All Things Negotiation

Stan Christensen
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

A podcast about negotiation, persuasion, and influence—taught through real stories. Hosted by Stan Christensen, who has taught negotiation at Stanford University for over 20 years, this bi-weekly podcast features founders, executives, investors, and foreign policy experts sharing real-world negotiation experiences. Episodes explore how leaders negotiate with venture capitalists, employees, customers, boards, and governments—and what actually works when the stakes are high.

  1. Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates

    1 APR

    Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates

    Former Trump Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs and National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien discusses behind-the-scenes negotiation lessons from hostage cases and major foreign-policy deals. O’Brien describes his approach as implementing President Trump’s decisions, crediting that alignment for successes including the Abraham Accords. He gives a candid look at what operations inside the Trump administration looks like. Robert and Stan weigh the merits and perils of Trump's personal negotiating style and the effects it might have on the U.S standing in the world. 00:00 Trump Negotiation Style 00:26 Meet Robert OBrien 01:39 ASAP Rocky Case 03:30 Tough Talk With Sweden 05:27 From Hostages To NSA 07:27 Abraham Accords Breakthrough 10:59 Kushner And Internal Pushback 12:07 West Bank Red Line 14:25 Maximalism And Greenland 17:35 Unpredictability And Kissinger 19:48 Taiwan And China Strategy 21:55 Allies And Burden Sharing 24:38 Soleimani And Syria Deal 27:51 Erdogan And Long Term Ties 31:17 Negotiation Skills And Unity Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    36 min
  2. Fareed Zakaria: Navigating a World of Rising Powers and Shifting Alliances

    12 MAR

    Fareed Zakaria: Navigating a World of Rising Powers and Shifting Alliances

    In this conversation with Fareed Zakaria, the discussion centers on negotiation as the core of foreign policy and the danger of confusing tactical success with strategic clarity. Zakaria weighs in on the U.S conflict in Iran and shares a dire warning about how it could affect U.S negotiations for years to come. Stan and Fareed discuss a wide range of bilateral relationships and the potential risk of an “imperial trap” we might be falling into as we erode trust and the post-1945 order. Check out Fareed on his podcast: https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/fareed-zakaria-gps And CNN: https://podcasts.apple.com/iq/podcast/fareed-zakaria-gps/id377785090 00:00 Tactics vs Strategy 01:33 Iran Talks Undermined 03:46 Israel US Goals Diverge 06:00 Iraq Lessons and Aims 08:20 Pressuring Israel 12:25 China Reads the Signals 15:11 Tariffs and Trust 18:01 Allies and Supply Chains 21:55 India and Turkey 23:11 Turkey Drifts Westward 23:59 Pressuring Putin to Talk 25:43 Both Sides and Overreach 28:50 Norms Versus Guardrails 32:00 Why Congress Stays Silent 35:35 Can GOP Reclaim Reagan 38:03 Democrats and Culture Wars 42:10 Great Negotiators and Wrap Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    46 min
  3. Jenna Nicholas: Negotiating For Purpose And Profit

    24 FEB

    Jenna Nicholas: Negotiating For Purpose And Profit

    In this podcast episode, Stan welcomes investor and CEO Jenna Nicholas to discuss the growing inflection point where financial performance aligns with social and environmental impact. They explore Nicholas’s book, "The Enlightened Bottom Line: Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality, Business and Investing," including her motivation to interview investors and business leaders about transformational moments, values, and legacy. Nicholas shares case studies such as Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective structure to perpetuate environmental impact, Panera’s COVID-era partnership to provide school lunches through USDA support, and companies like Devoted Health and Barry-Wehmiller that connect trust and empathy to business performance. Check out Jenna's book at: https://www.jenna-nicholas.com/ 00:00 Impact Investing Inflection 00:57 Negotiation Lessons Revisited 01:48 Why Write The Book 04:26 Patagonia And Panera Stories 07:33 HEAL Framework Explained 08:15 ESG Goes Mainstream 14:46 Convincing The Skeptics 17:00 Trust Purpose And Performance 19:39 Spirituality At Work 23:13 Embedding Values In Culture 25:21 What Is Impact Experience 33:40 Measuring Outcomes And Commitments 35:50 Education Equity Breakthroughs 41:47 Deep Listening As Persuasion 44:36 Closing Thoughts And Book Plug

    46 min
  4. Jeremy Andrus: The Turnaround Entrepreneur behind Traeger Grills

    10 FEB

    Jeremy Andrus: The Turnaround Entrepreneur behind Traeger Grills

    In this revealing episode, Stan sits down with Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills, to delve into his gripping experiences in entrepreneurship and business transformation. Jeremy shares the tumultuous journey of rethinking and reinventing Traeger Grills amidst economic upheavals, tariffs, and a toxic corporate culture. The conversation covers the critical importance of negotiation, managing complex supplier relationships, leveraging partnerships with major retailers like Costco, and the power of transparency in leadership. Alongside anecdotes from his time at Skullcandy and a harrowing poisoning scare in China, Jeremy offers invaluable insights into building a resilient business that's not just about survival, but winning. 00:27 Meet Jeremy Andres: CEO of Traeger Grills 01:12 Navigating Challenges: COVID and Tariffs 02:47 Reinvention and Survival Strategies 05:38 Transparency and Team Communication 10:43 Jeremy's Harvard Business School Journey 13:16 Early Entrepreneurial Struggles 17:17 Joining Skullcandy: The Early Days 21:55 Negotiating Deals and Raising Capital 29:05 Acquiring Traeger Grills: The Surprises 30:04 Acquiring a 27-Year-Old Business 30:35 Cultural Challenges and Realizations 33:01 Negotiating a Buyout 33:34 Revamping the Supply Chain 34:37 Dealing with Toxic Culture 36:59 Retail Negotiations and Battle Scars 37:25 Costco's Tough Negotiation Tactics 48:38 Supplier Negotiations in China 55:54 Building Strong Supplier Relationships 01:03:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years. #AllThingsNegotiation #NegotiationStrategy #DealMaking #BusinessLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #MethodicalThinking #BATNA #Leverage #SalesLeadership #FounderLife #CLevelLeadership #StrategicThinking #BusinessPodcast #StanAndJeremy #Traeger

    1hr 4min
  5. David Neeleman: The JetBlue founder who built five successful airlines

    13 JAN

    David Neeleman: The JetBlue founder who built five successful airlines

    In this episode, Stan welcomes David Neeleman, a renowned figure in the airline industry, for an in-depth conversation on the intricacies of building successful airlines. David, who has founded five airlines including JetBlue and Breeze Airways, shares his insights on effective negotiation, leadership, and personal growth. The discussion covers his career journey, significant milestones, key strategies in negotiating with stakeholders, and maintaining a strong company culture. David also opens up about challenges, including his time at Southwest Airlines and the infamous Valentine's Day crisis at JetBlue, and the lessons learned from these experiences. 01:04 David Neeleman's Early Career and Morris Air 02:21 The Sale to Southwest Airlines 04:43 Challenges at Southwest and Moving On 06:33 Founding WestJet and Navitaire 09:40 The Birth of JetBlue 11:17 JetBlue's Success and Differentiation 13:29 Negotiating with Boeing and Airbus 16:03 Customer Engagement and Communication Strategies 22:14 Total Transparency and Accountability 22:39 The Valentine's Day Massacre Crisis 25:43 Lessons from Getting Fired 29:51 Founding Azul Airlines 32:18 Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges 34:14 The Success of Breeze Airways 42:25 Effective Negotiation Strategies 43:34 Advice for Young Professionals Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    44 min
  6. Chip Conley: The entrepreneur who reinvented three industries

    09/12/2025

    Chip Conley: The entrepreneur who reinvented three industries

    In this episode, Stan talks with Chip Conley, an iconic entrepreneur and the founder of the Joie De Vivre hotel chain, a key player in Airbnb, and the creator of the Modern Elder Academy. They dive into the principles of karmic capitalism, lessons learned from building and scaling multiple successful businesses, and strategies for maintaining a good reputation. Chip shares his experiences at Airbnb, dealing with regulation challenges, and the importance of inter-generational collaboration. They also discuss the Modern Elder Academy, where Chip helps individuals navigate midlife transitions and find new purpose. This episode is rich with lessons in negotiation, leadership, and holistic thinking. Check out: Chip’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/ Chip’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast 00:00 Introduction to Karmic Capitalism 00:20 Meet Chip Conley: Entrepreneurial Journey 02:48 Founding Joie de Vivre Hotel Chain 05:55 Negotiating with Bands and Tour Managers 11:26 Risk and Decision Making in Business 15:21 Hotel Vitale: A Case Study in Negotiation 19:26 Managing Through Economic Downturns 23:34 Transition to Airbnb and Burning Man Involvement 29:20 The Ethos of Burning Man 29:39 Negotiation Strategies and Personal Stories 31:46 Joining Airbnb: A New Challenge 33:08 Building Culture and Facing Challenges at Airbnb 36:33 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics 40:28 Regulation and Host Relations 45:02 Founding the Modern Elder Academy 48:09 Helping People Navigate Midlife Transitions 52:25 The Value of Wisdom and Experience 54:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    57 min
  7. David Rubenstein: Carlyle Co-Founder on Negotiation Lessons from Wall Street to Washington

    20/11/2025

    David Rubenstein: Carlyle Co-Founder on Negotiation Lessons from Wall Street to Washington

    In this insightful episode you will learn about the power of persuasion and negotiation from David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group. Dive into his extensive experience in relationship-building, fundraising, and leadership. Discover Rubenstein's methods for becoming an effective communicator and the significance of self-deprecating humor and active listening in negotiations. Gain an insider's perspective on political dynamics, U.S. presidencies, and nonprofit leadership as Rubenstein shares stories from his distinguished career. Whether in business, politics, or personal relationships, find out how persistence, integrity, and bipartisanship are key to success. 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Persuasion 01:00 Building Relationships: Insights from David Rubenstein 01:38 Developing an Outgoing Personality 03:34 Lessons from Ted Sorenson 04:47 The Role of Persistence in Fundraising 08:17 Recruiting and Integrity at Carlisle 11:36 Leadership Transitions at Carlisle 14:36 Current Political Climate and Bipartisanship 21:07 International Relations and Allies 23:06 Presidential Power and Persuasion 25:45 Trump's Popularity in the Middle East 26:52 Reflecting on Jimmy Carter's Legacy 28:08 Challenges in Leading Nonprofit Organizations 32:19 The Role of Presidents in Negotiation 33:05 Evaluating Presidential Effectiveness 38:48 Obama's Struggles with Bipartisanship 40:39 Supreme Court Confirmations and Politics 42:03 Perspectives on Reagan and Bush 45:19 Biden's Negotiation Challenges 46:27 US-China Relations 47:52 The Importance of Negotiation Skills 50:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    49 min
  8. Jake Harriman: Building Trust Across Political Lines at More Perfect Union

    04/11/2025

    Jake Harriman: Building Trust Across Political Lines at More Perfect Union

    In this compelling episode, Jake Harriman, founder of More Perfect Union, discusses his mission to bridge America's partisan divide through community service, civics, and social gatherings. Harriman, a former Marine with extensive combat experience in Iraq, shares how his military background and a transformational encounter in Southern Iraq pushed him to address extreme poverty in Africa through the nonprofit Nuru International. He later transitioned to More Perfect Union, inspired by the growing political divide in America. The conversation covers Harriman's active efforts in various communities, from rural Texas to urban Washington D.C., to unite people across political lines through structured activities and curated conversations. Key negotiation lessons emphasize active listening, empathy, and finding common ground. 00:00 Introduction to the Guest and His Mission 01:10 Jake's Military Background and Lessons Learned 02:10 Negotiation Stories from the Battlefield 12:37 A Life-Changing Experience in Iraq 17:33 Founding NRU International 19:42 Challenges and Successes in Africa 27:14 Negotiation Tactics in Challenging Environments 27:58 Ensuring Safety in Remote Areas 29:05 Building Trust with Local Leaders 30:45 Personal Stories of Security and Negotiation 32:03 Faith in the Military's Loyalty 33:23 Transition to More Perfect Union 35:24 Founding More Perfect Union 37:02 Brickyards: Building Community Trust 40:15 Success Stories from Brickyards 48:25 Recruiting and Training Brickyard Leaders 55:48 Final Thoughts and Getting Involved Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

    57 min
See All (46)

Trailer

About

A podcast about negotiation, persuasion, and influence—taught through real stories. Hosted by Stan Christensen, who has taught negotiation at Stanford University for over 20 years, this bi-weekly podcast features founders, executives, investors, and foreign policy experts sharing real-world negotiation experiences. Episodes explore how leaders negotiate with venture capitalists, employees, customers, boards, and governments—and what actually works when the stakes are high.

Information

  • Creator
    Stan Christensen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stan Christensen
  • Show Website
    All Things Negotiation

You Might Also Like