Empathetic Presence

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