Empathetic Presence

Lee Bonvissuto

5.0 (3)
CAREERS

Empathetic Presence is a podcast to liberate our voices, from silencing systems, speaking anxiety, and over-thinking. We don’t need more Executive Presence. We need empathetic, present leadership more than ever. Hosted by Self-Expression Strategist Lee Bonvissuto, each episode will share tools to help us express ourselves in big moments and feature interviews with empathetic experts who are creating cultures where we can all be heard.

OCT 17

Building a Care Society with Angelina Drake

In this moment when healthcare access feels increasingly precarious, Angelina Drake reminds us that care work is political work, and that our voices matter. A former home care worker who spent a decade working on care justice issues through long-term care policy and advocacy for nursing home and home care workers, Angelina now serves as Chief Development Officer at Protect Our Care, a healthcare policy organization working to lower healthcare costs, increase coverage, and improve health equity in the U.S. We talk about why care work is systematically undervalued, how the current political moment threatens healthcare access for millions, and what it means to build political will in your own community. Angelina shares how becoming a parent radicalized her understanding of care, why talking to each other is our most powerful tool, and how empathy can fuel—not drain—our advocacy work. Angelina Drake is a former home care worker who spent a decade working on care justice issues through long-term care policy and advocacy for nursing home and home care workers. In recent years, she focused on direct levers of political change supporting voter engagement, campaign, and other civic action research at the Analyst Institute. Angelina now serves as Chief Development Officer at Protect Our Care, a health care policy and narrative change organization that works to lower health care costs, increase health coverage, and improve health equity in the U.S. I spoke with Angelina about building the political will to improve care at a perilous moment for both health care and civic engagement. Learn more about Angelina’s work at protectourcare.org

34 min
OCT 6

Healing Through Ancestral Wisdom with Ssanyu Birigwa

Welcome back to Empathetic Presence. Today I'm sitting down with my dear friend Ssanyu Birigwa, a Columbia-trained narrative medicine clinician and 80th generation indigenous bone healer whose practice bridges ancestral wisdom with embodied presence. In this conversation, Ssanyu shares how deep listening creates reciprocity between ourselves and others, why taking off our masks is both necessary and sometimes unsafe, and how connecting with ancestral knowledge can help us slow down in this fast world. We explore the intersection of narrative medicine and indigenous healing practices, discuss why qualitative research matters as much as quantitative data, and examine how high-achieving individuals can access the tools within themselves to heal and accelerate beyond their wildest dreams. In This Episode: How Narrative Medicine teaches clinicians and leaders to be truly present with othersThe practice of unmasking and why safety must come firstWhat it means to be a bone healer and how this lineage guides Ssanyu's workWhy our evolution doesn't require more input—it requires wisdom about when to engage and when to simply beHow to leverage resources collectively so more of us can feel safe taking off the maskThe power of sharing lived stories as an antidote to institutional silencingSsanyu was born with healing hands—the proud descendant of Ugandan bone healers dating back more than 80 generations. Growing up between Newton, Massachusetts and East Africa, she witnessed the precision of Western medicine alongside the wisdom of ancestral healing practices that had sustained her lineage for centuries. After a health crisis left her partially paralyzed and the death of her uncle and surrogate father, she began asking the questions that would shape her life’s work: How do we listen to our bodies to understand the truth of our emotions? How do we heal physical pain by accessing the stories trapped within us? How do we bridge clinical rigor with ancestral knowing? This inquiry led her to Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine program, where she earned her master’s degree and received the 2016-2017 Narrative Medicine Fellowship. She now serves as Adjunct Professor at Columbia and lectures at Columbia Irving Medical Center on the intersection of spirituality and health. As Co-founder & CEO of Narrative Bridge, Ssanyu brings narrative medicine training to organizations seeking to integrate deep listening and embodied wisdom into leadership. She created the Pause3™ Method framework rooted in her lineage of bone healing and narrative medicine and leads the Resonance Lab, an annual practicum for leaders integrating these modalities into their own work. She has lectured and taught at institutions including the Sorbonne, Johns Hopkins, Kripalu, NYU, and led programs for the Soros Foundation in Uganda and Rwanda. She also maintains a private practice for leaders. This work is one of refinement, excavating what lives beneath burnout, disconnection, and inherited patterns to restore embodied presence and ancestral coherence. Through The Sunday Pause, her weekly newsletter, she shares contemplations on narrative medicine, ancestral healing, and what the bones already know. In Luganda, her father’s tongue, her name means “happiness, joy”—the energy she brings to this work and to the people she serves. www.ssanyubirigwa.com Substack: @ssanyubirigwa & @resonancelab

45 min
SEP 9

The Power of Words with Christina Ferguson

In this episode of Empathetic Presence, I sit down with Christina Ferguson, founder and chief storyteller at Parable, to explore how words are "the primary vehicle in which we are human." Christina helps mission-driven organizations and leaders tap into their true identity—not by branding something external onto them, but by letting what's already inside come out. We dive deep into why so many of us struggle with our voices, whether written or spoken, and how we've lost the art of self-reflection in our hyper-connected world. What we explore: Why identity work must come before mission and visionHow AI is removing the essential friction from our creative processThe difference between branding (stamping something on) and authentic expression (letting what's in come out)How organizations can stay true to their values in challenging momentsPractical ways to develop self-knowing through reflection and spaciousnessChristina shares her process of helping clients excavate their mission through questions rather than quick fixes, and why she believes "the process is the point." This conversation will resonate with anyone who wants to express themselves more authentically—whether you're leading an organization or just trying to find your own voice in a noisy world. Christina is a storyteller and meaning-maker. As the Founder and Chief Storyteller at Parable, she empowers leaders to put fresh, compelling words to who they are, where they're headed, and how they'll get there. Christina's expertise in communications, strategy, sales, and change management makes her a powerful partner for leaders and teams looking to scale more authentically. Christina has held positions in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including nonprofit fundraising firm Graham-Pelton, Georgetown University, and Ashoka. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Villanova University and a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University. She is a graduate of the Leading Organizational Change program through Wharton Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Learn more about Parable Connect with Christina Read Superbloom by Nicholas Carr

38 min
AUG 6

Finding Hope Through Gratitude with Abigail Somma

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 usThe difference between empathy and toxic positivityHow workplace gratitude has evolved from transaction to inner wellness—and what comes nextGratitude Buddies: a platform for skill-sharing and community building beyond traditional capitalismWhy we need "compassionate wise action" instead of judgmentUsing gratitude as a refocusing tool in moments of conflictAbigail 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 Parker3:00 Gratitude vs. toxic positivity8:00 Is gratitude innate or learned?11:00 Practicing loving-kindness toward difficult people15:00 Finding balance between empathy and effectiveness17:00 What is Gratitude Buddies?23:00 Europe vs. US: different responses to social regression28:00 Technology, AI, and staying human33:00 How to stay grounded in uncertain times

36 min
JUL 17

Why Visionaries Matter with Sehreen Noor Ali

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 painfulThe cost of showing up authentically (and how to navigate it)Why knowing the playbook first actually helps you agitate betterHow AI is asking us fundamental questions about what it means to be humanWhy claiming your spot and putting down roots is the key to personal brandThis 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.

44 min
JUL 6

Bending Tools Towards Justice with Deepti Sharma

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 identity02:00 Growing up in Queens and early community service05:00 From politics to starting FoodtoEat09:00 Why entrepreneurship keeps calling14:00 What entrepreneurs can learn from organizers21:00 How capitalism can be bent towards justice23:00 The line between entrepreneurship and politics26:00 Running for office and learning from constituents32:00 Bending tools towards justice in unjust times37:00 Dealing with exhaustion and rebuilding with care

44 min
JUN 24

Empathetic Practice with S. Leigh Thompson

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 work01:00 Theater of the Oppressed methodology04:00 Art and creativity in organizational change07:00 Moving beyond binary thinking09:00 Defining empathetic practice15:00 Individual vs. organizational empathy work18:00 How equity fits with empathetic presence24:00 Can you have equity without empathy?26:00 Building equitable movements and accountability35:00 Why we all need this work

38 min
JUN 5

Moving Our World Forward with Chana Ginelle Ewing

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 littlebigworldLearn more about my work at PresentVoices.com

40 min

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Empathetic Presence is a podcast to liberate our voices, from silencing systems, speaking anxiety, and over-thinking. We don’t need more Executive Presence. We need empathetic, present leadership more than ever. Hosted by Self-Expression Strategist Lee Bonvissuto, each episode will share tools to help us express ourselves in big moments and feature interviews with empathetic experts who are creating cultures where we can all be heard.

Creator

Lee Bonvissuto
Years Active

2K
Episodes

13
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Lee Bonvissuto
Show Website

Empathetic Presence