All Things Negotiation – Details, episodes & analysis

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All Things Negotiation

Stan Christensen

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 55

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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https://www.meawisdom.com/
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https://weststrategygroup.com/
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https://hbr.org/2021/01/negotiating-your-next-job
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https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Sense+of+Reality+Isaiah+Berlin
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https://amzn.to/3VB6EPR
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https://www.amazon.com/Who-Michael-Ovitz/dp/1591845548
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David Brooks: How to bridge America’s divide

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 • Duration 01:17:34

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

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Angela Duckworth: Why Grit isn’t Enough and How to Get Situated

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 01:03:19

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

Blake Mycoskie: No Magic Pill

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 54:06

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

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 • Duration 53:42

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

Roger Carstens: America’s Chief Hostage Negotiator

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 01:11:57

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

Christa Gannon: Negotiating With Kids the System Gave Up On

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Duration 55:19

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

How to Have Difficult Conversations with Sheila Heen

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 56:19

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

Negotiating the New Cold War with China

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 51:40

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

Sal Khan on AI, Education, and the Future of Work

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 50:23

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

Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 • Duration 35:50

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.

All Things Negotiation – Details, episodes & analysis

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All Things Negotiation – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Amazon6

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