LinkedIn Podcast Network & iHeartMedia Place Major Bet on 'Negotiate Anything' with Kwame Christian

COLUMBUS, OHIO —The American Negotiation Institute (ANI) announced today that its groundbreaking podcast Negotiate Anything, hosted by renowned negotiation expert Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A., has secured a landmark position on the prestigious LinkedIn Podcast Network, powered by iHeartPodcasts. Setting a new precedent for negotiation content, industry giant iHeartMedia will leverage its position as the #1 global podcast publisher to amplify Negotiate Anything through a substantial promotional investment of 1 million podcast network impressions and 3 million radio broadcast impressions beginning April 2025.

This strategic alliance marks the first time a negotiation-focused podcast has received such significant backing from major media platforms, further cementing Negotiate Anything as the leading voice in negotiation and conflict resolution content. With over 10 million downloads, 1,500+ episodes, and listeners in more than 180 countries, Negotiate Anything has established itself as the #1 negotiation audio-only podcast worldwide and will now reach millions of additional professionals through this groundbreaking partnership.

"This historic collaboration between the American Negotiation Institute, LinkedIn, and iHeartMedia represents a paradigm shift in how negotiation skills are taught and consumed globally," said Kwame Christian, CEO and Founder of ANI and creator of the revolutionary Compassionate Curiosity Framework. "Being selected for this level of investment validates what our millions of listeners already know—that effective negotiation skills are not just beneficial but essential for professional success in today's complex business landscape."

The Meteoric Rise of Negotiate Anything

Starting in 2016 as a complete unknown in the industry, Negotiate Anything has experienced extraordinary growth to become the world's premier negotiation podcast. What began as a mission to democratize negotiation skills has evolved into a global movement, producing daily episodes that require a sophisticated content operation with dedicated teams working across multiple departments.

"My passion for this comes from the fact that I used to be a people pleaser, and it wasn't until I discovered negotiation in law school that I realized this was a skill, not a talent—I could actually get better," explained Christian. "After seeing my success after learning negotiation, I decided to dedicate my life to helping other people overcome this challenge and find confidence in conflict."

To support the podcast's exponential growth, ANI has built a robust media infrastructure that rivals established publishers in the business education space. The company's content creation apparatus includes an executive producer, audio and video content department, and a specialized content team with a Director of Strategic Communication that works across platforms to maintain the show's exceptional quality and consistent daily release schedule.

"Over the years, as we've expanded our reach, we've had to invest significantly in our media capabilities," noted Christian. "What started as a small production with minimal resources has evolved into a sophisticated operation requiring specialized teams across multiple departments."

A Landmark Media Partnership

The collaboration between LinkedIn and iHeartMedia represents one of the most significant developments in business podcasting. In July 2023, these media powerhouses announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing the business podcast landscape, leveraging iHeartMedia's extensive audio production and distribution capabilities alongside LinkedIn's vast professional network of over 930 million members worldwide.

iHeartMedia's selection of Negotiate Anything for this promotional push demonstrates the high regard these media giants have for the show's content and impact. The deal represents one of the most significant investments ever made in negotiation-focused content, with industry insiders noting that the scale of promotion rivals what is typically reserved for mainstream entertainment properties.

"We're grateful for this partnership with the LinkedIn Podcast Network and iHeartMedia," said Christian, whose reputation as a skilled dealmaker has attracted attention across multiple industries. "For the first few years of the podcast, we were producing it at a loss because we were so committed to helping as many people as we could. We never thought the show would get to a point to be monetized because negotiation was such a small niche, but we are proud to say that we're helping to expand the reach of negotiation across the world."

The deal caps off a series of increasingly ambitious media partnerships that Christian has negotiated, demonstrating the same principles ANI teaches to its Fortune 500 clients. The company's media strategy began with securing a deal with Acast, a Swedish-founded company that provides hosting, monetization, and growth support for podcasts. With over 88,000 podcasts and 430 million monthly listens, Acast's portfolio includes notable collaborations with major media organizations like The Guardian, The Economist, and the Financial Times.

This success led to the LinkedIn Podcast Network deal, which has now expanded with the iHeartMedia promotional investment—a partnership with the largest podcast publisher in the world.

Negotiating Our Way to the Top: A Testament to Effective Negotiation

ANI's remarkable journey to industry leadership serves as powerful validation of the very principles it teaches. From humble beginnings with zero listeners to securing major media partnerships, securing Fortune 500 clients, and building a sprawling media operation, the company has leveraged negotiation expertise to achieve exponential growth.

"We are a testament to the power of negotiation because we've been able to punch above our weight through our ability to create a powerful joint vision," noted Christian, whose dealmaking prowess has become legendary in both media and corporate circles. "These are all win-win negotiations, and that's what this is about. We use the same skills that we teach our clients, listeners, and learners. We started with nothing—nobody was listening to our show—but by dedicating ourselves to excellence and negotiating incredible deals, we've been able to negotiate our way to the top of the industry."

Under Christian's leadership, ANI has orchestrated a series of increasingly ambitious partnerships that have transformed the company from a boutique training firm into a negotiation empire with global reach and influence. This strategic expansion has necessitated continuous growth in the company's team, infrastructure, and capabilities.

"I believe all negotiation consulting firms and thought leaders should be focused on negotiating media deals because the landscape has changed," Christian emphasized. "In the past, the leaders in the negotiation space were determined by their association with academic institutions, big-name clients, and a bestselling book. Now, I believe the single most important thing for negotiation experts and companies is to capture the attention of busy people who don't feel they have time to learn. Today we're talking about impact through influence, and there's a lot of bad information out there. I think it's the responsibility of great communicators and negotiators to get the word out there on how to truly connect, communicate, and persuade—otherwise, your impact is going to be limited."

Corporate Impact and Expanded Media Presence

While expanding its media footprint, ANI has maintained its commitment to delivering exceptional negotiation training to elite organizations worldwide. The company serves Fortune 500 clients including Apple, Google, Intel, Honda, Coca-Cola, and JPMorgan Chase, along with government agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense, The Senate, and the National Institutes of Health.

"In addition to the corporate partnerships we have with some of the largest organizations in the world, the thing we enjoy most is using our company's success to fuel our generosity," said Christian. "Our motto at the American Negotiation Institute is that we believe the best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations, so our goal is to make the world a better place one difficult conversation at a time."

This philosophy is embodied in the company's revolutionary Compassionate Curiosity Framework, which has been adopted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and millions of professionals worldwide. The framework, designed to be simple without being simplistic, puts practicality over theory while remaining firmly grounded in science.

ANI's media reach extends beyond podcasting, with Christian serving as one of LinkedIn Learning's most prolific instructors. With 48 courses on negotiation and communication reaching over 2.38 million learners globally in 11 languages, these programs have garnered more than 107,000 shares and 111,000 likes. The company has also developed an Audible Original, further extending its media presence across platforms.

"These new media opportunities aren't just business deals—they're validation of our vision and the impact we're having on people's lives. We're changing how the world views negotiation, showing people it's an everyday skill, an accessible skill, and most importantly, something you can excel at while being your authentic self," Kwame said.

Looking Ahead: ANI's Media-Focused 2025 Strategy

With this landmark promotional campaign set to begin in April 2025, ANI is positioning itself for continued growth and impact. The company is expanding beyond podcasting into comprehensive video production, reflecting its evolution into a media powerhouse that rivals traditional publishers in the business education space.

"The American Negotiation Institute is all in on our media strategy for 2025, focusing not only on building out our podcasting team but also our video production team," Christian revealed. "We've scaled our operations dramatically."

The company's headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, now houses state-of-the-art production facilities, with dedicated teams working across content creation, distribution, analytics, and partnership management. This significant investment in media capabilities positions ANI at the intersection of business education and entertainment—a strategic advantage that has attracted attention from major players across multiple industries.

"While we've made some great courses for other platforms like LinkedIn Learning, 2025 will be the year that we expand our focus to create our own courses, giving us more creative control," Christian explained. "At this point, we are a media company as much as we are a consulting and training company, and we're proud of that because it expands our impact."

As Negotiate Anything continues to break new ground, ANI remains committed to its core mission of democratizing negotiation skills and helping people navigate difficult conversations with confidence and authenticity—now backed by several powerful media partners that provide a more robust infrastructure.
"We're excited about this partnership, we're excited to see where this goes, and we're looking forward to having this promote us into a strong 2025," concluded Christian. "What we've built is just the beginning. The teams we've assembled, the production capabilities we've developed, and the distribution channels we've secured position us not just as thought leaders in negotiation, but as pioneers of a new model for how specialized expertise can be scaled and delivered in the digital age."

Industry observers note that ANI's trajectory represents a new paradigm for professional services firms, demonstrating how strategic media partnerships and content production can transform a specialized consultancy into a global brand with unprecedented reach and influence.

For more information about "Negotiate Anything" and the American Negotiation Institute, visit www.negotiateanything.com.

About the American Negotiation Institute

The American Negotiation Institute (ANI) is one of the world's leading negotiation and conflict resolution consulting and training organizations, founded in 2016 in response to a societal need for effective communication. Through its groundbreaking content including the #1 negotiation podcast 'Negotiate Anything' with over 10 million downloads and 48 LinkedIn Learning courses reaching 2.38+ million professionals worldwide, ANI has trained more negotiators than any other organization in history. Founded by Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A., one of the foremost experts on negotiation and conflict resolution, ANI serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Google, and Coca-Cola to government agencies including NASA and the Department of Defense with its revolutionary Compassionate Curiosity Framework. This powerful methodology, designed to be simple without being simplistic, puts practicality over theory while remaining firmly grounded in science, allowing people to flow organically and authentically through difficult conversations. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' ANI goes beyond traditional negotiation training to make difficult conversations easier through a unique approach that delivers practical, actionable skills in an entertaining and engaging format. Kwame's TEDx talk 'Finding Confidence in Conflict,' which debuted this framework, has garnered over 600,000 views and was the most popular TEDx Talk on conflict in 2017. ANI is redefining how negotiation and conflict resolution are taught in the digital age through its innovative LinkedIn Professional Certificate, corporate training programs, and bestselling books.

Contact:

Ashley Wilson | Head of Communications
awilson@americannegotiationinstitute.com