Negotiation Made Simple

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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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 — 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.
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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 helped him close deals across the globe—from India to Japan. You’ll hear why he warns against being the "ugly American" and how a simple mistake with a traffic signal in Vietnam taught him a profound lesson about leadership and perception.
Tune in to discover:
The Renegotiation Paradox: Why Stowe voluntarily offered to quadruple a partner's revenue mid-contract—and how that "generosity" secured 20% of his company’s regional profit.
The 13-Hour Dinner: The extreme length Stowe went to—flying a CEO from London to Singapore just for one meal—to prove respect and save a deal with a family-owned bank.
The "George Washington" Rule: Why the most brilliant move a leader can make is knowing exactly when to walk away.
Get My Book: Negotiation Made Simple
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