Big Swings Only

By Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.Business Education Self-Improvement

Favorites
503
Followers
Typical duration
63 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Big Swings Only episodes

March 18Why the Quietest Person Often Wins the Deal
Silence can win you the negotiation before you even say a word.
In this masterclass episode of Negotiate Anything, Kwame Christian speaks with mediator Amy Mariani and leadership expert Elaine Lin Herring about the hidden power of silence in negotiation and leadership. They explore how intentional pauses, body language, and thoughtful communication can reveal critical information, shift dynamics, and move conversations toward resolution.
Amy shares how silence often prompts the other side to reveal more than they planned, why people feel compelled to fill quiet moments, and how subtle cues — like facial expressions or gestures — can signal discomfort or hesitation.
Then Elaine expands the conversation to the silence we learn in our workplaces and relationships, and how reclaiming our voice can reshape leadership, collaboration, and negotiation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why silence is one of the most powerful negotiation tools

How to read body language—even over Zoom

A practical way to break complex conversations into manageable parts

How leaders can create cultures where people feel safe to speak up
Sometimes the most powerful move in a conversation isn’t what you say—it’s when you choose not to speak.
1 hr 14 min
March 17The Cost of Staying Silent—and the Leadership Power of Assertiveness
Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠

In this enlightening episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian welcomes Ivna Curi to discuss the art of assertive communication in negotiations. Overcoming numerous setbacks, the duo dives deep into the core of being assertive without losing warmth, an essential skill for both personal and professional life. Ivna shares invaluable insights from her extensive experience helping professionals, with a particular focus on women, to speak up confidently and effectively. The episode is packed with actionable strategies, practical examples, and proven techniques to master assertiveness in the workplace and beyond.
What will be covered:
The four components of assertiveness: expressing oneself, showing respect, maintaining calmness, and being effective.

Common myths about assertiveness, including perceptions of aggression and conflict.

Replacing negative communication habits, such as complaining and assuming, with actionable, solution-focused approaches.

Connect with Ivna

⁠Follow Ivna Curi on LinkedIn⁠
⁠Assertive Way Institute LinkedIn page⁠
⁠Assertive Way website⁠
⁠Ivna's podcast: "Speak Your Mind Unapologetically."⁠
⁠Ivna's Ted Talk⁠

Contact ANI
⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠
⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠
⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠
⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠
⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
59 min
March 16 Carmine Gallo: How to ACTUALLY Tell Good Stories - Storytelling Mastery
You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can’t sell it, it doesn’t exist.

In this episode, Carmine Gallo—Harvard instructor and author of the global bestseller Talk Like TED—explains why most business presentations fail before the first slide even appears. Carmine has worked with executives at Amazon, Google, and Microsoft to prove that great speakers aren't born; they are made through practice and a specific, repeatable structure.

If you've been relying on data and bullet points to persuade people, you are working against the human brain, which is wired for stories.

Connect with Carmine Gallo
Website: CarmineGallo.com
New Audio Original: Viral Voices
LinkedIn: Carmine Gallo

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!

1 hr 5 min
March 15The Real Reason Younger Employees Leave (It’s Not What You Think)
What if the biggest workplace conflict today isn’t about skills or strategy — but about generations misunderstanding each other?
In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into the complex dynamics of the modern multigenerational workplace and uncover why generational conflict is often misunderstood — and how organizations can turn it into a powerful advantage.
Through insights from organizational behavior expert Chris DeSantis and leadership researcher Quincy Penn, this conversation challenges common stereotypes about “Boomers,” “Gen X,” “Millennials,” and “Gen Z,” revealing how perception, bias, and cultural upbringing shape the way we work, communicate, and negotiate with one another.
You’ll discover:
Why many generational conflicts are perception-driven rather than reality-based

How bias and “conversational coordination” reinforce workplace stereotypes

Why younger professionals often value dialogue and autonomy over hierarchy

The surprising research showing major differences in motivation between Gen X and Millennials

Practical ways leaders can create cultures that engage every generation in the workforce
From loyalty and leadership to flexibility and the future of work, this episode explores how generational diversity — when understood correctly — can become one of the most powerful drivers of innovation, collaboration, and organizational growth.
If you’ve ever wondered why colleagues from different generations think, communicate, and lead differently — and how to bridge those gaps — this episode will change the way you see workplace dynamics forever.
1 hr 14 min
March 14Seemingly Positive Things That Make Bullies More Powerful
Buy the Book: ⁠⁠For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠⁠

In this episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian sits down with Lucia Kanter St. Amour to discuss the complex dynamics of negotiating with bullies. Lucia, an expert in negotiation and mediation, shares her personal experiences and insights on handling bullying, drawing from her new book "For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation." Through engaging storytelling and practical advice, the episode explores Lucia's approach to negotiation, emphasizing the importance of building coalitions, understanding emotional dynamics, and strategizing effectively against high-conflict personalities. Using real-life examples, they delve into the societal roots of bullying, offering listeners valuable tools to manage these difficult conversations.
What will be covered:
Lucia's personal experiences with bullies and how they shaped her negotiation strategies.

The societal roots of bullying and its prevalence in adult interactions.

Practical negotiation techniques when facing bullies, including building rapport and understanding emotional dynamics.
What listeners will learn:
How to identify and respond to bullies using effective negotiation techniques.

The importance of coalition-building and having allies when negotiating with difficult personalities.

Strategies to maintain composure and protect oneself in high-pressure negotiation scenarios.
SEO Friendly Keywords: negotiation techniques, negotiating with bullies, handling difficult conversations, mediation strategies, emotional dynamics in negotiation.

Connect with Lucia
Lucia's Podcast: ⁠⁠Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠⁠
Book Synopsis: ⁠⁠FOR THE FORCES OF GOOD⁠⁠
Buy the Book: ⁠⁠For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠⁠
Web: ⁠⁠Pactum Factum⁠⁠

Contact ANI
⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠
⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠
⁠⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠⁠
⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠⁠
⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
1 hr 1 min
March 13 Why Fear Controls Your Negotiations — and How to Use It Instead
Fear is often the invisible force shaping our biggest decisions — and our toughest conversations. But what if fear isn’t something to eliminate… but something you can learn to negotiate with?
In this powerful masterclass episode of Negotiate Anything, host Kwame Christian sits down with political strategist Sarah JanTausch and executive coach Jeff, two experts who unpack how fear quietly influences negotiations, leadership, fundraising, and everyday conversations. From imposter syndrome and perfectionism to the pressure of asking for money or advocating for yourself, they reveal why even the most accomplished professionals still feel fear — and how they move forward anyway.
You’ll discover how successful negotiators turn fear into fuel, why perfectionism can sabotage your results, and the simple techniques that help people navigate high-stakes conversations with confidence and clarity.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How to recognize and negotiate your own internal fears before a difficult conversation
• Why imposter syndrome shows up for high achievers—and how to act despite it
• The role of incentives and perspective in understanding the other side of a negotiation
• Practical ways to practice negotiation skills in low-stakes situations
• Why making the direct ask is often the most powerful move in any negotiation
• How to pause, respond thoughtfully, and avoid reacting from fear
Whether you're negotiating a salary, pitching an idea, fundraising, or navigating difficult conversations at work or home, this episode will help you approach those moments with greater courage, awareness, and skill.
Because the truth is: the most important negotiation you'll ever have… is the one happening inside your own mind.

1 hr 12 min
March 12 Post-Traumatic Growth: How to Turn Trauma Into Power With Rachel Druckenmiller
Most people talk about resilience. Rachel Druckenmiller lived it.
Six weeks into a global pandemic, while trying to save a brand-new business, Rachel was out for a run when she was literally hit by a Chevy Silverado. Two days later—with a spinal fracture and wearing a back brace—she was on Zoom teaching leaders how to find hope in uncertainty.

But this isn't just a "hustle culture" story. In this episode, Rachel reveals the deep, often painful work of Post-Traumatic Growth. She explains why we often choose the "safe" path of being muted over the brave path of being seen, and how a brush with death finally gave her the courage to stop silencing her own voice.

Connect with Rachel Druckenmiller:
Website: RachelDruckenmiller.com
Hire Rachel to Speak: Booking Form
Listen to her Music: Available on Spotify
Instagram: @unmutedlife
LinkedIn: Rachel Druckenmiller

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!
1 hr 4 min
March 11Conflict Negotiation: THE BEST TACTIC to Build Trust
Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠

How do leaders navigate tough conversations, build collaboration across political and community lines, and handle high-stakes negotiations? In this insightful episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Mayor Tony Roswarski (Lafayette, IN) and Mayor Erin Easter (West Lafayette, IN) to explore the art of negotiation in city leadership.
Together, they break down:
The power of finding common ground in divided communities

Active listening as a tool for trust and persuasion

The challenge of misinformation and how to counter it in public discussions

Emotional intelligence in leadership—how to repair missteps and foster collaboration

The hidden power of relationships in negotiations
Whether you're leading a team, managing community disputes, or handling difficult conversations in your daily life, this episode is packed with practical negotiation strategies you can apply immediately.

Contact ANI
⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠
⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠
⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠
⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠
⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
1 hr
March 10 Stop Trying to Be Right. Start Trying to Be PERSUASIVE
If you think you’re logical in conflict, think again—your brain is quietly sabotaging you.
In this masterclass episode, we unpack the hidden psychology of bias and how it shapes every difficult conversation you have—at work, at home, and across cultural lines. From in-group vs. out-group dynamics to microaggressions, emotional triggers, and the fight-or-flight response, you’ll learn why disagreements escalate so quickly—and how to interrupt the pattern in real time.
This conversation goes beyond theory. You’ll discover practical tools to:
Humanize the person you disagree with (even when it feels impossible)
Respond to perceived bias without escalating the conflict
Shift from arguing about the past to negotiating the future
Slow down reactive “System 1” thinking and engage intentional reasoning
Use curiosity to disarm defensiveness
Talk about how you’re talking—so the conversation actually improves
You’ll also explore a powerful truth: every interaction is intercultural. What you see as “common sense” may simply be your conditioning—and recognizing that can change everything.
If you want to be more persuasive, more self-aware, and more effective in high-stakes conversations, this episode will challenge how you think—and show you exactly how to do better.
Because winning difficult conversations doesn’t start with changing the other person.
It starts with mastering yourself.
59 min
March 09 The Only Way to Get the Truth Without Being Confrontational - With Michael Reddington
Stop Accusing People of Lying. There’s a Better Way to Get the Truth.
What if I told you that most "gotcha" moments in a negotiation are actually failures of leadership?

In this episode, Mike Reddington, a certified forensic interviewer and author of The Disciplined Listening Method, reveals why you should never accuse someone of lying—even when you know they are. Mike has spent his career in high-stakes environments where evidence was often nonexistent, and he learned that a lie isn't an insult; it’s actually intelligence in disguise.

If you want to stop being a "shallow strategist" and start earning the truth, this masterclass on disciplined listening is for you.

Connect with Mike Reddington
disciplinedlistening.com
michaelreddington.com
Buy the book: The DisciplinedListening Method

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!⁠⁠⁠

1 hr 20 min

About Big Swings Only

From the publisher's feed

Playing it safe is easy. It’s comfortable. And it will never take you to the next level.If you’ve got what it takes to hit the ball out of the park, the only thing holding you back is whether you’re brave enough to take a big swing.Big Swings Only is for people who were meant for more — the ones done playing by rules that were never built for them.Hosted by Kwame Christian, each week brings you the real stories of people who fought their fear, went after the life they actually wanted, and became who they had to become to get it.The psychology behind the swing. The strategy behind the risk. The nerve it takes to go all in.You were built for more, and this show was built for you. Subscribe now.