Nationally accredited mediator and Mediation Mastery founder Andrew Brayne shares how discovering mediation at just 17 put him on a 35+ year path of resolving more than 3,000 disputes across courts, families, and workplaces. In this episode, he explains why listening without judgment, avoiding assumptions, and even using strategic silence are the real superpowers in conflict resolution. Andrew Brayne describes how his role is not to give advice or choose sides, but to create a safe structure where people feel heard, acknowledged, and valued, even when they strongly disagree. He recounts high-conflict cases, including peace and good behaviour mediations where previously violent parties ended sessions hugging, simply because the process slowed down enough for them to hear each other. Throughout, he shows how shifting conversations from rigid positions (“I want the house”) to underlying interests and needs unlocks solutions that seemed impossible at the start.
Drawing on his STAR model and “conflict to clarity” approach, Andrew Brayne breaks down practical tools like reframing language, exploring the “possible agreement range,” and moving discussions away from rights and power struggles toward interest-based negotiation. He shares how these same principles apply inside workplaces, where unresolved tension quietly drives sick leave, absenteeism, grievances, and lost productivity long before an official complaint surfaces. Andrew Brayne now focuses on early intervention, upskilling leaders and teams in communication, mentoring internal champions, and treating the workplace as an interconnected system where conflict creates ripple effects far beyond two people. He explains how remote mediation and coaching allow him to support organizations across Australia and internationally, from early learning centers to complex corporate environments. His core message is both practical and hopeful: you don’t need to agree with someone to move forward harmoniously, you just need a clear process, the right questions, and the courage to truly listen.
Nationally accredited mediator Andrew Brayne has spent over 35 years stepping into the toughest conflicts most of us run from. Founder of MediationMastery.com.au, he’s conducted more than 3,000 mediations and trained over 10,000 people to handle conflict before it explodes. Andrew’s genius is turning messy, emotional disputes into practical conversations that create clarity, respect, and real agreement. Drawing on his STAR model and “conflict to clarity” framework, he helps workplaces, leaders, and teams move from blame, factions, and burnout to early resolution and stronger relationships. If unresolved conflict is quietly costing you trust, time, and talent, Andrew is the expert you want in your corner.
Resources:
Learn More About the Mediation Mastery Program
Get your Copy of Secret to Sucess
Talking Points:
[0:00] Meet Mediator Andrew Brayne from Mediation Mastery
[0:47] How a 17-Year-Old Stumbled into Mediation
[2:16] The Lesson That Changed Everything: Don’t Be Judgmental
[3:32] Why Listening Beats Talking in Any Conflict
[4:47] “You’re Too Young” Earning Respect as a Young Mediator
[6:21] The Real Job of a Mediator (It’s Not Giving Advice)
[7:49] What People Actually Want in Conflict: To Be Heard
[9:05] The Power of Silence in Tough Conversations
[10:24] When Court-Ordered Mediations Get Heated
[11:52] From Violence to Hugging: A Peace and Good Behaviour Case
[13:34] Inside the STAR Model and Andrew’s Conflict Tools
[14:27] Reframing: From “I Want the House” to “Here’s Why It Matters”
[16:01] Interests, Rights, and Power: The Hidden Levels of Dispute
[18:10] Preparing People for Resolution: Expanding the Options
[19:29] How Workplace Mediation Actually Moves Things Forward
[20:55] The Question Most People Never Ask in Conflict
[22:21] How Did We Get Here and Where Do We Want to Go?
[23:01] The Hidden Cost of Waiting on Workplace Conflict
[24:45] Why Two-Person Conflict Poisons Whole Teams
[26:14] Early Support, Mentoring, and Systemic Solutions
[28:03] Remote Mediation Across Australia and Beyond
[29:41] One Big Lesson: You Don’t Need to Agree to Move Forward
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