Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us

After decades as a surgeon, professor, and medical expert, Dr. Anthony Goodman found himself facing an unexpected diagnosis: early Alzheimer's disease. In this conversation, Dr. Goodman and his wife, Maribeth, share what it was like to recognize the signs, receive the diagnosis, navigate treatment, and redefine life as a family. They discuss the difficult moment their daughter urged Dr. Goodman to seek help, the emotional challenge of moving from doctor to patient, and the surprising hope they found through early intervention and new Alzheimer's treatments. They offer an honest look at caregiving, stigma, identity, and the importance of talking openly about dementia. ABOUT GUEST Dr. Anthony Goodman is a former surgeon and medical educator. His new memoir, “Great Saves and Terrible Losses: The Journeys of a Surgeon,” chronicles both his decades-long career in medicine and his journey after being diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease. He is joined by his wife of over four decades, Maribeth. You can learn more about the book and find various Alzheimer's resources at his website: https://anthonyagoodman-author.com/. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Meet Dr Anthony Goodman and Maribeth 01:34 Early Signs and Family Concern 04:34 From Normal Aging to Dementia 05:58 Getting Alzheimer's Diagnosis 08:29 Treatments and Early Intervention 10:36 Sharing the News with Loved Ones 12:29 Still A Doctor in a Crisis 14:26 Writing to Destigmatize Dementia 15:56 Conclusion

What happens when someone you love doesn’t react the way you do to something that feels viscerally wrong? After the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Anne Marie Denman texted her mom, and what followed was a conversation that could have deepened a painful divide. Instead, it deepened their connection. CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:42) Meet Anne Marie Denman (2:05) Mom Checks In—And the Reply That Stung (4:34) Catching Dysregulation & Choosing a New Response (5:32) Naming the Real Issue (8:03) The Risk of Uncomfy Conversations (8:59) Her Mom’s Response (and Why It Was Enough) (10:07) A Troubled History and What the Email Changed (13:18) How Their Family Stays Connected Through Deep Differences (15:52) Why Anne Marie Shares Her Story (18:27) Conclusion

What happens when three people with completely different identities and perspectives speak up in the same room, each saying they don’t feel safe? In this episode, Raj Vinnakota shares a powerful moment from a university auditorium where tension was thick, fear was real, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. He unpacks what it actually takes to create spaces on campus (and in everyday life) where people with deeply different views can stay present, curious, and human. We’re all in the same boat. The question is: how do we stay in it together? ABOUT GUEST Raj Vinnakota is the president of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars (https://citizensandscholars.org/). Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/02/free-speech-fear-and-fixing.html CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:12) Meet Raj Vinnakota (2:20) The Conservative Student's Question (4:28) The Pro-Choice Lesbian's Perspective (7:04) Safety and Engagement on Campus (9:19) Creating a Culture of Productive Conversations (11:46) Personal Practices for Better Conversations (13:52) Raj's Personal Experience with Disagreement (15:58) Conclusion

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 Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/01/why-cutting-people-off-isnt-always.html 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

Meet the teams behind Top of Mind and Uncomfy in this special crossover episode, where we share stories of sticking with a challenging perspective while working on the shows. We are exposed to a lot of nuanced viewpoints as we put podcast episodes together, which gives us the perfect opportunity to practice what we preach: choosing to lean into discomfort instead of lashing out or shying away. We’ve found clarity about our own beliefs, empathy for the people around us, and also developed the skills to tackle tough conversations. Tune in to Top of Mind to practice engaging with important, complicated topics. Check out Uncomfy, too, where we’re sharing stories of people choosing to engage in an uncomfortable moment instead of stepping back. And if you’ve had an “Uncomfy” experience lately, share it with us by emailing uncomfy@byu.edu. Guests: Top of Mind producers - Alayna Beck, Caleb Leach, Vanessa Goodman, and James Hoopes. Uncomfy producers - Samuel Benson and Henrique Prado. Related Links: What Does it Mean to Be White in America?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-does-it-mean-to-be-white-in-america The Changing Ways We Decide Who Gets into College and Why it Matters: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-the-changing-way-we-decide-who-gets-into-college-and-why-it-matters Why We’re So Anxious About Retirement in America — And How We Can Fix It: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-why-were-so-anxious-about-retirement-in-america-and-how-we-can-fix-it What Can We Do About America’s Money in Politics Problem?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-can-we-do-about-americas-money-in-politics-probl Spending a Day with People Who Think You Hate Them – Jefferson Shupe: https://www.byuradio.org/e14-spending-a-day-with-people-who-think-you-hate-them-jefferson-shupe