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In this episode of Kyle Talks, we explore what to do when someone goes silent, resists, or withdraws from conversation. Silence is not always rejection, often it’s a defense mechanism. We dig into why people shut down, how pushing harder can backfire, and steps you can take to reopen dialogue in a balanced, respectful way. You’ll also learn how to detect defensive posture (in them and yourself), offer safer re-entry, and when to step back or set boundaries.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why silence or shutdown happens
• Nonverbal cues and defensive body language
• Why escalation makes things worse
• Low-pressure questions & apology bridges
• How to pause and revisit conversations
• Listening first, resisting the urge to defend
• Working through defensiveness
• When to walk away or set limits

Action Steps:

1. Notice if someone shuts down in your conversations this week.
2. If things get intense, pause the conversation and revisit later.
3. After you talk, reflect on your defensive moments and what triggered them.

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