Negotiation Made Simple

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

What can a three-time Super Bowl champion teach us about negotiation?

In this episode, NFL legend Stephen Gostkowski shares lessons learned from nearly 15 seasons with the Patriots dynasty alongside Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. From performing under immense pressure to negotiating contracts, knowing your worth, and staying focused when everything is o...

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

Most people think negotiation is about tactics, pressure, or getting the last word. It’s not.

In this episode, we unpack the hidden rules that actually determine who wins deals and who quietly leaves value on the table. From pricing with confidence and handling procurement pressure to navigating tough conversations, stalled deals, and difficult p...

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Most people think negotiation starts when the offer hits the table. In reality, it starts long before that and the highest performers understand how to build leverage, shape perception, and position their value well ahead of the final conversation.

In this episode, John sits down with executive negotiation advisor Jacob Warwick, who has helped senior l...

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

What really determines who wins a negotiation?

In this episode of Negotiation Made Simple, John Lowry sits down with veteran talent agent Blake McDaniel, who has spent decades negotiating deals for some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Alabama, Run-DMC, and many others. Through years of high-stakes dealmaking, Blake discovered that grea...

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

When goals stall, deals freeze, and ideas go nowhere, most people push harder and get more stuck. In this episode, John Lowry shares a simple framework for getting unstuck by shifting from positions to interests, from convincing to connecting, and from pressure to progress. This is a must listen for leaders who want momentum in 2026.

Get My Book: Negot...

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 great...

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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 c...

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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 —...

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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 strategies that...

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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 kee...

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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 t...

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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 practic...

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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 actu...

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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 c...

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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 ...

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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-a...

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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 con...

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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. Whether y...

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 negoti...