Name: A journalist's trick for talking to people you can't stand
Uploaded: 2026-08-03T14:47:35Z
Duration: 6 min 25 s
Description: Neutrality can get you through a tough conversation, but it rarely gets you anywhere. Joshua Johnson, actor/anchor for “The Onion” and former NPR host, makes the case instead for objectivity — parking your own opinions for a moment so you can focus on someone else’s story. He shares three quick ways to turn your most frustrating conversations into real understanding.

Joshua Johnson: A journalist's trick for talking to people you can't stand

A journalist's trick for talking to people you can't stand

Neutrality can get you through a tough conversation, but it rarely gets you anywhere. Joshua Johnson, actor/anchor for “The Onion” and former NPR host, makes the case instead for objectivity — parking your own opinions for a moment so you can focus on someone else’s story. He shares three quick ways to turn your most frustrating conversations into real understanding.

Staying neutral can keep conflict at bay, but it rarely leads to understanding. Real insight comes from moving closer, listening with curiosity, and setting aside judgment to see what shapes another person’s story. A former radio host recalls pressing a guest on Confederate monuments, only to realize he missed the chance to learn what drove those beliefs. By shifting from neutrality to objectivity, he found that openness and vulnerability reveal the real person behind tough opinions.

Objectivity Beats Neutrality When Conversations Get Difficult

Real understanding in tough conversations comes not from staying neutral, but from moving closer and seeking true objectivity. One striking moment came when a guest dismissed his own arguments on air, revealing that neutrality prevented real connection. Treating difficult conversations like a doctor examining a sample, rather than keeping emotional distance, allows for meaningful insight. By focusing on understanding motivations instead of simply interrogating beliefs, even the most frustrating exchanges can reveal new possibilities.

Objectivity Builds Bridges Where Neutrality Builds Walls

True understanding in difficult conversations comes not from staying neutral, but from moving closer and choosing objectivity. One broadcaster describes how grilling a Confederate descendant on live radio shut down dialogue, while recognizing the trauma behind a police officer’s rant led to a breakthrough moment of honesty. Objectivity is about parking opinions, not erasing them, which opens the door to deeper learning and real connection. Asking short, open questions and focusing on the story behind beliefs can transform even the most frustrating exchanges.