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Each week Doug Hoyes talks to industry experts about debt, money, and personal finance. Don't be confused; listen as the guest experts cut through the jargon and share practical advice.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Doug Hoyes and Ted Michaelis make Canadian debt rules, lending decisions and financial pressure easier to understand without draining the subject of humanity.
Debt Free in 30 turns debt trouble into a series of concrete decisions. Doug Hoyes and Ted Michaelis work through plain questions about missed payments, denied credit and unaffordable borrowing, using conversational back-and-forth and dry humor to keep the material approachable.
A $100 debt sold for a buck sounds different when you're the one who owes it.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A blunt reminder that assets, not age, do most of the talking.
Doug Hoyes and Ted frame a familiar boomer-versus-millennial debate as a clear look at money, starting points, and the uneven weight of debt. The useful turn comes when the discussion moves away from age as a catchall and toward the practical realities of houses, stocks, student…
When housing takes too much of disposable income, everything else gets squeezed.
The episode keeps the meaning of house poor practical: housing takes so much of disposable income that little is left over. Doug Hoyes and Ted keep that idea grounded by naming the usual pressure points - mortgage, utilities, maintenance, and repairs - while also making clear…
A clear look at creditor threats, debt buyers, and the myths that make overdue bills feel larger than they are.
The episode keeps the legal basics plain: if a debt comes from a contract, a creditor can sue, but in Canada an unpaid bill does not send someone to jail.
A clear look at car-finance risk when loan balances, repossession, and provincial rules all pull in different directions.
Doug Hoyes and Ted turn car financing in 2025 into a plain, useful walk-through of a problem that can bite hard. They move from tariffs, inflation, and recessions to liens, repossession, and the mess that follows when a car is worth less than the loan.
A blunt look at how debt can wear people down before the numbers do.
Debt fatigue is treated as a real strain, not a personal failing. Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos stay focused on the part of debt that never fits neatly into a calculator: emotional and mental exhaustion, hopelessness, and the slow pressure of inflation, no overtime, a long…
A practical look at why credit gets denied, how payday-loan loops build, and when insolvency becomes the way off the debt treadmill.
The episode treats denied credit as a practical snag rather than a moral judgment. Doug Hoyes and Ted trace a bank refusal back to familiar credit-report trouble, including high utilization and late payments, and the explanation stays grounded in everyday terms.
A blunt, useful look at why credit scores are convenient, flawed, and hard to escape.
The episode takes a dry, sensible look at Canada's credit-score machine, with Doug Hoyes and Ted Michaelis setting Equifax and TransUnion beside France's no-credit-bureau model.
A clear warning about newcomer credit offers, debt, and the case for saving first.
Doug Hoyes and Ted Michaelis treat the question plainly: yes, the credit offers are deliberate, and they follow from lenders competing for newcomers. The stronger point is not the marketing itself but the timing.
Paul Haavardsrud unpacks Canadian money stories, from ski-hill VIP pricing to French butter tariffs.
Real-estate freedom, taught in plain numbers.
Host Doug Hoyes interviews David Chilton about the updated edition of his bestselling personal finance book The Wealthy Barber, discussing its impact and modern relevance.
This episode explores whether it's too late to save for retirement by examining the mathematical realities and practical challenges Canadians face when starting late, emphasizing that it's more about time constraints than age.
The hosts discuss why many people avoid financial planning, particularly when dealing with debt, and explore common barriers like intimidation, lack of time, and living paycheck to paycheck.
This episode discusses whether investments like RRSPs and TFSAs are protected when someone has serious debt, exploring common fears and practical advice.
This episode discusses why debt collectors are increasingly active due to rising debt levels driven by inflation and income stagnation, with insights into collection strategies.
This episode explores whether individuals have a solid enough financial foundation to handle the risks of investing, particularly focusing on younger people's need to take investment risks to build wealth.
This episode discusses the pros and cons of using personal debt to finance a small business, exploring motivations for entrepreneurship and initial funding challenges.
This episode discusses common mistakes people make with debt and how to avoid them, featuring insights from a debt relief firm with decades of experience.
This episode discusses the rising cost of university tuition in Canada compared to historical prices adjusted for inflation, highlighting student loan struggles.
This compilation episode of Debt Free in 30 mixes practical financial advice on topics like auto renewal and zombie services with humorous bloopers and analogies.
This episode discusses the growing financial strain homeowners face when they can no longer afford their mortgage payments due to rising interest rates and costs, exploring why people prioritize housing payments even when other debts accumulate.
A financial podcast discusses practical strategies for prioritizing essential expenses and managing debt during tight financial times, using inflation statistics as a starting point.
This episode discusses why banks are cutting credit limits for people with good credit scores and offers insights on what to do about it.
This episode explores whether living debt-free is realistic in Canada by clarifying the difference between debt and credit.
This episode provides practical advice on how to prioritize and manage bills when you're behind, featuring insights from a licensed insolvency trustee.
This episode discusses the upcoming 2026 mortgage renewal cliff in Canada, where homeowners who locked in low rates in 2020-2022 will face higher rates at renewal, featuring insights from mortgage expert Ron Butler.
This episode explores why high-income earners often struggle with debt and file for bankruptcy, debunking common misconceptions about financial distress.
This episode discusses the financial and non-financial considerations for first-time homebuyers, including market timing, hidden costs, and the debate between renting versus buying.
This episode analyzes why flat consumer insolvency numbers in Ontario may actually indicate Canadians are deferring rather than solving their debt problems, potentially leading to a future surge in insolvencies.
This episode discusses practical strategies to avoid debt by examining credit dependency, unexpected expenses like vet bills, and shifting from credit reliance to cash-based spending.
This episode compiles advice on various scams targeting Canadians, focusing on how to avoid them rather than commit fraud, with examples like payday loans and renter scams.
This episode discusses how minimum credit card payments have become a trap due to rising balances and high interest rates, exploring why credit card companies encourage this behavior.
This episode provides practical financial advice for individuals who have recently lost their job, focusing on immediate steps to take within the first 30 days.
This episode explores why effective financial advice often involves simple, boring habits rather than exciting, complicated strategies promoted by financial influencers.
This episode debates whether tracking every expense is essential for debt management, with hosts discussing practical pros and cons of detailed spending logs.
This episode discusses whether it's ever too late to get out of debt, emphasizing that age and individual circumstances matter but recovery is possible with proper planning.
This episode of Debt Free in 30 features a year-end review of past predictions and forecasts for 2025, discussing how economic trends impact personal finances and business decisions.
This episode discusses how to financially prepare for a potential recession in Canada, focusing on debt management and analyzing economic indicators like unemployment rates.
This episode discusses the risks and consequences of adult children co-signing loans or credit cards for their parents, explaining how co-signers become fully liable for debts and how it affects their credit.
This episode explores whether debt can be considered good or bad, discussing it as a financial tool with examples like mortgages and credit card debt in the Canadian context.
This episode provides practical advice on preventing tax debt and mistakes for the 2026 tax season by focusing on administrative habits and systems rather than just tax deductions.
Doug Hoyes and guest Ted discuss practical steps to take when denied credit in an emergency, covering reasons for denial like credit scores and income, the dangers of payday loans, and long-term solutions such as consumer proposals.
Doug Hoyes and Ted define savings using the Statistics Canada formula, income minus income tax minus spending, and note the Q4 2024 rate was 6.1%.
This episode explores the concept of being house poor, where high housing costs leave little for other expenses.
Debt fatigue is not laziness.
Doug Hoyes and guest Ted Michaelis compare Canada's credit score system with France's alternative approach, discussing flaws like inaccuracies, bias, and debt traps, while exploring whether personalized lending could be better.
Doug Hoyes and guest Ted discuss legal actions creditors can take in Canada for unpaid debts, covering topics like collection agency tactics, the Limitations Act, debt buyers, court processes, and special cases like CRA and support payments.
This episode compares boomer and millennial financial mindsets, revealing that millennials now make up half of insolvency filings due to rising debt and housing costs.
Doug Hoyes and expert Ted discuss common car financing mistakes in 2025, covering high interest rates, negative equity, and repossession laws.
Doug Hoyes and Ted Michaelis discuss how Canadian banks target newcomers with credit offers, the unique financial challenges immigrants face, and practical advice on building credit and dealing with debt, including options like consumer proposals or leaving the country.
Doug Hoyes and guest Ted discuss zombie subscriptions—hidden, auto-renewing services that drain money without providing value.
This episode discusses why Canadians are financially struggling, focusing on rising delinquencies in debt payments as an indicator of economic hardship.
This episode explores why Canadian debt levels are rising while bankruptcies remain stable, examining how families cope with financial stress and predicting 2026 as a potential breaking point for many.
This episode critiques popular debt repayment methods like the snowball and avalanche approaches while discussing the mixed quality of financial media content and predatory sponsorship practices.
This episode of Debt Free in 30 discusses practical strategies for managing overwhelming debt, focusing on emergency funds versus debt repayment and exploring common causes of debt problems like insufficient income and inflation.
This episode discusses whether parents should help their adult children with debt, exploring financial challenges like home ownership affordability and income limitations.
This episode discusses whether to use home equity to pay off debt, focusing on current market conditions, interest rates, and real estate trends, particularly in Toronto's condo market.
This episode explores the hidden dangers of installment loans, comparing them to credit cards and payday loans while discussing their increasing prevalence in insolvency cases.
This episode discusses popular but potentially dangerous financial advice on the internet, explaining why it can lead to insolvency for those with debt or cash flow issues and offering practical alternatives.
This episode discusses common misunderstandings about debt among Canadians, drawing on insights from 600 episodes of the podcast to explore patterns in financial struggles and avoidance strategies.
Doug Hoyes and Ted discuss how a good credit score doesn't prevent financial trouble, emphasizing cash over credit.
A licensed insolvency trustee discusses how high rent leads to debt and explains why it's a math problem, not a budgeting issue.
Doug Hoyes and Ted discuss whether borrowing to pay off CRA tax debt is a smart idea or if a consumer proposal is safer.
Doug Hoyes and guest Ted discuss how scammers use AI and emotional manipulation to defraud people, focusing on avoiding debt from scams.
This episode discusses how neurodiversity affects finances and offers practical budgeting strategies for everyone.
Host Doug Hoyes explores the concept of gamification in debt and personal finance with guest Charlie, discussing live shopping events on social media platforms.
Host Doug Hoyes announces a documentary on debt and interviews financial therapist Amanda Clayman about the holistic approach to money.
Doug Hoyes interviews a collection agency COO about how unpaid debts affect credit scores and reports.
Doug Hoyes interviews Michael Rota about rising car thefts and VIN scams in Canada.
Doug Hoyes interviews Jessica Bishop about how to plan an affordable wedding and avoid debt.