Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us — Education
Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

Real stories from guests who dared to get uncomfortable in a moment that challenged their worldview. In the thick of intense emotions, they chose to stay curious and open, rather than lash out or shy away, and came out the other side with stronger relationships, clearer beliefs, and increased confidence. And you can do it too!

So, if you:
• Want to engage with others on important topics but aren’t sure how,
OR
• Are burned out on social media and wish you could bring the humanity back into discussions online or in real life,

Look no further! Whether you’re a seasoned seeker of new ideas or just dipping your toes into the uncomfy waters, this podcast is your go-to destination for learning how to improve your communication, disagree more productively, and be a more inspired leader.

In such a polarized world, we believe learning how to stick with moments that challenge us, without getting defensive or shutting down, is a direct antidote for division.
Are you ready to lean in, listen up, and get uncomfy with us? Let’s dive in together!

Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments that Challenge Us is hosted by journalist Julie Rose and is a BYUradio production.

#reallifestories #communication #polarization #relationshipskills #communicationskills #leadershipskills #leadershiptraining #community
#communitybuilding #disagreebetter #buildingbridges #perspectives #worldview #resilience #emotionalresiliance #mentalhealth #training
#mindfulness #conflictresolution #growthmindset #empowerment #problemsolving #respect #curiosity #activelistening #collaboration

Copyright: © 2024 BYU Broadcasting

Latest Episodes:

What First Responders Carry: Chris Fields’ Journey Through PTSD (REPLAY) Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

As the country reflects on 25 years since 9/11, we’re revisiting this conversation about the lasting trauma first responders can carry long after an emergency is over. Chris Fields spent 31 years with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. In 1995, he responded to the Oklahoma City bombing and became part of one of the tragedy’s most iconic images, carrying three-month-old Baylee Almon from the wreckage. Years later, after cumulative trauma and PTSD began to take a toll, Fields had to confront what it meant to ask for help. Chris joins host Julie Rose to talk about the pressure first responders feel to stay strong, the cost of burying painful experiences, and how vulnerability and treatment helped him begin to heal. Resources mentioned: Trauma Behind the Badge - https://www.traumabehindthebadge.us/ Survive First - https://www.survivefirst.us/ Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) - Call or text 988 Original airdate: July 9, 2025 CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:47) Meet Chris Fields: A Firefighter's Journey (4:59) The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing (6:34) The Iconic Photo (8:52) The Long Road to Healing (12:19) Helping Others Through Trauma (17:16) Oklahoma First Responders Wellness Division (19:06) Resources and Final Thoughts

She Spent Decades Hiding This. Then Someone Asked One Question. – Aneela Idnani Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the thing you’ve spent years hiding is suddenly impossible to hide? Aneela Idnani spent decades concealing trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling disorder). She joins host Julie Rose to talk about shame, self-compassion, and the unexpected moment that helped her see her struggle differently. ABOUT GUEST Aneela Idnani is the co-founder of HabitAware, maker of the Keen bracelet—a wearable designed to help people notice and interrupt body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs)—and author of the memoir “Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows?” More about HabitAware and the Keen bracelet – https://habitaware.com/ Check out the book – https://a.co/d/06VfcVFj CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (1:09) Aneela’s Secret Revealed (3:47) Hiding and Shame (5:01) How Pulling Started (7:35) Life Choices and Anxiety (8:58) Finding the Diagnosis (11:11) Therapy and Turning Point (12:50) A Helpful Invention (15:42) Community and Self Compassion (17:01) Wrap Up

Could 5,000 New Yorkers Agree on the Future of Ground Zero? – Carolyn Lukensmeyer Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Months after the 9/11 attacks, New Yorkers were deeply divided over what should become of Ground Zero. Carolyn Lukensmeyer brought nearly 5,000 of them into one room to find a way forward. She joins host Julie Rose to share what happened when people with grief, money, and competing visions at stake tried to truly listen to each other. ABOUT GUEST Carolyn Lukensmeyer is the founder of AmericaSpeaks. Her work is featured in the new documentary “9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero,” streaming now. Amazon Prime - https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0H967BL44 Apple - https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/911-reclaiming-ground-zero/umc.cmc.4qgdl58od8p41hs5kl42er4g2 Be sure to also check out “The Untold Story of How America Remembers 9/11,” a special two-part series over on the Top of Mind podcast feed. - https://lnkfi.re/TopofMind CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:49) Meet Carolyn Lukensmeyer (3:32) Stakes and Stakeholders (5:43) Listening to the City (7:45) Officials Start Over (9:34) How the Setup Worked (13:11) What Changed at Ground Zero (15:52) Future of Democracy Tools (18:05) Conclusion

He Lost Both Hands. The Hardest Part Wasn’t Learning to Live Without Them. – Scott Martin Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

What happens when pushing through is no longer enough? Scott Martin survived a life-threatening illness that cost him both hands and parts of his feet, then fought to return to the soccer field. But the emotional recovery took much longer. He joins host Julie Rose to talk about disability, identity, and what it means to stop pretending you’re fine. ABOUT GUEST Scott Martin is an award-winning soccer coach and author of “Play From Your Heart: A Journey Through Loss, Resilience, and the Beautiful Game” (https://a.co/d/07XYwtuZ). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:42) Meet Scott Martin (1:05) The Horrifying Encounter (1:55) Sudden Illness Strikes (2:55) Waking Up to Amputation (4:49) Rehab Like an Athlete (6:56) Learning Prosthetic Control (8:40) Faking It and Fear (9:50) Confidence Cracks (11:24) Rock Bottom (12:27) Rebuilding from Scratch (14:37) Return to Coaching and Belonging (16:13) Owning Identity and Purpose (18:03) Conclusion

How Dressing Up Helped One Woman Fight Loneliness – Mollie Kaye Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

For years, Mollie Kaye dressed in full 1950s style every Tuesday: hats, gloves, heels, and all. She initially worried that people would find her strange or annoying. Instead, her vintage outfits became an invitation to connect. Mollie shares how small compliments and pleasant conversations with strangers helped her fight loneliness, build community, and discover the unexpected power of being seen. ABOUT GUEST Mollie Kaye is a writer, performer, and vintage-fashion enthusiast who became known as the “Tuesday Lady” after dressing in 1950s style every Tuesday to create meaningful connections with strangers (https://www.instagram.com/turned_out_tuesdays/). Check out her TEDx talk - https://youtu.be/mcYPiQGyZbM?si=mvczBkoh-olpMQTb CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:37) Meet Mollie Kaye (1:20) Why Tuesdays (3:13) Dread to Delight (5:01) Wear Comment Bait (6:49) Receive Compliments (8:05) From Compliments to Connection (9:33) Loneliness and Looking Up (10:46) Wrap Up

How Do You Face a Future You Didn’t Choose? – Laura Lummer Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when something happens that you can’t control and you’re terrified of what comes next? For Laura Lummer, that moment came with a devastating cancer diagnosis. She couldn’t control what was happening or how the people she loved reacted to it, but she could decide where to put her energy. Laura joins host Julie Rose to talk about fear, the surprising weight of other people’s feelings, and learning to look toward the life ahead instead of the one you thought you’d have. ABOUT GUEST Laura Lummer is a certified life, health, and nutrition coach, host of The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach podcast, and founder of Better Than Before Breast Cancer (https://www.thebreastcancerrecoverycoach.com/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:51) Meet Laura Lummer (1:24) Stage Four Shock (4:15) Choosing to Heal (5:14) Future Self Mindset (6:36) Handling Others’ Reactions (8:31) Better Than Before (11:16) When Fear Returns (13:18) Advice to Past Self (14:24) Wrap Up

She’s Covered the News for 20 Years. Here’s How Faith Kept Her Hopeful. – Niala Boodhoo Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

After 20+ years covering the news, journalist Niala Boodhoo has seen how easy it is to become cynical. But she’s choosing a different approach—bringing together two things journalists have traditionally kept separate: faith and the news. In this episode, Niala joins host Julie Rose to talk about why she’s done keeping faith on the sidelines and what it might add to the way we understand the news and each other. ABOUT GUEST Niala Boodhoo is an award-winning journalist and podcast host who has worked with NPR, Axios, Reuters, and the Miami Herald. She is the creator and host of the new podcast “Oh God Now What,” which explores current issues through religious, spiritual, and moral wisdom (https://nialaboodhoo.substack.com/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:47) Meet Niala Boodhoo (1:13) The Layoff (1:49) Walking the Camino (4:33) News Trauma and Faith (6:30) Reimagining a News Show (8:50) Oh God Now What (11:32) Big Questions Sacred Lens (12:12) Hope Frameworks and Values (13:13) Wrap Up

BONUS – How to Make the Most of Those Uncomfy Holiday Moments. Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

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 Follow us on social media! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheUncomfyPod/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uncomfy.podcast/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theuncomfypodcast YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Uncomfy.Podcast Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/uncomfypodcast.bsky.social Threads - https://www.threads.net/@uncomfy.podcast X - https://x.com/TheUncomfyPod

BONUS: Why We Choose to Lean into the Discomfort of Making this Podcast. Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

Meet the teams behind Top of Mind and Uncomfy in this special crossover episode, where we share stories of sticking with a challenging perspective while working on the shows. We are exposed to a lot of nuanced viewpoints as we put podcast episodes together, which gives us the perfect opportunity to practice what we preach: choosing to lean into discomfort instead of lashing out or shying away. We’ve found clarity about our own beliefs, empathy for the people around us, and also developed the skills to tackle tough conversations. Tune in to Top of Mind to practice engaging with important, complicated topics. Check out Uncomfy, too, where we’re sharing stories of people choosing to engage in an uncomfortable moment instead of stepping back. And if you’ve had an “Uncomfy” experience lately, share it with us by emailing uncomfy@byu.edu. Guests: Top of Mind producers - Alayna Beck, Caleb Leach, Vanessa Goodman, and James Hoopes. Uncomfy producers - Samuel Benson and Henrique Prado. Related Links: What Does it Mean to Be White in America?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-does-it-mean-to-be-white-in-america The Changing Ways We Decide Who Gets into College and Why it Matters: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-the-changing-way-we-decide-who-gets-into-college-and-why-it-matters Why We’re So Anxious About Retirement in America — And How We Can Fix It: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-why-were-so-anxious-about-retirement-in-america-and-how-we-can-fix-it What Can We Do About America’s Money in Politics Problem?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-can-we-do-about-americas-money-in-politics-probl Spending a Day with People Who Think You Hate Them – Jefferson Shupe: https://www.byuradio.org/e14-spending-a-day-with-people-who-think-you-hate-them-jefferson-shupe

TRAILER - Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Real stories from guests who dared to get uncomfortable in a moment that challenged their worldview. In the thick of intense emotions, they chose to stay curious and open, rather than lash out or shy away, and came out the other side with stronger relationships, clearer beliefs, and increased confidence. And you can do it too! If you want to engage with others on important topics but aren’t sure how, or are burned out on social media and wish you could bring the humanity back into discussions online or in real life, look no further! Whether you're a seasoned seeker of new ideas or just dipping your toes into the Uncomfy waters, this podcast is your go-to destination for learning how to improve your communication, disagree more productively, and be a more inspired leader. In such a polarized world, we believe learning how to stick with moments that challenge us, without getting defensive or shutting down, is a direct antidote for division. Are you ready to lean in, listen up, and get Uncomfy with us? Let's dive in together! The new podcast launches July 10th with new episodes every Wednesday on your podcast platform of choice. Make sure to follow or subscribe so that you never miss an episode. Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments that Challenge Us is hosted by journalist Julie Rose and is a BYUradio production. #reallifestories #communication #polarization #relationshipskills #communicationskills #leadershipskills #leadershiptraining #community #communitybuilding #disagreebetter #buildingbridges #perspectives #worldview #resilience #emotionalresiliance #mentalhealth #training #mindfulness #conflictresolution #growthmindset #empowerment #problemsolving #respect #curiosity #activelistening #collaboration

Related Podcasts