The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst

John Richardson is a negotiation expert who has worked with the Harvard Negotiation Project and taught negotiation at institutions including Harvard and MIT. His work focuses on helping people understand the psychology of influence, persuasion, manipulation, and conflict resolution. In this conversation, John breaks down why asking better questions is often more powerful than making better arguments, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, how to say no without damaging relationships, and why everyday life is full of negotiations—from work and money to marriage, parenting, and self-discipline.

Today on the show we discuss why asking better questions is the key to getting what you want, the difference between influence, persuasion, and manipulation, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, why learning to say no builds confidence and self-respect, how to calm someone down when they’re angry or emotional, and why self-discipline is really negotiation with your future self and much more.
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Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist, editor, and writer specializing in women’s issues and culture. Recognized for her empathetic approach, Lindsay has interviewed hundreds of public figures and civilians for national outlets, from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper to goop. Previously, she was a CBS affiliate news anchor and reporter.

Today on the show we discuss why so many people feel trapped living a “should life,” how turning 40 can become a wake-up call instead of a crisis, the pressure around marriage, kids, career, and success, the complicated truth about choosing not to have children while still feeling grief and longing, why social media and dating apps can make people feel even more behind, and how getting quiet, listening to your body, and rebuilding self-worth can help you finally create a life that actually feels like your own and much more.

⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠

Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov
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Jason Redman is a retired Navy SEAL, New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized speaker who teaches leadership, resilience and the mindset required to overcome adversity. During his 21-year SEAL career, Jason led high-risk combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before surviving a life-threatening enemy ambush that left him severely wounded.

Today on the show we discuss: why emotional control is a superpower for men, how victim mentality keeps people stuck after trauma and failure, the brutal leadership mistake that nearly destroyed Jason Redman’s life, why discipline and small wins rebuild confidence when life falls apart, how to develop an “overcome mindset” when chaos hits, and why true strength is built through discomfort, accountability and purpose and much more.

⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠

Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov

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Dr. Nicole LePera is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work and How to Be the Love You Seek, as well as the workbook How to Meet Your Self. She was trained in clinical psychology at Cornell University and the New School for Social Research and studied at the Institute for Modern Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia. She is a holistic psychologist whose work addresses the connections among the mind, body, and soul, incorporating overall lifestyle and psychological wellness practices. She is the creator of the #SelfHealers movement where people from around the world are joining together in community to take healing into their own hands.

Today on the show we discuss: how childhood patterns silently shape your adult relationships, why awareness without action keeps people trapped in self-sabotage, the connection between nervous system regulation and emotional healing, how overachievement and people pleasing are often survival responses, the dangerous trap of relying on external validation for self-worth, and what it actually takes to build healthy relationships through honesty, boundaries and self-connection and much more.

⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠

Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov

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Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a veterinary epidemiologist, author of The Longevity Nutrient, and the world’s leading expert on C15:0—the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years. Formerly with the WHO and U.S. Navy, she holds 70+ patents, has 80+ peer-reviewed publications, and is Co-Founder/CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics. Her work has been featured on NPR, CBS, BBC, and National Geographic. A 2025 CNBC Changemaker, she has received the HHS Secretary’s Award for Innovations in Disease Prevention and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Innovation Award, advancing groundbreaking science to help people age healthier.

Today on the show we discuss: the real science behind healthy aging and what actually impacts your biological age, why sitting, chronic stress and poor sleep may be accelerating aging faster than you realize, the surprising connection between loneliness, community and long-term health, how movement, relationships and daily habits shape quality of life as you get older, the controversy around longevity supplements and the science behind C15 fatty acids, and why healthy aging is about living better longer not just living longer and much more.

Get 15% off your first order of fatty15: https://fatty15.com/DOUG

⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠

Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices