Conflict Coach with Dr. Emily Taylor

Join Dr. Emily Taylor as she does something a little different this week—she sits down with her mom, Miriam, to talk about what conflict looks like across a lifetime. Perhaps you have someone older in your life, a parent, grandparent, or older friend who you look up to in your life? Having a conversation with them like the one Emily has with her mother can be a great way to gain new insights into your own conflicts. They explore how Miriam’s strict upbringing shaped her into a conflict-avoider, and how freedom and “coming of age” helped her see that adults get to choose the kind of life they want. Miriam shares her practical guide for deciding when to engage: ask whether it will matter next week or next month, and prioritize relationships and peace of mind over being right. She also offers a way to talk about tough issues without escalating—share personal experiences, listen for common ground, and validate that you may never fully understand the other person, but you genuinely want to. Dr. Emily closes by highlighting the power of “family weavers,” vulnerability, gratitude, and connection—especially when we don’t agree. Let us know how you like this episode! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS (0:00) Welcome to Conflict Coach (0:53) Introducing Today's Special Guest (2:17) Recurring Conflicts Across Generations (5:05) Coming of Age (9:02) Choosing Your Battles (11:05) Talking About Difficult Topics (12:19) The Power of Listening (13:14) Family Weavers (14:14) Advice for Younger Generations (20:13) Guiding Principles for Disagreement (21:02) Closing Reflections (25:45) Season Wrap Up

Join Dr. Emily as she coaches Vicky, who has reached a breaking point in a long-simmering conflict with a fellow volunteer leader in her church congregation. It’s a conflict that will feel familiar to anyone who has been a leader in a volunteer organization like a PTA or neighborhood board where passionate people with different communication and leadership styles all try to do good things together. A series of frustrating encounters has led Vicky to distrust another volunteer leader she must work with closely. In this coaching session, Dr. Emily helps Vicky explore how to rebuild that trust and find a path forward, using all of the conflict management skills we’ve learned this season. In this episode, we’ll review how to: - Identify the root of a conflict - Recognize the story you’re telling yourself about the conflict - List and express your needs - Use nonviolent communication to meet your needs Dr. Emily recommends this resource from the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Academy to help you name your needs and feelings: https://nvcacademy.com/media/NVCA/learning-tools/NVCA-feelings-needs.pdf Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction to Conflict Coach (0:52) Introducing Vicky’s Conflict (2:23) Vicky’s Story: The Flashpoint (8:19) Exploring Vicky’s Needs (12:00) Formulating a Plan with Nonviolent Communication (27:12) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Join Dr. Emily Taylor as she coaches Clay who is estranged from his sister and ambivalent about reconciling. Like Clay, you may have conflicts that you don’t feel motivated to resolve, but also feel a little guilty about that. “I know I should want to fix this,” says Clay. Dr. Emily helps him explore the reasons for his indifference and assess whether it’s something he wants to honor or ignore. Sometimes indifference toward a conflict is healthy self-regulation. But sometimes it’s rooted in unhealthy avoidance. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: - Sort out your internal conflict (what you want vs. what you think you should want) - Identify healthy vs. unhealthy indifference - Create a framework for reengaging with estranged loved ones Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily (0:00) Introduction to Conflict Coach (0:53) Introducing Clay’s Estrangement (3:50) Clay’s Internal Conflict: Indifference vs. Reconciliation (10:59) Exploring Healthy and Unhealthy Indifference (18:58) Creating a Framework for Reengagement (23:03) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Join Dr. Emily Taylor as she coaches Maya through her complex family estrangement. Like Maya, you may have estranged relatives or friends that you’d like to reconnect with, but fears of manipulation or accidentally worsening the conflict may make you hesitant. Dr. Emily helps Maya understand her hesitations, and gives her concrete skills for moving forward. Tune in to glean practical strategies and insights on handling your own conflicts. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: - Review your push and pull factors - Build on previous relationship success through small interactions - Incorporate your spiritual beliefs into your conflict strategy Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction to Conflict Coach (0:53) Introducing Maya’s Family Conflict (6:16) Exploring Push and Pull Factors (8:45) Reconnecting Through Small Steps (15:56) Incorporating Spiritual Beliefs (21:00) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor kicks off the new year by introducing five essential skills for managing conflicts more effectively in 2026. With the new year, you may have goals or resolutions related to conflicts in your life. Listen along as she offers insights pulled from previous episodes of Conflict Coach. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: - Focus on your relationship - Work towards repair in small steps - Identify your “why” in a conflict - Role-playing from someone else’s point of view - Create a positive personal narrative Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:13) Skill 1: Focus on the Relationship, Not the Conflict (6:46) Skill 2: Take Smaller Steps to Repair the Relationship (13:49) Skill 3: Identify Your ‘Why’ in a Conflict (17:51) Skill 4: Role-Playing from the Other Person’s Point of View (22:13) Skill 5: Creating a Positive Narrative of Conflict Failures (26:37) Conclusion and Key Takeaways Watch video of this episode on the Conflict Coach YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictCoachPodcast Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode: S1E5: What Role Are You Playing in the Conflict? (Tyler) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-coach-with-dr-emily-taylor/id1790957419?i=1000697558934 S1E8: How Can You Mend an Estranged Relationship? (Morgan) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-coach-with-dr-emily-taylor/id1790957419?i=1000703559303 S2E1: How Do You Navigate Difficult Relationships When You’re Grieving? (Stacie) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-coach-with-dr-emily-taylor/id1790957419?i=1000729214824 S2E3: Are You The Source of Tension in Your Conflicts? (Laura) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-coach-with-dr-emily-taylor/id1790957419?i=1000733809885 S2E6:How Do I Make the Change I Want in My Life? (Spencer) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-coach-with-dr-emily-taylor/i

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Naomi, who is struggling with her father's distance from their shared faith. Religious or not, you’ve likely been in a scenario where you wished someone else shared your deeply-held conviction. Naomi shares her heartfelt desire to reconnect with her father through her faith, and Dr. Emily offers insights into distinguishing between persuasion and manipulation. Together, they explore the power of active listening and creating structured dialogues to foster mutual understanding and respect. This episode is a must-listen for anyone facing conflict around deeply held beliefs or values. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Know the difference between manipulation and persuasion - Become a better active listener - Create a structure for difficult conversation topics Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction to Conflict Coach (1:04) Meet Naomi: Struggling with Faith Difference with her Father (9:02) Persuasion vs. Manipulation (12:35) Switch to a Loving Approach (17:10) The Power of Active Listening (22:35) Structuring Difficult Conversations (27:52) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Spencer, a young professional feeling unappreciated at his job. At some point or another, you’ve probably felt stuck in a job, a relationship, or some other situation, and didn’t know how to get out of it. This episode dives into navigating how to align your goals and aspirations with what’s going on in your life. Whether you're facing similar issues at work or in other areas of your life, listen in to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for resolving conflicts and fostering personal growth. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Identify when expectations are out of alignment - Know when to bend or hold firm to a boundary - Create a positive personal narrative out of negative experiences Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily (0:00) Introduction to Conflict Coach (0:56) Meet Spencer: Struggles at Work (5:19) Navigating Expectation Alignment (7:15) Spencer’s Realizations and Adjustments (13:45) Knowing Your Limits (15:17) Creating a Positive Personal Narrative (20:53) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In this special episode, Dr. Emily Taylor is joined by producer Mitchell Tousley to share tips for handling five common conflicts that happen around the holidays. Together, they discuss practical strategies for managing family expectations, balancing time between multiple families, navigating gift-giving differences, recognizing holiday labor, and respecting diverse beliefs and traditions. Whether you’re struggling to split time between relatives, feeling overwhelmed by holiday preparations, or facing generational differences in how you celebrate, Dr. Taylor offers actionable tips to help you approach the holidays with confidence, compassion, and a little less stress. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Align your holiday time to your highest priorities - Identify the time vs. money differential in gift-giving conflict - Prioritize and delegate holiday labor - Maintain boundaries around work and family commitments during the holidays Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Setting the Stage for Holiday Conflict 00:26 – Balancing Time Between In-Laws 04:14 – Navigating Gift-Giving Expectations 10:49 – Recognizing and Sharing Holiday Labor 17:26 – Respecting Differences in Belief and Tradition 23:24 – Managing Work and Family Commitments 26:50 – Final Thoughts and Holiday Wishes Watch video of this episode on the Conflict Coach YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictCoachPodcast

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Sarah, who is feeling increasingly frustrated with the inconsistency of her long-time friend Julie. We all have cherished friendships that we’d like to last forever, but knowing when it’s time to let one go is an important part of maintaining healthy boundaries. In this episode, Dr. Emily helps Sarah understand the signs of growing out of a friendship and the opportunity to establish several layers of friendships that can receive different levels of her time and attention. Together, they develop a strategy to realign Sarah’s friendship with Julie to better match her current stage of life. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Recognize when a friendship has become one-sided - Triage your friendships to different levels of intimacy - Appropriately respond when a boundary is crossed Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Conflict Coach 00:53 Meet Sarah: Frustration with a Close Friend 06:44 Signs You’re Growing Out of a Friendship 14:53 Triaging Friendships 16:28 Sarah’s Plan for Setting Boundaries 24:19 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Laura, who is having conflict with a new coworker and wonders if she’s the cause of the tension. If you're someone who likes to be liked - and most of us are! - it's easy to slip into blaming yourself for conflicts in your life. In this coaching session, Dr. Emily helps Laura to unpack why she sees herself as the cause of the tension and how that limits the options Laura has for resolving the conflict with her coworker. Together they explore Laura’s needs in the conflict and role-play to uncover what the coworker’s needs might be. Then they brainstorm ways Laura could engage with her coworker to resolve their friction. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Name your needs in a conflict - Uncover your conflict partner’s needs through role-play - Effectively brainstorm your options - Resolve conflict through negotiation, rather than competition Dr. Emily recommends this resource from the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Academy to help you name your needs and feelings: https://nvcacademy.com/media/NVCA/learning-tools/NVCA-feelings-needs.pdf Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Conflict Coach 00:53 Meet Laura and Her Workplace Conflict 03:17 Understanding the Root of the Conflict 08:16 Role-Playing to Gain Perspective 16:50 Brainstorming Solutions 25:33 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Kristy, who is struggling to advocate for herself at work and now faces discipline that could result in her firing. The longer you wait to acknowledge your own needs in a conflict, the harder it becomes. Kristy has spent more than a decade keeping her vision loss a secret at work, even though she has a legal right to receive assistance. Now that her eyesight is affecting her ability to do her job, Kristy feels like her needs are a burden to others, but also that she’s being treated unfairly by her boss. Dr. Emily helps Kristy brainstorm ways to resolve the conflict while confidently addressing her own needs. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Avoid premature problem-solving - Feel confident identifying and expressing your needs - Find a mentor to guide you in the conflict Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to The Conflict Coach 01:11 Trouble at Work 02:49 Worsening Eyesight and Accommodations 06:26 Avoiding Premature Problem-Solving 08:30 Identifying Needs 12:08 Honoring Needs 15:15 Brainstorming Options 21:55 Conclusion and Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Stacie, who recently lost her sister to suicide and is in conflict with her late sister’s husband. Grief can heighten the tension in relationships and sometimes makes it difficult to identify what our own needs are in conflict. Dr. Emily helps Stacie sift through her hurt and anger to pinpoint her core need in the conflict. In the process, Stacie discovers new options to pursue in her relationship with her sister’s family and ends the session feeling hopeful. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Identify your “why” in a conflict. - Use the 4 steps of nonviolent communication. - Discover paths forward through role-playing. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily If you or someone you know is in crisis, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for free, confidential support. Call or text 988. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to The Conflict Coach 01:28 Sister’s Suicide 02:20 Prior Conflict with Sister’s Family 05:46 Getting to the Core Need 12:32 Roleplaying Nonviolent Communication 19:05 Roleplay Recap 22:04 Conclusion and Takeaway

Tired of feeling overwhelmed by conflict in your life? Learn the skills to confidently handle any conflict, as certified mediator Dr. Emily Taylor coaches real people through real conflicts in their lives. From family struggles to workplace disputes, neighborhood conflicts to in-law disagreements, each episode of Conflict Coach with Dr. Emily Taylor gives you concrete strategies to find the root of a conflict, identify solutions and create positive change. Dr. Emily Taylor’s passion for helping others gain the confidence to navigate conflict comes from her personal experience (she’s a married mom of five!) and her professional life (PhD in psychology, certified conflict mediator, author of the books “Conflict Fluent” and “Raising Mediators.”) Conflicts are inevitable, but they don’t have to ruin your life. Let Dr. Emily Taylor be your guide to building the life you want. Conflict Coach with Dr. Emily Taylor is a BYUradio podcast. New episodes every other Tuesday starting February 4. Connect with Dr. Emily on social media @conflictcoachwithdremily.

Dr. Emily Taylor shares updates on several people she coached in Season One of the show. Has Jeff (Episode 9) found better work-life balance? Did Morgan (Episode 8) reconcile with her estranged sister? What happened with Sara’s coworker conflict in Episode 10? How did Erika (Episode 1) end up resolving things with her husband? Did Tyler (Episode 5) find a way to connect with his sister so they could share household duties more equally? In this final episode of the season, Dr. Emily also goes behind the scenes of conflict coaching with her producer Julie Rose to answer questions like: -Why doesn’t she tell people how to solve their conflicts? -What does she really mean when she asks “What is your need?” -How could texting sometimes be better than face-to-face communication in a conflict? -Why is role-playing such a common part of a coaching session? CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Season Recap 00:51 Update on Jeff’s Journey 01:36 Morgan's Update with Her Estranged Sister 04:03 Coaching Insights: The Role of a Coach 06:11 Tyler's Update: Building Sibling Relationships 10:32 Erika's Update: Understanding Underlying Needs 16:55 The Power of Mirroring in Conflict Resolution 19:32 Dr. Emily’s Conflict Achilles Heel 21:08 Role Playing and Sara’s Update 27:08 Reflections and Looking Ahead

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Tina whose 11-year-old son is being harassed by another boy at school. Tina admits she usually tries to avoid confronting issues directly, but felt an important boundary was crossed and she needed to make sure the school was addressing the problem. Now Tina’s worried how the fallout from the conflict will affect her son at school and her own social interactions with the other boy’s parents. Dr. Taylor offers guidance on enforcing healthy boundaries and helps Tina role-play to prepare for an awkward social interaction. In this episode you’ll learn how to: -Establish and maintain healthy boundaries. -Process your emotions by role-playing before a tense encounter. -Prioritize the relationships that are most important to you in a conflict. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Conflict Coach 00:48 Meet Tina and Her Conflict 06:33 Understanding Boundaries in Conflict 11:57 Role-Playing the Confrontation 17:46 Reflecting on the Parent-Child Relationship 21:35 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Claire, who is in a stalemate with her young adult daughter, who still lives at home and is not progressing toward independence. The daughter is 23 and has Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Claire tries to be compassionate, but suspects her daughter is capable of more. A lot of conflicts involve uncertainty around what to realistically demand of the other person - maybe it's an elderly parent who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a child custody battle with a former spouse or an adult child leaving the family's shared faith. Dr. Emily helps Claire identify ways to get her questions answered so she can start working toward a resolution. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Create a map of your conflict to better identify possible resolutions. - Identify an unanswered question at the root of your conflict. - Know when to seek expert advice on your specific conflict. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Stalemate Between Claire and Her Daughter 01:13 Daughter’s Background and Challenges: ASD, ADHD, ODD 03:56 Exploring Claire's Frustrations 07:31 Mapping the Conflict 09:47 Imagining a Positive Scenario 14:52 Seeking Resources and Support 21:33 Conclusion and Takeaways

Dr. Emily Taylor coaches Sara - a young professional in her 30s - who is being treated unkindly by a coworker. Peer relationships often experience the most conflict because there are so many opportunities for friction. Sara’s coworker is also a friend who helped her get the job and now seems to be looking for any reason to disagree and dismiss Sara’s opinions. Dr. Emily coaches Sara through a role-playing exercise to help her gain insight into her coworker’s motivations. Together they explore ways that Sara might build warmth and camaraderie in the relationship, even if her coworker is unwilling to directly address the conflict. In this episode you’ll learn how to: -Identify the“fundamental attribution error” in your judgment of the other person’s behavior. -Use the TRIP acronym to identify what your conflict is really about. -Recognize when direct confrontation is not the best approach in conflict. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Meet Sara and Her Conflict 03:38 Why the Conflict is Hurtful to Sara 09:52 Role-Playing to Understand Her Coworker’s Perspective 13:52 Beware of the “Fundamental Attribution Error” 18:00 The TRIP Acronym 24:17 Sara Has a Surprising Realization 25:12 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Dr. Emily Taylor helps Jeff address the challenge of balancing his high-conflict job with his personal life. Jobs that involve constant conflict navigation carry a unique risk: how you deal with disagreements at work can seep into how you handle things with your spouse or kids. In this coaching session, Dr. Emily coaches Jeff to identify his needs for achieving a balanced life and behaviors to help him establish and maintain better boundaries between work and home. Dr. Emily shares her own struggle to separate the conflict-rich nature of her own career from her personal interactions. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Look for boundaries you can put in place to help separate your work and home life. - Create scaffolding around yourself to help you maintain the boundaries you're creating. - Consider not only what you can cut out of your life, but also what you might want to add that will recalibrate the structure and meaning of what you're already doing. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to The Conflict Coach 00:48 Meet Jeff: The Insurance Broker 01:21 Jeff's Conflict with Insurance Companies 04:42 The Personal Impact of Professional Conflict 08:17 Establishing Boundaries Between Work and Home 10:53 Identifying Personal Needs for Balance 16:25 Strategies for Maintaining Work-Life Balance 23:22 Conclusion and Key Takeaways 25:47 Outro and Next Episode Preview

Dr. Emily Taylor helps Morgan sort through the pain of being cut off by her sister and options for moving forward. Family estrangement is incredibly painful and surprisingly common. An estimated one-quarter of all adults in the US are estranged from a close family member. But reconciliation can - and often does - happen. In this coaching session, Dr. Emily offers Morgan a chance to talk through her understanding of why the estrangement has happened and the meaning she’s attached to it. Together they consider what Morgan’s needs are in the relationship with her sister and how she might re-establish contact when her sister refuses to take her calls. In this episode you’ll learn how to: - Begin the process of reconciliation with an estranged family member. - Recognize when you’re making assumptions about what another person’s actions mean. - Identify the interest that’s driving your position in a conflict. - Approach relational repair in smaller, more effective steps. Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily Dr. Karl Pillemer blog post on reconciling after family estrangement: https://www.karlpillemer.com/psychology-today-on-fault-lines-and-family-estrangement/ You might also like this recent episode of Top of Mind with Julie Rose: “The Surprising Truth About Reconciliation After Estrangement” https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-the-surprising-truth-about-reconciliation-after-estrangement CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to The Conflict Coach 00:49 Meet Morgan: Family Text Conflict 03:53 Morgan's Perspective and Struggles 08:18 Exploring Solutions and Reconciliation 12:44 Dr. Emily's Insights on Family Estrangement 16:35 Morgan's Path to Repairing Relationships 26:48 Final Thoughts and Skills Recap

Dr. Emily Taylor helps Ann understand why efforts to smooth things over with a sister-in-law aren’t working. There are different ways to go about resolving a conflict and we each have our preferred approach: compete; accommodate; compromise; or collaborate. If you’re stuck in a repetitive conflict, that may be a sign your typical approach isn’t the best fit for the situation. In this coaching session, Dr. Emily helps Ann identify the reasons why a collaborative resolution is not possible in a 20-year conflict she’s had with her sister-in-law. Together they consider how Ann might adjust her expectations for the relationship to protect herself from further harm. In this episode, you will learn how to: · Address your fundamental need to feel safe in a conflicted relationship. · Identify your preferred approach to resolving conflicts and when to adjust course. · Recognize the “schemas” or mental constructs driving your expectations in relationships Let us know how these strategies work in your own life! Email Dr. Emily at [email protected] or connect with her on social media: @conflictcoachwithdremily 00:00 Introduction to the Conflict Coach 00:49 Meet Ann and Her Conflict 01:20 Ann's Strained Relationship with Her Sister-in-Law 04:39 The Impact of Passive Aggression 08:39 Exploring Ann's Approach to Conflict 11:32 Reassessing Relationships and Expectations 15:37 Finding Peace Within the Conflict 27:14 Key Takeaways and Skills 29:29 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview