Podcast

All Things Negotiation

Education, How To

A podcast about negotiation, persuasion, and influence—taught through real stories.

Hosted by Stan Christensen, who has taught negotiation at Stanford University for over 20 years, this bi-weekly podcast features founders, executives, investors, and foreign policy experts sharing real-world negotiation experiences.

Episodes explore how leaders negotiate with venture capitalists, employees, customers, boards, and governments—and what actually works when the stakes are high.

How To chart
#94
Episodes
57
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
52 min
On air since
2024
Latest episode
1 week ago

Episodes

57 episodes, newest first

  1. Daniel Pink: The Art of Persuasion in a Changing World

    Show notes

    What do your regrets reveal about what you value, and how can they make you a better negotiator?

    Bestselling author Daniel H. Pink (The Power of Regret, Drive, A Whole New Mind) joins Stan Christensen to talk about regret, persuasion, motivation, and building a career as AI takes over entry-level work. Drawing on regrets collected from more than 26,000 people in 134 countries, Pink explains why we regret the chances we didn't take far more than the ones we did, why moral regrets cut deepest, and why "awkward" is almost never a good reason not to reach out.

    Stan and Dan also cover:

    - How to change someone's mind in a divided country, and the "looping" technique for understanding people you disagree with

    - Why taste, composition, and wisdom become more valuable as AI improves

    - Career advice for 21-year-olds, and why "follow your passion" falls short

    - What really motivates people, and why fairness matters in pay and negotiation

    - How Dan reads, when to quit a book, and the fiction and nonfiction that changed his mind

    Timestamps

    (0:00) Introducing Daniel Pink

    (1:35) What our regrets reveal about what we value

    (3:01) The girl on the school bus

    (6:20) How regret makes you a better negotiator

    (7:26) A silver dollar and a handwritten letter

    (10:45) Regrets of action vs. inaction

    (13:07) Connection regrets: "If only I'd reached out"

    (17:05) Understanding each other in a divided country

    (19:25) Looping for understanding

    (22:31) Negotiating your career in the age of AI

    (24:56) Taste, composition, and wisdom

    (31:56) Why "follow your passion" is bad advice

    (37:00) What really works for productivity

    (40:50) Why empathy isn't weakness in negotiation

    (45:20) What actually motivates people

    (47:41) Negotiating job offers and fair pay

    (51:43) How Daniel Pink reads

    (55:13) Daniel Pink's book picks

    (57:54) Who persuaded Daniel Pink

    Links

    Daniel H. Pink: https://www.danpink.com

    The Power of Regret: https://www.danpink.com/books/the-power-of-regret/

    The World Regret Survey: https://worldregretsurvey.com/

    The Puzzle of Motivation (TED): https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_the_puzzle_of_motivation

    Books discussed: A Whole New Mind and Drive (Daniel H. Pink), High Conflict (Amanda Ripley), Deep Work (Cal Newport), Getting Things Done (David Allen), Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher and William Ury), Yesteryear (Caro Claire Burke), James (Percival Everett), Animal Farm (George Orwell), The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald), The Nickel Boys (Colson Whitehead), Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (Ben Fountain), The Righteous Mind (Jonathan Haidt), The Stoic Challenge (William B. Irvine), Influence (Robert Cialdini), The Art of Gathering (Priya Parker).

    Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsNegotiation

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career as a professional negotiator and teaches negotiation at Stanford. On All Things Negotiation, he talks with leaders, diplomats, and thinkers about how persuasion and influence work in the real world.

    1 hr 2 min
  2. Samantha Power: Negotiating With Russia, Persuading Obama, and the Fight for USAID

    Show notes

    How do you persuade a president, negotiate with Russia, and build a coalition when change seems impossible?

    Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and USAID Administrator Samantha Power joins Stan Christensen for a candid conversation about diplomacy, negotiation, and leading through crisis. Power, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Problem from Hell and The Education of an Idealist, shares how she talked her way into covering the war in Bosnia, what she learned negotiating the removal of Syria's chemical weapons, and why Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin was the best negotiator she ever faced.

    They also discuss how to raise human rights issues without sounding moralistic, what really worked in persuading President Obama, the Ebola response, the dismantling of USAID and its human cost, and the lessons from her Harvard course on making change when change is hard, including why every coalition needs both "Baptists and bootleggers."

    0:00 Samantha Power and The Education of an Idealist

    0:30 The audiobook and a letter to her son

    2:15 How a failed negotiation made her a war correspondent

    4:05 Writing her own press badge

    4:45 Why you have to get close to the issue

    6:50 Negotiation lessons: leave it all on the field

    9:30 Leading USAID

    11:15 How USAID was dismantled

    15:10 Why Congress didn't push back

    24:20 How to persuade President Obama

    27:40 Raising human rights in policy debates

    33:25 Syria, chemical weapons, and the red line

    41:30 Negotiating with Russia's Vitaly Churkin

    45:35 Lessons from the Ebola response

    51:15 Teaching social change at Harvard

    52:25 Shrink the change

    53:30 Find your Baptists and bootleggers

    SAMANTHA POWER

    Harvard Kennedy School faculty page

    https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/samantha-power

    BOOKS BY SAMANTHA POWER

    The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir

    https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-education-of-an-idealist-samantha-power

    A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide (2003 Pulitzer Prize)

    https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Hell-America-Age-Genocide/dp/0465061516

    Chasing the Flame: One Man's Fight to Save the World

    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/300934/chasing-the-flame-by-samantha-power/

    HER HARVARD COURSE WITH CASS SUNSTEIN

    Making Change When Change Is Hard: The Law, Politics, and Policy of Social Change

    https://www.hks.harvard.edu/courses/making-change-when-change-hard-law-politics-and-policy-social-change

    BOOKS DISCUSSED

    Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/77696/switch-by-chip-heath-and-dan-heath/

    Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

    https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Team-of-Rivals/Doris-Kearns-Goodwin/9780743270755

    LISTEN TO ALL THINGS NEGOTIATION

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-negotiation/id1769229339

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsNegotiation

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career as a professional negotiator and teaches negotiation at Stanford. On All Things Negotiation, he talks with leaders, diplomats, and thinkers about how persuasion and influence work in the real world.

    #SamanthaPower #Negotiation #Diplomacy #USAID #AllThingsNegotiation

    54 min
  3. David Brooks: How to bridge America’s divide

    Show notes

    David Brooks, bestselling author of How to Know a Person, explores how to bridge America's political and cultural divide, and why listening, empathy, judgment, and understanding people we disagree with may matter more than persuasion.

    Brooks, host of the new podcast The Permanent Questions and author of The Second Mountain, argues that many of the institutions shaping young people have become better at preparing them for careers than preparing them for life.

    We explore what universities should be teaching that they often are not: judgment, empathy, moral reasoning, curiosity, listening, and the ability to understand people whose beliefs differ from our own. David explains why intelligence and good judgment are not the same thing, why asking better questions can transform our relationships, and why understanding another person should come before trying to persuade them.

    The conversation ranges from America's political and cultural divisions to AI and education, meaning and faith, marriage and parenting, loneliness and friendship, and what David learned about suffering and character.

    At the heart of the conversation is an idea from How to Know a Person: in an increasingly divided culture, learning how to truly see and understand another human being may be one of the most important things we can learn to do.

    This is ultimately a hopeful conversation about becoming better listeners, better thinkers, better parents and partners, and better at living with people who see the world differently.

    BOOKS AND RESOURCES

    David Brooks

    How to Know a Personhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652822/how-to-know-a-person-by-david-brooks/

    The Second Mountainhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/3375/david-brooks/

    DAVID BROOKS'S NEW PODCAST

    The Permanent Questions with David Brookshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-permanent-questions-with-david-brooks/id6803240325

    BOOKS DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDED

    The Sense of Reality by Isaiah Berlinhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Sense+of+Reality+Isaiah+Berlin

    Community by Peter Blockhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/815995/community-third-edition-by-peter-block/

    The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller and Kathy Kellerhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/309809/the-meaning-of-marriage-by-timothy-keller-with-kathy-keller/

    Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Franklhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/206272/mans-search-for-meaning-by-viktor-e-frankl/

    Morality by Jonathan Sackshttps://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jonathan-sacks/morality/9781541675322/

    The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J. Sandelhttps://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770028/thetyrannyofmerit/

    Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegnerhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/172500/crossing-to-safety-by-wallace-stegner/

    Juvenescence by Robert Pogue Harrisonhttps://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/J/bo18596462.html

    1 hr 18 min
  4. Angela Duckworth: Why Grit isn’t Enough and How to Get Situated

    Show notes

    Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit, returns with a powerful new idea: success depends not only on your character and perseverance, but also on the people, places, cultures, and environments surrounding you.

    In her new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton professor explains why grit and willpower are sometimes not enough. Instead of always asking, “What’s wrong with me?” Angela suggests asking a different question: “What’s wrong with my situation—and how can i change it?”

    In this conversation, Angela explains how to intentionally create situations that make success, better relationships, and positive change more likely. They explore how to recognize a culture that is holding you back, choose influential peers, find mentors without awkwardly asking someone to “be your mentor,” and design an environment that makes good decisions easier.

    Angela also discusses what Taylor Swift understood about the power of place, how parents shape children through behavior rather than lectures, and how changing the situation helped Angela and her husband navigate a crisis in their marriage. The conversation concludes with a wider examination of political polarization, social media, smartphones, public education, and the environments that increasingly separate us from people who think differently.

    Topics include:

    • Why grit is necessary but not sufficient

    • How your environment shapes your behavior and identity

    • When perseverance becomes a reason to remain in the wrong situation

    • How culture and peer groups influence career decisions• Practical strategies for finding mentors

    • Parenting through modeling rather than lecturing

    • Changing the situation instead of trying to change your spouse

    • Social media, smartphones, and political polarization

    • How to design surroundings that bring out your best

    Get Angela Duckworth’s new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best:https://www.angeladuckworth.com/situatedGet Angela's Best Selling Book Grit: https://www.angeladuckworth.com/grit

    Angela Duckworth is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of the international bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, which has sold more than five million copies. Her new book is Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.

    1 hr 3 min
  5. Blake Mycoskie: No Magic Pill

    Show notes

    Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes, joins Stan to discuss his entrepreneurial journey through the lens of negotiation, from losing The Amazing Race due to wrong assumptions to building TOMS’ one-for-one model that donated over 100 million pairs of shoes. He shares negotiation lessons from supply-chain struggles in Argentina and China, early PR-driven demand he couldn’t fulfill, and a costly Nordstrom deal he “won” by refusing boxes that later backfired. After selling TOMS for nearly $1B and moving to Jackson Hole, Blake describes losing purpose, falling into deep depression, and seeking external fixes before realizing fulfillment required inner work. He explains the role of community, reducing mental-health stigma, his No Magic Pill podcast, and his “Enough” bracelet nonprofit supporting mental-health causes.

    ------------------------------------

    No Magic Pill Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@NoMagicPillwithBlakeMycoskie

    Personal Website: https://blakemycoskie.com/Enough: https://blakemycoskie.com/enough

    Morning Water: https://blakemycoskie.com/morning-water

    00:00 External Success Inner Crash

    00:43 Meet Blake And The Big Life

    02:04 Amazing Race Lesson

    04:14 Risk Conviction And Early Hustles

    06:28 Argentina Spark And Career Advice

    08:35 Supply Chain Negotiation Reality

    13:22 LA Times Orders And Customer Emails

    15:48 Retail Growth And Channel Control

    17:39 Airport Fan Moment And Storytelling

    21:10 Breaking Into Retail By Showing Up

    23:36 Nordstrom Box Negotiation Backfire

    24:59 Nordstrom Box Fiasco

    25:51 Stubborn Values Lessons

    27:56 Post Exit Purpose Crash

    30:23 Core Wound Enoughness

    32:08 No Magic Pill Podcast

    39:37 Community Beats Stigma

    46:00 Serve Others Daily

    48:28 First Steps for Help

    49:51 Enough Bracelet Movement

    52:40 Closing Reflections

    54 min
  6. Michael McFaul: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia on Putin, China, and the Future of Democracy

    Show notes

    In this episode of All Things Negotiation, Stanford professor and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul discusses the difference between autocrats and democrats. How leaders like Putin, Xi, and Trump think differently than leaders who seek to protect democratic institutions. As someone who has known Putin since before his rise to power, Ambassador Mcfaul explains why he is not interested in personal friendship with American leaders and how offering unilateral concessions yields nothing in return.

    Ambassador McFaul reflects on the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, arguing it successfully constrained Iran’s program and that Trump’s withdrawal accelerated Iran’s capacity while failing to meet stated objectives.

    He explains how autocrats are paranoid about democratic ideas, and he traces Putin’s evolution and obsession with Ukraine.

    The conversation covers leadership, U.S. polarization and isolationism, President Zelensky’s wartime transformation, the strategic importance of aiding Ukraine for European security and Taiwan deterrence, and how China uses international institutions and new multilateral bodies while maintaining a limited partnership with Russia.

    Check out Michael’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Autocrats-vs-Democrats-America-Disorder/dp/B0DW2GWHLQ

    02:59 IRAN & THE NUCLEAR DEAL

    06:21 UNDERSTANDING PUTIN

    14:14 NEGOTIATING WITH PUTIN

    18:47 TRUMP & THE AUTOCRATIC PLAYBOOK

    22:38 NAVALNY

    25:13 POSSIBLE BUMPER

    28:21 BEGIN ENDING

    28:28 UKRAINE & ZELENSKY

    39:37 CHINA & XI

    47:25 MOVE FORWARD

    50:07 ALLIES & CLOSING

    54 min
  7. Roger Carstens: America’s Chief Hostage Negotiator

    Show notes

    Stan talks with Roger Carstens, former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and ex–Army Ranger/Special Forces officer, about high-stakes hostage negotiations and the realities of persuading adversaries.

    Carstens explains how the hostage office was created after U.S. failures in Syria, argues engagement is essential despite “we don’t negotiate” rhetoric, and reports his team helped bring home 65 Americans and over 250 non-Americans.

    He details preparation methods, identifying true decision-makers, and the often tougher “interagency combat” inside Washington. Case discussions include Russia prisoner swaps involving Viktor Bout, expanding negotiations into a multi-country deal, efforts to include Alexei Navalny, and the importance of allies.

    He describes President Biden’s deep involvement with Gaza hostage families, contrasts Iranian tactics with other states, and emphasizes trust, empathy, transparency, intuition, and creativity.

    01:55 Military Roots of Negotiation

    02:57 Special Forces Mindset

    05:22 Hostage Envoy Office Origins

    07:21 Why You Must Engage

    09:38 Inside a Russia Swap Prep

    10:50 Finding the Real Decision Makers

    14:50 Interagency Friction and Resilience

    17:00 Families as Creative Partners

    19:53 What Makes a Fair Trade

    24:05 Hardest Negotiation Is Internal

    25:27 Victor Bout After Release

    26:28 Enlarging the Swap With Allies

    28:35 Navalny on the Table

    33:18 Allies and Trust at the Top

    34:10 Biden and Gaza Hostage Families

    36:47 Tragedy on the Call

    38:45 White House Takes Lead

    40:26 Relationships First

    41:42 Iranian Negotiation Games

    44:02 Winning Over the Taliban

    47:45 Maduro and Venezuela Lessons

    53:07 Intuition and Judgment

    58:28 China and Building Rapport

    01:01:39 Surging Trust Fast

    01:06:33 Lightning Round and Closing

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    1 hr 12 min
  8. Christa Gannon: Negotiating With Kids the System Gave Up On

    Show notes

    Stan interviews Christa Gannon about founding Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) after volunteering with incarcerated teens and asking what could have prevented their involvement with the justice system.

    A former UC Santa Barbara basketball All-American and Stanford Law graduate, Gannon describes negotiating with fear to take a nontraditional path, learning entrepreneurial lessons from sports, and using deep listening to co-design programs with youth around legal education, mentoring, and leadership development.

    She discusses the demographics and trauma many justice-involved youth face, the use of role plays to teach life skills and conflict resolution, and the importance of authenticity, consistency, and humility in earning trust.

    The conversation covers persuading system stakeholders and donors with shared goals, outcomes, and youth-centered storytelling, plus FLY’s results in reducing recidivism and building hope, and Gannon’s later transition from CEO and her work supporting leadership transitions.

    Check out FLY: https://flyprogram.org

    00:00 Vision Beyond Prison

    00:22 Choosing a Different Path

    02:29 Claiming the Torch

    04:23 Athlete Mindset for Leadership

    05:52 Juvenile Hall Catalyst

    07:31 Founding FLY Mission

    09:00 Credibility and Permission

    10:49 Who the Youth Are

    13:23 Deep Listening Co Creation

    15:36 Teaching Through Role Plays1

    8:21 Persuading Systems and Stakeholders

    20:06 Authenticity Builds Buy In

    23:02 Trust Story Football Mentor

    25:34 Role Plays in Real Life

    26:28 Mentor Program Lesson

    27:51 Volunteer Consistency Matters

    29:19 Parents Gangs Ripple Effects

    31:56 Replacing Gang Belonging

    32:34 Justice System Stakeholders

    34:43 Donors Stories Ethics

    39:10 Measuring Youth Outcomes

    40:32 Teaching Conflict Skills

    41:44 Meeting Kids Where They Are

    44:34 Work Family Balance

    48:29 Founder Transition Bridge

    50:28 Transition Advice Closing

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    55 min
  9. How to Have Difficult Conversations with Sheila Heen

    Show notes

    Stan interviews longtime friend and Harvard professor Sheila Heen about why difficult conversations derail and how to handle them more effectively.

    They discuss the “hero/villain/victim” stories people tell when frustrated, how smart people can listen poorly by focusing on what’s wrong, and why many conflicts are “switch-track” disagreements where each person thinks the conversation is about something different.

    The conversation also covers political polarization, complex identities, and Heen’s course on negotiating money, wealth, happiness, and meaning.

    00:00 Intro

    03:06 What Makes Talks Hard

    04:30 Avoidance And Timing

    06:53 Family Conversation Traps

    08:54 Hero Villain Victim

    10:06 Respond To Feelings

    12:40 Switch Track Conversations

    14:25 Empathy Versus Assertion

    18:04 Loss

    19:43 Intent Versus Impact

    20:33 Comment Dilemma

    23:15 Intent/Impact Lesson

    27:34 Beyond Blame To Contribution

    29:50 Identity Fuels Polarization

    33:00 Antidotes To Political Divide

    34:50 Marriage Conflicts That Persist

    38:41 Negotiating Money And Self Worth

    42:36 Money Talks For Couples

    49:01 Lifestyle Creep And Meaning

    51:57 Lightning Round Conversation Tools

    54:58 Resources And Farewell

    Check out Sheila at: https://www.stoneandheen.com/training-consulting

    Buy Her Book: https://www.stoneandheen.com/

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    56 min
  10. Negotiating the New Cold War with China

    Show notes

    China expert Rush Doshi explains how the US should negotiate and compete with China amid deep mutual distrust and differing views of intentions.

    Rush Doshi is regarded as one of the leading voices on US policy toward China, and he argues that China’s strategy shifts with its perception of American power—ebbing and flowing with the state of US policy decisions.

    Stan and Rush discuss his insight from being in a key figure in the rooms of prior negotiations and how that shapes his view of the current state of US policies: what works and what doesn't.Rush points out the key weakness the US has when squaring up to China on the international stage, but he also shares what the US can do to win the competition.

    Check out Rush's book: https://www.rushdoshi.com/thelonggame

    01:41 China Reads US Power

    03:00 From Biding Time To Boldness

    04:16 Why Beijing Feels Confident

    05:11 Managing Distrustful Talks

    08:14 Biden Era Negotiation Phases

    10:06 Trade War And Rare Earth Shock

    13:58 Strategic Versus Tactical Bargaining

    16:30 Scale Decides Great Powers

    21:53 Allied Scale As The Answer

    24:08 Using Leverage With Allies

    25:24 Tariffs After Court Ruling

    25:51 Allied Scale For Minerals

    27:33 Sticks Versus Strategy

    28:03 Domestic Politics And Blowback

    30:45 Distraction And Strategic Opportunity

    32:13 Taiwan Policy In Flux

    34:22 Chips Deals And Credibility

    37:27 Strategic Ambiguity And Stability

    41:07 Managed Competition Framework

    46:08 Russia Ukraine And China4

    8:12 Making The Case At Home

    50:27 Congress And Closing Thoughts

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    52 min
  11. Sal Khan on AI, Education, and the Future of Work

    Show notes

    Sal Khan reflects on growing Khan Academy from tutoring cousins in 2004 into a nonprofit serving nearly 200 million registered users across 50+ languages with 350 staff, driven by a mission of free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Sal shares how he negotiated with himself and his collaborators to keep Khan Academy a non-profit organization that's mission-driven. He dives into the most prominent issues facing education today including systemic problems inherited from the incumbents in the space, as well as new challenges and opportunities being ushered in with the rise of AI technology.

    Check out schoolhouse.world.

    http://schoolhouse.world/

    Please consider donating to Khan Academy

    http://khanacademy.org/donate

    00:00 Khan Academy Scale

    00:27 Why It Became An Institution

    02:05 Origin Story Tutoring Cousins

    04:15 Money Versus Mission

    06:51 Why Stay Nonprofit

    09:52 Working With School Systems

    12:52 Winning Teacher Trust

    15:58 District Negotiations And Privacy

    19:09 OpenAI Outreach And GPT-4 Demo

    22:10 Building Conmigo AI Tutor

    23:39 Beyond Tutoring Writing And Cheating

    24:03 AI Writing Coach Workflow

    24:50 Assessing Soft Skills

    26:27 Next Gen Standardized Tests

    26:56 Scaling Durable Skills Training

    28:20 Why He Wrote Brave New Words

    32:50 Rethinking What Schools Teach

    33:26 Who Sets Curriculum Signals

    37:13 Job Shock and Automation Fears

    39:28 Who Pays for Reskilling

    43:20 Screen Time and Healthy Tech

    45:18 Can Khan Reduce Inequality

    47:28 Global Impact Stories Wrap Up

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    50 min
  12. Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates

    Show notes

    Former Trump Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs and National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien discusses behind-the-scenes negotiation lessons from hostage cases and major foreign-policy deals.

    O’Brien describes his approach as implementing President Trump’s decisions, crediting that alignment for successes including the Abraham Accords.

    He gives a candid look at what operations inside the Trump administration looks like. Robert and Stan weigh the merits and perils of Trump's personal negotiating style and the effects it might have on the U.S standing in the world.

    00:00 Trump Negotiation Style

    00:26 Meet Robert OBrien

    01:39 ASAP Rocky Case

    03:30 Tough Talk With Sweden

    05:27 From Hostages To NSA

    07:27 Abraham Accords Breakthrough

    10:59 Kushner And Internal Pushback

    12:07 West Bank Red Line

    14:25 Maximalism And Greenland

    17:35 Unpredictability And Kissinger

    19:48 Taiwan And China Strategy

    21:55 Allies And Burden Sharing

    24:38 Soleimani And Syria Deal

    27:51 Erdogan And Long Term Ties

    31:17 Negotiation Skills And Unity

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    36 min
  13. Fareed Zakaria: Navigating a World of Rising Powers and Shifting Alliances

    Show notes

    In this conversation with Fareed Zakaria, the discussion centers on negotiation as the core of foreign policy and the danger of confusing tactical success with strategic clarity.

    Zakaria weighs in on the U.S conflict in Iran and shares a dire warning about how it could affect U.S negotiations for years to come.

    Stan and Fareed discuss a wide range of bilateral relationships and the potential risk of an “imperial trap” we might be falling into as we erode trust and the post-1945 order.

    Check out Fareed on his podcast:

    https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/fareed-zakaria-gps

    And CNN: https://podcasts.apple.com/iq/podcast/fareed-zakaria-gps/id377785090

    00:00 Tactics vs Strategy

    01:33 Iran Talks Undermined

    03:46 Israel US Goals Diverge

    06:00 Iraq Lessons and Aims

    08:20 Pressuring Israel

    12:25 China Reads the Signals

    15:11 Tariffs and Trust

    18:01 Allies and Supply Chains

    21:55 India and Turkey

    23:11 Turkey Drifts Westward

    23:59 Pressuring Putin to Talk

    25:43 Both Sides and Overreach

    28:50 Norms Versus Guardrails

    32:00 Why Congress Stays Silent

    35:35 Can GOP Reclaim Reagan

    38:03 Democrats and Culture Wars

    42:10 Great Negotiators and Wrap

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    46 min
  14. Jenna Nicholas: Negotiating For Purpose And Profit

    Show notes

    In this podcast episode, Stan welcomes investor and CEO Jenna Nicholas to discuss the growing inflection point where financial performance aligns with social and environmental impact.

    They explore Nicholas’s book, "The Enlightened Bottom Line: Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality, Business and Investing," including her motivation to interview investors and business leaders about transformational moments, values, and legacy.

    Nicholas shares case studies such as Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective structure to perpetuate environmental impact, Panera’s COVID-era partnership to provide school lunches through USDA support, and companies like Devoted Health and Barry-Wehmiller that connect trust and empathy to business performance.

    Check out Jenna's book at: https://www.jenna-nicholas.com/

    00:00 Impact Investing Inflection

    00:57 Negotiation Lessons Revisited

    01:48 Why Write The Book

    04:26 Patagonia And Panera Stories

    07:33 HEAL Framework Explained

    08:15 ESG Goes Mainstream

    14:46 Convincing The Skeptics

    17:00 Trust Purpose And Performance

    19:39 Spirituality At Work

    23:13 Embedding Values In Culture

    25:21 What Is Impact Experience

    33:40 Measuring Outcomes And Commitments

    35:50 Education Equity Breakthroughs

    41:47 Deep Listening As Persuasion

    44:36 Closing Thoughts And Book Plug

    46 min
  15. Jeremy Andrus: The Turnaround Entrepreneur behind Traeger Grills

    Show notes

    In this revealing episode, Stan sits down with Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills, to delve into his gripping experiences in entrepreneurship and business transformation. Jeremy shares the tumultuous journey of rethinking and reinventing Traeger Grills amidst economic upheavals, tariffs, and a toxic corporate culture. The conversation covers the critical importance of negotiation, managing complex supplier relationships, leveraging partnerships with major retailers like Costco, and the power of transparency in leadership. Alongside anecdotes from his time at Skullcandy and a harrowing poisoning scare in China, Jeremy offers invaluable insights into building a resilient business that's not just about survival, but winning.

    00:27 Meet Jeremy Andres: CEO of Traeger Grills

    01:12 Navigating Challenges: COVID and Tariffs

    02:47 Reinvention and Survival Strategies

    05:38 Transparency and Team Communication

    10:43 Jeremy's Harvard Business School Journey

    13:16 Early Entrepreneurial Struggles

    17:17 Joining Skullcandy: The Early Days

    21:55 Negotiating Deals and Raising Capital

    29:05 Acquiring Traeger Grills: The Surprises

    30:04 Acquiring a 27-Year-Old Business

    30:35 Cultural Challenges and Realizations

    33:01 Negotiating a Buyout

    33:34 Revamping the Supply Chain

    34:37 Dealing with Toxic Culture

    36:59 Retail Negotiations and Battle Scars

    37:25 Costco's Tough Negotiation Tactics

    48:38 Supplier Negotiations in China

    55:54 Building Strong Supplier Relationships

    01:03:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    #AllThingsNegotiation #NegotiationStrategy #DealMaking #BusinessLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #MethodicalThinking #BATNA #Leverage #SalesLeadership #FounderLife #CLevelLeadership #StrategicThinking #BusinessPodcast #StanAndJeremy #Traeger

    1 hr 4 min
  16. David Neeleman: The JetBlue founder who built five successful airlines

    Show notes

    In this episode, Stan welcomes David Neeleman, a renowned figure in the airline industry, for an in-depth conversation on the intricacies of building successful airlines. David, who has founded five airlines including JetBlue and Breeze Airways, shares his insights on effective negotiation, leadership, and personal growth. The discussion covers his career journey, significant milestones, key strategies in negotiating with stakeholders, and maintaining a strong company culture. David also opens up about challenges, including his time at Southwest Airlines and the infamous Valentine's Day crisis at JetBlue, and the lessons learned from these experiences.

    01:04 David Neeleman's Early Career and Morris Air

    02:21 The Sale to Southwest Airlines

    04:43 Challenges at Southwest and Moving On

    06:33 Founding WestJet and Navitaire

    09:40 The Birth of JetBlue

    11:17 JetBlue's Success and Differentiation

    13:29 Negotiating with Boeing and Airbus

    16:03 Customer Engagement and Communication Strategies

    22:14 Total Transparency and Accountability

    22:39 The Valentine's Day Massacre Crisis

    25:43 Lessons from Getting Fired

    29:51 Founding Azul Airlines

    32:18 Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges

    34:14 The Success of Breeze Airways

    42:25 Effective Negotiation Strategies

    43:34 Advice for Young Professionals

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    44 min
  17. Chip Conley: The entrepreneur who reinvented three industries

    Show notes

    In this episode, Stan talks with Chip Conley, an iconic entrepreneur and the founder of the Joie De Vivre hotel chain, a key player in Airbnb, and the creator of the Modern Elder Academy. They dive into the principles of karmic capitalism, lessons learned from building and scaling multiple successful businesses, and strategies for maintaining a good reputation.

    Chip shares his experiences at Airbnb, dealing with regulation challenges, and the importance of inter-generational collaboration.

    They also discuss the Modern Elder Academy, where Chip helps individuals navigate midlife transitions and find new purpose.

    This episode is rich with lessons in negotiation, leadership, and holistic thinking.

    Check out:

    Chip’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast

    Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/

    Chip’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast

    00:00 Introduction to Karmic Capitalism

    00:20 Meet Chip Conley: Entrepreneurial Journey

    02:48 Founding Joie de Vivre Hotel Chain

    05:55 Negotiating with Bands and Tour Managers

    11:26 Risk and Decision Making in Business

    15:21 Hotel Vitale: A Case Study in Negotiation

    19:26 Managing Through Economic Downturns

    23:34 Transition to Airbnb and Burning Man Involvement

    29:20 The Ethos of Burning Man

    29:39 Negotiation Strategies and Personal Stories

    31:46 Joining Airbnb: A New Challenge

    33:08 Building Culture and Facing Challenges at Airbnb

    36:33 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics

    40:28 Regulation and Host Relations

    45:02 Founding the Modern Elder Academy

    48:09 Helping People Navigate Midlife Transitions

    52:25 The Value of Wisdom and Experience

    54:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    57 min
  18. David Rubenstein: Carlyle Co-Founder on Negotiation Lessons from Wall Street to Washington

    Show notes

    In this insightful episode you will learn about the power of persuasion and negotiation from David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group. Dive into his extensive experience in relationship-building, fundraising, and leadership. Discover Rubenstein's methods for becoming an effective communicator and the significance of self-deprecating humor and active listening in negotiations. Gain an insider's perspective on political dynamics, U.S. presidencies, and nonprofit leadership as Rubenstein shares stories from his distinguished career. Whether in business, politics, or personal relationships, find out how persistence, integrity, and bipartisanship are key to success.

    00:00 Introduction: The Power of Persuasion

    01:00 Building Relationships: Insights from David Rubenstein

    01:38 Developing an Outgoing Personality

    03:34 Lessons from Ted Sorenson

    04:47 The Role of Persistence in Fundraising

    08:17 Recruiting and Integrity at Carlisle

    11:36 Leadership Transitions at Carlisle

    14:36 Current Political Climate and Bipartisanship

    21:07 International Relations and Allies

    23:06 Presidential Power and Persuasion

    25:45 Trump's Popularity in the Middle East

    26:52 Reflecting on Jimmy Carter's Legacy

    28:08 Challenges in Leading Nonprofit Organizations

    32:19 The Role of Presidents in Negotiation

    33:05 Evaluating Presidential Effectiveness

    38:48 Obama's Struggles with Bipartisanship

    40:39 Supreme Court Confirmations and Politics

    42:03 Perspectives on Reagan and Bush

    45:19 Biden's Negotiation Challenges

    46:27 US-China Relations

    47:52 The Importance of Negotiation Skills

    50:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    49 min
  19. Jake Harriman: Building Trust Across Political Lines at More Perfect Union

    Show notes

    In this compelling episode, Jake Harriman, founder of More Perfect Union, discusses his mission to bridge America's partisan divide through community service, civics, and social gatherings. Harriman, a former Marine with extensive combat experience in Iraq, shares how his military background and a transformational encounter in Southern Iraq pushed him to address extreme poverty in Africa through the nonprofit Nuru International. He later transitioned to More Perfect Union, inspired by the growing political divide in America. The conversation covers Harriman's active efforts in various communities, from rural Texas to urban Washington D.C., to unite people across political lines through structured activities and curated conversations. Key negotiation lessons emphasize active listening, empathy, and finding common ground.

    00:00 Introduction to the Guest and His Mission

    01:10 Jake's Military Background and Lessons Learned

    02:10 Negotiation Stories from the Battlefield

    12:37 A Life-Changing Experience in Iraq

    17:33 Founding NRU International

    19:42 Challenges and Successes in Africa

    27:14 Negotiation Tactics in Challenging Environments

    27:58 Ensuring Safety in Remote Areas

    29:05 Building Trust with Local Leaders

    30:45 Personal Stories of Security and Negotiation

    32:03 Faith in the Military's Loyalty

    33:23 Transition to More Perfect Union

    35:24 Founding More Perfect Union

    37:02 Brickyards: Building Community Trust

    40:15 Success Stories from Brickyards

    48:25 Recruiting and Training Brickyard Leaders

    55:48 Final Thoughts and Getting Involved

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    57 min
  20. Hannah Riley Bowles: Lessons on gender, power and negotiation

    Show notes

    Join us in an insightful conversation with Hannah Riley Bowles, a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School and an expert in negotiation. In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of gender differences in negotiation, strategies for closing the gender pay gap, and the socio-economic and family dynamics influencing women's career advancement. Learn about the essential S.U.R.E framework for effective negotiation and uncover the impact of family support systems on career growth. Whether you're negotiating a salary, balancing family and work, or seeking relationship harmony, this discussion provides actionable advice and profound insights.

    See more of Hannah's work here: https://hbr.org/2021/01/negotiating-your-next-job

    https://hbr.org/2014/06/why-women-dont-negotiate-their-job-offers

    00:00 Introduction: Gender and Negotiation

    00:29 Meet Hannah Riley Bowles

    01:09 Do Men and Women Negotiate Differently?

    03:35 The SURE Framework for Negotiation

    12:52 Women, Career Advancement, and Family

    33:14 The Role of Grandparents and Extended Family

    38:14 Conclusion: The Importance of Negotiation Training

    Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    41 min