In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, Carol B. Liebman reflects on her role mediating a high-stakes campus conflict at Columbia University in the 1990s.

As student protests intensified—escalating from hunger strikes to building occupations and arrests—university leaders sought help amid mounting concerns about student safety, academic futures, and institutional reputation. Liebman stepped in to work with both administrators and student leaders as deadlines loomed and emotions ran high.

What followed was a tense, deeply human negotiation process that tested trust, resilience, and the power of dialogue. In sharing this story, Liebman offers insight into mediating institutional conflict and the unexpected connection that can emerge when people commit to staying in conversation.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law

On this episode of How My Friends Negotiate, host and professor Andrea Schneider welcomes leadership expert and author Ruth Gotian for a conversation on negotiating at the highest levels.

Ruth shares the behind-the-scenes story of negotiating her book advance and publishing deal, offering candid insights into what it takes to advocate for your value. She reflects on the early days of working remotely—long before it was common—and how creating flexibility sometimes requires negotiating norms that don’t yet exist. The conversation also dives into salary negotiation strategies, especially for high achievers who may struggle to ask for more.

At the heart of the episode is Ruth’s powerful framework for opportunity creation: find a need, show the need, and demonstrate how you can fill that gap. Drawing on her research studying Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, Olympic and NBA champions, and senior executives, she explains how top performers don’t wait for doors to open; they build them.

Dr. Ruth Gotian is a globally recognized expert in mentorship and leadership development. Named a top 20 mentor worldwide and ranked the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50, she is the award-winning author of The Success Factor and The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring.

A former Chief Learning Officer and mentoring dean at Weill Cornell Medicine, she now serves as Managing Director of her advisory and executive coaching practice, helping leaders and organizations unlock sustained high performance.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law

In this moving episode of Stories Mediators Tell, mediator Eric Galton shares the story of a tragic car accident that brought together two families under unimaginable circumstances. After a beloved father and community member is killed in a sudden collision just days before the holidays, the driver responsible is left grappling with grief, guilt, and a deep desire to connect with the victim’s family—despite legal barriers and uncertainty about what mediation might bring.

What unfolds in the mediation room -- where lawyers and insurance adjusters are bargaining about damages -- becomes a powerful example of how honest dialogue between the actual parties can transform conflict into unexpected moments of humanity and healing. This episode reflects the heart of Stories Mediators Tell: the profound ways conversation can open paths forward even after profound loss.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law

In the first-ever episode of How My Friends Negotiate, host Professor Andrea Schneider sits down with acclaimed television and film producer Nikki Silver, whose career spans more than 25 years and includes multiple Emmy-winning projects. From producing the beloved PBS series Reading Rainbow and thought-provoking documentaries to bringing powerful stories like The Giver and The Watsons Go to Birmingham to the screen, Nikki has negotiated creative vision, collaboration, and impact in every corner of the entertainment industry. Through candid stories and practical insight this episode reveals how negotiation isn’t just about deals — it’s about relationships.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law

Welcome to the Indisputably Channel! In this inaugural episode of Indisputably, hosts and Cardozo Law professors Lela Love, Andrea Schneider, and Robyn Weinstein introduce the new podcast channel and share what listeners can expect from its three shows: Indisputably, How My Friends Negotiate, and Stories Mediators Tell. The conversation also explores their extensive backgrounds in dispute resolution and mediation, setting the stage for the insightful discussions, real-world stories, and expert perspectives to come.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law

The Indisputably Podcast Channel – a place for leading advice, insights, and stories from top negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution experts. The Indisputably Channel is home to three podcasts: Indisputably, How my Friends Negotiate hosted by Professor Andrea Schneider, and Stories Mediators Tell hosted by Professors Lela Love and Robyn Weinstein.

Hosted by negotiation expert Professor Andrea Schneider, How My Friends Negotiate explores how negotiation actually works in practice.  The podcast features candid conversations with people Andrea admires, all of whom negotiate every day. Guests share career-defining lessons, successes, and mistakes, offering practical insight into how negotiation skills evolve over time.

Mediators and Trainers, Professors Lela Love and Robyn Weinstein, are the co-hosts of Stories Mediators Tell, which opens a rare window into the confidential world of mediation. Each episode centers on a guest “storyteller” who shares a real mediation story, followed by reflection and discussion on key moments, challenges, and lessons learned. Through storytelling, audience members are invited to connect with the world of mediation and learn about the power of dialogue to transform conflict. The podcast was inspired by the books Stories Mediators Tell and Stories Mediators Tell: World Edition both edited by Lela Love.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law