All Things Negotiation

Stan Christensen

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.

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English

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October 8 · 53 min
Samantha Power: Negotiating With Russia, Persuading Obama, and the Fight for USAID
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
September 22 · 1 hr 17 min
David Brooks: How to bridge America’s divide
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
September 8 · 1 hr 3 min
Angela Duckworth: Why Grit isn’t Enough and How to Get Situated
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.
August 25 · 54 min
Blake Mycoskie: No Magic Pill
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
August 11 · 53 min
Michael McFaul: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia on Putin, China, and the Future of Democracy
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
July 21 · 1 hr 11 min
Roger Carstens: America’s Chief Hostage Negotiator
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.
June 30 · 55 min
Christa Gannon: Negotiating With Kids the System Gave Up On
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.
May 27 · 56 min
How to Have Difficult Conversations with Sheila Heen
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.
May 12 · 51 min
Negotiating the New Cold War with China
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.
April 21 · 50 min
Sal Khan on AI, Education, and the Future of Work
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.
April 1 · 35 min
Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates
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.
March 12 · 46 min
Fareed Zakaria: Navigating a World of Rising Powers and Shifting Alliances
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.
February 24 · 45 min
Jenna Nicholas: Negotiating For Purpose And Profit
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
February 10 · 1 hr 3 min
Jeremy Andrus: The Turnaround Entrepreneur behind Traeger Grills
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
January 13 · 43 min
David Neeleman: The JetBlue founder who built five successful airlines
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.
Dec 9, 2025 · 56 min
Chip Conley: The entrepreneur who reinvented three industries
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
Nov 20, 2025 · 49 min
David Rubenstein: Carlyle Co-Founder on Negotiation Lessons from Wall Street to Washington
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
Nov 4, 2025 · 56 min
Jake Harriman: Building Trust Across Political Lines at More Perfect Union
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.
Oct 14, 2025 · 41 min
Hannah Riley Bowles: Lessons on gender, power and negotiation
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.
Sep 30, 2025 · 48 min
Dave Ferguson: From Waymo to Nuro and the Future of Self-Driving Cars
Stan is joined by Dave Ferguson, Co-Founder and President of Nuro. In this episode, Dave discusses his transition from Waymo to Nuro, the pivotal shifts in their business model, and how they've managed to secure a monumental partnership with Uber and Lucid to create robo-taxis. Dave also opens up about the challenges faced during Nuro's evolution, from team restructuring to investor negotiations, and offers a glimpse into the future of autonomous vehicles. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable lessons on leadership, technology, and the path to a safer, autonomous future. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:26 Dave Ferguson's Background and Early Career 03:24 Founding Nuro and Co-Founder Dynamics 05:45 The Role of Coaching in Leadership 07:06 Nuro's Initial Vision and Market Challenges 09:30 The Strategic Pivot and Its Implications 15:47 Navigating Partnerships and Investor Relations 18:34 Post-Pivot Challenges and Negotiations 24:40 Employee Motivation and Overcoming Friction 25:07 Honesty and Vulnerability in Leadership 26:18 Handling Employee Turnover 28:06 Introduction to Nuro's New Business Model 30:51 Partnerships with Uber and Lucid 34:39 The Importance of Trust in Negotiations 41:57 Future of Autonomous Vehicles 47:35 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.

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