In this season-ending episode of Past Present Pushback, we start a necessary two-part conversation on listening without being defensive—and why, in so many Black families, correction feels like disrespect.

Before we talk about how to listen better, we have to be honest about why we struggle to listen at all.

In Part 1, we unpack:

• Why defensiveness is often a trauma response, not arrogance

• How survival mode shaped communication in Black households

• The difference between protecting your pride and protecting your peace

• What happens to relationships when people feel unheard

• The emotional cost of always needing to explain, correct, or defend yourself

This episode isn’t about blaming parents, partners, or elders—it’s about understanding the conditioning we inherited and questioning whether it still serves us.

We challenge each other, push back on comfort, and sit in the tension without rushing to resolution—because some conversations aren’t meant to be wrapped up neatly.

We end with a question that sets the tone for 2026:

Who do you become when you stop defending yourself—and start actually listening?

Part 2 drops next, where we break down what real listening actually requires—and why most people aren’t ready for it.