In this episode we explore how to navigate difficult conversations and have more constructive interactions around divisive issues - whether with friends, family, or even strangers online. Why do disagreements escalate so quickly? Is it possible to truly listen without agreeing? And can better conversations help bridge deep divides?

Joining us to unpack these questions is Gabrielle Rifkind, a group analyst, psychotherapist, international conflict resolution specialist, and author of How to Agree to Disagree: From Conflict to Connection. Gabrielle shares practical tools to help us listen more deeply, communicate with clarity and compassion, and move beyond the idea that every conflict must have a winner and a loser.

If you’d like to see all of the tips and actions Gabrielle shared in this episode, head to our website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/bridging-divides/podcast/episode-3

Glossary of terms from the episode

Boundaries

Parameters that both people agree on and help a conversation flow safely. This might be the length of a conversation, the ability to walk away, or a topic you don’t want to cover.

Bridging Divides is a podcast from the British Red Cross, hosted by Sonali Shah, exploring why we feel so divided and what we can actually do about it. Across the series, Sonali speaks to leading thinkers and practitioners to unpack what’s shaping division in our society, from national debates to the conversations happening in our own homes.

For more info visit www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

Find us on social media:

Instagram: @britishredcross - https://www.instagram.com/britishredcross

Facebook: @British Red Cross - https://www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross

LinkedIn: @British Red Cross - https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-red-cross

TikTok: @britishredcross - British Red Cross (@britishredcross) | TikTok

X: @BritishRedCross - https://x.com/BritishRedCross

Sonali’s Instagram: @sonalishah

Find out more about Gabrielle Rifkind here.

Bridging Divides is produced by Bird Lime Media.