Big Swings Only

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

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Typical duration
63 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Big Swings Only episodes

November 27, 2025 You Need to Be Less Defensive. Here’s Why Stoic Empathy Changes Everything.
Most people think being “strong” means defending every point. But defensiveness is often what destroys clarity, connection, and influence.
In this episode, Kwame and Shermin Kruse explore Stoic Empathy — the skill of staying grounded, aware, and emotionally balanced even when conversations get difficult. Shermin shares how to control your reactions, absorb emotional “hits,” and respond with intention instead of instinct.
If you want to stay calm under pressure, lead with confidence, and navigate tough moments without losing yourself, this conversation will change everything.

Connect with Shermin Kruse
Buy the Book: Stoic Empathy
The Road Map to a Life of Influence, Self-Leadership, and Integrity
58 min
November 26, 2025Why Saying No Can Make People Trust You More
In this episode of Negotiate Anything, host Kwame Christian delves into the often-overlooked yet crucial role of saying "no" in negotiation. While many focus on getting to "yes," Kwame explains why mastering the art of saying "no" can actually enhance your negotiation results and relationships. Through insightful strategies like the "no sandwich" technique, listeners will learn to deliver their "no" in a way that is both respectful and effective. With practical examples and actionable advice, this episode equips you with the tools to handle difficult conversations with poise and clarity.

What will be covered:
The psychological barriers that make saying "no" challenging.

Common ineffective strategies when people try to avoid saying "no."

Techniques for saying "no" without damaging relationships, such as the "no sandwich."

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!
33 min
November 25, 2025Feedback Feels Like a Fight? Here’s How to Change That — with Heather MacArthur
In this engaging episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian welcomes back Heather MacArthur to explore the intricacies of giving and receiving effective feedback. Heather, an expert in coaching and consulting with a wealth of experience across various industries, shares her unique insights into how to create a productive feedback dialogue. Listeners will learn about Heather's innovative "above the line" feedback model and how to handle feedback they might initially disagree with. This conversation is a goldmine for anyone looking to refine their negotiation skills and become better communicators within both professional and personal environments.

What will be covered:
Effective strategies for giving feedback without appear accusatory or confrontational.

Techniques for receiving feedback positively and using it to improve interactions.

Handling disagreement in feedback to maintain constructive dialogue.

What listeners will learn:
How to maintain an open mindset and genuine curiosity when giving feedback.

The "LEAP" approach to receiving feedback while managing emotional responses.

Ways to manage difficult conversations to foster trust, even when disagreements arise.
Keywords: negotiation skills, effective feedback, communication strategies, handling difficult conversations, professional development.

Connect with Heather MacArthur
⁠Low Man on the Totem Pole Podcast ⁠
⁠Heather's Forbes Articles⁠
⁠Follow Heather on LinkedIn⁠
34 min
November 24, 2025 How Nicole Phillip Built a Brand with Truth, Research & Unshakeable Confidence
Travel doesn’t just show you the world — it shows you yourself.
And sometimes, what you discover is not what you expected.
In this powerful conversation, journalist and travel creator Nicole Phillip joins Kwame to explore the intersection of identity, race, storytelling, and courage. She opens up about her life-changing study abroad experience in Italy — the joy she imagined, the racism she didn’t expect, and the moment she realized she wasn’t alone when hundreds of thousands of people reached out to say, “This happened to me too.”
Nicole also shares the bold leap from ABC News and The New York Times to becoming a full-time travel creator — walking away from corporate America, trusting her voice, and building a platform rooted in truth, research, and authenticity.

Connect with Nicole
YouTube Channel
Instagram Account
1 hr 27 min
November 21, 2025 Decode Anyone: Body Language Strategies for Powerful Negotiation
Think you’re in control of what you’re saying? Think again.
Before you utter a single word, elite negotiators are already reading you — through your posture, your gestures, your tone, your tension. In this episode, Kwame sits down with The Master Negotiator Greg Williams, one of the world’s top experts in body language, to reveal the invisible signals that shape the outcome of every negotiation. You’ll learn how to spot the hidden meaning behind someone’s words, how to time your own message for maximum impact, and how to protect yourself when someone tries to use your own body against you. If you’re not reading these signs, you’re negotiating blind.

Connect with Greg Williams
⁠⁠Follow Greg on LinkedIn⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://www.themasternegotiator.com/⁠⁠
⁠⁠Free Negotiation Blog by Greg⁠

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!
33 min
November 20, 2025How to Stop Pretending and Start Being Yourself — Dr. Julia Garcia
Most of us spend years pretending — acting like we’re fine, performing for approval, or hiding the parts of ourselves we don’t think are “good enough.” But what if the real breakthrough happens the moment you stop pretending?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Julia Garcia sits down with Kwame to unpack what it truly means to be yourself. Her story is raw, courageous, and full of practical wisdom about hope, identity, and rebuilding your confidence from the inside out.

Connect with Julia
⁠Buy the book the 5 Habits of hope - By Julia Garcia⁠
www.drjuliagarcia.com
https://www.instagram.com/drjuliagarcia/
https://www.youtube.com/@DrJuliaGarcia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliagarcia/

Julia opens up about:
The moment her life collapsed — and why it became the turning point

How pretending, perfectionism, and worthlessness quietly shape our identity

Why hope has nothing to do with happiness (and why that matters)

The emotional habits that can transform your entire life

How a single word — maybe — changed her future
If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you pretend to be… this episode will help you reconnect with the real you and take the first step toward the life you want.
51 min
November 19, 2025 Feeling Ignored? Here’s How to Actually Get Heard — Masterclass
If you’ve ever felt invisible in meetings, talked over in conversations, or frustrated that your words never land the way you intend, this masterclass is for you. In this special three-episode collection, three world-class experts reveal why people tune out—and how to change that starting today.

Featured episodes
Communication strategist Bill McGowan shows how to speak memorably and structure your ideas so people actually remember what you say.
High-stakes speaking coach Michael Hoeppner teaches how presence, delivery, and embodied communication can completely transform how others respond to you.
And Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg breaks down the science of deep conversations and how “super communicators” create instant alignment—even in tough or emotional moments.
By the end, you’ll know how to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact—so your voice finally lands with the weight it deserves.
No more shrinking. No more being overlooked.
It’s time to be heard.
2 hr
November 18, 2025 The FBI Negotiation Masterclass - How to Read Minds, Build Trust, and Stay Calm
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

2 hr 16 min
November 17, 2025How to Win Minds, Not Arguments: The Power of Compassionate Curiosity
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!⁠⁠
56 min
November 14, 2025 How to ACTUALLY Have Difficult Conversations — Masterclass on Turning Conflict Into Connection
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

1 hr 57 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.