Hey folks,

Zoë Saunders here, senior producer of “This Is Uncomfortable.” On behalf of Reema Khrais and the whole team, I’d like to welcome you to Season 9 of the show. It’s our longest and most ambitious yet, with 12 weeks of stories that will take you around the world, and bring back a few friends from episodes past, as we tally up the cost of being your “best self” (deeeeep scare quotes there).

Every episode takes at least two months to make (sometimes even years!), so we have to establish the season’s theme early. I like going in with a big, chewy topic that sends us off in a dozen different directions. “Your best self” can mean so many things: your appearance, sure, but also your health, your job, your outlook on life, and the stuff we buy into to optimize all facets of life.

Before we get to our best selves though, we’re kicking off the season with a two-parter about the devastating war in Gaza. Longtime listeners will remember Reema’s dad, who has appeared on “This Is Uncomfortable” a few times before. He’s back this week for a powerful episode, the kind of story only Reema can tell. It’s just the start of a great season, and we’re excited to share it with you.

— Zoë

Defend your splurge

Money messes with all our lives, but sometimes the right purchase at the right time can make things a little better. Tell us how you’ve treated yourself lately, and we’ll include the best stories in our newsletter! This week, journalist Leo Aquino brings us a totally different immigration story. Their personal finance newsletter is Queer & Trans Wealth.

My family moved to the U.S. from the Philippines when I was 12, and my skin started breaking out. On top of your regular hormonal teenage acne, I also had eczema, which was aggravated by the drastic change in temperatures between the two countries. We would go to dermatologists, but none of them knew how to treat my skin. I was given a lot of products that had whitening agents, which only made things worse. I was already the kid at school with a funny accent — having uncontrollable acne and eczema on top of that was just torture.

Little by little, after years of consistent research and watching skincare influencers on YouTube, I learned how to take care of my skin. My skincare routine gives me a lot of confidence and keeps me grounded, especially when my schedule gets really busy. This $45 skincare fridge keeps my products cold, soothing and luxurious, making the experience even sweeter.

The comfort zone

Here’s what our team got into over the hiatus

• One more immigration story: Check out the most recent episode of “Financially Inclined,” all about the financial challenges of being a first-generation American, first-generation college student or both.

• Zoë read “Strangers to Ourselves” and “Trust” 

• Meanwhile, Tony’s been blissing out with PowerWash Simulator

• Alice discovered the most comforting YouTube channel.

• Lifehack if you still need a 2024 calendar: The dates for 1996 line up.

• We’re puttering more this year.

• And taking more breaks at work.

• Former guest Amanda Montell wrote a great piece about therapy speak in the workplace.

• Our whole team watched “The Curse.”

• And dug back into Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri’s old web series.

• This vegan soup is great if you’re sick (or just cold).

• More tips for getting through winter.

• We couldn’t look away from layoff TikToks, and loved this article about job prospects for the people who go viral posting them.

• Your weekend vibe: Dolly Parton’s very Uncomfortable and moving “Coat of Many Colors”