This Is Uncomfortable

Marketplace

This is Uncomfortable is the award-winning show about life and how money messes with it. Each week, Marketplace’s Reema Khrais explores how money shapes our decisions, relationships, and sense of self through conversations that are intimate, surprising, and deeply human. From the economic headlines that hit our wallets to the choices that keep us up at night, the show digs into the money questions we’re too afraid to ask and gives listeners a way to feel less alone in this increasingly complicated world.

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38 episodes
weekly
Avg 32 min
English

Episodes 38

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Thursday · 42 min
I have enough money but I still don't feel "safe"
You’ve got savings. You’re paying your bills. You’re hitting your financial goals. On paper, you’re doing fine. So why does it still feel like you’re just one step away from financial disaster? This week, Reema talks with writer Lindsey Stanberry and financial therapist Amanda Clayman about money dysmorphia – the disconnect between how much money we have and how secure we actually feel – and how we can build a healthier relationship with money when the future feels impossible to predict. Plus, another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilder shares the details of her largest purchase yet: a home. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today.
November 5 · 30 min
Mara Wilson asks, should we still have child stars?
As more former child stars come forward about the pain they experienced, does it still make sense to put kids in the spotlight? This week on the show, guest host Jasmine Romero speaks with actor Mara Wilson (of “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Matilda”) and journalist Kate Taylor about how to protect child stars. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable
October 31 · 21 min
Money Horrors III: The Ghost of Purchases Past
BOO!! We’re back with even more financial tales from the crypt — from giving a hormonal teen a debit card to getting into business with a scammer. Plus, a Backstreet Boys obsession that goes awry. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
October 30 · 18 min
Money Horrors II: The Sleep Shopper Strikes Again
Surprise! We’ve got more creepy money stories to get you in the Halloween spirit. A while back, listener Hayden started getting these surprise gifts in the mail. Once he realized who sent them to him, he wondered just how far the gift giver would go. Plus, two more stories of spending regret. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
October 29 · 21 min
Money Horrors
With Halloween around the corner, we revisit listeners’ spine-chilling money horror stories — you know, the financial choices that are still haunting them, or the spending secrets they hope to take to the grave. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
October 22 · 27 min
What do we owe our families?
For many adult children of immigrants, success comes with pressure to give back. This week, Reema asks, what do we owe our families, and how do we care for the people we love without losing ourselves in the process? She talks with fellow first-gen kids — financial educator Gigi Gonzalez and financial therapist Sahaj Kaur Kohli — about reframing responsibility, setting healthy boundaries without guilt and navigating the line between generosity and obligation. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
October 15 · 39 min
Trick yourself into better money habits
Staying on top of your personal finances is hard enough as it is, but it can be especially challenging if you’re going through mental health challenges or your brain just works a little differently. So this week, Reema talks to Ellyce Fulmore, a neurodivergent financial educator who helps people create money systems their brains will actually use. Together, they answer your questions about impulse purchases, money anxiety, and budgets that never seem to stick. Plus: another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilder tackles a different personal finance challenge every month and invites us all along for the ride. This time, she’s learning how to master resale apps like Depop and Poshmark. This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable
October 8 · 28 min
Why is every celebrity trying to sell me something?
Are you more likely to buy some spicy mayo because it’s made by a blockbuster star? What about pet food or a mobile network? It used to be that you’d just buy a ticket to your favorite actor’s movie or your favorite singer’s concert, but as more celebrities cash in on their fame with product endorsements and brand extensions, what does that do to us and our relationship with celebrity culture? And how does that impact the way that we spend money on our favorite stars? Guest host Alice Wilder talks to Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger, hosts of the pop culture podcast “Who? Weekly,” about the changing relationship between celebrities and consumers. Plus, which nepo babies are worth the hype? This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!
October 1 · 28 min
Min Jin Lee asks, is college still a reliable investment?
Does higher education still guarantee financial stability? How can parents set their kids up for success, without subjecting them to overbearing pressure? Reema talks to writer Min Jin Lee to talk about her new novel, “American Hagwon.” They discuss the precariousness of the middle class, and how love, fear, and money get tangled up in what parents want for their children … and what those kids can feel like they owe in return. This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Heads up: If you buy a book using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you!
September 24 · 25 min
Is money ruining fan fiction?
Before Ali Hazelwood’s “The Love Hypothesis” was a bestselling novel or movie, it was “Star Wars” fan fiction. And Hazelwood isn’t the only one making the leap from fan fiction to traditional publishing. Fan fiction has historically been a labor of love, and not all fans are happy about the shift to monetization, and what that means for the fandom community. Reema is joined by journalist Elizabeth Minkel and cultural commentator Josh Lora to unpack how money is changing fan fiction. Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable ALSO!! This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions,” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Heads up: If you buy a book using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you!
September 17 · 41 min
Should you leave the country for your next doctor’s appointment?
Millions of Americans leave the U.S. each year for medical care. But how do you reap the rewards of medical tourism while managing the risks? And why do some have to travel out of the country to get affordable healthcare in the first place? This week on the show, Reema is joined by Dr. Alok Patel and podcast host TK Dutes to discuss what it’s like to travel for medical care, and how to do so safely. Plus: another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” in which producer Alice Wilder tries to get into the habit of expense tracking. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
September 12 · 35 min
When boomer "collectibles" become millennial "inheritance"
As a special bonus this weekend, we’re revisiting one of our favorite stories from 2024, which Reema and Alice mentioned in the latest episode. 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?
September 10 · 26 min
Listeners weigh in: Wedding hacks, questionable investments, and a fix for doom spending
Who doesn’t love getting mail? This week on the show, Reema and Alice open up the mailbag and respond to your messages about questionable investments, doomspending, and caring for aging loved ones. Plus, we hear your advice on keeping weddings affordable for your guests and wedding party. Past stories referenced in this episode: ”The things we leave behind” “Nicole Chung and the toll of caregiving” “Everything's on fire, might as well get my nails done?” “Would you go broke for a bachelorette?” “Wait...where did my retirement money go?” “Can I monetize my hobby without killing the joy?” If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
September 3 · 28 min
Is there too much money in college sports?
College sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry, but until just a few years ago, the actual athletes never saw a penny. It wasn’t until 2021 that the NCAA decided that college athletes could make money off of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). Guest host Alice Wilder talks to Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder (no relation), hosts of The Sports Gossip Show, to understand how NIL is changing the game for student athletes, financially and emotionally. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
August 27 · 43 min
If only he hadn’t spent so much on those turntables!
Ever look back and wish you could stop your past self from making a financial mistake? Yeah, us too. This week, Reema talks to researchers Abigail Sussman and Hal Hershfield about how to handle financial regrets, why our past choices look so much clearer in hindsight, and how our emotions and blind spots shape our financial lives. Plus, a new segment of “Alice Gets Her Life Together” on how to budget for a vacation. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
August 20 · 28 min
How does anyone afford childcare?
How much should parents budget for daycare? Does it make more financial sense for both parents to work and pay for childcare, or for one parent to stay home and care for their child? And why is childcare so expensive if childcare workers aren’t paid enough? In this episode, Reema shares a big announcement… She also hears from listeners and new parents about how they’re making childcare work for their families, and public policy expert Taylor Morrissey explains why the childcare system in the United States feels so broken. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
August 13 · 23 min
"If this is your first time being poor..."
Tight grocery budget? Try a "recession recipe." Reema talks producer Alice Wilder about her trip to meet Kiki Rough, a TikTok creator who makes hyper affordable recipes. Kiki learned how to to cook on a shoestring budget while on food stamps and has gained a large following as food insecurity in the U.S. rises. But even after going viral, she’s is still struggling to feel financially secure. How have you been stretching your grocery budget? Email us your favorite penny-pinching recipes, and we’ll put them together into a little cookbook on our website! If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
August 6 · 37 min
Abigail Disney: “There is such a thing as too much money”
How were you raised to think about money, and how do you know when the values you inherited no longer fit? What do we owe other people, and when is generosity a duty? Reema talks with Abigail Disney, the grandniece of Walt Disney, about family, legacy, and giving away millions. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
July 30 · 32 min
Subscribe and save... or not?
How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? Whether we’re watching TV, listening to music, or even just storing photos, it feels like we are required to rent so many parts of daily life these days. Reema talks to tech reporter Lance Ulanoff and finance writer Hanna Horvath about the origins of the subscription economy, what lies ahead, and how we can cope. Plus, we’ve got another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilders joins Reema to investigate their own subscriptions and find ways to cut costs. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Money Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
July 23 · 27 min
Help! I put in two months' notice… two years ago!
Is a frustrating dynamic in your workplace keeping you up at night? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama”, we try to find answers to your sticky work questions. This week Reema is joined by Marketplace correspondent Kristin Schwab and host/correspondent Sabri Ben-Achour to answer your workplace questions – from favoritism getting in the way of a promotion to persistent recruitment for the office kickball league. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

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