The "Debt Gala's" Red Carpet Celebration Lampoons Healthcare Cost

Summary

All Of It Podcast Summary
Episode: The "Debt Gala's" Red Carpet Celebration Lampoons Healthcare Cost
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest Speakers: Molly Gaby (Co-founder of Debt Gala), Joelle Nicole Johnson (Performer and Medical Debt Survivor)

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Introduction to Debt Gala

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the innovative and impactful event known as the Debt Gala. The Debt Gala is a dance party and fundraiser held at the Bell House in Brooklyn, designed to parody the opulent Met Gala while addressing the pressing issue of medical debt in New York City. Co-founder Molly Gaby and performer Joelle Nicole Johnson join Alison to discuss the genesis, purpose, and future of the Debt Gala.

Origins and Purpose of the Debt Gala

Molly Gaby shares the inspiration behind the Debt Gala, highlighting the stark contrast between the glamorous Met Gala and the financial struggles faced by many New Yorkers.
“We were looking at coverage of the Met Gala... but it's also impossible not to contrast that extreme wealth and celebrity worship with what's happening... most people in New York are one ambulance ride away from bankruptcy” (01:18).
The idea crystallized when Molly and her co-founders, Tom Costello and Amanda Corday, sought to transform the spectacle of a high-fashion event into a platform for economic justice and community support.

Impact and Achievements

The Debt Gala has made significant strides in alleviating medical debt. Molly proudly states,
“$50 can eliminate over $5,000 in medical debt. So we've raised over half a million dollars to help eliminate medical debt” (02:49).
This achievement underscores the severity of medical debt as the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, with 40% of individuals delaying medical care due to costs.

Theme and Creative Direction

For this year's event, the theme is "Let Them Eat Cake, Ruined Riches," drawing inspiration from the French Revolution to highlight wealth inequality. Molly explains,
“It's about taking something ornate or decadent and messing with it. You know, smudging the lipstick, breaking the champagne bottle” (03:27).
This theme encourages attendees to embrace creativity by upcycling their outfits, promoting sustainability while maintaining the event’s glamorous atmosphere.

Personal Stories and Emotional Resonance

Joelle Nicole Johnson opens up about her personal battle with medical debt, providing a poignant example of the Gala’s mission. She recounts,
“I got a bill for about $15,000... I had to decide, is this an emergency? Which I don't think people should have to decide in their lives” (04:22).
Her story exemplifies the real-life consequences of medical debt and reinforces the importance of events like the Debt Gala.

Event Details and Community Building

Molly emphasizes the inclusive and community-driven nature of the Debt Gala.
“We realized from the beginning that this is something that every community deserves. A space to build solidarity and to give your city a spotlight to shine” (07:28).
The event features a red carpet, professional photo sessions, performances by artists like Joelle Nicole Johnson, and a variety show produced by Stage Time. Attendees can expect an evening of entertainment, satire, and meaningful engagement.

Encouraging Participation and Sustained Support

Both Molly and Joelle express their hopes for the future of the Debt Gala, aiming to expand its impact beyond a single event. Molly mentions initiatives like clothing swaps and year-round community involvement.
“We want to make this bigger than just a one, one night a year annual event. We really want to build community around it” (10:04).
Joelle adds that the Gala is not only a platform for fundraising but also a catalyst for individuals to contribute to broader social causes.

Notable Quotes

• Molly Gaby on the inspiration for Debt Gala:
  “What if we took the structure and the spectacle and the energy of this high fashion event and used the energy and resources to do it for our own community and for economic justice” (01:18).

• Joelle Nicole Johnson on the personal impact of medical debt:
  “We should just be able to go to the hospital” (04:50).

• Molly Gaby on the event’s significance:
  “Access... shouldn't be reserved just for the elite... We're so creative, and we deserve a space to come together and celebrate everybody” (09:06).

Conclusion

The Debt Gala serves as a powerful fusion of culture, satire, and activism, addressing the critical issue of medical debt through creative expression and community support. Molly Gaby and Joelle Nicole Johnson articulate a vision where glamour and generosity intersect to foster economic justice and solidarity among New Yorkers. As the Gala continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the city's resilience and the collective effort to transform financial burdens into opportunities for change.

For more information or to donate, visit debtgala.com.

Transcript

[Progressive Insurance]

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[Alyson Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alyson Stewart. Gala is on Monday, but the evening before, you can find a very different kind of event taking place at the Bell House in Brooklyn. It's called the Debt Gala. It's a dance party slash fundraiser that lampoons the red carpet ness of the Met Gala. The proceeds from the Debt Gala go towards organizations that help people dealing with medical dents. Hence the name. Hence the name. Joining us now to tell us more about the Debt Gala, please welcome one of its co founders, Molly Gaby. Nice to meet you, Molly.

[Molly Gaby]

You too.

[Alyson Stewart]

And also joining us now is Joelle Nicole Johnson, who has performed at past Debt galas and actually has some personal experience with medical debt. We'll get into that. Hey, Joelle.

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

Joelle. Hey, it's me.

[Molly Gaby]

Hey.

[Alyson Stewart]

Hey, Molly.

[Molly Gaby]

Yeah.

[Alyson Stewart]

Where did the idea from the Debt Gala come from?

[Molly Gaby]

Okay, well, it came from where all good ideas come from, which is being a little too tipsy. In a bar in Midtown, I was having a drink with my NOW co founders, Tom Costello and Amanda Corday, and we were looking at coverage of the Met gala. This was 2022, so the theme then was Gilded Glamour. And, you know, it's an undeniably fun thing to do to scroll the pictures of the celebs and be a fashion critic for a night. But it's also impossible not to contrast that extreme wealth and celebrity worship with what's happening literally right beyond the red carpet, which is that most people or a lot of people in New York are one ambulance ride away from bankruptcy. And, you know, we're out here hosting GoFundMes for insulin and chemotherapy. So we got to thinking, what if we took the structure and the spectacle and the energy of this high fashion event and used the energy and resources to do it for our own community and for economic justice.

[Alyson Stewart]

Joelle, how did you get involved with the Debt Gala?

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

I got involved with the Debt Gala because I am one of Molly Gaby's favorite people in the world. That is how. And she tapped me to perform at the Debt Gala and I said, for medical debt? Absolutely. I'm your girl.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

When you think about how much money you've brought in these past couple of years, how much has it been so.

[Molly Gaby]

With one of the organizations that were raising money for undue medical debt. $50 can eliminate over $5,000 in medical debt. So we've raised over half a million dollars to help eliminate medical debt. And, you know, in this country, medical debt is the number one reason for personal bankruptcy. And 40% of people have delayed or put off medical care because of costs. And it's a huge problem, and it's been normalized, and we really want to bring attention to it and also build community with this. With this event.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

Mala, the theme is let them eat cake. Ruined riches. Why did you pick that as a theme this time around?

[Molly Gaby]

Okay, we're. We're going. We're leaning in to the French revolution of it all, to another era of extreme wealth inequality, you know, when the rich people were powdering their wigs and the peasants were boiling shoe leather for dinner. So we encourage people to, if they want to lean into that part of it, they can also, if you just want to go the cake or the baked goods route, that's also fun, too. But the ruined riches part of it is really the key. It's about taking something ornate or decadent and messing with it. You know, smudging the lipstick, breaking the champagne bottle. It's Versailles, but the mold has set in. You know, if you want to come as a Faberge egg that's been through it, like, we very much encourage that.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

Joyell, I hope you don't mind me asking this personal question, but you've been involved with some medical debt in your life, and you've had consequences that come with it. Would you share your story with us?

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes. I am an asthmatic. Shout out to all my people who can't breathe, especially with the pollen count right now in every city I'm in. I'm in Chicago right now, and I cannot go outside. But I have had asthma attacks that I have had to think about how bad the attack was before I could go to the hospital. And one time I had to go to the hospital, and my attack was so bad that I pulled a muscle in my lung, and I was in so much pain. And then, you know, a couple of weeks later, I got a bill for about $15,000. And I don't know if you've ever gotten a bill that just made you laugh. Like, I just started hysterically laughing at the bill because I was like, I don't have this money to pay for it. So I ended up applying for charity care at the time, which got me out of the debt. But, you know, these days, I'm not eligible for that type of care. So if I was to go to the hospital, I would be stuck with that debt. So I've had plenty of situations where I've had to decide, is this an emergency? Which I don't think people should have to decide in their lives. We should just be able to go to the hospital.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

We're talking about the Debt Gala, a fundraiser event and dance party at the Bell House in Brooklyn this Sunday to raise money for people dealing with medical debt. My guests are Debt Gala co founder Mala Gaby, Molly Gaby. And performer Joe well, Nicole Johnson. Okay, are there any ground rules you folks have set about around outfits for. We said the. The theme was let them eat cake, ruined riches.

[Molly Gaby]

No ground rules at all. But we do like to encourage people to come in outfits that are upcycled or give something new life that they already have because we want to preserve the glamour without creating excess garbage. So the glamour's a little important, though. It's very important.

[Alyson Stewart]

I mean, I went on your Instagram page, I was like, okay, they're bringing it.

[Molly Gaby]

Oh, people bring it. The outfits have been incredible. Last year, someone wore where our theme was sleeping baddies because the Mets was sleeping beauties. And she just took a quilt and wrapped it around her waist. But I swear it looked couture. Like it could have been on the Met red carpet, and you would have no idea.

[Alyson Stewart]

Joyel, are you going to perform at this year's event?

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

I am performing at this year's event. I'm super excited.

[Alyson Stewart]

Can you give us a little preview of what we can expect or as my outfit.

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

Outfit wise?

[Alyson Stewart]

Yeah. Show us your outfits first.

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

Yes. Okay, sure. I have an event to go to afterwards, so I can't get too dramatic, but I will be wearing a vintage Burberry suit with some Gucci loafers that I did not pay full price for. And I am going to add something dramatic that I could take off to go to the event afterwards. So you will be seeing your girl looking very couture, but please, nobody chop my head off.

[Alyson Stewart]

Molly, what are some of the lessons you've learned from Debt Gala's past? Two have been in the past that you and your co founders have tweaked. You realize this is what we need to focus on a little more this time.

[Molly Gaby]

Well, we really just realized from the beginning that this is something that every community deserves. A space to build solidarity and to give your city a spotlight to shine. I mean, we live in New York. People who live here have to do so much with so little. So when people get into the room and on the red carpet, everybody just lights up. And this is so needed right now. And I know we're all suffering under this seriously broken healthcare system, and the political climate is horrendous. So what I've learned is that. That it's just an unmissable event, and you don't have to be a fashionista fashionista to enjoy it. You just gotta show up and being with your fellow humans, raising money for these incredible causes among other artists who are also struggling. There's just no other feeling like it.

[Alyson Stewart]

Joelle, what do you hope attendees take away from the event?

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

I hope they take away that I'm extremely funny and that they should follow me on all social media platforms. But I also think that it's a perfect opportunity for people to think of what they can do for others. And that's the way that I'm looking at this is being able to perform for people in debt makes so much. It means so much to me. Molly and I have done causes for, you know, women's reproductive rights and all these other situations. So I just want people to take away that you can do something. And it can start by being drunk at a bar with friends and having an idea.

[Alyson Stewart]

What do you want to take people to take away? Aside from going to the bar and.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

Having a good time, what do you.

[Alyson Stewart]

Want them to take away from the.

[Molly Gaby]

Event that, you know, access, whether it's to, you know, healthcare or financial relief or just a moment in the spotlight, shouldn't be reserved just for the elite. You know, we're so creative, and we deserve a space to come together and celebrate everybody and wear insane costumes and make fun of billionaires who expect us to clap for them when they shoot their fiances into space. You know, it's just, you know, we need the satire. We gotta laugh, Alison, because if we don't laugh, we will cry.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

I'm just laughing at you like you're shooting a fiance into space. Your hand gestures, that was enough.

[Molly Gaby]

For.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

People who are with you. They're on board. They can't make it on Sunday night. What are other ways that they can contribute? They can be part of the cause.

[Molly Gaby]

You can still donate to the Deck Gala. It's at our website, deckgala.com and we're trying to build community all year long. We want to do some clothing swaps and really get people involved. So if you love the cause, if you're really into fashion or sustainability or economic justice, you know, you can get involved. We're trying to make this bigger than just a one, one night a year annual event. We really want to build community around it.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

And real quick, just for somebody who asked, how would, how would you, would you walk through the evening? Is it a dance party? Is it a performance? How does it go?

[Molly Gaby]

Okay, you get there, you get to the red carpet, you get your photo taken professionally, paparazzi, everything. Then you get into the event, you get to mingle with the hottest people you've ever seen. And then you get to see a variety show produced by Stage Time, hosted by PJ Adzaba. It's going to be hilarious. There's a balloonist. There's drag, there's music. There's Robert Silk, Silk Mason, who is magical. Mr. Mistoffeles. Angelico Ball is gonna be there with their entire house. Their stand up Joyell Johnson is there. You're gonna be entertained harder than you've ever been entertained before. And then a big old brass band is coming in and gonna usher in a dance party of the century. And you're just gonna leave feeling great and sexy.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

One of our producers just typed into my slack. I gasped.

[Molly Gaby]

You will gasp at the outfit.

[Unnamed Host/Producer]

The Debt gala is happening this Sunday, May 4th at the Bell House in Brooklyn. My guests have been Joelle Nicole Johnson and Molly Gaby. Thanks so much. Have a fabulous gala.

[Molly Gaby]

We will.

[Joelle Nicole Johnson]

Thank you.

[Progressive Insurance]

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