This Is Uncomfortable

When Susan was a teenager, she set out to find answers about her birth parents. As an adoptee, she longed to know where she came from. When she eventually reunited with her birth parents as a teenager, she thought she’d finally feel at peace. She couldn’t have known that many years later, she’d find herself in a very similar position, only this time longing for her own child. We follow Susan’s deeply personal story, taking a look at the interplay of money and adoption, and how history can have a way of repeating itself.Get even more Uncomfortable by subscribing to our newsletter.

Who can you trust with your money? Your parents? Your spouse? Or do you really need to keep control every step of the way? This week on the show, two stories of what happens when people don’t have control of their own finances. Sally, a 79-year-old listener, wrote to us about an experience with her second husband that still haunts her to this day. And we revisit a previous guest on the show, Hayli McKnight, who told us back in season one about the time her father spent her college savings. It turns out, Hayli’s finances have only gotten more complicated since we last spoke, and not just because of her dad. 

When reality dating fans tune into their favorite shows like “The Bachelor,” they expect to see dramatic rejections, hateable villains—all the staple elements of the genre. These formulas keep audiences watching and keep the money rolling in for TV networks. And for a relatively small price—networks don’t have to pay teams of writers, and sometimes they don’t even pay the cast. But while corporations profit, there is a hidden cost for the people who make these shows so entertaining. On this episode, we’ll hear about the long-term costs of making reality dating shows from Nadia Jagessar, a contestant on “Indian Matchmaking,” as well as former “Bachelor” producers Jazzy Collins and Michael Carroll. 

What do you do when you find money? What if we’re talking about a lot of money? “This Is Uncomfortable” joins up with “Snap Judgment” to explore the ethics of finders-keepers. To get even more Uncomfortable, subscribe to our newsletter.

When Kate Beaton graduated college, she had exactly one goal: get rid of her student debt as fast as possible. The goal took priority over everything else in her life, including the dream of trying to make it as an artist. But when she decided to take a job in the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, she didn’t know she would be entering a workplace that was a world of its own, where the ordinary rules of society would not always apply. 

We follow up with a listener and former guest who wrote to us about her struggle with class anxiety during our first season. We’ll also share an excerpt of Marketplace’s latest podcast, “Financially Inclined,” featuring an interview with Reema discussing emotions around money.

Matt knew from a young age that he was kinky and submissive, but he never understood the appeal of financial submission … until he tried it for himself.Give now to support “This Is Uncomfortable” during our May fundraiser.

For years, Quinn held onto a terrible secret. It took a huge toll not just on their mental health, but also on their career trajectory and financial life. When Quinn learns they aren’t alone with this secret, it leads them down an astonishing path they never could have imagined.Content warning: This episode deals with issues of grooming and sexual abuse. We hope our listeners take care while tuning in.Give now to support “This Is Uncomfortable” during our May fundraiser.

When Ashleigh was a freshman in college, she saw a flier: earn up to $10,000 by selling your eggs. She thought, “Sure, I could use the money!” Her decision to sell her eggs set her on a journey that would define the next ten years of her life. And it would fundamentally change the way she thought about starting her own family.Give now to support “This Is Uncomfortable” during our May fundraiser.

“This Is Uncomfortable” is back for its eighth season on May 18. This season, we’re exploring how secrets shape our financial lives — the secrets we keep and the secrets we want to know. We’ll look at how those secrets take a toll, from the traumas we hold on to, to the price we’ll pay to learn the truth. Listen to the trailer, and follow “This Is Uncomfortable” wherever you get podcasts. And to get even more Uncomfortable during the season, sign up for our newsletter. Each Friday morning, we’ll bring you a note from host Reema Khrais, new stories from listeners, tough money questions and recommendations from our team. Here’s the latest issue.Give now to support “This Is Uncomfortable” during our May fundraiser.