Podcast
Big Swings Only
Hosted by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A. · EN
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.Longer version:Most people spend their whole lives optimizing for one thing: not failing. Big Swings Only exists for the people who figured out that’s the wrong fear to be chasing.The real risk isn’t failure — it’s regret. The life you never went after because safe felt smarter.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.Hosted by Kwame Christian, this show brings you the real stories behind the biggest moves people have made — in business, in relationships, in the split-second decisions that changed everything.You’ll get the psychology behind why we hesitate, the strategy behind taking a calculated risk instead of a reckless one, and the nerve it actually takes to go all in when it matters.This isn’t about noise or hype. It’s about accuracy, courage, and becoming who you have to become to live the life you actually want.You were built for more, and this show was built for you. Subscribe now.
About the Host: Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A.
Kwame Christian the founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute. He's known for his viral TEDx Talk, “Finding Confidence in Conflict,” and is a bestselling author of two books:
• How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race (2022)
• Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life (2020)
Tune in to Transform Your Life:
Join millions of listeners who have already unlocked the power of negotiation. Subscribe now and start mastering the skills that will transform your professional and personal life. Watch our episodes on YouTube for more visual insights and tips.
Connect with Us:
• Website: American Negotiation Institute
• Email: simon@negotiateanything.com
• LinkedIn: Kwame Christian
• YouTube: Negotiate Anything
Produced by the American Negotiation Institute
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111episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Stop Self-Sabotaging and Take Your Big Swing
3w ago01:15:03Tap to summarizeMost people don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because they disqualify themselves before anyone else gets the chance. Patty Azzarello became HP's youngest-ever General Manager at 33, ran a billion-dollar business at 35, and reached Silicon Valley CEO by 38 — all while feeling like she didn't belong in the room. In her new book Why Is She Still Here?, she shares the real, unfiltered story of what it actually took to get there. In this episode, you'll discover: Why you should never disqualify yourself — Patty almost didn't apply for a billion-dollar GM role because she decided she wasn't ready. The men competing for the same job had less experience. She applied anyway. She got it. The "Little Patty" method for doing scary things — After 7 years of brutal childhood bullying, Patty built a powerful mental framework: if that little girl could walk back into school every day, you can do the scary adult thing. You owe it to her to swing. Why being a "business robot" stalls your career — Her boss told her she was too serious. Her mom cracked the code: your achievements get you in the door, but people have to want you in the room. How to turn your most embarrassing failure into your fastest learning — Patty once stood in front of a room full of engineers with zero knowledge of the product they were asking about. Two weeks later she was the most sought-after person to demo that exact product. The networking hack that works for introverts — Asking for help isn't weakness. It's how Patty — a self-described socially awkward introvert — built the support network that carried her career. Connect with Patty Azzarello: pattyazzarello.comlinkedin.com/in/pattyazzarelloBuy the book: Why Is She Still Here? Connect with Kwame: 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! @kwamenegotiates across all social platforms
Transcribe →The Intelligence Officer's Secret to Making Better Decisions - Anthony Vinci
3w ago01:13:09Tap to summarizeMost people think in binary — it will happen or it won't. A former CIA field officer says that mental habit is quietly destroying your decisions, your business, and your shot at the life you actually want. Anthony Vinci spent years recruiting intelligence sources in active war zones, advising presidents and generals on high-stakes decisions, and then managing investments at Bridgewater Associates under Ray Dalio — one of the most disciplined decision-making environments on the planet. After leaving government, he built a company from the ground up without knowing what an LLC was, wrote The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, and launched Veeo, a forecasting and scenario-planning platform now used by hedge funds, corporations, and governments. His hard-won insight: the cost of bad decisions is massive, and it follows you forever — but the right system changes everything. In this episode, you'll discover: Why "chunking" risk is the CIA method for taking action without freezing up — Anthony breaks down how he planned missions in Baghdad piece by piece, and how to apply the exact same framework to business decisions and big life swings The "compartmentalize risk" principle that explains why the world's biggest risk-takers (Special Forces operators, entrepreneurs) are often deeply conservative in other areas of their lives — and how to deliberately design yours Why stubbornness + optimism = resilience — and the hidden flip side that destroys most entrepreneurs who don't know when to stop The binary thinking trap: why saying "it's more likely than not" is dramatically less useful than saying "it's a 55% chance vs. a 90% chance" — and why that gap is where elite decision-makers live What Ray Dalio's Bridgewater taught Anthony about the one non-negotiable trait you need in your inner circle — and the exact type of person you must limit access to your energy Connect with Anthony Vinci www.anthonyvinci.com Connect with Kwame: 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! @kwamenegotiates across all social platforms
Transcribe →Why We Suffer and How We Heal - With Dr. Suzan Song
4w ago01:06:30Tap to summarizePsychiatrist Dr. Suzan Song reveals why "just keep going" isn't resilience — it's a trauma response. After hiding from child soldiers in Burundi, she uncovered the hidden cost of high achievement that no one talks about. In this episode, you'll discover: Why performing stability after trauma leads to a breakdown decades later The real difference between pain (unavoidable) and suffering (optional) The Three Friends of Winter — Narrative, Ritual & Purpose — and why they outperform every self-care tool Why building your identity on competence is the most fragile thing a high achiever can do Why more mental health resources are producing more depression, not less Connect with Dr Suzan Song www.suzansong.com Buy the book: Why We Suffer and How We Heal Using Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose to Flourish Through Life's Challenges Connect with Kwame: 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! @kwamenegotiates across all social platforms
Transcribe →The Secret Pattern All High Achievers Share - Ruth Gotian
Jul 201:08:21Tap to summarizeBeing told you're "the glue that keeps everything together" sounds like a compliment—until you realize it's the very reason they never considered you for the promotion. Dr. Ruth Gotian spent 15 years being perfect at her job, and it almost cost her everything. Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer at Weill Cornell Medicine (recently retired), a Columbia University faculty member, and one of the world's foremost researchers on peak performance. She has interviewed Nobel Prize winners, Olympians, NASA astronauts, and NBA champions—not to report on their habits, but to decode the mindset patterns behind their greatness. Her book The Success Factor has become a roadmap for high achievers who are tired of being overlooked. In this episode, Kwame and Ruth unpack the hidden rules of success that nobody tells you—and what it actually takes to go from invisible to undeniable. Connect with Dr. Ruth Gotian: Website: ruthgotian.com LinkedIn: Search Ruth Gotian The Success Factor — featuring stories from Neil Katyal, Steve Kerr, Bob Lefkowitz, and Peggy Whitson Upcoming book on overlooked high achievers — coming 2027 Connect with Kwame: www.americannegotiationinstitute.com
Transcribe →BONUS: Kwame Gets Interviewed by Trent Shelton
Jun 3000:58:30Tap to summarizeBefore we transition, we wanted to give you one more gift. This episode wasn't originally planned for the Negotiate Anything feed — it's an interview Kwame did on Trent Shelton's podcast, and it might be one of the most personal conversations he's ever had. 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!
Transcribe →I'm Ending Negotiate Anything. Big Swings Only Starts Now.
Jun 2500:40:58Tap to summarizeI'm Ending Negotiate Anything. Big Swings Only Starts Now. After 10 years and 1,800+ episodes, I'm closing the chapter on the world's #1 negotiation podcast — and betting everything on what comes next. This is the most honest, unscripted episode I've ever recorded. I'm Kwame Christian — founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, bestselling author, and the host who built Negotiate Anything from a solo credibility play at age 27 into the most downloaded negotiation podcast on the planet. My clients include Google, Apple, NASA, Microsoft, and the Department of Defense. I've trained hundreds of thousands of people to have the conversations that change their lives. This isn't a goodbye. It's a becoming. What's next: Subscribe to Big Swings Only with Kwame Christian — a show about high performers who dared greatly, and what it actually takes to become who you were destined to be. Media inquiries & connections: simon@negotiateanything.com
Transcribe →Master Conflict Without Losing Control: The Secrets of Elite Negotiators
Jun 2201:18:32Tap to summarizeMost people don't fail in difficult conversations because they lack knowledge — they fail because they lose control of themselves. In this special episode, our host, negotiation expert Kwame Christian sits down with Ohio State Moritz College of Law Professor Katrina Lee to answer the toughest questions from her law students about negotiation, persuasion, emotional regulation, and conflict. Together, they explore what separates great negotiators from everyone else—from mastering the empathy loop and building genuine trust to using storytelling, curiosity, and strategic listening to influence outcomes. Kwame shares practical techniques for staying calm under pressure, handling interruptions, navigating emotionally charged conversations, and finding confidence when the stakes are high. You'll learn: • Why listening is often more powerful than problem-solving • How to use the 70/30 rule to create deeper connections • The difference between genuine curiosity and strategic curiosity • How storytelling shapes persuasion and decision-making • Techniques for regulating emotions during difficult conversations • Why humility is a hidden superpower in negotiation • How to turn conflict into collaboration without sacrificing your goals Along the way, Kwame shares personal stories from high-stakes business negotiations, lessons from coaching leaders around the world, and the mindset shifts that have helped millions of listeners become more effective communicators. Whether you're a lawyer, leader, salesperson, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants better conversations at work and at home, this episode will give you actionable tools to communicate with more confidence, influence, and emotional intelligence. Because the best negotiators aren't the loudest people in the room—they're the ones who know how to listen. Contact ANIRequest A Customized Workshop For Your CompanyFollow Kwame Christian on LinkedInnegotiateanything.comClick here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
Transcribe →Become a People Magnet: The Nonverbal Habits That Draw Others In - with Linda Clemons
Jun 1801:19:50Tap to summarizeWhat if the most powerful thing you're communicating is something you're never saying at all? In this captivating masterclass on body language, world-renowned communication expert Linda Clemons reveals how your nonverbal signals can elevate—or sabotage—your influence, relationships, negotiations, and career. Drawing from decades of experience coaching executives, sales leaders, and organizations around the world, Linda shares the hidden cues that determine whether people trust you, listen to you, or tune you out entirely. From the surprising power of presence to the subtle facial expressions that reveal what people are really thinking, Linda breaks down the science and psychology behind human connection in a way that's practical, memorable, and immediately actionable. She also shares a moving story that demonstrates how truly seeing another person can change a life. Whether you're leading a team, closing a deal, navigating difficult conversations, or simply trying to become a better communicator, this episode will transform the way you think about influence. You'll discover why your body language often speaks louder than your words, how to project confidence without saying a word, and what it really means to be fully present with another human being. If you've ever wondered why some people effortlessly command attention and build trust, this conversation holds the answers. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why presence is the foundation of great communication • How body language can strengthen or undermine your message • The nonverbal signals that build trust and connection • Common communication mistakes that push people away • How to read emotional cues others miss • Practical strategies from Linda's bestselling book, *Hush: How to Radiate Power and Confidence Without Saying a Word* This is more than a conversation about body language—it's a lesson in becoming the kind of person people remember, trust, and want to follow. Connect with Linda: Instagram: lindaclemons Linkedin: Linda Clemons Book: Hush: How to Radiate Power and Confidence Without Saying a Word Contact ANIRequest A Customized Workshop For Your CompanyFollow Kwame Christian on LinkedInnegotiateanything.comClick here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
Transcribe →Train Your Mind Like a Leader: Influence, Persuade, and Stay Calm Under Pressure
Jun 1501:01:23Tap to summarizeWhat if the secret to influencing people, uncovering the truth, and becoming a better leader isn't authority — it's emotional intelligence? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sabine Charles shares how her career as a fraud investigator and internal auditor taught her an unexpected lesson: people reveal their deepest truths when they feel understood. From interviewing fraud suspects who "spilled the beans" within minutes to helping professionals overcome performance anxiety and pass high-stakes certification exams, Sabine reveals the mindset and emotional intelligence strategies that transformed her approach to leadership. Together, we explore her MEQ (Mindset, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership Qualities) framework, the surprising connection between hypnotherapy and peak performance, how to adapt communication across cultures, and why understanding people is far more important than being right. Sabine also shares deeply personal stories about resilience, self-awareness, and staying grounded in your values during life's most challenging moments. Whether you're leading a team, navigating difficult conversations, managing workplace relationships, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this episode offers practical tools for building trust, influencing change, and elevating your leadership from the inside out. In this episode, you'll learn: • How emotional intelligence helps people open up and trust you • Why persuasion starts with understanding, not convincing • Techniques for managing performance anxiety in high-stakes situations • How to give and receive feedback across cultures • The role of self-awareness, reflection, and mindset in effective leadership • Why leadership begins long before you have a title Connect with Dr. Sabine Charles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-charles/ Website: https://www.drsabinecharles.com/ Book: Leadership MeQ — available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Contact ANIRequest A Customized Workshop For Your CompanyFollow Kwame Christian on LinkedInnegotiateanything.comClick here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
Transcribe →Stop Defending Yourself — Start Listening and Win Any Negotiation
Jun 1101:09:04Tap to summarizeWhat if the biggest threat to your relationship isn’t conflict — it’s the way you communicate during it? In this thought-provoking conversation, negotiation expert and mediator Alice Shikina joins Kwame Christian to reveal why so many successful professionals excel at communication in the boardroom but struggle to connect with the people they love most. Drawing from years of mediation experience, Alice shares a powerful perspective: every relationship is a negotiation, and learning how to negotiate well can transform the way we handle conflict at home. Together, they unpack the hidden communication patterns that fuel arguments, including interruptions, defensiveness, emotional escalation, and the common misconception that listening simply means hearing someone speak. You'll discover why acknowledgment is often the missing ingredient in difficult conversations, how unspoken emotions drive seemingly unrelated conflicts, and why de-escalation begins long before an argument starts. Whether you're navigating challenges with a spouse, partner, child, colleague, or friend, this episode offers practical tools to help you listen more deeply, communicate more effectively, and strengthen your most important relationships. Key topics include: * Why every relationship is a negotiation * The real reason people feel unheard * How to prevent conversations from escalating * The role of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution * Why "I hear you" isn't enough * Practical techniques for active listening and acknowledgment * Creating relationship ground rules that actually work If you've ever walked away from a conversation feeling misunderstood—or struggled to understand someone else—this episode will change the way you think about communication forever. Connect with Alice: 🎙️ Podcast: Negotiation with Alice 📖 Don't Sleep on the Couch: Winning More Arguments Without Losing Your Marriage — coming soon 📖 Influenceable — also forthcoming 🌐 https://www.shikinamediation.com/
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