Gun safety advocate, documentarian, and author Heidi Yewman sits down with host Julie Rose to talk about the most uncomfortable question she ever asked: “Do you have guns in your home, and are they locked up?”

After her former teacher and coach was killed in the Columbine High School massacre, Heidi turned her grief into action. In this episode of Uncomfy, she shares how asking the right question could prevent tragedy, what she learned from interviewing people gun owners and who pulled the trigger, and why empathy—not judgment—is the key to meaningful conversations around guns in America.

Heidi’s documentary, “Behind the Bullet” – https://heidiyewman.com/behind-the-bullet/
Heidi’s upcoming memoir, “Dumb Girl: A Journey from Childhood Abuse to Gun Control Advocacy” (August 19, 2025) – https://heidiyewman.com/dumb-girl/
Heidi’s website – https://heidiyewman.com/

Got a story of your own uncomfortable question? Email us - uncomfy@byu.edu

Subscribe to Uncomfy for more challenging but inspiring conversations.

Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-most-uncomfortable-question-i-ever.html

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Meet Heidi Yewman
01:27 Columbine and Gun Safety Advocacy
02:21 The Asking Saves Kids Campaign
03:38 The First Time Asking About Guns
04:19 Strategies for Asking About Gun Safety
06:50 The Importance of Gun Safety Conversations
08:01 Behind the Bullet
10:47 Empathy and Understanding in the Gun Conversation
14:11 Conclusion and Call to Action