057 | A Conversation About Conversations

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SS057 Shepherd & The Shrink A Conversation About Conversations

The world is full of unproductive conversations. In politics, personal relationships, and everything in between, discussions often end in nothing but hurt. How can we counteract this trend and open the floor to respectful, productive, and loving conversations?

Today, we talk about what makes a good conversation. We talk about the difference between male and female communication and how to take those differences into account. We discuss the importance of listening with the intent to understand, and we stress the importance of humility, noting that every person we encounter has something to teach us. We discuss the definition of narcissism, exploring the ways in which it tends to rear its head in our opinions. We talk about different ways to listen well to what someone is trying to say, and we explain what it means to steel-man another person’s position.


“Oftentimes when I sit down, especially with people close to me, they don’t need to know what I think about everything. They need to know how much I care about them.”

- Dr. Matt Hook

“To me, a good conversation is discovery.”

- Dr. Marty Fletcher

This week on Shepherd & the Shrink:

  • The difference between male and female communication

  • The three steps to a good conversation

  • The importance of focus

  • Why every person you encounter has something to teach you

  • The power of humility

  • How to steel-man an argument

Resources mentioned

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Martin Fletcher