The Stories We Leave You

In this first episode of The Stories We Leave You, Julie and Ryann introduce themselves, their family, and the real reason this podcast exists. From raising four kids in a loud, chaotic household to navigating identity, transition, and parenting in real time, this episode sets the foundation for the honest, unfiltered storytelling to come. What started as a way to leave behind stories for their children quickly evolves into something bigger — a space to share the messy, complicated, and deeply human moments that shape who we are.

They open up about what it’s like to go from being a two-mom household to a mom-and-dad family after Ryann’s transition, and the very real, very raw conversations that came with it — including questions from their kids about identity, labels, and what it all means. This episode dives into LGBTQ+ parenting, gender identity, sexuality, and the pressure to “have answers,” while embracing the reality that sometimes… you just don’t. It’s honest, funny, and at times deeply vulnerable, especially as they unpack how kids process big life changes with surprising simplicity compared to adults.

Julie and Ryann also get into the realities of family planning as an LGBTQ+ couple — from misconceptions about IVF to navigating sperm donation, finances, and the lack of accessible information when they were starting out. They talk about the decisions they made, what they learned along the way, and why sharing these experiences matters for other families trying to figure it out too. This episode is a mix of laughter, chaos, and meaningful conversation — the kind that makes you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

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.

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. https://juliebeckllc.com/

Welcome to The Stories We Leave You — a storytelling podcast about queer parenting, coming out, transition, trauma, love, marriage, money, and the messy, heartbreaking, healing moments that shape a life.

This started as a simple idea: record our stories for our kids, so they’d always know who we were, what we lived through, and how the hell we got here. But we realized our kids aren’t the only ones who might need these conversations.

So we’re saying the quiet parts out loud — with humor, honesty, and zero perfection. We’re not experts. We’re not here to teach you how to live your life. We’re just two parents with a whole lot of stories, sharing universal human experiences through an LGBTQ+ lens.

If you’ve ever felt alone in your identity, your family, your marriage, your parenting, or your past… you’re in the right place.

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The Stories We Leave You — for our kids, our community, and anyone who needs to hear: you’re not alone.