Stop People-Pleasing — A Masterclass on Boundaries That Actually Hold

People-pleasing feels generous… until it destroys your energy, your time, your confidence, and your relationships. In this masterclass, three experts break down why setting boundaries is so hard — and how to finally create limits that protect your peace instead of collapsing under pressure. Featured Episodes Kwame Christian opens with a solo lesson on political conversations at work — one of the hardest boundary-setting challenges we face. He explains why these discussions spiral, how to disengage without escalating, and how leaders can mediate conflict without losing trust. Next, negotiation coach Minson Vo joins Kwame for a raw, behind-the-scenes training session on saying no with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Through live roleplay, they reveal the psychology behind hesitation, the power of emotional self-awareness, and how to use the “positive no” to protect your time without damaging relationships. Finally, career strategist Eliana Goldstein shares the emotional side of boundaries — burnout, guilt, fear of disappointing others, and how people-pleasing quietly sabotages your life and career. She teaches the mindset and communication skills needed to say no with compassion, stay firm during pushback, and create boundaries that actually hold.

AI is moving faster than anyone expected — and most leaders aren’t ready. In this masterclass, three experts reveal what’s actually changing, what isn’t, and the human skills you’ll need to stay relevant in a world where AI touches every job, every industry, and every conversation. Media executive Bonnie St. John explains how AI is reshaping storytelling, communication, and trust — and why leaders must learn to guide teams through fear, change, and uncertainty. Veteran educator and former military leader Dr. Heiss Gibson breaks down the mindset shifts required to lead humans in an AI-driven world, emphasizing humility, curiosity, and emotional intelligence over technical perfection. And innovation strategist Rich Farrell shows how to experiment, adapt, and help your team build AI confidence without losing sight of the mission.

When the stakes are high, your emotions are loud, and every option feels wrong… how do you make the right call? In this masterclass, three experts break down the hidden psychological, emotional, and strategic forces behind tough decisions — the things no one teaches you at work, in school, or in life. You’ll learn why your brain freezes under pressure, how fear distorts your judgment, and why overthinking often feels productive but keeps you stuck. Best-selling author Patrick McGinnis explains the origins of FOMO and FOBO and reveals how too many choices destroy clarity. Kwame Christian shows how internal conflict shapes external negotiation — and why timing, creativity, and emotional control matter more than logic. Leadership expert Stephanie Hanna shares how top performers simplify decisions, trust their instincts, and remove options to move forward with confidence. Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠⁠

Master the secret tactics spies use to win trust and uncover the truth. In this gripping episode, Jeremy Hurewitz, corporate intelligence expert and author of "Sell Like a Spy," reveals the secret persuasion tactics used by the CIA, FBI, and elite intelligence officers. Hurewitz draws on his years of experience working alongside former CIA case officers, FBI negotiators, and counterintelligence experts to share powerful strategies for winning trust, gathering intelligence, and persuading anyone — even when they don’t want to share. From the art of elicitation and radical empathy to mastering deception detection and reading people like a book, this episode is packed with real-world spycraft secrets you can use in sales, negotiations, and everyday interactions. Hurewitz also shares jaw-dropping stories of espionage, including how intelligence agents use access agents and covert techniques to gain crucial information. How spies turn targets into traitors — and how you can ethically turn leads into loyal customers. The secret to asking questions that reveal everything without raising suspicion. Why detecting deception is about recognizing red flags — and how to spot them. How to use intelligence techniques to build trust and influence anyone. If you’ve ever wanted to know how spies get people to reveal their deepest secrets, this episode will show you how to apply the same tactics in your life. ⁠Jeremy Hurewitz⁠ ⁠Buy the Book Sell Like a Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage ⁠

Why do some people inspire us instantly — while others infuriate us just as fast? According to Adam Galinsky, the answer isn’t random. It’s psychological, universal, and surprisingly predictable. Adam is a professor at Columbia Business School, co-author of Friend & Foe, and author of the new book Inspire. He’s spent years studying tens of thousands of real leadership stories across the globe — and what he discovered will change the way you see yourself and the people around you. In this conversation, Adam and Kwame break down: • The three universal traits of inspiring leaders • Why inspiring and infuriating people are mirror images of each other • How the “leader amplification effect” makes even small actions hit hard • How insecurity turns people into “little tyrants” • The difference between persuasion, authenticity, and manipulation • How simple practices (values reflection, power recall) can reduce anxiety and build confidence • Why anyone — in work, at home, or in life — can learn to become inspiring Adam also shares incredible personal stories, including how one sentence from Daniel Kahneman shaped his entire career — and how a small moment with his son revealed the true weight of leadership. If you’ve ever wondered why people follow some leaders and push away from others, or how to become more inspiring in your own life, this episode gives you the science, the stories, and the practical steps to do it. Connect with Adam ⁠Buy the book Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others⁠ ⁠Buy the book Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both

You don’t need to feel calm to stay in control. In this raw and eye-opening episode, Kwame Christian sits down with The Anxious Achiever host Morra Aarons-Mele to unpack what really happens when anxiety hits in the middle of a high-stakes conversation. Whether you're a leader, negotiator, or just trying to survive the next Zoom meeting, this conversation offers practical tools to ground yourself, recover in real-time, and stop letting anxiety run the show. Morra breaks down the science, shares life-saving techniques from her work with high performers, and reveals why anxiety isn't something to conquer — it's something to understand, respect, and work with. This episode is not about avoiding discomfort. It's about learning to lead through it. Connect with Morra ⁠⁠https://morraam.com/⁠⁠ ⁠BUY NOW: The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower⁠ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

In this insightful episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian sits down with Randy Ford, a seasoned storytelling strategist, to explore the art of storytelling as a tool for persuasion in negotiations. Drawing from Randy's extensive background in journalism and politics, the conversation delves into the storytelling triangle—a crucial framework for understanding the dynamic interaction between the storyteller, the story, and the audience. With practical examples and philosophical insights, this episode sheds light on how stories influence communication strategies in various professional settings. Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation of how storytelling is not just about entertainment but also about fostering mutual understanding and effectively persuading audiences. What will be covered: Introduction to the storytelling triangle and its significance in communication. The role of storytelling in persuasion, especially in negotiations and sales. Key storytelling principles that enhance communication effectiveness.

If you feel like you work hard but no one notices… this masterclass is for you. In this special episode, three experts break down the real skills behind career growth — the internal confidence, the negotiation tools, and the self-advocacy habits that actually move you from “overlooked” to “in-demand.” COO Heather Spilsbury explains why competence isn’t enough and how self-promotion, confidence, and clarity turn quiet performers into leaders. HR executive Jasani Courtney reveals the truth about salary negotiations, compensation packages, and why companies want you to negotiate. And host Kwame Christian ties it all together with strategies to advocate for yourself without losing humility. You’ll learn: • how to speak about your value without feeling arrogant • why your work doesn’t always “speak for itself” • the biggest mistakes people make in job offers & promotions • how to negotiate salary, benefits, and opportunities • how to build a personal brand that opens doors • why advocating for yourself is a negotiation skill • how to stop shrinking and start being seen If you’re tired of being the hardest worker in the room with the least recognition, this is your roadmap to changing everything.

In this masterclass, three leaders from three completely different worlds — engineering, politics, and the creator economy — reveal how power, influence, and persuasion actually work when you don’t have formal authority. Each guest tackles the same question from a different angle: How do you get people to say yes when they don’t have to listen to you? Featured Episodes Mechanical engineer and leadership advocate Amreen Rahman breaks down how influence is built slowly through credibility, advocacy, relationships, and the quiet power of likability. Public affairs executive Jade Davis shares hard-earned lessons on leadership humility, managing egos, adjusting your role as you rise, and persuading up, down, and across an organization. And creator-entrepreneur Jay Clouse takes you inside the psychology of trust, the art of building an audience one person at a time, and why confidence — not pressure — drives people to buy, follow, or believe in your work. Across these conversations, you’ll learn how to cultivate allies, navigate organizational politics, sell your ideas without sounding salesy, and communicate with confidence instead of ego. A masterclass for anyone who wants to lead, persuade, and move people — even when you’re not the one holding the authority.

Workplace stress isn’t just about deadlines, deliverables, or difficult personalities — it’s about the emotions underneath that shape every decision, every conversation, and every conflict. In this special masterclass, three experts break down what really happens inside us during moments of pressure, burnout, tension, and disconnection — and how to navigate those moments with clarity and strength. Executive coach and author Melody Wilding reveals the psychology of “sensitive strivers” — the high-achieving professionals who feel everything more intensely — and how emotional overwhelm, people-pleasing, and lack of boundaries quietly sabotage their success. Leadership expert David Dye shows why most workplace conflicts escalate, how fear of status loss keeps people silent, and how a single courageous conversation can completely shift a relationship. Finally, researcher and consultant Steven Van Cohen exposes the loneliness crisis at work and teaches the emotional skills leaders need to build connection, belonging, and trust inside their teams. By the end of this masterclass, you’ll understand your emotions, protect your boundaries, communicate with confidence, and navigate workplace crises with a calm, grounded presence — even when everything around you is pulling you off balance.