
This Is Uncomfortable
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?
Latest episodes

May 6, 2021 • 31min
What’s mine is not yours
When Lindsey Galbraith’s marriage ended over financial infidelity, she swore she would never mix money and relationships again. Then she met someone new. This week, we look at the aftermath of betrayal and how the consequences can last far beyond that one relationship. Plus, we eavesdrop on a money conversation between her and her new partner — the kind of talk that usually happens behind closed doors.Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter! This week, Reema chats with a counselor about how couples can work through money issues. It’s all exclusively for our email list, so don’t wait! Here’s the latest issue, in case you missed it.Donate $5/month right now to join our community of Marketplace Investors AND choose from an array of 10 different thank-you gifts: marketplace.org/giveTIU“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Apr 29, 2021 • 35min
A cruel disease
Reporting on suicide is complicated. In trying to tell the story of someone who’s no longer here, which parts do you tell, which parts do you keep private? After a young woman dies by suicide, Reema sets out to understand why money was on her mind shortly before her death.Just a warning, this episode discusses mental health struggles, including suicide. If you or a loved one is in crisis, reach out to the Crisis Text Line (Text TALK to 741741) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a lot of great resources, including local support groups for people who have lost someone to suicide.“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Apr 22, 2021 • 26min
Pretty hurts
Society places a big premium on looking a certain way — our cleanliness, our class status, even our mental health is judged based on our appearance. Esther Calixte-Bea was taught at a young age to hide her body hair. For most of her life, she spent hundreds of dollars a month trying to keep it under control — until she finally hit a breaking point.By the way, “This Is Uncomfortable” is up for a Webby! If you can spare a few seconds to vote for us, it would mean a lot. Here’s where to do it: wbby.co/pod-indvnewsFor more “This Is Uncomfortable,” subscribe to our newsletter! This week, Reema talks about her own curly hair struggles that we couldn’t fit in the show. Here’s the latest issue, in case you missed it.“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Apr 15, 2021 • 34min
The marriage penalty
After spending years fighting to get disability benefits, Amber was finally approved. But she and her wife, Diana, didn’t realize they had entered a complicated, arcane system where health care might cost you your marriage.For more “This Is Uncomfortable,” subscribe to our newsletter! This week, Reema talks about celebrating Ramadan during the pandemic. Here’s the latest issue, in case you missed it.“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Apr 8, 2021 • 36min
“Click here for a life-changing opportunity”
Kiara Aceves felt a little lost after graduating high school. She didn’t know what her next steps would be until she was presented with a “life-changing opportunity” to join a multilevel marketing company. The U.S. had more than 16 million MLM sellers in 2019, and most of them will likely end up breaking even or losing money. But Kiara quickly became the exception to the rule — or at least, that’s what she thought.For more “This Is Uncomfortable,” subscribe to our newsletter! This week, Reema runs down her favorite episodes so far and tells us what video game is getting her through the pandemic. Here’s the latest issue, in case you missed it.“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Apr 1, 2021 • 35min
A lifelong scam
Axton Betz-Hamilton spent 20 years trying to track down an identity thief that wreaked havoc on her family, only to discover the truth was uglier than she’d imagined.For more “This Is Uncomfortable,” subscribe to our newsletter! This week’s is all about Reema’s engagement and starting to plan a wedding in a pandemic. Here’s the latest issue, in case you missed it.“This Is Uncomfortable” is Reema Khrais, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Camila Kerwin and Marque Greene.

Mar 25, 2021 • 3min
On April 1, we’re all getting scammed
This season we get into those gut-wrenching, eyebrow-raising money moments and the nagging feeling that one way or another, we’re all getting cheated. There’s a decadeslong search over a stolen identity, the culty allure of hunbots and of course, the ultimate scam: trying to get health care.We’ll bring you new episodes every Thursday starting April 1. Listen to the trailer now.And if you can’t wait, check out our newsletter! Each Friday morning we’ll bring you a bunch of content you won’t hear on the podcast. Sign up at marketplace.org/newsletters!

Dec 17, 2020 • 25min
Productivity won’t save you
We live in a world that rewards us for producing, and producing, and producing. But why is it that no matter how much we do, it never feels like enough? This week, we’re going to look at our obsession with productivity — the exhausting effort to be completely optimized in work and outside of it.

Dec 10, 2020 • 23min
Pandemic motherhood
The pandemic has been brutal on working moms. In September alone, women left the workplace at four times the rate that men did. The numbers are shocking, but behind them are real, human experiences. This week, we hear some of those stories.Your support makes our podcast possible – become a Marketplace Investor today to keep us going strong.

Dec 3, 2020 • 23min
There’s no place like home
One woman pursues her idea of the American dream — home ownership — only to have it completely backfire.