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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:

He Told a Patient They Were Dying and Got This Reply – Dr. Neil Farber Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Delivering bad news is one of the hardest parts of being a doctor. Dr. Neil Farber shares a moment with a patient that surprised him and what it taught him about caring for people. In this conversation, Dr. Farber reflects on delivering bad news, the communication skills doctors need, and what patients may be up against when time with a physician is limited. We also talk about physician burnout, administrative burden, patient access, and how the healthcare system shapes the doctor-patient relationship. ABOUT GUEST Dr. Neil Farber is professor emeritus of general internal medicine at the University of California San Diego and author of “Treating a Broken System: A Physician’s Cure for the Healthcare Crisis” (https://neiljfarber.com/). Subscribe to Uncomfy for more conversations about the moments we’d rather avoid and what we can learn by staying with them. CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:34) Meet Dr Neil Farber (1:26) First Bad News Lesson (2:33) The Unexpected Response (3:42) SPIKES Protocol Explained (6:15) When You Can’t Fix It (7:13) Terry’s Diagnosis Story (10:46) Fixing a Broken System (12:45) Solutions for Burnout (13:40) What Patients Can Do (14:41) Wrap Up and Credits (15:53) New Show, “Dispatches from the Divide" #PhysicianBurnout #HealthcareSystem #DoctorPatientCommunication #PatientCare #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareCrisis #MedicalCommunication #PriorAuthorization #DoctorPatientRelationship #Uncomfy

She Wanted to Leave. Now She Wishes She’d Spoken Up. – Emily Bell McCormick Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

One hot flash in a room full of men left Emily Bell McCormick wondering how to escape…and why menopause was still so hard to talk about. Now she’s taking that uncomfortable moment to her state lawmakers, pushing for better menopause care, provider training, and research. In this episode of Uncomfy, Emily shares with host Julie Rose what menopause can look like beyond hot flashes, why menopause symptoms are often misunderstood, and how gaps in women’s health education affect families, workplaces, and relationships. She also shares why menopause should be treated as a public-policy issue and what The Policy Project hopes to change through its Modernizing Menopause Care initiative. Subscribe to Uncomfy for more honest conversations about health, relationships, politics, and the moments we usually avoid. ABOUT GUEST Emily Bell McCormick is the founder and president of The Policy Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to advance practical solutions to issues that difficult to discuss, including menopause care (https://www.thepolicyproject.org/menopause). CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:37) The Hot Flash (2:18) Owning the Moment (3:08) Pitching Menopause to Lawmakers (4:38) The Legislator Who Asked (6:50) Check out “A Braver Way” (8:18) Getting Women to Speak Up (10:11) Policy Plan for Better Care (11:51) Three Fixes (13:45) Wrap Up and Credits (14:30) New Show “Dispatches from the Divide” #Menopause #Perimenopause #WomensHealth #MenopauseCare #HotFlashes #MidlifeHealth #MenopauseAwareness #HealthcarePolicy #MenopauseResearch #UtahPolitics

Who Would Choose to Live Like This? – Cheryl Keil Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

What if your neighbors weren’t just people next door, but co-owners you had to work with every week? Cheryl Keil thought she had found the intentional community she wanted—until the meetings, maintenance, and uneven workloads made her wonder if it was time to leave. Cheryl lives in Wasatch Commons, a co-housing community in Salt Lake City where residents own private homes but share responsibility for the property, common spaces, gardens, and decisions that shape daily life. She talks with Julie Rose about communal living, neighbor conflict, shared housing, social isolation, and why building a real community can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly frustrating. Subscribe to Uncomfy for more honest conversations about connection, conflict, and the moments that challenge how we see one another. More about Wasatch Commons - https://www.wasatchcommons.com/ More about co-housing - https://cohousingalliance.org/ CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:38) Meet Cheryl Keil (2:17) When Community Gets Messy (4:26) Burnout and Almost Moving (5:20) Turning Point and Gratitude (6:58) Fixing the Participation Gap (8:37) Check Out “A Braver Way” (10:05) A Tour of Wasatch Commons (12:19) Highs, Lows, and Lessons (13:47) Wrap Up and Credits (14:57) New Show “Dispatches from the Divide” #Cohousing #IntentionalCommunity #CommunityLiving #SharedHousing #CommunalLiving #Loneliness #SocialIsolation #HousingAlternatives #NeighborConflict #UncomfyPodcast

How Do You Challenge Your Imposter Syndrome? – Joshua Green Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when the voice in your head tells you that you don’t belong? And how can you tell the difference between a real warning and fear holding you back? Joshua Green joins host Julie Rose to talk about why our inner critic often gets loudest when we’re stretching beyond our comfort zones and how past criticism can shape the way we see ourselves. They also explore people pleasing, fear of failure, authenticity, building a support network, and the value of naming our fears instead of letting them make decisions for us. Subscribe to Uncomfy for more honest conversations about the uncomfortable moments that can really teach us something. ABOUT GUEST Joshua Green is a keynote speaker, entertainer, and entrepreneur who helps people overcome imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and negative self-talk (https://joshuaowengreen.com). CHAPTERS (0:00) Own Your Uniqueness (0:10) Welcome to Uncomfy (0:47) Meet Joshua Green (1:14) The Juggling Audition Panic (4:21) Imposter Voice in the Room (5:37) The Results (6:38) Three Takeaways on Authenticity (9:12) Using Self Doubt as a Barometer (11:03) Free Diving and Real Risk (12:46) Voice the Fear, Build Support (15:19) Start Small (16:34) Wrap Up and Credits (17:35) New Show - Dispatches from the Divide #ImposterSyndrome #SelfDoubt #NegativeSelfTalk #Confidence #Anxiety #PersonalGrowth #PeoplePleasing #SelfWorth #MentalHealth #UncomfyPodcast

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

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