We take you back to 2006 and 2007, when we first met working at summer camp, became friends, and eventually found ourselves developing feelings for each other under less-than-ideal circumstances. We talk honestly about navigating attraction, coming out, marriage, divorce, guilt, heartbreak, and all the bad decisions we made along the way. If you've ever looked back at your younger self and thought, "What the hell was I doing?" this episode will probably feel familiar.

We also dive into the reality of ending a long-term relationship, grieving a marriage even when you know it's the right decision, and the complicated emotions that come with discovering your identity later than expected. From awkward first dates and emotional conversations to breakups, moving away, and questioning everything, this is the beginning of a love story that almost didn't survive its first chapter.

This episode is part one of our relationship origin story—a raw, honest look at how two very imperfect people somehow found their way to each other. There are plenty of laughs, a little cringe, and more than a few moments where we wonder how we're still together nearly twenty years later.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

Julie opens up about her experiences trying to breastfeed all four of their children, the emotional toll of pumping for years, postpartum struggles, tongue ties, feeding specialists, formula guilt, and donating breast milk to other families. The conversation explores the pressure many parents feel around infant feeding and the reality that sometimes the “natural” thing doesn’t come naturally at all.

Ryann shares what it was like growing up with an extremely large chest, the physical pain and limitations that came with it, and the journey from wanting a breast reduction to ultimately realizing top surgery was the right decision. Together, they discuss body image, gender identity, chest dysphoria, breast reduction versus top surgery, and how differently people can feel about the same body part.

This episode is funny, honest, emotional, and surprisingly relatable—whether you’ve breastfed, formula fed, struggled with body image, considered surgery, or just have complicated feelings about your own body. It’s a conversation about expectations, identity, and learning to make peace with the body you’re living in.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

We also dive into one of the hardest parts of the entire experience: bringing her sister to meet their biological father in the hospital. Julie opens up about the anxiety of seeing her dad again after years of no contact, the complicated feelings surrounding his addiction and abusive past, and the painful reality of watching her sister realize in real time that their father still seems emotionally disconnected. This episode explores the emotional fallout of abandonment, the long-term impact of toxic family dynamics, and the complicated question of whether people who hurt us should ever truly be held accountable.

Throughout the conversation, we talk about therapy, emotional processing, family trauma, and the unexpected responsibility that can come with discovering a sibling later in life. There’s humor, awkwardness, honesty, and a lot of reflection about what family actually means when biology, abandonment, and healing all collide at once.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

As the story unfolds, we dive into the messy emotions surrounding family secrets, generational trauma, addiction, and what happens when DNA testing changes someone’s entire identity overnight. Julie opens up about her dad’s history with addiction, infidelity, and abandonment, while also navigating the guilt, curiosity, anger, and hope that come with suddenly gaining a sibling later in life. We also talk about the emotional weight of meeting a biological sibling for the first time, how this impacts existing family relationships, and the unexpected way this discovery may force Julie to finally confront her father again after years of no contact.

This episode is part family mystery, part emotional processing, and part “this sounds fake but somehow it’s real.” From awkward Facebook stalking and therapy breakthroughs to preparing for an emotional first meeting, this conversation explores how complicated family connections can be—and how DNA tests can completely rewrite the story you thought you knew about your life.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

We get into the ways childhood trauma and family dynamics still show up in adulthood, especially in the way we handle conflict, process emotions, and respond during arguments. We talk about attachment styles, emotional reactions, therapy, people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and how growing up in very different households created very different communication habits. There’s also plenty of chaos and humor along the way—including “suck my fucking asshole,” raining coupon inserts during a fight, and the realization that maybe we weren’t exactly relationship experts in our twenties.

This episode is part relationship therapy, part comedy, and part “how the hell are we still together?” conversation. Whether you’re in a long-term marriage, navigating communication struggles with your partner, or just trying to unlearn unhealthy patterns from childhood, this one will probably feel painfully relatable. We’re not experts—but we have survived almost two decades together, and honestly, that feels worth talking about.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

We get into the realities of growing up with a parent who was often away, the impact of a loud household filled with arguments, and how those experiences influence relationships and communication styles as adults. Ryann also shares what it was like being diagnosed with ADHD as a child, struggling in school, and constantly comparing themself to an older sibling who seemed to have it all together. The conversation highlights how even in “good” childhoods, there are layers of emotional complexity, sibling dynamics, and unmet needs that stick with you into adulthood.

We also talk about family relationships—what it looked like growing up with an older brother they never fully connected with, navigating strict parenting and teenage rebellion, and the role grandparents and extended family played in shaping a sense of stability. This episode is a reminder that not all trauma looks the same, and even seemingly typical upbringings can leave lasting impressions on how we show up in relationships, parenting, and everyday life.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

As the story unfolds, we get into the aftermath—her mom’s incredibly brave decision to work with the DEA, the arrest, and the complicated emotions that come with loving someone who caused so much harm. This episode doesn’t shy away from the long-term impact of childhood trauma, including fear that followed into adulthood, struggles with boundaries, and the ongoing process of healing. It’s a powerful conversation about survival, resilience, and the messy reality of holding both truth and empathy for a parent who caused pain.

We also talk about what it looks like now—navigating a relationship (or lack of one) with her dad as his health declines, processing guilt, and asking the hard question so many people face: do you owe someone closure just because they’re family? If you’ve ever grown up in a toxic or abusive environment, or struggled with setting boundaries with a parent, this episode will hit close to home.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you’re not alone. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org or text START to 88788, confidential help is available 24/7.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC

This is part 1 of a 2-part episode, where we begin unpacking the realities of childhood trauma—living with an unpredictable parent, witnessing domestic violence, and growing up in survival mode. Julie opens up about the contrast between fear and normalcy, the role her mom played as a steady and safe presence, and how those early years shaped the way she approaches parenting, relationships, and healing today.

We also start to uncover another layer of Julie’s story as the conversation leads into addiction and its role in her family dynamic—something we’ll dive deeper into in part 2. Through humor, honesty, and vulnerability, this episode highlights how even the hardest childhood experiences can lead to growth, perspective, and a commitment to doing things differently.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you’re not alone. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

We get into the complicated reality of family reactions—from supportive conversations to confusion, distance, and unmet expectations. Ryann shares what it was like coming out to parents, the pressure of feeling like you’re changing everything, and the surprising ways people process identity shifts. We also talk about the second coming out—transitioning later in life, navigating marriage, and what it looks like to give each other space to grow while staying connected.

This episode also explores what it looked like inside our relationship during that time—especially while navigating pregnancy, parenting, and two completely different internal experiences at the same time. We talk honestly about what it means to support your partner when you don’t fully understand what they’re going through, the concept of “living in two different worlds,” and how communication (even messy, unclear communication) kept us moving forward.

And of course, we share what it was like telling our kids—their reactions, what surprised us most, and why kids often handle big life changes better than adults. From resistance to acceptance to moments that hit harder than expected, this part of our story is one we’ll never forget. This episode is about identity, relationships, and the reality that coming out isn’t just one moment—it’s something you navigate over and over again.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

We’ve linked the books we talked about below—just a heads up, they’re affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

He’s My Mom

It Feels Good To Be Yourself

Jack (Not Jackie)

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

But this story doesn’t stop at coming out. Years later—married, with kids, and a life already built—things started to shift again. What began as curiosity during COVID turned into something deeper: questioning identity, discovering trans stories online, and realizing there might be more beneath the surface. We talk about the slow unraveling of that realization, the fear of what it could mean for our marriage and family, and the internal battle between staying safe and being fully seen.

We also get into the decision to pursue top surgery, what that process looked like, and the unexpected truth that followed: even after surgery, something still didn’t feel complete. That realization opened the door to an even bigger shift—one that led to hormone therapy, redefining identity, and navigating what it means to transition later in life. This isn’t a clean, linear story—it’s messy, emotional, and real in a way that so many people will recognize, whether you’re in the LGBTQ+ community or not.

This episode is Part 1 of Ryann’s transition story—focusing on the internal journey, the denial, the fear, and the moments that quietly change everything. In the next episode, we’ll get into what happens when those internal shifts become external—coming out, telling the kids, and how it all actually unfolds.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

They walk through the process of selecting a sperm donor through a sperm bank, what to look for (and what actually matters), and why it was important for them to choose an open donor their children could potentially connect with later in life. Julie and Ryann also share the financial realities of buying sperm and going through the IUI (intrauterine insemination) process—including why they chose a clinical route instead of trying at home. What they expected to be another long journey like their first experience turned into something completely different… getting pregnant on the first try.

Beyond the logistics, this episode also touches on the emotional layers of LGBTQ+ conception—decision-making as a couple, navigating roles in pregnancy, and what it means to feel connected to your children in different ways. They open up about the realities of pregnancy during COVID, the conversations around who would carry their final child, and how they ultimately decided what was right for their family. This is a raw, funny, and deeply honest look at trying to conceive as a queer couple, filled with both practical insight and real-life moments that make you feel a little less alone.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

They share the full, unfiltered process of choosing a known sperm donor, navigating boundaries, and having the kinds of conversations most people never even think about — legal agreements, parental rights, financial responsibilities, and the “what if” scenarios that come with it all. From awkward logistics (yes, including jars, syringes, and speculums) to the emotional weight of building a family in a nontraditional way, this episode gives a real look at LGBTQ+ family planning, donor conception, and what it actually takes behind the scenes.

Julie and Ryann also open up about the emotional complexities that came with using a known donor — how it impacted their relationship, identity, and sense of connection as parents. They talk about the unexpected challenges, including shifting dynamics with their donor, fears around how their kids might feel, and the importance of communication, legal protection, and trust throughout the process. This episode ends with the moment everything changed — finally getting pregnant after months of trying… and finding out it was twins.

The lesbian conception book they mention is The New Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy, & Birth by Stephanie A. Brill and Kim Toevs.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation.

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

They open up about coming out, identity, and what it felt like to share deeply personal truths for the first time — including Julie’s experience growing up with a father struggling with drug addiction and incarceration. Ryann shares what it was like hearing those stories from a completely different upbringing, highlighting the contrast between their backgrounds and how that built a deeper level of trust and connection. The episode also touches on navigating sexuality, internal conflict, and the emotional complexity of falling in love while already in a relationship, offering an honest look at choices, growth, and what it takes to move forward.

Throughout the episode, Julie and Ryann reflect on how their relationship was built on friendship first — something they believe is the foundation of what has helped them last nearly two decades. From college days and shared apartments to building a life, raising kids, and evolving identities, this conversation captures the messy, imperfect, and deeply human reality of love, relationships, and becoming who you are.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation.

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

They also talk about career pivots, burnout, and how becoming parents forced them to rethink everything — from leaving teaching and retail schedules behind to building careers that actually support family life. This episode leans into the reality of modern parenting, including decision fatigue, feeding kids (why is that so hard?), and the constant balancing act between structure and chaos. It’s relatable, funny, and refreshingly unfiltered, especially as they navigate their different personalities — one more Type A and planned, the other more impulsive and go-with-the-flow — and how that dynamic actually works.

The conversation also touches on starting the podcast itself, from buying the domain to debating branding, photos, and what it means to “do it right” versus just starting messy. Along the way, they share glimpses into Ryann’s transition and how that continues to shape their family identity, as well as the ongoing, very real process of figuring things out in real time. At its core, this episode is about growth, partnership, and building a life that works for you — even if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation.

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

They open up about what it’s like to go from being a two-mom household to a mom-and-dad family after Ryann’s transition, and the very real, very raw conversations that came with it — including questions from their kids about identity, labels, and what it all means. This episode dives into LGBTQ+ parenting, gender identity, sexuality, and the pressure to “have answers,” while embracing the reality that sometimes… you just don’t. It’s honest, funny, and at times deeply vulnerable, especially as they unpack how kids process big life changes with surprising simplicity compared to adults.

Julie and Ryann also get into the realities of family planning as an LGBTQ+ couple — from misconceptions about IVF to navigating sperm donation, finances, and the lack of accessible information when they were starting out. They talk about the decisions they made, what they learned along the way, and why sharing these experiences matters for other families trying to figure it out too. This episode is a mix of laughter, chaos, and meaningful conversation — the kind that makes you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation.

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. https://juliebeckllc.com/

This started as a simple idea: record our stories for our kids, so they’d always know who we were, what we lived through, and how the hell we got here. But we realized our kids aren’t the only ones who might need these conversations.

So we’re saying the quiet parts out loud — with humor, honesty, and zero perfection. We’re not experts. We’re not here to teach you how to live your life. We’re just two parents with a whole lot of stories, sharing universal human experiences through an LGBTQ+ lens.

If you’ve ever felt alone in your identity, your family, your marriage, your parenting, or your past… you’re in the right place.

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The Stories We Leave You — for our kids, our community, and anyone who needs to hear: you’re not alone.