In this deeply personal and emotional episode, we continue the story with Part 2 of Julie’s childhood—diving into the reality of growing up with a parent struggling with drug addiction, abuse, and instability. From discovering her dad’s meth use to witnessing the paranoia, manipulation, and fear that followed, this episode paints a raw and honest picture of what life looked like behind closed doors. Julie shares what it was like living in isolation, navigating unsafe situations, and even making the terrifying decision to call 911 when things escalated.

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

In this deeply personal episode of The Stories We Leave, we shift the focus to Julie’s childhood—growing up in a small rural town in Missouri with young parents, a close-knit family, and a life that from the outside might have looked simple. But beneath that surface was a home shaped by control, fear, and instability. Julie shares what it was like navigating an abusive household, where everything revolved around keeping the peace, and how early experiences with emotional and physical abuse impacted her sense of safety, identity, and relationships.

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/

In Part 2 of Ryann’s coming out story, we move beyond the internal journey and into the real-life moments that follow—telling family, navigating reactions, and figuring out what happens next. From coming out as gay in college to later coming out as trans, this episode dives into the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight that comes with saying the words out loud. We talk about what it feels like to finally share your truth, the anxiety of how people will respond, and why the people closest to you can sometimes be the hardest to tell.

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/