Gary Noesner, retired FBI Chief Negotiator, bestselling author of Stalling for Time, and one of the world’s foremost experts in high-stakes negotiation and crisis communication. Over his 30-year career, Gary led some of the most complex and dangerous hostage and barricade situations, including prison riots, airplane hijackings, and international terrorism standoffs.

We explore the psychology behind negotiation, the power of time in restoring rational thinking, and what leaders can learn from the FBI’s negotiation playbook when pressure is at its highest. Gary also shares real stories from the field and reflects on how empathy, patience, and communication can defuse even the most volatile situations—insights that extend far beyond law enforcement and into leadership, business, and everyday relationships.