In this episode, we're going back more than 20 years to Julie's first wedding—and a family situation that still affects the way she remembers that day. With her parents newly divorced and both in new relationships, Julie made one request about the wedding that she hoped would keep the day peaceful and drama-free. Her mom respected it. Her dad... did not. What followed became one of those family stories that sounds almost unbelievable until you know everything else that was happening at the time.

We talk about what happened when Julie's dad decided at the last minute that he wanted to be part of the wedding, why she refused to change plans for him, and how the situation escalated the night before she was supposed to get married. Julie also shares the embarrassment, fear, and guilt she remembers feeling as her family's dysfunction spilled into what should have been a happy weekend—and why, despite everything that happened, she still allowed her dad back into her life afterward.

More than two decades later, Julie and Ryann look at the story very differently than Julie could at 21. They talk about setting boundaries with parents, the complicated cycle of giving someone chance after chance, and how one painful experience can become attached to an otherwise happy memory. Most importantly, Julie reflects on whether she'd do anything differently today—and what this experience has taught her about the boundaries she wants her own kids to feel empowered to set, even with family.

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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