Jefferson Fisher, a Texas trial lawyer and viral communication coach, joins Self-Conscious to break down how to have hard conversations without spiraling. Whether it’s with your partner, your parent, or your boss, Jefferson offers a step-by-step framework to help you speak clearly, stay grounded, and protect your relationships in the process.

You’ll learn how to start a tough conversation without triggering defensiveness, what to say instead of “we need to talk,” and why your breath may be the most powerful thing you say. Jefferson shares practical strategies for regulating your emotions in real time, setting healthy conversational boundaries, and staying composed—even when the other person isn’t.

Chrissy brings her own real-world struggles with confrontation into the mix, making this episode feel like a vulnerable, high-impact workshop in real time. By the end, you won’t just understand how to talk—you’ll understand how to be heard without losing yourself. The goal isn’t to win the argument. It’s to have the next conversation.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Use a three-step formula—state the topic, define the goal, and ask for buy-in—to structure any difficult conversation.
2. Avoid triggering phrases like “we need to talk” and instead open with direct, neutral language.
3. Practice Jefferson’s “conversational breath” to reset your nervous system before you respond.
4. Lowering your voice in tense moments invites the other person to meet you in calm, not conflict.
5. When things escalate, pause and ask intentional questions like “Can you say that again?” to shift the power dynamic.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Self-Conscious, Chrissy sits down with bestselling author Chris Guillebeau to talk about a problem that almost everyone feels—but few people know how to name: time anxiety. In his new book, of the same name, Guillebeau explores the emotional side of our relationship with time—why we constantly feel behind, guilty for resting, and stressed by the pressure to make every second count. This conversation will help you reclaim your time—not by doing more, but by thinking about it differently.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• What time anxiety is and why it affects so many of us
• How to spot your own “internal time rules”
• Why productivity culture leaves us feeling empty

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a deeply vulnerable conversation with therapist and KC Davis, author of Who Deserves Your Love, Chrissy opens up about the emotional complexity of her relationship with her mom: the years of silence, the heartbreaking attempts to reconnect, and the weight of carrying unmet needs into adulthood. It's not about blame—it’s about honesty, grief, and the quiet hope that healing might still be possible.

Together, Chrissy and KC explore what it means to love someone who can’t always love you back the way you need - and how to stop losing yourself in the process. 

Key Takeaways

- How to tell the difference between a hard relationship and an unsafe one

- What real boundaries look like—and why they’re not about control

- Why “being the good daughter” sometimes means betraying yourself

- How to grieve the parent you wish you had while still showing up for the one you do

- Simple tools to regulate your nervous system in the middle of emotional overwhelm

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this wildly relatable episode of Self-Conscious, clinical psychologist and Good Inside author Dr. Becky Kennedy sits down with Chrissy to talk about what parenting really demands of us—not just as moms and dads, but as humans still healing ourselves.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daniel Pink challenges conventional wisdom around regret, explaining why it can be a powerful force for personal growth. Drawing on insights from his book The Power of Regret, Pink explains how confronting and understanding our regrets can lead to better decision-making and a more fulfilling life. Chrissy and Daniel discuss how to transform regret from a source of pain into a tool for improvement.

The Power of Regret is now available on Audible and Amazon. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chrissy is joined by Gabby Bernstein, the New York Times bestselling author of Super Attractor, to discuss how manifestation can change your life. Gabby explains how aligning your thoughts, emotions, and energy with the universe can help you attract abundance and joy. She dives into practical tools for raising your emotional and energetic frequency to create the life you truly want. Chrissy and Gabby explore how manifestation isn't just a mystical concept but a practical tool for anyone seeking fulfillment.

Super Attractor is now available on Audible and Amazon. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chrissy meets Joseph Nguyen, author of Don’t Believe Everything You Think, to explore how our thoughts shape our reality. Nguyen shares practical techniques to break free from limiting beliefs and mental traps, helping listeners cultivate mental clarity and inner peace.

Don't Believe Everything You Think is now available on Audible and Amazon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sex educator Emily Nagoski joins Chrissy to discuss the complexities of long-term intimacy, drawn from her book Come Together. Emily reveals that the secret to sustaining a healthy sexual relationship isn’t about frequency but about sexual satisfaction. She emphasizes how pleasure, not frequency, should be the focus in relationships. Chrissy and Emily explore how couples can reconnect and foster a deeper intimacy by focusing on what truly matters—authentic pleasure and connection.

Come Together is now available on Audible and Amazon. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Astrologist Valerie Tejeda joins Chrissy to discuss how astrology can help individuals find happiness in her Audible Original Happiness By the Signs. Tejeda blends astrological wisdom with practical advice, guiding listeners to discover personalized pathways to joy and emotional well-being based on their zodiac signs.

Happiness by the Signs is now available on Audible and Amazon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Holly Whitaker, bestselling author of Quit Like a Woman, joins Chrissy to help rethink our relationship with alcohol. Drawing from her Audible Original 30 Days to a New Relationship with Alcohol, Whitaker introduces a compassionate approach that meets listeners wherever they are on their sobriety journey—without pushing for total abstinence. Together, they dive deep into the emotional and spiritual roots of addiction, offering empowering strategies to break free from dependency and reclaim personal freedom.

30 Days to a New Relationship with Alcohol is now available on Audible and Amazon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.