"I Really Thought It Was a Sex Toy" | LGBTQ+ Marriage, Double Weddings & Chosen Family

"I Really Thought It Was a Sex Toy" | LGBTQ+ Marriage, Double Weddings & Chosen Family

In this episode, we’re telling the story of our two weddings—and why we ended up having both. Long before marriage equality became the law of the land, we found ourselves navigating proposals, wedding planning, legal roadblocks, family opinions, and figuring out what marriage actually meant to us. What started as a conversation after a baby shower eventually led to not one proposal, but two, and two very different wedding days. We share the story of Ryann’s proposal that almost involved room service (but definitely involved Julie mistaking an engagement ring for something entirely different), followed by Julie’s surprise proposal at their St. Louis wedding venue. We talk about why getting legally married in New York mattered at a time when same-sex marriage wasn't recognized everywhere, what it was like having a private City Hall ceremony, and the complicated emotions that came with asking family members to support a wedding some weren't willing to witness. We also dive into our Cinco de Mayo wedding celebration in St. Louis—the wedding we often think of as our "real" wedding. From having our donor officiate the ceremony and including traditions from both families to dancing the night away with friends and loved ones, it was one of the happiest days of our lives. We share funny memories, wedding mishaps, and the reality that after both weddings we were far more interested in sleep than any romantic movie ending. But like many LGBTQ+ wedding stories from that era, there was heartbreak mixed in with the joy. We talk about the family members and friends who chose not to attend because of religious beliefs, the relationships that changed forever, and what those experiences taught us about love, support, and acceptance. Looking back more than a decade later, we reflect on the people who showed up, the people who didn’t, and why both weddings still mean so much to us today. Whether you're planning a wedding, navigating family relationships, reflecting on the history of marriage equality, or simply love a good relationship story, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the best love stories don't follow a traditional path. We want to give credit to our wedding favorites! * Wedding cake from The Cakery Bakery [https://thecakerybakery.net/] * Our New York wedding photography Kamila Harris [https://kamilaharris.com/] New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestoriesweleaveyou/] 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 [https://juliebeckllc.com/]

"Something Gay Is Happening Over There" | How a Camping Trip Became 18 Years of LGBTQ+ Found Family

In this episode, we're talking about one of the most meaningful traditions in our lives: Pride Float. What started nearly 20 years ago as a random camping trip turned into lifelong friendships, chosen family, and a community that has supported us through some of the biggest moments of our lives. From spotting rainbow flags across a campground creek to becoming part of an annual LGBTQ+ tradition, we're sharing the story of how Pride Float became so much more than a weekend event. We take a trip down memory lane and talk about the early days of Pride Float—the crowded campsites, themed weekends, drag shows, river floats, campfire conversations, and the friendships that formed along the way. Over the years, we've watched people come and go, relationships begin and end, marriages happen, babies arrive, and entire lives change. What started as a once-a-year gathering eventually grew into a close-knit group of friends who became part of each other's everyday lives. We also talk about the importance of finding your people, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Having a space where you can fully be yourself without explanation is something we never take for granted. Whether it was navigating coming out, raising kids, transitioning, building relationships, or simply existing without having to filter who we are, this community has been there through it all. For Ryann, Pride Float also became a place where he felt fully accepted and supported during his transition, surrounded by friends who already knew and loved him. Today, Pride Float looks very different than it did when we first started going. The all-night parties have turned into camp chairs, shared meals, meaningful conversations, and reconnecting with the people who matter most. But the heart of it hasn't changed. It's still about friendship, belonging, community, and having a place where you can show up exactly as you are. If you’re interested in Pridefloat, check it out here [https://www.pridefloat.net/]. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestoriesweleaveyou/] 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 [https://juliebeckllc.com/]

“Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater?" | Breakups, Jealousy & Finding Our Way Back

In this episode, we finish the story of how we got together—and honestly, it’s a miracle we made it. After breaking up, moving to different cities, dating other people, making questionable decisions, and repeatedly finding our way back to each other, we finally share the messy middle of our love story. This is the chapter where long-distance, jealousy, bad timing, and a whole lot of emotional confusion collide. We talk about what happened after Ryann moved to St. Louis, why staying friends after a breakup was way more complicated than we expected, and the relationships we both explored while trying to figure out who we were and what we wanted. From Pride hookups and dating apps to awkward dinners, jealousy, heartbreak, and setting boundaries, this episode is a raw look at how complicated love can be when you're still figuring yourself out. We also reflect on the lessons we've learned about commitment, communication, emotional infidelity, cheating, forgiveness, and why relationships aren't nearly as black and white as people like to pretend they are. Looking back nearly 20 years later, we're the first to admit that if someone told us this story today, we'd probably tell them to run. Somehow, despite all the red flags, confusion, and chaos, we found our way back to each other and built the life we have today. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestoriesweleaveyou/] 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 [https://juliebeckllc.com/]

"Married Shmaried" | Falling for a Married Woman, Coming Out & Our Rocky Beginning

In this episode, we’re finally telling the full story of how we got together—and spoiler alert: it was messy. What started as a friendship through a summer job turned into flirting, late-night conversations, complicated feelings, and a relationship that definitely didn’t take the easy road. We take you back to 2006 and 2007, when we first met working at summer camp, became friends, and eventually found ourselves developing feelings for each other under less-than-ideal circumstances. We talk honestly about navigating attraction, coming out, marriage, divorce, guilt, heartbreak, and all the bad decisions we made along the way. If you've ever looked back at your younger self and thought, "What the hell was I doing?" this episode will probably feel familiar. We also dive into the reality of ending a long-term relationship, grieving a marriage even when you know it's the right decision, and the complicated emotions that come with discovering your identity later than expected. From awkward first dates and emotional conversations to breakups, moving away, and questioning everything, this is the beginning of a love story that almost didn't survive its first chapter. This episode is part one of our relationship origin story—a raw, honest look at how two very imperfect people somehow found their way to each other. There are plenty of laughs, a little cringe, and more than a few moments where we wonder how we're still together nearly twenty years later. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestoriesweleaveyou/] 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 [https://juliebeckllc.com/]

"Sad Little Pancakes" | Big Boobs, Breastfeeding & Body Image at Every Size

In this episode, we’re talking about boobs—loving them, hating them, feeding babies with them, and in Ryann’s case, getting rid of them altogether. What starts as a funny conversation about aging bodies and “sad little pancake boobs” quickly turns into a deeper discussion about breastfeeding struggles, body image, gender dysphoria, and the complicated relationships we can have with our bodies. Julie opens up about her experiences trying to breastfeed all four of their children, the emotional toll of pumping for years, postpartum struggles, tongue ties, feeding specialists, formula guilt, and donating breast milk to other families. The conversation explores the pressure many parents feel around infant feeding and the reality that sometimes the “natural” thing doesn’t come naturally at all. Ryann shares what it was like growing up with an extremely large chest, the physical pain and limitations that came with it, and the journey from wanting a breast reduction to ultimately realizing top surgery was the right decision. Together, they discuss body image, gender identity, chest dysphoria, breast reduction versus top surgery, and how differently people can feel about the same body part. This episode is funny, honest, emotional, and surprisingly relatable—whether you’ve breastfed, formula fed, struggled with body image, considered surgery, or just have complicated feelings about your own body. It’s a conversation about expectations, identity, and learning to make peace with the body you’re living in. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thestoriesweleaveyou/] 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 [https://juliebeckllc.com/]