“Protecting yourself isn’t selfish — it’s wisdom.”
In this episode of The BraveHearted Woman Podcast, I am with Julie Barth — widow, trauma survivor, mother of six, and author of Notes from a BlackBerry. Julie has faced immense challenges that could have crushed her: caring for a special-needs child, losing her husband to cancer, and surviving the trauma of an emotionally and financially abusive second marriage.
Instead, Julie chose resilience. Today, she’s the CEO and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women-led households find resources, security, and stability in times of crisis.
In this moving conversation, Julie shares how to:
- Recognize subtle red flags of emotional and financial abuse
- Protect yourself without guilt or shame
- Live resiliently when life continuously throws curveballs
- Find peace after loss and hardship
- Turn personal pain into advocacy and purpose
Her story is raw, inspiring, and full of hope—reminding women everywhere that even in the darkest moments, you can rise strong and create a future filled with peace and purpose.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Guest Intro
1:55 - The Braveheart Story of Julie Barth on choosing her faith over fear
9:05 - How to grieve and be a mom at the same time
14:21 - What are the red flags women shouldn’t ignore?
21:45 - Julie’s inspiration to write her first book
24:40 - How Colin James Barth Outreach was founded
26:21- Julie’s #1 for midlife women
Quotations:
“You’re not guaranteed two minutes from now, much less a year from now. Life is meant to be lived.”
“Peace is more important than happiness — because without peace, you can’t even find happiness.”
“Don’t ignore your instincts. Don’t excuse red flags. If you’re constantly living in confusion, there’s a reason.”
“You only have one life to live. Whether you’re the hero or the villain doesn’t matter—if you’re not happy, you need to get out.”
“When you feel powerful, you come to the table with a different perspective than when you feel helpless.”
Resources:
🌐Follow Julie at www.juliebarthauthor.com
📚Get a copy of Julie’s book - Notes From A BlackBerry: https://www.amazon.com/Notes-BlackBerry-Julie-Barth/dp/B0CY675VSC
🎗Find out more about Colin James Barth Outreach: https://www.juliebarthauthor.com/cjb-outreach
🎨Learn more about Hope4 Tayt: www.juliebarthauthor.com/hope4tayt
_____________
💌 Email your braveheart story to me at dawn@dawnscottdamon.com
📞 Book a FREE 15-minute strategy call with Dawn: https://www.braveheartedwoman.com/book-a-call
Connect with your BraveHeart Mentor, Dawn Damon:
💞 Email me at: dawn@braveheartmentor.com
💞 Website:...
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