The Way We Get By: Dispatches from the Debt Heads Universe

A weekly-ish companion series to the Debt Heads podcast that asks friends and listeners one question: How are you getting by?

This dispatch is from Alex Kaufman - energy, climate change, business and geopolitics reporter - who helped form the first staff union for HuffPost in 2015. Alex has been a dedicated journalist since his first position writing for the Long-Islander at the age of 15. 

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See more of Alex's writing on his website and Substack, Field Notes.

Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

The Way We Get By: Dispatches from the Debt Heads Universe

A weekly-ish companion series to the Debt Heads podcast that asks friends and listeners one question: How are you getting by?

This dispatch is from Kate Bratskeir - sustainability/climate/food/health/lifestyle reporter - who has been laid off no less than FOUR times, including while she was on maternity leave. But that doesn't keep Kate down. She's got wisdom to share and perseverance to spare.

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See more of Kate’s writing on her website and Substack, Good Little Garbage Girl

Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

The Way We Get By: Dispatches from the Debt Heads Universe

A weekly-ish companion series that asks friends and listeners one question: How are you getting by in today's economy?

Dispatch #2 is from Joe Erbentraut, a longtime journalist who shares his thoughts on trying to be creative in a media landscape where layoffs lurk around every digital corner.

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Follow Joe on Instagram and check out his Substack, Queering the Burbs. 

Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

The Way We Get By: Dispatches from the Debt Heads Universe
A weekly-ish companion series that asks friends and listeners one question: how are you getting by?

The debut dispatch is from Emily Meade, famous actress and friend who shares her "nihilistic" thoughts on the state of being a working actor in the era of streaming.

Follow Debt Heads on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, Patreon and YouTube.

Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

In this bonus episode of Debt Heads, we unwittingly face off in a battle of who's busier with the most charming bartender in Brooklyn, and wonder if we’d all be more Sussex-ful making jam with Meghan Markle.  

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Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

Original Score: Ali Helnwein

Audio Mix: Jeff Seelye

In episode four of Debt Heads, we search for memories and meaning in the clearance aisles of TJ Maxx. 

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Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

Original Score: Ali Helnwein

Audio Mix: Jeff Seelye

Fact Checking: Jennette Selig

In this mini episode of Debt Heads, take a peek behind the curtain, and a step back in time, to hear us get rejected by Tribeca Film Festival.

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Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

Original Score: Ali Helnwein

In part two of "The House Always Wins", we head to Washington DC to eat Amtrak hot dogs and learn infuriating revelations about the credit card industry and the specific, sneaky ways it works to keep us in debt forever. (This is part two of a two-part episode.)

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Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

Original Score: Ali Helnwein

Audio Mix: Jeff Seelye

Fact Checking: Jenny Selig

Read more from our contributors:
Kathleen McDowell - Live Richly
Elena Botella - A New Money Order
Jon Ronson - Who Killed Richard Cullen?

In the second episode of Debt Heads, we head to the mall to find out if life in plastic, aka using credit cards for everything, all the time, is actually fantastic. (This is part one of a two-part episode.)

Follow Debt Heads on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, Patreon and YouTube.

Credits:

Writing/Editing/Production: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster

Theme Song: "Pay For That Money," Written and Performed by The Defibulators, PigCow Publishing (ASCAP)

Original Score: Ali Helnwein

Audio Mix: Jeff Seelye
Fact Checking: Jennette Selig

Featuring: Donna Halper, former radio DJ, professor Emerson College

When two Debt Heads try to make a go of it by creating a free (future-Peabody-award-winning) podcast, they realize they might need some subscriber-only content to stay afloat. Join us as we attempt to survive adulthood by asking both experts and non-experts one question multiple ways: How do you be "grown ups" in 2025?

In the debut episode of Survival Guide to Adulthood, Rachel & Jamie ask Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton from Celebrity Memoir Book Club how to become celebrity podcasters, how to read, and how to survive adulthood in the creator economy. Exclusive to Patreon subscribers.