In this episode, Dr. Lauro Amezcua-Patino, a psychiatrist with a knack for sarcasm and an eye for holiday survival tactics, dives into the art of navigating politically charged family gatherings. He offers practical, lighthearted tips for keeping the peace when conversations start veering into contentious territory. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, find common ground, and even master the delicate skill of gracefully stepping away when things get heated.

Dr. Amezcua-Patino starts by emphasizing the power of pre-set boundaries, like gently declaring politics off-limits or redirecting conversations toward safer topics. He shares tips for using empathy and curiosity to diffuse tension, suggesting that instead of debating, listeners should try open-ended questions that keep the dialogue respectful. And when all else fails, he suggests go-to distractions like holiday games or storytelling to steer the focus back to family fun.

Listeners will get Dr. Amezcua-Patino’s advice on self-care techniques during the holiday marathon, including how to take breaks, know your limits, and when it’s perfectly okay to agree to disagree. Plus, he outlines how to stand your ground assertively (but calmly) when someone won’t respect your boundaries.

For those tougher moments, Dr. Amezcua-Patino discusses how to walk away respectfully and offers insights on knowing when it’s okay to "tell them to stick it"—in a way that protects your peace without creating unnecessary drama.

Tune in for an entertaining yet thoughtful episode filled with examples, quirky insights, and a psychiatrist’s practical wisdom for navigating holiday gatherings with grace, humor, and sanity intact.

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