This Is Uncomfortable

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 motivation – and how to keep our hobbies from turning into just another job. 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!

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 in a role he never expected, and how he redefined his money values … when he escaped to the forest. Have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome in a new job? We want to hear about it, so give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org. And you can check out Reema’s interview on Steve’s podcast, “Alive with Steve Burns” here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

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 share practical ways to stay grounded and prepared – from reframing your anxiety to strengthening your safety net. Have you ever struggled with layoff anxiety? We want to hear about it, so give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

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 Evans to understand how prenups work and the deeper emotions underneath. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. If you have thoughts, strong opinions about prenups - if you’ve signed one or are trying to decide if you should - we’d love to hear about it! You can email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or call 347-RING-TIU to leave a message. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

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 Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

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 how financial secrecy can fracture relationships — and sometimes bring people closer. 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. Have you ever kept a big money secret from your partner? We want to know! And follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

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 him, financially and culturally, and why holding onto Arabic feels especially urgent right now. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or about a tricky financial decision you’ve made, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or call 347-RING-TIU. And follow our new social accounts on Instagram and Tiktok @ThisIsUncomfortablePod

Ever wrestled with an unusual work problem and didn’t know where to turn? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama,” we try to find answers to your sticky work situations. This week, Reema is joined by culture writer and podcaster, Sarah Hagi (host of “Scamfluencers”) to unpack some uncomfortable workplace problems – from scammy bosses and boundary-pushing coworkers to negotiating for a raise and navigating workplace friendships. 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.

Job hunting has a way of testing your limits. It can be hard not to question yourself (or spiral) when the process stretches on far longer than you imagined. Reema is joined by career coach Phoebe Gavin and writer Rachel Meade Smith to talk about the emotional side of the job hunt -- practical ways to navigate it, and how to get through it without losing yourself. Do you have a job hunting horror story you want to share with us? Or general work drama that you’d want advice on? Give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org.

What does it mean to have “enough” money? Reema Khrais explores the feeling behind this question — the fear, comparison and the way “not enough” can follow us around even when things technically look okay on paper. She talks with experts and people who’ve landed on very different answers, including someone whose definition of “enough” meant closing her bank account and giving up money altogether. 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.

“This Is Uncomfortable” returns Jan. 15. Listen to this note from Reema for more, including an exciting change — we're going to start coming to you weekly! Bringing you more uncomfortable conversations with everyday people, experts, and authors about how money shapes our choices, relationships, and identity. 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.

Reema and the team are working on some updates to the podcast that will arrive in your feeds in the new year. You’ve been telling us you want more TIU and we heard you. Stay tuned to this feed for more soon… In the meantime, if you’re looking for something that gets you thinking about the emotional side of money, you’ll enjoy Reema’s recent guest appearance on “Alive with Steve Burns.” Reema and Steve dig into what she’s learned about money over the years and why talking about finances can feel so strangely vulnerable and awkward. To hear more episodes, follow “Alive with Steve Burns” wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/AlivewithSteveBurnsfd

This week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes, plus a new update and your surprising reactions. While sorting through her father’s belongings after his death, Amanda Petteruti came across a collection of locked toolboxes. What she discovered inside made her rethink what she knew about her family’s finances and left her with unsettling questions about her dad: Why had he spent so much money on this secret hobby? Why was it now Amanda’s burden to handle? And how do you find closure with someone once they’re gone? We want to know what you think about This Is Uncomfortable. Please complete a short, anonymous survey by going to marketplace.org/survey. It should only take about 10 minutes, and you do all of us at Marketplace a huge favor by filling it out.

What would you do with a million dollars…in crypto? Reema Khrais talks with Marketplace reporter Matt Levin about one man’s journey to becoming crypto rich. Levin’s reporting reveals a complicated picture, not just about the ups and downs of crypto, but also about what it means to chase the American dream when you're living on the margins. We want to know what you think about This Is Uncomfortable. Please complete a short, anonymous survey by going to marketplace.org/survey. It should only take about 10 minutes, and you do all of us at Marketplace a huge favor by filling it out.

From our sponsor: Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On “What We Spend,” people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets — and their lives — to tell you everything: What they make, what they want, and — for one week — what they spend.

When newlyweds Chantal and Travis Lisback started searching for their dream home in Seattle, they weren’t entirely on the same page. Chantal was eager to settle down as soon as possible, while Travis was more comfortable waiting a few years. As the search dragged on, what began as a shared dream started to feel more like a standoff. This week, a story about how a big life decision can bring to light the money and communication issues you didn’t know were there. Plus, later in the episode, Chantal and Travis sit down with financial therapist Aja Evans to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface, and how to approach money fights with more care and intention. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

Ever wrestled with a work problem and didn’t know where to turn? We’ve got you. In our new advice column, “Work Drama,” we try to find answers to your sticky work situations. This week, “This Is Uncomfortable” host Reema Khrais is joined by career coach and podcaster Mandi Woodruff-Santos to unpack your workplace problems -- from messy, toxic bosses to dealing with salary negotiations. Got workplace drama you need help dealing with? Shoot us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org to tell us about it, or call ‪(347) 746-4848‬ and leave a message. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

After decades of trying to make it as an actor and comedian in Hollywood, Claudette Powell felt deeply unfulfilled. So she set her sights on a radically different life -- one that required her to pay off nearly $150,000 of debt. When she finally wrote that last check, she took a vow of poverty and entered a convent. But leaving behind her material life wasn’t as simple as it sounded. This week: how paying off debt was only the beginning – and how money still finds a way to complicate life within convent walls. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

Hanna Sanborn was a single mom with newborn twins, struggling to find affordable childcare. Her best friend, Bryer Rossi, was burned out at work and looking for a way out. One day, Hanna floated an idea to him: “What if you quit your job and took care of my babies?” What started as a running joke between friends turned into a lifeline that changed their lives and the way they saw each other. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

“This Is Uncomfortable” returns with four brand-new episodes about life and how money messes with it. This season: Two best friends, struggling with work and unaffordable child care, come up with an unconventional solution that reshapes their relationship. A woman walks away from a Hollywood career to take a vow of poverty. Our “Money Fight” series is back, following a couple whose search for a dream home turns into a power struggle. And in our new advice series, "Work Drama," we tackle your uncomfortable work questions on toxic offices and pay discrepancies. New episodes drop starting May 1.