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Crushing Debt Podcast

The Crushing Debt Podcast is for people who want to eliminate the financial bullies in their lives. It is for listeners who want more money at the end of the month, rather than more month at the end of the money. The podcast provides answers around such topics as real estate litigation, partition, quiet title, chapter 7 liquidation, chapter 13 reorganization, and Chapter 11 business bankruptcies, short sales, loan modifications, creditor harassment and other related topics.
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Now displaying: 2025
Dec 25, 2025

Merry Christmas from The Crushing Debt Podcast !!

How much "stuff" does the average American home have?

How many people utilize off-site storage for their stuff?

Are you able to park your car in your garage?

How long do you take searching for "missing" items?

How much does the average American family spend on non-essential goods.

This week, Shawn & George talk to Beth Ruck with Conquering Clutter (www.ConqueringClutter.net) about 

  • Statistics regarding the average amount of possessions of U.S. households
  • Mindset regarding shopping and managing your possessions
  • Paper management and how it can save you money
  • How de-cluttering can help you conquer your debt.

You can contact Beth at BethRuck7@gmail.com.

At a young age, Beth learned from her mother that you can accomplish a lot in just 15 minutes. She has applied this idea in her roles as a homemaker, wife, and mother of two grown children. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She has worked as a bank teller, staff accountant for a commercial real estate firm, bookkeeper for three different non-profits, a substitute teacher, and a sales associate in a Christian book/gift store. She enjoys meeting new people, taking walks with her husband and dog, singing, knitting, reading and spending time with her granddaughter.

In 2015, Conquering Clutter was established. Over the past 10 years Beth has enjoyed working with clients and hearing their stories.

Her motto is: Helping people simplify their spaces so they have more time for what they love and who they love.

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Dec 18, 2025

What are your 2026 Resolutions?

What are your 2026 Goals?

What is the difference between a Resolution and a Goal?

In this week's episode, Shawn & George flip the script on last week's episode and instead of looking back on 2025, they look forward to 2026, talking about things like:

  • One Word for 2026
  • Goals for 2026, personally and professionally
  • Trends for 2026, like
    • Housing
    • Interest
    • Student Loans
    • AI
    • Homeowner & Condo Associations.
    • And more!

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026

 

Dec 10, 2025

As we near the end of 2025, how was this year for you?  Personally?  Professionally?

What was some of the biggest financial news in 2025?

What are you looking forward to in 2026?

As the year comes to an end, Shawn & George take a look back, and a small look forward at 2025 and 2026, including topics like:

  • Mortgage / Interest Rates
  • Grocery and Utility costs
  • Government Shut Down
  • Student Loan Adjustments
  • Credit Card Debt
  • Personal Guarantees
  • Housing Market

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Dec 4, 2025

What can you learn about budgeting from Santa's Holiday preparation?  

What lessons do the holiday bring?

On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about:

  • Overhead costs
  • Supply chain issues
  • Labor force issues
  • North Pole budgeting
  • Budgeting among multiple celebrations
  • Gift-giving expectations
  • Holiday season cash-flow

We hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving break and a great holiday season.

For Thanksgiving, it would mean a lot to us for you to please share this episode with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Nov 27, 2025

What Thanksgiving traditions do you have?

Do you eat a big meal surrounded by family, a smaller meal with less people, or Thanksgiving is not really your thing?

In this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, we wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  As has become our tradition, because we release the show every Thursday, Shawn & George talk about:

  • Black Friday and Sales / Shopping
  • Financial Advice around the dinner table
  • What business owners can be thankful for this year
  • Gratitude mindset
  • Using Thanksgiving to air out financial dirty laundry
  • Using Thanksgiving as a time to reflect and set goals for next year.

Whether you celebrate, whehter you work tonight, whether you keep it low key or skip the holiday altogether, at The Crushing Debt Podcast, we do want to know what you're thankful for and we hope you have a great holiday season.

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026

 

Nov 20, 2025

Do you know what taxes are dischargeable in bankruptcy and which are not?

Do you owe Trust Fund Tax?  What if you cannot pay it?

On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Tax Attorney Alena Miles. Alena has an L.L.M. in taxation, and is a CPA.  She is the founder of Attorney Legal and focuses her practice on federal tax law and international tax matters. She provides services in business tax planning, tax transactions, tax consulting, and tax controversy for a wide range of clients, including businesses, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, private equity funds, single-purpose entities, and individuals.

With over 15 years of experience in public accounting, Alena has a strong background in tax compliance, tax planning, and tax dispute resolution. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), assisting clients in industries such as asset management, real estate, McDonald's franchisees, professional services, investment, and construction.

Alena has worked at leading Big Four accounting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG, where she provided tax services to billion-dollar clients in asset management. As a Tax Manager at KPMG, she managed complex private equity funds and multi-tiered partnership structures, ensuring compliance with complex tax laws and regulations and meeting time-sensitive deadlines.

Shawn & George talk to Alena about:

  • Trust Fund Taxes
  • Not Filing Your Tax Return
  • Filing Late Returns
  • Forced Filings by the IRS
  • Negotiations with the IRS
  • The Difference between a Tax Attorney and CPA
  • FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act)

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Nov 13, 2025

What lessons can you learn about selling from your kids?

What lessons can you learn about debt from your kids?

While we didn't get to participate in this year's community garage sale, my son did collect, clean and sell golf balls at a golf tournament recently.

Some of the lessons he learned:

  • Timing - know your market and their needs
  • Networking - with other kids selling other items (like lemonade)
  • Preparation - collecting, cleaning, sorting, labelling and pricing
  • Investors - (dad, Shawn) to help buy supplies, provide the table for selling, etc.
  • Using Revenue to Grow the Business (listen for the story of the golf ball cleaner)

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Nov 6, 2025

Who's in more debt, Landlord or Tenant?

How can landlords reduce costs and increase the profitability of their rentals?

How can a property manager increase your profits and save you money?

In today's episode, I interview Mark Sorokurs of Central Pinellas Realty and Collman Properties. I've known Mark about seven years and he's been in real estate for about eight years now after "retiring" from IT in 2012.

You can also hear Mark in Episode 245 - Saving Money by Using a Property Manager

You can reach Mark at www.centralpinellasrealty.com or office@colemanproperties.com., or 727-738-RENT (7368).

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends, like and subscribe to the show!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Oct 30, 2025

Happy Halloween!

On October 31, do you give out candy? Do you turn your lights off and pretend not to be home?  Do you go to Halloween parties?

What "vampires" are out there sucking your wallet dry?

On this week's episode, Shawn & George take a funny look at those "vampires" that you should avoid, like

  • Subscription Vampires
  • Convenience Fee Vampires
  • Tipping Vampires
  • Lifestyle Vampires
  • Tax Debt Vampires
  • Buy Now, Pay Later Vampires
  • Friend / Family Vampires
  • Overdraft Vampires
  • Store Credit / BOGO Vampires
  • Interest Vampires
  • And more ...

You can also listen to other Halloween-themed shows like

  • Episode 438: Debt Graveyard
  • Episode 211: Zombie Cars
  • Episode 88: Zombie Debt

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Oct 23, 2025

How are you handling the rising cost of health care for your parents?

How can you talk to your mother & father about the rising costs of health care and senior living?

Should your parents age at home or in an assisted living facility?

This week, Shawn & George talk to Rachel Aguanno, owner of Home Care Assistance Tampa Bay.  Rachel's company assists seniors to live at home. Rachel was a HUGE help to Shawn when his wife was in hospice at home at the end of 2023.

Specifically, we talk about:

  • Care-giving as a side job;
  • What a home care assistance company can or cannot do;
  • Any tax breaks, insurance, government programs, or veteran benefits available to help pay for home health care;
  • Hospice v. Home Health Care v Assisted Living;
  • Expenses people don't think about; and
  • other budget considerations.

Rachel can be reached at RAguanno@HomeCareAssistance.com or her website www.HomeCareAssistanceTampaBay.com

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.

And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Oct 16, 2025

When does an entrepreneur make time?

How can an entrepreneur work 27 hours a day?

How hard (or easy) is work-life balance?

On this week's episode, Shawn & George interview Tiffanie Kellog who today (if you're listening on the day of release) releases her FOURTH self-published book, The Entrepreneur's Guide to More Free Time.  Tiffanie is the Sock-it-to-'em Success Strategist!  Since 2005, Tiffanie has been revolutionizing entrepreneurs' paths, unlocking greater wealth, freedom, and joy! As the creator of “eTiffanies” — epiphanies inspired by Tiffanie — she is known for her signature socks (over 400 pairs!), a charming southern accent, and her unique ability to inspire and empower others. Whether delivering dynamic keynote presentations, training locally and globally (often virtually), writing her next book, or leading her More Abundant Entrepreneurs community, Tiffanie loves helping people create the life they desire.

With a passion for blending fun and strategy, Tiffanie helps her clients focus on achieving their goals while loving the journey. Her secret to success? Loving what she does so much that no one can tell if she’s working or playing!

Are you ready to sock it to your challenges, make more money, save time, and have fun?

This is Tiffanie's seventh appearance on the podcast:

  • Episode 381 (Talking about the no spend challenge)
  • Episode 332 (Making time to crush your debt)
  • Episode 242 (More money through masterminds)
  • Episode 146 (13 months a year)
  • Episode 76 (Referrals for Life)
  • Episode 48 (Knock your socks off Speaking)

Now Tiffanie is working on time management, or priority management, and how you can avoid BSO (Bright Shiney Objects) in your day.  And rather than Work/Life balance, we focus on Harmony or being "Off Balance On Purpose."

You can get your copy of Tiffanie's new book or her previous three books at www.TiffanieKellog.com. And, Tiffanie is giving all of our listeners a free gift by going to this link: https://moreabundantentrepreneurs.com/moretime 

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com. And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

 

Oct 9, 2025

What is the real reason 90% of businesses fail?

What are some bookkeeping or CFO mistakes most business owners make that can tank your business?

On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, George and Shawn talk to Emily Handren, owner and founder of Besty Bookkeepers (www.BestyBookkeepers.com). 

For over two decades, Emily has helped individuals and businesses improve their financial situations through banking, investing, lending, and insurance guidance. She has owned both life/health and P&C agencies, and has plenty of real-world stories about helping people reduce costs and increase their net worth.

Emily recently wrote a book "The Real Reason 90% of Businesses Fail: 101 Bookkeeping and CFO Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make"  that hit #1 in three categories: Small Business Bookkeeping, Entrepreneurship Management, and Business Planning & Forecasting. It focuses on practical money management strategies for businesses that could tie perfectly into debt reduction discussions. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out: https://a.co/d/2JDV3So

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Fractional CFO
  • Bookkeepers v. Accountants
  • Tech stacking
  • Financial Forecasting
  • Some of the 101 Mistakes, like:
    • Exponential growth without a plan or foundation
    • Improperty business structure
    • knowing your expenses and your numbers
    • using an outdated accounting system
    • not paying yourself.

You can reach Emily at her website www.BestyBookkeepers.com or Emily@BestyBookkeepers.com. Make sure you take the "Need a Better Bookkeeper" quiz on her website!

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com. And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

Oct 2, 2025

What is the test for discharging a student loan in bankruptcy?

Is it even possible?

Student loans are non-dischargeable, right?

WRONG !!

On this week's episode, Shawn is back solo again (we'll hear George back again for next week's episode) interviewing attorney Jeff Hakanson.  Jeff has been an attorney for thirty (30) years! He granduating with his J.D. from South Texas College of Law and has practiced bankruptcy for his entire career. 

On November 17, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum on student loan discharges.  What normally fell under the Brunner case and a Totality of Circumstances argument has now been streamlined by the US DOJ to assist in discharging student loan debts under certain circumstances, some of which include:

  • The borrower is over 65;
  • The borrower has a disability;
  • The borrower has been unemployed 5 of the last 10 years;
  • The borrower has attempted repayment in good faith.

Typically these discharge cases are started with the filing of an Adversary Proceeding (with no fee if related to Student Loans) and then the debtor / borrower and attorney complete a "litigation package" with certain "attestations."  If the DOJ agrees, then the student loans can be discharged, or maybe modified in some capacity.

The memorandum was designed to allow borrowers more clarity on discharging federally backed student loans (not private loans).

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

 And please consider a donation to Pancreatic Cancer research and education by joining Shawn's team (reactivated for 2026) at MY Legacy Striders: http://support.pancan.org/goto/MyLegacy2026 

 

Sep 25, 2025

Image someone, 54 years old with no savings and $90,000 in debt. How can that person admit to their kid that they cannot afford to pay for college?

That is the topic of this week's episode.  Shawn & George talk about:

  • Facing the reality of the situation
  • Honesty with your kids
  • Exploring all funding options
  • Dealing with the situation
  • Reworking income & expenses
  • Making a future rebuilding plan
  • Small wins
  • and other stretegies

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com. 

Sep 18, 2025

What is the Big Beautiful Bill, and why is it such a pivotal moment for financially vulnerable communities?

What are the biggest gaps you see between how legislation is written and how it actually plays out in people’s day-to-day lives?

What are the five simple steps anyone can take today to protect themselves financially in light of this legislation?

What role does mindset play in becoming financially literate, and how can we help people make that shift?

In this week's episode, Shawn interviews Michelle Campbell, the author of Bluebird, a memoir that candidly explores themes of trauma, heartbreak, and the resilience found in life’s struggles. She is also the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals through financial literacy and fostering economic stability.

Michelle was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and began her educational journey in South Dakota before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, to continue her studies. During her academic pursuits, she launched a real estate investment firm, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial path. Over the years, Michelle expanded her ventures into various industries, including horticulture, where she founded an interiorscape company, and logistics, where she established a commercial trucking business. Drawing on the insights and expertise gained across these diverse fields, she transitioned into a career in the financial services industry.

You can connect with Michelle at:

We missed George this week, but he'll be back next week!

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

Sep 11, 2025

With a reverse mortgage, can you retain title to your home?

Are reverse mortgages insured or guaranteed?

Do reverse mortgagaes have a maturity date?

This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is Gary Guarino, Vice President with Senior Lending, focusing on the HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage), better known as a reverse mortgage.

Gary has been a VP of Senior Lending for the last 26 years and is a Home Equity Retirement Specialist.  He is regarded as a leading expert on every aspect of the FHA-Insured HECM Credit Line as well as the proprietary Jumbo Reverse Credit Line.

You can reach Gary at GaryG@senior-lending.com, or visit his website at www.senior-lending.com

Shawn, George & Gary talk about

  • Myths (and facts) surrounding reverse mortgages
  • Title theory v. lien theory
  • FHA Insured products
  • Recourse v. Non-Recourse loans
  • What is required to borrow under a reverse mortgage
  • And other questions regarding HECM loans.

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Sep 4, 2025

What is the difference between a Tax Certificate and a Tax Deed?

What is the investment opportunty in Tax Certificates and Tax Deeds?  

How do you get started?

On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Brian Seidensticker, managing partner and founder of Last Best Partners as well as the founder and CEO of Tax Sale Resources.  With a strong background in systems engineering and an advanced understanding of the tax sale industry, Brian has been instrumental in transforming the way investors access tax lien and tax deed information. His expertise in design and programming enabled the development of a comprehensive online platform that not only delivers accurate tax sale data but also effectively tracks investor needs, setting a new standard in industry due diligence and efficiency.

You can reach Brian at www.LastBestPartners.com or www.TaxSaleResources.com.  Or email him at BSeidensticker@taxsaleresources.com.

Shawn, George & Brian discuss:

  • How to get started with investing in unpaid taxes.
  • The opportunities in vacant land vs. houses.
  • Superiority of liens.
  • Tyler v. Hennepin case (and what it means for tax investors)

Please also check out Brian's podcast - The Tax Sale Insiders Podcast, as well as his blog and other free resources!

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

Aug 28, 2025

Do your kids have a paper route, or sell lemonade, or sell crafts they've made themselves?  Did you?

How can you help foster an entreprenurial mindset in your kids?

How can your kids learn about the basics of business - planning, branding, marketing, sales, goals, operations, inventory, cash flow, profits & losses?

On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Kelly Gersonde, Co-Owner of Kids Market, designed to provide kids with the opportunity to develop real-world business skills by creating and selling their own products and services in a supportive marketplace environment.

Being a business professional for over 15 years, Kelly has experience with marketing, business plans, sponsorships, and partnerships. Her experience will help grow Kids Market exposure and support so the kids can develop and focus on their businesses. Kelly has a degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin and is a mom of a little boy and a fur baby. 

You can reach Kelly at Kelly@KidsMarket.us, or checkout Kids Market directly at www.KidsMarket.us

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach 

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

Aug 21, 2025

Would you give money to friends and family members?  Would you loan money to them?

Are you "too nice" with your money?

What happens when you're out to dinner with a group of friends and the bill comes, but most of them were drinking and you were not?  Or you had the steak and one of your friends had chicken.  Or you ordered dessert with your dinner and no one else did?  How do you split the bill, or do you?

What about tipping?

On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about whether you are too nice with your money and how you can set boundaries around giving and lending. What are some tips and techniques to set reasonable boundaries around loaning or giving money?

It's Better to Be Mean Than Nice When It Comes to Money | Psychology Today

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

Aug 14, 2025

"Two bankruptcy attorneys go on a podcast to talk about debt!" Sounds like a set up to a bad joke.

On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to bankruptcy attorney Barry Levine, a graduate of New England Law | Boston (formerly the New England School of Law). Mr. Levine has acted as outside counsel to a number of small businesses in a variety of endeavors along with individuals experiencing financial difficulties. He is experienced in corporate work, the drafting of legal agreements and real estate transactions.

Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Levine has represented hundreds of individuals. He has successfully shepherded them through their difficult financial times and enjoyed getting them back on the road to financial well-being. Barry uses the law to stop creditor harassment and lessen your debt burden.

We talk about:

  • Unpacking financial fear
  • Real debt management strategies
  • Myths of debt management and
  • Bankruptcy terms (reaffirmations, 341, etc).

You can reach Barry at Barry@Levineslaw.com or www.Levineslaw.com

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt   

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Aug 7, 2025

How do you talk to your kids about stress?

How do you talk to your kids about debt?

In today's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Iuri Melo, the co-founder of School Pulse, a company dedicated to helping students and parents tackle real challenges - financial, emotional and beyond.

Building on last week's episode, we focus on:

  • Stress prevention and proactive prevention
  • Protective factors
  • Positive and growth mindsets
  • Stress growth and reduction
  • Financial stress

Iuri has been a licensed Therapist for over 20 years and is a published author of two books - Mind Over Grey Matter & Know They Selfie. He has won awards for his theraputic work with individuals. With School Pulse, Iuri's vision is to inspire youth and young adults e verywhere to live deeply and to such out all of the marrow of life.

You can contact Iuri at www.SchoolPulse.org.

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Jul 31, 2025

Are kids today financially soft?

Or are they navigating a nightmare economy with style?

In today's episode, in addition to yelling "Get Off My Lawn!" Shawn & George talk about who had it tougher - their generation, previous generations, or the younger generations.

  • Boomers vs. Zoomers: Who Had It Tougher?
  • Social Media Pressure and Lifestyle Creep
  • Financial Education: Still Optional, Still a Problem
  • Side Hustle Culture: Modern Solution or Masking a Broken System?
  • Debt: Old Struggles, New Packaging

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Jul 24, 2025

Why did George become a financial coach?  What is his "Why?"

What lessons has George learned in his 48 years on Planet Earth?

Revenge is sweet!

Episode 351 was George interviewing Shawn about his birthday, what he's learned in his years, why he became an attorney and how he formed Yesner Law.

Today's episode is Shawn's revenge on George's birthday (July 20, 1977).

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Jul 17, 2025

What is Revenge Saving?

What is Revenge Spending?

Why is any of this important and how do you use it to your advantage?

In this week's episode Shawn & George define Revenge Saving - basically a mindset to save regardless of your personal financial condition.  Instead of spending without regard to your budget (Revense Spending), you save without regard to your budget.  

How do you know if you're Revenge Saving?

  • Take Your Money Temperature
  • Use Reverse Budgeting
  • Create Separate Accounts for Different Savings Goals or Anticipated Expenses
  • Adjust Your Savings Rate.

If you want more information, you can read these articles:

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit  www.YesnerLaw.com.  

Jul 10, 2025

Do you doomscroll?

Do you watch the news?

Are you excited or nervous about the economy?

Despite sensational news headlines and social media panic, most households aren't experiencing a collapse, and many financial indicators remain strong.  On this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about terrifying headlines, the actual economic indicators (not what social media wants you to believe), personal economic indicators, and how to doomscroll detox!

Let us know if you enjoy this episode and, if so, please share it with your friends!

Please also visit our sponsor Sam Cohen of Attorneys First Insurance for Attorneys and Title Companies looking to get a quote on Errors & Ommissions (malpractice) Insurance coverage. www.AttorneysFirst.com.  

Or, you can support the show by visiting our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/crushingDebt  

To contact George Curbelo, you can email him at GCFinancialCoach21@gmail.com or follow his Tiktok channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@curbelofinancialcoach  

To contact Shawn Yesner, you can email him at Shawn@Yesnerlaw.com or visit www.YesnerLaw.com

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