Dr Julia Minson on how to disagree better, receptiveness and changing her mind on Transitions for minors

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Host Alex Chesterfield and co-hosts Ali Goldsworthy and Laura Osborne interview Julia Minson, a researcher on disagreement, about building receptiveness and improving conflict conversations through practice, realistic goals beyond persuasion, and concrete language changes. Minson describes her background in competitive ballroom dancing as a metaphor for opposing perspectives, and outlines the HEAR framework for “conversational receptiveness”: Hedging, Emphasizing agreement, Acknowledging the other view with true paraphrase, and Reframing to the positive. She discusses applying these tools in schools and other real-world settings, and research questions about reputational rewards for receptiveness. Minson also shares a rapid, emotionally complex series of belief updates on gender transitions for minors, influenced by Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s arguments and later by meeting a trans woman, highlighting how minds change through human contact and context.

00:00 Third Rail Belief Shift

00:17 Show Intro and Guests

01:36 Co Hosts Takeaways

03:58 Ballroom Dancing Origins

07:50 Training Receptiveness Habits

10:34 How to Disagree Better

12:57 Start Small Not Hot Topics

15:53 HEAR Framework Language

22:36 Where Research Goes Next

24:47 Campaigning Incentives Tension

27:29 Changing Mind on Transitions

36:03 Environment and People Matter

38:14 Who Should Be Next Guest

38:55 Hosts Reflect and Wrap Up

Buy How To Disagree Better Dr Julia Minson

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/8711/9781398725041

Buy Alison, Laura and Alexandra’s new book, Poles Apart: Why People Turn Against Each Other, and How to Bring Them Together  https://uk.bookshop.org/a/8711/9781847942975

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