Level Up

In this powerful episode of Level Up , host Desmond Stinnie sat down with Ken Mohammed, from American Consumer Credit Counseling for a heartfelt conversation about his journey helping people navigate life’s toughest seasons to building lasting stability. Ken shares how mindset and community shaped his passion for helping others.

In this episode of Level Up, we explore how Towson University is pioneering a new model of learning that blends skills, academic opportunity, and future-proof careers. TU is redefining what education can look like. The Trades Development Program gives hands-on training across multiple skilled disciplines — from HVAC to carpentry to electrical — while creating a path to both the workforce and colle...

Student loan debt is one of the most pressing financial challenges facing millions of Americans today. For many, the rules, repayment options, and forgiveness programs feel overwhelming and confusing. In this episode of Level Up, we welcome Sean Lenderink, founder of Smart Loan Aid, who has dedicated his work to bringing clarity and relief to borrowers navigating this maze. Sean shares the story b...

In this episode, we sit down with Rep. Karen Alzate to discuss her newly passed bill regulating payday lending in Rhode Island. She breaks down how the legislation closes loopholes, protects borrowers, and marks a major step toward ending predatory lending. This is the inside story of this victory and what it means for Rhode Islanders.

At the moment, you won't find many universities with dedicated resources for helping students with financial literacy. That makes Jonas C. Sheckler, Assistant Director of Financial Well-Being at Towson University, one of the handful of professionals in higher education focused on guiding students through money management and real-world financial decisions. His position represents a rare but growin...

In this episode of Level Up, hosts Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin welcome Megan Walter, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Walter shares insights on the sweeping new legislation she calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” breaking down what it means for student aid and how financial aid offices are preparing for the changes. She also...

In this episode of Level Up , Addison Wiggin and Desmond Stinnie sit down with Mikhail Reece, a passionate advocate for trade careers and founder of the “Trades, Tech & the Next Generation” initiative. From organizing high-impact community events in Tampa to launching scholarships and leveraging social media, Mikhail is on a mission to redefine how young people see vocational paths. Together,...

Level Up is thrilled to welcome Eric and Robin Poulin , the visionary co-founders—and dynamic married duo—behind Calendar Budget , a powerful budgeting app designed to bring clarity, control, and confidence to your financial life. In this episode, we’ll dive into the inspiring origin story of Calendar Budget, explore its standout features that make money management intuitive and visual, and hear f...

In this powerful episode of Level Up, Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin sit down with Cory McCray to discuss his deeply personal new book, The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life. Senator McCray shares how growing up in East Baltimore, facing real challenges, and entering the electrical trades through apprenticeship not only gave him a career—but redirected the course of his life. Now a respected p...

In this episode of Level Up , Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin sit down with Desmond's longtime friend and trades entrepreneur Grant Gotlinger, founder of Got Electric LLC. What begins as a personal reunion turns into an insightful conversation about Grant’s decision to leave college after his first year at Towson University, his journey into the electrical trades, and the long road to building...

Roxie Overaker of American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) stops by for an honest, stigma-free conversation about how financial stress impacts health, why judgment-free support matters, and what the future of debt counseling looks like.

A powerful conversation with Samantha Cornmesser, Director of Member Partnerships at Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), discussing the vital role of skilled trades in today’s economy and why organizations like Dealing With Debt are valued partners to trade schools for pairing workforce readiness with lifelong financial wellness.

In this episode, the Dealing With Debt community is introduced to Preston Zapffe , a Certified Financial Planner, to preview his plans for content creation for the platform. Preston will lean on his extensive background in personal finance and private equity to help members demistify the complex world of personal financial planning. DWD welcomes Preston's knowledge, passion, and more importantly,...

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer interviews Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin, the co-founders of ⁠Dealing with Debt,⁠ a platform focused on financial literacy and community support. Desmond shares his lifelong passion for financial education, tracing back to his childhood curiosity about money. Addison brings his 30 years of experience in financial publishing and macroe...

In episode 1 of Level Up, we are joined by Ray "Coach Shoe" Schufford - retired first responder and founder of 2 The Next Shift, to discuss the support needs of first responders and how the DWD platform presents an opportunity to fill in several gaps and create a national first responder community.