In this ep, Marnie opens up about what’s really been going on behind the scenes and dives into the themes of energy and capacity. Through the lens of family dynamics and her own personal journey, she explores the importance of recognizing your needs, setting boundaries, and creating space for repair in relationships.

She also shares reflections on navigating emotional safety and the way our environments shape our well-being. At its core, this conversation is about paying attention to what drains you, what restores you, and learning how to manage both in a way that supports real growth.

takeaways

• Recognizing your energy levels is crucial for well-being.
• Not every relationship is worth your energy.
• Setting boundaries is essential for self-care.
• Healing begins with understanding what you need.
• Your energy is not limitless; manage it wisely.
• Family dynamics can be complex and challenging.
• Repairing relationships requires accountability and humility.
• You can love someone and still set boundaries.

Follow Giddy Up Pod: @gidddyyyup

Follow Marnie: ⁠⁠@marniebreed⁠

Thanks to our sponsors:

• ​This episode is sponsored by Bryan Pudney. If you’re interested in ⁠⁠living in Tofino⁠⁠, contact him at bpudney@rennie.com or shoot him a text at +1 778 558 2414.
• ​⁠⁠Picot Collective⁠⁠ is a west coast staple for daily essentials infused with signature scents. Use my code GIDDYUP10 for 10% off your purchase!
• Wanting to get back on track with your physique? Follow @surfstrongwithkat for tips and tricks to keep yourself in the best shape, in or out of the water!

chapters

(00:00) Welcome to Giddy Up: Embracing Vulnerability

(04:45) Navigating Emotional Drain and Family Dynamics

(13:30) Understanding Energy and Capacity

(22:47) Importance of Setting Boundaries

(27:29) Repairing Relationships: The Path to Healing

(33:55) Closing Thoughts & Advice

In this honest and wide-ranging convo, we cover it all. From early bullying and identity exploration to sexual fluidity, agency life in Toronto, moving west, finding healing in nature, and the ongoing journey of learning who you are after everything changes. This episode is for anyone who’s lost something, let go of someone, or is learning to feel more at home in their own story.

Dre Turner joins us to unpack what it means to live through loss, rewrite your story, and come out the other side still standing. Adopted as a baby and raised in Ottawa, Dre shares her early experiences navigating identity, trauma, and belonging, including a reunion with her birth mother many years later. We dive into the impact of her mother’s long battle with brain cancer, and the heartbreaking but empowering experience of supporting her through MAID (medical assistance in dying).

Dre reflects on the dark and challenging moments of caregiving, and how it ultimately deepened her understanding of what it means to show up for someone you love. We also explore the loving marriage she shared with her ex-husband . before deciding to seperate ways just shy of their four-year anniversary, Dre speaks candidly about how they consciously uncoupled with grace, respect, and enduring affection. Their marriage was full of adventure, and even as they grew apart, they managed to stay close.

Dre is in a season of reinvention, one that’s equal parts grief and lightness, solitude and community, and full permission to become someone entirely new.

Themes We Explore:

• Adoption, identity, and reunion
• Grief, MAID, and caregiving
• Loving and evolving through divorce
• Sexual fluidity and belonging
• Small town vs city life
• Reinvention and running toward your truth
• Healing, laughter, and letting go

Chapters

(00:00) Intro to Dre's Journey

(08:55) Navigating Adoption and Identity

(17:13) Career Path and Creative Evolution

(30:43) Amicable Divorce: Maintaining Friendship

(42:30) Exploring Her Sexuality

(44:33) Caring for a Dying Parent with Cancer

(53:08) Finding Meaning in Grief and Loss

(54:35) The Process of MAID

(01:04:50) The Grief Tour of Two Big Losses

(01:14:45) Reconnecting with Birth Family

(01:21:25) Rebuilding Life and Finding Joy

(01:27:41) Fun Round Up Questions

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• ​This episode is sponsored by Bryan Pudney. If you’re interested in ⁠⁠⁠⁠living in Tofino⁠⁠⁠⁠, contact him at bpudney@rennie.com or shoot him a text at +1 778 558 2414.

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠Picot Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a west coast staple for daily essentials infused with signature scents. Use my code GIDDYUP10 for 10% off your purchase!

Links:

Dre's Instagram: ⁠@dreturner

Dre's Newsletter: Words by Dre ⁠

Follow Spritz: @spritzsessions

Spritz Website: Here

Follow Marnie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@marniebreed

#16 This week's guest, Julie Smith, shares her profound journey from a strict conservative Christian upbringing to becoming a doula and prenatal educator. She discusses her experiences with adoption, trauma, substance abuse, teaching, as well as her journey towards recovery and self-discovery. Julie emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for open communication, and reflects on her experiences as a teacher and mother. The conversation touches on themes of identity, shame, and the complexities of intimacy and sexual health within the context of her upbringing.

Julie explores the complexities of intimacy, parenting, and personal growth through the lens of motherhood, disability, and trauma recovery. Sharing her journey from unexpected pregnancy to raising a child with health challenges, we delve into the role of doulas in childbirth, the sacredness of the birthing experience, and the impact of aging on identity. Julie reflects on the lessons learned from her children and the transformative power of overcoming adversity, navigating life's challenges, the importance of living in the present, and embracing emotions during difficult times.

We also reflect on the evolution of marriage, the significance of self-discovery, and the need for supportive communities, especially among women. Julie emphasizes the importance of doing inner child work, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and the beauty of chosen family connections. As she embraces her 50s, she expresses excitement for new beginnings and the importance of supporting one another in motherhood and personal growth.

This episode is for women everywhere, I am so inspired by this episode and hope you are too :)

Chapters

(08:30) Introduction to Julie & Growing Up

(19:20) Teenage Struggle to Substance Abuse

(33:25) Navigating Virginity, Intimacy, & Pregnancy!

(42:30) Positive Lessons & Gifts of Julie's Family

(53:10) The Role of a Doula and Advocacy in Childbirth

(101:42) Near Death Brain Injury - Snowboarding in BC

(1:15:00) Rapid Fire Round Up Questions :)

(1:26:39) Exploring Her Biological Lineage

(1:32:33) Wrap Up & What's Next For Julie

Links:

Julie's Instagram: @juliekennedysmith

Julie's Link Page: Julie Doula & Birth

Follow Marnie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@marniebreed

Hope The Documentary⁠⁠

Stay at The Shoreline

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• ​This episode is sponsored by Bryan Pudney. If you’re interested in ⁠⁠⁠living in Tofino⁠⁠⁠, contact him at bpudney@rennie.com or shoot him a text at +1 778 558 2414.
• ​⁠⁠⁠Picot Collective⁠⁠⁠ is a west coast staple for daily essentials infused with signature scents. Use my code GIDDYUP10 for 10% off your purchase!