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, navigate tough political conversations, and create meaningful change—without abandoning kindness. From drafting op-eds to sitting down with legislators, she explains why the most effective advocates aren’t the loudest but the most persistent.

Jennifer Walker Thomas is the co-executive director of MWEG, a nonpartisan, faith-based community of women that advocates for ethical government, and co-host of the Proclaim Peace podcast.

Related Links

MWEG website – https://www.mweg.org/

The Proclaim Peace podcast - https://www.mormonwomenforethicalgovernment.org/proclaim-peace

MWEG Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mormonweg/

Top of Mind episode on activism - https://www.byuradio.org/2cd9f87f-8ec0-44bc-b750-3d80775728d2/top-of-mind-with-julie-rose-does-activism-work-being-a-social-activist-in-todays-world

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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 changed the course of her career, leading her to educate millions about government, history, and civic engagement. She opens up about the discomfort of going viral, the resilience it takes to navigate online discourse, and the philosophy that guides her: “Just do the next needed thing.” Whether she’s breaking down political complexities or mobilizing her followers to raise millions for medical debt relief, Sharon demonstrates how stepping into discomfort can lead to meaningful change.

A former high school government teacher turned social media educator, Sharon McMahon is the author of The Small and the Mighty, a New York Times bestseller highlighting unsung heroes who shaped American history. She also hosts the popular podcast Here's Where It Gets Interesting, where she brings history to life with engaging storytelling and deep dives into civic topics.

Can you think of a time when you felt your perspective or worldview challenged and instead of getting defensive, you chose to lean into the discomfort? Email your story to [email protected] or share it on Instagram and tag us @uncomfy.podcast, and we’ll share it!

And if you enjoyed this episode, you should check out the conversation we had with Kurt Gray a few weeks ago on why we get so angry and what we can do about it - https://youtu.be/Hkzm9iQmAsk

Related Links:

Sharon McMahon’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/

Sharon McMahon’s Book, The Small and the Mighty - https://sharonmcmahon.com/book

Sharon McMahon’s Podcast, Here’s Where It Gets Interesting - https://sharonmcmahon.com/podcast

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 struggles and the small victories. That experience gave him a new perspective on what it means to grow older and helped him approach his parents with more patience and understanding.

Julie and Scottie talk about the complexities of caring for aging parents, the importance of being present, and how small acts of compassion can make a big difference. Scottie also shares his approach to staying engaged and purposeful at any stage of life.

Scottie Gassner is a personal trainer, life coach, and host of the podcast Just Be with Scottie G.

Related Links

Scottie Gassner’s website - https://heyjustbe.com/

Top of Mind episode on aging - https://www.byuradio.org/adc3edb5-6e8f-4be9-848f-2fe549704153/top-of-mind-with-julie-rose-hope-or-dread-lets-rethink-our-obsession-with-aging

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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 been wronged. That heated moment didn’t just shake him—it sparked a career-long fascination with moral psychology.

Why do we get so emotionally charged in moments of perceived injustice? And more importantly, how can we break through these cycles of outrage to find common ground?

Gray, now a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina and author of Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground, explores how our moral instincts shape our reactions—and how understanding them can help us bridge the divides that seem deeper than ever.

Can you think of a time when you felt your perspective or worldview challenged, and instead of getting defensive, you chose to stick with the discomfort? We’d love to hear your story! Send it our way at [email protected], or reach out on Instagram @uncomfy.podcast. And if this episode got you thinking, share it with a friend—you never know what kind of conversation it might spark!

If you enjoyed this episode, you won’t want to miss another Uncomfy conversation where a car accident takes an unexpected turn, leading to an unlikely friendship. - https://youtu.be/zO6bQJ4M23M

Related Links

Gray’s book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground - https://outragedbook.com/

Gray's Website - https://www.kurtjgray.com/

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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 woman purchased one of his pieces to honor her sister who died by suicide, Rees saw firsthand how art can give meaning to grief and transform pain into purpose. After 30 years of teaching and serving as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, he reflects on the lessons he’s learned about courage, creativity, and the beauty of embracing uncertainty.

Related Links

James Rees’ website - https://www.jamesreesart.com

James Rees’ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jamesreesart

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Kaitlyn Schiess (Curiously Kaitlyn, The Holy Post) opens up about a pivotal conversation with someone at her church that reshaped how she approaches the tricky intersection of politics and faith. She dives into the power of asking meaningful questions to get at the heart of others—even when beliefs feel under attack. Sharing stories from her own journey of teaching kids in church, wrestling with tough theological questions, and navigating heated debates about the Bible and American politics, Schiess reminds us how curiosity and a steady heart can pave the way for deeper connections and insights.

Kaitlyn Schiess is a theologian, podcast host, and author of The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go From Here. She is currently pursuing a PhD in political theology at Duke Divinity School.

Another Holy Post podcast regular, David French, was also on Uncomfy recently talking about being willing to admit you’re wrong. Check it out here - https://youtu.be/wD7V1_-0w2w

Related Links

Kaitlyn’s Website – https://kaitlynschiess.com/

Kaitlyn’s book, The Ballot and the Bible – https://kaitlynschiess.com/the-ballot-and-the-bible

Kaitlyn’s podcasts - https://kaitlynschiess.com/podcasts

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Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, political commentators and co-hosts of the Pantsuit Politics podcast, reflect on a pivotal moment in their professional partnership during the 2016 presidential election. Holland had worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign and was a big fan of the candidate. Silvers was not. It was a tough one to navigate - and it was right at the beginning of their friendship and podcasting. But instead of fracturing their collaboration, it taught them how to respect their differences and lean into them to make the podcast more interesting for listeners. Today, Holland and Silvers pride themselves on modeling disagreement as they "take a different approach to the news" to help Pantsuit Politics listeners feel more empowered and enga

Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers are the hosts of the podcast Pantsuit Politics and co-authors of Now What? How to Move Forward When We Are Divided About Basically Everything.

Related Links

Pantsuit Politics website – https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/

Pantsuit Politics Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/pantsuitpolitics/

Their book, Now What? How to Move Forward When We Are Divided About Basically Everything. - https://a.co/d/jbGCoas

About the Podcast

Uncomfy: Sticking With Moments That Challenge Us is a BYUradio podcast all about people leaning in to uncomfortable moments to grow stronger, communicate better, and bridge divides. If you’re seeking practical tools for navigating a polarized world, come join us! Hosted by journalist Julie Rose.

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Hélène Biandudi Hofer shares a story about navigating an awkward meeting where a client tried to sideline her in favor of her business partner, Amanda Ripley. She teaches us how storytelling, staying curious, and asking the right questions can help us turn conflict into a good thing.

From a young age, Hofer learned the value of storytelling from her great-grandmother and father. In 2018, after a successful career in broadcast journalism, she took a leap and partnered with Ripley to create Good Conflict, which helps people and organizations embrace conflict as a tool for growth.

Hélène Biandudi Hofer is a conflict navigator, storyteller, and co-founder of Good Conflict.

Can you think of a time when you felt your perspective or worldview challenged and instead of getting defensive or bailing out, you chose to lean into the discomfort and stick with it – and you’re glad you did? Email your story to [email protected] or share it on Instagram and tag us @uncomfy.podcast, and we’ll share it!

Related Links

Good Conflict website - https://www.thegoodconflict.com/

Good Conflict Master Class - https://www.thegoodconflict.com/master-class

Good Conflict Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thegoodconflict/

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Constance Scharff takes us on a ride from food tours in Turkey to overcoming a personal battle with trauma and addiction. She opens up about the uncomfortable journey that led to discovering the transformative power of somatic therapy and how it helped heal her deep emotional wounds. So, whether it’s feeling out of place while traveling or tackling deep-seated issues, this chat is all about embracing discomfort to grow and heal.

Constance Scharff, dubbed the Indiana Jones of mental health research, travels the world learning from indigenous communities and recently spent a year visiting seven countries for her book on everyday bravery. She is also an author and the director of the Human Resilience Project.

Can you think of a time when you felt your perspective or worldview challenged and instead of getting defensive or bailing out, you chose to lean into the discomfort and stick with it – and you’re glad you did? Email your story to [email protected] or share it on Instagram and tag us @uncomfy.podcast, and we’ll share it!

Related Links

Constance Scharff’s website - https://www.constancescharff.com/

More on the Human Resilience Project - https://youtu.be/p0WbgrPErvo?feature=shared

More info on somatic therapy - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951

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In this special bonus drop, four of our 2024 Uncomfy guests give some advice on how to stick with the discomfort that can come around the holidays. From potentially uncomfortable encounters with relatives to dealing with mental health struggles, we hope this advice helps you to get Uncomfy during this festive season.

Featured Guests: Vanessa Otero (Ad Fontes Media), Erik DaRosa (From Survivor to Thriver), David French (The New York Times), and Rich Harwood (The Harwood Institute)

Related Links:

Vanessa Otero’s Uncomfy episode – https://youtu.be/ms7b-aDHMjk

Erik DaRosa’s Uncomfy episode – https://youtu.be/aBTyU2UZeU0

David French’s Uncomfy episode – https://youtu.be/wD7V1_-0w2w

Rich Harwood’s Uncomfy episode – https://youtu.be/jCpJ1e2Uwj4

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