Communication Won't Fix Your Relationship | Yael Schonbrun

About this episode

Why do you feel misunderstood by the people who know you best? Whether you're arguing with your spouse, struggling to communicate with your partner, or dealing with conflict at work, the problem may not be your communication skills. AJ sits down with psychologist, couples therapist, and author Yael Schonbrun to explore why misunderstandings happen, how cognitive biases distort our perceptions, and why traditional communication advice doesn't always work. Drawing from her book Why Don't You Understand Me?, Yael explains why couples fight over small things, how emotional triggers and defensiveness escalate conflict, and why trying to prove you're right can make relationships worse. You'll learn how to resolve conflict in relationships, stop getting defensive during arguments, and repair misunderstandings without needing to win. Discover why perspective getting is more effective than simply putting yourself in someone else's shoes, how to validate your partner's feelings without agreeing with everything they say, and how anger, stress, and past experiences influence communication. Yael also shares practical strategies for breaking the victim-villain cycle, managing emotional reaction