Transcript

Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything

From Mick Unplugged Podcast · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 37 min · 6,681 words · 85 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything", an episode of Mick Unplugged Podcast published November 6, 2025 (37 min, about 6,681 words). It mentions 11 people, works and ideas, including Jefferson Fish, The Next Conversation, communication, 100 Million Dollar Offers, Mick Hunt.

What this episode is about

The conversation with attorney Jefferson Fisher emphasizes that the true goal of dialogue should not be to win an argument but to foster understanding and effective communication. Key points include the importance of concise expression, emotional control during discussions, and pacing conversations to create meaningful connections.

Key takeaways

  • Winning arguments is overrated; the real victory lies in understanding others better.
  • Talk less, say more; brevity is the soul of impactful communication.
  • You control the moment, or the moment controls you—choose wisely in conversations.
  • Your podcast should reflect your life, not fit into a mold; authenticity reigns supreme.
  • Words matter; even a simple 'okay' can convey vastly different emotions based on tone.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Jefferson Fish
  2. – 10:00: communication, The Next Conversation, Argue Less, Talk More, 100 Million Dollar Offers
  3. – 15:00: The Next Conversation, Bobby L Prey, Jefferson Fish, Argue Less, Talk More
  4. – 20:00: self-regulation, Neurobiology, Robert Irvine
  5. – 25:00: communication
  6. – 30:00: The Next Conversation
  7. – 35:00: 12 Angry Men
  8. – 37:09: Mick Hunt, The Next Conversation

Notable quotes from "Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything"

  • Because I knew that I had to do what was authentic to me. We see a lot of podcasts out there and I'm like you, Mick, where I before starting my podcast, I didn't really consume hardly any,.
    about Mick Hunt · at
  • Everybody has that. And so, not only can you communicate different things and just keeping the same word, any word that you choose has the power to last long after you exist…
    about communication · at
  • New York Times bestseller. So kudos to that. That speaks volumes of what the book is. again, the next conversation, argue less, talk more. I'm going to have links in the show notes and description.
    about The Next Conversation · at
  • And I came up with well I help people argue less and I help them talk more which is very contradictory like you mentioned for an attorney because we people feel like we get hired to argue.
    about Jefferson Fish · at
  • I told you offline the story of you and Bobby L pre that was so fire to start the book off with that story in that setting. I was captured from moment one. So.
    about Bobby L Prey · at
  • Not to go deep into the book because everybody needs to buy the book, but when I read that chapter, I immediately thought of Robert Irvine. So, celebrity chef Robert Irvine…
    about Robert Irvine · at
  • Emotional intelligence and the first two steps are, knowing yourself and then self-regulation.
    about self-regulation · at
  • Oh, I'd say one of the best is it's an older it's a black and white movie. It's called 12 Angry Men.
    about 12 Angry Men · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Jefferson Fish — Person · Main guest · 2 mentions · first at
    Trial attorney and communication educator who explains why 'winning' arguments is the wrong goal and teaches practical tools for self-control, pacing, and connection in conversations.
  • Mick Hunt — Person · Host · 1 mention · first at
    Interviews Jefferson Fish, frames the discussion around leadership and emotional intelligence, and promotes the book and a planned mastermind/book discussion.
  • Bobby L Prey — Person · Anecdotal character in book story · 3 mentions · first at
    A pseudonymous deposition witness used to illustrate the book's opening lesson ('never win an argument') and the application of control/connection.
  • Robert Irvine — Person · Referenced leadership influence · 1 mention · first at
    Cited by the host as a leadership example reinforcing the episode's theme that effective leadership starts with controlling yourself.

Books & papers

  • The Next Conversation — Book · Core referenced work (alternate title used in epis · 8 mentions · first at
    The host repeatedly references the book using a shortened title and promotes it as a daily-use guide for handling the 'next conversation.'
  • 100 Million Dollar Offers — Book · Core referenced work · 1 mention · first at
    The guest's book is used as the episode's organizing framework (essentials vs. application) for teaching argument, control, pace, and connection.
    Have written books, I usually kind of wait towards the middle or the end of the episode. This book, The Next Conversation Matters, right? Or The Next Conversation, Argue Less…
  • Argue Less, Talk More — Book · Core referenced work (subtitle used in episode) · 3 mentions · first at
    The subtitle encapsulates the episode's thesis: reduce adversarial arguing and increase intentional, connecting speech.
    And I came up with well I help people argue less and I help them talk more which is very contradictory like you mentioned for an attorney because we people feel like we get hired to argue.

Concepts & topics

  • communication — Concept · Core topic · 4 mentions · first at
    The conversation centers on how word choice, tone, timing, and pacing shape outcomes in conflict and leadership contexts.
  • self-regulation — Concept · Core skill within control theme · 1 mention · first at
    Explicitly tied to emotional intelligence and operationalized through breath control, pauses, and mindset shifts to avoid escalation.
  • Neurobiology — Concept · Supporting scientific framing · 1 mention · first at
    Used to justify why breath and physiological regulation techniques work to prevent emotional flooding in difficult conversations.
    How do you control yourself? What's what's the best way to do that we know of using neurobiology, using science, using what I've seen work time and time again in my own…

Media & podcasts

  • 12 Angry Men — Media · Referenced media example · 1 mention · first at
    Recommended by the guest as a realistic depiction of jury deliberation dynamics—emotion, bias, and influence—relevant to persuasion and conflict.

Full transcript with timestamps

Hey, I need you to pause right now. We've been taught the wrong thing when it comes to argument. You should actually never want to win an argument, and I'm getting that in this conversation with one of the best attorneys in the world. In this episode, we break down number one, why the goal should not be to win an argument. Number two, how you should speak less but say more. And then we go into how to control yourself, how to control moments, and how to control pace. Ladies and gentlemen, make sure you buckle up. I present to you my good friend, Mr. Jefferson Fish.

Jay, how you doing today, brother? I'm good, man. It's so good to hear you, man. What a introduction. I got to I got to get you to send that so I can frame it somewhere. That's awesome, man.

It's so good to to talk with you and share some stuff with your audience, brother. So, I'm I'm blessed,

man. I'm I'm the honored one. I'm the blessed one. And Jefferson, you know, on the show, we like to talk about your because that thing that's deeper than your why, right? Like I I believe when I ask you what's your why, you're going to give me an answer and then I'm going to say but why? And that usually starts with because blah blah blah blah. So I like skipping all that. It's like tell me your because so if I were to say Jefferson man today what's your because why do you do what you do? What's that? H because there will be a time where I am not on this earth and I want two little kids of mine to be able to know what I stood for and that things will still exist that I created that can still teach them along the way.

I love that, dude. I love that. So grounded in that. And again, I'm a huge fan of you. You started your podcast journey like March of last year, right? That's when I started mine.

And you were someone that I I truly looked up to. And most people that know me know. I don't listen to a ton of podcasts just because I never want to like

take ideas or take questions or, you know, follow guests. And that way when my guests come on, we can be truly authentic and I I'm not asking something I heard. But yours is one that I actually listen to, subscribed to, have left reviews for because

I love what you represent because you're giving insights. Your your solo episodes, it's like, "Hey, I'm going to talk to you for 12, 15 minutes and here's something you can do right now." And then when your guests are on, man, like you really get something out of them. So my first question truly is why did you know that that was what you needed to do at the time being start a podcast, get that voice, get that out there? Because I knew that I had to do what was authentic to me. We see a lot of podcasts out there and I'm like you, Mick, where I before starting my podcast, I didn't really consume hardly any,

you know. I I just I just didn't ask me why. I just I saw ones that were like four hours and I'm like, who has the time? Like, there's no way. I can't even I don't even have time for an hour. There's there's no way. And so I thought there has to be some kind of market for people who just want to hear 15 minutes, you know, during their commute and just get a little bit of something that they can apply, keep in their mind, help focus and frame their day. And I thought, why don't I just do that? And it was also something that fit my life.

I think there's so many times people like you and me or other creators out there feel like we have to mold our life to fit the expectation. Yeah.

Rather than taking the expectation and dissolving that down, washing it down, purifying that and f making it fit your life. And so when I make my podcast, they're short because that's the time I got, you know, so not trying to make it into something even like this room. And I'm sure with yours, it's not nearly as fancy as it looks. Like it's a small little small little space, you know? just this is the first time when I started this podcast that I had an actual real camera and I had to Google you know every setting possible on the thing. So that's that's how it started probably the same as yours man. Oh, absolutely, man. And and obviously it's not about me, it's about you today, but very similar just like I want my message to be out there, but but not even my message, the power of because I wanted that out there. And I know that everyone has a unique story or something they've overcome or a place that they've been

mentally, physically that they had to go out and say, "I'm going to do this. I'm going to fight through." And I think that's what the viewers and listeners appreciate with with what I do and I know with what you do as well too. Like, hey,

cut through the fluff. Let me choose the right words and say the right words, which is where I want to lead to.

You teach the power of words and why they're so important in communication. talk us through that journey a little bit of why words matter and not just words but the right words

and even the timing of words and the tone of words matter. So let's just say the word okay like the what should what is almost universally accepted in most languages. Okay. Okay. Like we get that it's a thumbs up. It's a sign of approval, maybe understanding, some type of quick connection. But imagine if your child instead of saying okay, said okay. Right? Like now all of a sudden you feel different. Or maybe your spouse or your boyfriend, girlfriend goes, "Okay." Just the difference in the sound of the word communicate something entirely different. Whether it's okay or okay, like there is all kinds of ways that we can communicate different things without changing the word. So that's one. Second of all, the impact of your words is that they cement in memories.

I'm willing to bet that anybody listening right now can remember a time when they were on the playground and there was a kid that came up to them, maybe a group and they can probably still remember that person's name, who said something to them, made fun of their shirt, made fun of their glasses, called them a name, made fun of their hair, their skin, their shoes, whatever it is. And it created an insecurity in them that they have remembered throughout their entire life. And there's so many things that we forget in life. I I don't remember what I had for breakfast. I don't I don't remember all kinds of things that happened in my childhood. But I remember the person who said one thing to me that I it kept with me and created an insecurity. And everybody I think every everybody has that. And so, not only can you communicate different things and just keeping the same word, any word that you choose has the power to last

long after you exist, which is a wild thing. You can remember things that teachers told you that you've kept with you or a grandparent told you that you've kept with you and they're no longer on this earth and yet the memory of their words live on. So the ripple effect of words will always last longer than we'll ever live to see.

That's and that's why you are who you are. Like I know as an attorney you're never going to use the word expert or guru, right? Because that can get you in trouble sometimes.

But Jefferson, you are the guy. You are the person when we talk about effective communication and why words matter. you're the person that I look up to. And and usually when my guests come on that have written books, I usually kind of wait towards the middle or the end of the episode. This book, The Next Conversation Matters, right? Or The Next Conversation, Argue Less, Talk More, is so impactful that I want to go right into it because number one, it is now New York Times bestseller. So kudos to that. That speaks volumes of what the book is. again, the next conversation, argue less, talk more. I'm going to have links in the show notes and description.

But this book, especially for a trial lawyer, right, for a trial attorney, stop me at just the title because by nature, you should argue more, right? You being an attorney right?

Right. So, talk to us about just the title, why you chose the title. And again, it grabbed me because I knew who you were and I was like, "Oo, argue less, talk more. I've got to go into it." So, talk to us about the title.

The people who watch my content and the ones that I am just incredibly blessed and be able to share a passion and a gift of mine is they they watch my content not to handle the last conversation. They watch it to figure out how to handle the next conversation. And I saw that time and time again in comments and messages and on my it doesn't matter what social channel.

Yeah. And people saying, "Hey, I just used this thing that you taught. It totally worked." Or, "Oh my gosh, I used this word and had a totally different outcome and this really worked. This I can't believe this really worked." and they were just continually to dig and digest the content to [clears throat] handle the next situation, the next conversation. So, that's how I I got there. And the argu more is something that I've I've always said that I help people with. It was one of the first things I I did when you kind of put in your what do they call it kind of your heading, your bio is like what what do I really help people with? It helps to distill that into for me a help statement. What do I help people with?

And I came up with well I I help people argue less and I help them talk more which is very contradictory like you mentioned for an attorney because we people feel like we get hired to argue and we argue a whole lot which is partly true that you do have to have a lot of written and legal arguments throughout the profession. But yeah, that that is something that I like contradictory things and and contradiction pies a lot of curiosity in people.

Yeah. Here's a guy who's an attorney. I could be wearing a suit and tie. I could be doing it with all of my degrees and my I my law books and everything behind a desk. Or here's this guy who's in his vehicle in a t-shirt with his kid's car seat in the back and he says he is an attorney and he's talking about helping me not argue with people. Like there is that sense of what's going on here that I I really enjoy,

man. And and we're going to go into a lot of the book and I'm going to go into some of my mentors because a lot of the topics that you discuss in the book are lessons that I've learned from from mentors. And so I want to start with one how you set the book up. So again for everybody that's watching or that's listening the next conversation by far one of the best books you'll ever read. It's something that you can go to literally daily. But you started out with breaking the book down into the essentials and then the application. So, I know as a reader, okay, the first three chapters or the first three parts, you're just going to show me, hey, these are the essentials that I need to to have the next conversation, right? Or or to set everything up. And then I've got the application. So, I've learned it.

Now, how do I put it into use into what I do? And so, I love that setup because one, it made it very easy for me to read because I knew how things were going. So, I wanted to applaud you for that. Thank you.

I told you offline the story of you and and Bobby L pre that was so fire to start the book off with that story in that setting. I was captured from from moment one. So

for the viewers and listeners, let's walk through that first chapter. Not giving the whole book away, the whole chapter away, but but let's set that up so that they understand you and Bobby, you know, big big Bobby as I I've named him in my life.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I called him Big Bad Bobby L Prey was. Now, that wasn't his his real name. I couldn't use his real name, but that it was it was very similar to his real name.

Yeah. And for those listening, imagine a guy, you know, I'm I'm 6'1. I barely came to this man's chest. I'm talking the kind of human that you look at and you think, "Man, am I physically deficient?" you know that I just I I I pald in comparison to him physically.

Yeah. And usually when you sit down and I'm deposing Bobby. So for if you don't know what a deposition is, it's it's a chance for me to ask questions, any attorney to ask questions of a witness or any person under oath before trial. Trial is not like you see on TV. There's no surprises. You know exactly what witnesses are going to be called and and you know exactly what those witnesses are going to say. How do you know what they're going to say? Because you've deposed them and you've already had a chance to ask them questions so that there are no surprises. So, a lot of times you ask the same questions in deposition as you do a trial. And also, you may not call that person to trial because you find out by deposing them, they really don't know anything. So, it's a chance for attorneys to do some factf finding. Well, Bobby was somebody who was a witness to, let's just say, a scene. and I was going to need to ask

him some questions about who was there, what time, what did he see, and that was the the current situation. He's sitting across from me at the table in like in the conference room. He's humongous. He's sitting there, elbows on the table. And imagine a man who looks very upset and unhappy to be there. That's the setup of Bobby.

That's amazing. And the the title of that chapter is never win an argument, right?

Yeah. And again, just just hearing that, I I sat there and I was like, I have to see where this is going.

But then the practicality of that is true, right? Like you're you're not setting yourself up to win an argument. You're you're setting yourself up to connect to to show that you're listening, to get the empathy there. But then when we talk about the essentials, some of the things like controlling yourself, controlling the [clears throat] pace, like you're setting everything up there, man. So again,

that chapter is fire. So again, I had to tell you that to your face because it's it grabbed me. My wife, even with her organization, she's ordered this book for her leaders and it's something that they go through as well, too. So now I want to go into the application piece and here's where I'm going to talk about some of my mentors. So control yourself. I want you to talk through the essence of what that means high level. Again, not to go deep into the book because everybody needs to buy the book, but when I read that chapter, I immediately thought of Robert Irvine. So, celebrity chef Robert Irvine, one of the greatest leaders that I know that talks about impact, but he always says, Mick, everything starts with controlling yourself first. So, I'd love to get Jefferson Fischer's version of what it means to control yourself.

Yeah. So I the application uh takes that story of Bobby and outlines how I walked through that situation with him which ended with he and I hugging you know really learning that he's a human behind the surface and I broke the application into three sections. One is how to say it with control. Two is say it with confidence and three is say it to connect. And in control, like you said, it always has to do with instead of trying to focus on how to control them, first deciding to control you. Because if I don't control my breath, if I don't control my tone, if I don't control my mindset and the questions and things that I'm doing, nothing else works. I don't care how many videos of mine you've seen. I don't care how many other tools you try to implement, nothing is going to work. If you are not first grounded, settled, controlled, and and regulated in a healthy way. And so that is the first

outline of it where we talk and I teach. How do you control yourself? What's what's the best way to do that that we know of using neurobiology, using science, using what I've seen work time and time again in my own practice? How does that happen to where you can make sure that the conversation is going to end better than had it gone had you not?

What are a couple of tips for the viewer listener right now that's like, "Oh, I need that." Mick talks a lot about emotional intelligence and the first two steps are, you know, knowing yourself and then self-regulation. Jefferson, what are a couple of things people can do right now to control them? What I teach is let your breath be the first word that you say. Meaning when somebody says something to you that's that makes you prickle, makes you kind of get bowed up, so to speak. Let your breath be the first word. So where your first word would be, put a breath in its place. And if you're listening right now, we can do it together. So it's what they call a double inhalation, meaning you're going to breathe through your nose twice. It's not exaggerated. It's not weird. I teach all of my clients and prep my witnesses to do it and it works really well. So, you're going to go about two seconds in

through your nose. One more at the top, then out through your nose. And just right now, listening to me, I bet your shoulders softened a little bit. I bet all of a sudden you're realizing the breath that you're taking. When they say breath work, all it is is just simply a focus and realizing that you're breathing. Because throughout the day, we hold our breath. If you've ever been talking to somebody and somebody goes, "Why are you yelling?" And you go, "I'm not yelling." It's because you've been holding and pressuring that breath, which puts you in a low-grade state of anxiety cuz your body is saying, "Hey, you're suffocating me here. I feel like I'm drowning here." And so that's why that air has nowhere else to go but out and to yell and to say something is wrong. when people have anxiety or panic attacks. And so use your breath to regulate yourself and it always makes sure that you don't get emotionally

flooded. Your listeners are are very intelligent and they they know all about the fight or flight and how you can you can get emotionally flooded and once that happens it's it's gone. You know, at that point it's Jesus take the wheel because you don't know what in the world is going to happen at that point. Um and it it it keeps that mindset. So, one's your breath. That's the best thing to do to naturally regulate yourself. There won't be anything better than that. Number two, it's simply your mindset to ask yourself questions. And and this is what I teach.

When you're in that difficult conversation, have something to learn, not something to prove. And I promise you, that's going to end with a much better conversation. Because too many times if if you're listening and and you've ever had this moment where somebody gets upset at you and they say something that's kind of challenging your authority and you have this thought of I think you must have done forgot who you're talking to. I think you forgot who you're talking to. Let me remind you who you're dealing with here. I I think you don't know. You don't like as soon as you get into that mode like you've lost. Forget it. you have no control over where this is going to go because at that point your emotions are controlling cont controlling it.

You have no you have no train. But so instead of having that how dare you say that to me, it's a flip of the mindset that says thinking in your head of I wonder what's happening here. I wonder why they're saying that. I wonder what's going on. There's something I'm missing here. there's something else that's going on that you're starting to get to the root of the issue rather than just dealing with the symptoms, you know, of, let's say, the leaves of a tree. You're focusing on the roots. You're focusing on the true problem. And that always is what's going to shorten the argument and end up being a better conversation.

I was writing some things down because I needed that, too. Even though, you know, I I teach emotional intelligence, it it also doesn't mean that I'm not a student continuing to learn. So, thank you for that, man. Like, I needed that.

Yeah, absolutely. Hey, thanks brother. Yeah, and I think that speaks to a really good point for all our audiences and that is you and I we're continually learning. I mean, that's that's the that's the part of it and that's anybody who says that they're an expert in something knows that the more you learn about it, the less you know. And so it you just continue and that doesn't matter what subject. So for me, I continually to to dig and absorb and notice interactions go, "Oh, that that's really cool." And and same for you when you run into situations and you go, "Oh, okay. I see a bump in my kind of meter of my knowledge of emotional intelligence." We're we're always always learning.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. The next two chapters in the application. I learned this through you and then also from my mentors Damon John and Chris Voss. And it's just so timely because I know Chris Voss did an endorsement for a really good friend of mine. As a leader, as a communicator, you also need to understand how to control the moment and control the pace.

And if there's nothing more powerful in your book, Jefferson, it is those two chapters. Because when I told you that my wife, this is a part of what she does with her leaders at her company, it's those two chapters that they spend most of their time on. How do you control the moment as a leader and control the pace for your organization? So, talk through that from your perspective. Controlling the moment, controlling the

I love that you picked up on that. uh that that brings me so much happiness because I I absolutely agree th that section of that chapter to me is by far one of the most potent things you can do for your communication and your leveling up your leadership when it comes to controlling the moment and controlling the pace. They're related to each other. Think of a time where let's say you're at the house and you and your wife or your spouse, your husband, y'all are arguing, right? Then they say something that gets you to want to react in some way.

The faster you go, meaning the faster you go back and forth, the less control you have. But if I slow it down, the more space I've added and the more we've regulated. That's the power of pauses. So when you control the the pace that is slowing everything down. So specifically on pace, what does that mean? what I teach and prep a lot of my clients for because I'm sending them to the to the wolves really for people to try and discredit them, hurt their credibility, to call them out as a liar, whatever it is to help the other side's case is I will continually say you were the one that controls the pace of the conversation, not them. Meaning nobody people listening hear this. Nobody can make you say anything that you don't want to say. Nobody can make you say anything on their time frame. You're the one that controls when you speak. You're the one who controls if you speak at all. And you control what you speak. And so when

you realize that you're the one that has that power, you're the one that has that. So I don't care what the other person says. I get to choose if I respond at all and when I respond. And so what I will teach and what I've seen work so beautifully and heightened times of conflict is just a pause. A 5 to second pause totally changes the game. For example, let's say that somebody we talk about this, you know, in the in the later chapters, we dig into this. Somebody saying something that's mean to you. I'm saying they say something that's rude or belittling and rather than firing back and throwing something right back which does what? Escalates it even more. You just imagine it drops like you just see it on a piece of paper and then you drop the paper. It just falls to the ground and you're looking at it. Imagine looking at whatever they just said and looking at them as if like are you sure that you is

that what you wanted to say? You give that five to seven seconds of nothing and all of a sudden the dynamic changes. Now you're the one who sounds in control and the other person sounds desperate and now how many times have you been in that argument and you're wanting somebody to say something else mean and they don't and all of a sudden you're the one left holding it. It's there's nothing special. you just chose to add silence which then controls the pace and then ultimately allows you to control that moment. Make sure that you're the one that's confident, controlled, and not grasping for it. So the more when you say hurtful things, you give away your control every time you are you just giving it away.

Jefferson, man, I could literally talk to you all day. Say, man, I I'm I'm loving this.

I I could pick your brain literally all day. So, here's what here's what I'm going to do for the people that are listening watching and and my my true followers know that I do this a lot. So, the first 20 people that message me the next conversation and I don't care which platform and just know I get like a thousand of these, but I it's the first 20, right? The first 20. I'm going to send you a copy of the book. So, Jefferson, I'm going to order copies

and I'm going to the first 20 that do that I'm going to send. But everyone else, here's what I really need you to do. I don't care if it's Amazon, Books a Millions, Barnes & Nobles, whatever. Go order a copy of the book online, but then do me a huge favor. Go to a local bookstore and then go get a copy for someone on your team or someone in your family. And what I want to do, and and Jefferson, I'll figure out when I'm going to do this, but I want to have the next conversation mini virtual mastermind. And and we're gonna talk. So if you if you buy this book and then you also get another copy for a colleague, a family member, a peer, whoever, we're going to talk about the lessons learned.

We're going to talk about strategies to implement things from this book because this book is that powerful and everybody knows I don't do this, but but this book is that important. I mean, everyone knows modern leadership is my thing. There's so many great principles and amazing principles in this book that I want this book. I don't know if I'm starting a book club Jefferson or not, but I want this book to be the topic of I don't know if it's going to be Q1, Q4, but my power circle, we're going to get together and we're going to break down this book as a as a team, as a family.

You got to go purchase it first. Got to go purchase it first. Man, I'm I don't have the words, man. That sounds so cool. I I I'm honored. I'm blessed. And I'm I'm pumped. Let's do it. Can't wait.

No, I I mean it, man. Like I I don't do this a lot, but this book really is principles for modern leaders. I mean, it's it's conversations that we're not having that are so simply understood. And I think a lot of times simple, we take for granted. We're looking for buzzwords. We're looking for complex [clears throat] theory.

No, no, you don't. Cuz those things you can't implement. What Jefferson teaches you,

you can implement today. And I promise you, my wife's company, which I can't say publicly, but my wife's company is prime example that implementing this can change the culture and it can give you what you need as a leader, the blueprint, the strategy. So, get this book.

That's awesome, man. Thanks, Mick. You got it. All right, Jefferson. So, I'm going to get you out of here on my quick five. Quick five. Rapid fire.

All right. So, you're an attorney by trade. Yep. You got a big case. What's your coffee order? What do you get? Is it just black or you a latte? What are you doing?

You know what's been hitting me lately is a vanilla oat milk latte. Never thought I'd like oat milk, but it's good. I like it.

Hey, that's me, too. I'm on the oat milk train. Are you really? Yeah. My wife got me into that. She was like, you started. And I was like, I don't want oat milk. And then sure enough, I got on the oat milk and that's what I drink now. It was great. Vanilla oat milk latte. That's my my jam.

Wow. We We have too much in common, brother. Too much in common. I've always wanted to ask you this question. There's a lot of movies, there's a lot of films that depict courtroom and and the drama and the stories. What's one film that you know that actually gets it right?

Oh, I'd say one of the best is it's an older it's a black and white movie. It's called 12 Angry Men.

And what it's about, it's not about the court at all in the actual courtroom. It's about the jury deliberation and it's old school and it's awesome. And the whole movie is 12 men that are in the jury room debating on a case

and how the impact of everybody influences what they say and how comes the evidence. And through that you see emotions, individual prejudices, you see individual traumas, and you see individual fears. And each of the people and someone who's, you know, well, what about this? Well, I saw Can you see when they had glasses, they weren't wearing it, but they had the indents, you know, maybe they were trying to look younger. What do you What did you see when they I didn't know if that emotion was real? And they're talking it out. That right there is probably one of the most realistic things that actually happens in our modern-day jury even to this day.

It's a wonderful movie and I It's not long. It is black and white, but I highly recommend it.

Okay. All right. I'm going to add that to my list. I'm going to check it out. It's a cool thing. Yeah. Yeah.

All right. Okay. So, we talked about your coffee order before a big case. What's your music playlist? Like what's one song that you need to listen to when you know you've got to go in and you've got to be calm and you know you've got to control that.

Ooh. Well, let me make sure. If I if I have a big trial, I'm not drinking any coffee or snack. I'm I'm usually it's I have a big trial coming up. It's like barely water. You know what I mean? Like my my appetite suppressed,

you know? But let's say it's a speaking engagement or something. I I'll drink some coffee and we'll we'll rock it. Um, but in terms of playlist, I love that. If I need to focus, it's always James Taylor. I I grew up on James Taylor, Jim Crochi, singer songwriter type stuff.

And I just love I love that era and my because that's what my dad grew up on. So, if I want to be calm,

I'm listening to Sweet Baby James. That's what I'm listening to. Now, if I need to like pump myself up, I got all kinds and it could range to something, you know? You never you never know. It really could. Could go from the Killers to Cardi B. Who who knows? But oh yeah, I love I have a very very wide diverse range of music that I love listen to. I that is like my hobby. My secret hobby is I love finding new artists and new songs. It don't matter what. It would it would probably blow people's mind the the categories of music I listen to.

It's awesome. I love it. I love it. Two more. What's one habit that you swear by every day?

Habit that I swear by every day, like a routine or something that you've got to do every day. Oh, well, one thing that I've really enjoyed this these last few months and I will continue to do it is I got myself a clock to keep in my bed as my alarm

and I don't bring my phone to bed. I don't even bring it in the bedroom. And it has been so awesome. I go to sleep so much faster. And when I wake up, I'm waking up. I'm not reaching for my phone and

scrolling or keeping myself up. I'm getting the screen away from me. So, I will say that has been

that's changed a lot of my ability to sleep and feel rested and and feel focused rather than immediately picking up my phone and allowing my thoughts to think of millions of people. You know what I mean? That just being present and going, "What can I fix my kids for breakfast?"

I love it. I love it. So, last question. Speaking of kids, what's one lesson that you've learned in leadership by being a father?

Um, being a safe place. As a father, what I've learned is that kids need to see you model recovery. Man, the kids need to see their dad, I think especially say, "I'm sorry." They need to hear their dad say, "You know what? I could have been kinder. I should have I could have said that nicer, couldn't I? They need to hear their dad apologize. And I think so many men out there never heard their father apologize or certainly own any accountability for things that they did or said. And so to have my children when I make mistakes, they need I I think it it's even more so that when I come on too strong or I mess up that they hear me say I'm sorry and they hear that I am not perfect and that I'm working on things. And so I think that's the same thing with in business leadership. You will trust your workers, your employees, your staff will trust you more when you admit your mistakes, when you say you're sorry, when you say,

"You know what? I sent an email early this day that sounded pretty short and I was just in a bad mood. That's not on you. That's on me." Like just that right there to be able to take some accountability and ownership is what's going to lead to more trust. And and trust is the true persuader. Trust is the the true bond that is going to ultimately bring connection and depth to your organization.

I love that, brother. I love that so much. Jefferson, again, I know how busy you are, man. I just appreciate you took a few moments out of your day to talk to me, the viewers, listeners. I can't thank you enough. I I could I could say where can people find and follow you, but he's Jefferson Fisher. Like, if you don't know that, then that's that's a you problem. But jeffersonfisher.com again the next conversation message me the next conversation I'm sending 20 go support it I'm going to make sure that we have a mastermind around that topic around the book and we're going to explore together it's going to change your life personally but more importantly if you are a business leader it is the book that everyone in your organization needs to have so Jefferson brother I appreciate you

thanks man it's it is my true honor and blessing brother You got it. And for all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. You've been plugged into Mick Unplugged. Don't just listen, take action. Rate and subscribe. Follow me on social and get the full experience at mickhuntofficial.com. Keep building, keep leading, and most importantly, keep dominating.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything"?

Mick (Host), Jefferson Fisher (Guest).

What is "Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything" about?

The conversation with attorney Jefferson Fisher emphasizes that the true goal of dialogue should not be to win an argument but to foster understanding and effective communication. Key points include the importance of concise expression, emotional control during discussions, and pacing conversations to create meaningful connections.

What is mentioned in this Mick Unplugged Podcast episode?

11 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Jefferson Fish, The Next Conversation, communication, 100 Million Dollar Offers, Mick Hunt, Argue Less, Talk More. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Lead with Words: Jefferson Fisher on How the Right Conversation Can Change Everything"?

The episode runs 37 min; the transcript is about 6,681 words in 85 timestamped sections.

More from Mick Unplugged Podcast

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.