Episodes

  • The FBI Negotiation Masterclass - How to Read Minds, Build Trust, and Stay Calm

    The FBI Negotiation Masterclass - How to Read Minds, Build Trust, and Stay Calm
    Nov 18 2025
    What can business leaders, parents, and professionals learn from the people who negotiate with spies, terrorists, and hostage-takers? In this FBI Negotiation Masterclass, three elite agents reveal the human side of influence — the small behavioral cues, emotional intelligence, and calm under pressure that determine whether a situation escalates or resolves. Joe Navarro shares how observation and benign curiosity can turn fear into cooperation. Gary Noesner breaks down why likability is the secret weapon in any negotiation. And Melissa Fortunato shows how empathy and diversity save lives — and how the same principles can transform conversations at home and at work. Whether you’re facing conflict in the boardroom or at the kitchen table, this masterclass shows you how to communicate like the people trained to do it when everything’s on the line. Featured Episodes Featuring: The Power of Benign Curiosity in Negotiation with Joe Navarro — Former FBI Special Agent & Body Language Expert, Author of Be Exceptional The FBI’s Top Hostage Negotiator Reveals What Actually Works in Negotiation – with Gary Noesner — Former Chief of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, Author of Stalling for Time The Secret Strategy FBI Negotiators Use — And You Can Too (with Melissa Fortunato) ⁠Melissa Fortunato — FBI Crisis Negotiator & Undercover Agent⁠
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    2 hrs and 16 mins
  • How to Win Minds, Not Arguments: The Power of Compassionate Curiosity

    How to Win Minds, Not Arguments: The Power of Compassionate Curiosity
    Nov 17 2025
    What if you could turn every difficult conversation into an opportunity for connection and understanding? In this episode, Kwame Christian is invited by Melina Palmer, host of The Brainy Business podcast and instructor at Texas A&M University’s Human Behavior Lab, to give a special guest lecture on the psychology of negotiation. Kwame breaks down his Compassionate Curiosity Framework — a simple, science-backed approach to managing emotions, defusing tension, and creating better outcomes in both business and life. You’ll learn how to: Stay calm and effective under pressure Use empathy as a strategy (not just a feeling) Handle difficult personalities — even bullies Set boundaries without escalating conflict Turn emotional conversations into productive solutions This class blends behavioral science, emotional intelligence, and real-world negotiation strategies into one powerful lesson. If you’ve ever wished you could stay in control when conversations get tough — this episode is for you. Get the first chapter of any of Melina’s books for free: ⁠ www.thebrainybusiness.com/ANI⁠ Buy the Book "HOW TO APPLY BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS SO CUSTOMERS BUY": ⁠https://thebrainybusiness.com/pricing-book/⁠ ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Pricing-Behavioral-Economics/dp/1684813433⁠ ⁠Follow Melina Palmer on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ ⁠The Brainy Business⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠⁠
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    55 mins
  • How to ACTUALLY Have Difficult Conversations — Masterclass on Turning Conflict Into Connection

    How to ACTUALLY Have Difficult Conversations — Masterclass on Turning Conflict Into Connection
    Nov 14 2025
    This special masterclass brings together three of the world’s leading voices on communication, psychology, and leadership to explore one of life’s most essential skills — how to have difficult conversations. Harvard’s Sheila Heen unpacks the power of shifting from blame to contribution and shows how understanding power and intent can transform conflict into collaboration. Psychologist Dr. Lara Pence reveals how internal curiosity and emotional self-awareness shape every negotiation and help us stay grounded when tensions rise. Finally, Kenji Yoshino offers a framework for addressing the most complex identity and justice conversations of our time, teaching us how to cultivate curiosity, disagree respectfully, and apologize authentically. Across these three masterclass episodes, you’ll learn how to listen deeply, speak bravely, and lead conversations that heal, connect, and create real change — at work, at home, and in society. Featured episodes Harvard’s Sheila Heen Reveals Why We’re All Negotiating the Wrong Way - Sheila Heen — Harvard Law School Professor & Co-Author of Difficult Conversations Becoming a Better Negotiator Through Curiosity With Lara Pence, PsyD, MBA-Dr. Lara Pence — Clinical Psychologist & Mindset Consultant for Spartan Race Mastering Conversations: Say the Right Thing with Kenji Yoshino - Kenji Yoshino — NYU Law Professor & Co-Author of Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • The Founder of Wikipedia Explains Why We Stopped Trusting Each Other

    The Founder of Wikipedia Explains Why We Stopped Trusting Each Other
    Nov 13 2025
    In this episode, Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, joins Kwame Christian to explore one of the biggest challenges of our time: the collapse of trust. From misinformation and social media outrage to AI deepfakes and short-term thinking, Jimmy shares what he’s learned about truth, integrity, and human connection after decades shaping the world’s largest source of information. Discover why trust is disappearing—from our politics to our personal relationships—and what it actually takes to rebuild it. This conversation dives deep into how algorithms shape what we believe, how technology manipulates emotion, and how each of us can bring honesty and balance back into our lives. If you’ve ever felt that the Internet is dividing us more than connecting us, this episode will change how you see the digital world—and what you can do about it. Connect with Jimmy Buy the book The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last by Jimmy Wales Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠
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    59 mins
  • Before You Speak, They’ve Already Judged You — Here’s What to Do About It

    Before You Speak, They’ve Already Judged You — Here’s What to Do About It
    Nov 12 2025
    They judge you in milliseconds — before you say a single word. And if your presence doesn’t match your message, you're not just being ignored — you're being dismissed. In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with presence expert Evan Weiner to explore the hidden science behind how people experience you — and why that can instantly boost or sabotage your power in negotiation, leadership, and life. From physical presence and aesthetic identity to the neuroscience of dopamine and status, you’ll learn: Why your style, posture, and polish matter more than you think How to build presence that defends your reputation and commands respect The surprising way your body language could be creating “communication dissonance” What to do today to become instantly more persuasive — without changing who you are If you’ve ever felt like people don’t take you seriously — or don’t listen no matter how well you speak — this episode will shift the way you show up forever. Connect with Evan Weiner ⁠www.evangweiner.com⁠ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
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    53 mins
  • Veterans Day Masterclass: Leadership, Service, and the Conversations That Shape Us

    Veterans Day Masterclass: Leadership, Service, and the Conversations That Shape Us
    Nov 11 2025
    In honor of Veterans Day, we bring you a special three-part masterclass celebrating the power of service, courage, and communication. Each guest — a distinguished leader shaped by the military experience — reveals a different side of what it means to lead and connect in complex times. Dr. Heiss Gibson explores humility and trust in the age of artificial intelligence, showing why the best leaders never stop learning. Michèle Flournoy takes us inside the rooms where history was made, from the Bin Laden raid to the cultural transformation of the Pentagon, revealing how strategy and empathy coexist under pressure. Finally, Brian Ahearn shares a deeply personal journey of reconciliation with his father, a Vietnam veteran, proving that influence and healing often begin with one honest conversation. Together, these stories remind us that true leadership isn’t about rank or power — it’s about service, humanity, and the conversations that move us forward. The One Thing Smart Leaders Miss About AI: Professor Hise Gibson — Retired U.S. Army Colonel & Professor at Harvard Business School High Stakes Negotiation: How to Win With Persuasion with Michèle Flournoy -Former U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Brian Ahearn: The Hard Talks We Avoid—And Why We Need Them Brian Ahearn — Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE & Author of His Story, My Story, Our Story
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • The Hidden Cost of Living in Urgency — Dorie Clark on Playing the Long Game

    The Hidden Cost of Living in Urgency — Dorie Clark on Playing the Long Game
    Nov 8 2025
    Why do smart, successful people feel trapped in constant busyness? In this episode, Dorie Clark — author of The Long Game — joins Kwame Christian to reveal why thinking long-term feels almost impossible in a world that rewards urgency. They explore the psychology of busyness, how scarcity rewires our decisions, and what it takes to find courage, patience, and joy in the process — even when the world keeps screaming “faster.” In this episode: Why “I’m busy” has become the new humble brag The emotional roots of scarcity and overwork How to build meaning instead of chasing more The courage required to think long-term What AI and technology mean for the future of communication Connect with Dorie dorieclark.com Buy the Book: THE LONG GAME How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
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    52 mins
  • Sales Masterclass: The 3-Episode Guide to Persuasion, Influence, and Closing Deals

    Sales Masterclass: The 3-Episode Guide to Persuasion, Influence, and Closing Deals
    Nov 7 2025
    Welcome to the Sales Masterclass — a powerful three-part series designed to help you master the art of persuasion, influence, and closing high-stakes deals. In these episodes, you’ll go far beyond basic sales tactics. You’ll learn how to: Build instant trust without sounding salesy. Uncover what truly motivates your clients to say yes. Handle objections with confidence and strategy. Close deals that create long-term relationships, not one-time wins. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, or professional negotiator, this masterclass will help you understand human behavior at a deeper level and use that insight to sell with integrity and impact. Episode 1: The Psychology of Persuasion Episode 2: Influence Without Manipulation Episode 3: Closing the Deal with Confidence Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any part of this series. Each episode builds on the last.
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    1 hr and 46 mins