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.

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 ripples—the lasting impact our words, actions, and relationships can have on the people around us. Sometimes it's something seemingly insignificant that sticks with you for decades. Other times, it's an act of kindness someone may not even remember that becomes part of your story. We share some of the negative and positive moments we've carried with us and talk about what we're trying to teach our kids about how the things they say today could become someone else's internal voice years from now.

We also look at the much bigger ripples created within families. Julie shares how her dad's behavior during her childhood didn't stop affecting her when she grew up—it shaped memories, relationships, the way she handles conflict, and ultimately the kind of parent she wants to be. Ryann reflects on how the reactions he received during some of the biggest moments of his life still influence him today. Together, we talk about the things we've unintentionally carried forward from our own childhoods and the cycles we're consciously trying to change for our kids.

But creating better ripples doesn't mean being perfect. We yell, we lose our patience, we say the wrong thing, and we f*ck up just like everyone else. What matters is recognizing when you've hurt someone, taking responsibility, apologizing, repairing the relationship, and trying to do better the next time. We talk about giving our kids space after conflict, setting healthy boundaries, and one of the biggest lessons we hope they carry with them: leave people better than you found them.

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 college—what we thought we were supposed to do after high school, how we chose our majors and career paths, and what we wish we'd understood before making such a huge decision at 18. We look back at the very different expectations we grew up with, from having college paid for to figuring out scholarships, Pell Grants, and student loans on our own. We also talk about the pressure to have everything figured out, our assumptions about community college, and why we both felt like going straight to a four-year university was simply what came next.

We also share how much our actual careers have changed from the ones we imagined in college. Between accounting, medicine, teaching, mass media, IT, trade school, entrepreneurship, and several career changes along the way, neither of our lives looks exactly like what we planned when we picked a major. We talk about why getting real-world experience can be just as important as choosing a degree, the careers we didn't even know existed when we were younger, and how changing majors or taking extra time in college becomes a much bigger decision when every additional class costs money. We also get into student loan debt, whether our degrees actually prepared us for the workforce, and the opportunities we might have approached differently knowing what we know now.

Finally, we talk about what all of this means for our own kids. We don't regret going to college, but we also don't want them growing up believing a traditional four-year degree is the only path to a successful life. Whether they choose college, community college, trade school, entrepreneurship, or something completely different, we want them to explore their options, understand the financial reality of their choices, and know that they don't have to figure out the rest of their lives at 18. Most importantly, we want them to know that it's okay to try things, change direction, and build a life that looks different from the one they originally imagined—because college can be a great choice, but it's just not the only one.

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