This week Shanna speaks to a panel of economists to bust common myths perpetuated about student loan cancellation. Laura Beamer, Lead Researcher Higher Education Finance, Jain Family Institute, Jalil Bishop, Assistant Professor of Education at Villanova University, and Attorney Sparky Abraham clarify how cancellation would affect the economy, who benefits from cancellation, and why means testing doesn’t work.

Shanna talks to Jennifer Esteen, candidate for California Assembly District 20 about her platform unpinned by behavioral health care, affordable housing, and fully funded public education. Jennifer shares her personal experience with student debt and how she got some of her private student loans discharged through bankruptcy, a seemingly impossible feat! 

@Esteen4CA on Twitter

@esteen4ca on Instagram

After the April 4th Day of Action, President Biden announced another extension of the student loan pause. But what does this mean for student debtors? Host Shanna Bennett speaks to three members of the Debt Collective about what this means, how it's affecting student debtors, and what efforts will continue between now and August 31st.

 

Pick up the pen, Joe! Matter of Life and Debt producers Emma and Nikki and host Shanna are on the scene at the Debt Collective’s April 4th Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Protestors from all over the country turned out to demand that Joe Biden sign an Executive Order to cancel student debt. Hear from student debt cancellation advocates Nina Turner, Marianne Williamson, Briahna Joy Gray, Astra Taylor, and other Debt Collective members. 

Reference with links to articles 

Briahna Joy Gray (Host of Bad Faith)

Examined Life, by Astra Taylor

Three Debt Collective Working Group leaders Thomas Gokey, Jen Lezan, and Fred Bell speak to Shanna Bennet about their teams of volunteers and opportunities for impact in the fight for student debt cancellation. They also share details about the upcoming April 4th Day of Action in front of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Visit www.debtcollective.org to join them.

Shanna Bennett speaks to three Debt Collective founders Laura Hannah, Thomas Gokey, and Andrew Ross about the formation of the Debt Collective and how far they’ve come. They also discuss the upcoming Pick Up the Pen, Joe: April 4th Day of Action to challenge the end of the student loan moratorium and demand student loan cancellation in front of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

This week new host Shanna Bennet speaks to Maddy Clifford about being an artist and entrepreneur who has student debt. Shanna and Maddy discuss the inequity of the student debt burden on black women and how it affects their career choices. Maddy also shares how she got involved with the Debt Collective and the student debt content she creates for TikTok.

Welcome, Shanna Bennet, the new host of Matter of Life and Debt! Shanna kicks off her new hosting duties in a conversation with Kiyomi Kowalski, who is a diversity and inclusion educator, and a lifelong public servant. Kiyomi talks about why she signed up for the Marine Corps at age 17, paid education being the main motivation, and where she’s at today on her student debt journey. 

Fred Bell, Programs and Operations Manager of The Debt Collective speaks with Nikki about how his perspective on debt has evolved since joining the organization. He talks about his passion for direct action and organizing to help communities disproportionately affected by the burden of all types of debt. Fred also shares The Debt Collective’s plans for direct action on April 4th to protest the end of the pause on student loan payments and advocate for student debt cancellation.

Political Scientist and public servant Jon Oberg speaks to Nikki about his decades of work investigating fraud in the student loan industry. He has filed suit against nine student loans lenders and studied student financial aid distributions over time. Jon is a panelist in the January 13th Scared to Debt documentary series discussion on How Government Guaranteed Loans Left Generations Drowning in College Debt.