Negotiation Made Simple

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode, we sit down with a Producer of American Idol to unpack how one of the most successful shows in television history almost never happened and what that teaches us about high-stakes negotiation.

From getting rejected by networks, to reworking the pitch, to stacking the right pieces at the right moment, this conversation reveals that g...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

What do you do when the odds are stacked against you and losing feels inevitable?

Most negotiators hit a point where deals dry up, leverage disappears, and confidence starts to slip. It’s in those moments that most people play defense… and slowly lose their edge.

In this episode, we break down an unlikely source of negotiation wisdom: the coach who ...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, we explore one of the most overlooked skills in negotiation and leadership: managing the negotiation happening inside your own head.

Clinical psychologist and mindset coach Dr. Nick Wignall joins the conversation to unpack why anxiety, fear, and pressure show up so strongly in high-stakes negotiations — a...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

Is the goal of a negotiation to gain a "distinct unfair advantage"? In this episode, host John Lowry sits down with global insurance executive Barry Stowe to dismantle that Wall Street myth and reveal a more profitable path.

Stowe, who led Prudential Corporation Asia through a season of unprecedented growth, shares the counter-intuitive s...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, John sits down with Walker Thrash, commercial real estate deal maker and author of The Deal Maker’s Will. Through a mentor–mentee story, Walker distills years of experience into seven powerful rules that help negotiators simplify complexity, understand self-interest, use authority wisely, and keep deals ...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

What separates good negotiators from great ones? In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, Wharton professor Richard Shell, author of Bargaining for Advantage and one of the world’s foremost experts on negotiation, joins the show to share what he’s learned from decades of teaching Navy SEALs, CEOs, diplomats, and entrepreneurs how to win deals a...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Anthony McCray—one of the top sales leaders in global logistics—to unpack what really drives sales negotiations. Mark’s core philosophy: remove friction. When you make it easy to do business with you—and help your buyer look good to their stakeholders—deals move. They discuss practical prep using a negotiatio...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, John Lowry sits down with Richard Gabriel, one of the nation’s leading trial consultants, whose career spans more than 2,500 cases including some of the most high-profile trials in history. Together, they explore the fascinating intersection between jury consulting and negotiation—how people actually mak...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

When emotions run high and the stakes are even higher, how do you negotiate resolution? In this episode, seasoned litigator and nationally recognized settlement counsel John Pion shares raw, real-world stories from the frontlines of high-stakes negotiations — including a moment where a gun was placed on the table.

John unpacks the human side of con...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, host John Lowry teams up with longtime friend and leadership expert Chris Allen to tackle one of the most overlooked leadership skills—negotiating inside your organization. From team conflict to change management and return-to-office policies, negotiation is happening everywhere in the workplace, even if...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode, John Lowry sits down with Peter Robinson — former director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine — to explore the foundational skills every negotiator needs. Peter shares stories and lessons from decades of teaching and practicing negotiation around the world, emphasizing the power of empathy, self-awareness...

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In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, John Lowry sits down with high school teacher and coach Tristan Wheeler to explore the unexpected parallels between education and negotiation. Tristan shares how teaching seniors and coaching soccer have shaped his understanding of influence, transformation, and connection. Together, they unpack powerful...

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In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, John Lowry sits down with a seasoned university president and faith-driven leader to explore the human side of negotiation. From managing complex relationships to navigating high-stakes decisions, this conversation unpacks the quiet disciplines and mindset shifts that shape truly effective leaders. Wheth...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, we sit down with Aaron Dorn, CEO of Studio Bank and former U.S. Marine Corps officer, to explore what it really takes to lead, negotiate, and grow in today’s business world. From founding a billion-dollar bank to navigating high-stakes deals, Aaron shares hard-earned wisdom on the people side of negotiat...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, host John Lowry sits down with Doug Ryan, a commercial real estate expert with over 25 years of experience at Colliers Nashville. Doug has played a pivotal role in some of Nashville’s biggest real estate deals, and he credits advanced negotiation training as a game-changer in his career.

Doug shares how i...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

Negotiation is both an art and a science, and few people understand this better than Dr. Keld Jensen. As the author of 12 books and a leading expert in negotiation, trust, and behavioral economics, Dr. Jensen has spent years studying what makes deals successful—and what causes them to fall apart. In this episode, he shares invaluable insights on h...

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What can a billion-dollar fighter jet deal teach you about negotiation? In this episode, host John Lowry takes you behind the scenes of a high-stakes negotiation between President Donald Trump and Lockheed Martin CEO Marilyn Hewson. Discover how Hewson navigated public criticism, transformed a tense situation into a collaborative opportunity, and ...

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In this episode, John Lowry sits down with Ryan Hawk, the host of the acclaimed Learning Leader Show podcast and a bestselling author. Ryan shares invaluable insights from his journey as a leader, podcaster, and keynote speaker, including lessons learned from over 600 deep-dive interviews with some of the world’s top leaders.

Together, they explore...

Need help with a negotiation? Text us and we'll feature your question on the show.

In this episode we dive into an incredible 18-year journey that proves the power of persistence, creativity, and relationship-building in high-stakes negotiations. Our guest, Brian Tucker took on a seemingly impossible challenge—turning a breathtaking piece of land into Punta Brava one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Along the way...