The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

Some conversations test your patience. Others test your character. In this call-in episode, I answer your questions about staying calm when emotions run high, setting boundaries with the people you love, handling conflict with confidence, and responding without losing yourself. We talk about how to handle a spouse who won't stop talking, how to tell your friends you hate texting and want them to call you instead, what to do when a parent refuses to use your chosen name, how to navigate political disagreements with family, and whether it's wrong to expect financial help from a wealthy sibling.

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

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Pendulum: Go to https://pendulumlife.com/jefferson and use code JEFFERSON for up to 20% off your first order.

Gusto: Go to https://gusto.com/jefferson and use code JEFFERSON to get three months free when you run your first payroll.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Order my new book, The Next Conversation, today!
https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!
https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/topic

**Chapters:**

0:00 How to Handle a Spouse Who Talks Too Much

6:40 How to Tell Friends You Hate Texting

12:15 When Your Parent Refuses to Use Your Name

21:13 Navigating Political Disagreements With Family

28:45 Expecting Financial Help From a Wealthy Sibling
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If you've ever wondered how a family goes from talking every week to not talking at all, this conversation is for you. Matthias Barker and I unpack why estrangement rarely happens because of one big moment—it usually comes after years of small moments that were never addressed. We talk about what parents often miss, what adult children wish their parents understood, and why the fastest way to push someone further away is to defend your intentions instead of trying to understand their experience.

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

LMNT. Head to https://drinkLMNT.com/jefferson to try risk free.

ZocDoc. https://zocdoc.com/jefferson to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.

Square. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/JEFFERSON

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want a FREE communication tip each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Join My School of Communication

Watch my podcast on YouTube

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What do you say when you start to cry in an argument? Absolutely nothing. In this episode, I break down exactly what to do when your emotions run high and the tears start falling during a tense conversation. We talk about why you should never apologize for crying, how to label your tears so you can keep the conversation moving, and why crying is just your body releasing tension. I also cover what to do when someone else starts crying in front of you—and why handing them a tissue or asking if they need a break is actually the worst thing you can do.

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth: Go to ⁠https://cozyearth.com/Jefferson⁠ and use code JEFFERSON for up to 20% off.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Order my new book, The Next Conversation, today!
https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!
https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/topic

Join my School of Communication.
https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/membership

Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher
Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson?lang=en
Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffersonfisher/
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The conversations you've been avoiding rarely get easier—they just get more expensive. In this episode, I sit down with Dave Ramsey to talk about what it really takes to tell the truth with kindness, navigate disagreement without making it personal, and have the conversations most people spend years avoiding. If you want to communicate with more confidence, lead with more clarity, and stop letting fear keep you silent, this episode will give you the tools to do it.

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Masa Chips. Get 25% off at https://www.masachips.com/pages/jefferson

AG1: Visit https://drinkag1.com/jefferson to get a free Morning Person Hat and free AG1 Flavor

Sampler in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want a FREE communication tip each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Join My School of Communication

Watch my podcast on YouTube

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on TikTok

Follow me on LinkedIn
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When someone you care about is grieving, the pressure to say the right thing can be paralyzing. You want to help, but you don't want to make it worse. In this episode, I break down exactly what to say—and what not to say—when someone is dealing with profound loss. We cover why "let me know if you need anything" actually creates more burden for the grieving person, how to eliminate open-ended questions that force them to manage your emotions, and why false positivity is the fastest way to push them away. I'll give you the exact words and actions that show up for people in their darkest moments without requiring them to ask for permission.

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Tiny Health: Go to https://tinyhealth.com/jefferson for $50 off your first at-home test kit.

Cozy Earth: Go to https://cozyearth.com/Jefferson and use code JEFFERSON for up to 20% off.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Order my new book, The Next Conversation, today!

https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/topic

Join my School of Communication.

https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/membership

Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher

Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson?lang=en

Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffersonfisher/

0:00 The Pressure of Saying the Right Thing

3:18 Why You Should Never Say Let Me Know If You Need Anything

6:30 How to Show Up Without Asking for Permission

8:55 Eliminate Open Ended Questions

11:02 Don't Make Them Manage Your Emotions

14:12 The Power of Short Consistent Messages

16:33 Why False Positivity Backfires

18:04 How to Lean Into Their Pain Instead
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