In this podcast episode, the host delves into the concept of reciprocity as a powerful persuasion technique, using the Cuban Missile Crisis as a backdrop. While the common narrative suggests that JFK's unwavering approach was crucial to success, newly declassified documents indicate that a compromise was actually reached. The episode makes a compelling case that giving something first—reciprocity—is a more effective persuasion strategy than aggression. The host shares his own experiment, where he used reciprocity to encourage influencers to promote his podcast, achieving an impressive 80% success rate in securing free promotion. However, he notes that reciprocity tends to work best in one-on-one interactions rather than in larger contexts.
