158. 7 Tips to Talk About Politics with Family During the Holidays

The Language Alchemy Podcast

“If we keep avoiding difficult topics, how are we going to learn to address them?” Alejandra Siroka poses this question with urgency and clarity. She reminds us that “having different political views is not a problem. In fact, it is healthy to have people who see the world, the problems of the world, and the potential solutions in multiple ways.”

In this episode, Alejandra shares practical advice on fostering healthy conversations about politics with family members. What happens when a holiday gathering feels overshadowed by divisive topics? Can we bridge the gap without compromising connection? She believes it’s possible—and even essential.

Alejandra offers tools to help turn conflict into connection, starting with checking your intentions and focusing on shared values. Small, intentional “micro conversations” can plant seeds for understanding over time, while skillful disagreement opens the door for mutual respect. Alejandra also encourages embracing the uncertainty of unresolved issues, reframing these discussions as opportunities to grow together.

With warmth and wisdom, Alejandra challenges us to remember the humanity we share with those we love, even when opinions differ. Tune in to learn actionable tips for transforming tense family discussions into moments of connection and mutual understanding.

Quotes

• “Intentions are the foundation of relational communication. Agendas are the foundation of transactional communication, and they lead us to divisiveness.” (05:02 | Alejandra Siroka)
• “When talking about politics, it’s super important that you are explicit about your intention. When you communicate your intention out loud, that serves as both the foundation to ground your conversation and also as its north star to determine the direction of the conversation.” (06:00 | Alejandra Siroka)
• “It is not only okay to have different opinions and views and be able to talk about them; it is useful and beneficial. But we get in trouble when we disagree unskillfully.” (10:17 | Alejandra Siroka)
• “All human beings want to feel safe, loved, accepted, and valued. You want that and your relative wants that, too. And even though you may disagree on how to go about getting your human needs met or your values fulfilled, you are both humans sharing a life and space.” (14:32 | Alejandra Siroka)

Links

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Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow: open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqD

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm