William Ury: The Untold Story of Negotiating in Venezuela

Negotiate Anything

American Negotiation Institute

Business, Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 748 Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if the most powerful negotiation tactic… was silence? In this masterclass episode, legendary negotiator William Ury, co-author of Getting to Yes and co-founder of Harvard’s Program on Negotiation, shares the unbelievable true story of how he helped prevent a civil war in Venezuela — not with force, but with silence, empathy, and preparation. You’ll hear how Ury kept calm while being yelled at by President Hugo Chávez… and how going to the “mental balcony” gave him the clarity to de-escalate the moment and shift the direction of an entire nation. 🎙 Hosted by Kwame Christian, founder of the American Negotiation Institute, this interview is packed with insight for anyone navigating high-stakes conversations, conflict resolution, or personal transformation. Why silence is the ultimate power move in conflict How to “go to the balcony” in heated conversations What most negotiators get wrong about preparation How empathy turns enemies into collaborators Why listening is more persuasive than talking The “Trust Menu” technique that works when dialogue breaks down ⁠www.williamury.com⁠ ⁠Buy the Book: POSSIBLE- How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict By William Ury

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Most small business owners only think about insurance after something gets wrong.
0:04.6	Don't be that person.
0:06.4	With Next Insurance, you get fast, affordable coverage in minutes.
0:10.3	No calls, no waiting, and no nonsense.
0:13.3	Protect your business today at nextinsurance.com.
0:17.2	You know you want to start a business.
0:18.9	What you may not know is how to make it a reality.
0:21.8	Just visit goaddy.com to get started.
0:24.6	That's goaddy.com.
0:26.9	Premium features require paid subscription.
0:28.9	See terms on site.
0:31.6	Hey, I'm Kwami Christian, and you are about to step into the world of Negotiate Anything,
0:36.6	the number one negotiation podcast in the world
0:39.3	where we teach you how to make difficult conversations easier
0:42.4	while getting more of what you want in the process.
0:45.3	Each episode is packed with practical tips and strategies from the experts.
0:49.4	We delve into negotiation, conflict resolution,
0:52.9	and leadership skills that are crucial in both
0:55.1	business and in life. Whether you're closing a deal, managing a team, or navigating personal
1:00.8	relationships, negotiate anything provides you with the tools you need to succeed. Our conversations are
1:06.9	real, relatable, and most importantly, rooted in practicality. So if you're ready to transform
1:13.1	your conversations and elevate your negotiation skills, join me on Negotiate Anything. Subscribe
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from American Negotiation Institute, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of American Negotiation Institute and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.