This Is Uncomfortable

Two couples won a chance at pregnancy, but money has complicated their journeys to build a family.

In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way.

We’re presenting a new segment this week called “The Group Chat.” It’s when we bring in friends of the pod to address your money and job problems. Joining us for this first installment are NPR’s Julia Furlan and Keisha “TK” Dutes of Glitch and “Hear to Slay.” We recorded this episode live onstage at Werk It, the women’s podcasting festival from WYNC Studios, earlier this month at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles.

Caitlin Boston asked for a raise. Her boss gave her a hard no. Then she made it her mission to figure out what she was worth… and to get paid. Plus: we teach you how to get paid too.

Reema was on one of our favorite podcasts, “Call Your Girlfriend,” a few weeks ago to answer listeners’ tricky money questions about divorce, student debt and (shudder) investing.

After hooking up with her roommate, one woman can’t seem to avoid him — or his spending habits, and a couple tries showing their love for each other … in a way neither of them actually loves.

You tell your mom you’re broke. You pretend to have student loans. You wear knock-off couture. People tell lies about money all the time. We asked about your “white lies” — and you didn’t disappoint.

Something to think about when you’re watching the new “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” this weekend: For every piece of this family’s massive empire, matriarch Kris Jenner takes a 10% cut. And when business and family mix, you can’t help but wonder how the lines get blurred. Does being your child’s manager get in the way of being a good mom? This week, BuzzFeed’s Zan Romanoff walks us through the history and stigma of the “momager,” and we hear from a real-life stage mom about her day-to-day.

Aparna Nancherla has made a career in comedy, where she often delves into her own struggles with mental health. We look at what happens when your job is tied to the most painful parts of your life. Plus, The New York Times’ Amanda Hess on treating your work like a commodity.

Most of us tell little white lies at some point or another to make things less weird about money. But what happens when disaster strikes, and your money situation becomes impossible to hide?

When money, death and grief mix there’s no playbook for what to do. And for years, one young man has been stuck.This episode deals with depression and suicide. If you or someone you know needs to talk, call 1-800-273-8255 or text “TALK” to 741741.

A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life.

We’re keeping things just a little uncomfortable this week with another round of our favorite game: Financial Face-Off! But first: We need your help telling a new story.

When you’re a kid, your parents make all the financial decisions for you. But what happens when you grow up … and don’t agree with their choices?

Growing up, Ziwe Fumudoh wanted to be a pop star. Her parents wanted her to go into medicine or finance. She ended up as a comedian writing for “Desus & Mero.” This week we talk about her work and money.

When you’re a high-stakes gambler laying down tens of thousands of dollars at a blackjack table, the value of money takes on a whole new meaning.

Our new game, “Financial Faceoff” puts one couple’s financial life to the test. Plus, we’ll get an update from the couple in our first episode, Nika and Terence.

Reema Khrais explores the “jobs” we take on in our families — starting with her own. Plus, one couple comes up with a creative way to stop fighting over a dreaded household chore.

What happens when work is the thing that’s making us cry … at work? Plus: Reema asks her old boss an awkward question.

Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money?

This is a show about life and how money messes with it. Every Thursday, we’ll dig into the unanticipated ways money affects relationships, shapes identities and defines what it means to be an adult. The first episode drops June 13.