234. Financial Scarcity, Debt, and Shame: How to Start Fresh with Natalia Brown (National Debt Relief)

Financial Feminist

Her First $100K

Self-improvement, Education, How To, Business

4.7 • 6.2K Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I know firsthand how heavy financial scarcity can feel—especially when you’re dealing with debt. It’s not just numbers on a screen; it’s fear, shame, and anxiety that can leave you frozen in place. In this episode, I’m joined by Natalia Brown, Chief Compliance and Consumer Affairs Officer at National Debt Relief, who not only brings professional expertise, but powerful lived experience growing up in Harlem and navigating financial hardship herself. We talk about the real, raw emotional toll of debt—from the societal stigma to the psychological patterns that keep us stuck. Natalia breaks down predatory lending, payday loan traps, and how to know if debt consolidation or settlement is right for you. We also dive into something so many of us feel but rarely name: financial dysmorphia. This episode is full of judgment-free, actionable advice on how to reclaim your financial power and begin again—with clarity, compassion, and a solid plan. Natalia’s links: For more information on a variety of debt topics, feel free to visit National Debt Relief’s Resource page for more information on individual debt situations: https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/resources/ Read transcripts, learn more about our guests and sponsors, and get more resources at https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-show-notes/234-financial-scarcity-debt-and-shame-how-to-start-fresh-with-natalia-brown-national-debt-relief/ Looking for accountability, live coaching, and deeper financial education? Check out our exclusive community! Join the $100K Club: https://herfirst100k.com/100k-pod Our favorite travel and cash-back credit cards, plus other financial resources: https://herfirst100k.com/tools Not sure where to start on your financial journey? Take our FREE money personality quiz! https://herfirst100k.com/quiz Special thanks to our sponsors: Squarespace Go to www.squarespace.com/FFPOD to save 10% off your first website or domain purchase. Rocket Money Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/FFPOD. Quince For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from Quince. Go to Quince.com/FFPOD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Netsuite If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, download the free e-book Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders at NetSuite.com/FFPOD. Masterclass Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at Masterclass.com/FFPOD. Indeed Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com/FFPOD. ResortPass Visit Resortpass.com and use code FFPOD to get $20 off your first ResortPass experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Financial scarcity is so pervasive in our society, and it's even worse if you have debt.
0:04.7	When we have scarcity, we can end up frozen in fear.
0:07.4	You may have all the tools you actually need, but too much anxiety to use them.
0:11.8	We're joined today by Natalia Brown, a certified debt specialist and chief compliance and
0:16.0	consumer affairs officer for national debt relief.
0:19.2	I like to say our goal is to get you out of debt so you can
0:22.5	rebuild your financial future. She is passionate about helping people with the financial
0:26.8	literacy and education needed to achieve financial freedom and peace of mind by getting and staying
0:32.6	out of debt. And I think that's what people fear, right? They fear that they're going to be judged.
0:37.0	They fear that people are going to snicker or talk behind their backs. And I think that's why a lot of people don't talk about it. getting out of debt, credit is not, in my opinion, the most important thing, right? You're not
0:54.2	going to buy a home if you're carrying $50,000 in balances. You've got to take care of the debt
0:58.9	first. We dive into topics like financial dysmorphia, debt, including understanding loan
1:04.2	terms, good versus bad debt, the biggest myths, and red flags about debt consolidation,
1:09.4	and how we can help the next generation learn better
1:11.5	money habits. There's always a way to borrow money, but there's not enough conversation about
1:18.3	is that the right amount of money? Should you be borrowing that money? Do you have the means to
1:22.3	pay it back? This episode is packed with so much good information and a lot of hope. So if you're feeling like you're drowning in debt, this one is for you.
1:33.7	But first, a word from our sponsors.
1:36.4	I want to highlight some of our incredible podcast sponsors and the deals before we get into
1:40.8	the rest of the episode, because we like saving you money on this show.
1:43.6	This episode of Financial Feminist
1:45.0	is sponsored in part by Squarespace, Rocket Money,
	...

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