For The Hayters

TW: child neglect, addiction, sexual assault, abortion. You met Kail Lowry at 16, pregnant, on national TV. You never met the girl who came before her. The twenty-some moves, the locked doors, the childhood she spent raising herself long before any cameras showed up. I've known Kail for over ten years and thought I knew her story. I didn't know the half of it.  This is part one: the years no one was watching. Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The second Becks was born, Becky called Alex in a full panic and asked one question: "What account am I supposed to open for him?" Same energy as everyone who's ever Googled "529 vs UTMA" at 11pm. In this episode, Becky admits she had no idea where to even start, and Alex breaks down every kid investment account without making any parent feel like they're already behind.The SolutionWhy the guilt parents feel is real, and why you can't pour from an empty cup (you can borrow for college, you cannot borrow for retirement)529 plans: strong tax advantages and high contribution potential, but locked into education and penalized for non-qualified withdrawalsUTMA custodial accounts: flexible and not tied to education, but your kid gets full control at 18 or 21, plus the "kiddie tax" and financial aid impacts to watch forRoth IRAs for kids: decades of tax-free growth, but only if your child has legitimate earned income (sorry, newborns don't qualify)Brokerage accounts: total flexibility, accessible anytime, and the account Alex and Becky both chose for their kids, with exactly why and how they set it upWhat to do if you're not financially stable yet, because there are still free, low-cost ways to startThis week's homework: If you're not stable yet, open a high-yield savings account in your kid's name and funnel birthday and holiday money into it, or just start building money habits at home. If you are stable, pick the ONE account that fits your family, not your friend's seven accounts on Instagram.Want to ask Alex which account makes sense for YOUR family? Our Patreon members get direct access to her on Discord to ask anything → patreon.com/beckyhayterBecause money is emotional, and you deserve to feel safe with it. Love you, mean it.Try Fidelity: https://fidelity.app.link/e/zN0pCpYeUZbTry Monarch: Get 50% off your first year → https://monarch.com/referral/ey3kkk8c7eConnect with us:Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every time someone mentions a Roth IRA, do you nod along and then immediately Google it the second they walk away? Same. In this episode, Becky admits she still isn't totally sure what she has or doesn't have when it comes to retirement accounts, and Alex breaks it all down without making anyone feel behind.The SolutionWhat a Roth IRA actually is and why Alex is obsessed with it (hint: the government doesn't get a cut)The difference between a Roth and a traditional account, explained in a way that finally makes senseWhy just opening the account isn't enough and the one step most beginners skipHSAs: the triple tax advantage account that most people scroll past during open enrollmentFSA vs. HSA, because yes, they are very different and one of them disappears if you don't use itThe income limits, contribution limits, and the deadline most people don't know existsThis week's homework: Check your emergency fund, peek at your retirement accounts, and spend ten minutes learning one financial concept you've been avoiding. That's it. That's the whole assignment.Want to ask Alex your specific 401(k) questions live? Join us May 14th at 6pm in our Wallet Therapy Live session on Patreon → patreon.com/beckyhaterTry Fidelity: https://fidelity.app.link/e/zN0pCpYeUZbTry Monarch: Get 50% off your first year → https://monarch.com/referral/ey3kkk8c7eConnect with us:Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TW: heart failure, near-death/flatline, suicide loss, domestic abuse, depression.At three months old, Bree was given six months to live. She's 49 now — the only one left from a group of kids born with the same heart condition. We talk about being a "miracle baby" with the weight of that title, grieving the version of yourself you used to be, and the difference between existing and actually living.Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TW: parental death, grief, generational trauma, brain surgery, mentions of medical events.Laura and Este grew up in the same massive Italian family — same Christmases, same wedding tables, same kitchen — and barely spoke for the first 20 years of their lives. Then Laura's dad died. This conversation is about grief, immigrant parents, generational patterns, and the cousin who became her person inside a family she'd known her whole life. Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

70% of couples argue about money more than they argue about chores — and yet nobody teaches us how to actually talk about it. Becky gets real this week, confessing that the second she downloaded Monarch and started tracking every dollar, Leah felt like she was being audited (in her defense, the mystery $450 Amazon charge turned out to be baby formula). She's said no to dinners with friends, her social life feels strained, and now she's wondering — is getting your money together supposed to cost you your relationships? If you've ever felt the squeeze between financial goals and the people you love, this one is for you.The Solution: Alex (The Expert) walks through the three conversations every couple needs to be having — and the mindset shifts that make them work:The Vision Date: Start with dreams, not numbers. Where do you want to be in 1, 3, 5, 10 years? Shared goals are what make the spending plan actually stick.The Monthly Check-In: 15-20 minutes, consistent, awareness not judgment. No hour-long money court sessions.The Emergency Huddle: When the unexpected hits, no blame — just solution.The 50/50 Trap: Why splitting bills equally when incomes aren't equal quietly causes financial infidelity — and why a percentage-based split is almost always more fair.The Friendship Tax: How to handle friends who spend at a different level than you (spoiler: the counter-offer changes everything).Your Most Expensive Relationship: Why your phone is quietly costing you more than any person in your life, and the 24-hour rule that helps you break up with it.Plus, we answer a question from Anonymous — she's over 50, just told her husband about $10K in credit card debt, and he suggested separate fun accounts + a shared household account. Alex walks her through exactly where to start.Schedule a vision date with your partner this week (or your future one — this still works solo). No spreadsheets. No numbers. Just dreams. Where do you want to be in 1, 3, 5, 10 years? Making it public makes it real.Try Monarch (the app Becky mentioned): Get 50% off your first year → https://monarch.com/referral/ey3kkk8c7eConnect with us:Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses parental alcoholism, child neglect, suicide attempts, and graphic descriptions of traumatic death.In this episode, Starr sits down with me to pull back the curtain on a childhood where "home" was never a synonym for "safe." For Starr, life was a constant exercise in "second nature" awareness—learning to read the room before the day even unfolded to see which version of her mother she was going to get.From witnessing a traumatic police intervention before the age of three to watching her mother jump from a second-story balcony, Starr’s story is a raw look at the "Jekyll and Hyde" reality of loving an addict. We discuss the heavy burden of being an emotional caretaker for a parent, the complicated "relief" that comes with a traumatic loss, and the "gut punch" of finding her mother’s secret journals a year after her death—words that finally answered the "why" Starr had been carrying her entire life. Today, Starr is focused on breaking the cycle, prioritizing peace, and navigating the terrifying path of becoming the mother she never had.Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA): adultchildren.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses fatal car accidents, drunk driving, and graphic descriptions of loss.In August 2023, Brooke’s life was shattered. Her husband, Shawn, was killed in a head-on collision by a drunk driver with a BAC of 0.28 while on his way to work.What followed was a harrowing journey through a legal system that Brooke feels hands victims a "life sentence" while the responsible party receives only a fraction of that time. From identifying Shawn by surgical screws in his ankle to facing the driver who was once a face on her own Facebook feed, Brooke’s story is a raw look at the cost of a "choice". Today, she is fighting to change DUI laws and keeping Shawn’s memory alive through "Shine for Shawn".Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): madd.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is your phone giving you a "pit in your stomach" every time you check your bank balance? You aren't alone—53% of Americans couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency with savings.In this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky admits she’s been "driving through a rainstorm without windshield wipers" , while Alex explains why a Starter Emergency Fund is actually your most important "insurance policy for your sanity". We’re breaking down the "Starter" vs. "Fully Funded" approach, why you need to move your money to a separate High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) to stop impulse spending , and why building this fund is actually a higher priority than paying off your credit cards.In this episode, we discuss:The 3-Question Test: How to tell if a "70% off blazer" or a "Vegas birthday trip" is actually an emergency (Spoiler: They aren’t) .The "Out of Sight" Strategy: Why your savings needs to live at a completely different bank than your checking account.Financial Whack-A-Mole: Why it’s actually a win when your emergency fund hits zero because of a vet bill or a dead microwave.The "F-You" Money Goal: Transitioning from a $1,000 starter fund to a fully-fledged 3–12 month "warm blanket" of security.Your Homework: Open a separate savings account today (it’s free!) and transfer your first $5 into it—even if you have to find it in your couch cushions.Connect with us:Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses premature birth, traumatic labor, medical intervention for micro-preemies, and birth-related trauma."Your family didn't come in your sea bag." That’s what they tell you in the Navy. But what happens when your "family" is a 1-pound, 6-ounce baby fighting for her life in a plastic box while you’re expected back in uniform?This week, I sit down with a woman who lived through every parent's nightmare while serving her country. At 23 weeks and 4 days, she woke up in a pool of blood, eight hours from home, and facing a medical team that pressured her to choose "comfort care"—essentially letting her baby pass away—because of her age and status as a single mother.She chose the fight. She hit the 24-week "viability" mark by a mere two hours, delivered via emergency C-section, and was back on active duty just six weeks later. This is the raw, unfiltered reality of a 129-day NICU stay, brain bleeds, 20 blood transfusions, and the staggering resilience of a Sailor who refused to take "no" for an answer.Connect with Guest: Instagram: @sarah.ruckerDon’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 For NICU support: Hand to HoldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses teen pregnancy, adoption, and cancer diagnosis.Jamie Shoemaker’s life has never been a straight line. From navigating a high-pressure teen pregnancy in a conservative church to choosing a private open adoption at fifteen, Jamie has spent her life breaking cycles. She’s been an egg donor, a mother, and a fierce advocate for her own body—a skill that became a matter of life and death when a routine check-up turned into a cervical cancer diagnosis at age 35.In this conversation, Jamie opens up about the "mind-fuck" of having her uterus—the organ that connected her to so much community and life—suddenly become the villain. We dive into the complexities of open adoption twenty years later, the reality of "survival" income through egg donation, and why she wrote an "ode to her uterus" before a life-altering hysterectomy. Jamie is a storyteller who reminds us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation and that "rest" is not a four-letter word.Connect with Guest: @jshoe11Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light. 🔹 New episodes drop every Monday! 🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters 🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com 🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com 🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.comIf you or someone you know needs support, please visit:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988Cervivor (Cervical Cancer Support): cervivor.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Becky has beef with the word budget.It feels restrictive. It feels like failure waiting to happen. It feels like getting grounded.So in this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky and Alex are flipping the script. We’re retiring the word “budget” and replacing it with something that doesn’t make your nervous system panic: a spending plan.Inside this episode, we cover:Why 84% of people “fail” at budgeting (and why that’s not a you problem)The three-bucket method: Needs, Fun Money (aka the Becky Fund), and Debt/SavingsWhy fun money actually helps you reach your savings goalsHow to stop the all-or-nothing spiral after one $20 saladThe 10-Second Reset to interrupt impulse spending in real timeWhy your spending plan should align with your values — not punish youThis isn’t about tracking your failures.It’s about planning your freedom.If you’ve ever started a budget on Monday and emotionally quit by Thursday, this one’s for you.Ready to join the inner circle? Head over to our Patreon for early access to episodes and exclusive community! patreon.com/beckyhayterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.