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The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

The Fastest Way To Lose An Argument

The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

Civility Media

Self-improvement, Relationships, Society & Culture, Education

4.9 • 8.9K Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, I talk about why most arguments don’t actually start with conflict—they start with defensiveness. I share the mindset and communication shifts that have helped me reduce tension in my relationships, stop escalating disagreements, and make people feel heard instead of attacked. If you want fewer fights and better conversations, this episode is for you. 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. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out. Monarch Money. 50% off your first year at https://monarchmoney.com/jefferson Timeline. Their clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price. Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to https://timeline.com/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  Follow me on Instagram  Follow me on TikTok Follow me on LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The fastest way to lose an argument is to start one.

0:03.8

Oh, can I get a witness?

0:06.4

Man, I tell you, there's been so many times I have gotten into an argument and realized,

0:11.6

I did this all to myself.

0:13.0

Anybody relate to that?

0:14.8

Welcome to the Jefferson Fisher podcast.

0:17.0

I'm throwing it back in the truck where it all began.

0:21.6

Here we go.

0:31.5

So what I want to share with you today is something that's been on my heart, and that is how to reduce the relational arguments in your life.

0:32.6

Now hear me.

0:33.6

I need you to hear me.

0:34.5

This is a disclaimer.

0:42.4

In bright letters, all caps, I am no marriage guru. All right,

0:46.8

I am married. When I'm about to share with you, it has come at great cost because I have done things that have been terrible, all right? I have gotten us into bad positions, bad arguments, bad conflicts,

0:56.2

and a lot of the things I'm going to teach you are the ways that I have gotten through it.

1:00.6

And the way that we, Sierra and I, work through things. This is a process. This is growth.

1:06.7

So how can I give you some insight here? Number one, when you start a conflict, anytime with a spouse, a friend, a coworker, I want you to question for a second, how does the argument start?

1:23.5

When somebody is complaining to you, when they are saying the thing they don't like, I don't like it when you leave this out or put this here, or the way you wrote that document or sent that email or worded this or did this, okay, whenever they send you something, that's not the argument. That's not somebody starting an argument the argument starts when you say

1:48.9

that's not true that's not what i said but yeah but what about but what about but yeah but like

1:56.5

all of those things that's that's where the argument begins, right there.

2:03.2

Not when they first have their sign, their signal, they put out that signal of communication.

2:09.5

It is when you respond and get what defensive with that.

...

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