Matter of Life and Debt

Matter of Life and Debt announces a temporary hiatus for January, during which the podcast is regrouping to redefine its broader goals. We invite listeners to share their ideas and feedback via email at Matter of Life and Debt@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at 510-479-0323. The podcast aims to return soon with updates.

This episode of the Matter of Life and Debt podcast features a follow-up interview with Bri Franklin, founder of The Prosp(a)rity Project, a non-profit focused on eliminating student debt for Black women. Bri discusses the organization’s growth over the past 3 years, including new initiatives around financial literacy and policy advocacy. She also opens up about the personal toll of student debt on her life, relationships, and plans for the future. While still carrying student loans herself, Bri remains committed to expanding the organization’s impact through avenues like a new podcast, conference events, a financial literacy app for...

Co-host Shanna and Talia are joined by Nikki as they celebrate the 3-year anniversary of Matter of Life and Debt! In this special episode, they look back on how the podcast has created community and helped destigmatize student debt over the years.

For the spotlight section, Nikki interviews Sarah Thibault, an artist, writer, and podcaster who was one of the earliest guests on the podcast. Sarah reflects on how her views on her student loans have changed, especially now that the art school she attended has declared bankruptcy. She discusses taking a more spiritual approach to considering what...

In this podcast episode, Talia and Nikki discuss The Debt Collective Zine -In The Red: Out of the Darkness. In our spotlight section, Talia chats with Eleni Schirmer and Thomas Gokey about the Debt Collective’s student debt release tool. The conversation also touches on the significance of building collective power to address the student debt crisis effectively.

References The Debt Collective Zine -In The Red: Out of the Darkness Thousands of Borrowers File Appeals as Student Loan Payments Loom How the Government Cancelled Betty Ann’s Debts The Aging Student Debtors of America B**** Better Have Our Mone

We kick off this episode by discussing the Debt Collectives, “B**** Better Have Our Money” tool, which leverages the legal authority of the 1965 Higher Education Act to demand the Department of Education to cancel student debt and create a more equitable system for all. In our Spotlight section Talia talks with Stephanie Marcotte, Joanna Goncalves, and Ian Rodewald, three incredible individuals united by a common cause – promoting accessibility and affordability in higher education. Join us for an engaging conversation that takes you deep into their journey and the inspiring work of the Higher Ed For All Coalition in Massachusetts. Discover how th...

🎙️ Update: The world of student debt is buzzing, and we can't wait to share what's in store after the Supreme Court decision. Your support means the world to us!

Get ready for new episodes coming soon, featuring a chat with the Debt Collective. They have some crucial plans for student debt relief, and we'll share them later in July. Stay tuned!

While we take a short break, catch up on our previous episodes. Find us on your favorite streaming platforms or visit our website for the full archive. We're here to provide valuable information, empowering stories, and a...

We’re thrilled to announce the release of a bonus episode featuring special guests Thomas Gokey and Luke Herrine, co-founders of the Debt Collective. Join us as we discuss the broken student loan system. In this episode, we delve deep into the impending crisis, exposing the flaws within the Department of Education. From incorrect loan balances to bureaucratic hurdles, we uncover the challenges millions face as payments resume. But that’s not all! Discover how Thomas, Luke, and the Debt Collective are fighting against this injustice. Learn about their strategies, successes, and how you can get involved. Let’s unite, reach...

In this episode, host Nikki Nolan welcomes back Thomas Gokey, co-founder of the Debt Collective, to discuss the challenges and effects of reinstating the student loan payment system. Thomas believes it is impractical to resume payments and urges for an extension instead. He criticizes the Department of Education’s inability to implement the restart due to broken systems and incorrect payment information. The Republicans are attempting to kill the payment pause and cancellation through the Congressional Review Act, which could also increase account balances and revoke public service loan forgiveness. Thomas emphasizes the need for continued advocacy and urges listeners to...

During this episode, our focus is on the latest updates related to student debt. In our spotlight section, we feature Christina Hammond, the creator of the ITT Tech Warriors Facebook group. Our conversation with her revolves around the impact of attending ITT Tech on her mental health and finances. She shares how she has made herself financially invisible to avoid losing her hard-earned money. Furthermore, we discuss the positive changes she has experienced since becoming debt-free, including waking up with a smile on her face. Lastly, we highlight upcoming events for listeners to participate in and share some of our...

Today's episode features Shanna, Talia, and Nikki delving into the latest student debt news. Our spotlight segment features Alicia Davis and Theresa Sweet, the named plaintiffs in the Sweet v. Cardona case (previously known as Sweet v. DeVos), who provide us with an update on the proceedings. Additionally, we highlight upcoming events for April and share what brings us joy at the moment. Don't miss out on this informative and enjoyable episode. Tune in now!

News: Conservative Author Totally Freezes Up When Pressed to Define ‘Woke’ (Daily Beast) Florida House Bill 999 won’t ban historically Black fraternities and sorori...

In this episode, we discuss the current news surrounding student debt. Our new spotlight section explores theater activism in-depth with Talia Molé, Dr. Shamell Bell, Alÿcia Bacon, and Todd Squitieri. They delve into the planning and execution of a March 1st day of action that is both in person and virtual. And that’s not all: we’ll also take a closer look at the various events occurring throughout the end of February and March and share what’s bringing us joy in these challenging times.

You can call (510) 479-0323 and leave a voicemail with your story or...

Exciting news, we will experiment with the podcast in 2023! And we want your input! Call (510) 479-0323 and leave a voicemail with your story or ideas. They may be featured on our show. Our next episode drops on Feb 23rd. Can't wait to hear from you!

References: 

Protest at the Supreme Court to defend student debt cancellation (Feb 28th)

We are excited to have Maddy MADlines Clifford back on the show to share her journey as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Debt Collective. She discusses how her art informs her activism and provides helpful tips for managing activist burnout. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with the accomplished Maddy!

References: 

Biden Can Still Cancel Student Debt — Not Just Up to $20,000, But All of It Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis (short film) Protest at the Supreme Court to defend student debt cancellation (Feb 28th) Tarot for Change Using the Cards for Sel...

In this week’s episode, we sit with some of the Debt Collective’s 50 Over 50 Strikers, along with Nick Marcil (organizer for the Debt Collective), to challenge the misconception that student debt solely affects society’s youth. Listen on as Laura Hill, Dave Kalmikoff, and Susan Laws share their heartfelt experiences regarding the genuine struggle of living with student debt burden well into their elder years.

References: 

New Member Call - January 16, 2023 Legal Lay of the Land - January 19, 2023 State of the Debtors’ Union - January 25, 2023 Debt Collective Debt Collective Twitter Debt Collective Instagram

This week producer Talia Molé and host Shanna Bennett speak with Abigail Acheson, an organizer with Rethinking Economics USA. They discuss new approaches to higher education and economics that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet. 

References Rethinking Economics Rethinking Economics on Instagram Rethinking Economics Twitter Economics is Failing US College Students Center for Economic Democracy Ha-Joon Chang Video I quoted The Powell Memorandum is something Ferguson talks about in his book, but here is an interview about We Demand that might be of interest to listeners.

This week’s guests, Alicia Davis and Theresa Sweet are named plaintiffs in the case titled Sweet v. Cardona (formerly Sweet v DeVos). They celebrate the lawsuit victory that affects 264,000 borrowers who had pending borrower defense applications as of June 22, 2022. They discuss their activism, the support groups they have started, and what this victory means for them.

References

Apply for Borrower Defense Reddit: r/BorrowerDefense Borrower Defense- Student Loan Discharge (Facebook group) Loan Discharge: Corinthian Colleges/ Heald/Wyotech/Everest (Facebook group) Borrower Defense – Sweet v. Cardona (Facebook group) Restore GI Bill for Veterans (Facebook group) A.I. C...

Kelly Danvers, a member of Local 2110 UAW and the HarperCollins Union, joins Emma and Shanna to discuss the current HarperCollins strike happening in NYC. She shares what it’s like to strike as a student debtor and the financial considerations of participating in a strike. Kelly also details the objectives of the strike and why she believes in the strength of collective bargaining. 

References Local 2110 UAW HarperCollins Workers Strike for Better Pay and Benefits

Extend the Pause, Joe! In a re-release episode Matter of Life and Debt producers Emma and Nikki, and host Shanna are on the scene at the Debt Collective’s April 4th Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Protestors from all over the country turned out to demand that Joe Biden sign an Executive Order to cancel student debt. Hear from student debt cancellation advocates Nina Turner, Marianne Williamson, Briahna Joy Gray, Astra Taylor, and other Debt Collective members.

[3:01] Nina Turner‘s end of the speech
[12:35] Briahna Joy Gray‘s interview starts
[20:46] Marianne Williamson‘s interview starts

What’s happening with Biden’s Student Debt Cancellation Plan? Shanna Bennett and Talia Molé check in with Sparky Abraham, Legal Strategist for the Debt Collective to find out what’s holding up relief and how we can support each other in the continued push for full cancellation. 

References Debt Collective Twitter Sparky Abraham Twitter Debt Collective  All the Legal Threats to Student Loan Debt Relief: Could They Stop Biden's Plan?

This week producer Emma Klauber solo hosts with guest Ryan Connelly, a former opera singer, and current Navy musician. Ryan shares the impact of student loans on his music career and his unique intersection of the arts, the Navy, and student loan forgiveness. 

References Ryan C. Connelly The Navy Band Ryan on Instagram

Comedian, podcaster, and travel show host Jon Gabrus joins producer Emma Klauber and host Shanna Bennett to cathartically scream about student loans. 

References High and Mighty 101 Places to Party Before You Die Action Boyz The Sweetzer Life Read Transcript 

Producer Talia Molé joins Shanna for an interview about her student debt experience and how her Ph.D. studies on matriarchies helped her envision a society where education prepares us to be thoughtful community members rather than future workers, among other imaginings.

References

Matriarchy  Matriarchal Studies Reproductive Justice - An Introduction by Loretta Ross and Rickie Solenger Ecoversities Read Transcript 

Comedian River Butcher returns to talk about Biden’s student loan cancellation plan! He talks to Nikki Nolan, Shanna Bennett, and Emma Klauber about how he is personally affected by the announcement and why it’s great, but not good enough. We also dive into matrilineal society structures and communalism that could inform our path forward in education reform.

References

River Butcher Matriarchy Matriarchal Studies Stanford scholar explains why zombie fascination is very much alive Love of Money Root of Evil What You Need to Know About Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan (New York Times)
Re...

President Biden announced a student loan debt cancellation of $10K for borrowers making less than $125,000 a year, along with a final extension on the student loan payment pause through December 2022. How are student loan debtors responding to the news? Host Shanna Bennett discusses with Talia Molé, Justine Hecht & Nikki Nolan the contradictory feeling of celebrating this moment for the few who will get relief while holding space for anger and grief for the vast majority who will not. The struggle continues until FULL cancellation of student loan debt is achieved FOR ALL!

References 

Episode 41: You Can’t Pa...

This week we’re talking about the power of unions in dealing with debt! Ian Rhodewalt, Eleni Schirmer & Jason Wozniak of the Debt Collective speak to host Shanna about bargaining for the collective good. 

Reference Debt Collective on IG Debt Collective on Twitter Eleni Schrimer on Twitter Debt Collective - Join Our Union Stacy Davis Gates Won’t Back Down Amazon union Starbucks Workers United  UAW Local 2322 Bargaining For The Common Good Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation Calls On President Biden to Cancel All Student Debt

This week Shanna chats with the team from Debtless, a nonprofit organization that seeks to uplift the communities in need and create a debt cancellation structure that provides much-needed financial relief to people across the United States. Tina and Corei share their personal experiences with student debt and their journey to learning more about the insidious and predatory debt industry. 

Reference  Debtless website Debtless twitter Debtless Instagram 
Read Transcript 

Former guest Ashley Strahm returns with big news — she is student debt free! After a viral LinkedIn announcement about paying the last of her student loans, Ashley sits down with Talia Molé to share how it feels to be debt free, why she still advocates for student debt cancellation and all of the possibilities ahead.


References

Episode 22: The American Dream Ashley’s first episode Ashley Strahm on Medium  Parent PLUS Loans Ashley Strahm- Debt-free LinkedIn post The Prosp(A)rity Project More from Talia Molé: We are Phoenixing: Creative Consultation
Read Transcript 

Public health researcher, recent PA Congressional candidate, and student debt cancellation advocate Alexandra Hunt speaks to host Shanna about the burden of student debt on many like herself. Alexandra spoke up about student debt and education reform during her recent political campaign. Listen to what she learned from her own experiences and her campaign!

References

Alexandra Hunt- Website Alexandra Hunt- Instagram Alexandra Hunt- Twitter Alexandra Hunt- Tik Tok
Read Transcript 

📣 Special episode! Shanna and Emma speak to comedian and writer River Butcher about the reality and loneliness of having student loans, making life and career decisions based on finances, and the power of the collective good to care 10% more about each other. They also discuss the impact of sharing about student loans on a public platform and the opportunity to build solidarity when student debt is the great equalizer that cuts across all types of communities.

Reference with links to articles 

River Butchers website River Butcher: A Different Kind of Dude - Full Special River Butcher on T...

Shanna speaks with Debt Collective members Thomas Gokey (Debt Collective Co-Founder), Dr. Shamell Bell (Harvard lecturer) and Braxton Brewington (Debt Collective Press Secretary) about their foundational belief in the Rolling Jubilee. The group shares their work with Bennett College to abolish $1.7M in student debt. 

References

Rolling Jubilee Is a Spark—Not the Solution Why income caps for student loan forgiveness would be a disaster Braxton Brewington on Twitter Braxton Brewington on LinkedIn Dr. Shamell Bell on Instagram Dr. Shamell Bell, Dartmouth Lecturer

This week Shanna speaks to a panel of economists to bust common myths perpetuated about student loan cancellation. Laura Beamer, Lead Researcher Higher Education Finance, Jain Family Institute, Jalil Bishop, Assistant Professor of Education at Villanova University, and Attorney Sparky Abraham clarify how cancellation would affect the economy, who benefits from cancellation, and why means testing doesn’t work.
References

Cancelling Student Debt Would Add to Inflation Cost Deception at Elite Private Colleges Standing and Student Loan Cancellation CANCEL STUDENT DEBT: The Best Answers To The Toughest Questions Student Debt Is a Racial Equity Issue. Here’s Ho...

Shanna talks to Jennifer Esteen, candidate for California Assembly District 20 about her platform unpinned by behavioral health care, affordable housing, and fully funded public education. Jennifer shares her personal experience with student debt and how she got some of her private student loans discharged through bankruptcy, a seemingly impossible feat! 
References JenniferEsteen.com @Esteen4CA on Twitter @esteen4ca on Instagram
Read Transcript 

After the April 4th Day of Action, President Biden announced another extension of the student loan pause. But what does this mean for student debtors? Host Shanna Bennett speaks to three members of the Debt Collective about what this means, how it's affecting student debtors, and what efforts will continue between now and August 31st.

Note from the editor: It is currently disputed as to whether this is the 4th or 5th or 6th pause extension.

Reference with links to articles 

bit.ly/studentdebtstrike UCWAZ Contingent Faculty Twitter,@ContingentUCWAZ Debt Collective Zine, the first i...

Pick up the pen, Joe! Matter of Life and Debt producers Emma and Nikki and host Shanna are on the scene at the Debt Collective’s April 4th Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Protestors from all over the country turned out to demand that Joe Biden sign an Executive Order to cancel student debt. Hear from student debt cancellation advocates Nina Turner, Marianne Williamson, Briahna Joy Gray, Astra Taylor, and other Debt Collective members. 
Reference with links to articles  Debt Collective Nina Turner Marianne Williamson Briahna Joy Gray (Host of Bad Faith) Examined Life, by Astra Taylor
...

Three Debt Collective Working Group leaders Thomas Gokey, Jen Lezan, and Fred Bell speak to Shanna Bennet about their teams of volunteers and opportunities for impact in the fight for student debt cancellation. They also share details about the upcoming April 4th Day of Action in front of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Visit www.debtcollective.org to join them.

Related Articles & Links

Debt Collective Action Network: Sign up for the April 4th Day of Action Pick Up the Pen, Joe: April 4th Day of Action for Student Debt Cancellation Occupy Movement Borrowers...

Shanna Bennett speaks to three Debt Collective founders Laura Hannah, Thomas Gokey, and Andrew Ross about the formation of the Debt Collective and how far they’ve come. They also discuss the upcoming Pick Up the Pen, Joe: April 4th Day of Action to challenge the end of the student loan moratorium and demand student loan cancellation in front of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

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This week new host Shanna Bennet speaks to Maddy Clifford about being an artist and entrepreneur who has student debt. Shanna and Maddy discuss the inequity of the student debt burden on black women and how it affects their career choices. Maddy also shares how she got involved with the Debt Collective and the student debt content she creates for TikTok.
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Welcome, Shanna Bennet, the new host of Matter of Life and Debt! Shanna kicks off her new hosting duties in a conversation with Kiyomi Kowalski, who is a diversity and inclusion educator, and a lifelong public servant. Kiyomi talks about why she signed up for the Marine Corps at age 17, paid education being the main motivation, and where she’s at today on her student debt journey.  Read More

Fred Bell, Programs and Operations Manager of The Debt Collective speaks with Nikki about how his perspective on debt has evolved since joining the organization. He talks about his passion for direct action and organizing to help communities disproportionately affected by the burden of all types of debt. Fred also shares The Debt Collective’s plans for direct action on April 4th to protest the end of the pause on student loan payments and advocate for student debt cancellation.

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Political Scientist and public servant Jon Oberg speaks to Nikki about his decades of work investigating fraud in the student loan industry. He has filed suit against nine student loans lenders and studied student financial aid distributions over time. Jon is a panelist in the January 13th Scared to Debt documentary series discussion on How Government Guaranteed Loans Left Generations Drowning in College Debt.

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