Podcasts about parent plus

Send us a textEver wondered why student loans feel like a black hole of debt?In this episode of 'Women and Money - The Shit We Don't Talk About', we cover the often overwhelming topic of student loans with our guest, Elaine Rubin. Elaine is a bilingual student loan and financial aid expert with more than 15 years of experience in federal and private student aid. Elaine shares her personal experiences with student loan debt, offering strategies for managing loans effectively. This episode covers the pitfalls of taking out too many loans, the importance of long-term planning and budgeting, and the various repayment options available. She also stresses the importance of understanding the terms and conditions of student loans to avoid long-term financial burdens. Many challenges faced by first-generation college students bring heavy impact on women's financial independence, especially when balancing career and family. The episode expands the need for smarter financial decisions and the importance of seeking expert advice to navigate the intricacies of student loans.Listen to this episode to learn about effective strategies for loan repayment, the pros and cons of Parent PLUS loans, and practical advice for managing student loans without sacrificing your financial future. 00:00 Intro05:57 Expert Insights on Student Loans08:37 Elaine's Personal Journey 13:13 Common Mistakes and Strategies for Managing Student Loans16:31 The Impact of Student Loans on Families and Future Planning23:57 Strategizing Loan Repayment25:04 Simplifying Financial Aid26:14 Scholarship Strategies29:06 Advice to My Younger Self32:16 Understanding Loan Interest Rates37:24 Balancing Debt and LifeFollow & connect with us!Facebook PageFacebook groupInstagramTikTokLinkedInYouTubeFollow & Connect with Elaine:Website LinkedInFacebookResourcesHave questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here!Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/ To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/

Are big changes coming to the way we pay for college? In this episode, host Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Ann Garcia, CFP®, and  author of How to Pay for College, to discuss the shifting landscape of higher education. With potential policy changes on the horizon, including modifications to student loans, grants, and university funding, families need to be more strategic than ever in planning for college expenses.Melissa and Ann explore the role of the Department of Education, the impact of proposed Parent PLUS loan eliminations, taxation of scholarships and endowments, and how federal research funding plays a pivotal role in the U.S. economy. Ann provides valuable insights on smart financial planning strategies for families navigating the cost of higher education and shares actionable steps for making informed decisions.Key Takeaways:✅ Potential Changes in Higher Education – How proposed federal policies may impact college affordability and financial aid. ✅ Understanding the Role of the Department of Education – What it funds, why it matters, and what could happen if it's restructured or eliminated. ✅ The Risks of Taxing Scholarships & Endowments – Who could be most affected and why financial aid could become even more limited. ✅ Parent PLUS Loans on the Chopping Block? – The pros and cons of eliminating these loans and what it could mean for families. ✅ Why Research Universities Matter – How federally funded research drives economic growth and innovation, from medical breakthroughs to technological advancements. ✅ Financial Planning for College – Smart strategies for families, including using net price calculators, alternative education pathways, and financial aid negotiations. ✅ The Importance of Open Conversations About Money – How to discuss finances with your kids and prepare them for responsible decision-making.Follow Ann on LinkedIn Learn More About Paying for College  Follow on FacebookThe previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING's investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING's current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https:...

The IDR and loan consolidation applications are down, repayment plans are shifting, and court rulings are throwing everything into question. If you're feeling stuck, you're not alone. Learn why the Department of Education is reworking the IDR and PSLF applications, what this means for your loan strategy, and how to make smart decisions despite the chaos. We'll also tackle listener questions about PSLF timing, repayment plan changes, and what potential policy shifts could mean for your forgiveness path. Key moments: (04:38) What the court ruling means for PSLF and ICR borrowers (07:16) Will my loans be forgiven? I'm two payments away from forgiveness and not IBR eligible (14:51) Is my income too high to qualify for financial hardship? (19:24) Do my Parent PLUS loans qualify for PSLF forgiveness? (23:06) What is the student loan “tax bomb” and will I have to pay it? Link mentioned:   Request an income-driven repayment plan   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Known for his practical and accessible guidance, Stanley Tate, an expert attorney in student loan law, has become an indispensable resource for student loan borrowers of diverse backgrounds.  In this conversation, Jessica and Brandon dive into the complexities of the student loan debt landscape and its emotional toll on borrowers. From navigating federal, private and Parent PLUS loans, to strategies for finding relief through repayment options and bankruptcy, this episode is packed with expert insights and practical steps you can take to reassess your  decisions regarding student loans, repayment and the ROI of college.Watch this episode in video form on YouTubeLeave us a question in the form of a voicemail You can email us at: thesugardaddypodcast@gmail.comBe sure to connect with us on socials @thesugardaddypodcast we are most active on InstagramLearn more about Brandon and schedule a free 30-minute introductory call with him here: https://www.oakcityfinancial.usNotes from the show:https://www.tateesq.com/https://www.youtube.com/@stanleytate

The clock is ticking on the double consolidation loophole for Parent PLUS Loans, which closes in July 2025. Learn what this change means, why borrowers must act quickly, and how to make the most of the remaining time. We'll tackle the big questions: Should you file taxes jointly or separately? How do Medicare penalties and student loan repayments overlap? And what strategies can help you maximize income-driven repayment (IDR) plans before the loophole disappears? Jared Costigan, CFP®, CSLP®, a financial planner with the SLP Wealth team, shares expert advice on preserving retirement savings, aligning Social Security with loan repayment, and leveraging Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Key moments: (05:16) Parent PLUS debt surged 63% from 2015 to 2022 as the cost of college climbs (9:19)  The double consolidation loophole could save you from paying 20% of your retirement income (19:38) Who benefits most from a double consolidation? Borrowers with balances nearing or exceeding their income (27:56) Income planning ties Social Security and loans to retirement timing — don't overlook it (37:32) Filing taxes separately can lower loan payments but may raise Medicare costs Links mentioned:    Financially Free Physicians podcast Department of Education Parent PLUS Loans Parent PLUS Double Consolidation Loophole Guide for 2025   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

In recent years, there has been plenty of talk about the burden of paying for a college education, and student loan forgiveness has been a hot topic. If it's in the news, then weighing on the minds of our clients. That's why we're so grateful to have Mark Kenney, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CERTIFIED TAX SPECIALIST here at SHP Financial. With college tuition soaring, preparing for your children's or grandchildren's education is more important than ever. In our conversation, you'll learn some shocking truths about how much student loan debt is being carried in the US, which assets are included in FAFSA's (Federal Application for Student Aid) calculations, and which aren't, and 529 accounts are a great way to save for college education.  In this podcast interview, you'll learn: Why most of the $1.75 trillion in student loan debt is being carried by people over 60 years of age. How to differentiate between the assets that are included and excluded in FAFSA applications. Some of the myths about 529 accounts and why they're an important part of a college education plan. The eligibility requirements, interest rates and repayment terms of Parent PLUS loans. Mark's advice on how to decide between helping to pay for college education vs leaving a legacy with your investments. Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit SHPfinancial.com/podcast Connect With Us on Social Facebook LinkedIn YouTube

Seniors, are you working on your Common Application? Host Ian Fisher will be interviewing colleague Kristine Sawicki, formerly of Stanford University, about how to make your Common Application shine. We have something for your sophomores and juniors too! You may be wondering how to make the most of high school. We'll be addressing purposeful goal setting instead of just wish making. And parents, are you looking for an out in repaying Parent PLUS or cosigned private loans? It's not easy…but we'll talk about the few ways it might be possible.

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins Jon Hansen to discuss eligibility for student loan forgiveness for Parent PLUS loans. Rae shares the story of a listener who had been paying his children’s loans for about 20 years and has recently gotten those loans forgiven due to his ineligibility to work.

After months of waiting, the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) application is live again! But with all the changes, options, and deadlines, where do you start? Learn the steps you should take if you're considering switching repayment plans, the implications for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and how to navigate the updated requirements for loan consolidations and recertifications.  In today's episode: 4:37 Application processing, clarifying recertification, and the PSLF buyback 16:16 Double Consolidation advice for Parent PLUS borrowers 20:54 PSLF recertification and confusing payment count updates 34:17 When to consolidate and reasons why you shouldn't Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Tackling the real issues you're facing and answering a lot of listener questions that have come in about student loans. We'll chat about the impact of possible political changes on loan forgiveness programs, share tips on managing your loans during servicer transitions, and give advice on everything from autopay issues to whether you should buy property in Hawaii. In today's episode: 00:38 Parent PLUS loan consolidation, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), marriage and student loans 17:40 Advice for new graduates, administrative forbearance, early income recertification, PSLF buyback 30:19 Interest accruing during forbearance, PSLF credit for past payments, timing PSLF 41:32 Forgiveness timelines when there's a gap between undergrad and grad loans, interest capitalization Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

In this episode of the Money Mastery Unleashed Podcast, host Adam Olson welcomes special guest David Gourley, a former high school math teacher who has transitioned into financial services. David brings a wealth of experience in student loan planning, having helped over 500 clients navigate the complex landscape of student loans, saving them more than $15 million in loan forgiveness. As a Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP), David has become a trusted advisor, specializing in helping individuals and families reduce their financial burden through student loan and financial planning strategies. Throughout the conversation, David shares his journey from teaching to financial planning, explaining how his passion for helping fellow educators manage their finances led him to specialize in student loans. He discusses the changing rules around student loans and offers insight into key programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Parent PLUS loans. Listeners will learn about the critical distinctions between various loan repayment plans, as well as strategies for navigating these systems to maximize savings. Whether you're a parent considering loans for your child's education, a student facing debt, or someone already navigating repayment, this episode provides essential advice. David also highlights the importance of consulting with a certified professional to ensure you're not leaving money on the table. If you have student loans, this episode is packed with practical tips and insights that could make a significant difference in your financial future. “Student loans are a quick-changing landscape, and what worked a few years ago might not work today.” Key Takeaways: Student loan planning Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Double consolidation strategy Advice to young borrowers Learn more about David Gourley by visiting the following links: k12 Planning Linktr.ee LinkedIn David Linktr.ee Learn more about Adam Olson by visiting the following links: Facebook Personal Website Business Website -- Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.    Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions.  Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.  Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.  Adam Olson, Representative.  Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein.  This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties.  Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

Worried about changes to your student loan payments? It could happen if the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is repealed. Student loan experts Megan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger share how they're advising clients to rethink their repayment approach. In today's episode: 05:24 Parent PLUS loan borrowers need a plan B and plan C 13:44 Fill out a forbearance application to postpone or reduce student loan payments 24:07 Monthly income-driven repayments (IDR) can spike if you don't update your income 31:49 PSLF buyback can give you credit for months that didn't qualify before   Link mentioned:  SAVE Plan Court Actions: Impact on Borrowers   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Seniors, are you working on your Common Application? Host Ian Fisher will be interviewing colleague Kristine Sawicki, formerly of Stanford University, about how to make your Common Application shine. We have something for your sophomores and juniors too! You may be wondering how to make the most of high school. We'll be addressing purposeful goal setting instead of just wish making. And parents, are you looking for an out in repaying Parent PLUS or cosigned private loans? It's not easy…but we'll talk about the few ways it might be possible.

A looming June 30, 2024, deadline means big changes for student loan borrowers. Student loan experts Lauryn Williams and Connor Pierce explain why this is the last call for the IDR waiver, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plan and Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan. Learn what's at stake with these benefits phasing out and how to avoid costly mistakes. In today's episode: 03:58 Last chance for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and why it's crucial for professions with escalating incomes 13:30 Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) is going away for borrowers who don't have Parent PLUS loans 20:24 IDR waiver benefits before they expire and why you might need to consolidate your loans before June 30, 2024 30:19 Undergrad borrowers on Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) could see their payments drop July 1, 2024   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Student loan interest rates are on the rise as we head into the 2024-2025 academic year. What does this mean for you? David Aizuss, CSLP®, explores the effect on students, graduates, and parents. Discover how student loan interest rates work and why higher interest rates could change your approach to repayment and forgiveness. In today's episode: 01:46 New higher interest rates for undergrad, grad school, and Parent PLUS borrowers 08:24 You shouldn't be afraid of student loan interest 16:33 Interest rates don't really matter if you're pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)  26:36 Parent PLUS borrowers face significant challenges with the loophole closing Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Listen in as I answer questions from our mailbag, discuss the peculiar happenings at Nelnet, and provide updates on where we stand with student loans in May. We'll start with listener questions about the $12,000 10-year forgiveness option, Parent PLUS loans, and income-driven repayment (IDR) recertification dates. You'll also hear about summer updates like sweeping forgiveness programs, lawsuits trying to block student loan forgiveness, and how the upcoming presidential election could change your student loan payment.  In today's episode: 00:54 Can borrowers get two kinds of forgiveness with one Direct Loan consolidation? 03:28 Will the Parent PLUS double consolidation loophole kick borrowers off the SAVE plan? 06:25 Does early IDR recertification change your recertification date? 08:45 What to do if your Parent PLUS payment is more than you can afford 12:54 Nelnet stopped consolidations, causing concern and delays 15:60 The Department of Education should either fund or fire MOHELA 17:45 Student loan policy depends on political control 18:53 The FAFSA fiasco and speculation on resignations 22:17 Summer updates: forgiveness, lawsuits, and student loan policy   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Today's episode is a conversation between 2 fathers who also are business owners. Alex owns a marketing agency whom I met when I first got into the coaching industry back in 2018. We've both got kids so we chat around all the joys and challenges that come with building a business along side them. You can find more about Alex at:   Instagram @tothemoondigital   Make sure you subscribe to my podcast to stay up to date with episodes I release every week.   If you loved this episode, I'd be super grateful if you could leave me a review which helps me spread this podcast out to more amazing people just like you :)   HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW ME: Instagram: @luke_page Join our 6 Figure Coaches Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingbizsecrets WATCH THE 3 STEPS TO HITTING $10k MONTHS AS A COACH - The specific strategy you can use to start hitting $10k months, month after month. https://www.lukepage.com.au/10k 10 (VERY NON SALESY) SALES SCRIPTS - 10 FREE, 1 liner scripts you can use to ask your audience to get more leads and clients. Perfect for your stories, posts, DM's and emails.  https://go.lukepage.com.au/sales_scripts   9 INSTAGRAM BIO MISTAKES THAT ARE COSTING YOU FOLLOWERS AND CLIENTS - A FREE Step By Step Guide on The Best Way To Set Up Your Instagram Profile So You Can Attract a Ton More Followers + Clients https://go.lukepage.com.au/bio_mistakes    

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made competing visits to the border Thursday.More than 100 Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on people waiting for food.USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning reports on the potential impact of new voting laws in North Carolina.The Pentagon classified document leak suspect is expected to plead guilty Monday.USA TODAY Money and Personal Finance Reporter Medora Lee talks about a loophole for Parent PLUS loan holders.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've seen clients struggle with student loans since I first started financial coaching 15 years ago. And with all the recent changes in student loan forgiveness rules, I knew I wanted to share more on the podcast so coaches were better informed when working with clients.But I also knew my own limits. I'm not an expert in student loan forgiveness, David Gourley, a Financial Coach Academy® alum, is.This week on the podcast, David is sharing his knowledge on loan forgiveness, how to translate some of your student loan data, why some loans are being forgiven and others aren't, why it's important to take action, what to watch out for with your Parent PLUS loan, and more.Even if you don't coach clients on student loan forgiveness, knowledge is power. Knowing where to turn for help or where to refer your clients to is incredibly important.Links & Resources:Teach Plan RetireConnect with David on LinkedInFollow David on X

As 2023 comes to an end, it's the perfect time to think about smart student loan moves you should make in 2024. First, I answer listener questions about administrative forbearance, consolidating loans, tactics for keeping student loan payments low, in-school deferment waivers and more. I'm not just helping you prepare for the upcoming shifts in student loan repayment plans, I'm also looping you in on tax advantages, smart deferment methods and common payment pitfalls that might have slipped under your radar. Get ready to step into the New Year with valuable insights and a solid game plan for your student loans. In today's episode, you'll find out: Does administrative forbearance count for PSLF and IDR Can you get a refund for payments made while in administrative forbearance How to keep your student loan payment low (and how NOT to) How the 2024 presidential election results might impact student loan repayment When it makes sense to consolidate your loans after the IDR waiver What child-dependent tax credits you lose when you're married but filing separately What professions could use an in-school deferment waiver or SAVE plan strategy Why you need to beware of the FSA payment tracker and forgiveness dates The importance of gathering your payment history and payment count The signup deadline for PAYE plans How to get ahead on Parent PLUS double consolidation applications What to do when administrative forbearances end 
Links mentioned:  Need help with taxes? Get answers with our tax team Have questions about being married and filing taxes separately? Book a call now! Check out our doctor mortgage calculator

Whether navigating the post-graduation grace period, exploring new repayment options, or looking to supercharge your loan payoff, this episode is jam-packed with practical advice to help you take charge of your financial journey.  Hosts James Mwombela, CFP®, CSLP®, Rebecca Baldauf, Jake Courtney and Sam Silberstein deliver a wealth of insights for effectively managing student loans. No matter where you are in your career, you'll walk away with actionable tips and the latest strategies to confidently tackle your student loan debt.  In today's episode, you'll find out: The financial benefits of paying during the grace period to minimize interest accumulation How consolidating loans after graduation can be smart, especially if your past income was more 'ramen diet' than 'caviar dreams' The value of a student loan planner in creating personalized repayment strategies that align with your career ambitions and financial situation How returning to school could enhance career prospects and open doors to loan forgiveness Potential upcoming improvements in income-driven repayment plans Insights on managing student loans with strategic considerations for prioritizing private student loans  The date Parent PLUS loans need to know for access to lower monthly payments How claiming student loan interest deductions affects your AGI Why avoiding forbearance is crucial when aiming for loan forgiveness The role of the debt avalanche method and current considerations for refinancing student loans How targeting high-interest student loans first can be a strategic move for repayment The ins and outs of the 12-month ramp-up period for borrowers struggling to make payments The benefits of an income-driven repayment plan as an alternative to default Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan  

Time is running out for the IDR Account Adjustment. The so-called “IDR Waiver” is the biggest backdoor student loan forgiveness program in history, and it's ending in less than 30 days. Learn exactly what the IDR Waiver is, the steps you need to take to take advantage of it, and how it could give you immediate forgiveness even if you didn't know you were eligible for it. I'll clarify some common misconceptions about the Waiver and shed some light on potential regrets for those who miss the deadline. Then, we'll explore how student loan repayment will change after the IDR Waiver ends, what borrowers are getting wrong about the SAVE plan, and why getting expert guidance is even more critical in a post-IDR Waiver world.  In today's episode, you'll find out: The IDR waiver's historic significance in student loan forgiveness How to get credit for forbearance and repayment plans before the deadline slips away Eligibility criteria to maximize benefits of forgiveness How the IDR Waiver transforms older loans into forgiveness superheroes Forgiveness eligibility of the IDR Waiver vs. the PSLF Waiver When the forgiveness date tracker will be available from the Department of Education Potential discrepancies in forgiveness payment count accuracy from the Department of Education How long you'll have to wait for a payment count adjustment after the IDR Waiver What to do if you're on the SAVE and PAYE income-driven repayment plan Misconceptions about the SAVE plan's interest payments The best strategies for post-IDR Waiver student loan repayment  Common borrower challenges, including filing taxes separately, navigating PAYE repayment plans and consolidation issues for Parent PLUS loans Links mentioned:  Payment Count Adjustments SAVE Repayment Plan Biden-Harris Administration IDR Announcement   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

College funding isn't everyone's favorite topic. However, the reality of higher education costs requires a proactive approach. If you've been diligently saving for years or are realizing the urgency to start now, valuable insight awaits you in this episode. Join our host, Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, as she sits down with Student Loan Advisors Derenda King, CFP®, CSLP®, and Rebecca Baldauf, CPA, CCFC. Together, they share proven strategies and insider tips to bridge the gap between savings and college expenses. Listen in to get the expert guidance you need to navigate the choppy waters of college funding.   In today's episode, you'll find out:   The rising education costs and its ripple effects on families and finances The ins and outs of student loan consolidation, plus little-known forgiveness strategies How a 529 savings plan offers flexible college funding without sacrificing other financial goals Tax benefits and implications of using retirement accounts to save for college expenses How the Student Aid Index factors into how much you'll pay for college Whether it's legal and ethical to adjust assets to influence the financial aid equation Potential pitfalls and considerations before taking out Parent PLUS loans How to make the most of the time you have left to save for college   Links mentioned:    Collegiate Financial Coach Higher Ed Hustle 529 College Savings Plans What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Navigating the maze of family finances isn't for the faint of heart, especially when student loans are part of your story. Get ready to reshape your financial future with insights tailored specifically for parents. Our expert Student Loan Advisors Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, bring their expertise directly to you, offering practical, actionable advice that goes beyond the basics. This episode is packed with essential knowledge of FMLA, disability benefits, and savvy tax strategies, all designed to elevate your money management skills as a parent. In today's episode, you'll find out: How to navigate the complexities of parental leave deferment for Stafford loans pre-July 1993 Empowering tips for expectant and new moms about support and creating cherished moments The essentials of FMLA and short term disability for new parents Innovative strategies for using 529 plans and managing Parent PLUS loans for your child's education Tips for managing family size changes and parental leave The best place to stash your emergency fund How to optimize your parental leave by staggering benefits How to decode tax implications and access credits for new parents The connection between maternity leave, disability, and effective student loan    Links mentioned: Family Medical Leave Act Ally Bank high-yield savings Capital One high-yield savings   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Millions of student-loan borrowers who took out Parent Plus loans weren't included in the Biden administration's new income-driven repayment options. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we're talking about how parents help finance their kid's education. Specifically, we're going to discuss Parent PLUS loans and how they impact millions of Americans hoping to retire. Americans above the age of 60 are drowning in student loan debt, both their own and that of their kids. The number of people over the age of 60 who have student loan debt has sextupled since 2004, now at $125 billion. Part of that debt is made of Parent PLUS loans: loans taken out by parents to help students. 3.7 million people of varying ages owe $108.5 billion in Parent PLUS debt. If you're one of those parents, there's stuff you need to know. Because some options you now have to deal with PLUS loans will soon be going away. It's so serious, it's being called the PLUS loan cliff. Sounds ominous! Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's guest is Travis Hornsby, the founder and CEO of Student Loan Planner. He's going to help us navigate this confusing topic and tell us how to handle this debt. Before we start, remember: We're not offering financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here. It's also important to note that Miranda has a freelance relationship with Student Loan Planner. She provides content for them on a contract basis. You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts: Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyLet's talk about paying for college Parent PLUS loans are a type of Direct loan. When loans for undergraduate students fall short of meeting funding needs, Parent PLUS loans can fill the gap. The student loan system is complicated, and it's important to understand how you can pay for college, whether you get loans or not. Here's more information about student loans and paying for college, including ideas for getting a better return for your tuition buck in terms of jobs. What to Know About Student Loans Before You Borrow7 Ways to Get Free Money for College5 College Majors With the Worst Employment Rates — and 5 With the BestTop 20 Colleges and Universities That Hire for Flexible Jobs10 Colleges Where Tuition Is Free10 Things College Students Should Learn About MoneyGood Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree9 Colleges That Offer Free Tuition for Seniors8 Ivy League Colleges That Offer Free Online CoursesFree College Courses for Seniors in Every StateCan't Afford a College Degree? Consider Certification and a New JobWhat you need to know about student loans, including Parent PLUS loans Student loan debt can feel overwhelming. However, there are programs for forgiveness. It's also important to understand the difference between private and federal student loans. Here are some resources you can use to learn more, both on Money Talks News and on other websites. 13 States That Could Tax Forgiven College Loans11 Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Fast5 Ways to Avoid Drowning in Student Loan Debt if You Drop Out of CollegeHow to Get Free Help With Your Student LoansHow to Prepare for the Parent PLUS Cliff in 2025 (Miranda's article for Student Loan Planner)Parent PLUS Loans: You might be eligible, but should you take one? (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)Federal loans vs. private loans: Understanding student loan issuer types (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)Federal student loans: Subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)Meet this week's guest, Travis Hornsby Travis Hornsby is a speaker and the founder of Student Loan Planner, which he launched after helping his physician wife navigate ridiculously complex student loan repayment decisions. To date, Student Loan Planner has consulted on over $1 billion in student debt. Travis is a Chartered Financial Analyst and brings his background as a former bond trader trading billions of dollars. Trying to solve the student loan crisis brought him out of his first retirement at the age of 25. He brings that same intensity to analyzing the best repayment paths for graduate degree professionals with six figures of student debt. Travis and his team have helped over 13,000+ clients save over $783 million dollars on their student loans, and he's been featured in NPR, New York Times, Bloomberg, U.S. News, Business Insider, Forbes, Rolling Stone, ChooseFi, Bigger Pockets, Money, and more. WebsitePodcastInstagramTikTokTwitterDon't listen to podcasts? A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle. You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS. If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did! About the hosts Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate. Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Student Debt Crisis Center takes over the airwaves of 'the Leslie Marshall Show,' where they discuss how things are going as we're almost one month back into student loan repayments. They share updates on what borrowers need to know, what they're currently up to at SDCC, and some tips and tricks for borrowers with Parent PLUS loans. This episode's SDCC hosts are President and Founder, Natalia Abrams, Managing Director, Sabrina Calazans, and Policy Advisor, Spencer Dixon. The Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers, and partners with allies, to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis. The SDCC website is StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg.

New repayment plans are opening the door to new loopholes for borrowers, including a new subsidy strategy. I'm sitting down with Senior Student Loan Advisor Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, to share an exciting new tactic with the SAVE plan that can help you subsidize all of your grad school loans. Learn about weighted average of balances and its impact on loan repayment options, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You'll also hear eye-opening insights into the Department of Education's calculation errors that have affected hundreds of thousands of borrowers.  In today's episode, you'll find out: The new subsidy strategy that's a loophole for grad school borrowers Why taxpayers file separately to lower student loan payments How to recoup lost tax credits by amending past tax returns Whether potential caps on Parent PLUS loans are fair The impact of calculation errors and issues with administrative forbearance How weighted average works and how it affects loan repayment About the mental toll and anxiety of borrowing student loans Predictions for the future of student loan policies and forgiveness programs Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Betsy Mayotte, founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, explains the benefits of federal student loan repayment plans, and the loophole that makes Parent Plus loans eligible for the SAVE plan. New-Home Sales Have Remained ResilientFedEx Missed Morningstar's ExpectationsMicrosoft's Activision Blizzard Buyout  Student Loan Repayments and “The Institute of Student Loan Advisors”How To Prepare for Student Loan Payments  Younger Borrowers vs. Older BorrowersShifting Student DebtRisks of Defaulting on Federal Student Loan Debt in RetirementThe SAVE Repayment PlanWhat Rising Bond Yields Mean for Investors Read about topics from this episode.  Incentives and Speculative Building Have Boosted New-Home Sales; We Now See More Starts in 2023FedEx Earnings: Global Package Demand Still Sluggish, but Ground Margins ImpressActivision Blizzard: Sale to Microsoft Will Likely Close in OctoberStudent Loan Repayments Are Back. What Does That Mean for Your Financial Plan?Information on Limited Forgiveness Opportunities and Repayment Restart What to watch from Morningstar.UAW Strike Raises Investor Risks3 of the Best Robo-Advisors, and One of the WorstStocks to Consider as the U.S. Pushes to Reclassify Cannabis“Ripped Off” to a “Better Deal” – How Investors Fared Since the Market-Timing Scandal Read what our team is writing:Ivanna Hampton  Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Arm yourself with “quick hits” — essential tips to guide you through the labyrinth of recent student loan updates. As student loan payments restart, Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, share how to maximize opportunities on your student loan repayment journey. Discover the revamped consolidation application designed for better efficiency and ease. Learn the benefits of removing the spousal sign-off requirements and the improved IRS data retrieval tool. Get the lowdown on the double consolidation process for Parent PLUS loans and why you shouldn't wait to take action. Listen in to stay ahead of the game when managing your student loans. In today's episode, you'll find out: How changes to the consolidation application can influence your decision to consolidate How your spouse's information can affect student loan consolidation, regardless of separate finances How to get real-time payment estimates with the IRS data retrieval tool The new option of uploading income certification documentation digitally versus traditional mailing Top pros and cons of the double consolidation legal loophole for Parent PLUS loan borrowers Why parents with student loans need to add the July 2025 deadline to their calendar Common problems borrowers face when consolidating or choosing an income-driven plan Why interest capitalization isn't as bad as you think The importance of considering your entire financial picture when evaluating your student loan repayment strategy Links mentioned:  Direct Consolidation Loan Application Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan Request The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)

Welcome to the FitBUX Podcast, where we decode the complex world of student loans, helping you to leverage loopholes and strategies like the "double debt consolidation" to ease your financial burden. Join Joseph Reinke, CFA, as he simplifies the daunting process of loan repayment. In this episode, Joseph discusses the Parent PLUS loans and how both retirees and children repaying them can benefit from the double debt consolidation loophole. So buckle up as we journey through the maze of student loans, giving you the tools to secure your financial future. Don't miss out on this opportunity. Tune in and take your first step towards financial relief. Need financial planning help? Be sure to visit FitBUX.com.

The student loan double-consolidation loophole can make Parent PLUS loans eligible for all income-driven repayment plans, but it's ending in 2025. Learn more. The post The End Of The Student Loan Double-Consolidation Loophole appeared first on The College Investor.

The student loan double-consolidation loophole can make Parent PLUS loans eligible for all income-driven repayment plans, but it's ending in 2025. Learn more. 

Welcome to Wine and Dime, where we explore the intersection of wine and finances. In this series on college planning fundamentals, we will delve into the terminology and strategies that can help you navigate the complex world of college planning. Just like a fine wine, college planning requires careful consideration and aging to achieve the desired outcome. So, grab a glass of your favorite vintage and join me on this journey of financial education.Remember, just like a good bottle of wine, the Wine and Dime Podcast gets better with time. So don't forget to rate and subscribe to our show, where we blend the flavors of wine and personal finance to help you achieve financial freedom! If you have any questions that you would like answered on the show, feel free to email us at info@rootedpg.comOr visit us at www.rootedpg.com/podcasts for full show notes and links!Key Takeaways:Define your college funding goals and prioritize them based on timing and resources.Fill out the FAFSA form even if you don't think you qualify for financial aid.Need blind colleges consider a student's ability to pay tuition cost in the admissions decision.Merit scholarships are based on a student's merit and do not need to be repaid.Parent PLUS loans can bridge the gap between need-based aid and family resources.Quotes:"You can borrow for education, but you can't borrow for retirement.""Don't assume anything. Fill out the FAFSA form.""Need blind colleges are schools where a student's ability to pay tuition cost is not factored into the admissions decision.""Merit scholarships are based on the student's merit and do not need to be repaid.""Parent PLUS loans are taken by the parent and often close the final gap between need-based aid, merit scholarships, and family resources."Exploring the Vineyards of Shaw VineyardBefore we dive into the intricacies of college planning, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the vineyards. Shaw Vineyard, located on Seneca Lake, is known for its dedication to aging their wines. Their reds spend five or more years in the cellar before they are bottled, resulting in a rich and flavorful experience. They also offer a unique blend called the Cuca Hill Reserve, which combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. I am eager to explore this winery and discover the nuances of their wines. If you have had the pleasure of trying Shaw Vineyard's wines, I would love to hear about your experience. And if you find yourself in the Finger Lakes area, I encourage you to visit and embark on your own wine adventure.The Five Essential Steps of College PlanningNow, let's shift our focus to the topic at hand: college planning fundamentals. It is important to approach college planning with a clear understanding of your goals and priorities. Defining your goals involves determining how much responsibility you and your child will have in funding their education, as well as considering other financial goals that may require attention. It is crucial to establish a timeline for each goal and anticipate any potential detours along the way. By mapping out your college planning journey, you can create a comprehensive and adaptable plan that aligns with your family's unique circumstances.The Power of Savings: Understanding 529 PlansWhen it comes to saving for college, 529 plans are a popular choice. These education savings plans offer tax advantages and can be customized to suit your needs. There are different types of 529 plans, including savings plans, prepaid plans, and private plans. A savings plan allows you to invest money that will grow over time, while a prepaid plan involves prepaying the cost of education within your...

Year after year, the annual survey taken for the T-I-A-A Institute Personal Finance Index shows low financial literacy for the 18-to-25 age group. A majority of these young adults consistently fail to demonstrate a working knowledge of financial concepts like budgeting, saving, insurance, and investing.Think about what this means.  Tens of thousands of young adults are going off to college or joining the workforce today without knowing how to manage their money, how to avoid overspending, or even how to build a solid financial future for themselves.These days, we have online banking and instant digital transactions.  It's so easy to use credit and transfer money that many young people just live day to day without a plan … until they need a bailout from Mom or Dad!The fact that young adults rarely handle cash also means they no longer have a physical connection to their money.  When you don't actually see and feel your money coming and going, you might not realize when it's gone. This disconnect can lead to unintentional overspending and a lifetime of debt, not to mention a lack of motivation to save for the future.So, if you're a parent of teenagers or a “Gen Z” just starting out, here are a few must-have financial skills and how to get them: MUST-HAVE FINANCIAL SKILLSThe first “skill” is actually an attitude. The Bible says God is the owner of everything, as in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”. Understand that nothing really belongs to you, even you. You are a manager of God's resources, which should change your perspective on money and material things.The number two financial skill you'll need is planning.  “A dream without a plan is just a wish,” as they say.  And wishes won't buy you a house. The fundamental planning tool we recommend is a budget, otherwise known as a “spending plan”.  A budget keeps track of your income, giving, and spending, and gives you a picture of your progress towards meeting your financial goals.  Download the free FaithFi app to get one started.The next fundamental financial skill everyone needs is: work!  Maybe your dad always told you that “Money Doesn't Grow on trees!” Annoying as that was, it's the truth. So, start at the bottom if you have to, work hard, and develop your resume!In Colossians 3: 23 and 24, we see the key to successful work: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”The next skill is to open and manage a bank account. Then, make sure you develop habits of giving and saving from every paycheck. Watching your balance increase will encourage you to stick to your plan. Keeping track of your bank balance will also help you understand your limits.  You can't spend what isn't there.The next skill will also help you understand your limits. Learn about credit.  Don't fall into the trap of believing that a credit card equals permission to spend all you want. Instead, keep track of your balances, pay your balances in full every month, and watch your credit score.Another basic financial skill you'll need is to understand investing, including types of investments, risk, and return. Check out the great information at SoundMindinvesting.org.Finally, admit you don't know it all and learn where to go for solid financial advice. As it says in Proverbs 15:22: Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed. Visit faithfi.com and click on the “Community” tab to chat online about your money questions.  Or, ask someone you trust, who knows about finances, to help you.Now more than ever, young adults need financial skills to succeed in the “real world”.  Our challenge to our bright and hopeful “Gen Z” generation is to pursue a firm faith and financial literacy.   On today's program, Rob also answers listener questions: Is an annuity a good option for retirement savingHow should someone determine whether to sell the family home after a divorce?How does one go about buying a parent's home that is currently in an irrevocable trust? Is it wise to borrow against your existing home to purchase a vacation home? Is there a way to seek loan forgiveness for a “Parent Plus” loan?  RESOURCES MENTIONED:Zillow.com Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network as well as American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.comwhere you can join the FaithFi Community, and give  as we expand our outreach. 

What do you kick yourself over? "Why did I listen to my Hubs & sign off on Parent Plus student loans for a child?" "Married for security vs fun/intimacy/attraction!" "I'm kicking myself because I was part of a work love triangle. We all worked together and I was the other girl." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a child heading off to college in the fall, time is running out to apply for financial assistance. We'll talk about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form known as FAFSA on this Faith and Finance. The deadline for submitting your FAFSA is this Friday, June 30. Fortunately, you can fill one out and file it online at FAFSA.gov.Submitting a FAFSA is the necessary first step in receiving either grant or loan money from the Department of Education. It's easy to get loan money, but obviously, you want to borrow as little as possible.Now, let's go over the types of aid that you might receive by filling out a FAFSA. First, there's the Federal Pell Grant. This is an income-based grant program for full or part-time undergrad students, but exceptions are made for students seeking a post-grad teacher certification. The less your family income, the more likely you are to receive a Pell Grant, which could be as much as $7,400 for 2023.Next is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. This one's administered by individual schools, but not all participate, so you may want to check with your school's financial aid office. It's also income based with a maximum grant of $4,000 a year.Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grant: If you plan on being a teacher, you'll want to look into this grant with the convenient acronym “TEACH.” Qualifying for a TEACH grant could get you up to $4,000 a year, but you'll be required to complete a teaching service obligation. Failure to fulfill that obligation will get the grant converted to a loan and you'll have to pay it back with interest. So make sure you're committed to teaching before accepting the money.Next is the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. If you've lost a parent or guardian due to military service in those countries, and you were under the age of 24 or attending college at the time, you could be eligible for up to $7,400 for 2023.Now, since you'll be filing at this late date for the 23/24 academic year, a lot of the available grant money has probably been disbursed, so you're much more likely to receive assistance in the form of Federal work-study programs.These are funded by the feds, but administered by schools. As the name implies, they provide undergrad and graduate students with the chance to work and earn money for their education expenses. The work could be related to your major and may not necessarily be located on campus.With these work-study jobs, you'd earn at least the federal minimum wage, and possibly more depending on the job. Again, check with your school's financial aid office for details and availability.Now we get into the dangerous area of federal financial assistance …STUDENT LOANSWe say student loans are  “dangerous” because the system makes it incredibly easy to borrow, both for students and their parents.College students graduating in 2023 who took out loans owe an average of nearly $30,000. The average length of time to pay that off will be around 10 years with a monthly payment of just under $300. Worse, many students who borrow fail to get a degree that could lead to a higher salary, meaning it will be even more difficult and take longer for them to repay their loans. The lesson here is, of course, to borrow as little as possible and if you do borrow, make sure you graduate.Then make sure you graduate with a degree that gives you marketable skills that employers are willing to pay you for. It's great to pursue dreams, but attending college is as much a financial decision as anything else. Remember Proverbs 22:7, “The borrower is slave to the lender.”That said, here are the types of loans that could be offered after filling out the FAFSA:First, the federal direct subsidized loan. This is needs-based and allows you to skip interest payments while you're in school.Next is a federal direct unsubsidized loan. This one isn't needs-based, so basically anyone can get itNext is the federal Parent PLUS loan. No mystery there, parents take out these loans to put their children through school, but it's a bad idea and we recommend you not do it. Your child will have many more years to pay back the money than you will.Again, the deadline for submitting a FAFSA application is this Friday.On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: Are credit card rewards taxable? How do you determine the wisest place to put your retirement money as you near retirement age? What is the best way to start an emergency fund? What is the Windfall Elimination Provision and when does it apply to pensions?RESOURCES MENTIONED:Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor Capital One 360 Checking Marcus Christian Community Credit UnionRemember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Also, visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community, and give as we expand our outreach.

5-8 Adam and Jordana 11a hour 

Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, and Lauryn Williams, CFP®, are here to help you navigate the latest changes and updates to student loans. They start with an inspiring story of a father who shouldered his children's education debts with a Parent Plus loan, only to discover that recent changes now allow forgiveness. Plus, they reveal how the COVID forbearance measure has made Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) even more advantageous, with a three-year credit towards loan forgiveness. The two share expert tips on repayment plan combinations, navigating community property state laws, and leveraging the latest PSLF Help Tool developments.  You'll also see how Parent Plus loan borrowers can pursue loan forgiveness, even if you thought it was impossible.  In today's episode, you'll find out: There is no clear language on the technical implementation of the IDR waiver yet A case study on whether to consolidate an undergrad loan to get closer to PSLF forgiveness  How the standard ten-year plan compares to PSLF for Parent Plus loans How the new IDR waiver allows credit for unconsolidated Parent Plus loans towards PSLF A big update on how to submit an employment certification form for payment count  How spouses can maximize income-driven forgiveness by filing taxes separately The importance of using different repayment plans in different situations A case study strategy to lower payments using the double debt loophole The impact of state community property laws on student loan repayment How the new REPAYE plan could change repayment strategies for couples Which loans are (and are not) eligible for refunds Resource mentioned:  PSLF Help Tool Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

In this episode, I'm diving into some PSLF regulations that specifically affect physicians in California and Texas. Many of them work for for-profit companies that serve nonprofit hospitals, and the new rules coming out in July 2023 could have a big impact on PSLF eligibility. Next up is another listener's situation regarding consolidating Parent Plus Loans with graduate school debt. We'll also be covering some Parent Plus strategies that can be beneficial for parents. I'll also be jumping into the exciting world of Congress and their possible plan to repeal the student loan pause and cancellation. Don't worry, I'll break down what this means for borrowers and what happens when President Biden blocks it. Plus, we'll explore the Congressional Review Act and some juicy details of the ongoing student loan lawsuits. In today's episode, you'll find out: The new PSLF regulations that come out in July 2023 that could change student loan repayment strategies for physicians in California and Texas When you should consolidate Parent Plus Loans with graduate loans and when to keep them separate Who the Parent Plus Loan strategy works the best for How Congress might end the student loan pause and student loan cancellation Why some senators might vote against the cancellation and IDR programs  The chances that President Biden could veto the bill to end the programs An update on the Supreme Court's ruling on the student loan cancellation plan When I think they'll really end the student loan payment pause Why student loan borrowers can still benefit, despite the uncertainty Links mentioned:  Consolidate your federal student loans

Hold onto your hats folks, because we're diving headfirst into the Silicon Valley Bank failure. I will explain why the government intervened when they did and what they did to combat the rising panic in the banking industry. I'll also explore the potential implications of this failure on interest rates for mortgages and student loans, and why it's important for you to stay informed. Additionally, I will share my analysis of the government's potential strategy on student loan forgiveness, and the reasons behind the denial of some Parent PLUS consolidation applications. So sit back, relax, and join me as we dive in. In today's episode, you'll find out: What is the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and why is it important Why SVB failed What a “bank run” is and why it's bad What can cause a bank to fail What the government can do to help a failing bank Why the government stepped in when it did during the SVB failing How SVB failing can affect you as a consumer  How the failure of SVB can lead to changes in interest rates and affect loans and mortgages Why the federal government may put a longer pause on student loan repayments Why Parent PLUS consolidation applications may be getting denied more often What the Parent PLUS consolidation loophole is   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Dave Ramsey & Dr. John Delony answer your questions and discuss:   "I thought I would feel more peace in Baby Step 7", "I can't sleep because of my debt", How long to be gazelle intense,  from the blog: Gazelle Intensity: Do You Have It? "My wife wants us to upgrade in home but I don't want to borrow more money for it", "Should I pay off my future wife's Parent PLUS loans when we get married?" Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET Want a plan for your money? Find out where to start: https://bit.ly/3nInETX Listen to all The Ramsey Network podcasts: https://bit.ly/3GxiXm6 Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy

Have you considered a Parent PLUS loan for your child's college loan? What are the benefits and risks?Seeking financial counsel? Check us out at Capitalcoaching.net and see how we can provide financial coaching with a personal touch.You can share your ideas at financesand.net and leave a review at Apple Podcasts by going to the bottom of the page and choosing write a review.Want to start your own podcast? Check out Buzzsprout here!https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=819454.I went to school so you don't have to!Thanks for listening!

The holidays are a great time to think about the gift of education. For all the parents who have borrowed on behalf of their children to ensure they had an education, we want to give you a round of applause. Parent PLUS loans can add a layer of financial stress. Senior Student Loan Advisors Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Meagan McGuire (Landress), CSLP®, dedicate this episode to the 3.4 million borrowers of Parent PLUS loans. Whether you're a parent with Parent PLUS loans or you're a student and your parents have Parent PLUS loans, this episode is for you. In today's episode, you'll find out: How 529 plan contributions make a great holiday gift The average Parent PLUS loan balance per borrower How double consolidation could have qualified Parent PLUS loans for the PSLF Waiver Repayment options for Parent PLUS loans, including PSLF Who's responsible for repaying Parent PLUS loans Can you transfer the Parent PLUS loan to your child What interest rates are usually available for Parent PLUS loans Why Parent PLUS loans are best suited for middle-class families The application process for Parent PLUS loans How a pre-debt consultation can help you avoid painful student loan repayments after graduation How community property states treat Parent PLUS loans and why where you live matters for future planning When do student loan payments begin for Parent PLUS loans When should you start paying off your student loans The four different repayment plans available under the income-driven umbrella How Parent PLUS loan borrowing works if you have multiple children   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

The student loan lawsuits, specifically the State of Nebraska v. Biden et al. suit against the Department of Education, are poised to slow down or stop student loan cancellation. I will cover what might happen and why it matters for many student loan borrowers out there. I also have a few random business updates to share, including how to join one of our Facebook groups and where to find resources on our site that go beyond student loan planning. In today's episode, you'll find out: The lawsuit against the Department of Education that could stop loan cancellation Why I think getting the hearing in front of the Eastern District of Missouri, one of the most conservative districts in the country was intentional The importance of October 23 in student loan debt cancellation Why I think we'll see a super-generous IDR plan if the cancellation is blocked How you can still take advantage of the PSLF waiver despite the looming deadline How to join one of Student Loan Planner®'s Facebook group for Parent PLUS loan forgiveness, teachers, nurses, and other professions Resource update: Qualify for a doctor mortgage and get a quote for disability insurance right from the site Links mentioned:  Get help for the PSLF waiver Qualify for a physician home loan Get a quote for disability insurance Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

As the country gears up for the midterm elections, Into America is traveling to different HBCUs across the South for a special series called, “The Power of the Black Vote.” We're talking to young Black voters about how they're shaping America, and about the issues that matter to them the most. This week, we travel to Durham's North Carolina Central University to discuss how the student debt crisis is affecting Black students' lives and their plans for the future. As the cost of higher education continues to balloon, Black borrowers are taking on more student loan debt than their white peers. And this is impacting families too: Black parents are more likely to take out a Parent PLUS loan to finance their child's education. Over the summer, President Biden announced his administration's plan to forgive up to $20,000 for federal loan holders, but the move fell far short of what many activists and organizations, including the NAACP, had been pushing for.On this episode, we visit Kamree Anderson and Dena Fischer, who share their experience with repaying Parent Plus Loans. Then, host Trymaine Lee speaks with Jonah Vincent, founder of the youth-led organization No Cap, and current NCCU students Heavyn Smith and MarQuay Spencer-Gibbs about how student debt shapes their lives and their perspective for the upcoming midterm elections.For a transcript, please visit msnbc.com/intoamerica. Follow and share the show on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, using the handle @intoamericapod.Thoughts? Feedback? Story ideas? Write to us at intoamerica@nbcuni.com.For More:The Power of the Black Vote: Taking Back the ClassroomNBC News survey finds 2022 midterms have entered uncharted territory NCCU Sound Machine marching band recordings courtesy of rickeytherealist1

Episode Notes Episode Summary For this This Month in the Apocalypse episode Brooke, Margaret, and Casandra all researched different topics and discuss them. Margaret talks about climate collapse, droughts, floods, wildfires, the cost of wheat, and the dangers of rising humidity for wet bulb temperatures. Casandra talks about Monkey Pox, rises in other viral and vector borne illness, and discovers why rain might actually be a bad thing for your food. Brooke talks about student loan forgiveness and things you, brave listener, might not be aware you are forgiven for. Everyone attempts to get us sponsored by 'Big' Rain Barrel. If you're out there 'Big' Rain Barrel. Please sponsor us. Host Info Casandra can be found on Twitter @hey_casandra or Instagram @House.Of.Hands. Margaret can be found on twitter @magpiekilljoy or instagram at @margaretkilljoy. Brooke is just great and can be found at Strangers helping up keep our finances intact and on Twitter @ogemakweBrooke Publisher Info This show is published by Strangers in A Tangled Wilderness. We can be found at www.tangledwilderness.org, or on Twitter @TangledWild and Instagram @Tangled_Wilderness. You can support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/strangersinatangledwilderness. Next Episode Come out Friday, September 23rd, and every two weeks there after. Might be about thru-hiking, Parenting, or Archiving. Transript An easier to read version is available on our website TangledWilderness.org. Margaret 00:16 Hello, and welcome to Live Like The World Is Dying, your podcasts for what feels like the end times. I'm one of your hosts, Margaret killjoy. I have Brooke and Casandra with me as well as cohosts today, because today, you will be very excited to know that the world's still ending...that we are doing our second monthly This Month in the Apocalypse and we're going to be talking about basically the last month and the I guess that's in the name. Okay. So, Brooke, Casandra, do you want to introduce yourselves? Possibly with Brooke going first. Casandra 00:52 Your name was first. Brooke 00:53 Yeah. Okay, alphabetically. Hi, everybody, it's Brooke Jackson again, coming to you live? Oh, wait, no, this will be recorded by the time you hear it. From the sunny lands of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Casandra Johns 01:11 We're all in the Willamette Valley right now. Margaret 01:14 It's true. Casandra 01:15 It's true. This is Casandra. That's me. Margaret 01:19 Okay, and so this will be a very short episode, because actually, nothing bad has happened in the world, certainly not nything that feels end times ish, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm under the impression we have reversed most of the major...I mean, I think Biden passed a bill. So, I'm pretty sure climate change is over. And COVID is over. I learned that just the other day walking into a place where I thought everyone would be wearing masks, but it's over. So that's cool. Or, alternatively, let's talk about how China's in the worst heatwave in human history...in recorded history. We're gonna cut it up into segments. And I'm gonna go first with my segment. Casandra Johns 02:06 Do we need to say "Du duh duh duhh, Channel Zero? As part of the intro? Brooke 02:13 Do a Jingle? Margaret 02:16 Yes. Okay. You want to do it? Brooke 02:20 She just did. Casandra 02:21 Oh, yeah, I did. Duh duh duh duh! Margaret 03:19 Okay, and we're back. Okay, so, China...70 Day heatwave as of several days ago, now. And by the time you all are hearing this, I believe we're recording this about five days before this episode comes out. So, who knows what will have happened? There has been a lot of heat waves and floods all over the world this summer. And so China's in the middle of a 70 day heatwave. The drought has reduced hydroelectric output, which huge areas were reliant on the electricity because the water levels are so far down. And of course the electricity is what powers the AC. So no air conditioning is really fun as things get really hot. AC has been turned off in a lot of office buildings. It's cut power to tons of industry, including a bunch of car manufacturers where I'm a little bit like "Eh, whatever. Cars are bad." I mean, I drive cars so I'm kind of an asshole and hypocrite. Anyway. But also solar panel output and EV battery plants and like lots of stuff that's like being pitched as the alternative to things...y'all can feel free to cut me off too as I talk about these things. I'm just like going through my notes. And I don't know, it's breaking records all over the place by like four degrees in a lot of places. It's four degrees Fahrenheit. Brooke 04:44 What is heatwave in this context? Like are they having like, you know, 115 degree temperatures, are they just? Margaret 04:53 I mean, so. I mean, I believe in localized places. It's getting like crazy hot but what's interesting about this is that it's it's more the length of it and the abnormality to its usual that is, like, it's a lot of this stuff is like 106 degrees Fahrenheit and things like that. You know, things that are very not nice, but are...well, human survivable. Although we should probably at some point talk about wet bulb temperatures and how dry places are survivable at substantially higher temperatures than humid places. But yeah, so it's it's, it's an it's an abnormality causing problems as far as I understand, rather than like, just specifically, if you step outside, you will be scorched by the heatray that is the sun. It's affecting over a billion people, which is a lot of people. The area of the heatwave is 530,000 square miles, which for context is Texas, Colorado and California combined. Casandra Johns 05:57 Does that overlap with the area...like, isn't there like a massive wildfire happening in China right now? Margaret 06:04 I think you know, more about the wildfires than I do. Casandra Johns 06:07 I don't know what region it was in. Margaret 06:09 Okay. Casandra 06:09 I guess I'm curious. Of course, they're related because everything climate-y is related, ultimately. Margaret 06:16 Yeah. Casandra 06:19 Yeah, I'm curious how closely they're tied together. But, if you don't know, and I don't know, that's fine. Because there's also a massive wildfire. And that sucks. Margaret 06:27 Yeah. There's a massive wildfire. Brooke 06:31 Is that a continuous area, Margaret? That five? Whatever, something miles? Margaret 06:37 You all are exceeding my level of research that I did, because I did research about the entire world. So I don't know. Brooke 06:44 Okay, fair. Casandra 06:45 Oh, yeah. You have more. This is just like heat waves everywhere. Okay. Margaret 06:48 Yeah. Okay. And also joining us today on playing the squeaky toy in the background is Rintrah, the best dog in the world. Brooke 06:59 Can confirm. Margaret 07:00 The best dog in the world. No complaints? Okay. Yeah, I, you know, there's a lot more I don't know about this, right? But this was one that I haven't even seen really cropping up much in the media at all. And actually, one of the things that's sort of interesting and terrible and telling is that a lot of the information that I've been able to find about climate change disasters comes from the business media, like, a lot of this is about how it will affect stock prices, how it will affect, you know...300 Mines are shut down right now in China, or as of you know, two days ago when I did most of the research for this recording. And so it talks more about the 300 mines that have been shut down instead of the 119,000 people who have been evacuated from their homes. And it's just, it's a real problem. There's a lot of photos of like, low reservoirs that are like 20 meters below what they're supposed to be and things like that. And, of course, to tie everything into everything else, you know, things that happen in one place don't only effect that region. The drought is fucking up their harvest, and fertilizer for export has been affected, which will probably fuck up the world's food supply, which was otherwise very stable. So, I don't think that's gonna be a problem. Casandra Johns 08:16 The world's been chaos, but at least we know, food is cheap and available. Margaret 08:20 And will stay that way. Margaret 08:22 Okay, so then the one that I'm finally starting to see more get talked about in the media, thankfully, although it's annoying, because it's only been talked about because now there's like dramatic photos. But whatever. I mean, I'm not blaming people for not paying attention to everything that's happening in the world. Pakistan is having flooding, like just absolutely massive flooding. I've read reports saying that there's a half a million people living in refugee camps. It's taken at least 1000 lives, it's fucking up food production. Over a million homes have been destroyed. A third of the country is underwater. Have y'all seen the satellite image photos? Casandra 08:22 Yep Casandra Johns 08:59 Yeah, and they're referring to it as a 'lake.' Which makes me wonder like, are they anticipating at least some portion of it to remain? Like, "And look at our new lake!" Margaret 09:10 Yeah. Casandra 09:12 I heard I heard someone else I heard someone referred to it as a 'small ocean.' Margaret 09:18 Yeah. Margaret 09:19 Yeah. And, and Pakistan is the the fifth most populous country in the world after China, India, U.S., Indonesia, I think. Yeah. And so it's like, it's a big fucking deal and a big fucking problem. And one of the other problems because capitalism solves...makes everything worse. Pakistan has taken out a $1.1 billion dollar loan from the IMF, which for anyone following at home, the IMF is a predatory lending organization called the International Monetary Fund, that actually a lot of modern leftist politics, at least in the Western world and actually a lot of the developing world kind of cut its teeth in the...during the, the turn of the millennium fighting against the IMF and the World Bank, specifically because of the stuff that they do, which is that they loan predatory. It's like a payday loan. You know, it's like a paycheck loan place, but for entire countries, they loan you $1.1 billion, and then you're going to be paying off the interest for the rest of your life as a country. And of course, a lot of what's happening right now is that developing nations as they take out these loans are therefore forced to extract more fossil fuels from their own countries, in order to pay off the interest of their loan, not even touching the principal, trapping us further and further in the cycle of what's destroying everything. So that's all really fun. Okay, then, East Africa, particularly Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, are also facing prolonged drought, rising food prices. A lot of this is because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This is projected to leave 20 million people hungry with an estimated 3 million potential deaths if aid isn't delivered, and these three countries represent 2% of the world's population, but 70% of the extreme food insecurity. And most of...about 90% of the wheat imported by East Africa comes from Russia and Ukraine, which are of course, having some issues right now. They're not famously friends. But you're thinking to yourself, "Well, I'm a wheat farmer in the US, and the high prices are good for me." They are not. Things are not good with domestic wheat production here in the United States, either, which, of course, affects large quantities of the world. Also, the US is a major grain exporter. And so this is things that affect the US do affect everyone else. And not just because we're the center of Empire. Drought is affecting wheat fields in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Kansas is estimating a 30% drop in their harvest. Oklahoma is estimating a 50% drop, in its harvest. And so even though you have these, like record high prices for wheat, farmers are expecting to lose money, because they're not able to grow enough. You look like you have a question. Brooke 09:19 Oh wow. Casandra Johns 12:24 And yeah, so we talked about this a little bit the other day, I think, like I'm not sure if people realize what it means when the wheat crop is devastated. You know, it's not just like, "Maybe I can't eat bread." Brooke 12:43 There's more to it than that? Casandra Johns 12:45 Right! I mean, the next thing I think of is like, who eats the wheat? Not just humans. You know, like, I can't eat wheat, but like, I eat beef. Margaret 12:58 Yeah. Casandra 12:58 And chicken. Margaret 13:00 Yeah. Brooke 13:00 Was does that matter, Casandra? Casandra 13:03 Maybe they eat wheat. Just the like domino effect. Margaret 13:07 Yeah. Casandra 13:08 Yeah. When we talk about rising food prices and rising fuel prices, and how those are connected to like rising everything prices. Margaret 13:15 Yeah. And book prices most famously. Brooke 13:16 Okay, well, like, I have a solution. Casandra 13:19 Okay, what's your solution? Is it Communism? Brooke 13:19 Cause, we're all about solutions here. Well, you started talking about Pakistan being all flooded like the country's a giant lake. And then you said drought in the US and I'm like, "Let's just pick up some water over there and just put it over here." And then there won't be a drought or flood. Margaret 13:36 So what's so great and I'm gonna get to in a moment is that drought and flood are entirely related. I think you knew this, and we're just setting me up to say this, but they're absolutely related. The more drought you have, the worse flooding you have, which of course, like boggles my immediate science, right? My non science brain is like, "But water is the opposite of drought," you know, and we're gonna get to them second. Okay, so also in the US, Lake Mead is drying up. It's the largest reservoir in the United States, it provides water to 25 million people. It's possible that soon it won't have enough water to feed the Hoover Dam, which provides electricity to about a million people. And the one upside of all of this drought..this is really selfish. It's kind of like interesting the stuff they keep finding in the water. They keep find... Margaret 14:26 Yeah. They're like finding like some guys like "Oh, look a barrel," and he like pops open some barrel from the 1920s. And just like a dead guy with a bullet in his skull, and they're like, "Oh, the mafia really did just drop people off in barrels," which led me to the conclusion that apparently leaving dead bodies in large body in large bodies of water is more effective of a strategy than I've been led to believe. Casandra 14:27 Well, they haven't they also...hasn't also revealed like Nazi...like sunken Nazi ships and shit. And then they're like the.... Casandra 14:27 Crime? Margaret 15:01 Yeah, not in Lake Mead, though. Casandra Johns 15:04 Right. But then..No, but I'm just saying like everywhere it's revealing interesting things like in Europe the...what are the stones called? Margaret 15:12 The Hunger Stones. Casandra 15:13 Hunger Stones? Margaret 15:15 Yeah. Casandra 15:15 So apparently, what's the context for this? Previously, in history when there were massive droughts and like rivers dwindled down to nothing, people made carvings in the stones at particular water levels with these like really epic, maybe Margaret's looking at some examples, of these really epic miserable statements about like, "Fear ye, fear ye, if the water gets this low..." Margaret 15:40 You're dead. Casandra 15:40 Yeah, but people are seeing those now, which is terrifying and interesting. Margaret 15:47 Yeah. Terrified and interesting is a good way to describe the current epoch. Brooke 15:52 Cool. That's the silverling, the mud caked lining. Brooke 15:52 Yeah. There was. It's not happening right at this moment. But here locally, when the Detroit reservoir got real low a couple of years ago, there was a town that had been flooded when they built the dam there and it was low enough that like, remnants of this town were visible, including like an old wagon, like covered wagon base kind of wagon and other cool artifacts. Brooke 16:27 See some history before we all die. Margaret 16:30 Yeah, yeah, exactly. Brooke 16:31 Great. Margaret 16:32 So, in California, heat and drought are also combining as power usages reaches a five year high power use, because people are running more and more air conditions. I didn't quite realize exactly how...I don't I don't have a percentage in front of me...But like, air conditioning is a really, really big use of electricity. And so in California, the grid is estimated...is expected to become unstable, although that might have already happened. It was supposed to happen like this week. So that might happen by the time y'all hear this. Or maybe it didn't happen. And I'm here I am chicken littling, all day long. And, of course, Jackson, Mississippi flooding. The capital of Mississippi, which is primarily black city has left 150,000 people without drinking water. Sooo... Brooke 17:18 I haven't heard about this at all? Margaret 17:20 Oh, yeah. And there's some mutual aid groups on the ground. Cooperation. Jackson is a long standing organization that works to sort of build dual power and do all kinds of awesome stuff in terms of cooperative economics and things like that. And they are doing a lot of mutual aid work. I believe there's also a group and maybe this is actually not maybe they're not directly related. I'm not sure there's a group called Hillbillies Helping Hillbillies that I've at least seen talk a lot about this issue. I don't know if they do most of their work down there or if they've been more focused on the Tennessee floods. Casandra Johns 17:54 I know Mutual Aid Disaster Relief is also doing work there. Margaret 17:59 Yeah. So "Why does all this stuff happen, Margaret?" you might ask. Brooke 18:07 Why does all this stuff happen, Margaret? Margaret 18:09 Well, I am an expert named Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodward Climate Research Center in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and my quote, that is definitely me is, "As the air and oceans warm under a thicker blanket of greenhouse gases, more water vapor evaporates into the air providing more moisture to fuel thunderstorms, hurricanes, nor'easters and monsoons." Basically, as the temperature rise of the Earth, the warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, every degree of...every increase of one degree Celsius can boost the capacity for holding water vapor by about 7%. So that's fun. And also as things get more humid, you're like, "Okay, well, that's cool. It's like more tropical and stuff, right?" Higher humidity is substantially more dangerous, like heat and humidity is what kills people, because of the way that our bodies thermo regulate basically, like, if you're at 100% humidity, and the temperature goes above your body temperature, you die. Not like instantly, right? But your body loses its ability to thermo regulate. And so that is the wet bulb temperature is the temperature at 100% humidity, and that can be calculated out from there. So, for example, 105 degrees Fahrenheit at 5%. humidity is not that bad. It's like 61 degrees wet bulb, right? You're not in danger, I mean, you can be in danger zone from other parts of it, you need to get in shade, right? But like, whereas 105 degrees at 95% humidity is 103 degrees wet bulb. So, and for context, you know, it's like I used to never really think about the level of humidity that I lived in until I moved to the South and I had to worry about mold and all kinds of other shit. But, much of the South, and San Francisco and also I believe much of Alaska sit at around 80 to 90% humidity, whereas the Southwest might be at around 30% humidity. So, when you hear about temperatures at different levels in different parts of the country, the humidity that they're facing, like matters in terms of how catastrophic this type of thing is likely to be. And then the "What to do about it section!" Don't worry, we're almost done with the terrible climate shit part. Casandra Johns 20:20 I feel like earlier, you mentioned something about the relationship between flooding and drought. I was hoping you were gonna circle back to that. Margaret 20:28 Okay. Oh, yeah. So. So basically, the...some atmosphere shit I only half understand. But, as everything gets hotter, more of the air like sits...and more of the water sits in the air and that...it just fucks everything up. So, like, the rain falls off fucked up. I, I kind of like, wrap my head around it. And then I, it unraveled, you ever, like study things that are completely outside your thing? And then you like, you get your takeaway, and then the details like dissolve? That's what happened to me while I was researching this? Casandra Johns 21:00 No, that's I didn't realize it had I, I thought my assumption was it was going to be that, you know, you can look up videos of this where like, people put a cup of water upside down on like dry soil, you know, partially damp soil and like saturated wet soil. And the cup of water immediately, like seeps into the ground in the saturated soil, but it takes a really long time for the dry soil to absorb the water. Margaret 21:25 Yeah. Casandra 21:25 And so my assumption was like, "Oh, if there's a drought and the soil is bone dry, it can't absorb moisture very effectively." Margaret 21:33 Yeah. Casandra 21:33 Which is counterintuitive, maybe? But...then it floods. Margaret 21:36 I think that is a big part of it. Yeah. Casandra 21:38 Okay. Margaret 21:39 And then also, I was even just like...go ahead. Brooke 21:43 I was thinking about how matter can't be created or destroyed. And so the water still exist somewhere, even though it got sucked up from the dry places. And that might be why it ended up flooding in other places because the water still exists. Margaret 21:58 Well, a lot of places it's literally the same place will have droughts and floods. I think Texas was dealing with that I think it was Dallas, was having a record drought and might still be in a record drought and then had like, really fuck off flooding. I think it was about a week or two ago. That was like destroying everything. And, you know, because if the rain patterns are just completely different than Yeah, what the ground is used to absorbing and like, and which ties into what to do about it. A lot of what to do about it needs to happen at the scale that we're not necessarily going to talk about right now. But, rainwater catchment and drought areas is super important. And, you know, I was looking it up because there's this like. I'd always been sort of told that rainwater catchment like fucks up the water system of that area, you know, because Colorado has, they have re-legalized it a little bit in 2016. But it's been illegal for a very long time to catch rainwater in Colorado because they're like, "Oh, it's so dry here. We need all the groundwater." That was what I had always got told. The real reason's that Colorado made rainwater catchment illegal have a lot more to do with...capitalism, and the way that water rights are, you're basically stealing from people in entirely different areas if you catch the rainwater at the source or whatever. And, it it can affect things,right, if you like take water that could otherwise have ended up groundwater, but you're mostly it's mostly like shit that would have run off anyway. And so rainwater catchment increasingly in a lot of places, I believe Arizona has like new laws that like require new buildings to include rainwater catchment. There's entire countries who I didn't write down the names of that require rainwater catchment in all new buildings, especially island nations, I'm under the impression and so rainwater catchment is cool. And then, Arizona you can get rebates if you install rainwater catchment. In Colorado, it is now legal again for like home level and there's like all these like rules and shit. And you're, you're only allowed to store two barrels for a total of 110 gallons and you can only do it at like, home, or whatever. I'm sure there's ways that people could imagine catching rain water without getting caught. The CDC points out that rainwater is generally not safe to drink without treatment. You can use it to water non food plants without treatment. I say this, I showered with rainwater for the past three years and don't give a shit. But, maybe I shouldn't recommend that to other people. But, also filtering rainwater is like not the biggest deal in the world. And then... Casandra Johns 24:39 Also like, the idea of only using it on non food plants is really funny to me, because like it just rains on my plants, you know? And then I eat them. Margaret 24:51 Yeah. Brooke 24:52 You shouldn't let rain land of your plants. Margaret 24:54 You shouldn't be eating food from plants. Plants comes from stores, Casandra. Casandra Johns 24:59 Uh oh. Okay. And if they get rained on specifically then they're like poison. Margaret 25:06 Yeah, me, okay. Like, you walk out of a food store, the main place that people get food, like McDonald's, and you have your chicken nuggets, or... Casandra 25:14 And then they get rained on? Margaret 25:16 You wouldn't want to eat them now, would you? Casandra 25:18 Okay, I see what you mean. Margaret 25:20 Yeah, no, I like that part about the like non food plants or whatever is like to me is like that's what the CDC says. The CDC has lost a lot of...I don't trust it as much as I might have used to. Casandra 25:36 Interesting segue to... Margaret 25:39 Yeah. Well, there is one more part though that I believe one have you added to the notes about soil remediation and dry gardening? I'm wondering if you want to talk about some of that. Brooke 25:52 That has to be Casandra, cause it wasn't me. Casandra Johns 25:54 Oh, I mean, that was me thinking about like, how the what I was saying before how bone dry soil...the best place to store water is in the soil. Right? Margaret 26:04 Yeah. Casandra 26:06 Just like the best place to store nitrogen is in the soil. But, you know, if I lived in a super dry area, and this is only so effective for like the home gardener, this like ideally would happen on a large scale. But, if I lived in a really dry area, I'd be working really hard to like improve my soil health so that it can store more water. So that things like dry gardening are possible. So I can you know, have food even in a drought. Margaret 26:32 What is dry gardening? Casandra Johns 26:36 Dry gardening is gardening with little to no, like, manually added water. Margaret 26:43 Is that where you like mulch the shit out of it all to prevent evaporation? Casandra Johns 26:46 Yeah, you can do it that way. You can also...there. There's a...well, it's on my bookshelf, so I'm not gonna mention it because I can't remember the title right now. But yeah, mulching, spacing your plants a lot farther out, making sure that your soil can store water so that if you know we live, where I live, it rains a lot in the spring. And if the plants I plant have a room, and the soil is fluffy enough that they can send the roots really deep, then in the summer, when it's dry, they can still access the water that's stored in the soil. Does that make sense? Margaret 27:19 Cool, and then they grow chicken nuggets? Casandra 27:22 Yep. Margaret 27:23 Cool. Okay, so back to the clever segue that I broke about not trusting the CDC.... Casandra Johns 27:36 Yeah, yeah, I Okay. So, we realized we should probably say at least something about monkey pox. Because it's the thing that exists. My notes are titled monkey pox sucks. And... Brooke 27:52 Correct. Casandra Johns 27:53 Correct. Yeah. And I realized in researching this that I knew very little, I think I was just like, "We live in a time where there will be epidemic after epidemic," and I'm, you know, mentally overloaded on this topic. And had a lot of assumptions that were wrong. But, one interesting thing I found out is that the CDC is saying it's not transmitted....It's not airborne. Which, you know, they've kind of gone back and forth about whether masks are going to help...masks. I can't enunciate....whether masks are going to help prevent the spread. Brooke 28:37 If the mask prevents you from licking someone's open wounds, then then I say that would be helpful. Put your mask on. Casandra Johns 28:44 But, then there's there are other recommendations around like, avoiding close face to face contact with people. So that's all. I think I'm just affirming that I am also skeptical of CDC guidelines at this point, which is a bummer. Margaret 28:59 Yeah. Casandra 29:01 Anyway, do you want to hear all about monkeypox? Margaret 29:04 Yeah. Yay. Casandra 29:06 Yay. Margaret 29:06 What a fun show we make. Brooke 29:10 That's like a game, right? It's a children's game that you play. It's fun. Spread all over? Isn't it great? Casandra 29:18 No. Margaret 29:19 It's one of those games with a 1-3% death.... Okay, please continue. Brooke 29:24 That's pretty low. It's fine. Casandra Johns 29:26 Oh, my God, what a world that we live in. So apparently was discovered in 1958 in laboratory monkeys. So, you know, you can insert something here about blaming capitalism for everything. Because maybe it wouldn't have been a thing if monkeys were not in laboratories? Anyway, it's a cousin of smallpox in the first human case was recorded in 1970. When I first heard about monkey pox in May or whatever I was like, "Oh, cool and new disease." It's not new. It's been around for decades. So, it's really interesting that like, we don't have a vaccine that can quickly be rolled out. Do you want to guess why that is? Margaret 30:14 Is it Capitalsim? Brooke 30:14 I guess 'racism.' Casandra 30:15 Racism. Brooke wins with 'racism.' Brooke 30:23 Yay? Casandra 30:26 Yeah, so it was that to be uncommon in humans, but cases started increasing around 1980. And most of the cases have been documented in central and western Africa. That correct? In Africa. Margaret 30:41 Yeah, you said Nigeria is like one of the main spots of it? Casandra 30:45 For this outbreak. Margaret 30:46 Okay. Casandra 30:48 Yeah. So, and they think that one of the reasons....so there have been multiple outbreaks since it was first recorded in humans in 1970, which I didn't realize, because we don't hear about them, because mostly they've taken place in Africa. Which is just depressing. And I'll come back around to that in a minute. But, they think that that the increase in cases might be connected to the fact that it is related to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine, they think gives like, 85% that it is like, 85% effective against monkey pox. But most people don't get the smallpox vaccine anymore. Brooke 31:27 Yeah. Casandra 31:28 And I think that's related to the increase in monkey pox cases. Margaret 31:33 People don't get the smallpox vaccine anymore, because smallpox kind of went away because of vaccines? Casandra 31:40 Yeah, Brooke 31:41 No, it just stop being trendy. People were like, "That is not cool anymore. I'm not gonna take that one." Casandra Johns 31:48 Yeah, yeah. Which then is like, there's a whole tangent in here about who and how they decide a disease has been 'eradicated.' I'm doing air quotes that you can't see has been, 'eradicated.' Especially when something like monkey pox is trance was initially transmitted from animals to humans. And so, yeah, I don't know, is smallpox eradicated? I don't know. I'm not an epidemiologist. But I'm curious. So, let's see. Okay, so the current outbreak grew from one case in Massachusetts in the US, I'm talking about the US now, May 17. And at this point, you know, however many days it's been since May, there are almost 20,000 cases in the US, which is a lot of cases. Brooke 32:40 I mean, it sounds like a big number. But, also I know, there's a lot of people in the US, but also, I don't know how much cases of other things that we know about are common. So I don't have any frame of reference. Margaret 32:51 Yeah same. Casandra 32:53 Yeah. Brooke 32:54 Well, it's way smaller than Covid. Casandra Johns 32:57 Right. It is way smaller than Covid. But, you know, and it's, it's sort of like Covid, you're probably not going to die from it. But then there's the asterisk, 'unless you're immunocompromised already,' you know. So like, who are we? Who are we willing to throw under the bus for this? Brooke 33:13 So just Casandra. Casandra 33:13 Yeah, just me. Yeah. But then there's also public health experts are apparently warning that the virus is on the verge of becoming permanently entrenched here. Margaret 33:24 Cool. Casandra 33:25 So maybe 20,000 isn't, you know, a big chunk of the population, but in terms of like, a virus, it's bad news, because we don't really want it to become entrenched here, right? Brooke 33:38 Yeah, viruses, bad. Casandra 33:41 Virus equals bad. Okay. Okay, so, so there's been a lot of criticism about Biden's administration and their sluggish response to the outbreak. I read a really interesting report. I think WaPo [Washington Post] was the first place to report on this, but they said that, on August 4, US Health and Human Services officials plan to stretch the country's limited supply, or they announced, that they plan to stretch the country's limited supply of vaccines by splitting doses to cover five times as many people. This is after saying that they had plenty of doses. So, already sketchy. Yeah, cool, cool. And then the chief executive of Bavarian Nordic who's the vaccine manufacturer responded by accusing the Biden admin of breaching contract by planning to use them in this like inappropriate way by splitting the doses and then apparently threatened to cancel all future vaccine orders so that....Yeah, I'm not sure how that was resolved. Brooke 34:45 Capitalism. The other 'ism' now at play. Margaret 34:50 I was right. I was late. Casandra Johns 34:57 So the big concern for me in researching this was how it spreads, because I have a child who's about to go back to public school, so apparently animal to human transmission, it's spread by direct contact with blood, bodily fluids or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals. And then human to human transmission is close contact with respiratory secretions, which to me says airborne, right, right? Is that not what that means? Anyway, respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person, or recently contaminated objects. So things like bedding, clothing, stuff like that. Um, but the CDC says it's not airborne. So, take that, as you will. I don't know. How are you gonna take that, Brooke? Brooke 35:41 Right. Well, I mean, respiratory secretions that does sound more significant than just like, you know, air droplets, like we talked about with covid, like, more moist, kind of things coming out of you, like sneezes and coughs and stuff that actually sprays more liquid matter? Casandra 36:07 So, use your imagination with that. Margaret 36:08 We could just go through and describe every act that could... Casandra 36:10 Don't spit in people's mouths. Brooke 36:14 Damn it, there goes half of my kink play. Margaret 36:18 I mean, it does seem like it's less contagious than like, because like, okay, right, like, because they said originally COVID wasn't airborne. And they weren't always wrong about that, right? But, the fact that it's been here for months, and is at 20,000 cases, is like, 'promising,' in that it seems less contagious than COVID? But that's, I guess I'm talking about like, the first or second most contagious virus that the world's ever faced. So, I guess it's a terrible benchmark to compare it to. Casandra Johns 36:49 Yeah, I think comparing everything to covid is probably not in our best interest, especially because a lot more people are comparing this to AIDS, in terms of the communities it's impacting, and how it's spreading. So it's, it's okay, let me go back to my list. Alright, so the incubation period is usually six to thirteen days, it's thought to be mainly spread through sexual activity, specifically, men who have sex with men and have multiple partners, though now they've sort of expanded that to include like queer and trans people, which is good. Not that it's spreading in queer and trans communities, but that they're changing language. So then I was like, "Well, is it an STI, right?" And I Googled "Is Monkey pox and STI? And the first two articles that came up, were: Number one, "Monkey pox is an STI and knowing that can help." And then number two is, "Monkey pox is spreading through sex, but it's not an STI." So you know, I'm not a doctor. Casandra Johns 37:02 It's not an STI. Casandra 37:29 Okay. Brooke 37:31 Because it's not it's, yeah, go ahead. Casandra Johns 37:52 But it seems to mainly be spreading through sex, probably because of the close contact involved. Margaret 38:02 Yeah, I mean, like, like, scabies is... Brooke 38:04 Yeah, like not through the sex itself. Casandra 38:06 Right. Brooke 38:07 But through the close physical contact of you know, that happens during sex. Casandra Johns 38:12 I think. I also saw a list. I think it's LA County. I was reading their like, list of eligibility criteria, and maybe risky behavior to avoid...'in void.' Would that even? Yeah, thank you. I was just trying to figure out what my made up word means. Risky behavior to avoid and they listed that, like, we're still learning about how it's transmitted, right, which is wild for a disease that's been around since the 70s. But, they listed that it could possibly be transmitted through semen. Like not solely but that could be another way that it's transmitted. Brooke 38:53 Sure, transmitted through bodily fluids, but the distinction when it when it's an STI is something that's sort of limited to being transmissible through kind of the genital region. Casandra Johns 39:10 Is that why one type of herpes is considered an STI, and the other isn't? Brooke 39:14 Yeah, so you can like can get both of them in both places because of oral sex. Casandra 39:21 Huh, that's interesting. Brooke 39:23 But yeah, technically. That's why. Casandra Johns 39:25 Thanks for knowing more about STI classification than me. I appreciate it. Brooke 39:29 Well, I fuck a lot. So I got to know these kinds of things. Casandra 39:35 All right, moving on with my notes. My next... Brooke 39:40 I just made everyone turn a scarlet blushing red color because I have non prude among this collective. Casandra Johns 39:48 I'm not blushing. I'm not prudish. I'm just Demi. Okay, so my next section is titled "Racism," which, yeah, so the virus isn't spreading in this specific outbreak of monkey pox is been spreading in Nigeria since 2017. Yet, somehow there are no clinical...there's no clinical trial data of the effectiveness of the vaccine or T pox, which is the antiviral they've developed. No human studies. I wonder why. Um, well, I as I said it's understudied because up until now, it's been isolated to central and west Africa. Yeah. What would have happened if we were vaccinating on a large scale in Nigeria? Would it have spread? Margaret 40:31 Yeah, I mean, that's like such a thing that I keep thinking about all this shit, where it's like, it's just seemed so obvious to me that, like the solutions to all the major things that we're dealing with right now, like don't make any sense in a world full of borders. You know? Being like, like, "We got ours. Fuck you," doesn't make any fucking it never made any fucking sense. But, it really doesn't make any fucking sense now, or it's like, yeah, if we had, like, I don't understand, even if I'm like a self interested, rich white American. I don't understand how I can be like, "Oh, new new disease just dropped and it's in another country." Let's go get rid of it in another country. That makes sense from...it's cheaper than building spaceships to Mars. Brooke 41:16 I think it's people still just not fundamentally understanding how deeply integrated we are now as a global society. Yeah. I mean, we shouldn't have figured especially in the last couple of years, if you haven't figured it out before, then like, you should understand that now. I feel like... Margaret 41:32 Yeah, acids been around for a long time. Casandra 41:39 Don't understand the reference? Margaret 41:43 Just like, oh, no, like, we're all one consciousness? Whatever. Casandra 41:52 Okay, my next subsection of notes is titled "Homophobia." Margaret 41:55 Hurray. Casandra 41:56 This is...I'm announcing these by way of a content warning. So yeah, so I read a few different, you know, I've seen like on Twitter and stuff, people talking about how homophobia relates to the way the language the government has been using and media outlets have been using around monkeypox, and also the government response to it and didn't fully understand that other than that it's mainly spreading in queer networks right now. But, I read an article that talked about how the homophobia they were seeing was mainly around the language that gay sex is quote, unquote, 'driving' the epidemic. Yeah, and just like really sex negative advice around how to keep from getting monkey pox. But, in reality, the drivers of the epidemic are the structures globally that have led to like vaccines and tests and treatments all existing for this virus, but not being accessible. Margaret 42:57 Yeah. Casandra 42:58 Yeah, I don't know if y'all have read any of the first person accounts of people trying to find access even to a test. Like I read an account of someone who went to their doctor was like, "I think a monkey pox." and the doctor, like, had to jump through all of these hoops just to access a test Margaret 43:14 Fucking hell. Margaret 43:16 So that's cool. Let's see, before I talk about the 'What we can do,' I want to circle back to climate change really quickly. Because, I think that in my brain, I know that epidemics and climate change are related, but I hadn't thought much about how in the particular mechanisms, but I read an interview that, that interested in me a lot. And they talked about how climate change is driving the risk of infectious diseases. I saw a report that 58% of the 375 infectious diseases they examined, have...this is a quote, "have been at some point aggravated by 'climatic hazards.'" So that's cool. Brooke 44:03 I...but how? I don't understand the connection. Casandra 44:06 Yeah. So. So one way is that climate change, they were talking about how it brings humans closer to animals, not in the sense that like "We are closer to nature," but just like, as we encroach on... Brooke 44:17 oh, sure. Casandra 44:20 And so, animal to human transmission is a thing. But, also if we're talking about like climate change and natural disasters, people get very sick of diseases and die after natural disasters. So, I'm sure that's part of what they mean by 'aggravated,' being 'aggravated by climatic hazards.' Warmer temperatures also attract insects and carriers of disease to parts of the world that they didn't used to exist in. Margaret. I feel like you were talking about...we were talking the other night and you mentioned like...no was it you? Maybe I was reading something? I've been reading too much lately. I was reading about a type of mosquito that is like, more likely to carry things like Dengue fever, and is now in the US, is now in the northern hemisphere. And. Margaret 45:08 Oh, that's exciting. Casandra 45:10 Yeah, and it has to do with warmer water temperatures where they can hatch their eggs and also with capitalism, because apparently they were transported here in 'tires.' Margaret 45:22 Huh? Casandra 45:23 Like when tires sit, you know outside in a wash, tje water pools? Yeah. Wild. Margaret 45:33 Which ties back to rain catchment and how don't do lazy rain catchment where you just put your downspout into the barrel, you should filter it, and you should prevent mosquitoes from breeding in there. Also algae, and all kinds of other stuff. Casandra 45:47 Yeah, it's true. Brooke 45:49 So today's episode is brought to you by capitalism and racism. Margaret 45:54 And I was thinking rain barrels. But Sure. Brooke 45:59 Well, the reason we have to talk about these horrible things is the 'isms.' Margaret 46:04 Right? Where as I was thinking about sponsors, Big Rain Barrel. The big sponsor of the show. Brooke 46:11 That'd be a great sponsor. I hope we get a free barrel. Casandra 46:14 Yeah. Brooke 46:14 Free barrel with every Ep [episode] Margaret 46:16 Yeah. I want to be able to talk about them personally. So, please contact us through the site. The advertisers. I want the I want Big Rain Barrel to...I just want a rain barrel. That's all. Please continue. Casandra 46:31 So in 2022, we're still experiencing the COVID outbreak, right? And now my monkey pox. And also polio. Margaret 46:40 Cool. Casandra 46:42 Yeah. Yeah, yes. Polio. Someone Someone got polio. For the second time since they declared polio like a...they don't use the word eradicated. But they were basically like, "Humans don't get this anymore." But two have since then. One was this summer. So that's...okay. Brooke 47:06 That's neat. Casandra 47:07 Yeah, what can we do about it? We can wash our hands a lot. I'm still gonna wear a mask, even though the CDC says it's not airborne, because I don't understand the difference. And also Covid's still a thing. We can research testing and vaccination in our areas, because it seems to be vastly different in different cities and counties and really confusing. So you can do the research ahead of time and share it through your network so people know where to access information and help. You can also get vaccinated if you qualify. However, I let's see, I looked at a few different counties and their eligibility criteria. And they all seem to have a few things in common. You have to be gay or bisexual men, or a transgender person who has had either 1) Multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days or 2) Skin to skin, skin to skin or intimate contact with people at large venues or events in the last 14 days. And then they're also starting to include people of any gender or sexual orientation who have engaged in commercial or [cuts out], so sex workers in the last 14 days. So yeah, if any of those are you, and you have a vaccination place near you, why not get it? Margaret 48:32 Because Bill Gates will be able to track all the sex you have? Brooke 48:38 Yeah, Casandra 48:39 The reason I agreed to research monkey pox for this episode is because, like I said, my kids about to go back to school. And I was really nervous. And I'm feeling a little bit less nervous for the moment about school because of the cases documented in children so far areextremely low. So, that's some good news for all of the other parents out there. Margaret 49:02 And the children listening Casandra 49:05 For any of the children listening. Margaret 49:06 It just occurred to me that children might listen to this podcast. I'm so sorry, children, about the world. Not about the cussing. I'm sorry about the world. Casandra 49:18 Speaking of school, Brooke 49:20 Hey, yo, student loan forgiveness that's been in the news. Right? And as the person with the background in economics, I feel like I have to talk about that. So, student loans, I'm fairly certain that of the two of you one of you has student loans and one of you does not. And I'm I'm curious how each of you feel about student loan forgiveness without...you can go ahead and not reveal which one of you it is and isn't for the moment. Just tell me if you like it? Is it good? Or bad? Casandra 49:56 Fucking-tastic I mean, not this version, this version is just like so. So, but like, should they forgive all of our student loans? Fuck yes, they should. Margaret 50:04 I agree. Brooke 50:05 Casandra says yes. Oh, and Margaret agrees Wait, but only one of you has student loans? Margaret 50:11 So, I don't have student loans. And...I can't imagine, I can't imagine anyone who doesn't have student loans giving a shit. Like I just like, I struggle so hard. Like, every time someone's like, "They did this with our taxpayer money," and I'm like, "Motherfucker, they invaded half the world with our tax money." Like... Casandra 50:35 There there other things you should be frustrated about being done with your tax dollars. Casandra 50:40 And this is not one of them. Margaret 50:40 Yeah! Margaret 50:42 Yeah. And then even with my like, even if I was like a self interest capitalist shit, it's like, I don't know, healthy economy is not one built on fucking debt. And I don't know, whatever. I'm just like... Brooke 51:00 Don't spoil my ending, Margaret. Margaret 51:02 Oh, sorry. Right. Casandra 51:04 But capitalism means that there have to be people who are suffering and poor so that I can feel superior and be stable and have more money. Margaret 51:13 Oh, that's a good point. Casandra 51:14 Yeah. Margaret 51:15 No, I take it back actually, Brooke. I'd like to change my answer. No one should. Casandra 51:21 Fuck Casandra. Margaret 51:26 No one should have the right to have debt forgiven. It should probably be transmitted to children and children's children. Oh, wait, that already happens. Just okay. Anyway. Casandra 51:36 What about corporations? Shouldn't they be able to get their debt forgiven, Margaret? Margaret 51:40 Oh, yeah. I mean, corporations, obviously should have their debt forgiven. I mean, otherwise, we wouldn't have an economy. Brooke 51:46 Like, God. Okay. You two know everything. My work is done here. Throw the topic and walk away. Excellent. Casandra 51:55 Sorry, Brooke. Brooke 51:56 No, I'm loving it. Casandra 51:58 This is how we cope with talking about money. Margaret 52:01 Yeah. Brooke 52:04 Oh, it's so good. No, I have you know, I have a couple of, of friends and or relations that are both on the against it side. Well, neither of whom went to college or have any students debt. Casandra 52:21 Why are they still your friends? Brooke 52:22 Well, Facebook friends, let's say that. Casandra 52:25 That's fair. Brooke 52:25 I think it's important to listen to what people say on the other side. So, I try and understand the arguments and can have a conversation back and hopefully bring them into the light. Margaret 52:34 Yeah, that's legit. But wait, what if we instead created an increasingly more insular and pure subculture? Brooke 52:44 It seems problematic I'm gonna say, but... Margaret 52:47 What? Brooke 52:47 That's probably for another episode. Okay. Margaret 52:50 Okay, I'll stop derailing you, Casandra Johns 52:52 it would only be the three of us. Everyone else is wrong in some way. Margaret 52:56 I think that that's probably true. I'm sorry Bursts, who's doing our editing, I'm sorry Inmn, who produce the podcast. Brooke 53:06 You better apologize to all the patrons right now too. Margaret 53:10 Yeah, if you want to be pure and join our pure culture. A $20 a month level. Brooke 53:19 No. No cults. No cults. Margaret 53:22 Everyone keeps saying that to me. Okay. Brooke 53:26 That's why I took away that book on cults that I showed you the other day, you don't need the help. Margaret 53:32 Please continue. Brooke 53:33 Oh, God. Right. So so the arguments against it. Like you were saying, you know, one of them's about the, "I don't want my tax dollars going to that," which, like you said, is a pretty wild argument, because we don't get to decide directly where our tax dollars go. There's plenty of things that I'm in...None of us like taxes...And amongst us, especially like, abolish the government abolish the taxes, but even people who are okay with taxes as a functioning society, we still, you know, you don't get to decide where each dollar goes. What's your question face? Casandra 54:10 You mean when I vote, it doesn't directly change things? Brooke 54:14 Oh, God, another topic for another whole podcast episode about how about how it actually works out there in the world. Yeah, so that argument is kind of wild. And then the other one that I that I have seen is the, you know, "Why should anyone else pay for their choices?" especially if it's their...other people's bad choices or whatever. Which again, is wild to me. Margaret 54:42 You mean the bad choice to loan $60,000 to a 17 year old? Brooke 54:47 Yeah, seems like maybe that should be not a not a thing. Margaret 54:51 Well, I just but it's a bad financial like, like come on. That's that's a that's part of loaning money is you take into account like, there's risk involved. It is a risky loan to loan a 17 year old money. Anyway, yep. Sorry. Brooke 55:07 Yeah, I saw one of my, you know, probably Gen X or Boomer aged relatives saying, "Hey, I signed up for the loans at 18. And I read the document, and I knew what I was getting myself into. And it was a choice. And it's everybody's choice." And it's so many bad takes so many bad takes... Casandra 55:24 I wonder how much their loan was compared to mine? Brooke 55:27 Yeah, and there's that. Casandra 55:28 I'm gonna guess significantly less. Brooke 55:30 Yeah, so let me get into a little bit of data here, because I love data. Let's talk also about what the loans are and aren't, because if you're only looking at the headlines there's a lot that's not captured in there. The number we see tossed around is the $10,000 of forgiveness. And that's up to $10,000 of forgiveness. So there's caveats on that, because there's a income limitation as to when you can get it. And it decreases a little bit based on what your income is. But also, if you were awarded a Pell Grant, at any point in your college education, you can actually get up to $20,000 in forgiveness, and Pell Grants are a federal grant, not a loan, but a grant, i.e. a gift, basically, that only go out to the lowest income kind of folks. So, if you qualified for a Pell Grant at the time that you also took out loans, then you can get a higher amount of loan forgiveness. And then it also only is it takes effect for people who had taken out a loan prior to June 30th of this year 2020. So if you're in school, right now, if you're just starting this fall, it doesn't apply to you. You had to have taken out a loan prior to that to qualify. Some of the cool things about it, though, are that it helps kind of all kinds of federal loans, which 95% of student loan debt is a federal loan. Only about 5% is private loans. So that's most people with loans, although it's only again, those income requirements, but that's still a large portion of folks. Where's the other one I was looking at? Oh, there's a type of loans that parents can take out to help their kids. So most of the federal loans that folks sign up for, they are signing up themselves, right, you're putting yourself in debt for it, even though you're only 18, or whatever. But parents can also get a loan, there's a federal loan called Parent PLUS, that you can take out to help your kids and those loans also qualify for forgiveness. And that is different than the student's loan. So if you're a parent who took out one of those loans for your kid, and your kid also took out loans, you both separately qualify for forgiveness. Casandra 57:48 Is this...Sorry, is this...I hadn't heard of those parent loans. Is the thought that they're taking out a loan to help pay for their kids college? Brooke 57:56 Yeah. Casandra 57:57 Okay. So, just like, "Look, another loan we can give to someone." Brooke 58:02 Yeah. And it's a federal federal one again, and you know, federal loans overall are, at least compared with like private student loans you can get they're way more reasonable, super low interest rates, longer repayment periods, you can get restructuring, if you're having financial issues or get a pause on it, there's more ways to get them forgiven, like working for a nonprofit or in the private sector, stuff like that. So, these are sort of nicer loans, which is one of the faults that people point out with it is that the the private loans that are the more of the predatory style loans, like we talked about with the IMF earlier, you know, higher interest rates, they don't care about how much you are or aren't making necessarily, they just say you have to start paying it at this point, and you have to pay this much and they'll come after your car or your dog or your firstborn child or whatever in order to get their repayments. And this federal forgiveness doesn't affect those folks. Margaret 58:59 Would you say that our listeners should take out predatory loans from payday loan places in order to buy rain barrels? Brooke 59:08 No. Because you should never support predatory loan places. You can steall from those places. Margaret 59:16 What if we, what if we start a rain barrel loan fund that offers predatory rates? Brooke 59:28 Then I would no longer call you an anarchist. You'd be an An-Cap [Anarcho-capitalist] and out of the club. Casandra 59:33 Is this you? Is this you segwaying into an ad break for our sponsors? Margaret 59:41 No, i was my brain's poisoned by how the fact that my other podcast is...has actual ad breaks. Casandra 59:48 Duh Duh duh duuuuh! I'm rain barrels! Brooke 59:49 Hey, if rain barrels would give away some, loan some rain barrels, I would let them plug a little ad on this ad-free anarchist podcast network. Yeah. Margaret 1:00:01 Yeah. Although, I'm holding out for big IBC tote. Brooke 1:00:05 Yes. Margaret 1:00:05 Cause IBC totes are 275 gallons, sort of 55 gallons. And that's what I showered with for the past three years, an IBC tote available from wherever you're willing to go get a really cheap thing that used to be full of detergent and wash it out vaguely. Margaret 1:00:11 Half an hour's drive, we can go grab some. Casandra 1:00:25 Wait, really? Margaret 1:00:26 Yeah, yeah. Casandra 1:00:28 We should talk about that after we're done doing a podcast which we are in fact doing right now. Margaret 1:00:32 Oh right, okay. Brooke 1:00:33 Okay, one of the other things that comes up when folks talk about student loans is you get like the the Boomer types that will say, you know, "I worked a part time job when I was in school and paid off my...paid for my school while I was going to school." And I think we all know that that's just not possible to do anymore. And that's because of the cost of education and how it has skyrocketed. So, if you look at the difference from 70s, 80s, or so, of like median income in the US with the average household makes, versus the average cost of college, the average income has gone up like half again as much since the 80s or so, whereas the cost of college is four times more expensive than it was. And then the other argument that comes up that people make is, well, "Everybody thinks they have to go to college. Now, you know, everybody's trying to enroll in college, not everyone needs to go to college. But everyone tries to." And when you look at the numbers of like, the portion of the population that has that's going to college and how that's changed in the last like 50 years, it's been pretty much steady for the last 25 years. It rose in the 60s, late 60s was kind of flat in the 70s then started to rise again through the 80s and the mid 90s. Probably because of the series of recessions that we had that were really severe in some places, like Oregon had a really severe recession. And when there was a recession, more people go back to school, but it hit a peak in the mid 90s And then dropped for a while and then has kind of been staying around that peak, on average, over the last 25 years. That and that's the number of people has gone up, but the portion of the population, right, so as a percent of the total population has actually been quite stable for a while now. Margaret 1:02:30 And like, I'm a big fan of having not gotten a degree, right? But, I even had a dream again last night where I like dropped out of school again. And I was like, "Fuck you, I quit." And it was really, but, but it's something that I think that a lot of people don't talk about when they talk about being like, "Oh, well, not everyone needs a college degree," or whatever it is they they don't understand that like how important upper higher education is to upward mobility and upward class mobility, especially for like people who are like, marginalized among other identities besides class, like specifically around race, you know, like, there's...so I think that...I think it's something that we can accidentally get a little to like, "Yeah!" like, you know, people get very, like "I'm so blue collar, everyone should drive forklifts," instead of going and studying gender studies or whatever, right? And just like not fucking getting how important class mobility can be for people and how that functions most of the time. And so I get really annoyed when people are like, "No one should ever go to college," or whatever, because I'm like, that is a really that is a position that comes from a specific place for some people, you know? Casandra 1:03:44 Yeah. Brooke 1:03:46 I think people also forget in that the fact that college classes can include courses for some of those types of jobs. So,talking about like the other four year degree, an apprenticeship. You know, if you're an electrician or a sheetmetal worker, you're probably you're going to take some classes and probably through a community college as part of your education to get those kinds of jobs. If you're doing a forklift or CNC, you have to take a course and they can be three months, six months, twelve months courses, and often again, through community college. So even though you're not getting a degree, you're still doing some post secondary education. Margaret 1:04:29 Yeah. Casandra 1:04:30 Do you want to know how much debt I have for my community college? Brooke 1:04:34 Oh, this is gonna hurt. Casandra 1:04:36 Forty Grand. Brooke 1:04:38 Shut the front door. Casandra 1:04:41 And that's like with grants and shit because like I good grades and all that. I was on the 'President's list.' Brooke 1:04:45 For a frame of reference, listeners, Casandra graduated more recently, like last couple years, or three or whatever it was, but fairly recently. Yeah. When I was looking at the numbers, here's my personal anecdote. The cost have the four year degree that I got 15 years ago. I'm taking some community college classes now. And if I did an associate's degree, it would cost me as much for two years of community college today as it did for a four year degree with two majors 15 years ago. Yeah, the cost has has exponentially risen again. Four times. It's it's four times higher than it was like 40 years ago. It's risen more than anything, any other good or commodity. The cost of college has increased. Margaret 1:05:40 I will say, my, like optimistic, putting on my optimism hat. I don't like hats. That's probably why I'm not great. Okay. When I think about like some of the most...the strongest that leftist movements, anarchist movements, I know more about anarchist movements, I do other movements. The strongest they've been is like often, while popular education, or the existing educational infrastructure is failing everyone. And, you know, like a lot of work around reframing education in both France and Spain was coming out of anarchists in the late 19th and early 20th century in the modern school movement, all this stuff, and people were getting, like, literally murdered for advocating for things like "What if boys and girls are taught in the same classrooms and shit," and it's like awild idea that anarchists came up with. And like not talking about God in the classroom. Oh, my god, we're actually losing on all of these. Okay, anyway. It's like, "Remember the fight for an eight hour workday?" And I'm like, "Man, I wish I had eight hour workday right now." Okay, and but, but so that's like, my like, my, like, optimism is that like, in a burned for us new weeds grow? You know, I think that there's a lot of opportunity for alternative educational systems, but not in a way where they could like, immediately step in and be like an accredited university that allows the sort of class mobility that we're talking about, or whatever, right, but like, it does seem like mutual aid schooling and education are like, probably in a better position to take a foothold than they used to be. I hadn't really...I'd only previously thought about this more for like, grade school type stuff, especially for the whole, like how public school is like also kind of like low key just like childcare. And like, hadn't quite thought about this in terms of like, how it ties into, you know, continuing education, but it could, we could have Anarchy University, and then everyone could have degrees and okay, I don't know where I'm going with this. Brooke 1:07:45 Anarcho-U. Casandra 1:07:45 You need another project, Margaret. So... Margaret 1:07:51 No, dear listener, you need a project. At Projects-R-Us, we will give you a project. Brooke 1:08:00 Wrong podcast. Wrong, wrong podcast. Margaret 1:08:02 Replace the continuing education system!. Brooke 1:08:04 Nope, wrong podcast. Margaret 1:08:04 Okay, fine. Brooke 1:08:06 Yeah, so, Casandra 1:08:07 That'd be like your ideal job, I think. Margaret 1:08:09 it really would be, yes, I have way better at coming up with things that I can dedicate my entire life to than dedicating my entire life to any of the individual things. Brooke 1:08:22 Oh, maybe, maybe you didn't need to start the cult just to find leaders fo

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