Ep 25. Student Debt: It's Not Sexy

Michael Torpey is back with another episode of "Paid Off," and this time he is addressing a very serious issue- Student Debt. In this episode, Michael discusses how student debt is not a sexy topic and is often ignored in political discussions. But the reality of the situation is stark- students in America are graduating with massive amounts of debt that they struggle to pay off for years, or even decades, after graduation.

To shed light on this issue, Michael welcomes three contestants to the show- all of whom have different experiences with student debt. The first contestant, Sarah, is a recent college graduate who owes over $70,000 in student loans. She works at a non-profit and struggles to make ends meet due to her high monthly loan payments. The second contestant, Brandon, is a middle-aged man who went back to school to get his master's degree in order to change careers. He has over $100,000 in student loans and has yet to find a job in his new field. The final contestant, Alex, is a pharmacist who graduated with over $250,000 in student loans. Despite having a stable and well-paying job, Alex struggles to keep up with her massive loan payments and often wonders if it's worth it.

Throughout the show, Michael and the contestants discuss the different aspects of student debt and its impact on their lives. They talk about how the issue has been largely ignored by politicians and how it affects people from all walks of life. Michael also shares some shocking statistics about student debt in America- for example, did you know that over 44 million Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans? Or that the average student loan payment is around $400 per month? These numbers are staggering and show just how pervasive the problem of student debt really is.

As the show progresses, Michael puts the contestants to the test with a series of trivia questions about student debt. Some of the questions are straightforward, like "Which state has the highest average student loan debt?" (spoiler alert- it's New Hampshire), while others are a bit more tricky, like "What percentage of student loan borrowers are in default?" (the answer is around 11%). The contestants all do their best to answer the questions, but the stakes are high- the winner of the game will have their entire student loan debt paid off by the show!

By the end of the episode, tensions are high as Michael announces the winner of the game. Will it be Sarah, Brandon, or Alex? All three contestants are deserving of having their student loan debt paid off, but only one can be the winner. Without giving away any spoilers, let me just say that the ending of the episode is truly heartwarming and will leave you feeling inspired.

Overall, "Paid Off" season 1 episode 25 is a must-watch for anyone who is concerned about the issue of student debt in America. It's not a topic that is often discussed in mainstream media, but this show brings it to the forefront in a fun and engaging way. Michael Torpey is an excellent host who knows how to tackle serious issues while still keeping the tone of the show light and entertaining. If you have student debt (or know someone who does), this episode is definitely worth a watch. You might even learn a thing or two about the current state of student debt in America!