The Other Chair Podcast

Katherine Miller, director and trainer at the Center for Understanding in Conflict and an attorney practicing mediation and collaborative practice in Westchester County, NY, joins The Other Chair to discuss the realities of working with emotions in mediation, including emotions in the room and the emotional reactions of the mediator.   When feelings begin to rise in the mediator, it can indicate t...

Gary Friedman, author, mediator, and co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict, joins The Other Chair to discuss the inspiration for his book Inside Out: How Conflict Professionals Can Use Self-Reflection to Help Their Clients. Dive into the process conflict resolution professionals can take to be aware of their internal reactions, feelings, and emotions while being present to help pa...

On this episode of The Other Chair, guest Aditya Arryan, mediator and chief of staff for YCM, talks about the work members are doing to create a culture of dispute prevention and resolution in India through co-creating conflict management policies, providing training, and mediation and conflict coaching services to uplift the community and avoid a difficult to access legal system which can take de...

This episode of The Other Chair explores how advocates of restorative justice practices are working to bring together people and communities in conflict through mediation and coaching while addressing the realities of the criminal justice system, which often leaves victims and offenders without a path toward healing or understanding, only punishment and enduring lifelong trauma.  Earl Simms and Er...

This episode of The Other Chair is for those who have taken a conflict resolution or mediation training, have begun developing the skills needed to serve clients in conflict, and are wondering how to make it their day job. Trainers Catherine Conner and Melanie Rowen discuss concrete tips for starting your own practice that includes or is focused on conflict resolution or alternative dispute resolu...

For many attorneys entering the legal profession, the reality that the system isn't as caring or altruistic as hoped can lead to disillusionment and a change of occupation. Join attorney, mediator, and teacher Ivan Alter on The Other Chair as he shares his experience overcoming the challenges of the adversarial system and how his transition to a career centered in mediation helped recapture a life...

A lot has changed in the past few years, and video conferencing technology has increasingly become the standard for conflict resolution and mediation practitioners to work with clients. Join attorney, mediator, and teacher Hansa Patel on The Other Chair as she discusses best practices for navigating this relatively new medium, overcoming technical issues, and maintaining authentic and meaningful c...

Mindfulness and mediation can be vital to addressing suffering on both sides of a conflict while finding presence and calm in the mind of those tasked with bringing parties together. Zen Buddhist priest Norman Fischer reflects on his history of helping mediation professionals through mindfulness training, supporting Ukrainian mediators during his recent Inside Out training program, and tips for pr...

When relationships end, there is often a lot of discussion, consideration, and animosity regarding children. But what happens when a pet dog, cat, or horse hangs in the balance? Expert Debra Hamilton joins The Other Chair to discuss how the court system doesn't often consider the life of the pet and the role that pet-based mediation brings in bridging the gap. Learn how an understanding-based appr...

Guest hosts Jennifer Sullivan and Phuong Ertley interview journalist and New York Times bestselling author Amanda Ripley to talk about her book High Conflict and "what happens when discord distills into a good-versus-evil kind of feud, the kind with an us and a them." 

Welcome to The Other Chair. In this episode, we dive into the heart of conflict resolution with Gary J. Friedman, co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict. Gary introduces the origins of the Center and sheds light on the understanding-based approach—a transformative process designed to bring people together, even in the face of deep disagreements. Whether in personal relationships, p...