AI can write, edit, even cast—but it still can’t do what made TV legend Bonnie Hammer unstoppable: read the room.
In this candid conversation with Kwame Christian, Bonnie unpacks the human meta‑skill behind great leadership and negotiation—reading people and context in real time—and how it powered her “Blue Skies” era at USA & SYFY (Monk, Psych, Burn Notice). She shares why “fake it till you make it” fails (and what to do instead), how to hire for humility and team-first culture, why presence matters (“be in the room”), and how to build a spider‑web ...
AI can write, edit, even cast—but it still can’t do what made TV legend Bonnie Hammer unstoppable: read the room.
In this candid conversation with Kwame Christian, Bonnie unpacks the human meta‑skill behind great leadership and negotiation—reading people and context in real time—and how it powered her “Blue Skies” era at USA & SYFY (Monk, Psych, Burn Notice). She shares why “fake it till you make it” fails (and what to do instead), how to hire for humility and team-first culture, why presence matters (“be in the room”), and how to build a spider‑web career that thrives through industry upheaval, streaming shakeups, and the rise of AI.
What you’ll learn
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Reading the room: the irreplaceable skill that beats AI and drives better decisions, deals, and teams.
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Face it till you make it: Bonnie’s upgrade to the old career cliché—and how to apply it immediately.
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Hiring & culture: spotting humility, collaboration, and truth‑tellers (not cheerleaders).
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Media shifts: streaming, bundling, budget pressure—and what creators should do now.
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AI & guardrails: what to protect, what to embrace, and where human storytelling wins.
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Presence & influence: first impressions, listening deeply, and speaking the language of the room.
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Mentorship that works: why challenging mentors accelerate growth (Barry Diller story inside).
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Women at work: the most damaging “lie” and how to replace it with actionable strategy.
Perfect for: creators, executives, founders, marketers, negotiators, and anyone leading teams or pitching ideas in a noisy, AI‑accelerated world.
If this episode resonates, share it with someone navigating change—and subscribe for more conversations on negotiation, leadership, and human skills that compound.
Keywords: Bonnie Hammer, reading the room, negotiation, leadership, team culture, hiring, mentorship, women at work, Blue Skies brand, USA Network, SYFY, Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, streaming strategy, AI in media, presence, career advice, spider‑web career, truth‑teller mentors, Kwame Christian, Negotiate Anything Podcast
Connect with Bonnie
Buy Bonnie's new book, 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work
bonnie-hammer.com
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Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn
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