Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

• From Prison to Peace: Sulaiman Khatib’s Journey Beyond Violence

  “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 truths, and imagine a future of collective liberation for Israelis and Palestinians. With the conflict in Gaza entering its second year, Sulaiman Khatib’s story is a rare glimpse of hope. Sulaiman’s organization, Combatants for Peace – https://www.cfpeace.org/ New documentary featuring Combatants for Peace, “There is Another Way” – https://www.thereisanotherwayfilm.com/ Subscribe to Uncomfy for more stories of people leaning into life’s hardest, most uncomfortable moments. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Meet Sulaiman Khatib 02:20 Life in Prison and Embracing Non-Violence 04:18 Founding Combatants for Peace 05:30 Building Trust and Overcoming Barriers 06:49 The Power of Storytelling 08:28 Combatants for Peace: Actions and Impact 10:42 Hope for Collective Liberation 16:24 Conclusion

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• Sitting Down with My Best Friend’s Killer - Amanda Carrasco

  “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 explains what restorative justice really is, why it’s not “soft on crime,” and how the process helped her release fear and reclaim her voice. Learn more about Amanda’s work and new memoir - https://amandacarrasco.com/ Check out the “Top of Mind” episode on the purpose of prisons and their role in the justice system - https://www.byuradio.org/1267d7ae-9f9b-48f8-b005-b7814846ccb6/top-of-mind-with-julie-rose-what-is-the-purpose-of-prison Share your Uncomfy story with us - [email protected] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uncomfy.podcast Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/09/sitting-down-with-my-best-friends.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Meet Amanda Carrasco: Restorative Justice Advocate 00:57 Understanding Restorative Justice 01:46 Amanda's Personal Story: A Journey Through Pain 05:06 The Restorative Justice Meeting: Preparation and Experience 08:12 The Impact of the Meeting: Fear, Healing, and Forgiveness 12:47 Rethinking Justice: Beyond Punishment 15:40 A Vision for Restorative Justice 17:44 Reflecting on Justice and Healing 18:09 Outro and Podcast Recommendation

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• How Disability Made Me a Better Parent — Jessica Slice

  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 - https://www.jessicaslice.com/ Jessica’s latest book, Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World - https://www.jessicaslice.com/books Subscribe to Uncomfy for more honest conversations every Wednesday. Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-disability-made-me-better-parent.html CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 0:34 Meet Jessica Slice 1:40 Becoming Disabled at 28 3:33 From Perfectionism to Parenthood 5:45 Finding Joy Within Limits 7:40 Being Better Prepared for Parenthood 9:36 Challenges with Becoming Foster Parents 12:04 Bringing Baby K Home 14:00 Parenting Adaptations 16:28 Rethinking Disability and Parenting 18:43 Closing Reflections

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• How Concerts Can Turn Fans into Activists – Caleb Johnson

  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 local stories matter more than abstract science, and how his work at Planet Reimagined uses concerts (yes, concerts!) to spark real climate action. Learn more about Planet Reimagined - https://www.planetreimagined.com/ Share your own “Uncomfy” story – [email protected] Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/08/how-concerts-can-turn-fans-into.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Meet Caleb Johnson 01:03 The Intersection of Music and Climate Activism 02:51 Bridging Climate Divides with Family 06:39 Empathy in Climate Conversations 09:46 Planet Reimagined: From Understanding to Action 10:44 Amplify: Turning Concerts into Climate Action 14:58 Success Stories and Future Goals 18:21 Conclusion and Additional Resources

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• “Band of Brothers” Writer Tackles Love Across the Political Divide in New Film – Erik Bork

  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 necessary conversations around politics, relationships, and empathy. Check out “The Elephant in the Room,” available to rent digitally now - https://www.elephantintheroomfilm.com/ Are you in a mixed marriage of political ideology? Tell us about it – [email protected] Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/08/band-of-brothers-writer-tackles-love.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Episode Introduction 01:12 Introducing “The Elephant in the Room” 01:28 Inspiration Behind the Film 05:48 Challenges of Writing Cross-Partisan Characters 08:34 Balancing Perspectives in the Film 14:01 Hopes and Takeaways from the Film 15:54 Conclusion and Call to Action

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