When I think back to my long commute to work—hour after hour in the car, tired from teaching all day and stressed about money—I can still remember the feeling of desperation. I had racked up a huge amount of debt during an extended maternity leave, just trying to keep my family afloat. At one point, I was staring down $41,000 of debt, most of which I had carried for over eight years.
Like so many people in that situation, I was grasping for answers. And in those moments, podcasts became my lifeline. I searched for anything and everything on debt, budgeting, and personal finance. What I loved most were Canadian podcasts—they felt relevant, practical, and rooted in systems I actually had access to.
That’s when I stumbled upon Doug Hoyes and his podcast Debt Free in 30.
And I was hooked.
I binged everything: the newest episodes, the full back catalog, all of it. And in the process, I learned more about money, finance, and debt systems than I ever thought I would. Doug’s podcast is designed to help people learn about their options when they’re deep in debt—bankruptcy, consumer proposals, and everything in between. But what stood out most to me was the integrity.
There are so many predatory businesses out there that prey on people when they’re financially vulnerable. Doug and his partner, Ted Michalos, are the opposite. As Licensed Insolvency Trustees, they are regulated, professional, and bound by law to put people first. I learned that formal, legal debt procedures like bankruptcy or a consumer proposal (think of it as a “bankruptcy lite”) can only be done through a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. Anyone else advertising those services is just a middleman who eventually has to send you to a trustee anyway—often after charging unnecessary fees.
Even though I came very close to filing a consumer proposal myself, listening to Debt Free in 30 gave me the tools and encouragement I needed to keep going on my own. Doug’s step-by-step advice helped me chip away at my debt, dollar by dollar. Eventually, not only did I pay it all off—I actually saved my first $100,000.
One episode that still stands out to me is The Fable of the $20 Bill. Doug explained how even small differences and changes can have an exponential impact on your entire life and financial well-being. Other episodes explored the difference between income inequality and wealth inequality, the balance between cutting expenses versus earning more, and—most importantly—the importance of removing the shame and judgment that so often surround money. The combination of personal stories, practical examples, and clear, actionable steps made everything feel possible in a way nothing else ever had.
Even now, debt-free, I still listen. It feels like a financial tune-up—reassuring, motivating, and a reminder that the habits I’ve built are worth protecting.
I can honestly say that Doug Hoyes (without ever meeting him, being a client, or paying him anything) changed my financial life. I will be forever grateful for the work he and Ted put into the podcast. If Debt Free in 30 made that much of a difference for me, I can only imagine how many others they’ve helped.
If you’re in debt, or just want to learn more about money in a way that’s clear, compassionate, and actionable, give it a listen. Like me, it might just be the first step in your own debt-free story.
👉 You can find it here: https://www.hoyes.com/debt-free-30-podcast/
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