How to Survive Even the Most Awkward Roommate Conflicts

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Roommate relationships are increasingly common, with a record-high 6.8 million households in America reporting that they share space with roommates and boarders. Sharing a home can be wonderful, but it also creates questions like how should you negotiate fridge space – and whether it’s okay that your romantic partner sleeps over. We’re joined by a comedian who mediates roommate conflicts Judge Judy-style, and a therapist who has heard every conundrum under the sun – from how to split rent, to how to reconcile living with an ex. Do you have a roomie conflict you’d like an expert to weigh in on? Tell us about it! Guests: Sahaj Kaur Kohli, therapist, writer, speaker, and founder, Brown Girl Therapy; author of the book, "But What Will People Say? Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures" Michael Abber, comedian; host and self-appointed judge of the viral video series Roommate Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Adobe Express is the quick and easy Create Anything app.
0:05.0	It has taken my content to the next level,
0:08.0	making it simple to create everything I need to promote my business.
0:11.0	From Instagram and TikTok posts to logos and flyers,
0:15.0	all in just a few clicks.
0:17.0	Build your brand with Adobe Express.
0:20.0	Search for Adobe Express to find out more and get the app for free.
0:23.9	Adobe Express, the quick and easy create anything app.
0:30.4	Introducing the five-year price guarantee from Xfinity.
0:33.9	No matter how your life or your taste and music changes in five years,
0:37.7	your internet price will stay exactly the same.
0:40.7	Restrictions apply new residential customers only,
0:43.1	taxes and fees extra and subject to change.
0:46.4	From KQED.
0:53.6	Music From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Nina Kim. Coming up on forum, How to Survive Roommate Conflicts.
1:09.3	A record 7 million American households report sharing
1:11.9	space with roommates, which means a lot of people negotiating everything from fridge space and pets
1:17.0	to whether it's okay for a romantic partner to sleep over. This hour, we get advice from a therapist
1:21.8	and columnist for The Washington Post and a comedian who mediates roommate conflicts online.
1:32.3	For over a year, Patrick and his roommates have been sharing custody of their cat. Lucy, now Patrick is seeking sole guardianship and his roommates dispute the claim.
1:39.3	What's a roommate conflict you'd like them to weigh in on?
1:42.3	Join us. Welcome to Forum.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 16 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.