Crushing Debt Podcast
The Crushing Debt Podcast is for people who want to eliminate the financial bullies in their lives. It is for listeners who want more money at the end of the month, rather than more month at the end of the money. The podcast provides answers around such topics as real estate litigation, partition, quiet title, chapter 7 liquidation, chapter 13 reorganization, and Chapter 11 business bankruptcies, short sales, loan modifications, creditor harassment and other related topics.
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IRS Wins Again? - Episode 490
11/20/2025
IRS Wins Again? - Episode 490
Do you know what taxes are dischargeable in bankruptcy and which are not? Do you owe Trust Fund Tax? What if you cannot pay it? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Tax Attorney Alena Miles. Alena has an L.L.M. in taxation, and is a CPA. She is the founder of Attorney Legal and focuses her practice on federal tax law and international tax matters. She provides services in business tax planning, tax transactions, tax consulting, and tax controversy for a wide range of clients, including businesses, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, private equity funds, single-purpose entities, and individuals. With over 15 years of experience in public accounting, Alena has a strong background in tax compliance, tax planning, and tax dispute resolution. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), assisting clients in industries such as asset management, real estate, McDonald's franchisees, professional services, investment, and construction. Alena has worked at leading Big Four accounting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG, where she provided tax services to billion-dollar clients in asset management. As a Tax Manager at KPMG, she managed complex private equity funds and multi-tiered partnership structures, ensuring compliance with complex tax laws and regulations and meeting time-sensitive deadlines. Shawn & George talk to Alena about: Trust Fund Taxes Not Filing Your Tax Return Filing Late Returns Forced Filings by the IRS Negotiations with the IRS The Difference between a Tax Attorney and CPA FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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FORE! Ways Golf Can Teach You About Debt! - Episode 489
11/13/2025
FORE! Ways Golf Can Teach You About Debt! - Episode 489
What lessons can you learn about selling from your kids? What lessons can you learn about debt from your kids? While we didn't get to participate in this year's community garage sale, my son did collect, clean and sell golf balls at a golf tournament recently. Some of the lessons he learned: Timing - know your market and their needs Networking - with other kids selling other items (like lemonade) Preparation - collecting, cleaning, sorting, labelling and pricing Investors - (dad, Shawn) to help buy supplies, provide the table for selling, etc. Using Revenue to Grow the Business (listen for the story of the golf ball cleaner) Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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Who's More In Debt, You or Your Landlord - Episode 488
11/06/2025
Who's More In Debt, You or Your Landlord - Episode 488
Who's in more debt, Landlord or Tenant? How can landlords reduce costs and increase the profitability of their rentals? How can a property manager increase your profits and save you money? In today's episode, I interview Mark Sorokurs of Central Pinellas Realty and Collman Properties. I've known Mark about seven years and he's been in real estate for about eight years now after "retiring" from IT in 2012. You can also hear Mark in Episode 245 - You can reach Mark at or ., or 727-738-RENT (7368). Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends, like and subscribe to the show! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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Financial Vampires - Episode 487
10/30/2025
Financial Vampires - Episode 487
Happy Halloween! On October 31, do you give out candy? Do you turn your lights off and pretend not to be home? Do you go to Halloween parties? What "vampires" are out there sucking your wallet dry? On this week's episode, Shawn & George take a funny look at those "vampires" that you should avoid, like Subscription Vampires Convenience Fee Vampires Tipping Vampires Lifestyle Vampires Tax Debt Vampires Buy Now, Pay Later Vampires Friend / Family Vampires Overdraft Vampires Store Credit / BOGO Vampires Interest Vampires And more ... You can also listen to other Halloween-themed shows like Episode 438: Debt Graveyard Episode 211: Zombie Cars Episode 88: Zombie Debt Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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Mom, Dad & My Credit Card Bill! - Episode 486
10/23/2025
Mom, Dad & My Credit Card Bill! - Episode 486
How are you handling the rising cost of health care for your parents? How can you talk to your mother & father about the rising costs of health care and senior living? Should your parents age at home or in an assisted living facility? This week, Shawn & George talk to Rachel Aguanno, owner of Home Care Assistance Tampa Bay. Rachel's company assists seniors to live at home. Rachel was a HUGE help to Shawn when his wife was in hospice at home at the end of 2023. Specifically, we talk about: Care-giving as a side job; What a home care assistance company can or cannot do; Any tax breaks, insurance, government programs, or veteran benefits available to help pay for home health care; Hospice v. Home Health Care v Assisted Living; Expenses people don't think about; and other budget considerations. Rachel can be reached at or her website . Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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The Entrepreneur's Guide To More Free Time - Episode 485
10/16/2025
The Entrepreneur's Guide To More Free Time - Episode 485
When does an entrepreneur make time? How can an entrepreneur work 27 hours a day? How hard (or easy) is work-life balance? On this week's episode, Shawn & George interview Tiffanie Kellog who today (if you're listening on the day of release) releases her FOURTH self-published book, The Entrepreneur's Guide to More Free Time. Tiffanie is the Sock-it-to-'em Success Strategist! Since 2005, Tiffanie has been revolutionizing entrepreneurs' paths, unlocking greater wealth, freedom, and joy! As the creator of “eTiffanies” — epiphanies inspired by Tiffanie — she is known for her signature socks (over 400 pairs!), a charming southern accent, and her unique ability to inspire and empower others. Whether delivering dynamic keynote presentations, training locally and globally (often virtually), writing her next book, or leading her More Abundant Entrepreneurs community, Tiffanie loves helping people create the life they desire. With a passion for blending fun and strategy, Tiffanie helps her clients focus on achieving their goals while loving the journey. Her secret to success? Loving what she does so much that no one can tell if she’s working or playing! Are you ready to sock it to your challenges, make more money, save time, and have fun? This is Tiffanie's seventh appearance on the podcast: Episode 381 (Talking about the no spend challenge) Episode 332 (Making time to crush your debt) Episode 242 (More money through masterminds) Episode 146 (13 months a year) Episode 76 (Referrals for Life) Episode 48 (Knock your socks off Speaking) Now Tiffanie is working on time management, or priority management, and how you can avoid BSO (Bright Shiney Objects) in your day. And rather than Work/Life balance, we focus on Harmony or being "Off Balance On Purpose." You can get your copy of Tiffanie's new book or her previous three books at . And, Tiffanie is giving all of our listeners a free gift by going to this link: Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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The Real Reason Businesses Fail - Episode 484
10/09/2025
The Real Reason Businesses Fail - Episode 484
What is the real reason 90% of businesses fail? What are some bookkeeping or CFO mistakes most business owners make that can tank your business? On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, George and Shawn talk to Emily Handren, owner and founder of Besty Bookkeepers (). For over two decades, Emily has helped individuals and businesses improve their financial situations through banking, investing, lending, and insurance guidance. She has owned both life/health and P&C agencies, and has plenty of real-world stories about helping people reduce costs and increase their net worth. Emily recently wrote a book "The Real Reason 90% of Businesses Fail: 101 Bookkeeping and CFO Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make" that hit #1 in three categories: Small Business Bookkeeping, Entrepreneurship Management, and Business Planning & Forecasting. It focuses on practical money management strategies for businesses that could tie perfectly into debt reduction discussions. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out: In this episode, we talk about: Fractional CFO Bookkeepers v. Accountants Tech stacking Financial Forecasting Some of the 101 Mistakes, like: Exponential growth without a plan or foundation Improperty business structure knowing your expenses and your numbers using an outdated accounting system not paying yourself. You can reach Emily at her website or . Make sure you take the "Need a Better Bookkeeper" quiz on her website! Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders:
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Student Loan Solutions & Discharges - Episode 483
10/02/2025
Student Loan Solutions & Discharges - Episode 483
What is the test for discharging a student loan in bankruptcy? Is it even possible? Student loans are non-dischargeable, right? WRONG !! On this week's episode, Shawn is back solo again (we'll hear George back again for next week's episode) interviewing attorney Jeff Hakanson. Jeff has been an attorney for thirty (30) years! He granduating with his J.D. from South Texas College of Law and has practiced bankruptcy for his entire career. On November 17, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum on student loan discharges. What normally fell under the Brunner case and a Totality of Circumstances argument has now been streamlined by the US DOJ to assist in discharging student loan debts under certain circumstances, some of which include: The borrower is over 65; The borrower has a disability; The borrower has been unemployed 5 of the last 10 years; The borrower has attempted repayment in good faith. Typically these discharge cases are started with the filing of an Adversary Proceeding (with no fee if related to Student Loans) and then the debtor / borrower and attorney complete a "litigation package" with certain "attestations." If the DOJ agrees, then the student loans can be discharged, or maybe modified in some capacity. The memorandum was designed to allow borrowers more clarity on discharging federally backed student loans (not private loans). Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team (reactivated for 2026) at MY Legacy Striders:
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What if I Can't Afford To Pay For My Kids' College? - Episode 482
09/25/2025
What if I Can't Afford To Pay For My Kids' College? - Episode 482
Image someone, 54 years old with no savings and $90,000 in debt. How can that person admit to their kid that they cannot afford to pay for college? That is the topic of this week's episode. Shawn & George talk about: Facing the reality of the situation Honesty with your kids Exploring all funding options Dealing with the situation Reworking income & expenses Making a future rebuilding plan Small wins and other stretegies Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.
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Building Financial Literacy for Vulnerable Communities - Episode 481
09/18/2025
Building Financial Literacy for Vulnerable Communities - Episode 481
What is the Big Beautiful Bill, and why is it such a pivotal moment for financially vulnerable communities? What are the biggest gaps you see between how legislation is written and how it actually plays out in people’s day-to-day lives? What are the five simple steps anyone can take today to protect themselves financially in light of this legislation? What role does mindset play in becoming financially literate, and how can we help people make that shift? In this week's episode, Shawn interviews Michelle Campbell, the author of Bluebird, a memoir that candidly explores themes of trauma, heartbreak, and the resilience found in life’s struggles. She is also the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals through financial literacy and fostering economic stability. Michelle was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and began her educational journey in South Dakota before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, to continue her studies. During her academic pursuits, she launched a real estate investment firm, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial path. Over the years, Michelle expanded her ventures into various industries, including horticulture, where she founded an interiorscape company, and logistics, where she established a commercial trucking business. Drawing on the insights and expertise gained across these diverse fields, she transitioned into a career in the financial services industry. You can connect with Michelle at: We missed George this week, but he'll be back next week! Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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No, You're Not Selling Grandma's House - Episode 480
09/11/2025
No, You're Not Selling Grandma's House - Episode 480
With a reverse mortgage, can you retain title to your home? Are reverse mortgages insured or guaranteed? Do reverse mortgagaes have a maturity date? This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is Gary Guarino, Vice President with Senior Lending, focusing on the HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage), better known as a reverse mortgage. Gary has been a VP of Senior Lending for the last 26 years and is a Home Equity Retirement Specialist. He is regarded as a leading expert on every aspect of the FHA-Insured HECM Credit Line as well as the proprietary Jumbo Reverse Credit Line. You can reach Gary at , or visit his website at . Shawn, George & Gary talk about Myths (and facts) surrounding reverse mortgages Title theory v. lien theory FHA Insured products Recourse v. Non-Recourse loans What is required to borrow under a reverse mortgage And other questions regarding HECM loans. Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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From Taxes To Treasure - Episode 479
09/04/2025
From Taxes To Treasure - Episode 479
What is the difference between a Tax Certificate and a Tax Deed? What is the investment opportunty in Tax Certificates and Tax Deeds? How do you get started? On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Brian Seidensticker, managing partner and founder of Last Best Partners as well as the founder and CEO of Tax Sale Resources. With a strong background in systems engineering and an advanced understanding of the tax sale industry, Brian has been instrumental in transforming the way investors access tax lien and tax deed information. His expertise in design and programming enabled the development of a comprehensive online platform that not only delivers accurate tax sale data but also effectively tracks investor needs, setting a new standard in industry due diligence and efficiency. You can reach Brian at or . Or email him at . Shawn, George & Brian discuss: How to get started with investing in unpaid taxes. The opportunities in vacant land vs. houses. Superiority of liens. Tyler v. Hennepin case (and what it means for tax investors) Please also check out Brian's podcast - The Tax Sale Insiders Podcast, as well as his blog and other free resources! Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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From Allowance to Assets! - Episode 478
08/28/2025
From Allowance to Assets! - Episode 478
Do your kids have a paper route, or sell lemonade, or sell crafts they've made themselves? Did you? How can you help foster an entreprenurial mindset in your kids? How can your kids learn about the basics of business - planning, branding, marketing, sales, goals, operations, inventory, cash flow, profits & losses? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Kelly Gersonde, Co-Owner of Kids Market, designed to provide kids with the opportunity to develop real-world business skills by creating and selling their own products and services in a supportive marketplace environment. Being a business professional for over 15 years, Kelly has experience with marketing, business plans, sponsorships, and partnerships. Her experience will help grow Kids Market exposure and support so the kids can develop and focus on their businesses. Kelly has a degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin and is a mom of a little boy and a fur baby. You can reach Kelly at , or checkout Kids Market directly at . Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Are You Too Nice With Money? - Episode 477
08/21/2025
Are You Too Nice With Money? - Episode 477
Would you give money to friends and family members? Would you loan money to them? Are you "too nice" with your money? What happens when you're out to dinner with a group of friends and the bill comes, but most of them were drinking and you were not? Or you had the steak and one of your friends had chicken. Or you ordered dessert with your dinner and no one else did? How do you split the bill, or do you? What about tipping? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about whether you are too nice with your money and how you can set boundaries around giving and lending. What are some tips and techniques to set reasonable boundaries around loaning or giving money? Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Helping People Get Debt Free! - Episode 476
08/14/2025
Helping People Get Debt Free! - Episode 476
"Two bankruptcy attorneys go on a podcast to talk about debt!" Sounds like a set up to a bad joke. On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to bankruptcy attorney Barry Levine, a graduate of New England Law | Boston (formerly the New England School of Law). Mr. Levine has acted as outside counsel to a number of small businesses in a variety of endeavors along with individuals experiencing financial difficulties. He is experienced in corporate work, the drafting of legal agreements and real estate transactions. Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Levine has represented hundreds of individuals. He has successfully shepherded them through their difficult financial times and enjoyed getting them back on the road to financial well-being. Barry uses the law to stop creditor harassment and lessen your debt burden. We talk about: Unpacking financial fear Real debt management strategies Myths of debt management and Bankruptcy terms (reaffirmations, 341, etc). You can reach Barry at or . Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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The Psychology of Debt - Episode 475
08/07/2025
The Psychology of Debt - Episode 475
How do you talk to your kids about stress? How do you talk to your kids about debt? In today's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Iuri Melo, the co-founder of School Pulse, a company dedicated to helping students and parents tackle real challenges - financial, emotional and beyond. Building on last week's episode, we focus on: Stress prevention and proactive prevention Protective factors Positive and growth mindsets Stress growth and reduction Financial stress Iuri has been a licensed Therapist for over 20 years and is a published author of two books - Mind Over Grey Matter & Know They Selfie. He has won awards for his theraputic work with individuals. With School Pulse, Iuri's vision is to inspire youth and young adults e verywhere to live deeply and to such out all of the marrow of life. You can contact Iuri at . Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Do Kids Have It Easier (Or Harder) Today Financially? - Episode 474
07/31/2025
Do Kids Have It Easier (Or Harder) Today Financially? - Episode 474
Are kids today financially soft? Or are they navigating a nightmare economy with style? In today's episode, in addition to yelling "Get Off My Lawn!" Shawn & George talk about who had it tougher - their generation, previous generations, or the younger generations. Boomers vs. Zoomers: Who Had It Tougher? Social Media Pressure and Lifestyle Creep Financial Education: Still Optional, Still a Problem Side Hustle Culture: Modern Solution or Masking a Broken System? Debt: Old Struggles, New Packaging Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Happy Birthday George - Episode 473
07/24/2025
Happy Birthday George - Episode 473
Why did George become a financial coach? What is his "Why?" What lessons has George learned in his 48 years on Planet Earth? Revenge is sweet! Episode 351 was George interviewing Shawn about his birthday, what he's learned in his years, why he became an attorney and how he formed Yesner Law. Today's episode is Shawn's revenge on George's birthday (July 20, 1977). Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Revenge Saving - Episode 472
07/17/2025
Revenge Saving - Episode 472
What is Revenge Saving? What is Revenge Spending? Why is any of this important and how do you use it to your advantage? In this week's episode Shawn & George define Revenge Saving - basically a mindset to save regardless of your personal financial condition. Instead of spending without regard to your budget (Revense Spending), you save without regard to your budget. How do you know if you're Revenge Saving? Take Your Money Temperature Use Reverse Budgeting Create Separate Accounts for Different Savings Goals or Anticipated Expenses Adjust Your Savings Rate. If you want more information, you can read these articles: Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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The Economy is Not Dying - Episode 471
07/10/2025
The Economy is Not Dying - Episode 471
Do you doomscroll? Do you watch the news? Are you excited or nervous about the economy? Despite sensational news headlines and social media panic, most households aren't experiencing a collapse, and many financial indicators remain strong. On this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about terrifying headlines, the actual economic indicators (not what social media wants you to believe), personal economic indicators, and how to doomscroll detox! Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Bouncing Back. Steps to Overcome Trauma - Episode 470
07/03/2025
Bouncing Back. Steps to Overcome Trauma - Episode 470
Often people burdened with debt feel bullied, hopeless and that there's no way out. But what would you do if you were in a near fatal accident and had to re-learn how to walk, talk or eat? How do you deal with trauma in your life? At 14, Nick Prefontaine suffered a traumatic, life-threatening snowboarding accident and was put in a coma. His parents were told he wouldn't ever walk, talk, or eat on his own again. He did and set a personal goal of not walking, but running out of the hospital. Nick does a lot of speaking work to help those suffering from brain injuries. Today, Nick is a 7-figure business owner, Rhode Island-based real estate investor, speaker, and Partner of Smart Real Estate Coach. Shawn, George & Nick talk about the S.T.E.P. system - Support, Trust, Energy and Persistence. You can download Nick's S.T.E.P. system at and you can check out Nick's Real Estate Coaching website at . Plus, we talk about the costs of hospital bills and the need for medical insurance prior to a major catastrophic event, and how Nick paid off the debt he used to start his business within three years! Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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College Sharks - Episode 469
06/25/2025
College Sharks - Episode 469
When should parents help their high schoolers with College Applications? Should kids stay in state or out of state for college? Private or public schools? What are some of the top things that colleges look for in applicants? Is it better for your kid's application to be involved in extracurricular activities? Scouts? IB Programs? AP Programs? Honors Programs? Today's guest on the show is Lee Norwood, the founder of and . Lee Norwood is a nationally recognized leader in college consulting. College Sharks is a groundbreaking virtual membership program designed to help families navigate the college admissions process with ease. With over 50 years of collective team experience and visits to more than 500 colleges, Lee’s mission is simple: to lower family stress, save time and money, and find the perfect college fit for students academically, socially, and financially. As a peer mentor on the CounselMore Executive Board, Lee contributes to shaping the future of college counseling software while mentoring professionals in the field. Her expertise has been featured in prestigious publications and podcasts, solidifying her reputation as an industry innovator. Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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Financial Consciousness - Episode 468
06/19/2025
Financial Consciousness - Episode 468
Are you ready for retirement? Do you know what you need or need to do, so that you can retire? When my late wife would ask me when I wanted to retire, my answer was normally "yesterday." But are we ready for retirement? Can being a podcast host only support me in retirement? Today's podcast guest is Michael A. Scarpati, co-founder and CEO of who shares a vision in financial empowerment. His platform caters to over 35,000 soon-to-be retirees, providing guidance to help them plan for retirement while also supporting their families. With over 15 years in the financial services industry, Michael aligns perfectly with your podcast's mission of eliminating financial bullies, offering unique insights on achieving financial flexibility across generations. Shawn, George and Michael talk about financial consciousness, the mindset of debt, paying off debt, and retirement. We talk about the four Levels of a healthy mindset: (1) Mindfulness, (2) Basic Planning, (3) Tax Mastery & (4) Wealth Mastery. We also talk about removing red flags, goal planning and cash flow planning during retirement. 'More information can be found on Michael's website, or you can follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn. Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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How To Build and Protect Generational Wealth - Episode 467
06/12/2025
How To Build and Protect Generational Wealth - Episode 467
Have you ever had a bus fall on your house? What is the difference between Passive and Active Income? How do you make money for tomorrow? For the next generation? On this week's show, Shawn & George talk to Whitney Elkins-Hutten, the founder of Ash Wealth Consulting and Director of Investor Education at PassiveInvesting.com. She hosts the Passive Investing Made Simple podcast and is a partner in $800M+ of real estate assets—including 6,500+ residential units, 2,200+ self-storage units, and more than $5M in fix-and-flipped properties. After hitting a home run with her first rental property and nearly losing it all on her second deal, Whitney turned to wealth-creation strategies to build sturdy financial freedom for herself and her family. Whitney is now on a mission to help families implement sound financial principles to create passive income and long-term wealth for generations to come. Whitney currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, and she enjoys trail running, traveling, photography, craft beers, and playing board games with family and friends. In this episode, we talk about her "home run," and her near loss, as well as mindset (turn "I can't" into "How Can I," and how to build wealth for tomorrow. You can reach Whitney at: Get her book, Money for Tomorrow at: Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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The Discontinued Penny! - Episode 466
06/05/2025
The Discontinued Penny! - Episode 466
Have any spare change? Do you still use cash and coins? The US Treasury Department and US Mint announced that it will stop making pennies after it runs out of the blank templates used to make the coins, saving the government $56 million a year in materials costs. There is no indication that pennies will be taken out of circulation, only that new pennies will not be produced. This move should have no impact on electronic purchases - ACH, Wire, Debit, Credit, etc. A few news articles on the subject: This issue is not unique to the United States. Canada, Australia and New Zealand stopped producing their penny-equivalents years ago. The cost to produce $0.01 is now approximately $0.0369 per penny, causing a loss to the US Mint of approximately $85.3 million. And our other coins are similarly expensive to produce: $0.05 nickel costs $0.1378 per coin $0.10 dime costs $0.0576 per coin $0.25 quarter costs $0.1468 per coin It may be time to start using all those pennies we're currently saving in jars and piggybanks. What do you think? How will stopping the production of the penny impact you? Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit .
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We Watched Tik Toks About Getting Out of Debt - Episode 465
05/29/2025
We Watched Tik Toks About Getting Out of Debt - Episode 465
Everything on the Internet is true, right? What can Tik Tok (and social media) teach us about getting out of debt? How much of the advice is legitimate and how much is, shall we say, a bit "out there"? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podccast, Shawn & George watch (or listen to) Tik Tok videos from influencers who are trying to help people get out of debt. We'll then comment on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the advice given. As with any social media platform, you have to do your own due diligence and utilize strategies that will work for you. You can listen to similar former episodes of the show like Episode 413 - Tik Tok Money Hacks Episode 388 - Money Lessons from Tik Tok (our Girl Math Episode) The Tik Toks on this weeks episode cover topics such as: What is a normal amount of savings? Bankruptcy Frugal Hacks How to turn $60 into $1,000 Girl Math Why NOT to save money Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders (the link will be live until June 2025):
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How to Haggle Without Looking Like a Jerk - Episode 464
05/22/2025
How to Haggle Without Looking Like a Jerk - Episode 464
Why are garage sales the perfect sales and negotiation training ground? What is the golden rule of negotiating? What are some negotiation tactics that work, and some that don't? Each year, in October and May, Shawn's neighborhood hosts a community-wide garage sale. Shawn has tested and practiced different sales techniques at these bi-annual events in a low-risk, low-pressure environment! Please go back and listen to these previous garage sale episodes, which have covered lessons such as: 68 - negotiations 86 - preparation 118 - patience 168 - preparation 241 - approach 270 - target market 373 - delegate 393 - sales presentation In this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about the benefits of practicing negotiation skills at a garage sale, some negotiation tactics that have worked for them and some that have not worked for them, and getting the younger generations involved early in selling and negotiation (lessons taught to Shawn's kids). Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: This link will be live until June 1, 2025, and then we start on the 2026 team and fundraiser.
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Soft Savings. Rethinking Retirement - Episode 463
05/22/2025
Soft Savings. Rethinking Retirement - Episode 463
What is Soft Savings? Why would you want to embrace it? What are some tips to balance soft savings and hard savings? What are some red flags to avoid with Soft Savings? In this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about Soft Savings, basically savings practices that may not be measurable or something that can be quantified. It involves spending for experiences, rather than saving for later. Soft savings is really just a mindset around what and how to save. Let us know if you practice soft savings, hard savings, or some combination. And please this episode with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: This link will be live until June 1, 2025, and then we start on the 2026 team and fundraiser.
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Do I Have To Pay Back My Student Loans? - Episode 462
05/08/2025
Do I Have To Pay Back My Student Loans? - Episode 462
Have you been paying your Student Loans? Have you been waiting on forgiveness of your Student Loans? Recently, the Department of Education has begun collection efforts for Student Loan borrowers behind on their payments, who have not repaid their debts or entered into some type of workout plan regarding their Student Loan debts. The government estimates that there are 6.4 million Student Loan borrowers between the ages of 50 - 60, that owe a combined $282 Billion - or $46,000 per borrower. For some history or background, Student Loan payments paused during the COVID pandemic. But in October 2023, Student Loan payments resumed (subject to any workout plan negotiated with the Department of Education). Now, the government is seeking collection against any defaulted Student Loans, and they have as tools, the authority, under certain circumstances, to: (1) garnish wages, (2) intercept and retain tax refunds, and (3) intercept and retain social security payments. Unfortunately, Student Loans are still largely non-dischargeable under Bankruptcy Law, although there have been some in-roads. So how can you manage? There are still options available, including: Income-Driven Repayment. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Modification You can also plan ahead for the costs of Education, by researching the different borrowing programs, Grants, 529 (and similar) plans. Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor, Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . And although the 2025 Purple Stride Walk is over, please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's 2025 Team at MY Legacy Striders: The link will be available until June 30.
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I Need A Notary - Episode 461
05/01/2025
I Need A Notary - Episode 461
What documents need to be notarized? What can a notary do or sign, or not? How or when can notarized documents help you to get or remain debt free? On today's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George interview our friend, Amanda Loeffler, owner of I Need a Notary, a remote online notarization company. That means Amanda can notarize documents anywhere and you do not need to be sitting with her physically to get something notarized (but you do need to prove your identity prior to signing). Amanda Loeffler is a wife to LCDR Jake Loeffler, USNR. (Go Navy!). Jake and Amanda have 5 awesome kids together. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Organizational Leadership and Entrepreneurship from St. Petersburg College. You can find Amanda and her team at . Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends! Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. . Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at or follow his Tiktok channel - To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at or visit . The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Purple Stride Walk 2025 is now over, but you can still support research and education surrounding this disease, by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: For 2025, we raised over $6,000 as a team, becoming the #7 largest fundraising team in Tampa Bay. Thank you to everyone that participated, walked, or just sent positive thoughts. The link will be active until June 1, 2025. After that, we'll start raising money for the 2026 Purple Stride Walk.
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