How Do I Deal with Difficult or Toxic People? With Gary Thomas

Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast

AccessMore

Religion & Spirituality, Default, Talk Radio, Christianity

4.8 • 808 Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today I’m joined by my friend and co-author of one of my books, Gary Thomas. He’s opening up about many different times in his life when he’s either felt misunderstood, slandered, or dealt with toxic interactions (some even from childhood) – and how he’s learned to respond as a person who typically leans toward peace and repair. We talk about how to set proper boundaries in relationships with different people, depending on their level of safety and health. Dig deeper into dealing with difficult people and setting healthy boundaries, by ordering my new book People Skills anywhere books are sold. The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the Debra Fileta Counselors Network and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY! DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network. She is the bestselling author of eight books including Choosing Marriage, Are You Really OK?, RESET, and Soul Care. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show Talk To Me where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on Instagram or at DebraFileta.com.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Access more.
0:10.5	I was the least likely person to write that book.
0:13.8	I'm more of a people pleaser by far.
0:17.0	And talking about walking away just would have felt wrong to me.
0:20.8	Yeah.
0:21.1	But I was in a ministry situation where I found out there was, in this case it was a guy who was just lying about me and undercutting me and all of this stuff where I had always spoken well of him.
0:35.0	I didn't really know what was going on.
0:37.4	I have a good friend. He's been a
0:38.9	marriage and family therapist now for about 40 years, really trusting. And he had been involved
0:45.1	in this ministry, so he had personally met. And then I figured out was going on. And so I went to him,
0:51.0	look, I want to be a faithful believer here. How do I respond to
0:55.1	this person? Now that I know what I know. And he shocked me, knowing this person, is like,
1:00.6	my recommendation is that you don't encounter him at all.
1:08.4	Are you ready to talk to me? My name is Deborah Felita and I'm a licensed professional counselor, national speaker, and author.
1:16.7	Through my blog, books, and podcast, I have the privilege of helping millions of people get healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.
1:26.0	The purpose of this podcast is to have on-air, authentic,
1:30.4	counseling-style sessions where we talk about how people are really doing and give my guests
1:36.2	and callers an opportunity to talk to me as a licensed professional counselor.
1:41.4	Each of these episodes is meant to show you that we are all on the journey
1:45.7	of healing, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally, together. None of us are immune to
1:53.8	the challenges and struggles of life, but we don't have to walk this path alone. I'm so proud and honored to be having these conversations
2:03.2	with men and women who are courageously paving the way for open and honest conversations about
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from AccessMore, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of AccessMore and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.