Financial Audit – "I've Finally Met My Match"

Host: Caleb Hammer
Guest: Mattel (33, Santa Maria, CA – Central Coast)
Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Caleb Hammer in a heated, comedic, and at times chaotic financial audit with Mattel, a self-employed mechanic and aspiring entrepreneur from Santa Maria, California. The conversation covers Mattel’s attempt to run his own mobile auto business, his largely untracked finances, substantial credit card debt, erratic spending (including recent international trips), and the consequences of his financial habits on his life and family. The dynamic between Caleb and Mattel is especially combative and filled with banter, making for an engaging yet sobering episode on financial mismanagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Career & Income Confusion

• Mattel describes himself as a "starting entrepreneur" and a mechanic (02:48), claiming to be self-employed for "a couple months" (06:24).
• Initial claim: $10,000–$15,000/month income, but income numbers turn out to be wildly inaccurate due to poor tracking and mixing business with personal sales (03:56, 06:24, 10:07).
• Almost half of the "recent income" came from selling/flipping his own cars, not regular business; actual service income is only ~$1,000/month (10:09, 20:25).

Notable Exchange:

• Caleb: "How'd you even tell me $10–15k then, big guy? That's what you feel is coming in?" (10:43)
• Mattel: "Yeah, it's money that comes in. I don't necessarily count it ..." (10:59)

2. Business Structure & Planning

• No clear business plan, little to no separation between personal and business finances (08:16).
• Operates mobile, no shop, and minimal understanding of overhead and net profits.
• Sells cars he purchased but does not reliably track inventory or cash flow (09:15–10:09).

Memorable Moment:

• Caleb: "I don't think you know what you're doing when it comes to running a business at all." (01:03, 26:10)

3. Debt, Overspending, and Denial

• Substantial credit card debt across multiple accounts, with most cards nearly maxed, minimum payments only, and recurring late fees (38:24, 77:47).
• Spends more than he earns – evidence of recent trips to Italy and Miami, frequent eating out, and energy drinks (41:31, 51:20).
• Defends credit card interest rates by pointing to people having it worse ("There are people that have, like, 300% interest, you know, so I think I have it good." – 16:02).

Notable Quote:

• Caleb: "You don't pay off debt because you're spending more than you make." (16:52)

4. Family & Personal Responsibilities

• Claims two children (after joking he had eight) who split time with him (34:00).
• No college fund, no financial security for the household; majority of spending is self-focused or for the "boys trips" (41:34, 46:05, 76:44).
• Justifies his trips as necessary for "mental health," despite unstable finances (71:32).

Host's Critique:

• Caleb: "I don't think you're a good person. ... You don't seem like a good father." (46:05)

5. Content Creation Aspirations

• Aspires to build a YouTube channel focused on cars, but no content yet and little planning or differentiation strategy (24:22–26:09).
• Host makes clear how saturated the market is and the need to hyper-focus.

6. Repeated Dishonesty & Deflection

• Mattel frequently dodges or contradicts factual questions about his financials (19:30, 29:32, 59:10).
• Lies or "just kidding" jokes about the number of kids, ex-girlfriend’s passing, trips, and casino habits.
• Host (and producers) call him out on dishonesty, leading to Mattel being labeled "a lying piece of..." (59:13).

Notable Moment:

• Caleb: "You're a lying piece of—." (59:10)
• Mattel: "No, come on." (59:13)

7. Confronting Financial Reality

• Detailed review of credit cards: Apple Card, Chase Freedoms, PayPal, Discover, Slate, Marriott Bonvoy, new Saver card—majority charge interest rates between 23–30% (40:08, 60:24, 80:58).
• Multiple trips (Italy, Miami, Vegas), with spending justified by "getting experiences."
• Opened a new card right before the show (20:48), continued spending (e.g., $20 at a local sandwich shop before filming).

8. Consequences & Next Steps

• Host calculates that Mattel’s current trajectory makes eviction nearly inevitable (63:10, 65:42).
• Suggests Mattel requires baby-step financial intervention, arranging for him to meet a budgeting expert.
• Assigns Mattel a financial score of 0/10 (90:42).

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Business Planning:
  • Caleb: "You know nothing about YouTube, and that’s okay. You’re going into it thinking it's all of a sudden going to be a career ... not how this works." (26:10)
• On Debt Denial:
  • Mattel: "I don't see it as bad." (15:47)
• On Honest Responses:
  • Caleb: "As long as I have enough to pay my bills." (13:18)
  • Caleb: "But you're not. And you're certainly not setting anything aside for taxes." (13:20)
• On Justification by Comparison:
  • Mattel: "There’s people that have, like, 300% interest, you know..." (16:02)
  • Caleb: "There's always worse. Why does that mean you’re... That doesn’t all of a sudden excuse you?" (16:14)
• On Parenting:
  • Caleb: "I don't think you’re a good person. ... You don't seem like a good father." (46:05)
• On Facing the Facts:
  • Caleb: "You're going to be reaching the age when you can pull from your tax advantaged retirement accounts penalty-free when this card is paid off." (81:43)
• Final Judgment:
  • Caleb: "Your financial score is 0 out of 10. I mean, you're so beyond done." (90:42–91:00)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Revealing Income Delusions & True Numbers: [06:24] – [11:09]
• Credit Card Breakdown Begins: [38:24] – [54:52+]
• Family and Children Discussion: [31:07] – [34:04]
• Trips to Italy, Miami, Vegas, Justifications: [41:31], [51:20], [55:03]
• Host Confronts Dishonesty, Producers Intervene: [58:00] – [59:14]
• Business Model Flaws & Nonpayment by Customers: [78:02] – [79:46]
• Mattel’s Financial Score & Next Steps: [90:42] – [91:00]

Tone & Engagement

The tone is brutally candid, often combative yet comedic, with Caleb oscillating between genuine concern for Mattel’s financial health and exasperation at his evasions and lack of planning. Mattel’s irreverent responses, frequent jokes, and deflections become a recurring comedic device but underscore the severity of his financial denial.

Conclusion

This episode bluntly exposes the consequences of entrepreneurial naiveté, poor financial tracking, and reckless consumer behavior. It's a cautionary tale for self-employed individuals and parents alike, highlighting the necessity of basic financial literacy, discipline, and honesty—both with oneself and others.

Bottom Line:
Mattel’s lack of planning, massive debt, and prioritization of leisure/friends over family and stability earn him a financial reality check and an on-air referral to intensive budgeting counseling.

For listeners:
If you recognize any of these habits in yourself, take advantage of Caleb’s practical financial tools or consult a budgeting expert before it’s too late.