Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

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

Episodes

A Lost Letter, a Stranger’s Kindness, and a Christmas to Remember. #LightTheWorld

December 17, 2025 • 12 mins
When Amy Dott Harmer, executive director of the Utah Refugee Connection, discovered a forgotten note tucked inside Santa’s chair after a holiday celebration for refugees, she didn’t know what to do. The letter listed humble wishes: clothes, diapers, even toilet paper. Overwhelmed and out of time, Amy turned to social media, and that’s when Lenice Paulsen stepped up. In this special Light the World episode of Uncomfy, host Julie R...
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From Anti-War Activist to Defender of American Power — Shadi Hamid

December 10, 2025 • 18 mins
When’s the last time you took a hard look at your own side? Political columnist and foreign policy expert Shadi Hamid joins Uncomfy to talk about the difficult, often painful process of changing your mind — especially when it means challenging the people on your own side. Hamid, once an outspoken critic of American power and an anti-war activist, now argues the opposite in his new book, “The Case for American Power.” In this epis...
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I Picked Up a Stranger and It Changed Both Our Lives #LightTheWorld

December 3, 2025 • 16 mins
When Tucson mom Rachel Scholes stopped to help a homeless woman on the side of the road, she didn’t know what to do next. Years later, she learned that her small act of kindness had changed a life forever. This heartwarming true story reminds us that no act of service is wasted even when it feels small or inconvenient. This episode is part of the “Light the World” initiative, a global invitation from The Church of Jesus Christ ...
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The Disagreement Julie Rose Wishes She Handled Better

November 26, 2025 • 23 mins
This week, we’re sharing something a little different on Uncomfy. Our host, Julie Rose, joins Michael Lee on his podcast When We Disagree—a show about arguments, why we have them, and what they teach us about ourselves. In this conversation, Julie opens up about one of her deepest regrets: a long-running disagreement with her late mother over what news she watched. It’s a raw, personal reflection on how our emotions can block us ...
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Fighting For What You Want Without Things Getting Ugly – Alexis Morgan

November 19, 2025 • 19 mins
Is it possible to keep heated political debates from devolving into name calling and ugliness? In this episode of Uncomfy, host Julie Rose sits down with Idaho public education Alexis Morgan. Morgan shares how The Dignity Index reshaped her approach to conflict—especially during Idaho’s heated debate over a controversial school voucher law. From moderating tense town halls to facing opponents in court, Alexis opens up about the...
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Can We Disagree Without Contempt? — Tim Shriver (The Dignity Index)

November 12, 2025 • 18 mins
What if you could disagree with someone — even someone who attacks your beliefs — without losing your cool or your dignity? Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International and co-creator of The Dignity Index, joins host Julie Rose to unpack how contempt creeps into our conversations and how to replace it with curiosity, humility, and respect. Together they explore: - What “The Dignity Index” is and how it evaluates our di...
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How One Citizen Got Congress to Work Together on Climate Change — Jay Butera and Sam Daley-Harris

November 5, 2025 • 21 mins
What does it really take to make your voice heard in Congress? In this episode, Host Julie Rose talks with Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS and Civic Courage, and Jay Butera, the citizen advocate who helped create the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in Congress. Jay shares how he spent three years hearing “no” before finally convincing one Republican member of Congress to say “yes” to working across the aisle on climate c...
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He Walked 4,000 Miles Across America. What Did He Learn? — Andrew Forsthoefel

October 29, 2025 • 21 mins
What happens when you walk across America with nothing but a backpack, a mandolin, and a sign that says, “Walking to Listen”? Host Julie Rose sits down with author and restorative practices consultant Andrew Forsthoefel to explore the power of vulnerability, the discomfort of rejection, and the surprising beauty of human connection. Andrew shares stories from his 4,000-mile journey — from receiving a knife and a warning not to t...
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How Bruce Springsteen Saved My Life: Anne Abel’s Story of Depression and “High Hopes”

October 22, 2025 • 19 mins
When Anne Abel hit an all-time low at 59, she never expected a Bruce Springsteen concert to change her life. After years of battling severe recurrent depression and losing her memory to electroconvulsive therapy, Anne found a spark of hope in Springsteen — a spark that led her to travel alone to Australia for eight concerts in five cities. That trip became the start of a new life filled with courage, creativity, and connection. ...
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Should Political Conversations Be Happening at Church? — Reverend Clay Stauffer

October 15, 2025 • 16 mins
Should politics be off-limits in church? Reverend Clay Stauffer doesn’t think so. Two months after a member of his congregation was killed in The Covenant School shooting, Rev. Stauffer invited his community to gather in their sanctuary for a discussion about gun violence — a conversation most churches would rather avoid. Host Julie Rose talks with him about what compelled him to do it, why he believes churches should be “big te...
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Becoming Hip-Hop's Biggest Sign Language Interpreter — Matt Maxey

October 8, 2025 • 18 mins
Have you ever struggled to be understood? Matt Maxey spent most of his childhood trying to fit into the hearing world. He went to speech therapy, avoided sign language, and thought leaving Deaf culture behind was the only way to succeed. But when he showed up at Gallaudet University — the country’s only Deaf university — he suddenly found himself in a place where everyone expected him to use ASL, a language he didn’t even know, a...
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Growing Up with Autism and a Father’s Tough Love — Leland Vittert (NewsNation)

October 1, 2025 • 17 mins
What happens when a parent refuses to let a diagnosis define their child? TV news anchor Leland Vittert shares his story of growing up with autism, the “tough love” lessons his father insisted on, and how those moments of discomfort shaped the man and reporter he became. In this conversation with host Julie Rose, Vittert opens up about bullying, rejection, resilience, and the powerful role his father played in teaching him to a...
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Political Violence and the Power of Listening: What Comes Next? — Manu Meel

September 24, 2025 • 20 mins
“People don't actually follow outrage; what they follow is what is unique and different.” Host Julie Rose talks with Manu Meel, co-founder and CEO of BridgeUSA, about how a new generation of college students is challenging the outrage economy, especially in the wake of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. Meel explains that while conflict and violence often dominate headlines, the real counterculture movement is people hungry...
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From Prison to Peace: Sulaiman Khatib’s Journey Beyond Violence

September 17, 2025 • 17 mins
“There is another way.” Julie Rose sits down with Sulaiman Khatib, two-time Noble Peace Prize nominee and co-founder of Combatants for Peace. As a teenager, Khatib, a Palestinian, was imprisoned for attacking Israeli soldiers. But behind bars, he discovered the power of nonviolent resistance, studying the works of Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. Today, he works side by side with Israelis to build trust, tell hard tr...
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Sitting Down with My Best Friend’s Killer - Amanda Carrasco

September 10, 2025 • 19 mins
“I had a need to tell him how I felt. I wanted him to feel some of my pain.” Amanda Carrasco, restorative justice advocate and author of "Becoming the Brave One: My Journey to Justice," shares her story of choosing to have a restorative justice meeting with the man who killed her closest friend, Susan, who had taken Amanda in as a teen and become like a sister to her. In this powerful conversation with host Julie Rose, Amanda e...
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How Disability Made Me a Better Parent — Jessica Slice

September 3, 2025 • 20 mins
What makes someone fit to parent? In this episode of Uncomfy, writer Jessica Slice shares her story of becoming disabled at 28, learning to let go of perfectionism, and eventually embracing motherhood in her own way. Jessica talks about the obstacles she and her husband faced while trying to become foster parents, how she adapted parenting to her body, and why disability doesn’t equal tragedy. Check out more of Jessica’s work ...
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How Concerts Can Turn Fans into Activists – Caleb Johnson

August 27, 2025 • 20 mins
What if your parents didn’t believe your life’s work was a priority issue? Planet Reimagined’s Caleb Johnson knows what that’s like. Growing up in a conservative evangelical family, climate change wasn’t exactly dinner table conversation. But a wildfire that came to their doorstep, and later losing their fire insurance, changed everything. In this episode of Uncomfy, Caleb shares how empathy helped him bridge that divide, why loc...
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“Band of Brothers” Writer Tackles Love Across the Political Divide in New Film – Erik Bork

August 20, 2025 • 17 mins
What happens when love crosses the political divide? Host Julie Rose sits down with “Band of Brothers” writer and producer Erik Bork to talk about his directorial debut, “The Elephant in the Room” — a romantic comedy where a Liberal and a Trump voter fall for each other. Inspired by Erik’s real-life friendships and fueled by a desire to explore America’s deepening polarization, this episode dives into the uncomfortable but necess...
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The Pain of Suicide Loss, and the Power of Naming It – Melissa Bottorff-Arey

August 13, 2025 • 16 mins
“We're not moving on — we're moving forward.” In this touching episode of Uncomfy, grief coach Melissa Bottorff-Arey opens up to host Julie Rose about losing her 21-year-old son Alex to suicide, and why she chose to name it in his obituary. Melissa shares how stigma, silence, and misunderstanding compound the pain of suicide loss, especially for mothers. She explains how simply showing up, even when you don't know what to say, ca...
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Why Small Acts of Kindness Matter More Than You Think – Nicole Karlis

August 6, 2025 • 13 mins
When was the last time you did a small act of kindness for someone else? In this episode of Uncomfy, award-winning journalist Nicole Karlis shares the surprising story that inspired her book, Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis. What began as an unusual, uncomfortable challenge from a Vedic astrologer in India turned into a life-changing exploration of how serving others impacts our...
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