You're Handling Conflict All Wrong—Here's What Works (Dr. Julia Minson)

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Sony Music

Comedy, Society & Culture, Education, Self-improvement

4.9 • 21.6K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Disagreements are everywhere right now - and let’s be honest, they can get messy fast. But what if arguing didn’t have to wreck your relationships… or your nervous system? This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with Dr. Julia Minson, a Harvard decision scientist and leading expert on disagreements, to unpack why we clash, how we can do it better, and the small shifts that make a huge difference. From dinner table debates to full-on conflict spirals, we’re getting into the psychology behind why being “right” isn’t always the win you think it is. Together, they explore the gold standard for healthy disagreement, where conflict actually comes from, and the real-life tools you can start using today to stay grounded, curious, and connected - even when you deeply disagree. How to Disagree Better by Julia Minson out now! Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. Follow Dr. Julia Minson on Instagram @juliaminson Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey Better Babes, it's Jonathan Van Ness and welcome back to getting better.
0:03.3	Disagreements, honey.
0:04.5	They can make us feel so crazy.
0:05.9	They can make us feel so zany.
0:07.2	They can make us feel disoriented.
0:08.8	And ultimately, whether it's with our friends, our family, our lovers, on the group chat, at work, at home, disagreements can completely derail us.
0:17.8	Not to mention with our fellow countrymen, person, country people, because disagreements
0:23.5	are literally tearing us apart, or is it our inability to have a disagreement? Well, to answer
0:29.9	that question and to learn how to disagree better, we have Harvard decision scientist and
0:35.5	psychologist Julia Minson.
0:40.8	Also, her new book, How to Disagree Better, is out now.
0:43.7	She's an incredible teacher, writer, person.
0:45.9	Doctor, her story is fascinating.
0:49.4	And if you're into Anastasia like I am, buckle up Buttercup.
0:54.1	Let's get into our episode today on How to disagree better with Dr. Julia Minson.
0:57.5	Julia, welcome to getting better.
0:58.3	Thank you.
0:59.4	I'm so thrilled to be here. We are so excited to have you, decisions, honey.
1:02.4	They are plaguing me sometimes.
1:05.1	They stress me out sometimes.
1:07.2	So let's just start at the top.
1:08.9	I didn't know until I met you that there even is a decision scientist.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

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

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