Relationship Reset Podcast · Russell Tomlinson and Stephanie Tomlinson

Mastering the Art of Fighting Fair

·32 min·2 clips

They warn that words can hurt longer than physical bruises.

1. Relationship Reset Podcast focuses on “Mastering the Art of Fighting Fair” with Stephanie and Russell Tomlinson. 2. Stephanie is the host, Russell is her dad, and both present themselves as relationship experts. 3. The episode asks how couples can handle conflict without turning disagreement into damage. 4. Stephanie says conflict is inevitable and that the goal is to learn how to do it well, not avoid it. 5. Russell says conflict can strengthen a relationship by building trust, deepening intimacy, and helping people grow. 6. The hosts define fighting fair as understanding, not winning, and as disagreement without disrespect. 7. Russell says couples should not bring up old fights and should stay within “the now.” 8. He warns that the goal should be winning the person’s affection, not winning the argument. 9. Stephanie says ground rules should be made while everybody is “smiling” and getting along. 10. She frames this as prevention, not intervention, so couples are ready before conflict starts. 11. Russell says many men leave the house after a verbal altercation, but he advises going to a separate corner instead. 12. Stephanie adds that one partner may want to talk immediately while the other needs time to process. 13. She recommends self-soothing so the processor can think and come back with a response. 14. The episode says disagreement without communication turns into ongoing dysfunction. 15. Stephanie identifies degrading language as put-downs, cursing, and name-calling. 16. Russell says “sticks and stones may break my bones” is false because words can stay with people for a lifetime. 17. Stephanie says the silent treatment, or stonewalling, can function as punishment and leave a partner hanging. 18. The conversation stays conversational and advice-driven, with the two hosts talking back and forth in a practical coaching style. 19. People navigating marriage, dating, or recurring arguments would get the most from it. 20. People looking for story-driven drama or a short, light listen might skip it.

As heard by us

A practical take on slowing conflict down and choosing a better response.

Relationship Reset Podcast treats conflict as a moment to slow down before reacting, with Stephanie and Russell, a father-and-daughter duo, laying out a plain sequence for working through it.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

When you need a calmer way to handle conflict before emotions do the talking.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Relationship Reset Podcast