In this week's episode, Rachael and Roxanne watch to 2006 documentary Maxed Out and dive deep into the dark world of predatory lending, exposing the tactics that keep people trapped in cycles of debt. Join us as we break down the film’s most shocking insights, share real-life stories of financial hardship. Whether you're battling debt or just want to understand the system better, this episode is a must-listen.

**Content Warning: In this episode we talk about self harm and people who took their own lives due to predatory lending. If this is something that might be sensitive for you, please skip this episode and join us again next week.**

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal#:~:text=Mark%2Dto%2Dmarket%20accounting,-Further%20information:%20Mark&text=Enron%20became%20the%20first%20nonfinancial,of%20net%20future%20cash%20flow.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marktomarket.asp

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-can-i-pay-off-50k-in-credit-card-debt/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20Americans%20carried%20$6%2C501,feel%20like%20an%20insurmountable%20task.

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/non-bank-financial-institutions/us-debt-purchasers-fy23-dashboard-08-03-2024

https://meltonnorcross.com/how_big_is_the_debt_collection_industry/

https://blog.marketresearch.com/u.s.-debt-collections-industry-worth-15-billion.-pandemic-did-not-hurt-the-business#:~:text=Pandemic%20Did%20Not%20Hurt%20the%20Business,-by%20John%20LaRosa&text=The%20$15%20billion%20U.S.%20collection,owed%20(phantom%20debt%20collectors).

https://www.acainternational.org/news/market-snapshot-from-the-economic-environment-to-debt-purchasing/

https://pestakeholder.org/reports/jll-partners-ace-cash-express/#:~:text=Endnotes:,%2C%20accessed%20Sept%2015%2C%202017.

https://www.uscourts.gov/data-news/judiciary-news/2024/07/25/bankruptcy-filings-rise-162-percent

https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/whats-next-for-the-2025-housing-market