Transforming Conflict into Connection

Sue hosts Dr. Joel Salinas, a Harvard-trained behavioral neurologist and Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Isaac Health, a telehealth platform focused on brain health and dementia care. Dr. Salinas serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and previously held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a nationally recognized expert in brain health with over 40 academic publications and contributions to eight books in neurology.

Sue and Joel discuss his latest book Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, co-authored with Robert Bordone. Key topics include:

• The neuroscience behind conflict and our brain’s default threat response patterns
• The three-step framework for developing conflict resilience: Name, Explore, and Commit
• How to build “conflict tolerance” through recognition and holding capacity
• Practical strategies for workplace conflicts, including handling difficult colleagues and power dynamics
• The role of synesthesia and mirror-touch experiences in understanding empathy and human connection
• Building organizational cultures that embrace healthy disagreement

The conversation provides actionable insights for leaders seeking to transform conflict from an obstacle into an opportunity for growth and stronger relationships. Joel emphasizes that awareness of our conflict patterns is more than half the battle, offering concrete tools to help individuals and organizations develop the muscle of sitting with disagreement constructively.