Uncomfy: Sticking With Moments That Challenge Us

  Airdate: February 4, 2026 Robert Coplan: It should be okay to say to a friend or a family member or a romantic partner, "I love you. I love spending time with you, but I'm gonna spend some time alone right now, and it's gonna be good," and, in fact, there's research to suggest, somewhat paradoxically, that if you have some good quality me time, the next time you interact with someone, you experience it more positively. Julie Rose: Hey, it's Julie. Welcome to Uncomfy . Staying open to other people is hard for a lot of us right now. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells in every interaction, always just a little, or sometimes a lot, uncomfortable, but I don't want to give up on connection or retreat into a bubble where everybody is just like me. I wanna stay curious, hopeful, and human, and that's what this show is about, so let's get Uncomfy . Robert Coplan: I remember thinking, you know, "Nobody knows exactly where I am. No one kn...

  Airdate: January 28, 2026 Julie Rose: One in four Americans is estranged from someone in their family. Kelsey Blahnik: And I think our society's kinda done this pendulum swing over to a more extreme no-contact trend, cutting people out more aggressively. Julie Rose : Hey, it's Julie. Welcome to Uncomfy. Lately, it just really feels hard to stay open to others when it seems like we're all living in completely different realities. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells in every encounter, just constantly uncomfortable. But I don't wanna give up on connection or retreat into a bubble where everybody is just like me. I wanna stay curious, hopeful, and human, and that's what this show is about. So, let's get Uncomfy. Kelsey Blahnik: Oh, I know when I start to get really uncomfortable in a social setting, I start sweating. I get a little shaky, I get a little cold, and that's when I know there's a part of me that's wanting to shrink in and eve...

  Airdate: January 7, 2026 Julie Rose: Why does helping a stranger feel so uncomfortable? Bob Fabey: It is not convenient ever, uh, to help people, even if, if it's a moment where you say, "Hey, are you good?" Even that moment, you know, there's, there can be fear in us, and I think fear is a huge motivator for why people don't get uncomfortable. Julie Rose: Hey, it's Julie. Welcome to Uncomfy, a show about sticking with moments that challenge us even when they're uncomfortable. And I get it, nobody likes to be Uncomfy, but I've learned from experience, and you probably have too, that sometimes a little discomfort has benefits if we stay open and curious about it. And that's what we're here to explore, so let's get Uncomfy. I'm joined today by Bob Fabey. He's a pastor at Living Faith Anglican Church in Tempe, Arizona. He's author of a couple of books. One is called, "Not My Jesus," and the other is, "The Di...

  Airdate: December 10, 2025 Julie Rose: W hen's the last time you took a hard look at your own side? Shadi Hamid: There has to be self-criticism and a kind of self-awareness. If everyone was just a little bit more focused on their own political tribe or their own group, I think we'd all be better off instead of always putting blame on the people who oppose us. Julie Rose: Hey there, it's Julie. Welcome to Uncomfy, a show about sticking with moments that challenge us even when they're uncomfortable. And I get it, nobody likes to be uncomfortable, but I've learned from experience, and maybe you have too, that sometimes a little discomfort has benefits if we can stay open and curious about it. And that's what we're here to explore, so let's get Uncomfy. Changing your mind about something is often uncomfortable. Admitting that change publicly? Even more Uncomfy, especially when it's a political topic and you're going against the grain of your...

  Airdate: November 6, 2025 Julie Rose: What does it take to have your voice heard by your member of Congress? Jay Butera: You can't go in expecting one meeting is going to change the world. This was a long, long process of building relationships, establishing credibility and a good rapport, finding common ground. Julie Rose: Hey, it's Julie. Welcome to Uncomfy, a show about sticking with moments that challenge us even when they're uncomfortable. And I get it, nobody likes to be Uncomfy, but I have learned from experience, and you probably have too, that sometimes a little discomfort has benefits if we can stay open and curious about it. And that's what we're here to explore, so let's get Uncomfy. Today, I'm joined by two guests: Sam Daley-Harris and Jay Butera. Now, Sam is the founder of RESULTS and Civic Courage, and he's got a book called "Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen's Guide to Transformational Advocacy." Sam Daley-Har...