
• Why physical and psychological distractions during communication aren't personal failings
• How "executive presence" actually makes us less present and less confident
• The three components of Empathetic Presence: embodied confidence, harnessed empathy, and owned expertise

I've spent a decade collecting data from corporate workshops across nearly every industry, and the pattern is clear: dominant, disconnected leadership isn't helping people speak up. Even at a recent Google Developers event, only 12% of 500 engineers felt comfortable speaking in front of senior leaders.

Empathetic Presence offers a different path. Instead of overthinking how we're perceived, we can focus on being fully embodied, leveraging our natural empathy as a strength, and owning our unique expertise - even if we're junior or new to our roles.

I'm curious: What do you want to liberate your voice from? And how would you use your voice if you felt fully confident in every setting?

Join me next time as we hear from empathetic leaders who are using their voices for impact.

Want to experience Empathetic Presence in action? Join my free monthly workshop and learn tools to express yourself in every setting. Register here. 

00:00 Introduction to Empathetic Presence 

00:21 Understanding Speaking Anxiety 

00:32 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership 

00:52 Challenging Executive Presence 

01:22 About the Host: Lee Bonvissuto 

01:57 Data on Speaking Confidence 

03:36 Physical and Emotional Distractions 

05:09 Systemic and Situational Factors 

06:27 Rejecting Executive Presence 

07:27 Embracing Empathetic Presence 

08:47 Harnessing Empathy and Expertise 

11:32 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this inaugural episode, I introduce the mission behind Empathetic Presence: creating a world where all voices are heard, especially those that have been systematically silenced.

What You'll Learn:

• Why "executive presence" needs to be rejected in favor of authentic, empathetic leadership
• How overthinking and people-pleasing disconnect us from our natural communication abilities
• Why empathy combined with expertise makes you an unstoppable leader

I believe we don't need to "find our voices" - they're already ours. What we need are cultures where we feel safe enough to use them. When you're comfortable, your confidence naturally emerges. When you're anxious about how you're being perceived, your attention splinters and your voice suffers.

Throughout this podcast journey, I'll share practical tools to help you speak up even when afraid, and I'll interview empathetic experts who are creating cultures where everyone can be heard.

Have a topic suggestion or know someone I should interview? Email me at [email protected]

Remember: Your voice matters. Your empathy is your strength. And together, we can create the leadership our world desperately needs right now.

• Want to experience Empathetic Presence in action? Join my free monthly practice lab and learn tools to express yourself in every setting. Register here.
• Learn about Lee’s work here. 

00:00 Introduction to Empathetic Presence

00:29 The Problem with Toxic Cultures

01:19 Rejecting Executive Presence

01:29 Embracing Empathy and Connection

02:15 The Need for Empathetic Leadership

03:05 Empathy as a Strength

03:16 Conclusion and Call to Action