For The Hayters: The Stories We Survive

Latest Episodes:

The Sailor, The Single Mom, & The 1-Pound Miracle Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses premature birth, traumatic labor, medical intervention for micro-preemies, and birth-related trauma.

"Your family didn't come in your sea bag." That’s what they tell you in the Navy. But what happens when your "family" is a 1-pound, 6-ounce baby fighting for her life in a plastic box while you’re expected back in uniform?

This week, I sit down with a woman who lived through every parent's nightmare while serving her country. At 23 weeks and 4 days, she woke up in a pool of blood, eight hours from home, and facing a medical team that pressured her to choose "comfort care"—essentially letting her baby pass away—because of her age and status as a single mother.

She chose the fight. She hit the 24-week "viability" mark by a mere two hours, delivered via emergency C-section, and was back on active duty just six weeks later. This is the raw, unfiltered reality of a 129-day NICU stay, brain bleeds, 20 blood transfusions, and the staggering resilience of a Sailor who refused to take "no" for an answer.

Connect with Guest: Instagram: @sarah.rucker

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 For NICU support: Hand to Hold

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wallet Therapy: Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

Ever feel like you’re on top of the world on Friday, only to be digging through couch cushions for change by Monday? You aren’t alone—and it’s not just a "low income" problem. In this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky (the Novice) and Alex (the Expert) dive into the "Friday High" vs. the "Monday Panic." We’re breaking down why even high-income earners find themselves trapped in a cycle of overspending and how to finally build some breathing room.

Inside the episode:

The "Friday High": Why your brain triggers a sense of abundance on payday (and how to survive the weekend).
High Earners, Zero Balances: The shocking stats on why making $100k+ doesn't automatically fix the cycle.
The Financial Firewall: Alex coaches a listener through a $20k windfall to build a safety net that actually works.
The $40 Ghost: Becky shares how she found an extra $40/month just by looking (and why you should, too).
Systems vs. Willpower: Why "trying harder" fails and how to automate your way to a net-zero spending plan.

Weekly Homework:

Find Your Leak: Audit your last 30 days and cancel one subscription or "convenience spend" you don't use.
Automate the Difference: Set up an auto-transfer to your savings for that exact amount on payday.

Connect with us:

Join the Live Therapy: Support the show and join our monthly live Q&As at patreon.com/beckyhayter.
Share your story: Email us at info@forthehaters.com to have your financial scenario featured on the show!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Uterus Chronicles: Teen Pregnancy, Adoption, and the Cancer Flip Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses teen pregnancy, adoption, and cancer diagnosis.

Jamie Shoemaker’s life has never been a straight line. From navigating a high-pressure teen pregnancy in a conservative church to choosing a private open adoption at fifteen, Jamie has spent her life breaking cycles. She’s been an egg donor, a mother, and a fierce advocate for her own body—a skill that became a matter of life and death when a routine check-up turned into a cervical cancer diagnosis at age 35.

In this conversation, Jamie opens up about the "mind-fuck" of having her uterus—the organ that connected her to so much community and life—suddenly become the villain. We dive into the complexities of open adoption twenty years later, the reality of "survival" income through egg donation, and why she wrote an "ode to her uterus" before a life-altering hysterectomy. Jamie is a storyteller who reminds us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation and that "rest" is not a four-letter word.

Connect with Guest: @jshoe11

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

Cervivor (Cervical Cancer Support): cervivor.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pregnancy After Loss: When Joy and Grief Coexist Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

RIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses late-term stillbirth, medical trauma, and postpartum hemorrhaging.

"I didn't even have to hear the words. I could read it all over her face." Alyssa was 38 weeks pregnant—at the finish line—when the world stopped. In this raw conversation, Alyssa walks us through the devastating loss of her first daughter, Marianna Yvette, and the terrifying medical crisis that followed, leaving Alyssa "knocking on heaven’s door."

We dive deep into the reality of pregnancy after loss—the scans every two weeks, the inability to feel excitement until the baby is crying in your arms, and the bittersweet realization that one child's life only exists because another's ended. This is a story about honoring the dead while fiercely raising the living.

Connect with Guest: Instagram: @lyssa821 Facebook: Alyssa Estes

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 Support for Loss Families: Empty Arms

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wallet Therapy: The B Word: How to Build a Spending Plan Without Feeling Punished Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Becky has beef with the word budget.

It feels restrictive. It feels like failure waiting to happen. It feels like getting grounded.

So in this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky and Alex are flipping the script. We’re retiring the word “budget” and replacing it with something that doesn’t make your nervous system panic: a spending plan.

Inside this episode, we cover:

Why 84% of people “fail” at budgeting (and why that’s not a you problem)
The three-bucket method: Needs, Fun Money (aka the Becky Fund), and Debt/Savings
Why fun money actually helps you reach your savings goals
How to stop the all-or-nothing spiral after one $20 salad
The 10-Second Reset to interrupt impulse spending in real time
Why your spending plan should align with your values — not punish you

This isn’t about tracking your failures.

It’s about planning your freedom.

If you’ve ever started a budget on Monday and emotionally quit by Thursday, this one’s for you.

Ready to join the inner circle? Head over to our Patreon for early access to episodes and exclusive community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recovering the Life I Always Should Have Had Through Sobriety Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

This episode discusses severe alcoholism, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Please listen with care.

Isat down with Nicole, a mother of five who lived a "normal" life on the outside while a dark hole was swallowing her from the inside. From her first blackout at thirteen to drinking a Costco-sized handle of vodka every 24 hours, Nicole’s story is a harrowing look at how addiction isolates us from the people we love most—including ourselves.

We dive deep into the moments the world doesn't see: the manipulation, the medical emergencies, and the day Nicole decided it would be better if she simply wasn't here anymore. But the pills didn't work, and what followed was a grueling, beautiful, and 180-degree transformation. This isn't just a story about quitting a substance; it’s about a woman who spent years unable to be alone with herself finally learning to love the person she sees in the mirror.

Connect with Guest: Instagram: @cargonicole

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988 Alcoholics Anonymous: aa.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He Became a Father Overnight: Griff’s Story of Stepping Up for Kylie and Josh Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses the sudden loss of a parent and substance abuse recovery.

When Kylie lost her mother unexpectedly in 2024, her life shifted in an instant. She didn't just lose her mom; she became the legal guardian of her teenage brother, Josh. But she wasn't alone. Her husband, Griff, didn't hesitate. Without a formal meeting or a long debate, he stepped into the role of a father figure, proving that family isn't just about biology—it’s about who shows up when the world falls apart.

In this episode, I sit down with Griff to hear the perspective we don't often get: the partner who chooses to take on the "messy" parts of a spouse’s history. From navigating vastly different upbringings to the reality of family therapy and the friction of parenting a teenager while still being "newlyweds," this is a raw look at resilience, loyalty, and what it actually means to be a team.

Connect with Guest: Follow Kylie & Griff's journey: @kyliem_98

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

The Dinner Party (Grief Support for Young Adults): thedinnerparty.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wallet Therapy: Why One of Us is Broke and the Other is a Coach Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the very first episode of our Wallet Therapy miniseries!

Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to be an adult with money" memo except for you? You’re not alone. In this kickoff episode, sisters Becky and Alex pull back the curtain on their own bank accounts. Becky gets real about her "add to cart" addiction and the overwhelm of looking at a bank statement , while Alex shares how she went from financial chaos to becoming a Finance Coach.

It’s a kitchen-table conversation about our "Money Stories"—the good, the bad, and the expensive. We’re setting the stage to bridge the gap between being totally clueless and finally feeling in control. No shame, no jargon, just two sisters trying to help you (and each other) figure it out.

In this episode, we cover:

- The "Aha!" moments that led to this podcast.

- Alex’s non-judgmental approach to behavior-based coaching.

- How we’re going to survive these episodes without a sisterly blowout.

Ready to join the inner circle? Head over to our Patreon for early access to episodes and exclusive community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Sister to Mother: Kylie’s Story of Guardianship & Grief Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses addiction, overdose, sudden death of a parent, and self-harm.

When Kylie was 21, she got the call every child of an addict dreads: her mother had overdosed. While her mother eventually found sobriety, her sudden passing in 2024 left Kylie with a choice that wasn't really a choice at all. Within 48 hours, she had to fight the state of Massachusetts to keep her 12-year-old brother, Josh, out of the system.

This isn't just a story about grief; it's about the "invisible" work of stepping up. From hunting down death certificates in different cities to explaining to a judge why a newlywed couple is the best place for a grieving teenager, Kylie’s journey is raw and unfiltered. Later in the episode, Josh joins us to share the perspective we rarely hear—the teenager’s side of loss and what it’s like when your sister becomes your "mom."

Connect with Guest: kyyliee13

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us continue bringing these stories to light.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wallet Therapy: Because Your Bank Account Has Feelings Too Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

One sister is a professional Finance Coach (Alex). The other... has a shopping cart habit she’s not exactly ready to discuss (Becky).

Welcome to Wallet Therapy, a new miniseries living right here in the For The Hayters feed. We’re bridging the gap between "I should probably save money" and "But look how cute this is in person."

Join us every other Thursday for a real conversation about the messy, emotional, and sometimes hilarious reality of money. We’re tackling the stuff that actually keeps you up at night:

Why we spend when we’re stressed.
How to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
Navigating money with your partner without the fight.
Real stories from the trenches (mostly Becky’s).

If this episode stirred something for you, you don’t have to sit with it alone. Come join the Wallet Therapy community on Patreon for direct access to Becky & Alex, monthly live sessions, and a supportive, non-judgmental space to talk about money, mindset, and real life. Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help us keep making Wallet Therapy possible.

🔹 New episodes drop every Monday!

🔹 Join our community! patreon.com/beckyhayter

🔹 Follow us on Instagram: @forthehayters

🔹 Submit your story: info@forthehayters.com

🔹 Grab some merch! beckyhayter.com

🔹 A KILLR Network podcast! killrentertainment.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.