Public fights over masks and COVID-19 vaccines seem to be happening more often these days and there's at least some data to back it up. The FAA says the number of unruly passenger incidents is already 2 to 3 times the number from all of 2020. Most of them are over mask-wearing.

In retail stores, managers have had to train staff how to deal with screaming customers. And we've probably all felt the tension just talking with friends and family who may disagree with us. Today, we're diving into why this is happening more these days and how to handle it, whether it's on a plane with strangers or around the Thanksgiving table with loved ones.

We've brought Dr. Tania Israel back on the show. She's a counseling psychology professor at UC Santa Barbara and the author of the award-winning book "Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide."

Dr. Israel explains how to de-escalate these fiery situations and shares tips for having more productive, caring conversations with people you disagree with. Plus, the words you should never say to another person, especially during a heated exchange.

This episode is brought to you by Policygenius.com and kiwico.com (Listen for the discount code)

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205 - The Biggest Time Waster at Work (feat. Cy Wakeman)