Starcast Join the waitlist
NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Afraid to Ask for a Raise? Negotiate Your Salary With 5 Simple Words

Oct 19, 2026 · 41m

Coming soon to iPhone. Already have it? “Listen in Starcast” takes you straight there.

On this episode

About this episode

Learn how to get past the fear of negotiating for higher pay, even when your employer might say no. Why does negotiating feel so scary, and how do you get past that fear? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with Kwame Christian, a negotiation expert, CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of the “Big Swings Only” podcast. They discuss how the fear of rejection, awkwardness and damaged relationships can keep you from asking for what you want, the everyday situations where you could negotiate more than you expect, and Kwame’s three-step framework for tough conversations. You’ll also hear what an “internal negotiation” with yourself looks like, how shifting from a…