Most people think hospitality is just about service. Will Guidara believes it’s about making people feel seen. In this conversation, Will and I talk about what it really means to care for people well—whether you’re leading a team, managing a business, sitting across from someone you love, or just trying to become a better communicator. From turning Eleven Madison Park into the #1 restaurant in the world to helping create the hit show, The Bear, Will shares the mindset that changed everything for him: the smallest moments often leave the biggest impact. We talk about thoughtful criticism, leading with grace, creating team culture, and why the best communicators listen for what people aren’t saying.

Buy Will’s book, Unreasonable Hospitality and the field guide we dug into in today’s episode - https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/books 

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson 

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Today’s episode is a little more personal than usual. I’m listening to your voicemails for the very first time and responding right there in the moment—no script, no prep, just real conversations.

We talk about what it feels like when your partner can’t express emotion, how to move forward when someone won’t forgive you, and how to handle those uncomfortable conversations about money, leadership, and family. These are the kinds of situations where there isn’t a perfect line—you just want to get it right.

If you’ve ever been in a moment where you didn’t know what to say, or you said the wrong thing and wished you could take it back, this episode is for you.

Leave me a voicemail to be featured on the show! https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/ask-jefferson

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

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Timeline. Their clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price. Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to https://timeline.com/jefferson 

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

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There’s a voice in your head—and it’s shaping more of your life than you realize. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shadé Zahrai to break down the real science behind self-doubt, where it comes from, and why it shows up strongest after your conversations—not before them. We walk through the four hidden “voices” driving your inner critic and how to separate from them so they stop running the show. If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head or felt like you’re not enough, this episode gives you the tools to change that.

Buy her book Big Trust: Rewire Self-Doubt, Find Your Confidence, and Fuel Success: https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust 

Take Shadé’s Doubt Profile Quiz: https://www.shadezahrai.com/doubtprofile 

Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and AMAs: https://jefferson.supercast.com/

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

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There are three mistakes I see people make in conversations every single day—and they’re quietly destroying relationships without you realizing it. In this episode, I break down why using absolutes like “always” and “never” instantly derails communication, how overexplaining weakens your message, and why the first seven seconds of any conversation matter more than everything that follows. If you want to be heard, respected, and taken seriously, this is where you start.

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Mill. Try risk-free for 90 days and get $75 off at https://www.mill.com/jefferson  and use code JEFFERSON at checkout.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

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There’s a version of you that keeps waiting—for permission, for clarity, for someone to hand you the opportunity. In this conversation, I sit down with Emma Grede to challenge that thinking head-on. She breaks down what it actually takes to lead, build, and succeed at the highest level—without hiding behind politeness, fear, or overthinking. If you want more confidence, more clarity, and more control over your life and career, this is where it starts: with yourself.

Buy Emma’s new book: Start with Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Start-With-Yourself/Emma-Grede/9781668085486 

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

LMNT. Head to https://drinkLMNT.com/jefferson to try risk free.

Timeline. Their clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price. Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to https://timeline.com/jefferson 

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

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Join me on Supercast for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and monthly AMAs:⁠ https://jefferson.supercast.com/⁠

There’s a conversation you’ve been avoiding—and it’s already costing you more than you think. In this episode, I’m breaking down why not saying the hard thing is shaping your relationships in ways you don’t even realize. When you avoid the truth, you keep everyone stuck in a version of reality that isn’t real. I’ll walk you through a simple, practical way to have difficult conversations with clarity, confidence, and respect—without overexplaining or softening the message.

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

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BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 

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Join The Jefferson Fisher Podcast Premium on Supercast – ⁠https://jefferson.supercast.com/

I’m really excited to share this with you—I’ve launched a premium version of the podcast for those of you who want a more personal, uninterrupted experience and a closer connection to these conversations.

You’ll get ad-free episodes, bonus content you won’t hear anywhere else, and AMAs where I answer your real-life questions directly.

I read your comments. I hear you. And this is me building something better for you.

For this first week, I’m offering a special founder’s promo—20% off when you join.

I’m really excited about this. Thanks for being here.

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Have you ever felt like life is moving fast, you’re doing everything right, but something still feels off? In this episode, I sit down with Arthur Brooks, a behavioral scientist at Harvard University, to talk about why achievement doesn’t always bring fulfillment, how busyness can pull you away from the people you love, and why meaning usually shows up through struggle. We talk about marriage, faith, ambition, and the habits that actually lead to happiness. This conversation made me rethink what success really is—and what kind of life is actually worth building.

Visit his website where you can take the tests we talked about in this episode, https://www.arthurbrooks.com/ 

Check out Arthur’s new book, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

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BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

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Most people say they want to be more direct, but when the moment comes, they start telling stories, overexplaining, or hoping the other person reads their mind. In this episode, I break down what being direct actually sounds like and why customer service conversations are one of the best places to practice it. I share a simple three-step method you can use anywhere—at work, at home, or in relationships—to say exactly what you mean without sounding harsh. When you learn to stick the landing with your words, people understand you faster, respect you more, and conversations get a whole lot easier.

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

Butcher Box: $20 off your first box and free shipping at https://butcherbox.com/jefferson 

Momentous. Visit https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use code JEFFERSON for 35% off your first order.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 

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If you struggle to say no, you might not have a boundary problem—you might have an overexplaining problem. In this episode, I break down why giving too many reasons weakens your boundaries, turns your no into a negotiation, and makes it easier for people to push past your limits. I’ll show you how to set firm boundaries with fewer words, stronger statements, and simple phrases you can use right away to protect your time, energy, and peace.

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

Notion: Try Custom Agents now at https://notion.com/jefferson 

Wayfair. Visit https://www.wayfair.com/ 

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 

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Adult friendships are hard — not because you’re bad at them, but because life pulls you in a thousand directions. Work, family, responsibilities… and somewhere along the way, connection gets shallow. In this episode, I share how to stop waiting to be chosen, how to build rhythm into your relationships, and how to move past small talk into something meaningful. If you want deeper friendships, you have to go first.

Order The Next Conversation Workbook: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/workbook

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cozy Earth. Upgrade Your Every Day. Get 20% off at cozyearth.com/jefferson or use code JEFFERSON at check out.

Monarch Money. 50% off your first year at https://monarchmoney.com/jefferson

LMNT. Head to https://drinkLMNT.com/jefferson to try risk free.

BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/jeffersonfisher for a discount on your first month of therapy.

Order my new book, The Next Conversation, or listen to the full audiobook today.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show! 

Want a FREE communication tip each week? Click here to join my newsletter. 

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Watch my podcast on YouTube 

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices