Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

98 episodes

The Moment She Let Her Community Carry Her – Muffy Mendoza
04/29/2026 | 18 mins.
What happens when the person everyone relies on has nothing left to give?

Muffy Mendoza, founder of Brown Mamas, talks about grief, burnout, and the breaking point that changed everything.

After losing her father and refusing to slow down, Muffy kept pushing until the day she showed up to one of her biggest events… and no one came. What felt like betrayal turned out to be something else entirely: a wake-up call she couldn’t ignore.

ABOUT GUEST
Muffy Mendoza is the founder of Brown Mamas, a sisterhood that connects thousands of moms with resources, advice and community that started in Pittsburgh and now has chapters in multiple states (https://www.brownmamas.com).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:47) Meet Muffy Mendoza
(1:42) Grief and Overwork
(3:45) The Empty Event Wakeup
(5:21) Ego Check
(6:36) When the Cup Is Empty
(8:11) What Brown Mamas Does
(9:37) How Brown Mamas Began
(11:23) Learning to Receive Help
(13:37) Rotation Is Life
(14:39) Ask for Help
(16:05) Conclusion
23 People. Opposing Views on Guns. One Surprising Outcome. – BJ Campbell and Dr. Eric Fleegler
04/22/2026 | 17 mins.
BJ Campbell, a Second Amendment advocate, and Dr. Eric Fleegler, a physician and researcher focused on preventing gun violence, were part of a year-long experiment—two dozen people with radically different views on guns meeting month after month to find common ground on policy.

It sounds impossible. At first, even they thought it would fail.

But something surprising happened: they were able to create a set of gun policies they could all stand behind.

How did they do it?

ABOUT GUESTS
BJ Campbell is a gun owner and Second Amendment advocate who writes for Recoil Magazine and Open Source Defense (https://hwfo.substack.com/p/after-action-report-bridging-the).
Dr. Eric Fleegler is a pediatric emergency physician at Massachusetts General Hospital who researches gun violence prevention and firearm-related injury (https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/23684/eric-fleegler).

Learn more about the project and the policies they agreed on - http://bridgethedividenow.org/

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:39) A Bold Gun Policy Experiment
(1:19) Meet BJ Campbell and Dr. Eric Fleegler
(2:06) Expectations and Skepticism
(3:48) Dr. Fleegler on Real Compromise
(4:42) Background Check Exemptions
(6:58) Campbell's Trust Moment on Red Flags
(9:08) Humanizing and Building Bonds
(12:06) Hope and Limits of Scaling
(13:28) Why the Effort Matters
(15:02) Conclusion
You’re Not Actually Listening (Here’s How to Change That) - Mónica Guzmán
04/15/2026 | 16 mins.
Have you ever left a conversation thinking, “They didn’t hear me at all”?

Journalist and author Mónica Guzmán shares stories from her own life, from not fully listening to her daughter, to navigating emotional disagreements with her mom, to setting intentional conversations with people who see the world differently.

She unpacks what’s really going on in our heads when we stop listening and how small shifts can completely change the way we connect, especially with our loved ones.

ABOUT GUEST
Mónica Guzmán is the author of “I Never Thought of It That Way,” an advisor with Braver Angels, and the founder of Reclaim Curiosity (https://linktr.ee/moniguzman).
Check Mónica out on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moniguzman/

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:31) Mónica’s Call with Mom
(3:35) What She Needed from Mom
(4:47) Acknowledge Good Points
(5:37) Three Conversations at Once
(7:03) Spanish at Home Lesson
(9:24) Critical Listening Trap
(10:34) Repairing Missed Moments
(12:36) Scheduling Disagreement Talks
(15:15) Wrap Up and Resources
The Night No One Showed Up…and Why He Kept Going – Michael Wilker
04/08/2026 | 16 mins.
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
“Perfectly Hidden Depression” and the Power of Transparency – Dr. Margaret Rutherford
04/01/2026 | 18 mins.
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

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About 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

Podcast website

Education News Personal Journals Politics Relationships Self-Improvement Society & Culture