Barry Levine

Bankruptcy Attorney and Debt Strategist for Everyday Americans in Crisis

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Barry Levine Podcast Episodes

Us People Podcast

The Law We Decide To Practice - Barry Levine - Attorney At Law #314

April 28, 2026

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Bankruptcy Through the Looking Glass with “Hippie Lawyer” Barry Levine (Season 7 Premiere)

Savia Rocks opens Season 7 of the Us People Podcast with guest Barry Levine, a Massachusetts attorney and self-described “old hippie,” who shares growing up in Brooklyn, becoming a lawyer, and spending 45+ years largely representing debtors.

Barry explains how U.S. bankruptcy works in practice, including exemptions (notably Massachusetts’ homestead protection), the creditor-to-collection-to-lawsuit pipeline, default judgments, debtor’s court, and how filing bankruptcy (including the 341 meeting) typically stops creditor harassment.

He discusses Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 basics, costs and retainers, the high expense and failure rate of Chapter 11, debt being bought and sold, “zombie mortgages,” and the importance of pre-bankruptcy planning. He also recounts unusual cases, including a Chapter 7 involving 1,807 Bitcoin, and closes with personal stories, cannabis culture anecdotes, and where to find him (YouTube, book, email).

00:00 Legacy And Trauma

01:10 Meet Barry Levine

02:24 Brooklyn Roots To Law

04:14 Why Not California

05:59 Building A Debtor Practice

07:38 Bankruptcy Basics

11:28 How Collections Escalate

15:45 Judgments And Debtors Court

17:32 Filing And 341 Meeting

22:09 Chapter 7 Vs 13

27:05 Debt Buying Explained

30:08 Zombie Mortgages

34:11 When People Ignore Notices

34:27 Judgments and Debt Buyers

35:07 Asset Protection Planning

36:31 Bankruptcy Costs Explained

37:23 Chapter 11 Reality Check

39:38 Bitcoin Bankruptcy Drama

43:03 GoFundMe Scams and Selling

44:11 Old School Hustles

50:20 Weed Culture and Dispensaries

51:41 Cannabis Gadgets and Edibles

55:14 Where to Find Barry

57:03 Office Stories and Drug Lore

01:00:16 Mandela Effect Outro

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrylevinelaw/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Law-Office-of-Barry-R-Levine/100064656866931/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrylevine336

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Barry Levine Podcast Episodes

4.14.26 Fines Versus Taxes; Attorney Barry Levine on Delinquencies and Foreclosures; Agency MBS Performance

Chrisman Commentary - Daily Mortgage News

Apr 2026

Episode 520: Barry Levine of The Law Offices of Barry R. Levine - Beverly, MA. Shielding Your Personal Assets. Avoid Bankruptcy Before It Hits. Legal Lifelines for Food Entrepreneurs. Cost Accounting.

JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS

Apr 2026

Bankruptcy Lawyer Explains Chapter 7, Chapter 13 & Getting a Fresh Start

How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real People. Real Money.

Mar 2026

Is Bankruptcy Just a Side Effect of Midlife Crisis? Interview with Barry Levine

Ask Faleskini - The Midlife Crisis Clarity Compass

Feb 2026

Bankruptcy Recovery: Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13, Creditor Pressure, and the 341 Meeting (with Debtor Attorney Barry Levine)

Investing To Win

Feb 2026

Episode 85: Legal Strategies Every Senior Should Know | Barry R. Levine, Esq.

Serving Seniors Podcast

Jan 2026

Interview with Barry Levine

Financial Freedom Podcast

Dec 2025

Interview with Barry Levine

Get Your FILL, Financial Independence and Long Life

Nov 2025

Unfounded Fears Surrounding EIDL Collection

The Fundability™ Podcast

Nov 2025

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Global Perspectives on Bankruptcy

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4.14.26 Fines Versus Taxes; Attorney Barry Levine on Delinquencies and Foreclosures; Agency MBS Performance

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JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS

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How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real People. Real Money.

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Key topics

What Financial Collapse Really Feels Like, And What Actually Happens Next

Barry brings a human lens to the chaos of financial crisis, breaking down not just the timeline, what notices arrive, what creditors can and can’t do, but the emotional reality of fear, shame, and paralysis that keeps people stuck. He shares how calm, clear guidance can cut through the panic and help people take back control before it’s too late.

SBA Loans, Long-Tail Fallout, and the Delayed Collapse of Small Businesses

Pandemic-era SBA loans gave many small businesses short-term survival, but five years on, the long-term costs are becoming clear. Barry sheds light on the wave of entrepreneurs now facing repayment demands they can’t meet, often compounded by higher interest rates, slowed consumer spending, or permanently altered markets. He walks through how business closures unfold when SBA debt is unpayable, when personal bankruptcy enters the picture, and how owners can exit without losing everything. His message: even in 2025, many business owners still have options, they just need to act before panic drives bad decisions.

Bankruptcy Isn’t the End, It's a Reset

To many, filing for bankruptcy feels like failure. But Barry reframes it as a financial reset, one that can restore clarity, agency, and even hope. Drawing from over 30 years of practice, he explains why bankruptcy laws exist not to punish, but to protect, and shares how most of his clients begin rebuilding their lives within months. He discusses the common fears people have, the misconceptions around credit and employment afterward, and why facing financial reality often brings more peace than avoiding it ever could.

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