DiscoverThis Is Uncomfortable
This Is Uncomfortable
Claim Ownership

This Is Uncomfortable

Author: Marketplace

Subscribed: 4,808Played: 156,444
Share

Description

This is a show about life and how money messes with it. Each week, Marketplace’s Reema Khrais digs in with stories about the unanticipated ways money affects relationships, shapes identities and often defines what it means to be an adult. How much money do you lend a friend? Who can afford to vote? Can you get your life back after being wrongfully convicted?


161 Episodes
Reverse
Hard to believe, but we’re celebrating 10 seasons, and five years, of  “This Is Uncomfortable”! In this special episode, we’re pulling back the curtain to reveal the show’s origins, the biggest lessons Reema’s learned along the way and our favorite money tips from expert guests. Plus we’ll hear from you, our listeners, about the insights that have stuck with you through the years.  We’ll be back with a new season in 2025! For special content and updates on what’s next, subscribe to our newsletter. 
Last spring, Jay Benedith and Ben Williams matched on a dating app and quickly hit it off. But just a few weeks into their budding romance, a Venmo request started to raise questions about their future together. What happens when your partner’s approach to money clashes with yours? Can nickel-and-diming jeopardize a connection?  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
This week, we’re sharing an episode of another podcast we think you’ll love. “Notes From America With Kai Wright” is a show from WNYC Studios about the unfinished business of our history, and its grip on our future. In this episode, Wright interviews choreographer Bill T. Jones about his groundbreaking dance performance “Still/Here.” Jones shares his reflections on creating such an essential piece of performance art amid the AIDS epidemic and while grieving his own partner, what he learned from spending time with the “survivors” who inspired it, and how “Still/Here” has evolved for a new generation of audiences. To get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
What does it mean to make a living from death? From a young age, Joél Simone Maldonado was fascinated by mortality, leading her to a career as a funeral director, embalmer and sacred grief practitioner. In the final episode of our miniseries on grief and money, Reema Khrais talks with Joél about her profession: the tough conversations around money, the toll it takes on her mental health, and why she advocates for more cultural competency in death care. Also, Joél offers tips to financially prepare ourselves for the inevitable, and Reema reflects on the personal impact of her recent experiences with loss.  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
Windfalls and vet bills

Windfalls and vet bills

2024-09-2647:243

In the early 90s, Mike Perry found himself in a tough spot. He was living a carefree life when he was asked to take in a black mutt named Wisdom. What began as a reluctant favor evolved into something much deeper — a bond that would reshape Mike’s financial future, even long after Wisdom was gone. This week, as part of our miniseries on grief and money, we explore how our love for pets shapes our financial decisions. Mike’s journey with Wisdom takes him from heartbreak to an unexpected windfall. And then later in the episode, we ask: is there such a thing as spending too much on our pets? Reema Khrais talks with Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams about the emotional and financial costs of caring for a beloved pet in their final days. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
While sorting through her father’s belongings after his death, Amanda Petteruti came across a collection of locked toolboxes. What she discovered inside made her rethink what she knew about her family’s finances and left her with unsettling questions about her dad: Why had he spent so much money on this secret hobby? Why was it now Amanda’s burden to handle? And how do you find closure with someone once they’re gone?  This episode is the first of a three-part miniseries exploring the intersection of money, grief and loss.  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
This week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes and reconnecting with old friends for an update. Rebecca Danigelis never planned to stop working. She was an executive housekeeper in Boston raising two kids as a single mom, and everything she earned went to making sure they got the best education she could afford. When her son Sian-Pierre was climbing the ranks as a journalist and entrepreneur, it seemed like all the overtime, frozen dinners and sacrifice were worth it. But just as his career was taking off, hers started to crumble. We first aired this episode in 2022, and now Reema checks in with Rebecca and Sian-Pierre to see how their financial situation has unfolded. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable,  subscribe to our newsletter!
Nikki Massie never had a reason to question her salary. After more than a decade with the same company, she’d earned awards, promotions and the trust of co-workers who felt like family. But then one day, she discovered she might have missed out on tens of thousands of dollars over the years. Nikki began to wonder: What do you do when you suspect you’ve been underpaid? And at what point do you consider walking away?  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
As we reflect on 10 seasons of “This Is Uncomfortable,” Reema shares a snippet of a conversation with the show’s founder-producer, Hayley Hershman, about what they’ve learned from making the show and how their relationships with money have changed over the years. And we want to hear your thoughts, too! What’s something you’ve learned from listening to “TIU” over the years? You can tell us how your relationship with money or work has changed, or maybe what the show has made you think more deeply about. Record a voice memo and email it to us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org. Or you can call and leave us a message at 347-RING-TIU (347-746-4848). Either way, be sure to include your name and where you’re calling from. There’s a good chance we’ll include it on the show!
Sisters Brittany Walsh and Nicole O’Neil have always been close. But when Nicole started experiencing mysterious health problems, her turn toward alternative treatments divided them. As Nicole spent more and more money on dubious cure-alls, Brittany was faced with a question: What do you do when you’re afraid the person closest to you might be losing themselves?  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
For our season premiere, we’re sharing a conversation with one of our favorite writers, Hanif Abdurraqib. He joins Reema for a wide-ranging conversation about the moral judgments we’re quick to make about people’s financial circumstances, notions of success and legacy, and what it means to be “good” versus “bad” in an unequal world. Hanif also reveals one of the most challenging financial moments of his life and the reasons behind his commitment to giving away so much of his income. Hanif is an award-winning poet, cultural critic and author from Columbus, Ohio. He’s written six books, several of which are bestsellers, including his most recent, “There’s Always This Year.” His work spans sports, pop culture and politics, often focusing on issues of race and class, while also delving into themes of grief, beauty and love. He’s been the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” and a finalist for the National Book Award, among other accolades. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
“This Is Uncomfortable” returns for its 10th season (you read that right: 10th!) with brand-new episodes about life and how money messes with it. In our upcoming season, we’ve got stories about advocating for fair pay and how challenging it can be to support a loved one’s bad money choices. We’ll also explore how money complicates the way we grieve, and what it’s like to receive a huge windfall from beyond the grave. We share one man’s philosophy of how to redistribute wealth to build the community he wants to live in. And we’ll take a look back at the past 10 seasons of TIU and what we’ve learned along the way. All that and more starting Aug. 22. To get even more Uncomfortable during the season, sign up for our newsletter.
An update from Hana

An update from Hana

2024-06-2826:221

When we last heard from Hana Albaioumy, she was grappling with an agonizing decision. She wanted to escape Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, but it would cost her $10,000, most of her savings, to cross the border into Egypt.  Hana shares a complicated update with Reema: She managed to evacuate Gaza and flee to Cairo, but the decision came with a steep financial and emotional cost. Hana explains what it was like saying goodbye to her family, shares the challenges of navigating a new life in Egypt without legal status and recounts a surprising moment when she felt like her old self.  We’re currently working on Season 10, which will launch in August. In the meantime, we hope you listen to this intimate conversation about how Hana is grappling with an uncertain future.  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
Do you listen carefully to our credits every week? Then you might’ve heard of our “silent contributor,” Jasmine Romero, who has been editing “This Is Uncomfortable” for the past year and a half. And all along, she’s also been working on another podcast of her own, “Sacred Scandal: Nation of Saints.” It’s a show with a lot of Uncomfortable themes — immigration, family secrets and how money messes with politics. We’re sharing the first episode of Jasmine’s pod, but before we jump in, she tells Reema how she reported this deeply personal story about the Salvadoran Civil War, the assassination of a beloved archbishop, and an unsolved murder in her own family. Reema and Jasmine bond over the challenges of reporting personal stories and reflect on how the show’s themes connect to current news events. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
Hey y’all! We’re working on a new season coming at you this August, but over the summer we’re trying something new: The Uncomfortable Book Club! Every other week our newsletter will showcase a book that made us think differently about life and how money messes with it. All the details are in this episode, and when you sign up before June 15 at Marketplace.org/bookclub, you’ll be entered to win some merch from the show. Happy reading!
Doris Tyler has energy well beyond her 80 years. Even after retiring from her career as a music teacher, she remained active in her community — driving to church events, coming up with creative surprises for all her grandchildren. But then one day, she realized her vision was so blurry she couldn’t safely drive. When traditional medical treatment stopped working, Doris’ community came together to help her pay for a brand-new medical technology: stem cell injections.  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
Lorena has been a garment worker in Los Angeles for over twenty years, going to work each day in a small factory to sew trendy fast fashion clothes for pennies per item. But one day, she decided enough was enough, and she took a stand against the poor work conditions and low pay. In part two of our mini-series on fast fashion, we look at the system of production: who pays the price for cheap clothes? And how might that system change for the better? If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
No more panic shopping

No more panic shopping

2024-04-0434:03

What’s behind our desire to reinvent ourselves through fashion? Is it even possible to shop sustainably? This week on the show, Reema sets out to answer these questions with help from fashion educator and sustainable stylist Lakyn Carlton, who shares her own journey away from fast fashion. Plus, producer Alice Wilder takes Reema on a thrifting journey in North Carolina, hunting for work clothes that will allow Reema to feel like herself without breaking the bank. This is Part 1 of our two-part miniseries on the costs of fast fashion. First up, we look at escaping the cycle of overconsumption. To learn more about how fast fashion impacts climate change, check out this episode from Marketplace’s “How We Survive.”  If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
Lindsey Niehay dreamed of being a doctor since she was a teenager. But when she graduated from medical school and started a residency program in emergency medicine, she felt like her weight drew negative attention from colleagues. Then, she learned about the conversations happening behind her back. This is a story about how weight discrimination can derail a career, and why our legal system doesn’t offer the protections you might expect. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!
A while back, we asked you to share your money struggles, and we heard from many of you! In today’s episode, we booked a session with financial therapist Megan McCoy to answer your burning financial questions — everything from navigating financial differences among friends and talking to an avoidant partner about money plans, to making big career decisions and learning how to curb spending. As promised, here are some of the research studies and articles discussed in this episode: “Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness,” by Elizabeth W. Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton, as well as Dunn’s TED Talk on the same topic “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right,” by Elizabeth W. Dunn “Heads or Tails: The impact of a coin toss on major life decisions and subsequent happiness,” by Steven D. Levitt “Harvard Study of Adult Development” and an awesome TED Talk by Robert Waldinger, the project’s director Take the Klontz Money Script test to measure your core money beliefs.   If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And to get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter!  
loading
Comments (26)

Habia Khet

💚WATCH>>ᗪOᗯᑎᒪOᗩᗪ>>LINK>👉https://co.fastmovies.org

Feb 5th
Reply

Joe A. Finley II

She couldn't understand why her mom had bad vibes about husband-to-be #2??!! Uh, he wasn't contributing to the relationship FROM THE BEGINNING!! Red flag you could see from Jupiter!! HUGE shocker he just drove them further into debt post-wedding vows.

Aug 25th
Reply (1)

Lori Freetage

The story is well done and evokes some of the feelings around financial infidelity, but this is a soft version that hardly qualifies as financial infidelity, rather some sins of ignorance and irresponsibility, which she then corrects on her own. A romanticized, warm fuzzy version of "financial infidelity" with a straightforward problem and a simple happy ending. A much more uncomfortable topic would have been to discuss the (often marital) financial infidelity involves lying, cheating, sneaking, breaking the other person's trust repeatedly. The half ass attempts to "get better" and "fix" the debts that assuage the situation temporarily, only degrade again months or years down the road, worse than they were before. Arguing about not incurring new debt or not buying this thing and the other person secretly sneaking around and doing it anyway, and refusing to be honest about what's going on. Or maybe thinking everything is fine and then one day waking up and finding up that your spouse ha

Jun 15th
Reply

Billy Weinheimer

Two people spending and saving responsibly, and no stupid drugs or crimes. How refreshing.

Jan 9th
Reply

YOUSIFDOTUS

Loved it! Thank you for your great work 👍

Jun 23rd
Reply

Vicki J

This episode almost brought tears to my eyes. I understand the feeling of trying to "save" her brother. My brother died as well. It's a shame they didn't have information for her. This was somebody's baby boy. And just because people don't have the finances. The deceased should be valued and loved just as if they were their own. I pray she finds peace. There's nothing worse than not having peace about the deceased.

Jun 7th
Reply

Anna

the whole episode I was waiting for the part of the story where she gets an ADHD diagnosis...

Nov 7th
Reply

Vicki J

Ibby. You are a true saint to be willing to spend that much money to have a child. Also, I wish that doctor was honest with you and told you she had to remove so much!!!! What an ass!!! I would need answers from her. Did she feel it was necessary to not have you have anymore pain?? Were there cysts all over the Fallopian tubes?? I would need answers from her.

Oct 24th
Reply

Vicki J

glad you're back!!

Oct 15th
Reply

Amanda de Boer

ugh, this guy is a big whiny baby coward!

Jun 25th
Reply

Adeline Francois

I'm glad one partner was able to rescue another. Can they copy & paste that google spread sheet to my email. Better yet, sell it! I'd buy it. Great story! both partners in debt is just sad. I should know that is my current situation.

Mar 2nd
Reply

Morgan Watson

This is an episode of marketplace?

Feb 27th
Reply

Jeremy Einhorn

Is anyone else’s “In sickness and in fraud” episode a different podcast?

Feb 26th
Reply

Beauregard Throckmorton

Every time I listen, I think "This IS uncomfortable." Then I smile. Nice work. Love the podcast.

Nov 22nd
Reply

I Hope Someone Relates

So strange to have Venmo be such a big part of a romantic relationship.

Oct 2nd
Reply

Ari Christine

Its my opinion that people feel they need to share all aspects of their lives to others. while I understand the young man's reservation about sharing the details of his inheritance with his friends - I don't feel he was "lying." Money matters are private. He wasn't lying.

Aug 29th
Reply (1)

Maher Hajarat

Great podcast

Aug 17th
Reply

Kristin Chong

Gosh I wish they did a story when both people are in debt.

Aug 17th
Reply

T

great podcast, really relatable.

Jul 20th
Reply

🤨

The premise of this show is false. Money doesn't mess with people. People mess with people.

Jun 30th
Reply (1)