Ep 201: Freedom Over Fear: Why Bankruptcy Can Be a New Beginning on Money & You with Michelle Perkins

Your financial safety net starts with knowing which problems have rules attached

People are often told to build better habits, but financial wellness also means knowing how the system works before you need it. Barry can explain why IRS debt, credit card lawsuits, business loans, medical bills, and mortgage arrears do not all behave the same way, and why guessing can make a stressful situation worse. Drawing on decades of bankruptcy and debt strategy work, he helps listeners see which debts need urgent attention, which may have legal protections, and which should never be ignored. This topic turns financial wellness into something concrete: knowing what you owe, what can happen next, and what options exist before crisis mode takes over.

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.

Barry Levine

Barry Levine Podcast Episodes

Ep 201: Freedom Over Fear: Why Bankruptcy Can Be a New Beginning

Barry Levine Podcast Episodes