How to defuse an awkward Christmas conversation
The Briefing23 Dec 2025

How to defuse an awkward Christmas conversation

Wednesday Headlines: Anthony Albanese has delivered his official Christmas message to Australians, Canterbury-Bankstown Council shuts down prayer hall linked to Naveed Akram, and Aussies expected to spend nearly 4 Billion dollars this Christmas.

Deep Dive: The Christmas break often brings families together and with that can come awkward, uncomfortable, or even confronting conversations.

From navigating tense dynamics with relatives you’d rather avoid to responding to racist or misogynistic comments at the dinner table, these moments can be hard to handle in the heat of the moment.

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Carly Dober, Director of the Australian Association of Psychologists, about why these conversations tend to surface during the holidays and how to tackle an unwanted comment thrown your way.

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