Episode
68: The Brutal Truth About Relationship Conflict--and What to Do About It
- Podcast
- Make More Love
- Published
- Sep 25, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1329
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://makemorelove.show
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Summary
Ellen Dorian discusses strategies for managing conflict in relationships, introducing the concept of "passionate problem solving" as an alternative to cold war and hot war conflict styles. She outlines two pathways: early intervention and radical repair, drawing inspiration from kink and BDSM protocols and Japanese apology frameworks. Part 1: Understanding Conflict and Early Intervention - Esther Perel's three categories of conflict: power and control, respect and recognition, care and closeness - Recognizing personal "tells" that signal emotional escalation - Implementing kink-inspired protocols: safe words, negotiated agreements, and aftercare Part 2: Radical Repair for Full-Blown Conflicts - Step-by-step process for addressing conflicts after they've escalated - Naming the hurt, reflecting back, owning responsibility, and offering a radical apology - Reaffirming connection and attacking the problem, not each other Part 3: Applying Passionate Problem Solving - Factors influencing success: meaning gap, relationship foundation, and personal skills - Importance of practice and commitment to transform conflict handling - Encouragement to seek outside help when needed Key Takeaways: - Early intervention focuses on self-control, not partner control - Repair matters more than being right in conflicts - Always attack the problem, not each other - Passionate problem solving requires practice and discipline Call to Action: Ellen encourages listeners to book a free Relationship Reset call, join the Passionate Partners Insider community on Facebook, and spread the word about the Make More Love podcast. Closing Thoughts: Passionate problem solving is not a quick fix but can transform how couples handle conflict when practiced consistently. Support & Resources: Ellen invites l…