Conflict Creators: Why Drama Gets Into Our Heads
March 12, 2026
Why are we drawn to conflict-driven media figures? Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter unpack the brain science behind drama, danger, and the pull of secret knowledge.
Megan Hunter, MBA, is the co-founder and CEO of the High Conflict Institute. She developed the concept of the Institute after 13 years in policy, legislation, and judicial training with the Arizona Supreme Court and five years with the Dawes County Attorney’s Office in Nebraska. She is founder and publisher of Unhooked Books, a U.S.-based media company. She has served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, the Arizona Family Support Council and Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association. She served five years on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiner, and currently serves on the board of Stepfamily Magazine.
🌐 Visit the High Conflict Institute
📖 Visit Unhooked Books
🎙️ Subscribe to It’s All Your Fault
Why are we drawn to conflict-driven media figures? Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter unpack the brain science behind drama, danger, and the pull of secret knowledge.
Michael Lomax joins Megan with practical tools for leaders: BIFF responses, managing disruptive meetings, and building a conflict-competent culture.
HCI senior trainer Michael Lomax joins Megan to unpack why workplace conflict is escalating and how leaders can stay calm, de-escalate, and problem-solve.
We answer listener questions on setting limits with intrusive neighbors, hostile co-parents, difficult coworkers, and adult children demonstrating high conflict behaviors.
Can setting boundaries and using communication skills transform a one-sided relationship into mutual caring? We explore realistic expectations and outcomes when one partner exhibits high conflict traits.
Parent-child estrangement often stems from unresolved conflict patterns. Analysis reveals how building conflict resolution skills, setting appropriate boundaries, and avoiding all-or-nothing thinking can heal family relationships.
Setting limits with challenging personalities requires a strategic approach. Ekaterina Ricci joins to discuss the “two and a half steps” method and why traditional empathy can sometimes backfire. Learn when to hold firm vs. show compassion.
Amanda Smith, DBT expert with 19 years experience, reveals how self-compassion transforms borderline personality disorder treatment. New research shows combining validation with skills training leads to lasting recovery.
Learn effective boundary-setting across all ages with SLIC method creator Bill Eddy, exploring why consequences fail and how to make them stick – from toddler tantrums to teenage defiance.
Clinical psychologist Dr. David Wexler reveals key warning signs of unsafe relationships, sharing insights from 40 years of expertise on identifying concerning patterns before they escalate.