This Is Uncomfortable

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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!