Episodes

  • Help! My work crush just became my boss!
    May 7 2026

    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.

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    28 mins
  • Patrick Radden Keefe on parenting in the age of mega-wealth
    Apr 30 2026

    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

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    30 mins
  • What it costs to leave the U.S.
    Apr 23 2026

    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

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    34 mins
  • Would you tell your BFF about your credit card debt?
    Apr 16 2026

    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

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    31 mins
  • Why do parents turn their kids into influencers?
    Apr 9 2026

    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!

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    27 mins
  • Wait...where did my retirement money go?
    Apr 2 2026

    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!

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    36 mins
  • What happens when you can bet on anything?
    Mar 26 2026

    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.



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    28 mins
  • What’s money between friends 😟😖😫
    Mar 19 2026

    It’s bound to happen in any friendship: an unfulfilled Venmo request, a trip that’s way out of your budget, or a dispute over splitting the bill at a restaurant. This week, we’re answering your questions about navigating tricky money situations with friends.


    Reema is joined by comedians and real-life friends Josh Gondelman and Alison Leiby to talk through everything from expensive bachelorettes to Venmo nickel-and-diming.


    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!

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    30 mins