Staying Neutral in a Divided World w/ Tamara Gauldin :: Ep 277 The Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast

In this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, Jim McCarthy sits down with mediator and veteran civil litigator Tamara Gauldin to explore what it really means to stay neutral in a polarized world. They discuss mediation, control, apologies, faith, parenting, and how our idea of “good” is often a matter of perspective.Tamara shares how she left corporate America to start her own mediation practice, why she’s more open-minded now than ever, and what she’s learned watching people fight over everything from legal disputes to kids’ toys.Timed Highlights:0:00 Leaving corporate America and redefining risk0:46 Welcome to the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast1:00 Flat earthers, moon landing doubts, and belief systems3:30 Show sponsors and the rise of E-bikes4:58 Tamara’s cycling background and E-bike skepticism6:24 Introducing mediator Tamara Gauldin7:00 Faith, open-mindedness, and evolving beliefs8:04 Rotating churches, meditation, and embracing different traditions8:39 Who decides what’s “good”? Shifting paradigms and ideology9:55 “Think together, not think alike” – the philosophy of mediation11:50 Control, trust, and what really drives most disputes13:31 Good vs bad, Super Bowls, 9/11, and subjective morality15:04 Admitting we don’t know and making informed decisions anyway16:10 Marriage, conflict, and the power of cooling off17:41 Why apologies matter more than we think18:12 The surprising number of people who just want “I’m sorry”20:00 How many mediations Tamara handles and where she volunteers20:30 Why mediating between kids can be harder than adults20:51 Why Tamara won’t mediate for her own family21:18 Bias, neutrality, and staying fair as a mediator22:59 From litigator to mediator: Tamara’s 20-plus-year legal journey24:24 Inside insurance defense and employment law_____________________________________________________________________****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:www.mmtbp.comwww.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcastwww.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvosTiktok: @jimmccarthyvos    __________________________________________________________Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:https://linktr.ee/mamwmw___________________________________________________________If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668 ___________________________________________________________***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip_________________________________________________________________The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out: Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org______________________________________________________________________Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co