Rolling Through Negotiations: First Nations Leadership, BJJ & Business Strategy
🎙 Welcome to Rolling Through Negotiations, the podcast where strategy and resilience meet negotiation mastery.
Hosted by Matthew Karakoulakis, one of Australia’s top lawyers, this podcast blends the principles of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), First Nations wisdom, and business strategy to help you negotiate like a pro.
Featuring insights from:
✅ First Nations leaders sharing traditional knowledge that strengthens negotiation techniques
✅ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes revealing how discipline, adaptability, and mindset shape decision-making
✅ Top business leaders and legal professionals breaking down high stakes negotiation strategies
We explore how mental resilience, business growth, leadership, and personal development are all connected. Whether you're in the boardroom, on the mats, or negotiating in everyday life, Rolling Through Negotiations brings you powerful strategies, transformative stories, and practical tools to sharpen your negotiation skills.
Episodes
86 episodes
First Nations Leadership: Christine Ross on Legacy and the Power of Community Driven Events
🥋 What does it take to bring together 27 Aboriginal businesses, amplify truth-telling, and pass the baton to the next generation?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with Christine Ross a proud Arre...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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31:28
From Builder to Business for Good: The Yarn’n Story with Lane Stockton
🥋 What happens when purpose, profit, and Indigenous culture all roll into one?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with Lane Stockton, a proud Wiradjuri man and the Founder & CEO of Yarn’n, Aust...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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36:55
What It Takes to Build a High Performing Team with Saebah Rem
🥋 What does it take to lead high-performing teams in one of the most demanding work environments contact centres? In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with Saebah an operational leader w...
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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34:14
Tina McGhie, Co-CEO of Curijo: Walking in Two Worlds with Culture, Courage & Connection
🥋 What does it really mean to walk in two worlds and how can culture, community, and country shape the way we negotiate?In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tina McGhie, a Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal woman and Co-CEO of Carugio. Drawing fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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30:00
Dr Jillian Comber, Heritage Consultant & Mediator: Negotiating with Respect for Country
🥋 How do we protect what’s sacred, and why does cultural heritage matter in everyday negotiations?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with Dr Jillian Comber, archaeologist, mediator and Director of...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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33:00
Craig Donaldson, BJJ Black Belt & Integrity Martial Arts Founder: Leading with Integrity On and Off the Mats
🥋 What does it mean to train with integrity and how can martial arts shape the way we show up in the rest of our lives?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with Craig Donaldson, founder and head ins...
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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47:45
Jiu-Jitsu, Negotiation & Resilience: Lessons from BJJ Mental Models Host & Black Belt Steve Kwan
🥋 What does it really mean to be like water in business, on the mats, and in life?This week on Rolling Through Negotiations, we welcome Steve Kwan, host of the world’s most popular Jiu-Jitsu concepts podcast,
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Season 1
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Episode 80
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1:18:35
Kim Cousins, Roll or Die Podcast Co-Host: Lessons from One of Australia's Early Female BJJ Black Belts
🥋 What does it take to become one of the first female black belts in a male dominated sport and how does that mindset translate to life off the mats?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits ...
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Season 1
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Episode 79
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1:01:39
James 'JT' Tomlinson, Bulletproof for BJJ Co-Host: Negotiation, Chaos & the BJJ Mindset
🥋 Can the mindset you build on the mat help you navigate chaos, set boundaries, and negotiate with clarity?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew sits down with James “JT” Tomlinson, co-host of Bulle...
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Season 1
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Episode 78
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1:29:37
Thomas Rozdzynski, RŌL Academy Owner & RŌL Radio Podcast Host: Jiu Jitsu & Leadership
🥋 How do structure, discipline, and self-awareness create better leaders on and off the mats?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Thomas Rozdzynski, 3rd Degree Black Belt, Judo Black...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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1:06:20
Andrew Bacon on First Nations Leadership, Governance and Community Impact
🥋 How do you stay strong when negotiations start from a place of disadvantage?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Andrew Bacon, a proud Yamaji man, governance and cybersecurity professional, and adv...
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Season 1
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Episode 76
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1:05:24
Negotiation Under Pressure: Military Lessons from Adam Evans
🥋 What do you do when negotiations escalate beyond words?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Adam Evans, a strategic thinker, military veteran, and co-founder of Anywise Consulting to explore what b...
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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55:10
Rolling with Jason "Argonaut" Petropoulos MMA Fighter, BJJ Black Belt & FFC Champion
🥋 What happens when a fighter, visionary coach, and savvy business owner shares the mental framework that turns setbacks into stepping stones for success?In this new episode, we yarn with Jason Petropoulos, better known as "Argonaut...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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1:33:02
Gustavo Dantas, BJJ Mental Coach Podcast Host: Mindset, Competition and Authentic Leadership
🥋 What happens when a lifelong competitor, coach, and mindset expert reveals the mental framework behind peak performance?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Gustavo Dantas, a 6th degree BJJ black b...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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1:05:19
Balancing Innovation & Technology in Law with Alex Solo
🥋 How do you balance innovation, legal expertise, and the human touch in a fast changing world?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Alex Solo, co-founder of Sprintlaw, a law tech firm t...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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54:52
Mervyn Fernando on First Nations Leadership, Negotiation & Fair Business Deals
🥋 How do First Nations leadership, resilience, and truth shape success in business, negotiations, and life?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Mervyn Fernando, a proud Dunghutti and Kamilaroi...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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52:37
First Nations Leadership & Resilience: Uncle Lionel Dukakis on Overcoming Adversity
🥋 How do resilience, identity, and love shape the way we negotiate in life and business?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we’re joined by Uncle Lionel Dukakis, a Proud Gunditjmara Man, business leader, and survivor of the...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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40:07
Peter de Been on BJJ Lifestyle & Lessons from a 6th-Degree Black Belt
🥋 What happens when a pioneer of Australian Jiu Jitsu shares decades of wisdom on resilience, strategy, and the deeper meaning behind the art?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Peter DeBean,...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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1:25:05
Rolling with Chris Penrose: Jiu Jitsu Black Belt & Top BJJ Referee on Overcoming Setbacks
🥋 How do you stay calm, trust your instincts, and adapt under pressure, both on the mats and in life?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we sit down with Chris Penrose, a proud Warumungu man, BJJ black belt, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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35:48
Mediation Principles: Crafting Strong Agreements
In this final episode of the Mediation Principles series on Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew breaks down what makes an agreement truly effective. Whether it’s a handshake deal or a formal contract, the strength of an agre...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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14:34
Mediation Principles: Exploring Issues in Negotiations
🥋 How Does Exploring Issues Shape Negotiations?In this solo episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew explains the importance of exploring issues in mediation and negotiation. From identifying key topics to buildin...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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13:51
Mediation Principles: The Power of a Clear Agenda
🥋 How Does a Clear Agenda Transform Negotiations?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew discuss the often overlooked yet game changing role of setting a clear agenda in mediations and negotiations. Whe...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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15:54
Mediation Principles: The Power of a Strong Opening
🥋 Why does a strong opening matter in negotiations?In this solo episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew walks us through the essential role of opening statements in mediation and beyond. Learn how building tru...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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21:27
Mediation Principles: Building the Framework for Better Negotiations
🥋 How can understanding mediation principles elevate your negotiation skills?In this solo episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, Matthew dives into the transformative power of mediation and how its principles can be ap...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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15:58
Dog Training Secrets: Hans Verbruggen on Behavior, Success & Global Lessons
🐾 What can dog training teach us about leadership, discipline, and personal growth?In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we’re joined by Hans Verbruggen, a certified NePoPo® trainer and a master of modern dog t...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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1:03:13
