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This is a show about life and how money messes with it. Each week, Marketplace’s Reema Khrais digs in with stories about the unanticipated ways money affects relationships, shapes identities and often defines what it means to be an adult. How much money do you lend a friend? Who can afford to vote? Can you get your life back after being wrongfully convicted?
The fight for fair pay in Big Tech
One woman’s fight against Silicon Valley’s racial pay gap. Plus, why it’s so hard for Black workers in tech to get ahead
22:5302/07/2020
How to pay for college
Years ago, one woman put college on hold because she couldn’t afford it. Now she faces a hard choice to keep history from repeating itself. Plus: What will college even look like this fall?
29:1518/06/2020
It’s expensive to get arrested
A teenager protesting police brutality lands in jail, and we try to understand the tricky business of bail.
27:1605/06/2020
Barred from benefits (from The Uncertain Hour)
Millions of Americans who are out of work don’t receive unemployment benefits. That’s by design. An episode from “The Uncertain Hour’s” pop-up season “A History of Now.”
If you liked this epsiode, you can hear more at uncertainhour.org.
36:3728/05/2020
School’s out (forever?)
When you’re 17 or 18, you’re often making choices that can dictate the course of your whole life. Making those decisions during a pandemic is even harder. Today we follow three high school friends trying to figure out what comes after graduation when a global pandemic is clouding everything.
By the way, today is the last day of Marketplace’s spring fundraising drive. We know not everyone can afford to give, but if you love the show and you are in a position to donate, we would really appreciate it. You can give and find more information at marketplace.org/giveTIU.
23:0821/05/2020
Our parents’ debts (from Terrible, Thanks for Asking)
This week, we’re showcasing a story from our colleagues at “Terrible, Thanks For Asking”: When a supporting pillar is knocked out of a family, the consequences can be costly.
46:3415/05/2020
From prison to pandemic
Kevin Harrington was exonerated last month after spending 17 years in prison for a murder conviction. He and his family are overjoyed, but the coronavirus pandemic means freedom looks a little different right now.
By the way, Marketplace is in the middle of a really important fundraising drive right now. We know not everyone can afford to give, but if you love the show and you are in a position to donate, we would really appreciate it. You can give and find more information at marketplace.org/giveTIU.
20:5407/05/2020
A $35,000 COVID bill
Danni Askini fought cancer for 18 months before getting COVID-19. Their focus was on surviving, not the cost of care. That didn’t make the bill any easier to take.
20:3323/04/2020
What it’s like getting an abortion in Texas right now
The clock is ticking for one college student after she finds out she’s pregnant in the middle of a pandemic, in a state that’s trying to restrict abortion.
15:2916/04/2020
Zoom therapy in a pandemic
How do I keep from fighting with my partner about money? What do I say to a friend who’s just lost a job? This week, a little financial therapy session over zoom to help us all cope with our COVID-19 anxiety.
19:3709/04/2020
Love in the time of coronavirus
There are a lot of couples stuck at home right now. Some of them are out of work or dealing with canceled plans. Today, we’ll hear from two couples trying to figure out what their future will look like.
23:1703/04/2020
Hard choices
As states across the country close all non-essential businesses, people are rethinking what it means to do the right thing. Today we hear listeners’ stories of pay cuts, layoffs and telling employers they’re putting people at risk.
19:0627/03/2020
COVID-19 comforts
The coronavirus is changing how we think about money and community. We set out to see how people are coping and put together this audio care package.
And we want to check in on you, too — let us know what you’re going through and how you’re getting through it at [email protected].
15:3820/03/2020
What’s a friendship worth?
Would you spot a friend money if they needed it? How about if they asked every month? This week: the limits of friendship.
21:1612/03/2020
WeWork too much
When WeWork acquired her company, she got executive training, fancy corporate retreats and a dope Patagonia jacket. It was almost enough to make her forget everything she lost. This week: Why we’re so obsessed with our jobs, although they’ll never love us back.
25:4805/03/2020
My boyfriend wants to pay my rent
Sam Sanders, host of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute” and Marketplace product specialist Sarah Menendez are here give advice on salary sharing, expensive olive oil, and bridesmaid duties in the latest installment of “The Group Chat.” Got anything you want to run by the group? Tell us at [email protected], and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter at Marketplace.org/comfort.
26:3727/02/2020
In sickness and in fraud
When a shady business partner leaves a newly married couple on the hook for over $300,000, it tests the limits of “for better or worse.”
For even more “This Is Uncomfortable,” sign up for our new weekly newsletter at marketplace.org/comfort.
23:3221/02/2020
Total financial control
After getting married, Angie’s husband started to scrutinize every purchase. The situation soon got so much worse. We look at what happens when money becomes a form of control.
27:2013/02/2020
What’s your sign?
Reema (a skeptical Libra) talks with astrologer Chani Nicholas about the booming business of astrology and together they answer listener questions about overspending and toxic bosses.
26:0306/02/2020
Divorce Story
Money gets complicated when a marriage falls apart. First we’ll hear from a divorce lawyer who ends up representing herself. Then from a couple trying to plan for the day they hate each other.
23:4530/01/2020
I have class anxiety (rerun)
A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life.
This is our last rerun before we return with new episodes later this month. To stay on top of when we’re coming back, subscribe to our emails at marketplace.org/comfort.
20:5716/01/2020
When money makes it weird (rerun)
Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money?
We’re rerunning a few of our favorite episodes over the holiday season, and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2020. To stay on top of when we’re coming back, subscribe to our emails at marketplace.org/comfort.
31:0226/12/2019
Bonus: Money horror stories II
Earlier this year, Hayden started getting these surprise gifts in the mail. Once he realized who sent them to him, he wondered just how far the gift giver would go. Plus, two more stories of spending regret.
To be the first to know when we’re back with new episodes, subscribe to our newsletter at marketplace.org/comfort.
21:1312/12/2019
Home/work (rerun)
Just in time for Thanksgiving, “This Is Uncomfortable” revisits the “jobs” we take on in our families — starting with Reema’s. Plus, one couple comes up with a creative way to stop fighting over a dreaded household chore.
This is the first of a few favorite episodes we’re rerunning over the holiday season, and we’ll be back with new episodes in 2020. To stay on top of when we’re coming back, subscribe to our emails at marketplace.org/comfort.
21:3228/11/2019
When your life depends on it
After a rare cancer diagnosis, one family’s battle with insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and the endless bureaucracy, teaches them about the price tag the medical system can put on a person’s life.
By the way, this is our last episode of the year. We’re taking a break for the holidays, replaying a few of our favorite episodes and working on some new stories. Make sure you’re the first to know about new episodes by subscribing to our newsletter at marketplace.org/comfort.
23:5021/11/2019
Love thy neighbor, and pay off their debts, too
An aspiring dancer finds a way to become debt-free. All she has to do is take on someone else’s.
24:3614/11/2019
Don’t buy your boss a gift
“Nancy” host Tobin Low and journalist Julia Furlan join us this week to give advice on office gifts, financial independence and more in the latest installment of “The Group Chat.” Got anything you want to run by the group? Tell us at [email protected]
24:1807/11/2019
Money horror stories
This Halloween, we have listeners’ frightening stories of impulse buys, spooky scams and a very Hungry Heart.
21:0631/10/2019
Sperm, baby, sperm
Two couples won a chance at pregnancy, but money has complicated their journeys to build a family.
24:5524/10/2019
Instrument of sabotage
In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way.
24:0717/10/2019
TIU Live: I hate my boss
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.
19:5010/10/2019
F you, pay me
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.
21:1003/10/2019
Money advice with “Call Your Girlfriend”
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.
21:0326/09/2019
Everyday liars
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.
13:5712/09/2019
Cashing in on your kids
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.
17:1005/09/2019
Trapped in your personal brand
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.
21:0129/08/2019
What dad left behind
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.
26:2515/08/2019
I have class anxiety
A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life.
19:5308/08/2019
That thing you buy and don’t tell your parents about
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.
16:0601/08/2019
The college fund
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?
22:4925/07/2019
Ziwe Fumudoh makes people uncomfortable
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.
22:4018/07/2019
Lost in the game
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.
23:4011/07/2019
Guess my financial secret
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.
13:0103/07/2019
Home/work
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.
20:1827/06/2019
Crying at work
What happens when work is the thing that’s making us cry … at work? Plus: Reema asks her old boss an awkward question.
23:2920/06/2019
When money makes it weird
Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money?
31:4413/06/2019