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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July 21 · 26 min
Bonus: Should we mess with nature? From "How We Survive"
This week we’re sharing an episode of the Marketplace climate solutions podcast “How We Survive.” The new season is all about the controversial ways humans are tinkering with nature in an effort to save the planet, from shooting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, to launching sunshades into space. In this episode, they explore the wildest intervention to date: de-extinction. The team takes a tour of Colossal Labs, the $10 billion Dallas-based startup betting it can reverse-engineer extinction itself, to see how they plan to turn pigeons into dodos and Asian elephants into woolly mammoths. But whether it’s bringing back the woolly mammoth from extinction or shooting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, just because we can mess with nature, does that mean we should? After the tour, host Amy Scott chats with Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert to find out. Follow “This Is Uncomfortable” on Instagram and Tiktok! Support Marketplace with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
July 16 · 30 min
Confessions of a former homesteader
Have you ever daydreamed about leaving your office job, moving to the countryside, and living off the land? In 2008, Laura Griggs and her husband did just that: they moved to a small farm in rural Missouri and raised their family there for nearly a decade. Reema talks with Laura about the real cost of homesteading, and why she ultimately had to leave it behind. And later in the episode, we’ve got another edition of Alice Gets Her Life Together, where producer Alice Wilder shuts down a high-interest credit card and learns why it’s so easy to get into debt. 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
July 9 · 35 min
Nicole Chung and the toll of caregiving
How are you supposed to juggle caring for your aging parents while also raising young children of your own? And how do you budget for those competing responsibilities? This week, Reema talks to Nicole Chung, author of “A Living Remedy,” about her experiences caring for her parents in their final years of illness, how the U.S. healthcare system failed them, and the toll it took on her both emotionally and financially. Plus, Reema and Alice dig into our mailbag and hear from listeners in the “sandwich generation” – those who have caregiving responsibilities for both their parents and their children. 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
July 2 · 58 min
Sam doesn't know how to be rich, from “Proxy with Yowei Shaw”
This week, we’re sharing an episode of “Proxy,” a podcast about the emotional questions that make people feel alone — and the conversation that unfolds when you find someone who gets it. Sam is a progressive person who suddenly has more money than friends and family — and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. He wants to be generous. He wants to be responsible. He wants to stop feeling guilty and secretive and afraid. But the more he thinks about what money can do, the less clear it becomes what having “enough” is supposed to mean. In this episode, host Yowei Shaw connects Sam with David Steely, a man who has spent years wrestling with the same questions — and has given away most of his money. We’ll be back with a new episode of “This Is Uncomfortable” next week! 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
June 25 · 37 min
Should I adopt my friends?
Marriage brings with it a slew of state and federal privileges – when it comes to taxes, inheritance, and benefits – but what if that’s not the most important relationship to you? What legal and financial options are out there for chosen family? Reema talks to LGBTQ+ legal advocate Angela Giampolo and tax expert Brixton Carothers about everything from setting up a revocable living trust to forming an LLC with a polycule. Plus, Reema and Alice respond to listener messages, including confessions about workplace mishaps and financial infidelity. 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 Check out our upcoming virtual event, "Get Your Life Together with This Is Uncomfortable" - a work session to tackle one tedious task...with friends! More info here: https://www.marketplace.org/tiu Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions,” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!
June 18 · 36 min
Would you go broke for a bachelorette?
Weddings are meant to be joyful milestones and a chance to show up for the people we love. But for many people today, being a part of a wedding can come with multi-day trips, expensive outfits, and financial pressure that leads to years of debt. Reema is joined by cultural commentator Josh Lora and The Atlantic editor Annie Joy Williams to talk about the cost of being a wedding guest, why wedding culture is getting more expensive, and how to navigate the pressure to say yes. Did you find a creative way to make your wedding affordable for your friends? Give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Check out our upcoming virtual event, "Get Your Life Together with This Is Uncomfortable" - a work session to tackle one tedious task...with friends! More info here: https://www.marketplace.org/tiu Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!
June 11 · 35 min
The secret lives of romance scammers
Unfortunately, a lot of us know someone who has been scammed… but how many scammers do you know? After reporter Carlos Barragán’s mother fell victim to an online romance scam, he traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, to investigate the world of “Yahoo Boys,” as Nigerian scammers call themselves. He spent years getting to know these young men, earning their trust and reporting the most intimate details of their lives. This week, Carlos joins Reema to talk about his new book, “Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria's Romance Scammers,” and the complicated story he discovered about the social and economic forces that push people into these crimes. Plus, how loneliness is key to the scam… on both sides! Here is our Spotify playlist of all the stories about scams and scammers that we’ve had on the show. 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
June 4 · 34 min
Is it time for a new career?
Lots of us have dreamed about taking on a completely different career, but how do you actually make the leap? This week, Reema visits a cohort of people pivoting to the trades in North Carolina and speaks with career coach Phoebe Gavin to get her tips on making a successful pivot. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. 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
May 28 · 42 min
Money can make or break your relationship, from NPR’s "It’s Been a Minute"
Today, we’re featuring an episode of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute.” Reema Khrais joins host Brittany Luse and Wailin Wong, host of NPR’s “The Indicator,” to talk about the hidden ways money shows up in dating and marriage. And we’ve got a new “This Is Uncomfortable” project to share! You’ve heard Reema Khrais ask rapid-fire “uncomfortable money questions” on the show, where she asks guests to share details of their financial lives. Now we want to hear how you would answer! Send us a voice memo, and we may feature it on the show. This week, we kick things off off with listener Thistle from California. Learn more here: https://www.marketplace.org/uncomfortablequestions Follow This Is Uncomfortable on Instagram and Tiktok! And support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod If you liked this episode of NPR's “It’s Been A Minute,” you can follow their podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Four days a week you will get for more episodes like this, featuring deep dives into how culture impacts what you think, feel, and believe.
May 21 · 28 min
Everything's on fire, might as well get my nails done?
Do you ever look at the world and think: everything is so uncertain, who knows if I’ll ever be able to retire … so I might as well get those concert tickets? Then you might be doomspending. Reema talks with The Financial Diet’s Chelsea Fagan and behavioral economist Judd Kessler about why we doomspend, and what we should do instead. Plus, producer Alice Wilder makes a confession. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! And support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
May 14 · 35 min
How far would you go for a boycott?
How far would you go to participate in a boycott? Cancel your concert tickets? Spend 25% more on groceries? What about refusing to visit your family? This week, Reema speaks to Canadians who are going to great lengths to boycott the United States. Plus, a conversation with financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin about how to practice “good enough” boycotting. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
May 7 · 28 min
Help! My work crush just became my boss!
Got a tricky situation at work and not sure what to do? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama,” we try to find answers to your sticky work questions. This week, Reema is joined by Tobin Low of “This American Life” to answer your workplace questions – from coworkers falling asleep mid-meeting to crushing on your boss. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have any work drama going on, we want to hear about it! Leave a message at 347-RING-TIU or email uncomfortable@marketplace.org. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! And support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today.
April 30 · 29 min
Patrick Radden Keefe on parenting in the age of mega-wealth
What do you do when your child’s ideas about money start to sharply diverge from your own? Reema is joined by journalist Patrick Radden Keefe to discuss his new book, “London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth.” Along the way they get into the thorny realities of parenting in a time when young people are aspiring to be like the ultra-wealthy. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. Support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
April 23 · 34 min
What it costs to leave the U.S.
As the U.S. immigration crackdown intensifies, some undocumented people are choosing to leave the country. But what’s the financial and emotional cost of leaving? Reema speaks with immigration lawyer Michael Foote, who is helping his clients navigate this process, as well as two undocumented immigrants at different stages in their departure: Javi (not his real name) is an undocumented college student saving up to move abroad, and Monsy Hernandez left the U.S. for Germany almost ten years ago and now supports others weighing the same decision. If you’re thinking about leaving the U.S., organizations like Onward provide toolkits with resources and information. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod
April 16 · 31 min
Would you tell your BFF about your credit card debt?
Would you feel comfortable telling your best friend how much debt you’re in? That was the last thing Jamie Feldman wanted to do, but when her credit card debt spiraled out of control, she knew she needed help. Together, Jamie and Rachel Webster tackled that debt and documented the process with their award-winning podcast “Debt Heads.” Reema is joined by Jamie and Rachel to talk about friendship, shame and how opening up about money changed their relationship with debt. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have an experience with debt to share, we want to hear it! Call our hotline 347-RING-TIU and leave a message, or you can always email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/tiu_mayfy26
April 9 · 27 min
Why do parents turn their kids into influencers?
Would you share your children’s most intimate moments on social media if it meant you could make millions? Family influencers are building businesses around their kids, sharing everything from toddler meltdowns to puberty talks. For some families, that income is a lifeline. But it also raises difficult questions about privacy, money and parenthood. Reema talks with journalist Fortesa Latifi about her new book, “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online.” Plus, we want to hear from you: as child care costs keep rising, have you or your partner considered becoming a stay-at-home parent? If so, what kind of financial factors are going into that decision? Let us know by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!
April 2 · 36 min
Wait...where did my retirement money go?
What happens to your retirement savings when you leave a job? And if you’ve forgotten about an old 401(k) account, how do you track that money down? That’s the mystery Reema is trying to solve this week, as she confronts her own financial anxiety and goes searching for retirement accounts left behind at previous jobs. Along the way, she talks with retirement expert Geoffrey Sanzenbacher about just how common this is -- only about 15% of people roll their retirement savings over to a new employer's plan! And she asks behavioral economist Katy Milkman why this kind of chore feels so hard. Plus, brain hacks that will help you get through that daunting financial to-do list. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU. And follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!
March 26 · 27 min
What happens when you can bet on anything?
Betting used to mean going to a brick-and-mortar casino or placing a wager with a bookie. Now, with the rise of prediction markets, people can bet online on real-world events — from elections and the weather to cultural moments and global news — but at what cost? In this episode, Reema talks with clinical psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Fong and financial psychology expert Hanna Horvath about how gambling is becoming more normalized and woven into everyday life. What does that shift do to how we think about money, how we understand risk, and how we relate to the world around us? Even if you don’t gamble, we’re curious to hear more about the connection between loneliness and spending. What does that look like in your life? Give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, professional help is available in every state. You can call The National Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-800-GAMBLER.

Showing 21–38 of 38 episodes