How to have difficult conversations

How to have difficult conversations

From Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

May 4, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

This episode explores how to effectively engage in difficult conversations in various aspects of life.

We all have to have difficult conversations at some point in our lives. We have them at work, at home, and with friends and family. So why do we often feel ill-equipped to initiate that challenging chat? And why are we not more optimistic that airing our issues will lead to a more positive outcome for all involved? In this special edition of Woman's Hour, Nuala McGovern explores how we can have better difficult conversations. She is joined by psychotherapist, international conflict mediator and author of How to Agree to Disagree: Turning Conflict into Connection, Gabrielle Rifkind. She reflects on what makes a conversation difficult and the skills we require to tackle them. In our personal lives, difficult conversations can feel especially daunting, because they’re usually with the people we care about most. TV and podcast host Vicky Pattison and comedian and author Helen Thorn reveal how they approach discussing sensitive topics with their loved ones. And difficult conversations at work can make even the most confident among us feel strangely tongue‑tied: asking for a pay rise, giving feedback or managing conflict. Entrepreneur Izzy Obeng MBE and former social worker Sophie…

People in this episode

Host: Nuala McGovern

Guests: Gabrielle Rifkind, Vicky Pattison, Helen Thorn, Izzy Obeng MBE, Sophie Baker, Talia Hibbert

Topics covered

  • difficult conversations
  • communication skills
  • personal relationships
  • workplace conflict
  • emotional intelligence

Keywords

  • difficult conversations
  • communication
  • conflict resolution
  • personal relationships
  • workplace communication

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