This Is Uncomfortable cover image

This Is Uncomfortable

Latest episodes

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Oct 24, 2024 • 36min

How it all began: celebrating 10 seasons!  

Haley Hirschman, the founding producer, shares the inspiring journey of the show through its ten seasons. She reflects on the challenges of discussing money openly and the importance of vulnerability in financial conversations. The chat covers clever remote work strategies, like using scents for better boundaries, and valuable tips for mindful spending. Listeners also share their transformative experiences, revealing how open discussions about finances can empower individuals. The team thanks audiences for their support and looks forward to the next season!
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Oct 17, 2024 • 33min

Check your Venmo, please

Jay Benedith, a listener who navigates financial compatibility in her relationship, shares her unique perspective on how differing money habits can challenge love. Her partner, Ben Williams, a high school history teacher, provides insights into their contrasting financial habits. They discuss the significance of a Venmo request that sparked conversations about budgeting and expenses. Their candid dialogue highlights the complexities of financial communication, offering valuable lessons in empathy and understanding for couples facing similar issues.
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Oct 10, 2024 • 55min

The gifts of mortality and movement, from “Notes From America”

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!
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Oct 3, 2024 • 37min

When death is your career

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!
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Sep 26, 2024 • 48min

Windfalls and vet bills

Mike Perry shares his touching journey with a stray dog named Wisdom that profoundly influenced his financial decisions. He reflects on the bond they formed and how it shaped his life after loss. The conversation explores the emotional and financial complexities of caring for pets, especially during their final days. Insights into the costs associated with pet healthcare are discussed, highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by pet owners. It's a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the financial choices we make in their honor.
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Sep 19, 2024 • 34min

The things we leave behind

Amanda Petteruti, an insightful storyteller, digs into her father's hidden past as she unravels the mystery behind his secret hobby. Her discovery of locked toolboxes unveils financial secrets and challenges her understanding of family dynamics. The emotional journey through grief and legacy raises profound questions about closure and identity. Amanda reflects on selling her father's coin collection, revealing how personal belongings intertwine with memories and grief, leading her to navigate the bittersweet path of letting go.
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Sep 12, 2024 • 49min

Hired, fired, can’t retire (updated rerun)

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!
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Sep 5, 2024 • 28min

Wait, I think I’m being underpaid

Nikki Massie, an advocate for fair pay, shares her shocking realization of being underpaid after a decade at her company. She explores the emotional journey of discovering potential salary inequities and reflects on the importance of self-advocacy in the workplace. Nikki discusses the struggles women, particularly women of color, face regarding wage disparities and the anxiety that surrounds salary negotiations. Through her story, she emphasizes the necessity of open communication about compensation and the empowerment that comes with valuing one's worth.
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Sep 3, 2024 • 4min

What have you learned from the show?

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!
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Aug 29, 2024 • 39min

“Why did you buy more bones?”

Brittany Walsh and Nicole O’Neil, two sisters facing a health crisis, share their emotional journey of navigating health challenges and alternative treatments. Brittany worries as Nicole spends on dubious remedies, leading to tension. They discuss their contrasting views on wellness and the strain on their relationship, highlighted by the complexities of trauma and anxiety. With an exploration of chronic illness and the disappointment of mistrust in conventional medicine, their story captures the essence of sibling support in turbulent times.

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