Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us
BYUradio
Show overview
Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 106 episodes, alongside 3 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 35 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence, with the show now in its 2026th season.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 17 min and 21 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Education show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 25 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 52 episodes published. Published by BYUradio.
From the publisher
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
Latest Episodes
View all 106 episodesI Thought Gen Z Had It Easier. I Was Wrong. - Sean Murphy
"You're Not You Anymore": Facing Alzheimer's Head-On – Dr. Anthony Goodman
How Can You Rebuild a Broken Friendship? – Pete O’Dell
Finding Your Worth After Hitting Rock Bottom – Jane Chen
After a Devastating Accident, He Had to Reinvent Himself - Lt. Edmund Fisher
Breaking Cycles of Trauma and Finding Hope – Tiffany Fletcher
How Four Simple Words Saved a Life and Started a Movement – Joe Tuia’ana
Why New Police Recruits in Portland Have to Walk a Mile with a Teen – Talk a Mile
The Moment She Let Her Community Carry Her – Muffy Mendoza
23 People. Opposing Views on Guns. One Surprising Outcome. – BJ Campbell and Dr. Eric Fleegler
You’re Not Actually Listening (Here’s How to Change That) - Mónica Guzmán
S2026 Ep 14The Night No One Showed Up…and Why He Kept Going – Michael Wilker
What would you do if you planned an event and nobody showed up? Michael Wilker knows exactly how that feels. One night, after years of organizing a monthly meetup, he sat alone at a bar waiting for people that never came. It was awkward, humbling, and it almost made him quit. But he didn’t. Instead, Michael kept showing up, and, over time, that simple decision helped grow a small gathering of six dads into a thriving community of more than 400 men in his neighborhood. ABOUT GUEST Michael Wilker is one of the co-founders of Del Ray Dads, a grassroots community of 400+ men in Alexandria, Virginia. CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:48) Nobody Showed Up (3:37) How Del Ray Dads Began (4:50) The Listserv (6:40) Support in Grief (8:54) Bollywood Dance Rehearsals (12:15) Rules That Prevent Drama (13:37) Why It Lasts (15:05) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 13“Perfectly Hidden Depression” and the Power of Transparency – Dr. Margaret Rutherford
What if the people who seem the most “put together” are actually struggling the most? Clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret Rutherford unpacks something she calls “Perfectly Hidden Depression” — the kind of struggle that hides behind achievement, perfectionism, and a life that looks flawless from the outside. Dr. Rutherford shares how perfectionism can become emotional armor protecting us from pain, but also disconnecting us from real feelings, real relationships, and even ourselves. ABOUT GUEST Dr. Margaret Rutherford is a clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, and author of several books. Her latest is “The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook” (https://drmargaretrutherford.com/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:49) Therapist Tells Her Truth (3:31) Fear of Being Judged (5:43) What is Perfectly Hidden Depression (7:21) Perfectionism as Armor (10:45) Emotional Range Shrinks (12:33) First Steps Toward Change (15:09) Transparency Over Vulnerability (16:52) Julie Reflection and Conclusion
S2026 Ep 12What Paramedics See That Changes Them Forever – Kevin Hazzard
When someone calls 911, they’re not just asking for help, they’re handing over everything. Author and former paramedic Kevin Hazzard takes us inside his very first cardiac arrest call: a Thanksgiving dinner, a grandmother collapsing at the head of the table, and a room full of people waiting for a miracle that might not come. But the moment that stayed with him isn’t what you’d expect. ABOUT GUEST Kevin Hazzard is an author, journalist, TV and film writer, and former paramedic. His memoir is called “A Thousand Naked Strangers.” His new book is “No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn” (https://a.co/d/0eVCVDLA) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:00) Meet Kevin Hazzard (1:25) Thanksgiving Cardiac Arrest (4:29) Aftermath and Family Grace (5:48) Medicine on Display (7:30) Why the Job Hooks You (9:47) Tourist to True Believer (12:03) Mortality and Presence (13:09) Burnout and Wake Up Call (16:09) What Heroism Really Means (18:37) The New Book (20:00) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 11How to Make Someone Feel Heard (Even When You Say No) - Julia Minson
What if the goal of disagreement isn’t to win but to build a bridge to the next conversation? Harvard Kennedy School professor Julia Minson studies one thing: how to disagree better. In this episode of Uncomfy, she shares why most of us confuse disagreement with conflict and how that mistake quietly damages our closest relationships. From ballroom dancing arguments with her husband to a life-and-death disagreement with her mother’s oncologist, Julia explains the powerful difference between being receptive and being persuaded. “You don’t have to give in to make someone feel profoundly heard.” ABOUT GUEST Julia Minson is a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and author of the new book, “How to Disagree Better” (https://www.juliaminson.com/) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:56) Meet Julia Minson (1:30) Kitchen Dance Disagreement (4:12) Disagreement vs Conflict (6:07) Studying Disagreement (7:18) Receptive Not Persuaded (8:43) Mom’s Doctor Story (13:01) Listen With Your Mouth (15:08) HEAR Framework Breakdown (19:12) Authenticity and Practice (21:03) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 10How Advocating for My Child Led to My ADHD Diagnosis – Caitlin Kindred
What do you do when you hear your child’s teacher may be treating them unfairly — and you hate confrontation? Caitlin Kindred shares the phone call that left her shaking… and forced her into “mama bear” mode. What started as an uncomfortable school conflict led to something unexpected: her son’s ADHD diagnosis — and ultimately her own diagnosis at age 38. ABOUT GUEST Caitlin Kindred is a mom, former middle school teacher, and co-host of the podcast “How to Be a Grownup: A Humorous Guide for Moms” (https://www.ckandgkpodcast.com/) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:46) A Call from A Concerned Parent (3:09) Avoiding Confrontation (4:18) Email and Meeting Plan (5:32) ADHD Discovery (7:40) Late Diagnosis Validation (9:49) ADHD Traits and Time (11:30) Parenting With ADHD (13:15) News Stress and Boundaries (16:22) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 9Why You Should Skip the Small Talk — Kalina Silverman
What if one big question could change your life? Kalina Silverman became known around the world for walking up to strangers and skipping the small talk. Instead of “How’s the weather?” she asks questions like: - What are you proud of? - What’s been the darkest time of your life—and how did you get through it? - What do you want to do before you die? She calls it Big Talk, and she thinks everyone should be doing it. ABOUT GUEST Kalina Silverman is the creator of Big Talk (@makebigtalk on Instagram and Tik Tok) and author of the new book, “Big Talk: How to Skip the Small Talk, Make Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life” (https://www.kalinasilverman.com/) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:41) Meet Kalina Silverman (1:39) The First Big Talk Experiment (2:59) The Simple Intro That Works (4:35) The Magic of Talking to Strangers (6:16) Big Talk 101 (7:31) Big Talk Conversations After Disasters (9:42) Listening Without Fixing (10:20) Who the Book Is For (11:39) Personal Impact (12:57) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 8The Text That Could’ve Torn Them Apart — Anne Marie Denman
What happens when someone you love doesn’t react the way you do to something that feels viscerally wrong? After the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Anne Marie Denman texted her mom, and what followed was a conversation that could have deepened a painful divide. Instead, it deepened their connection. CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:42) Meet Anne Marie Denman (2:05) Mom Checks In—And the Reply That Stung (4:34) Catching Dysregulation & Choosing a New Response (5:32) Naming the Real Issue (8:03) The Risk of Uncomfy Conversations (8:59) Her Mom’s Response (and Why It Was Enough) (10:07) A Troubled History and What the Email Changed (13:18) How Their Family Stays Connected Through Deep Differences (15:52) Why Anne Marie Shares Her Story (18:27) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 7Why Asking Questions Feels So Risky Right Now — Shira Hoffer
What if the problem isn’t disagreement — it’s how we ask the question? Shira Hoffer was a freshman at Harvard when she asked what she thought was a simple, honest question and got completely shut down. That moment launched her into studying and helping others with something all of us are wrestling with right now: how to stay curious when conversations get tense. ABOUT GUEST Shira Hoffer is the Executive Director of The Viewpoints Project (https://viewpointsproject.org). Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/02/why-asking-questions-feels-so-risky.html CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Meet Shira Hoffer (1:25) Shira's Classroom Experience (5:19) The Viewpoints Project (6:27) The Science of Curiosity (9:49) Navigating Difficult Conversations (14:12) A Disagreement Gone Wrong (19:26) Conclusion
S2026 Ep 6Free Speech, Fear, and Fixing Conversations on Campus – Raj Vinnakota
What happens when three people with completely different identities and perspectives speak up in the same room, each saying they don’t feel safe? In this episode, Raj Vinnakota shares a powerful moment from a university auditorium where tension was thick, fear was real, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. He unpacks what it actually takes to create spaces on campus (and in everyday life) where people with deeply different views can stay present, curious, and human. We’re all in the same boat. The question is: how do we stay in it together? ABOUT GUEST Raj Vinnakota is the president of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars (https://citizensandscholars.org/). Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/02/free-speech-fear-and-fixing.html CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:12) Meet Raj Vinnakota (2:20) The Conservative Student's Question (4:28) The Pro-Choice Lesbian's Perspective (7:04) Safety and Engagement on Campus (9:19) Creating a Culture of Productive Conversations (11:46) Personal Practices for Better Conversations (13:52) Raj's Personal Experience with Disagreement (15:58) Conclusion