Communication Breakdown
Alan shares a personal story about a medical procedure gone wrong, highlighting the importance of clear communication and the impact of defensiveness. He reflects on how silence can often lead to misunderstandings, drawing a parallel to a tense Uber ride where he grappled with the dilemma of speaking up. This episode delves into the complexities of expressing dissatisfaction and the consequences of unaddressed issues.In this clip
From this podcast

Hidden Brain
Alan Alda Wants Us To Have Better Conversations
Related Questions
I have a question about the episode Alan Alda Wants Us To Have Better Conversations and the clip Communication Breakdown. I also have a question about episode 461: Erik Vance | The Curious Science of the Suggestible You and the clip False Memories. I realized that my dad was just nice to me while trying to get something from me. But as soon as he noticed that I wasn't going to open the door or that his emotional manipulation didn't work, he started calling me the worst things he could think of and became extremely aggressive. I think this was his true face. Was it just him being hurt, or was it something else? I don't think so.
I have a question about the episode Alan Cumming, Actor, Author, Activist and the clip Kindness in Challenging Conversations. It's so hard. I realized that my dad was just nice to me while trying to get something from me. But as soon as he noticed that I wasn't going to open up and that his emotional manipulation didn't work, he started calling me the worst things he could think of and became extremely aggressive. I think this was his true self. Was it just him being hurt, or was it something else?
I have a question about the episode Sheila Heen — How to Navigate Hard Conversations, the Subtle Art of Apologizing, and More and the clip Navigating Difficult Conversations. I'm also frustrated about how I acted—responsive and thankful but also annoyed. Kaitlyn suggested I do something differently, but overall, I have a weird relationship with this one manager at work. I'm going to change how I've been acting. I'm just an intern, but it's not obvious; everyone else loves me, and I love them. It's just this one person, and I need to change my attitude. She rarely gives me the space to explain and often asserts herself in the middle of presentations without letting me continue. It's very different from everyone else there. While it's useful in some ways, it's also frustrating. Will changing my attitude help her loosen her resistance too?