About Julie
I'm a writer, filmmaker, and resource creator who believes that informed, prepared, and self-reliant families build a stronger future.
My Story
My younger years were much like anyone else's of my generation. I graduated from high school then went on to college and got my degree. After that, a huge turning point in my life was moving to Russia in 1997-98 to be a missionary for a year and a half.
All the work I have done since that time is because of seeds planted or experiences gained while I was in Russia.
Witnessed life in a post-Communist society first-hand, was inspired by the grit of the Russian people, saddened by the difficulties so many of them faced. Returned to the U.S., got a dual Master's in Russian Language & Literature and Russian & East European Studies (mostly Russian and Soviet history) from Florida State University.
Master's thesis.
Book, Beneath Sheep's Clothing, written from 2009 to finally being published in 2022. Gratitude for the freedoms we have in America, saddened and horrified over the grinding tyranny that the peoples of Russia endured. My passion to preserve freedom in America grew from this. Film, Beneath Sheep's Clothing. From there, more deep dives into what has gone wrong with education in America and what we can do to fix it - before it's too late! Now I'm on year 6 homeschooling my 12-year-old son.
Another influence of Russia on my life - while there, I saw that people used herbs and holistic means of dealing with their health as a first line of defense. Examples - mustard pack for congestion, this amazing raspberry lemon tea or chomping on raw garlic to get rid of a cold.
One not so fun relic of my time in Russia was returning home and 6 months later, at the ripe age of 24, suddenly losing my health and becoming partially-disabled. Eventually diagnosed with two autoimmune illnesses. Vaccines I had received. Parasites? Bad diet in my younger years. All my 3 years of graduate school, plus an additional 3 years - I had the stamina of a sick 80-year-old. At my worst, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without being laid up in bed for the whole next day.
After Western medicine failed to help me, I turned to holistic healing, nutrition, etc... Long quest to find answers to regain my health. My Bachelor's degree in Biology and experience reading scientific papers when I worked on an undergraduate thesis came in handy. I tried dozens and dozens of things. I found some things that worked. They were all the things that polite society considered "quackery".
What Drives Me
TRUTH
Sometimes the truth hurts, but you can't be a functional individual or society without truth as a foundational principle.
WELLNESS
Without our health, our capacity to do good and enjoy life greatly diminish.
PREPAREDNESS
If you are prepared you shall not fear.
FREEDOM
I believe freedom is the baseline operating system of the Divine.
One more impact of Russia - I was there in 1998 when the ruble was devalued. Overnight hyperinflation, waiting in a long line for margerine and a couple kilos of flour. People lost their savings due to the hyperinflation. It was a wake up call to me. It stirred something in me that wanted to prepare against any future calamities. Back home a years later, Hurricane Katrina was headed right for my town but then turned and hit New Orleans instead. This was when I was still partially-disabled. I knew that if I had been hit by that storm - without the prescriptions, at the time, that I relied on - I would have been in a world of hurt. I determined to finally take action and began storing up food, water, supplies, and as this collided with my holistic medicine training - including as I became a certified Foot Reflexologist - it was the genesis for a blog, video blog, podcast, and book - Essential Survival.
I had to get rid of all of this content in 2014 - long story for another day. But now I am bringing some of it back on this site.
Experience & Background
Wellness & Preparedness Advocate
2005-present
Writer & Researcher
2008-present
Entrepreneuer
2005-present
Filmmaker
2022-present
Homeschool Mom
2020-present
My endeavors over the last 20 plus years have certainly not been boring! They may seem unrelated and eclectic upon first glance, but they really aren't. At their core, all I have researched and poured my heart into over these many years are connected with first, empowering myself to become healthier, more independent, and free - then doing what I can to help others do the same. I don't have all the answers and am still learning, but it is my hope that you will find something here to be of value for your own life.
Sincerely,
JULIE