Big Swings Only

Most people are optimizing for the wrong kind of smart — and it's costing them everything when the world shifts.

Liz Tran is a former venture capital executive, CEO coach, and author of AQ. She spent years inside the highest-pressure rooms in tech before walking away to build a coaching practice rooted in one conviction: the people who thrive in chaos aren't the smartest or the most emotionally intelligent — they're the most adaptable.

Connect with Liz

What if the most powerful stress-relief tool you have access to is completely free — and you've been ignoring it your whole life?

In this episode, Kwame sits down with Tracy Teuscher — PR strategist, branding expert, and certified eco-therapist — to explore why modern life is burning us out, and how reconnecting with nature can restore what chronic stress quietly destroys.

They dive into the science of forest bathing and phytoncides, why kindness is not weakness, how to set better boundaries without losing your warmth, and what it really means to lead with authenticity in a world designed to distract you.

Tracy also shares her deeply personal journey through loss, grief, and a decade of using nature as medicine — and gives you simple, actionable practices you can start today, whether you have a forest nearby or just a stone in your pocket.

Connect with Tracy

Tracy Teuscher https://www.tracyteuscher.com/

Nature Therapy Earth https://naturetherapy.earth/

Save Ohio Bees https://saveohiobees.org/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyteuscher

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What if the very thing holding you back from success isn’t your skill—but your silence?

In this masterclass episode, we dive deep into the hidden cost of not advocating for yourself—and why staying quiet could be costing you far more than you realize. From physicians navigating burnout and unfair contracts to professionals leaving millions on the table by avoiding salary negotiations, this conversation unpacks the real stakes behind everyday decisions we’re often too uncomfortable to confront.

You’ll hear powerful insights from industry leaders who challenge the belief that negotiation is conflict—and instead reframe it as a collaborative, career-defining skill. Discover why saying “no” is often the most professional thing you can do, how to build leverage without burning bridges, and why your long-term success depends on setting boundaries today.

This episode isn’t just about negotiation—it’s about identity, courage, and reclaiming control over your career and your life. If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for more, feared being seen as “too much,” or struggled to advocate for yourself, this is the perspective shift you’ve been waiting for.

Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t whether you can negotiate—it’s whether you’re willing to.

Most entrepreneurs talk about deals. Alex Jekowsky of CENTS has negotiated over $220 million worth of them.

In this episode on negotiation, acquisitions, fundraising, and entrepreneurship, Alex breaks down the real psychology behind high-stakes dealmaking — from navigating multimillion-dollar acquisitions to building trust with investors, overcoming rejection, and turning painful setbacks into transformational opportunities.

But this conversation goes far beyond tactics.

Alex shares the emotional realities of entrepreneurship: the pressure, the uncertainty, the loneliness, and the resilience required to keep building when the odds are against you. From renegotiating a failed acquisition deal on the back of a coffee shop receipt to raising the largest venture round in laundry technology history, this episode is packed with battle-tested lessons on leadership, authenticity, reputation, and growth.

You’ll learn:
• Why the best negotiators focus on alignment, not manipulation
• The hidden danger of “selling” instead of “showing”
• How great founders structure deals people actually want to win
• Why pain tolerance may be the ultimate entrepreneurial advantage
• The mindset shifts that helped Alex scale Sense into an industry-defining company

Whether you’re raising capital, buying a business, leading a team, or negotiating your next opportunity, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who’s lived every side of the table.

This isn’t theory. It’s real-world dealmaking at the highest level.

Connect with Alex Jekowsky:

What if the real reason you feel stuck, burned out, or unseen isn’t because you’re not capable… but because you’ve been performing as someone you’re not?

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author Patience Ogunbona shares the internal negotiations that transformed her life, career, and voice. From walking away from performative success to embracing quiet confidence, Patience reveals why authenticity is the missing piece behind true influence, fulfillment, and courageous leadership.

Together, we unpack:

Patience also shares the deeply personal story behind writing her new book, the breakthrough framework she uses with clients, and the mindset shifts that help leaders move from not worthy to noteworthy.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from performing, struggled to speak up, or wondered whether success should feel more aligned than this — this conversation is for you.

Because the most important negotiation you’ll ever have… is the one happening inside your own head.

Connect with Patience Ogunbona:

You think you’re being authentic. You’re not.

In this powerful conversation, media expert, keynote speaker, and author Jeanne Sparrow breaks down the real meaning of authenticity — and it’s not what you think. Most people confuse authenticity with oversharing. Others stay silent, mistaking fear for integrity. Jeanne explains why true authenticity isn’t about saying everything — it’s about knowing who you are, what you bring to the table, and how to use that power with intention.

You’ll learn:

Why oversharing kills trust (and isn’t real connection)

How to tell the difference between fear and truth

How to adapt without losing yourself

Why your presence speaks louder than your words — and how to own it

Whether you're leading a team, having a tough conversation, or just trying to show up more powerfully — this episode will change how you think about being “yourself.”

Connect with Jeanne

⁠jeannesparrow.com⁠

⁠Buy now The Book - FEARLESS AUTHENTICITY - by Jeanne Sparrow⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠

What if everything you’ve been taught about persuasion is only scratching the surface—and the real edge lies in understanding how people actually behave, not what they say they’ll do?

In this masterclass episode, we dive deep into the hidden psychology behind high-stakes negotiation, blending behavioral science, real-world data, and cutting-edge research to uncover what truly drives influence. You’ll hear from world-class experts across disciplines as they break down powerful, often counterintuitive strategies—from why admitting your weaknesses can increase your credibility, to how something as subtle as using precise numbers or asking the right kind of question can dramatically shift outcomes.

Discover the science behind the “Stolen Thunder” effect, learn why most negotiators sabotage their own offers without realizing it, and explore how language—down to a single word—can make your message more memorable, persuasive, and trustworthy. You’ll also get a rare look into how AI and large-scale data are transforming our understanding of negotiation, revealing patterns in human behavior that were previously invisible.

Whether you’re closing deals, leading teams, or navigating everyday conversations, this episode will challenge your assumptions and equip you with practical, research-backed tools to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Because negotiation isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about understanding people.

What if the most powerful move in negotiation isn’t saying yes—but having the courage to say no?

In this masterclass episode, you’ll hear three dynamic voices unpack a deceptively simple idea: how boundaries, clarity, and conviction can transform the way you negotiate — at work, in business, and in life. From walking away from multimillion-dollar deals to reclaiming your time and energy, these conversations reveal what it really takes to stay aligned when the pressure is on.

Nicole Walters shares the high-stakes decisions behind building—and not selling — a thriving business, and why protecting your autonomy is the ultimate leverage. You’ll learn how to slow down fast-moving deals, command respect at the table, and trust your internal compass even when everything looks perfect on paper.

Then, Regan Walsh dives into the hidden cost of saying yes to everything — and how “shedding the shoulds” can unlock clarity, confidence, and control over your life. Her practical frameworks will help you make faster, cleaner decisions without guilt or second-guessing.

Finally, Eliana Goldstein brings it home with a powerful look at boundaries in real time — how to set them, communicate them, and hold them, even when it’s uncomfortable. Because the truth is, the real negotiation often happens within yourself first.

This isn’t theory — it’s real strategy, real stories, and real moments of choosing courage over comfort.

If you’ve ever struggled to advocate for yourself, felt stretched too thin, or wondered how successful people make tough calls with confidence — this episode will change how you show up in your next conversation.

The future you're building is scaring the people around you — and that's exactly why you feel stuck

You're not stuck because you lack vision — you're stuck because the system fears the future you're trying to build.

In this powerful conversation, futurist and strategist Hussein Hallak joins Kwame Christian to unpack what it really takes to lead when the future is uncertain, the past is pulling you back, and the system resists every step you take.

We dive deep into:

Why most people live according to decisions they made 10 years ago

How to reclaim your narrative and stop outsourcing your future

The real reason leaders burn out when trying to create change

How AI is accelerating faster than we can psychologically handle

What to do when your organization isn't ready for your vision

This episode is for you if you're building something that doesn't exist yet — and you're tired of asking for permission to do it.

⁠husseinhallak.com⁠

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You’re not being ignored because your ideas are bad — you’re being ignored because your delivery is forgettable.

⁠Buy the book: Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience by Bill McGowan⁠

In this episode, Emmy-winning journalist and communication coach Bill McGowan joins Kwame Christian to expose the hidden mistakes even smart professionals make when they speak. From meetings to pitches, presentations to interviews, you’re probably missing key moments to influence — and you don’t even realize it.

You’ll learn:

Why “winging it” is sabotaging your credibility

The 3 parts of a message your audience always remembers

How to craft punchy openings, unforgettable closings, and sticky metaphors

What “theftosterone” is — and how to protect your ideas from being stolen

The truth about authenticity (and why faking it isn’t always bad)

Whether you're a leader, speaker, or content creator, this episode will sharpen the way you speak — forever.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!