Rachel Webster

Elena lives in a peaceful neighborhood on a serene, tree-lined block in a hushed and tranquil apartment. In fact, the loudest thing in her living room was the tender patting of her two cats. And me. Because I'm allergic to cats. I'm so sorry. Oh my God, I'm so sorry. But Alina is the kind of person who doesn't get ruffled by two semi-qualified sleuths coughing their way through her apartment.

Elena lives in a peaceful neighborhood on a serene, tree-lined block in a hushed and tranquil apartment. In fact, the loudest thing in her living room was the tender patting of her two cats. And me. Because I'm allergic to cats. I'm so sorry. Oh my God, I'm so sorry. But Alina is the kind of person who doesn't get ruffled by two semi-qualified sleuths coughing their way through her apartment.

She was unfazed by this whirlwind of chaotic energy, which made it easy to understand why she maintains such a measured tone when recounting the significance of the year 1983. And it's not just because of Flashdance.

She was unfazed by this whirlwind of chaotic energy, which made it easy to understand why she maintains such a measured tone when recounting the significance of the year 1983. And it's not just because of Flashdance.

So does that mean that before 1983, people were just walking around on cloud nine? Pockets full of cash, not a care in the world.

So does that mean that before 1983, people were just walking around on cloud nine? Pockets full of cash, not a care in the world.

Okay, so they weren't living in some utopia. They were just not using credit cards.

Okay, so they weren't living in some utopia. They were just not using credit cards.

What's in your wallet?

What's in your wallet?

Elena heard the question, what's in your wallet, loud and clear. And she wanted to answer. So she joined Capital One Bank in the division that helps decide how much gets in your wallet.

Elena heard the question, what's in your wallet, loud and clear. And she wanted to answer. So she joined Capital One Bank in the division that helps decide how much gets in your wallet.

As two people whose curiosities mainly include dancing in the streets whilst blasting music and drinking to-go margaritas, we could not quite relate to Alina's curiosity about lending.

As two people whose curiosities mainly include dancing in the streets whilst blasting music and drinking to-go margaritas, we could not quite relate to Alina's curiosity about lending.

And speaking of underbellies, it only took a few years working at Capital One before Elena became deeply disillusioned.

And speaking of underbellies, it only took a few years working at Capital One before Elena became deeply disillusioned.

Elena would soon begin to piece together the ways these experiments were affecting real people and their relationship to debt when she embarked on a new position in the credit line increase division at Capital One.

Elena would soon begin to piece together the ways these experiments were affecting real people and their relationship to debt when she embarked on a new position in the credit line increase division at Capital One.

As people in debt, we're often defined by this notion that we have an uncontrollable urge to overspend.

As people in debt, we're often defined by this notion that we have an uncontrollable urge to overspend.