In this episode, we're talking about friendship—how easy it seemed as kids, why it gets so much harder as adults, and what we've learned after decades of friendships that lasted, faded away, or ended unexpectedly. We look back on growing up in very different environments, from rural schools and small-town friend groups to suburban neighborhoods filled with kids, and share how those early experiences shaped the way we build relationships today.

We also open up about losing childhood and college friends, navigating friendships through marriage, parenthood, coming out, and transitioning, and how our definition of friendship has changed over the years. We discuss why some friendships naturally drift apart while others end because of differences in values, including experiences with homophobia and transphobia. Along the way, we talk about insecurity, comparison, communication, setting healthy boundaries, and the importance of finding people who genuinely show up for you.

Finally, we share the advice we hope our kids carry with them: friendships require effort, honesty, and mutual respect, but it's also okay to let relationships go when they're no longer healthy. Whether you're struggling to make friends as an adult, grieving a friendship that's changed, or trying to build a stronger community around you, this episode is a reminder that meaningful friendships aren't about quantity—they're about finding people who choose to keep showing up.

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 episode, we're talking about something that affects so many people but still carries a surprising amount of stigma: therapy. After receiving a listener request, we share our personal experiences with therapy, what we expected before we ever walked into an office, and how finding the right therapist can be a lot harder than people realize. From therapists who spent more time talking about themselves than helping us to the ones who genuinely challenged our thinking, we discuss what has—and hasn't—worked for us.

We also open up about why we each sought therapy in the first place. Julie shares her experience searching for answers while questioning her sexuality, while Ryann talks about finding an LGBTQ+-affirming therapist during the process of pursuing top surgery and navigating gender identity. Along the way, we discuss why therapy isn't about someone telling you what to do, but helping you ask better questions, recognize unhealthy thought patterns, and work through life's biggest challenges.

The conversation also turns to parenting and why we've chosen to normalize therapy for our own kids. We talk about childhood anxiety, ADHD, raising emotionally healthy children, and why we hope our kids will always see therapy as just another part of taking care of themselves—no different than going to the doctor or dentist. Whether you've been in therapy for years or you're still trying to find the courage to make that first appointment, this episode is an honest conversation about mental health, finding the right fit, and giving yourself permission to ask for help.

*Content Note: This episode contains discussions of mental health, anxiety, ADHD, depression, gender dysphoria, LGBTQ+ identity, gender transition, family relationships, and therapy experiences. We share our personal experiences only and are not mental health professionals.

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 episode, we're taking a walk down memory lane and sharing some of our wildest (and occasionally questionable) experiences with drugs, alcohol, college parties, and growing up. From first cigarettes and first drinks to college partying, bad decisions, near misses, and the lessons we learned along the way, this is one of our most honest conversations yet.

We talk about our very different experiences with alcohol and marijuana, including Ryann's college party days, sorority life, smoking weed for the first time, and some moments that could have gone very differently if luck—and a few good people—hadn't stepped in. We also share stories about peer pressure, drinking culture, making risky decisions, and how growing older has completely changed our perspective on what fun looks like.

Julie opens up about some of her first experiences with drinking, including situations where friends helped protect her when she was too intoxicated to make safe decisions for herself. Together, we discuss the importance of looking out for each other, trusting your instincts, and knowing when it's time to leave a situation that doesn't feel right.

We also talk about our experiences trying marijuana, edible horror stories, paranoia, why cannabis affects people so differently, and the surprising realization that neither of us are particularly interested in partying anymore. These days, we'd rather spend time camping, hiking, traveling, or relaxing with friends than recovering from a hangover.

Most importantly, this episode isn't about glorifying drugs or alcohol. It's about sharing real-life experiences, talking honestly about mistakes, and discussing the lessons we'd want our own kids to take away someday. If you've ever looked back on your younger years and wondered how you survived them, you'll probably relate to this conversation.

*Content Note: This episode contains discussions about alcohol use, marijuana use, underage drinking, college party culture, intoxication, addiction, drinking and driving, and situations involving sexual vulnerability. Listener discretion is advised.

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