This Is Uncomfortable

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 emotio...

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 an...

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 formin...

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...

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 t...

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@marketplac...

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 sha...

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...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 stu...

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,...

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...

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...

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 gamblin...

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 t...

  For a lot of us, money is a source of anxiety and guilt. Reema recently joined the podcast “ Happier with Gretchen Rubin ” for a roundtable conversation with Gretchen and Haley Sacks (a.k.a. Mrs. Dow Jones) about why money feels so emotionally loaded – and the small, realistic changes that can make managing it feel easier.

Maybe you’ve heard that little voice: What if I could make a little money from this? The urge to monetize your hobby can feel tempting, but is it worth it?  Reema talks with people who’ve tried to turn their pastimes into side hustles and finds out what they’ve gained, lost and learned along the way. Then, she speaks with a leading expert on creativity about how money can quietly reshape our motiv...

Steve Burns didn’t set out to become a children’s TV icon. He moved to New York with only a duffle bag full of clothes, $300 in his pocket, and a dream to become an actor. When Steve got hired to host “Blue’s Clues” from 1996 to 2002, he found himself disoriented by fame and uncertain of his career trajectory. Reema talks with Steve about finding meaning outside of work, feeling like an imposter i...

With more layoffs in the news, a lot of workers are feeling spooked. It can be hard not to spiral into what ifs: What if the next paycheck is my last? What if I can’t find another job?  We look at how to cope with that uncertainty and what you can do to help protect yourself. Reema talks with psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, career coach Melody Wilding, and financial educator Jannese Torres, who sha...

Think that a prenup isn’t for you? Think again! Prenups are not just for rich people: they can protect you against debt and mitigate future issues like spousal support and custody. You’ve got to talk honestly about money if you want to build a shared financial life together, while still protecting yourself. This week, Reema Khrais talks with family lawyer Sahar Taylor and financial therapist Aja E...

Reema is joined by Sam Sanders (host of KCRW’s “ The Sam Sanders Show ”) to answer your questions about money and dating. We’ve got questions about scammers, secret investments, and secondary partners. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have a sticky money situation you need advice on, call and leave us a message at 347-RING-TIU or email uncomfortable@marketplace.org Fol...

How much do you share with your partner about your finances? Sometimes, a little privacy starts to look a lot like a secret. And secrets (especially the money kind) have a way of becoming problems. On this week’s episode, Reema talks to people on the streets of Portland about their real-life money secrets, and chats with divorce lawyer Randy Kessler and couples counselor Jeff Guenther, who’ve seen...

Author and journalist Aymann Ismail wants his kids to grow up with a real connection to their Egyptian roots, including speaking Arabic. For his family, that means committing to a private Islamic school -- and figuring out how to afford tuition. Reema sits down with Aymann as he walks through his family budget and the financial trade-offs that decision requires. They talk about what’s at stake for...