Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

Why are Americans so uncomfortable around sadness and grief? Cultural psychologist Matthew Whoolery has lived and taught all over the world—from Egypt to India to Bulgaria—and he’s learned something surprising: in many cultures, emotional pain is shared, not hidden. In this episode of Uncomfy, Professor Whoolery chats with host Julie Rose about the time his Egyptian students cried with him after h...

Gun safety advocate, documentarian, and author Heidi Yewman sits down with host Julie Rose to talk about the most uncomfortable question she ever asked: “Do you have guns in your home, and are they locked up?” After her former teacher and coach was killed in the Columbine High School massacre, Heidi turned her grief into action. In this episode of Uncomfy, she shares how asking the right question...

Former firefighter Chris Fields became the face of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing when a photo of him carrying a dying infant from the rubble was seen around the world. But behind that iconic image was a man carrying the weight of years of unprocessed trauma. In this powerful episode of Uncomfy, Chris opens up about what it was really like to serve as a first responder for over 30 years—from his f...

What would it look like to dance in the discomfort zone? In this episode of Uncomfy, Anne Bonney—keynote speaker, self-proclaimed “discomfort enthusiast,” marathoner, and podcaster—joins host Julie Rose for a conversation about how choosing discomfort helped her transform her life. From quitting her teaching job to work with sea lions, to running marathons on all seven continents, Anne shares unfo...

Why do we build walls—emotional, social, ideological—and what would it take to break them down? In this thought-provoking episode of Uncomfy, anthropologist Anand Pandian joins host Julie Rose to explore the infrastructure of discomfort in America. Drawing from his new book, “Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life and How to Take Them Down,” Pandian recounts stories from his jou...

Becca Kearl had just moved to a new town when she decided to organize a public conversation about one of the most controversial topics: sex education. No formal training. No guarantees. Just a desire to understand her community better. What started as an ambitious idea turned into a surprising and powerful night of connection between people with deeply different beliefs. In this episode of Uncomfy...

Olivia Chadwick was a personal trainer. Garnet Morris was an entrepreneur looking for support as he tried to improve his health. Their early morning runs, often before sunrise in the middle of Canadian winter, became the start of a meaningful friendship and a journey neither of them expected. In this episode of Uncomfy, host Julie Rose talks with Olivia and Garnet about the habits that helped them...

Dawn Prince-Hughes spent years misunderstood—ostracized, unhoused, and struggling to find her place in the world. Everything changed the day she met a 500-pound silverback gorilla. In this powerful episode of Uncomfy, Dr. Prince-Hughes shares her extraordinary story of being identified as autistic at age 36—and how her connection with gorillas helped her understand human connection, truth, and her...

What happens when the thing you’ve built your life around suddenly disappears? Greta Morgan, acclaimed singer-songwriter (The Hush Sound, Springtime Carnivore) and former touring member of Vampire Weekend, faced that terrifying question when she lost her singing voice due to Spasmodic Dysphonia, a rare neurological condition she suspects was triggered by long COVID. In this deeply personal episode...

On this special Memorial Day episode of Uncomfy, host Julie Rose sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer Gary Zelinski, author of “A Walk Among Heroes: Searching for America’s Better Angels,” to discover the hidden stories buried at Arlington National Cemetery. From boxing legend Joe Louis to Audie Murphy’s unsung wife, Pamela Opal Lee, Zelinski shares the deeply personal journe...

Why would someone willingly step into an uncomfortable conversation, especially with someone who’s hurt them deeply? In this episode of Uncomfy, author and meaningful work researcher Justin Jones-Fosu shares the moving story of confronting his absentee father—not to accuse, but to understand. What followed changed his identity, his peace of mind, and even his connection to his heritage. Justin’s b...

Sometimes the hardest stories are the ones we need to hear most. In this episode of Uncomfy, Dawn Peabody shares the unimaginable loss of her 2-year-old daughter, Maya, who died after being accidentally left in a hot car. Dawn opens up about how she and her husband faced the tragedy, how faith and forgiveness helped them survive, and why she now speaks out in hopes of saving lives. Dawn reminds us...

What would you do if you had to start over in a new country, far from everything familiar? Amy Dott Harmer has spent a decade answering that question—not for herself, but for thousands of refugees in Utah. As Executive Director of Utah Refugee Connection, Amy shares what it's like to truly show up for people who have lost everything, and how dancing awkwardly in a circle of refugee women taught he...

Born with life-threatening medical conditions and told he wouldn’t survive—let alone walk—James Dixon ultimately had his leg amputated as a child. But through relentless determination, deep faith, and his grandmother’s belief that he was Superman, he transformed what others saw as a disability into his greatest superpower. In this powerful episode of Uncomfy, James takes host Julie Rose through hi...

"Why doesn’t God answer my prayers? Is God even real?" Especially around Easter, when faith is supposed to feel joyful and full, these questions can feel even heavier. In this special Easter episode, host Julie Rose speaks with Reverend Kyle Norman—Rector and Dean of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral and author of “Alive, Loved, and Free: Finding Jesus When Faith is Hard.” Together they talk through t...

What if a little financial discomfort today could buy you freedom tomorrow? Host Julie Rose talks with Shang Saavedra—founder of Save My Cents and author of Wealth is a Mindset—about how extreme frugality, mindset shifts, and some seriously uncomfortable choices helped her reach financial independence by age 31. Whether you're buried in money stress or just looking for more freedom, this episode i...

Are you tired of not knowing who to trust in the news? In this episode of Uncomfy, journalist and Mo News founder Mosheh Oinounou opens up about why he walked away from a successful career in traditional news media—and what it takes to build trust in today’s broken media landscape. Mosheh shares some of the shortcomings of traditional media, the origin of Mo News during the pandemic, his reasons f...

What happens when two people on opposite sides of a heated debate come together? Mark Rosenberg, a gun violence research advocate and former CDC official, and the late Congressman Jay Dickey, a staunch NRA supporter, were once bitter enemies. Their clash over the Dickey Amendment, which halted federal funding for gun violence research, seemed insurmountable. Yet, through a series of candid convers...

What if the stories we’re told about each other aren’t true? Therapist Traci Ruble doesn’t buy what the media tells her about people—so she took to the streets to find out for herself. She and a group of volunteers set up Sidewalk Talk, an experiment in radical listening: sitting in public spaces with a sign that says Free Listening and inviting strangers to share whatever’s on their minds. It’s r...

What keeps someone going when justice feels out of reach? Historian and bestselling author Jemar Tisby joins us to talk about the spirit of justice—that relentless, unshakable force that calls people to resist injustice, even when the road is long and exhausting. He shares the powerful experience of Myrlie Evers-Williams, a civil rights leader who never stopped pushing for accountability, even whe...

What's the point of contacting lawmakers and advocating for policies if people in power don't seem to be listening? Jennifer Walker Thomas knows that feeling all too well. In this episode, Jennifer, who co-leads a nonpartisan group advocating for ethical government, shares how leaning into discomfort and choosing to act anyway has helped her and thousands of others find their voices in advocacy, n...

Sharon McMahon—aka "America’s Government Teacher"—is proving that social media doesn’t have to be a battlefield. Instead, it can be a place for learning, connection, and meaningful conversations. By staying curious—even when facing criticism and controversy—she’s built a large, engaged community that thrives on thoughtful discussion. In this episode, Sharon reveals how one small, fact-based video...

Aging is a natural part of life, but it can bring challenges—especially when it comes to caring for elderly loved ones. In this episode, Scottie Gassner reflects on how his relationship with his aging parents shifted after working with his longtime client, Dave, who started training with him at 79. Over the course of their 12 years together, Scottie saw firsthand the realities of aging—both the st...

Ever had a moment where you were certain you were in the right—only to realize the other person felt just as strongly that they were the real victim? That’s exactly what happened to psychologist Kurt Gray. As a teenager, Gray nearly caused a car accident while driving with his friends. What followed was an explosive confrontation—one fueled by outrage and the deep conviction that each party had be...

How do we navigate life’s unexpected twists? For nationally recognized artist and educator James Rees, the answer lies in embracing discomfort and using creativity as a tool for growth. In this episode, Rees shares how his art explores themes of burdens, resilience, and support—and how one deeply moving moment at an art show changed his perspective on the power of connection and healing. When a wo...