How to Deal with Difficult People

How to Deal with Difficult People

From Crappy to Happy by Cass Dunn

April 1, 2026 · 25 min · Season 17 · Episode 5

About this episode

Cass Dunn shares strategies for managing difficult people and emotional reactivity during high-conflict situations.

Working title was “How to Deal with Ar5eholes” but I thought Apple might ban me.  After being evicted from our rental in the UK, I had to sell our house in Australia from the other side of the world. I did not expect the amount of conflict and tension I would have to manage (uncooperative tenants, RE agents not communicating and a selling agent in London applying pressure to meet an impossible deadline). Let’s just say I was not always my best self. 😐 I reacted emotionally, sent emails I shouldn’t have, and felt like I couldn’t trust anybody. Somewhere in the middle of it, while I was walking my dogs, where most of my better thinking happens, I realised there are useful lessons here, and they’ll be worth sharing once I’m through to the other side. Well, I’m through to the other side! The house is sold. And I’m sharing five things that helped me navigate a high-conflict period without losing my mind or my values in the process. These are my go-to strategies for dealing with difficult people, managing your own emotional reactivity, and staying true to who you want to be, even when other people are being complete dicks. What you’ll learn in this episode: The one question…

People in this episode

Host: Cass Dunn

Topics covered

  • conflict resolution
  • emotional management
  • communication strategies
  • self-improvement
  • dealing with difficult people

Keywords

  • difficult people
  • emotional reactivity
  • conflict management
  • communication
  • self-improvement

Mentioned in this episode

Places: UK, Australia, London

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