This Is Uncomfortable

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

Nicole and Rachel were deeply in love when they had their first serious fight about money. It seemed easily resolvable, but the disagreement dragged on for months and brought a lot more to the surface than they expected. This episode originally aired in 2022 and includes a short update at the end about how Rachel[...]

Growing up, Haein Shim was taught that if she wanted to succeed, she needed to change her appearance. Shim was raised in South Korea, where a competitive job market and booming beauty industry combined to make careful beauty maintenance all but mandatory for gainful employment. By the time she was a young adult, she was spending[...]

This week, we’re sharing an episode from another podcast we think you’ll love. “Classy” is a new show from Pineapple Street Studios and Audacy exploring the ways that class infiltrates our day-to-day lives. Host Jonathan Menjivar has some hang-ups about class. In this episode, he takes us from a nightclub outside Los Angeles to the[...]

Four years later, host Reema Khrais checks in with one of our favorite couples, Mandy and Zach. In our first season, they told us about the challenges they ran into early in their relationship around gift giving. Now, life’s latest milestones are forcing them to figure out how to become more fluent in each other’s[...]

At what point do you walk away from your dreams? Kashy gave himself a deadline: if he didn’t become a pop star by the time he turned 25, he’d give up music. But years after he left his music career behind, the universe gave him a second chance, thousands of miles from home.

We wanted to share a particularly uncomfy episode from Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined,” a financial literacy podcast for teens. Being a first-generation student can mean facing bigger financial pressures than your peers, with less generational knowledge and wealth. “Financially Inclined” host Yanely Espinal talks to Gigi Gonzalez, the First Gen Mentor, to help you navigate the[...]

Overnight, Hana’s life became unrecognizable. She used to enjoy quiet mornings in her lovingly decorated apartment in Gaza, but since Israel’s invasion forced her to evacuate, she’s now sleeping on the cold floor of a crowded house, fearful of airstrikes. Hana shares how the war is threatening the life she built for herself and the[...]

In our new season premiere, Reema sits down with her father to reflect on how recent global headlines have been impacting their family in Gaza.

“This Is Uncomfortable” returns for its ninth season Feb. 1, with brand-new episodes about life and how money messes with it. We’ve got stories about medical scams, workplace discrimination, the fast fashion industry and more. New episodes coming Thursdays.

Hey, Reema here. I just wanted to thank you all for listening to “This Is Uncomfortable” this year. We shared some great stories in 2023 and memorable conversations that I’m still mulling over. And we have some great new episodes coming for you soon in our ninth season, which starts Jan. 25. We could not[...]

What would you be willing to live with for free rent? No heat, mice in the walls, a toilet in the middle of an unfinished basement? Chris Badeker and Jake Daugherty went through all of it in an effort to save money and claw their way out of debt. But that free rent became the[...]

In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way. We’re revisiting this episode from our first season with an update about where Abramovitz is now. 

We have a special treat for you today! We’re sharing an episode of the new podcast from APM Studios and Chalk + Blade called “Tiny Huge Decisions.” This is a story about two best friends, Mohsin and Dalia, as they make a life-changing decision: Will Dalia be the gestational surrogate for Mohsin and his husband?[...]

You’re heartbroken. You just got out of a relationship, and now you have to figure out who you are and what you want as this newly single you. But that can be expensive. This week on This is Uncomfortable, one woman’s unique way of coping, plus listeners give us a glimpse into their post-breakup splurges.

This is Uncomfortable wants your help: What question would you ask a financial therapist?    How can I stop feeling guilty about spending money? How do I start a hard conversation with my partner about debt? How can I talk to my friends about the difference in our salaries? Whatever your question is, send it[...]

When Susan was a teenager, she set out to find answers about her birth parents. As an adoptee, she longed to know where she came from. When she eventually reunited with her birth parents as a teenager, she thought she’d finally feel at peace. She couldn’t have known that many years later, she’d find herself[...]

Who can you trust with your money? Your parents? Your spouse? Or do you really need to keep control every step of the way? This week on the show, two stories of what happens when people don’t have control of their own finances. Sally, a 79-year-old listener, wrote to us about an experience with her[...]

When reality dating fans tune into their favorite shows like “The Bachelor,” they expect to see dramatic rejections, hateable villains—all the staple elements of the genre. These formulas keep audiences watching and keep the money rolling in for TV networks. And for a relatively small price—networks don’t have to pay teams of writers, and sometimes[...]

What do you do when you find money? What if we’re talking about a lot of money? “This Is Uncomfortable” joins up with “Snap Judgment” to explore the ethics of finders-keepers.  To get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter.

When Kate Beaton graduated college, she had exactly one goal: get rid of her student debt as fast as possible. The goal took priority over everything else in her life, including the dream of trying to make it as an artist. But when she decided to take a job in the oil sands of Alberta,[...]

We follow up with a listener and former guest who wrote to us about her struggle with class anxiety during our first season. We’ll also share an excerpt of Marketplace’s latest podcast, “Financially Inclined,” featuring an interview with Reema discussing emotions around money.

Matt knew from a young age that he was kinky and submissive, but he never understood the appeal of financial submission … until he tried it for himself. Give now to support “This Is Uncomfortable” during our May fundraiser.

For years, Quinn held onto a terrible secret. It took a huge toll not just on their mental health, but also on their career trajectory and financial life. When Quinn learns they aren’t alone with this secret, it leads them down an astonishing path they never could have imagined. Content warning: This episode deals with[...]

When Ashleigh was a freshman in college, she saw a flier: earn up to $10,000 by selling your eggs. She thought, “Sure, I could use the money!” Her decision to sell her eggs set her on a journey that would define the next ten years of her life. And it would fundamentally change the way[...]

“This Is Uncomfortable” is back for its eighth season on May 18. This season, we’re exploring how secrets shape our financial lives — the secrets we keep and the secrets we want to know. We’ll look at how those secrets take a toll, from the traumas we hold on to, to the price we’ll pay[...]

Fed up with her husband not doing his part around the house, Jalie Gil decided to go on strike and document it all on TikTok. When the strike went viral, her private struggle for equitable housework became something of a reality show. Jalie updated every day, and viewers cheered her on from the virtual picket[...]

Marriage is all about beginnings, but staying married can often depend on how well two people adapt to change. The changes for Taylor and Gavin have been constant in the 14 years since they said, “I do.” There have been struggles and arguments over money, or the lack thereof. But even when money’s been the[...]

How far would you go to right a wrong? When Kari meets a nice man on a dating site, it feels like a dream come true. But when the relationship turns into more than she bargained for — she sets off on a crime-fighting quest that forces her to reevaluate her world and herself. This[...]

How much generosity is too much? Would you pay for your friend’s lunch every week? Or risk falling behind on bills to pay for a Christmas gift? And what does it take to ask strangers to be generous with you? We tend to think of generosity as a good thing, but it can also get…[...]

When Joe Hanson got the call to start a varsity esports team at the local community college, he didn’t know what to think. He already had a full time job. He had a family to think about. And this coaching gig, it was basically a glorified volunteer position. Plus, he didn’t even know what “esports”[...]

Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time for some Money Horror stories! When Abigail Keel got a call saying she might be a victim of identity theft, she had no idea what to do. All she could hope for was that the government official on the other line could help her protect her savings.[...]

What do dried apple slices, bear spray and divorce debt have to do with the Jan. 6 insurrection? You’ll find out in this episode. When Stewart Rhodes launched the alt-right militia group the Oath Keepers, his wife, Tasha Adams, hoped that this just might be the key to a better life for their family. And[...]

Tasha met Stewart soon after she finished high school and was working as a dance instructor in Las Vegas. He promised her the world — but instead gave her a life very different from her  romantic dream. Over the next two decades, he pressured Tasha into providing emotional and financial support while she and their[...]

“This Is Uncomfortable,” our podcast all about life and how money messes with it, returns for our seventh season on Oct. 6. This season, we’re looking at some of the expectations we carry with us about how life should play out, and all the ways money can interfere with the best-laid plans and lead us[...]

Carrie Mansmith and her wife, Natalia, both know they want to be moms. They fantasize about raising a baby together, fawn over onesies, and they even have a name picked out. But lately, they’ve been wrestling with a question that they each have very different answers to: How much money is enough money to bring[...]

This episode originally aired in May 2021. 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[...]

Six years in, Sana and Adnan Akhand loved being married to each other. But sharing everything — their apartment in New York City, their money, the household duties, all their free time — shook the balance of power in their marriage, and they ended up feeling stuck. They were looking for a big reset, and[...]

Adam had worked his way up to manager at a branch of a global bank, only to see his responsibilities double during the pandemic. After trying to make it work, the extra duties without extra pay began to compromise his well-being. Adam decided to slow down — to do only what he physically and mentally could[...]

This episode originally aired May 2021. Mira Celper had always wanted to be best friends with her mom, but their relationship grew strained once her mom started dating the mysterious David, a successful engineer. As her mom fell deeper in love, Mira couldn’t shake the feeling that something about David was off. So she set[...]

Growing up, Chris was bullied. He was always the heaviest kid in the class, and his peers relentlessly made fun of him and his body. But Chris had a secret — something he wanted to do with his body that he never told a soul. This week, he revisits what it took for him to[...]

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[...]

Last week, we followed Stephanie Stone’s years long journey to find her late brother Michael’s gravesite. This week, our team picks up the search. Along the way, we learned a lot about what happens to the thousands of people who die indigent and go unclaimed every year in this U.S. Later, Reema travels to Austin[...]

When Stephanie Stone’s older brother Michael died, their family didn’t have the money to pay for his burial. His body went unclaimed, and the county where he was living made arrangements. Years later, Stone doesn’t know where he was laid to rest. In this episode, we follow Stephanie’s quest to find her late brother and[...]

Nicole and Rachel were deeply, happily in love when they had their first serious fight about money. Nicole’s two-year old nephew accidentally scratched up Rachel’s car, leaving them to figure out who was responsible for paying to fix it. To Rachel, it seemed obvious: Nicole’s family was responsible. Nicole didn’t see it that way. During[...]

“This is Uncomfortable,” our show about life and how money messes with it, is back for a new season starting May 5! This season, we’re exploring love and relationships of all kinds. Because there’s probably no close relationship — be it with friends, family or coworkers — where money doesn’t make things weird. And sometimes[...]

The Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles has historically been home to tightknit immigrant communities. Francisco Gonzalez had lived in an apartment a block away from the neighborhood’s Mariachi Plaza for a decade when the building was sold, and the new owner nearly doubled his rent. Several of Gonzalez’s neighbors got rent hikes too. At[...]

Gina Serna is helping lead Colombia’s effort to sterilize the roughly 120 invasive hippos roaming the Magdalena River — hippos that were never supposed to be there at all. They were illegally imported decades ago by Pablo Escobar, the country’s most notorious drug lord. In many ways, it’s the perfect job for Serna. She dreamed[...]

When Dalip Singh became taxi driver in New York City, he thought it’d be his ticket to the middle class. It would take years before he discovered that he’d instead bought into a massive lending scam, one that would go on for decades, pushing him and thousands of other drivers into extreme debt. Now, as[...]

When you’re a kid, your parents make all the financial decisions for you. But what happens when you grow up … and don’t agree with their choices? We’re off this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. This episode originally aired in July 2019.

This week, we’re running a story from our colleagues at the new Marketplace podcast “How We Survive.” It’s about the climate, but it’s not all doom and gloom. It explores solutions for avoiding some of the worst effects of the crisis. If you liked this story, be sure to follow “How We Survive” wherever you[...]

When Sonia Delgado divorced her husband after 30 years of a bad marriage, she thought she’d finally seized financial freedom. She’d no longer have to go along with her ex’s money decisions, which had landed them in chronic debt and insecurity. But when she learned she would have to pay him alimony for the rest[...]

Matthew Chow spent his adult life trying to build a close relationship with his estranged father. But just when he felt like he made real progress, his father passed away. In the will he found a secret his father had kept buried for decades — one that sent Matthew on a monthslong journey that  changed[...]

What happens when you stumble on something with the potential to change your life? Oscar (not their real name) was going through a rough patch in life when they found a bag of money in their dim basement apartment in Montreal. It was enough to propel their life in a different direction. First, they almost[...]

When Ibby Hanlon started experiencing mysterious and debilitating pain, she put her faith in the medical system to find a solution. After a series of unexpected events forever changed her body — and her finances — her trust in the system shattered. This week, we dissect trust between doctors and patients. “This Is Uncomfortable” is[...]

The more Morgan Curtis learned about the source of her family’s multi-generation wealth — from gold mining, to fossil fuel investment, to slave ownership — the less she wanted anything to do with it. When she started to give away half a million dollars to social justice organizations in her late twenties, her dad told[...]

“This Is Uncomfortable” is a podcast about our money and our feelings. And a lot of the money stuff we have the most feelings about we also like to keep secret. In season five, the secret’s out. We’re revealing family secrets, learning about the true cost of divorce, investigating mysterious piles cash and so much[...]

How do you bounce back from getting scammed? Become a scammer yourself, obviously. The inside story of a young man’s transformation into an online scammer — and the lengths he goes to for money when no one is looking. To keep up with us in the off-season, subscribe to our newsletter! Each Friday you’ll get a[...]

What if we told you there was a way to walk away from your debts with no financial consequences? There’s just one big catch. By 21, Anthony was on top of the world: He had a six-figure salary, a loft apartment and a car with heated seats. But when the 2008 recession hit, he lost[...]

Many of us feel pressure to hit life milestones by a certain age. But what if that prepackaged timeline — finishing school, achieving financial stability, getting married, having children — just doesn’t work for you? Ana Sauceda always struggled at school, but her parents put a high value on a college education. She spent a[...]

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.[...]

Mira Celper had always wanted to be best friends with her mom, but their relationship grew strained once her mom started dating the mysterious David, a successful engineer. As her mom fell deeper in love, Mira couldn’t shake the feeling that something about David was off. So she set out to find the truth. Power[...]

Growing up, Aisha Salaudeen always considered herself middle-class. But when she turned 13, her parents sent her to boarding school in Lagos, Nigeria, where her classmates talked about the designer shoes they bought in France, the mansions they lived in and the international vacations they had been on. This week, we take a deep dive[...]

Growing up in Ohio, Diana Wang dreamed of working for a fashion magazine. So when she was offered the position of head intern at Harper’s Bazaar, she thought she’d finally landed her big break. But she didn’t realize her unpaid labor would come with such long hours, tons of responsibility and barely any training. That’s[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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.

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[...]

One woman pursues her idea of the American dream — home ownership — only to have it completely backfire.

Most of us tell little white lies at some point or another to make things less weird about money. But what happens when disaster strikes, and your money situation becomes impossible to hide? This episode originally aired in August 2019. We’re working on an episode and we need your help. What’s getting you through those[...]

Jessie Suren grew up hearing the same advice over and over: College would be her ticket to the middle class, even if it meant taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. But when the job she applied for after graduation fell through, she ended up working at a call center to hound[...]

The WNBA is a workplace with a track record of standing up for its rights and beliefs. And this year, players went up against an unlikely opponent: a U.S. senator who co-owns one of the league’s teams. Plus, we take a look at the WNBA’s fight for fair pay.

After hooking up with her roommate, one woman can’t seem to avoid him — or his spending habits. Then, a couple tries showing their love for each other … in a way neither of them actually loves. This episode originally aired in our first season, in September 2019. We’re off this week working on some[...]

This Halloween, we have listeners’ spooky stories about good ideas gone bad, from giving a hormonal teen a debit card to getting into business with a scammer. Plus, a Backstreet Boys obsession that goes awry.

You find out your partner has hidden thousands of dollars of debt. Now what? Jordan Rosenfeld is a writer. Follow her on Twitter @Jordanrosenfeld.    

Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman are very good friends. And as hosts of the podcast “Call Your Girlfriend,” and co-authors of “Big Friendship,” they’re also in business together. This week they sit down with Reema to talk about how work has changed their friendship and what they learned from couples therapy. Later, they join “The[...]

Money gets complicated when a marriage falls apart. First, we’ll hear from a divorce lawyer who ends up representing herself. Then from a couple trying to plan for the day they hate each other. Plus: Have you hidden a purchase, some funds or anything else money related from your partner? We’re working on an episode[...]

Marilyn worked hard to afford her own home. But when a sheriff showed up at her front door with a summons for eviction court, suddenly she was stuck trying to navigate a system with confusing rules.

One woman’s smile becomes a marker of poverty that feels impossible to escape.

From restricted access mail-in ballots to poll taxes, voting rights have always been tied to power and money.

Money messes up everything. This pandemic is widening the wealth gap, pushing thousands of people into debt, and shifting family and relationship dynamics. Why do so many of us let our careers define who we are? Who can afford to vote this November? Can business and friendship mix? Will you ever get over that one[...]

There are a lot of couples stuck at home right now. Some of them are out of work or dealing with canceled plans. Today, we’ll hear from two couples trying to figure out what their future will look like. This is a rerun of one of our favorite stories from last season. We’re back with[...]

When WeWork acquired her company, she got executive training, fancy corporate retreats and a dope Patagonia jacket. It was almost enough to make her forget everything she lost. This week: Why we’re so obsessed with our jobs, even though they’ll never love us back. This is a rerun of one of our favorite stories from[...]

To get a new bike, this 11-year-old signs a contract to do the thing he hates most: math. How one family is using a tactic borrowed from the business world to settle arguments (and help them get through the pandemic).

Meet the professional auditor who can’t stand to look at his own bank account. Our team goes on an adventure to help a man who’s anxious about his spending get more comfortable checking his finances.

One woman’s fight against Silicon Valley’s racial pay gap. Plus, why it’s so hard for Black workers in tech to get ahead    

Years ago, one woman put college on hold because she couldn’t afford it. Now she faces a hard choice to keep history from repeating itself. Plus: What will college even look like this fall?

A teenager protesting police brutality lands in jail, and we try to understand the tricky business of bail.

Millions of Americans who are out of work don’t receive unemployment benefits. That’s by design. An episode from “The Uncertain Hour’s” pop-up season “A History of Now.” If you liked this epsiode, you can hear more at uncertainhour.org.

When you’re 17 or 18, you’re often making choices that can dictate the course of your whole life. Making those decisions during a pandemic is even harder. Today we follow three high school friends trying to figure out what comes after graduation when a global pandemic is clouding everything. By the way, today is the[...]

This week, we’re showcasing a story from our colleagues at “Terrible, Thanks For Asking”: When a supporting pillar is knocked out of a family, the consequences can be costly.

Kevin Harrington was exonerated last month after spending 17 years in prison for a murder conviction. He and his family are overjoyed, but the coronavirus pandemic means freedom looks a little different right now. By the way, Marketplace is in the middle of a really important fundraising drive right now. We know not everyone can[...]

A woman grapples with her shopping addiction in quarantine. By the way, we were just nominated for a Webby! Please take a second and vote for us at wbby.co/pod09.

Danni Askini fought cancer for 18 months before getting COVID-19. Their focus was on surviving, not the cost of care. That didn’t make the bill any easier to take.

The clock is ticking for one college student after she finds out she’s pregnant in the middle of a pandemic, in a state that’s trying to restrict abortion.

How do I keep from fighting with my partner about money? What do I say to a friend who’s just lost a job? This week, a little financial therapy session over zoom to help us all cope with our COVID-19 anxiety.

There are a lot of couples stuck at home right now. Some of them are out of work or dealing with canceled plans. Today, we’ll hear from two couples trying to figure out what their future will look like.

As states across the country close all non-essential businesses, people are rethinking what it means to do the right thing. Today we hear listeners’ stories of pay cuts, layoffs and telling employers they’re putting people at risk.

The coronavirus is changing how we think about money and community. We set out to see how people are coping and put together this audio care package. And we want to check in on you, too — let us know what you’re going through and how you’re getting through it at uncomfortable@marketplace.org.

Would you spot a friend money if they needed it? How about if they asked every month? This week: the limits of friendship.

When WeWork acquired her company, she got executive training, fancy corporate retreats and a dope Patagonia jacket. It was almost enough to make her forget everything she lost. This week: Why we’re so obsessed with our jobs, although they’ll never love us back.

Sam Sanders, host of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute” and Marketplace product specialist Sarah Menendez are here give advice on salary sharing, expensive olive oil, and bridesmaid duties in the latest installment of “The Group Chat.” Got anything you want to run by the group? Tell us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org, and don’t forget to sign up[...]

When a shady business partner leaves a newly married couple on the hook for over $300,000, it tests the limits of “for better or worse.” For even more “This Is Uncomfortable,” sign up for our new weekly newsletter at marketplace.org/comfort.

After getting married, Angie’s husband started to scrutinize every purchase. The situation soon got so much worse. We look at what happens when money becomes a form of control.

Reema (a skeptical Libra) talks with astrologer Chani Nicholas about the booming business of astrology and together they answer listener questions about overspending and toxic bosses.

Money gets complicated when a marriage falls apart. First we’ll hear from a divorce lawyer who ends up representing herself. Then from a couple trying to plan for the day they hate each other.

We’re back Jan. 30 with new stories about life and how money messes with it. You know, the light stuff, like divorce, workaholism and financial fraud. Here’s a sneak peek.

A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life. This is our last rerun before we return with new episodes later this month. To stay on top of when we’re coming back, subscribe to our emails at marketplace.org/comfort.

In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way. We’re rerunning a few of our favorite episodes over the holiday season, and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2020. To stay on top of when we’re coming[...]

Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money? We’re rerunning a few of our favorite episodes over the holiday season, and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2020. To stay on top of when we’re coming back, subscribe to our[...]

Earlier this year, 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. To be the first to know when we’re back with new episodes, subscribe to our newsletter at marketplace.org/comfort.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, “This Is Uncomfortable” revisits the “jobs” we take on in our families — starting with Reema’s. Plus, one couple comes up with a creative way to stop fighting over a dreaded household chore. This is the first of a few favorite episodes we’re rerunning over the holiday season, and we’ll[...]

After a rare cancer diagnosis, one family’s battle with insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and the endless bureaucracy, teaches them about the price tag the medical system can put on a person’s life. By the way, this is our last episode of the year. We’re taking a break for the holidays, replaying a few of our[...]

An aspiring dancer finds a way to become debt-free. All she has to do is take on someone else’s.

“Nancy” host Tobin Low and journalist Julia Furlan join us this week to give advice on office gifts, financial independence and more in the latest installment of “The Group Chat.” Got anything you want to run by the group? Tell us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org

This Halloween, we have listeners’ frightening stories of impulse buys, spooky scams and a very Hungry Heart.

Two couples won a chance at pregnancy, but money has complicated their journeys to build a family.

In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way.

We’re presenting a new segment this week called “The Group Chat.” It’s when we bring in friends of the pod to address your money and job problems. Joining us for this first installment are NPR’s Julia Furlan and Keisha “TK” Dutes of Glitch and “Hear to Slay.” We recorded this episode live onstage at Werk[...]

Caitlin Boston asked for a raise. Her boss gave her a hard no. Then she made it her mission to figure out what she was worth… and to get paid. Plus: we teach you how to get paid too.

Reema was on one of our favorite podcasts, “Call Your Girlfriend,” a few weeks ago to answer listeners’ tricky money questions about divorce, student debt and (shudder) investing.

After hooking up with her roommate, one woman can’t seem to avoid him — or his spending habits, and a couple tries showing their love for each other … in a way neither of them actually loves.

You tell your mom you’re broke. You pretend to have student loans. You wear knock-off couture. People tell lies about money all the time. We asked about your “white lies” — and you didn’t disappoint.

Something to think about when you’re watching the new “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” this weekend: For every piece of this family’s massive empire, matriarch Kris Jenner takes a 10% cut. And when business and family mix, you can’t help but wonder how the lines get blurred. Does being your child’s manager get in the[...]

Aparna Nancherla has made a career in comedy, where she often delves into her own struggles with mental health. We look at what happens when your job is tied to the most painful parts of your life. Plus, The New York Times’ Amanda Hess on treating your work like a commodity.

Most of us tell little white lies at some point or another to make things less weird about money. But what happens when disaster strikes, and your money situation becomes impossible to hide?

When money, death and grief mix there’s no playbook for what to do. And for years, one young man has been stuck. This episode deals with depression and suicide. If you or someone you know needs to talk, call 1-800-273-8255 or text “TALK” to 741741.

A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life.

We’re keeping things just a little uncomfortable this week with another round of our favorite game: Financial Face-Off! But first: We need your help telling a new story.

 When you’re a kid, your parents make all the financial decisions for you. But what happens when you grow up … and don’t agree with their choices?

Growing up, Ziwe Fumudoh wanted to be a pop star. Her parents wanted her to go into medicine or finance. She ended up as a comedian writing for “Desus & Mero.” This week we talk about her work and money.

When you’re a high-stakes gambler laying down tens of thousands of dollars at a blackjack table, the value of money takes on a whole new meaning.

Our new game, “Financial Faceoff” puts one couple’s financial life to the test. Plus, we’ll get an update from the couple in our first episode, Nika and Terence.

Reema Khrais explores the “jobs” we take on in our families — starting with her own. Plus, one couple comes up with a creative way to stop fighting over a dreaded household chore.

What happens when work is the thing that’s making us cry … at work? Plus: Reema asks her old boss an awkward question.

Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money?

This is a show about life and how money messes with it. Every Thursday, we’ll dig into the unanticipated ways money affects relationships, shapes identities and defines what it means to be an adult. The first episode drops June 13.