Lighter Wed, 20 May 2026 07:31:44 -0400 en-us © 2026 Lighter yes ec8cae88-5b52-5023-8b6c-b8407055efc5 lighterwithmaya@gmail.com Maya episodic false Financial independence for women starting over

Lighter is a podcast for women who are starting over. Whether you're navigating separation or divorce, rebuilding after a job loss, or simply facing your finances alone for the first time — this show is for you. Host Maya sits down with financial counsellors, life coaches, and women who have been through it, for honest conversations and one practical baby step you can actually take this week. No lectures. No judgment. Just one small thing at a time. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Maya lighterwithmaya@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/xleeg7p5za8j50vyim904cek0i7z?.jpg Lighter Episode 06 | Attack the Debt While the Clock Is Stopped - The Final Step in the Debt Series Episode 06 | Attack the Debt While the Clock Is Stopped - The Final Step in the Debt Series The final episode of the Lighter debt series. Maya and Dr Linda cover everything that happens after the balance transfer — how to calculate your exact target monthly payment, why automation beats willpower every time, what to actually do with the old cards, and what to do when a hard month hits in the middle of the window.

Missed Episodes 04 and 05? Start there — this series works best in order. Links in show notes.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> The final episode of the Lighter debt series. Maya and Dr Linda cover everything that happens after the balance transfer — how to calculate your exact target monthly payment, why automation beats willpower every time, what to actually do with the old cards, and what to do when a hard month hits in the middle of the window.

Missed Episodes 04 and 05? Start there — this series works best in order. Links in show notes.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-19208367 Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 757 1 6 full false Episode 05 | The Balance Transfer Move - Stop Paying Interest and Start Getting Free Episode 05 | The Balance Transfer Move - Stop Paying Interest and Start Getting Free Episode 04 turned the light on. Episode 05 hands you the tool. Maya and Dr Linda walk through the balance transfer move - the single most powerful strategy for getting out of credit card debt - step by step.

You will learn exactly how a balance transfer works, who it is right for, what to look for in a card, the biggest mistake people make after transferring, and how to use the interest-free window to clear the debt before the clock runs out.

Show notes include links to the strongest balance transfer cards currently available. Research is your baby step this episode - no applying yet. Just look.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Episode 04 turned the light on. Episode 05 hands you the tool. Maya and Dr Linda walk through the balance transfer move - the single most powerful strategy for getting out of credit card debt - step by step.

You will learn exactly how a balance transfer works, who it is right for, what to look for in a card, the biggest mistake people make after transferring, and how to use the interest-free window to clear the debt before the clock runs out.

Show notes include links to the strongest balance transfer cards currently available. Research is your baby step this episode - no applying yet. Just look.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-19165291 Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 732 1 5 full false Episode 04 | Why Minimum Payments Are a Trap - What Your Credit Card Statement Is Not Telling You Episode 04 | Why Minimum Payments Are a Trap - What Your Credit Card Statement Is Not Telling You If you have credit card debt, you are not irresponsible. You were almost certainly never properly taught how credit card interest actually works. This episode, Maya and Dr Linda turn that light on.

You will learn why the minimum payment is a retention strategy designed to keep you in debt, how compounding interest works in plain language, the three numbers on your statement that actually matter, and the avalanche and snowball methods for tackling multiple cards.

YOUR BABY STEP: Get every credit card statement. Write down three things for each card: balance, interest rate, minimum payment. Three columns. One piece of paper. See the full picture for the first time. Bring it to Episode 05.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> If you have credit card debt, you are not irresponsible. You were almost certainly never properly taught how credit card interest actually works. This episode, Maya and Dr Linda turn that light on.

You will learn why the minimum payment is a retention strategy designed to keep you in debt, how compounding interest works in plain language, the three numbers on your statement that actually matter, and the avalanche and snowball methods for tackling multiple cards.

YOUR BABY STEP: Get every credit card statement. Write down three things for each card: balance, interest rate, minimum payment. Three columns. One piece of paper. See the full picture for the first time. Bring it to Episode 05.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-19126749 Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 700 1 4 full false Episode 03 | The Points You Forgot You Had — Find the Money Sitting in Your Loyalty Accounts Right Now Episode 03 | The Points You Forgot You Had — Find the Money Sitting in Your Loyalty Accounts Right Now Most of us are sitting on unredeemed loyalty points worth real money — and never touching them because we're saving them for someday. This episode, Maya and financial counsellor Dr Linda unpack the psychology behind points hoarding and walk you through a full loyalty audit across supermarket cards, pharmacy rewards, credit card points, store credits, gift cards and airline miles.

Programs covered include US (Kroger, CVS ExtraCare, Walgreens, Target Circle), Australian (Woolworths Everyday Rewards, Flybuys, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, Qantas Points, Velocity), UK (Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Boots Advantage Card, Avios) and German (Payback, Miles and More) programs.

YOUR BABY STEP: Pick one loyalty account today. Log in. Check your balance. If you can redeem for something useful this week, do it today. Then sweep your wallet and inbox for forgotten gift cards. The treasure is real.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Most of us are sitting on unredeemed loyalty points worth real money — and never touching them because we're saving them for someday. This episode, Maya and financial counsellor Dr Linda unpack the psychology behind points hoarding and walk you through a full loyalty audit across supermarket cards, pharmacy rewards, credit card points, store credits, gift cards and airline miles.

Programs covered include US (Kroger, CVS ExtraCare, Walgreens, Target Circle), Australian (Woolworths Everyday Rewards, Flybuys, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, Qantas Points, Velocity), UK (Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Boots Advantage Card, Avios) and German (Payback, Miles and More) programs.

YOUR BABY STEP: Pick one loyalty account today. Log in. Check your balance. If you can redeem for something useful this week, do it today. Then sweep your wallet and inbox for forgotten gift cards. The treasure is real.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-19088898 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 842 1 3 full false The Subscription Leak — Find the Money Quietly Leaving Your Account Every Month The Subscription Leak — Find the Money Quietly Leaving Your Account Every Month Did you know the average household is paying for four to eight subscriptions they've completely forgotten about? This episode, Maya and financial counsellor Dr Linda expose the two deliberate tactics companies use to keep money quietly draining from your account — and walk you through exactly how to take it back.

You'll learn how to run a 3-month bank statement audit, decode charges listed under holding company names you don't recognise, use Dr Linda's three-question test to decide what stays and what goes, and find out if your utility provider owes you money right now.

YOUR BABY STEP: Open your bank app. Go back 3 months. List every recurring charge. For any name you don't recognise — Google it + 'subscription'. Cancel anything that fails the 3-question test. Then call one utility provider and ask about your rate and any account credit. You might find twenty dollars. You might find ninety. Either way — that's your money.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Did you know the average household is paying for four to eight subscriptions they've completely forgotten about? This episode, Maya and financial counsellor Dr Linda expose the two deliberate tactics companies use to keep money quietly draining from your account — and walk you through exactly how to take it back.

You'll learn how to run a 3-month bank statement audit, decode charges listed under holding company names you don't recognise, use Dr Linda's three-question test to decide what stays and what goes, and find out if your utility provider owes you money right now.

YOUR BABY STEP: Open your bank app. Go back 3 months. List every recurring charge. For any name you don't recognise — Google it + 'subscription'. Cancel anything that fails the 3-question test. Then call one utility provider and ask about your rate and any account credit. You might find twenty dollars. You might find ninety. Either way — that's your money.

Full show notes at lighterwithmaya.substack.com  •  Instagram @lighterwithmaya 

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-19050574 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 909 1 2 full false You're Not Alone - and You're Not Behind You're Not Alone - and You're Not Behind The first episode of Lighter. Host Maya introduces the show and who it's for. Guest Sarah — a single mum three years on from where you might be right now — shares the moment she first faced her finances alone. And what changed when she stopped running from the numbers.

YOUR BABY STEP: Find out what comes into your bank account each month. Your take-home pay, any support payments, any benefits. Add it up. Write it down. One number. That's it. This is your foundation number. Keep it.

NEXT EPISODE: The Subscription Leak — the money quietly leaving your account every month that you forgot you were spending.

]]> The first episode of Lighter. Host Maya introduces the show and who it's for. Guest Sarah — a single mum three years on from where you might be right now — shares the moment she first faced her finances alone. And what changed when she stopped running from the numbers.

YOUR BABY STEP: Find out what comes into your bank account each month. Your take-home pay, any support payments, any benefits. Add it up. Write it down. One number. That's it. This is your foundation number. Keep it.

NEXT EPISODE: The Subscription Leak — the money quietly leaving your account every month that you forgot you were spending.

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-18949622 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 598 divorce, separation, single mum, finances, women, starting over, money, financial empowerment, baby steps 1 1 full false Lighter - Official Trailer Lighter - Official Trailer Lighter is coming on April 14th.

This show is for any woman who is starting over - navigating separation or divorce, rebuilding after a job loss, or facing her finances alone for the very first time.

Every episode, host Maya sits down with financial counsellors, life coaches, and women who have been through it. Honest conversations. No lectures. And one practical baby step you can actually take this week.

Subscribe now so Episode 1 is waiting for you when it drops on April 14th.

EPISODE 1 — April 14th: You're Not Alone and You're Not Behind

]]> Lighter is coming on April 14th.

This show is for any woman who is starting over - navigating separation or divorce, rebuilding after a job loss, or facing her finances alone for the very first time.

Every episode, host Maya sits down with financial counsellors, life coaches, and women who have been through it. Honest conversations. No lectures. And one practical baby step you can actually take this week.

Subscribe now so Episode 1 is waiting for you when it drops on April 14th.

EPISODE 1 — April 14th: You're Not Alone and You're Not Behind

]]> Maya Buzzsprout-18949991 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 72 divorce, separation, single mum, finances, women, starting over, money, financial empowerment, new beginnings trailer false