Talking to Crazy
We've all been in that moment where someone you care about, or even a stranger, seems to completely lose touch with reality. Their words are illogical, their emotions are overwhelming, and every attempt to reason with them just makes things worse. You feel a familiar frustration bubble up, a sense of helplessness as you watch the conversation spiral, wondering if they're even hearing you. Mark Goulston argues that these moments aren't about true insanity, but often a desperate, unconscious cry for help. He shows us how our natural instinct to argue or withdraw only escalates the situation. This episode unpacks his counter-intuitive approach: how to bypass the "crazy" facade by validating the underlying emotion, not the irrational statements. You'll learn to disarm defensiveness, create a pathway for genuine connection, and move from feeling stuck to finding common ground, even when it feels impossible. It’s about seeing the person behind the problem, not just the outburst.