In this moving episode of Stories Mediators Tell, a mediator shares the story of a tragic car accident that brought together two families under unimaginable circumstances. After a beloved father and community member is killed in a sudden collision just days before the holidays, the driver responsible is left grappling with grief, guilt, and a deep desire to connect with the victim’s family.

What unfolds in the mediation room becomes a powerful example of how honest dialogue can transform conflict into unexpected moments of humanity and healing. This episode reflects the heart of Stories Mediators Tell: the profound ways conversation can open paths forward even after profound loss.

Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at Columbia Law School and founder of Columbia’s Mediation Clinic and the Negotiation Workshop, Carol B. Liebman reflects on her role mediating a high-stakes campus conflict at Columbia University in the 1990s. As student protests intensified—escalating from hunger strikes to building occupations and arrests—university leaders sought help amid mounting concerns about student safety, academic futures, and institutional reputation. Liebman stepped in to work with both administrators and student leaders as deadlines loomed and emotions ran high. 

What followed was a tense, deeply human negotiation process that tested trust, resilience, and the power of dialogue. In sharing this story, Liebman offers insight into mediating institutional conflict and the unexpected connection that can emerge when people commit to staying in conversation.

In this special episode of Stories Mediators Tell, co-host Robyn Weinstein shares two memorable mediation stories, “Random Conversation” and “Unexpected Events,” originally told by ADR pioneer Margaret L. Shaw. A respected leader in the field, Shaw devoted decades to advancing dispute resolution across courts, nonprofits, and academia. Her work included launching innovative mediation programs, contributing to groundbreaking research on court-connected mediation, and mentoring generations of practitioners. She passed away in 2017 and left a lasting legacy in the ADR community.

In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, internationally recognized mediator Srdan Simic shares a story drawn from a divorce mediation that reveals the subtle, human elements at the heart of conflict resolution. A pioneer in mediation and a judge with decades of experience, Simac has handled hundreds of disputes across a wide range of contexts . In this conversation, he reflects on how something as simple as arranging the physical space can shape the tone of a mediation, and how finding even the smallest piece of common ground can begin to shift entrenched positions. Drawing inspiration from The Rolling Stones and their song, “you can’t always get what you want,” he offers a powerful reminder about expectations, compromise, and what resolution can truly look like.

In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, Josh Stulberg shares a powerful account of a community conflict where issues of racism and free speech collided, with real consequences for a high school student-athlete preparing to play at a Big Ten football program. Stulberg, the Michael E. Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Cardozo School of Law, draws on decades of experience to reflect on the challenges of mediating deeply charged disputes rooted in identity, values, and public perception. As tensions escalated and divisions hardened, the stakes extended beyond individuals to an entire community.