The Family Ties Podcast - True Crime Podcast Series

Send us a textIn this powerful episode, we uncover the devastating story of Zoe McCue, a 10-year-old girl from Loganville, Georgia, whose life ended in tragedy on Easter Sunday 2022. What started as a house fire quickly revealed a horrifying pattern of abuse, neglect, and isolation that Zoe had endured for years.As we piece together the details of Zoe's short life, we expose the warning signs that went unheeded and the failures of the system meant to protect her. This episode will take you through the shocking revelations that emerged in the aftermath of the fire and shed light on the haunting realities of child abuse hidden behind closed doors. Listen now to hear Zoe's story and to understand the urgent need to protect vulnerable children like her from a cycle of terror and neglect.Support the showMarketing & SEO by GrowthIQ Digital

Send us a textIn this true crime podcast episode, Kelley interviews Brea Glosson, a childhood friend of Tyler McMillan, a 13-year old boy from Macclesfield, North Carolina, who was abused by his parents, tied to a tree, and subsequently died 2 days later. They discuss her memories of Tyler, their involvement in a homeschool group, and the circumstances around his murder. Brea provides a great perspective not only on Tyler's memory, but on homeschooling and the laws that exist, and the laws that are needed to protect children.Support the showMarketing & SEO by GrowthIQ Digital

Send us a textIn this episode, we delve into the tragic story of Tyler Gene McMillan, a young boy from North Carolina whose life was cut short in 2008 under shocking circumstances. Tyler's death raised questions about discipline, abuse, and the responsibility of those meant to protect him. Found restrained and exposed to the elements, Tyler's final moments were heartbreaking and disturbing.Join us as we examine the case details, the investigation that followed, and the role Tyler's own father and stepmother played in his untimely death. We'll discuss how the justice system handled the case, the unsettling details of Tyler's mistreatment, and the broader societal issues it underscores. This episode serves as both a remembrance of Tyler's life and a call to reflect on how we protect society's most vulnerable.Support the showMarketing & SEO by GrowthIQ Digital

In this episode of the Family Ties Podcast, we explore the heartbreaking case of 20-month-old Quinton Simon, who went missing from his home in Savannah, Georgia on October 5, 2022. The police found Quinton's remains almost two months after he first went missing, and on November 28, the FBI confirmed that the remains belonged to Quinton. Leilani Simon, Quinton's own mother has been charged with the murder of her missing toddler, among a host of other charges. The case is ongoing, and further updates will be shared as they become available. Tune in to this episode to learn more about the case and the state of children's rights in America.Support the show

After spending a freezing night locked in the garage, 8-year-old, Thomas Valva died of hypothermia on January 17th 0f 2020. Despite being remembered by those at his school as a “tender, loving boy who made tremendous gains” during his time as a student, this sweet child's life was intentionally ended by the two people meant to take care of him. Help keep his memory alive by learning about Thomas' story and sharing it with a friend.https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/the-thomas-valva-case/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_loKu_5Rc04Support the show

Part two of today's episode was recommended by a viewer and is an extremely upsetting case. In this episode, we discuss the torture, abuse, and murder of seven-year-old, Adrian Jones. After he was killed, his father and stepmother fed his emaciated corpse to pigs as a means of getting rid of the evidence. Law enforcement also referred to this case as the worst case they had ever had to work. Let's remember little Adrian and learn how we can do better for kids going forward.Support the show

This week, Kelley talks with the incredible woman behind the Child Welfare Monitor blog, Marie Cohen, about how Child Welfare needs to change and put children first. With Marie's wealth of knowledge on the topic of social services and child welfare, they discuss the state of the welfare system in the U.S. and uncover some little-known facts about how the system operates.Support the show

Today's episode was recommended by a viewer and is an extremely upsetting case. In this episode, we discuss the torture, abuse, and murder of seven-year-old, Adrian Jones. After he was killed, his father and stepmother fed his emaciated corpse to pigs as a means of getting rid of the evidence. Law enforcement also referred to this case as the worst case they had ever had to work. Let's remember little Adrian and learn how we can do better for kids going forward.Support the show

On July 10, 2020, Howard Jansen III and his girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick reported Howard's 3-year-old daughter, Olivia as missing. Olivia's bruise-covered body was found in a shallow grave only 9 hours after she was reported missing. Her tragic murder was prefaced by physical abuse at the hands of those who were meant to love and care for her.Support the show

The day has finally come for me to cover a case from my home state of Kentucky. On Sunday, February 6th of 2022, Catherine McKinney, mother of 4-year old Serenity McKinney was arrested along with her boyfriend, Dakota Hill in Kansas. No one has physically seen little Serenity since Christmas Eve of 2020. This case is new and fresh details will probably be released after this episode airs, so keep that in mind in case you've heard something that differs from today's telling.Support the show

In this episode, we will discuss the disappearance and murder of 11-month-old baby Mercedes Lain who was reported missing by her father, Kenneth Lain and her mother, Tiffany Coburn in August of 2021. Mercedes' dead body was found in the depths of the woods in Starke County, Indiana. This case has lots of twists and turns, with more than one victim (we'll get into that a bit later) and more than one person that can be held responsible for the death of this precious baby.Support the show

This week's episode, The Family Ties covers the murder of Kendrick Lee and the story from his surviving siblings. The news about this case just came to light in late October 2021, and the details are still coming out. Kendrick's 15-year-old brother made a call to police in October to report that he and his siblings had been abandoned and living in an apartment with the corpse of their younger brother since Thanksgiving of last year.Support the show

In today's True Crime Podcast Episode, we discuss a case suggested by one of our listeners.The Family Ties Podcast brings you the case of 4-year-old, Dominick Calhoun, who died April 12, 2010, after having been beaten and tortured for days by his mother's boyfriend for having wet his pants while on their couch.Support the show

In this episode, Kelley is invited by the Jefferson Humanist Group to present on the subject of homeschooling for their organization. Kelley breaks down the history of homeschooling in the U.S. while discussing the pros and cons of this institution. With intent and purpose, she takes them on a journey through the good, the bad, and leaves them with her own hopes for the future of homeschooling.Support the show

Check out our latest episode, where we discuss the case of Rick Roeber, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, a "man of God", a recovering alcoholic, and a long-distance runner.In April of 2020, Roeber was accused of physically, emotionally, and sexually abusing his 4 children and was subsequently expelled from the House of Representatives.Learn about the case and other details as we explore this tragic case and give a voice to his 4 children.Support the show

In this true crime podcast episode, we discuss the tragic case of Maxwell Schollenberger who was neglected, tortured, and murdered by his father Scott Schollenberger, and his father's fiancee, Kimberly Mauer."Around noon on May 26, 2020, police in Annville, Pennsylvania discovered the emaciated body of 12-year-old Maxwell Schollenberger in his family's home at 30 South White Oak Street. Max was found naked and smeared with feces, slumped across a filthy bed in a bedroom with feces caked on every surface. The human waste covering the room was so old, it had begun to grow mold. The bedroom in which he was held captive had no lights, and the shades covering the windows had been secured closed with duct tape. The bedroom door was locked from the outside with three metal hooks, and the windows were secured shut with screws. "Throughout this episode, we discuss the case and advocate for justice, law reform, and awareness to end child abuse and neglect. Sit back, listen, and join the family!Learn more about this case here: https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/the-maxwell-schollenberger-case/Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/aMm56YfCFJoSupport the show

This week, we discuss the case of Orson West & Orrin West, two brothers who were reported missing on Monday, December 21 by their adoptive parents, Trezell West & Jaqueline West. Throughout the video, we discuss what we know so far about the case, the mystery surrounding the two boys' disappearance, and information from neighbors and the FBI.Support the show

In this week's true crime episode, we cover the tragic case of Trinity Love Jones, a 9-year old girl, who was brutally murdered and found dead inside a duffel bag with severe injuries head-to-toe.Throughout the episode, we discuss how Trinity Jones was abused, neglected, and subsequently murdered by Taquesta Graham and Emiel Hunt,  who have both been charged with murder and torture by the California Supreme Court.We want to discuss and share this case openly to bring attention to the tragic death of Trinity Love Jones and to all the other children who are the victims of neglect, violence, and crime.Support the show

This week on The Family Ties, Kelley and Julia sit down for an interview with Alicia Davis. Alicia is the mother of 12-year-old James "Alex" Hurley, who was tortured and murdered by his grandparents, James Sasser, Jr. and Patricia Batts, and their 14-year-old son, J.S.Kelley and Julia ask deep and serious questions to learn more about this James Hurley, the events that led up to his murder, and how homeschooled children oftentimes become victims of neglect, abuse, and violence before law enforcement can and should step in.Don't miss this true-crime podcast episode!Support the show

 In this week's episode, Julia and Kelley cover the very recent and horrific abuse, torture, and murder of 12-year-old James Alex Hurley. They discuss the events leading up to Alex's death at the hands of his grandma, step-grandpa, uncle, and aunt in Montana, and the status of the ongoing trials related to this case.  Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

In this true crime podcast episode, The Family Ties explores the Raylee Jolynn Browning Case. In the first part of this episode, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery discuss Raylee Browning's back story of being a victim of sexual abuse, physical abuse, starvation, and subsequent murder. Next, the two sisters discuss who murdered and abused Raylee and the outcome of the murder trial and case. Finally, the sisters discuss Raylee's Law, a new homeschool law currently going through the Supreme Court in West Virginia, and why it's important for people to take action and urge policy-makers to pass this law.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley takes on hosting this episode solo, while Julia takes a couple of much needed weeks to recoup from work. Kelley shares her research on where the United States currently stands statistically in regards to child abuse and child mortality. Not only does she discuss the immediate costs of child abuse for society, but the study on the long term results of it on more than just the individual. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Kelley and Julia share their research into Oregon Child Protective Services after covering the tragic case of the Hart family deaths in last week's episode. They try to get to the bottom of why CPS is failing children in Oregon and what the possible solutions could be to fix their long-standing history of ineptitude to protect, while children have been dying or remain in dangerous home situations. Some of the details the sisters unearth are disturbing, shocking, and reveal a system riddled with problems, so tune in to hear how the one system in place to protect our children is failing our most vulnerable.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Kelley and Julia tell the tragic story of the Hart family murders. They discuss how moms, Jennifer, and Sarah Hart carefully constructed an image of a progressive and loving family, all while starving, beating, and abusing all six of their adopted children. Jennifer eventually kills the entire family by intentionally driving them off of a cliff, but that is just one of the many twists and turns this story takes, so tune in to hear a detailed timeline of events that lead to the ultimate breakdown and tragedy. Once again, a common thread that ties all of these homeschooling tragedies together is the role that Child Protective Services continues to play and how they continue to drop the ball and fail children across the United States. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Kelley and Julia are thrilled to interview Bradley Onishi from the Straight White American Jesus podcast. They discuss homeschooling, purity culture, and the Quiverfull movement, as well as the social and political effects of Evangelical patriarchy on women and minorities.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Kelley and Julia interview Rachel Coleman, the founder of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education. They discuss the early history of homeschooling in the United States, children's rights, HSLDA's impact on children's wellbeing, the evangelical move to homeschool, and what polarized the evangelical movement to distrust public schools and the advent of modern-day homeschooling. Rachel shares her insight, research, and findings on homeschooling and what the Coalition was created to accomplish.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Julia and Kelley share their past experiences being indoctrinated into the belief of Creationism, and the denial of any science that could not be backed up by scripture. They discuss the severe gap in science being taught in Evangelical homeschool environments and how these beliefs shaped their worldview. Kelley and Julia give an account of how they overcame the denial of science, their own mental "evolution", and how they have been catching up on the scientific theories they were sheltered from growing up. Fact is proving to be more exciting than the fiction they were raised to believe.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley and Julia dig into the tragic case of Joseph Hall, who killed his father at the age of 10 years old. They discuss how years of sexual and physical abuse, neglect, his father's Nazi activities, and a violent upbringing all lead to the murder. Joseph suffered from learning disabilities and behavioral problems that got him kicked out of numerous schools, which resulted in his father deciding to teach him at home despite the fact that he himself had never finished 11 grade. In addition, social services were called on Joseph's parents 23 times and no action was ever taken to remove him from a dangerous and abusive home environment. The sisters discuss what there is to be learned from this case and shed light on the ever present danger children face when no one, even the law, will protect them.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery share what they have learned about the Electoral College, its origins, issues, and what the people generally think of it. They discuss whether or not this system is helping or hindering our election process as well as their personal views of it.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Julia and Kelley take a break from discussing the heavy topics they have been covering in recent weeks and discuss movie, TV, book, and podcast recommendations. Kelley's trademark phrase, "Do yourself a favor" is the title they decide on when discussing the sources of entertainment that have them excited and ready to share with "The Family".Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Julia and Kelley close out their discussion on mass incarceration by highlighting some solutions that would go a long way towards driving prison and jail populations down. They bring to light some studied solutions and add their own suggestions and opinions on the proven methods uncovered during their discussion. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Kelley and Julia discuss how America grew to hold 22% of the entire world's prison population, despite only comprising 4% of the world's population. They track the imprisonment rates that rose 700% in the 90's, despite the fact that during the time prison rates were climbing, crime rates were falling. What are the cold hard facts about incarceration and how does the U.S. view the criminal justice system, and why are we not focused on more prisoner rehabilitation instead of mass, long-term incarceration and recidivism? These are questions that Julia and Kelley try to find the answers for in this packed episode.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

In this episode, Kelley and Julia continue their discussion on race and the power structures that keep the United States gridlocked and in constant clashes with authority.  The sisters break down the defining traits of systemic oppression of people of color while coming to terms with the fact that they have also unknowingly been benefiting from these structures, and sharing their research on how everyone can start pushing back against these rigged and archaic power structures. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Julia and Kelley discuss Police Reform, BLM, and views on the Defund the Police movement. While heavily referencing John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episode that was solely about the Police, as well as Bernie Sander's past and recent comments, they attempt to break down a difficult topic. The sisters share their research on Police Unions and ideas for Reform during this packed episode.  Support the show

This week, Julia and Kelley discuss current issues involving white privilege, law enforcement and systemic white power structures. George Floyd's recent death among many other non-white American's at the hands of Law Enforcement have direct correlations with how the white majority has manipulated and rigged the system to benefit whiteness. Julia and Kelley dig deep and face-up to many of the unearned privileges this system has provided them without their explicit knowledge. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week Julia and Kelley spend some time discussing child abuse, social services, rights of parents, the lack of children's rights, and just a few of the ways that the system is failing children all across the United States. The sisters delve deep into the laws and bureaucracy that seems to side with the parents and has a vested interest in keeping "the family unit" in tact without any substantive proof that the safety and well-being of the child is being looked after.  Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery delve into the tragic story of Christiana Glenn; a horrific tale involving unchecked parental abuse, cult activity, and homicide. Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery discuss the disparagement between upper and lower classes, corporate and societal greed, flawed government and financial systems, and human nature. If you were asked which American Economic Class (social class) you fell under, would you provide the right answer? Surprisingly, based upon a study conducted by Gallup, Americans often misassign themselves to their actual social class. This is largely due to the fact that “social class” has not been well defined. The factors in how Americans determine their social class may vary. Perception of status can be influenced by additional factors such as income, online real estate education, location, and family history.Decades of economic policies that favor Wall Street and corporate CEOs have created an economy that is dangerously out of balance. Corporate executives continue to line their pockets with our labor and ensure the rules are written to favor them. Kelley and Julia discuss two movies where the issues discussed in this episode are told effectively and challenge us to look closer at the economic and class structures in place around the globe: The Platform and Parasite. “The Platform,” a Spanish film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, is set in a large, tower-style "Vertical Self-Management Center" where the residents, who are periodically switched at random between its many floors, are fed by a platform, initially filled with food, that gradually descends through the levels. It is a system bound to cause conflict, as the residents at the top levels can eat as much as they can, leaving increasingly little for those below.“Parasite,” a South Korean film directed by Bong Joon-ho, follows the members of a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery delve into the specifics of loneliness, its effects on mental and physical health, Kodokushi, and the importance of community. This episode is Part 1 of 2 episodes that addresses the current loneliness pandemic and the health risks associated. Part 2 will be focused on identifying creative solutions. Quarantine's Impact On CommunityBefore the pandemic, what was the true quality of our social interactions? It appeared as though society was adopting the homebody and binge culture. However, after being instructed to stay at home to prevent spreading the virus, suddenly everyone seemed to crave social interactions and to be outdoors. In a way, social distancing was kind of a thing before this pandemic. Hopefully, quarantining has made most of us realize how important our relationships and other people's involvement in our lives are.  Loneliness and Its Effects on Mental Health"Human beings are social creatures. Our connection to others enables us to survive and thrive.” According to The National Institute on Aging, “Social isolation and loneliness do not always go together. About 28 percent of older adults in the United States, or 13.8 million people, live alone, according to a report by the Administration for Community Living's Administration on Aging of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but many of them are not lonely or socially isolated. At the same time, some people feel lonely despite being surrounded by family and friends.”To be more specific, social isolation is the physical objective separation from other people while loneliness is the distressed feeling of being alone and separated. Health Risks Associated with LonelinessResearch from The Cacioppo Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness predicts that “loneliness automatically triggers a set of related behavioral and biological processes that contribute to the association between loneliness and premature death in people of all ages.” According to Steve Cole, Ph.D.'s research, the feeling of chronic loneliness causes the individual to feel threatened and distrustful of others which activates a biological defense mechanism. Losing a sense of community changes a person's perspective of the world. “Loneliness is an important worldwide public health concern affecting people of all cultures and ages, with prevalence rates predicted increase to “epidemic”levels in the future (Gerst-Emerson and Jayawardhana 2015).”Researchers found that loneliness increased mortality by 26%. The effects of loneliness are linked to smoking, obesity, elevated blood pressure, heart disease, increased hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical activity, adverse effects on cognitive performance, the progression of Alzheimer's disease, diminished executive functioning, and impaired sleep. Loneliness also has serious consequences for mental health and well-being, consistently emerging as a significant risk factor for depression, suicidal ideation and behavior. In addition, it has been associated with  alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Kodokushi and Japan's Battle with LonelinessThe Impact of Loneliness on Older PeopleHow Technology Can Solve the Problem of LonelinessDepictions of Loneliness in MoviesThe Mental Health Stigma in AmericaSupport the show

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery discuss the benefits of community and how to build your own in order to combat loneliness. This episode is Part 2 of 2 episodes that identifies creative solutions to the current loneliness pandemic as discussed in Episode 4: The Loneliness Pandemic Part 1.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

This week, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the differences between Free Market System and Capitalism, and the importance of upholding personal values.Support the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

Cinema Verite: In this week's episode, Kelley and Julia discuss their top two movies that could be their biopics, also delving into the darkness of mental health when untreated in relation to childhood trauma. Kelley's PicksThe Wolfpack: is a documentary film about homeschooled siblings, the Angulos,  who are locked inside their Manhattan apartment and held hostage from the outside world by their father. They found the escape they needed from their reality through watching and re-enacting their favorite movies. Kelley has specific memories of her and her siblings using the same coping mechanism as the Angulo siblings; reenacting movies to escape from reality. Similar to Kelley's homeschooling experience, it did not seem as though the Angulos had a real school structure. As a result of her similar experience, Kelley has a blog dedicated to evaluating homeschooling from an analytical perspective. It is evident that isolation has an effect on socialization and is the reason the bonds between the Angulo siblings were so strong. Play acting was a way for them to pass the time and bond with each other. This coping technique was their attempt at controlling their environment through a pretend reality. The Babadook: is about a single mother, distraught over her husband's death, with a son who begins to fear a monster that is in the house. She soon discovers the Babadook for herself and can't escape it. Kelley found herself emotionally drained at the end because she realized the mom in the movie was her mom. The mom allowed the idea of the Babadook to manifest. The Babadook represents the mental illness manifesting in hers and her son's life. You can't get rid of the Babadook. Kelley's mom was just as good at creating fear. She would allow the kids to read adult, Frank Peretti books about demons fighting souls that proved to be terrifying for the kids. Even with companionship with other siblings, they were always fearful to sleep. Feared what was under the bed, closets, in the shower, cabinet, any hiding space. Julia's PicksTangled: is a Disney animation of a classic tale. Beautiful princess Rapunzel was kidnapped as a baby and trapped in a tower by Gothel. Her magical long blonde hair has the power to provide eternal youth, and the evil Gothel uses this power to keep her young. At the age of 18, Rapunzel becomes curious about the outside world, and when a prince uses her tower as a refuge, she asks him to help her escape. Julia found that the manipulation techniques used by Gothel were similar to her mom's. Like Julia's mom, Gothel made the things that Rapunzel wanted to do come across as a personal attack, using Gas lighting. Carrie: is about a quiet and sensitive teen who experiences bullying at school and abuse from her mother at home. She discovers that she has supernatural powers and gets invited to go to the prom, where things end up taking a dark turn. After watching this movie, Julia was terrified by how closely her mom and Carrie's mom resembled each other. Sex and body image was another striking similarity. Like Carrie's mom, Julia's mom considered boobs and curves to be dirty and shameful. The opening period scene was relatable due to the insensitivity of the situation. Julia shared the same despair as Carrie and had no idea what was happening. Her mom just shoved a bSupport the show (https://www.thefamilytiespodcast.com/subscribe/)

Inside The Family Ties Podcast's premiere episode, cohosts and sisters Kelley Richey and Julia Avery take a moment to introduce themselves, discuss highlights from their interconnected past, their passions, and what has inspired them to embark on this new journey together.Sisters, Kelley Richey and Julia Avery,  love politics, art, fashion, film, music, psychology, animals, etc. While they love discussing these shared interests, they live so far away from each other and there's never enough time to talk as much as they would like. In their endeavor to get closer to one another, they decided to develop a podcast. This provides a structured and goal oriented platform to further research and delve deeper into the topics they are passionate about. Meet Kelley Richey-   Home: Aurora, CO     Age: 32 Kelley was and is OBSESSED with horses. Her Mom and Dad thought this was a harmless phase and fed into it ignorantly by giving her horse figurines, books, etc. If it had a horse on it...SHE WANTED IT. One Christmas her Mom and Dad gave her a hand-made certificate that allotted her one riding lesson at a local farm. From then on, she worked full time at the stables in exchange for lessons. She has a one-track mind and is not easily distracted from her goals. She was GOING to have a horse someday. Kelley was homeschooled all the way through Senior Graduation. Her experience with homeschooling is the main reason for a vast amount of insecurities. Of which include a hunch that she has always had a learning disability of some kind as well as issues with focus, depression, and anxiety.At the age of 13 on Christmas, Kelley saw the newly released Lord of the Rings part 1. It changed her life and inspired her to make movies from then on! She became a super fan of Elijah Wood, who was her first serious crush/love. To this day she remains a fan with an embarrassing amount of posters and collectibles! Kelley had originally wanted her career to be within the Equestrian world. But then she realized that there was a big and beautiful world out there in which she could nurture her artistic side!She has also used up at least 3 of her "9 lives", which will be a fun discussion in a future episode.Meet Julia-   Home: Jacksonville, FL   Age: 27Julia was homeschooled all the way through to Senior Graduation.  As a result of her homeschooling experience, to this day she also harbors fears of having a learning disability. And similarly to Kelley, deals with focus issues, test taking anxiety, etc. Julia participated in a variety of random programs while growing up. For almost six years, she volunteered as an assistant to the teacher and owner of a Preschool run at a local church. She found it to be a very needed safe space and enjoyed it. She was forced by her Mom to participate in a program called Teen Court. It's a great program for teenagers who aspire to work for the Legal System. Unfortunately that was one of the few things she had no interest in doing. Passions/Interests: EVERYTHING. Literally everything. When she was younger, she had a career schedule made, planning out a different career for each day of the week. Like her sister, Kelley, Julia shared a love for horses and accompanied her to the Horse Barn and Equestrian Shows. She also would work at the barn to earn free lessons. In addition, Julia would catch ride horses for some of the wealthier clients at the barn in order to show. Even though it was real work (and ahem! Child labor laws again anyone?) it was another safe space from home and she loved it! Podcast Website and Art by Pixel BrewSupport the show