In this episode of Time, Fuel, and Money, Deborah, Karim, and Vassili unpack a familiar but deeply human experience: when someone explains something you already know.
The conversation digs into why people slip into this behavior, what it reveals about ego, insecurity, and unmet needs, and how these patterns quietly shape our work, relationships, and decision-making.
Vassili reframes condescending behavior through the lens of resentment, describing it as a mix of admiration, envy, and shame that traps both people in an emotional loop. Karim explores how overexplaining can act like a dopamine hit of being right, while Deborah grounds the topic in real stories from fundraising, work, and even helping her mom with a dead car battery — showing how compassion can be the most energy-efficient response.
🧠 Topics we explore
- Why people explain things you already know
- How resentment forms when admiration meets insecurity
- The energy cost of ego and dominance
- How to catch yourself before you overexplain
- What to do when someone speaks to you from insecurity
- Using these moments to deepen a relationship or exit gracefully
- Protecting your time, fuel, and energy in high-stakes environments
- Why compassion is often the most strategic response
It’s a conversation about awareness, emotional efficiency, and choosing how you want to show up — especially when someone insists on asserting what they think they know.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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