Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

85 episodes

Why Cutting People Off Isn’t Always the Answer (According to a Social Worker) — Kelsey Blahnik
1/28/2026 | 14 mins.
What do you do when your values clash with the people you love most?

Licensed clinical social worker and author Kelsey Blahnik joins Uncomfy to challenge the growing “no-contact” trend and offer a more nuanced alternative she calls The And Way—a framework for holding your convictions and staying in relationship.

Kelsey Blahnik’s book, The And Way: Assertive Peacemaking in a Divided World — https://theandwaypress.com

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:00) Meet Kelsey Blahnik
(1:36) A Dinner Gone Awkward
(3:03) Navigating Disagreements
(4:20) Therapeutic Insights
(5:57) Balancing Relationships and Boundaries
(7:54) Practical Examples
(11:20) “The And Way” in Personal Life
(12:21) Conclusion
Serving on the Edges: 60 Years of Catholic Ministry, Faith, and Change — Father Francis Gargani
1/21/2026 | 21 mins.
Father Francis Gargani entered religious life as a teenager and has remained in the Church through seasons of change, challenge, and growth. Over the years, his ministry has taken many forms—from parish life and campus ministry to caring for people with AIDS and walking alongside LGBTQ Catholics seeking spiritual community. Throughout it all, he reflects on what has helped him stay rooted: community, prayer, and a deep trust in God’s presence.

Together, host Julie Rose and Father Francis explore what it means to stay when faith becomes uncomfortable and how community, compassion, and a deep conviction in God’s love can sustain a life of service.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Father Francis Gargani was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1971 and is a member of the Redemptorists of Baltimore Province (https://redemptorists.net/).

Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/01/serving-on-edges-60-years-of-catholic.html

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:37) Meet Father Francis Gargani
(1:08) Early Religious Journey
(4:14) Challenges in Pastoral Ministry
(7:35) Campus Ministry and AIDS Outreach
(11:30) LGBTQ Outreach and Controversy
(13:53) Intentional Communities and Modern Ministry
(17:12) Finding Peace and Staying Hopeful
(19:23) Conclusion
He Let Strangers Yell at Him... And It Changed the Conversation — Adam Becker
1/14/2026 | 18 mins.
How would you react if thousands of strangers chose to berate you online?

Adam Becker, CEO of HeadOn, shares what happened when he, a Jew living in Israel, began video-chatting with complete strangers online right after October 7th, 2023. Some insulted him. Some threatened him. But instead of clicking away, he chose to stick it out.

Through thousands of conversations, Adam discovered surprising ways to humanize conversations that usually turn hostile. Those experiments eventually became the foundation for HeadOn, a platform where AI helps match people, set conversational “challenges,” and reduce misunderstanding.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Adam Becker is the CEO of HeadOn, an online platform designed to help people have good-faith conversations about deeply divisive issues including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (https://headon.ai)

Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/01/he-let-strangers-yell-at-him-and-it.html

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:37) Meet Adam Becker: CEO of HeadOn
(2:36) Experimenting with Conversations on Chat Apps
(3:54) Handling Hostility and Building Understanding
(7:53) Humanizing Through Shared Experiences
(10:05) Scaling Conversations with AI
(11:13) How HeadOn Matches and Moderates Conversations
(15:13) The Goal: Reducing Misunderstandings
(16:58) Conclusion
Why Helping a Stranger Feels So Uncomfortable — Bob Fabey
1/07/2026 | 17 mins.
Pastor and author Bob Fabey shares a moment that changed the way he sees people forever — when an elderly woman collapsed in a grocery store and shoppers literally stepped over her to check out.

Host Julie Rose and Father Fabey explore why fear, inconvenience, and social conditioning keep us from stopping, even when we know someone needs help. From everyday moments of discomfort to the devastating consequences of dehumanization, this conversation examines what happens when we stop seeing people as people.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Bob Fabey is a pastor at Living Faith Anglican Church in Tempe, Arizona, author of “Not My Jesus” and “The Dignity Gap,” and a TEDx speaker whose work focuses on dignity, faith, and human connection. (https://www.bobfabey.com/)

Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/01/why-helping-stranger-feels-so.html

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:18) Meet Bob Fabey
(0:55) A Woman Collapses in a Grocery Store
(2:36) When People Are Stepped Over Instead of Seen
(3:16) The Rationalizations We Make to Avoid Helping
(4:11) Fear, Inconvenience, and Choosing to Be Uncomfy
(5:32) Learning to Practice Compassion in Real Time
(7:24) A Teacher Who Changed Everything
(10:27) Dignity vs. Respect
(11:24) Loving People You Don’t Like
(12:49) Rwanda and the Cost of Dehumanization
(15:48) Final Thoughts
A Fresh Start: How Curiosity Can Repair Relationships — Justin Jones-Fosu (REPLAY)
12/31/2025 | 18 mins.
Happy New Year! As many of us think about fresh starts, healing strained relationships might be part of that journey. Today, host Julie Rose revisits a powerful conversation with Justin Jones-Fosu, meaningful work researcher and author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.”

Justin shares the deeply personal story of reconciling with his father after years of distance and hurt — not by seeking an apology, but by choosing curiosity over assumptions and conversation over confrontation. His insights remind us that reconciliation doesn’t always require agreement. Sometimes it simply asks us to stay on the road with people instead of “taking the exit.”

Learn more about Justin Jones-Fosu’s work - https://workmeaningful.com/

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:46) Justin Jones-Fosu on Avoidance and Curiosity
(2:35) A Personal Story of Reconciliation
(5:00) The Concept of 'Taking the Exit'
(12:47) The Circles of Grace Challenge
(16:27) Conclusion

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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

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