Most of us have been taught to see conflict as a sign that something has gone wrong. Today’s guest, Priya Parker, sees it differently. After more than two decades working in conflict resolution, she believes the right kind of fight can bring us closer, make our teams stronger, and help us understand each other better. In her new book, The Art of Fighting, Priya gives us the language and the skill set to do it well.

Priya joins Emma Grede to talk about why so many of us choose what she calls “unhealthy peace,” and what we lose when we avoid saying what we really think. They explore how our families and cultures shape the way we fight, why some disagreements are worth staying in, and how to tell when it’s time to let go. This is a conversation about what healthy conflict can look like in practice and how our differences can ultimately bring us together.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The questions to ask yourself before deciding whether a fight is worth having
• Why calming your body can change the way you show up in a difficult conversation
• How leaders can make it safer for people with less power to speak honestly
• How Slack and digital tools have changed workplace culture
• Why humor and play can help people move through conflict without losing connection
• Specific examples from Priya’s work in conflict resolution, from boardrooms to restaurants
• The simple language Priya uses to start a hard conversation with someone she cares about

Law Roach is the image architect behind some of the most talked-about red carpet moments in the world. Raised on Chicago’s South Side, he built his career working with stars including Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Ariana Grande. Along the way, he became a star himself, with a name and reputation that carry value beyond the clothes. But reaching the top also brought a breaking point, and his very public retirement changed what he was willing to say yes to.

In this episode of Aspire, Law joins Emma Grede to talk about his journey to the center of fashion and how he turned his talent and taste into a business. He shares what it took to earn millions a year from styling alone, and why walking away from it at the height of his career gave him the freedom to decide what he wanted to build next.

Today, you’ll hear:

• Why a bold public persona only works when it’s backed by a professional reputation built on trust and follow-through
• How Law and Zendaya made sure his contribution was recognized and paid for in her fashion deals
• Why Keke Palmer fired him, and why being the best at your job doesn’t always mean you’re the right person for a client
• How gratitude and looking after other people’s interests build relationships that last
• Why Law uses fashion to tell stories about Black history and the women who shaped him
• What it takes to build a business that can grow beyond your own time and talent

Malika Andrews and Taylor Rooks have two of the most visible jobs in sports media. Malika is the face of ESPN's NBA coverage, hosting NBA Today and NBA Countdown. Taylor hosts NBA on Prime and is a major presence across Thursday Night Football. Between them they're speaking to millions of people every week — and interviewing some of the most famous athletes in the world.

They’ve also had a front-row seat to each other’s rise. And while they’re both incredibly ambitious and competitive, they’ve learned how to let someone else’s success push them without allowing it to diminish their own.

Emma sits down with both of them to understand what it actually takes to become that trusted at that scale — the preparation nobody sees, how you get an athlete to tell you the truth, and what it costs to do a job where every word, every question and every mistake gets picked apart in real time.

In this episode:

• Why preparation gives you the confidence to perform under pressure
• Trust as a daily deposit: accurate, honest, and fair
• How healthy competition can raise your own standard
• Why asking for what you want can change the trajectory of your career
• How to negotiate from a place of knowing your value
• Why credibility is built through small, consistent actions
• How to tell the difference between feedback worth hearing and noise
• Why longevity, not the next job, is the real ambition

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