Unreasonable Hospitality Explained | Will Guidara with Tim Castle

Throwback to one of my favourite conversations from 2023 — and one that every new subscriber needs to hear.

In this episode, I sit down with Will Guidara, author of incredible book Unreasonable Hospitality and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, to unpack what world-class hospitality really means — and why it’s one of the most powerful competitive advantages in business, leadership, and sales. This was the #1 restaurant in the WORLD!

We explore how small, intentional acts create outsized impact, why people remember how you make them feel long after the transaction ends, and how “unreasonable” standards become the difference between being good and being unforgettable.

You’ll learn:

• What unreasonable hospitality actually looks like in practice
• How to build loyalty, trust, and advocacy through human connection
• Why excellence is a mindset, not a budget
• How to apply hospitality principles to sales, leadership, and service

Whether you’re discovering this conversation for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, this is a masterclass in creating experiences people never forget.

Because in a world of automation and AI, how you make people feel still wins.

This is one of my favorite episodes and conversations EVER!

#unreasonablehospitality #thetimcastleshow #customerservice

Follow Will: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wguidara/?hl=en

Unreasonable Hospitality https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/

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

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

Most people wait for motivation. High performers take action first — and anchor it in gratitude.

In this episode, Tim Castle breaks down the simple daily practice that creates momentum, sharpens focus, and changes the way opportunities show up in your life and work. This isn’t about positive thinking. It’s about disciplined action, grounded presence, and using gratitude as a force multiplier for performance, sales, and leadership.

You’ll discover:

• Why action creates clarity (not the other way around)
• How gratitude stabilises your energy under pressure
• The daily habit that compounds confidence and results
• How to show up calmer, sharper, and more trusted in high-stakes conversations

If you want more momentum without burnout — and better outcomes without force — this episode gives you a practical edge you can apply immediately.

Success isn’t random. It’s engineered — one action at a time.

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

Today I’m joined by someone who truly lives and breathes negotiation and influence.

Giuseppe Conti has led commercial and procurement teams for some of the world’s biggest multinationals — from Procter & Gamble to Novartis and Firmenich — and he now teaches negotiation at Europe’s top 10 business schools (including INSEAD, Oxford and Bocconi) while running CABL, Conti Advanced Business Learning, a training firm that’s shaping the next generation of leaders.

He’s known not just for his frameworks, but for his human, ethical, and deeply practical approach to influence.

Giuseppe has a fantastic new book Negotiation + Influence = Success. In 2025, he was ranked #1 worldwide among the Top 30 Global Gurus for Negotiation and #1 Negotiation Training programs on the world. 

For all of you tuning in - ambitious professionals in your 30s, 40s, and 50s - who want to elevate how you influence, lead, and negotiate under pressure… this conversation will change how you see power.

We discuss:

- The difference between influence, negotiation and manipulation 

- What levers do procurement pull and what are their KPI's?

- The core tenants of influence

- How to influence across stakeholders within the organization

- The issue with self orientation in negotiations 

- How to become an expert negotiator that creates value and claims it

- How AI will change negotiations

Here is the invite to Giuseppe's forthcoming workshop in Singapore on Feb 4-5, 2026: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/1970399606264?aff=oddtdtcreator make sure you check it out.

For everyone listening - if you want to dive deeper, check out Giuseppe’s work at cabl.ch.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppeconti/?originalSubdomain=ch

Buy his book

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

Join me for a high-energy and deeply insightful conversation with global marketing trailblazer Siew Ting Foo. With 25 + years in the game and leadership roles at the likes of Unilever, Mars Incorporated, Diageo, and HP Inc., Siew Ting has built some of the world’s most enduring brands — and now she’s distilled her wisdom into her book Building Brands with Soul. 

In this episode we traverse the shifting terrain where brand meets intelligence, strategy meets soul, and leadership meets change. We unpack what it means to lead in the “agentic” era — where AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a partner, and where brands must be human-centred and values-driven to thrive.

In this power packed episode I sit down with Global CMO Siew Ting Foo to discuss the world of Agentic AI for marketers.

Siew Ting is one of the most impactful marketers, that I truly look up to, she is pushing the boundaries, future thinking and has the human at the centre. 

Here’s what we zero in on:

• Where marketers are most open to using AI — and where the magic really happens.
• Real examples of AI done well in marketing — beyond the hype.
• The future of marketing skills — what CMOs need to learn (and un-learn) to stay relevant.
• The fundamentals of driving impact with AI: how to frame the ambition, ask the right questions, and convert innovation into growth.
• The power of asking the right questions — not just what AI can do, but how it adds value and drives growth.
• Why the way you frame your question is often more important than the technology itself.
• How to approach the disruption coming to advertising, brand-holding companies, and the marketing ecosystem at large.
• The three things you must articulate when pitching your AI-solution to a CMO — a no-miss checklist for growth-oriented teams.

If you’re building a brand, leading a marketing team, exploring AI, or simply curious where we’re headed in the agentic era — this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how to build brands that don’t just perform, but resonate.

Follow Siew Ting Foo https://www.linkedin.com/in/siewtingfoo/?originalSubdomain=sg

Buy her fantastic book https://www.amazon.sg/Building-Brands-Soul-humanising-cr

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

The Power of Purpose with Cindy Sirinya Bishop.

In this episode, I sit down with Cindy Sirinya Bishop — Actress, Advocate, and CEO of Dragonfly 360, Asia’s leading summit on conscious leadership and inner transformation.

Cindy’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From winning Miss Thailand World 1996 to hosting Asia’s Next Top Model, she has evolved from being one of Asia’s most recognisable faces to one of its most courageous voices.

As a UN Women Regional Ambassador and founder of the “Don’t Tell Me How to Dress” movement, Cindy is redefining how influence can be used for impact — challenging cultural norms, championing gender equality, and creating spaces for authentic dialogue and transformation across Asia.

In this conversation, we explore:

- Failure as a signal
- How to deal with vulnerability
- How to deal with imposter syndrome
- The balance between vulnerability and leadership
- Scaling Dragonfly 360’s mission across Asia and beyond
- What it really means to lead with purpose in a world that often rewards perfection

Cindy’s story is proof that transformation starts when one person decides to speak truth to power and lead from love, not fear.

🎧 Listen now to be inspired, challenged, and reminded that your voice matters.

👉 Connect with Cindy: https://www.instagram.com/cindysirinya/?hl=en Instagram
👉 Learn more at https://www.dragonfly360.co

#CindySirinyaBishop #TimCastleShow #Leadership #Empowerment #GenderEquality #Dragonfly360 #UNWomen #BelieveItIsPossible #WomenInLeadership #ConsciousLeadership #transformation

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

This must be one of the most incredible conversations I have had the privilege of having to date on the show. 

That's because it was just that, a conversation, not rehearsed or scripted, just two practitioners of influence discussing a topic they love. 

I wanted to get this out to you asap, because it is filled with actionable and practical tweaks you can make to your communication that can dramatically boost your persuasive abilities which in turn radically changes the trajectory of your life.

If you are interested in learning more about Cialdini's work, check out https://cialdini.com/decevent he is holding an event this December that you cannot afford to miss. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience Influence Unleashed: Unlock influence strategies your competitors hope you'll never learn. 

Can you imagine what you will lose by not taking advantage of this - there are VIP and online tickets available. 

Dr. Cialdini has earned a world-wide reputation for his ability to
translate the science into valuable and practical actions. His on-stage stories are described as dramatic and indelible.

There's so much in this episode, time flew by, the knowledge and exploration of the 7 Principles of Influence that Cialdini imparted makes it once of the best conversations of my life. Don't wait - put these subtle but effective strategies to work and out perform your competition today!

We discuss:

What’s likability and how do we get it?

Advice for someone going into a new job.

How to sell anything using the power of loss aversion.

And much much more...

Please if you took value from this conversation - and I know you did - share it with someone who wants to level up their influence, their communication, and their impact.

Follow Robert Cialdini https://www.influenceatwork.com/

#influence #persuasion #communication #psychology #humanbehaviour 

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

What does it really take to negotiate billion-dollar deals across six continents?
In this episode, Tim Castle sits down with Mike Inman - a global negotiation trainer who’s led over 1,000 commercial deals worth more than $1 billion, trained 8,000+ professionals, and transformed how organizations think about value, influence, and trust.

Mike has had a dynamic career, MGM International Resorts, American West Airlines, to IAC. 

Now he's one of the top negotiation trainers in the world, Mike dropped some serious negotiation knowledge, we discuss:

• Viral sound bites vs real world negotiation 
• Crisis Negotiation vs Business Negotiation
• Tricking the buyer vs experienced negotiators 
• The difference between practicing negotiation and mastering it
• How to make the other side happy and achieve your goals
• How to navigate high-stakes deals, impasses, and emotional pressure
• What AI can (and can’t) replace in human negotiation
• Why authenticity and empathy are your ultimate power moves
• How to save your team from lay offs
• Real empathy vs fake empathy

Pay attention who are doing the things you aspire to do one day. Sales people listen up - "Don't say "yes" all the time, dare to become the trusted advisor".

Mike breaks down the real psychology of negotiation - not tricks or tactics, but how elite performers prepare, connect, and create win-win outcomes that last.

This one is packed with frameworks, stories, and mindset shifts from a man who’s negotiated everywhere from MGM Resorts to American Airlines to defense contracts.

Connect with Mike https://www.linkedin.com/in/negotiatormike/

Negotiation Training https://negotiationtraining.com/about/the-team/mike-inman/

#negotiation #procurement #creatingvalue 

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

How to Stay Unshakable When the Pressure Hits

Ever felt your pulse quicken mid-negotiation? That moment when your brain fogs, your ego flares, and logic slips through your fingers?

In this episode, Tim reveals the hidden emotional mechanics behind staying cool when the stakes are high. You’ll discover how elite negotiators keep their composure, turn tension into clarity, and transform pressure into power — even when everything’s on the line.

If you’ve ever lost a deal because you reacted instead of responded… this one’s for you.

Learn how to master your emotions before they master you — and walk away from the table stronger than ever.

#ego #emotions #pressure #podcast #negotiation

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

Want to become magnetic when you speak? 

In this video, I break down how the best communicators in the world trigger the brain’s “feel-good” chemistry — oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins — through authentic, emotionally charged storytelling. We dive into the psychology of oxytocin and how trust chemistry shapes every conversation. 

These aren’t random buzzwords — they’re the biological keys to trust, motivation, and connection. When you learn how to use storytelling to stimulate these hormones, you don’t just talk... you influence, you inspire, and you move people to action.

You’ll discover:
🔥 The 3 brain chemicals that make communication irresistible
🎯 How to tell stories that activate trust, excitement, and empathy
💡 Real examples you can use in sales, leadership, and everyday life
🧠 The neuroscience behind why stories beat data every time

This is the art of emotional resonance — how to connect deeper, faster, and with more impact.

If you want to build momentum in your conversations, presentations, and relationships, this video is for you.

#neuroscience #influence #communication #likability #persuasion 

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...

EQ predicts negotiation performance (beyond IQ and personality). Plenty of studies have demonstrated that emotional intelligence is a significant predictor of individual and join outcomes in negotiations. 

In this video I break down the top 7 moves to master negotiations under pressure - when it matters most. 

This is about Trust building in integrative deals, emotional cues and the fact they are harder to read online and teachable EQ behaviors that work. 

The fact is humans still outperform cold agents when emotions matter. #emotionalintelligence #trust #timcastle 

Follow Tim

• Magnetic Influence: How to negotiate and persuade in a disrupted world. Pre-order Now https://amzn.to/3M5HKq3
• #1 Startups book $0-1m The First Domino https://amzn.to/3Z0NrbJ
• The Art of Negotiation #1 in UK #jobinterviews and #1 in US for CareerAdvancement https://amzn.to/3LSA6zh
• Tim Castle is recognised in the Worlds Top 30 Negotiation Professionals an award winning best selling Author and negotiation expert. His books are relied upon by Universities, Fortune 500 companies.
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TimCastle
• Negotiation Expert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/timjscastle/?hl=en
• The Highly Skilled Negotiator Course (80+ LESSONS) https://www.timjscastle.com/the-highly-skilled-negotiator
• How To Crush Your Job Interviews Course https://www.timjscastle.com/job-interview-mastery
• Negotiation Skills Training Academy https://www.thenegotiatorsedge.ai/
• Tim's Website https://www.timjscastl...