Headshot of Adam Grant, Priya Parker, and Brené Brown recording a podcast episode. There is a microphone is front of Adam and Brené.

Can Conflict Actually Make Our Relationships Stronger? with Priya Parker

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Does conflict really have the power to bring us closer together? In this episode of The Curiosity Shop, facilitator and author Priya Parker joins Brené Brown and Adam Grant to rethink how we approach conflict. Drawing from her new book, The Art of Fighting, Priya explores why avoiding conflict can create distance in our relationships, how “healthy heat” differs from destructive conflict, and why practicing disagreement when the stakes are low can prepare us for the conversations that matter most. Together, they unpack toxic politeness and why meaningful relationships require us to embrace discomfort instead of avoiding it. They also explore how preparation and collective humanity can be powerful tools to de-escalate conflict. The conversation leads Brené and Adam to reflect on their own history and how some of their hardest conversations have ultimately deepened their friendship.

Meet the guest

Headshot of Priya Parker sitting at a table, wearing a long sleeved white shirt with her arms crossed. There is a bookshelf behind her with books and art pieces.

Priya Parker is a facilitator, strategic advisor, and acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. Trained in the field of conflict resolution she is sought after by Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, universities, civic organizations and various groups around the world to resolve issues and come together more intentionally.She studied organizational design at MIT, public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia. She is the host of the popular Substack GROUP LIFE and her new book THE ART OF FIGHTING: The Transformative Power of Conflict is out now.

Show Notes

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