Staying financially stable in Canada has never been harder. Even when you’re working, budgeting, and “doing everything right,” rising insolvencies, higher debt loads, and a cooling housing market are leaving many Canadians struggling to stay afloat in 2025. If you’ve ever wondered why it feels impossible to get ahead financially (even when you’re trying your best!?), this episode helps explain the challenges in today’s economy and offers practical strategies to help Canadians move forward. 0:00 – Season 12 kicks off, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss the future of DFI30 2:00 – Canada’s economy today: rising insolvencies and financial strain 4:00 – The impact of higher unemployment and growing uncertainty 7:15 – Why home equity isn’t the financial safety net it once was 10:50 – How financial exhaustion affects mental health and overall wellness 13:00 – Breaking the stigma: addressing shame around debt 14:30 – Key warning signs that you may have too much debt 17:00 – Why many Canadians underestimate how much debt they carry 20:00 – First steps to take when debt feels unmanageable 23:30 – Why working more hours won’t solve financial problems 24:20 – How consumer proposals help Canadians get back on track Indicators of Financial Vulnerabilities – Household Credit Performance Chart Who’s Filing Insolvency in Canada and Why? Joe Debtor Bankruptcy Study Free Canadian Credit Repair Resources Hoyes Michalos YouTube Channel Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest

Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed

Looking to save more and spend smarter? This episode is packed with practical, expert-backed tips - from insider grocery hacks and avoiding hidden fees to smarter banking strategies. Learn how simple shifts, like opening a second bank account or using preloaded credit cards, can help you take control of your money and reach your financial goals faster. (01:00) Avoiding hidden service charges (04:00) Top Canadian grocery tips: Snacks vs. Groceries with The Food Professor (05:40) How preventive costs can save you big (09:45) Why you should open a second bank account (10:30) More grocery hacks to cut your bill (15:00) The payoff of investing in insurance (17:50) Top 3 shopping tips to save money (20:00) Why a home isn’t always an investment: Renting vs. owning (24:00) The benefits of preloaded credit cards with digital banks (28:00) The importance of diversifying your money

Free Canadian Credit Repair Resources

10 Tips for Dealing With Collection Agencies Ontario Consumer Proposal and Bankruptcy FAQ Hoyes Michalos YouTube Channel Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest

Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed.

Listen for great get-out-of-debt advice from some of our most popular guests! Featuring Canadian financial experts from Hoyes Michalos and Chris Enns, founder of Rags to Reasonable, and Danielle Park, author of Juggling Dynamite.

From spotting predatory financial advisors to the importance of building an emergency fund, this episode is packed with practical, real-world tips and strategies you can start using today to get out of debt!

00:00 – The Snowball vs. Avalanche Method with Licensed Insolvency Trustee Joel Sandwith 01:20 – How to Avoid Predatory Financial Advice with Danielle Park 04:40 – How to Realistically Start Managing Your Money with Chris Enns 07:45 – Predatory Credit Advisors – What You Need to Know cont. 11:30 – Why Canadians Aren’t Prepared for Financial Emergencies with Scott Terrio 13:00 – Snowball and Avalanche Method – Advanced Tips 16:30 – Why Your Perspective on Loans Matters 19:50 – Getting Out of Debt and Building Savings Has To Be Practical with Danielle Park 22:35 – Key Indicators of Debt Trouble – When to Seek Help 25:00 – A “Holistic” Approach to Paying Off Debt? Danielle Park on Debt Free in 30:  Building Wealth In A Challenging World Chris Enns on Debt Free in 30: Managing Money on a Variable Income Juggling Dynamite | Debtasized: How our reliance on credit leads to price inflation Learn More: Snowball Vs. Avalanche Debt Methods – Which One is Best?

Hoyes Michalos Free Canadian Credit Rebuilding and Repair Course Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest

Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed.

I talk to DHH about Omarchy, the carefully curated distribution of Arch Linux he's been refining for the last few months.

We talk about stuff like:

• How did he discover Arch + Hyprland in the first place?
• What even is Arch, what even is Hyprland, and how the fuck do you make the mouse show up in Linux?
• Should you really be afraid of trying to maintain your own Linux installation?
• What are the main differences in workflow using Omarchy vs. something like macOS?
• What are the best options on Linux for the type of software where macOS has historically shined, like creative tools?
• What are the best hardware options for developers wanting to run Omarchy?

Forgive the worse-than-usual audio quality, we recorded this last minute and spur of the moment with unfamiliar tools!

Guests for this episode:

Christopher D. O’Connor is an Associate Professor in the Criminology and Justice program at Ontario Tech University. His primary research areas include policing, youth participation in crime, rapid growth communities, and emerging/disruptive technologies. He has researched public perceptions of a range of issues including crime, disruptive technologies, and attitudes toward the police. More recently, his research has examined police data quality and collection techniques, auxiliary police, and the use of facial recognition technology by the police.  

Andrea Slane is a Professor in the Legal Studies program at Ontario Tech University.  Her research focuses on privacy, data protection, and the variety of legal regimes that protect people from both individual and commercial wrongdoing online, over digital devices and via smart technologies. She uses a range of methods including doctrinal legal analysis, qualitative data collection and analysis, and cultural studies to contribute to determining more just means to regulate the flow of personal and community level information, whether between individuals; individuals and businesses; businesses and government; business to business; or to the public.

Links to Research:

Andrea Slane, “Privacy Protective Roadblocks and Speedbumps Restraining Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition Software in Canada” (2021) 69:2 Criminal Law Quarterly 216-236. Available at SSRN: ssrn.com/abstract=4275241

Christopher O’Connor, Andrea Slane, Dallas Bouckley (Hill) and Victoria Baker, “Public Perceptions of Facial Recognition Use by Police in Canada” (2025) Policing and Society, 1-15. doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2025.2508192

Dallas Hill, Christopher O’Connor, and Andrea Slane, “Police Use of Facial Recognition Technology: The Potential for Engaging the Public through Co-Constructed Policy-Making” (2022) 24:3 International Journal of Police Science and Management, 325-335, doi.org/10.1177/14613557221089558.

Bradford, B., et al., 2020. Live facial recognition: trust and legitimacy as predictors of public support for police use of new technology. The British journal of criminology, 60 (6), 1502–1522. doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaa032

Bragias, A., Hine, K., and Fleet, R., 2021. Only in our best interest, right?’ Public perceptions of police use of facial recognition technology. Police practice and research, 22 (6), 1637–1654. doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2021.1942873

This episode was funded, in part, by Venture13 Policetech Accelerator

This episode was produced by Avery Moore Kloss from Folktale Studio. 

It was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. 

More information on the Centre for Research on Security Practices at crsp.online.