For The Hayters

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
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🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988
SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA): adultchildren.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most of us treat our credit cards like a safety net, but as Alex points out, the average household is actually trapped under $17 trillion in national debt. Becky gets vulnerable this week, admitting to a peak of $30,000 in credit card debt and the "vicious cycle" of consolidating balances just to rack them up again. If you’ve ever looked at your banking app through your fingers, this one is for you.
The Solution: Alex (The Expert) breaks down the "High Interest Killer"—debts at 7-8% or higher that cost you more than the stock market could ever make you. We break down the two heavy-hitters of payoff strategy:
The Snowball: Paying the smallest balances first for that emotional "win".
The Avalanche: Tackling high-interest rates first to save the most money mathematically.
CTA: We’re challenging you to find just $5 extra this week to put toward your smallest debt—prove to the bank that you are the boss of that dollar!

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 [email protected] 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 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: [email protected]
🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com
🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): madd.org
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 miscarriage and the emotional toll of pregnancy loss.
"I just wanna kiss a girl. I would never date one." That was the internal narrative Jean Kupers held until she met her wife, Allie. Growing up in a small town with rigid gender roles and "wacko" but liberal-leaning parents, Jean’s path to motherhood was anything but traditional. From the clinical coldness of IVF to the devastating loss of their first female embryo, this episode is a raw look at what it means to build a family with intention when biology doesn't do the heavy lifting.
Jean opens up about the "non-birthing partner struggle"—the fear that the lack of a genetic or physical connection would create a barrier between her and her son, Carson. We dive deep into the controversial world of sperm donors, the "father" typo on a birth certificate that sparked an identity crisis, and why Jean is choosing a different path (IUI) for baby number two. This isn't just a story about being queer; it's a story about the universal anxiety of wondering: Will I be enough?
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: [email protected]
🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com
🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988
See 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 [email protected] 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.