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 deals aren’t won through persuasion alone they’re won through preparation, timing, and strategic positioning.

Drawing from decades of experience negotiating with talent, agents, networks, and global brands, a Producer of American Idol shares how to create leverage when you don’t have it, how to manage ego without burning relationships, and why timing matters more than brilliance. You’ll hear real stories from behind American Idol, Netflix, Disney, and beyond, along with practical lessons leaders can apply to any high-pressure deal.

If you’ve ever had a great idea that stalled, a deal that fell apart, or a negotiation that felt out of your control, this episode will change how you approach the process. Because the biggest lesson is simple: the best negotiators win before the meeting ever starts.

Get My Book: Negotiation Made Simple
Schedule a Live Workshop
Schedule a Private Workshop
Get Private Coaching from Me
Gain Access to My Online Course
Follow Me on LinkedIn

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 took one of college football’s most overlooked programs and turned it into a national champion fast. His turnaround wasn’t luck. It was a system.

You’ll learn the five lessons elite negotiators use to win in difficult environments, including how to build confidence when you don’t feel it, how to stack the deck before talks begin, and why process matters more than power at the table. If you’ve been stuck in a tough market, a hard deal, or a losing streak, this episode is your reset button.

Get My Book: Negotiation Made Simple
Schedule a Live Workshop
Schedule a Private Workshop
Get Private Coaching from Me
Gain Access to My Online Course
Follow Me on LinkedIn

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 — and why trying to eliminate those emotions often makes things worse. Together, we break down the difference between anxiety, stress, and worry, and explain how unexamined emotions can quietly drive bad decisions, unnecessary concessions, and missed opportunities

Nick introduces a simple but powerful framework that helps leaders stay grounded and make clear decisions even when emotions are running high. We also discuss practical tools like “scheduled worry,” why high achievers are especially prone to anxiety, and how assertiveness rooted in values (not emotions) becomes a strategic advantage at the negotiating table

If you’ve ever felt pressure push you toward a deal you knew wasn’t right — or found yourself trying to negotiate just to relieve discomfort — this episode will change how you think about leadership, negotiation, and emotional control.

Get My Book: Negotiation Made Simple
Schedule a Live Workshop
Schedule a Private Workshop
Get Private Coaching from Me
Gain Access to My Online Course
Follow Me on LinkedIn