Mom Stole $200K for Gambling Addiction, Student Loan Fraud Kristen Collier's Rock Bottom

Kristen Collier discovered $200,000 of fraudulent student loans taken out in her name by her own mother—money that had been funneled into a gambling addiction. This devastating family betrayal launched Kristen into a years-long battle with predatory lenders, crushing debt, and the impossible choice between pressing criminal charges against her mother or carrying the burden herself. In this gripping episode, Kristen shares her harrowing journey through her 20s managing unpayable debt, navigating the labyrinthine student loan system, and ultimately finding an unexpected legal pathway to freedom through bankruptcy court. Her new book What Debt Demands: Family Betrayal and Precarity in a Broken System exposes the predatory nature of private student lenders and makes a powerful case for systemic change. Beyond her personal story, Kristen breaks down the mechanics of student debt in America—why these loans can't be discharged through normal bankruptcy, how the system protects creditors over students, and the devastating physical and emotional toll that unpayable debt takes on millions of borrowers. She offers practical advice for anyone struggling with student loans, explains the difference between federal and private loans, and outlines what needs to change: free public college and comprehensive debt cancellation. This is also a nuanced exploration of forgiveness—what it means to maintain a relationship with someone who has profoundly betrayed you, how to hold space for both anger and empathy, and whether true forgiveness requires forgetting or simply learning to live alongside the pain. If you or someone you know is dealing with student debt, this episode is essential listening.

You can listen to Mom Stole $200K for Gambling Addiction, Student Loan Fraud Kristen Collier's Rock Bottom online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Mom Stole $200K for Gambling Addiction, Student Loan Fraud Kristen Collier's Rock Bottom is an episode from Baby Steps by Fulmer Media.

This episode is 46:31 long.

This episode was published on Jan 21, 2026.

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