Marlowe Lenard sits down with Julie Barth, an author and the founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach. Julie shares how she accidentally became a writer when she needed to get thoughts out of her head, and years later, decided to publish those writings. She also discusses her husband's diagnosis with stage four pancreatic cancer and raising a family of six children, including a special needs daughter and an artist! Episode 18 showcases the transformative power of storytelling in the face of adversity, resilience, and love.

Julie’s first book, Notes from a Blackberry, serves as a love story intertwined with themes of loss, courage, and resilience. It chronicles her experiences as a caregiver and a mother navigating the challenges of raising a special needs child while dealing with the grief of losing her husband. 

Her second book, Blackberries to Thorns, continues this narrative, focusing on her experiences in a subsequent abusive relationship. This book shifts the perspective from being a passive recipient of circumstances to actively confronting the choices she made and the impact they had on her life and her children. Julie emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s agency in difficult situations and the need to advocate for oneself and others. 

Julie Barth’s story is a powerful reminder of the healing potential of writing and the importance of community support in overcoming adversity. She is an advocate for women’s rights and the controlling nature of many marital laws in South Carolina. Additionally, Julie’s work with the Colin James Barth Outreach Foundation and with counseling and coaching women who are in abusive relationships, Julie finds her unique ways to make an impact and remove the stigma of emotional abuse. 

This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.