Trigger Warning: This episode discusses fatal car accidents, drunk driving, and graphic descriptions of loss.

In August 2023, Brooke’s life was shattered. Her husband, Shawn, was killed in a head-on collision by a drunk driver with a BAC of 0.28 while on his way to work.

What followed was a harrowing journey through a legal system that Brooke feels hands victims a "life sentence" while the responsible party receives only a fraction of that time. From identifying Shawn by surgical screws in his ankle to facing the driver who was once a face on her own Facebook feed, Brooke’s story is a raw look at the cost of a "choice". Today, she is fighting to change DUI laws and keeping Shawn’s memory alive through "Shine for Shawn".

Interview, narration, and editing by Becky Hayter, with post-production, scripting, and sound design by Emily Nadal.

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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): madd.org

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses miscarriage and the emotional toll of pregnancy loss.

"I just wanna kiss a girl. I would never date one." That was the internal narrative Jean Kupers held until she met her wife, Allie. Growing up in a small town with rigid gender roles and "wacko" but liberal-leaning parents, Jean’s path to motherhood was anything but traditional. From the clinical coldness of IVF to the devastating loss of their first female embryo, this episode is a raw look at what it means to build a family with intention when biology doesn't do the heavy lifting.

Jean opens up about the "non-birthing partner struggle"—the fear that the lack of a genetic or physical connection would create a barrier between her and her son, Carson. We dive deep into the controversial world of sperm donors, the "father" typo on a birth certificate that sparked an identity crisis, and why Jean is choosing a different path (IUI) for baby number two. This isn't just a story about being queer; it's a story about the universal anxiety of wondering: Will I be enough?

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Is your phone giving you a "pit in your stomach" every time you check your bank balance? You aren't alone—53% of Americans couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency with savings.

In this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky admits she’s been "driving through a rainstorm without windshield wipers" , while Alex explains why a Starter Emergency Fund is actually your most important "insurance policy for your sanity". We’re breaking down the "Starter" vs. "Fully Funded" approach, why you need to move your money to a separate High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) to stop impulse spending , and why building this fund is actually a higher priority than paying off your credit cards.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The 3-Question Test: How to tell if a "70% off blazer" or a "Vegas birthday trip" is actually an emergency (Spoiler: They aren’t) .
• The "Out of Sight" Strategy: Why your savings needs to live at a completely different bank than your checking account.
• Financial Whack-A-Mole: Why it’s actually a win when your emergency fund hits zero because of a vet bill or a dead microwave.
• The "F-You" Money Goal: Transitioning from a $1,000 starter fund to a fully-fledged 3–12 month "warm blanket" of security.

Your Homework: Open a separate savings account today (it’s free!) and transfer your first $5 into it—even if you have to find it in your couch cushions.

Connect with us:

• Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.
• Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains deep discussions of multiple family losses, terminal cancer, and the sudden death of a spouse.

"Wait, that’s not what was supposed to happen." Those were the words Brittany told me when reflecting on the loss of her father—the "healthy" parent who was supposed to be her rock. She didn't know then that it was only the beginning of a five-year window that would claim four of the most important people in her life, ending with the sudden loss of her husband and best friend in September 2024.

Now a single mother of two, Brittany sits down with me to pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to carry "shattered pieces" while trying to be a whole person for your children. This isn't a story about "getting over it"—it's a raw look at emotional survival when the world stops turning, but the clock keeps ticking.

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

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If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

GriefShare Support Groups: griefshare.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses premature birth, traumatic labor, medical intervention for micro-preemies, and birth-related trauma.

"Your family didn't come in your sea bag." That’s what they tell you in the Navy. But what happens when your "family" is a 1-pound, 6-ounce baby fighting for her life in a plastic box while you’re expected back in uniform?

This week, I sit down with a woman who lived through every parent's nightmare while serving her country. At 23 weeks and 4 days, she woke up in a pool of blood, eight hours from home, and facing a medical team that pressured her to choose "comfort care"—essentially letting her baby pass away—because of her age and status as a single mother.

She chose the fight. She hit the 24-week "viability" mark by a mere two hours, delivered via emergency C-section, and was back on active duty just six weeks later. This is the raw, unfiltered reality of a 129-day NICU stay, brain bleeds, 20 blood transfusions, and the staggering resilience of a Sailor who refused to take "no" for an answer.

Connect with Guest: Instagram: @sarah.rucker

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If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 For NICU support: Hand to Hold

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Ever feel like you’re on top of the world on Friday, only to be digging through couch cushions for change by Monday? You aren’t alone—and it’s not just a "low income" problem. In this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky (the Novice) and Alex (the Expert) dive into the "Friday High" vs. the "Monday Panic." We’re breaking down why even high-income earners find themselves trapped in a cycle of overspending and how to finally build some breathing room.

Inside the episode:

• The "Friday High": Why your brain triggers a sense of abundance on payday (and how to survive the weekend).
• High Earners, Zero Balances: The shocking stats on why making $100k+ doesn't automatically fix the cycle.
• The Financial Firewall: Alex coaches a listener through a $20k windfall to build a safety net that actually works.
• The $40 Ghost: Becky shares how she found an extra $40/month just by looking (and why you should, too).
• Systems vs. Willpower: Why "trying harder" fails and how to automate your way to a net-zero spending plan.

Weekly Homework:

1. Find Your Leak: Audit your last 30 days and cancel one subscription or "convenience spend" you don't use.
2. Automate the Difference: Set up an auto-transfer to your savings for that exact amount on payday.

Connect with us:

• Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.
• Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses teen pregnancy, adoption, and cancer diagnosis.

Jamie Shoemaker’s life has never been a straight line. From navigating a high-pressure teen pregnancy in a conservative church to choosing a private open adoption at fifteen, Jamie has spent her life breaking cycles. She’s been an egg donor, a mother, and a fierce advocate for her own body—a skill that became a matter of life and death when a routine check-up turned into a cervical cancer diagnosis at age 35.

In this conversation, Jamie opens up about the "mind-fuck" of having her uterus—the organ that connected her to so much community and life—suddenly become the villain. We dive into the complexities of open adoption twenty years later, the reality of "survival" income through egg donation, and why she wrote an "ode to her uterus" before a life-altering hysterectomy. Jamie is a storyteller who reminds us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation and that "rest" is not a four-letter word.

Connect with Guest: @jshoe11

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If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

Cervivor (Cervical Cancer Support): cervivor.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

RIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses late-term stillbirth, medical trauma, and postpartum hemorrhaging.

"I didn't even have to hear the words. I could read it all over her face." Alyssa was 38 weeks pregnant—at the finish line—when the world stopped. In this raw conversation, Alyssa walks us through the devastating loss of her first daughter, Marianna Yvette, and the terrifying medical crisis that followed, leaving Alyssa "knocking on heaven’s door."

We dive deep into the reality of pregnancy after loss—the scans every two weeks, the inability to feel excitement until the baby is crying in your arms, and the bittersweet realization that one child's life only exists because another's ended. This is a story about honoring the dead while fiercely raising the living.

Connect with Guest: Instagram: @lisa821 Facebook: Alyssa Estes

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

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If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 Support for Loss Families: Empty Arms

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.