Desert Skies – Chapter 23: "Sometimes You Gotta Die A Little"
Podcast: Desert Skies
Host/Creator/Performer: Jared Carter
Date: October 6, 2025
Episode Overview
In this emotionally charged return to the astral plane, the Desert Skies team grapples with reunion, unresolved grief, and difficult decisions about leaving their familiar home for a mysterious new journey. The episode is centered around Cash's (also known as Lily) return from the physical plane, the questions and pain her absence left behind, and her insistence that to move forward, sometimes you have to let go—even if it means dying a little to truly live. Themes of love, friendship, trust, secrets, and the bittersweet comfort of home permeate the story, setting the stage for a leap of faith by all.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Reunion and Tension
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Cash (Lily) Returns: Cash is welcomed back by Mac, Corson, and Nani after time spent on the physical plane, appearing changed—more integrated, human, and carrying secrets she can’t (or won’t) share.
[07:57]"You're the same, but you're different somehow. There's still something under the surface. The storm. But it's muted. Kind of beautiful in a way."
— Cash (Lily) to Corson -
Bittersweet Embrace and Humor: The friends greet each other with playful affection, layered beneath a current of unresolved pain and longing.
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Underlying Tension: The group presses Cash for answers about what happened on the physical plane. Cash cannot reveal everything, leading to frustration and arguments within the group. [12:17]
"We have to go back."
— Cash (Lily)
"Back where? Home. What does that even mean?"
— Corson (Mac)
2. Secrets, Grief, and Leadership
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Cash’s Burden: Cash struggles with not being able to tell her friends about her transformation, what she learned, or even secrets critical to their identities—even when pressed by Corson and Mac.
[14:31]"I can't tell you what you want to know. I can't tell you who you are. I can't tell you your name or how you died. I can't. There's a reason you're not supposed to know, and that's that."
— Cash (Lily) -
The Weight of Suffering: The loss and the pain from Cash's absence are made clear. Mac and Corson, especially, articulate their ongoing ache and anger. [14:10]
"Do you have any idea how many tears I cried over you? How much time I spent thinking about you, worrying you wouldn't come back?... There's a grave?"
— Corson (Mac) -
Leadership & Trust: Through conversations with Nani and Tendi, the nature of leadership, responsibility, and the pain of carrying others' burdens are explored. [18:57]
"One thing about being a leader is leaders have to be able to lead with their hearts exposed. You got no more robo armor, robo girl. Just whatever passes for flesh here."
— Nani
3. The Decision to Leave & What Home Means
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Desert Skies as Home: The station isn't just a pit stop—it represents comfort, identity, and shared history. The prospect of leaving brings sadness and nostalgia, especially for Mac. [36:50–38:55]
"Just when you think you're done grieving... Goodbye, microwave. ... You've been the backdrop of all my favorite memories. ... You made me a better man. So long, Frank. It's been a gasp. Gas. That's good. Goodbye."
— Mac -
Packing for the Journey: The group negotiates, in both comedic and poignant fashion, what they can take with them—realizing the impossibility of packing home into a trunk. [33:33]
"You packed Desert Skies to take with us. Like the station. The whole station."
— Cash (Lily) to Mac
4. Love, Family, and the Nature of the Astral Journey
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Found Family: The bonds between the characters are affirmed as a kind of found family, a motif woven through both conflict and reconciliation. [32:31]
"That's what families do, Corson."
— Cash (Lily) -
The Meaning of the Astral Plane:
[31:25]"The astral plane isn't just some weird collection of odd spirits and beautiful locations. It's a journey that's meant to remove the weight of darkness travelers accumulated throughout their time on the physical plane. Meant to equip them for the next life. I think maybe it might equip us for the first one."
— Cash (Lily) -
Letting Go: Cash delivers the episode’s resonant thesis:
[31:58]"Maybe sometimes you gotta die a little before you can truly live."
— Cash (Lily)
5. Resolution & Forward Motion
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Trust Rebuilt, If Not Complete Understanding: Although full answers aren't given, the group decides to trust Cash’s vision. Mac, in particular, expresses a hard-won willingness: [30:29]
"Look, I'm not the smartest man, but you are... But love plus smart, that's a combination I'm willing to get behind."
— Mac -
A Final Goodbye: Mac takes a somber, personal moment to officially say goodbye to the station and the memories it represents.
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Setting out: They finish preparations, say their goodbyes to Greg and Betty (now charged with running the station), and take a moment at Cash’s grave—a symbol of love, loss, and continuity—before finally departing.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Love and Arrival:
[04:28]"Oliver, look at me. ... You're safe now. And you know why? Because I love you with my whole heart. I've been waiting for you my whole life. ... There was this big old hole in my heart. And guess what, Oliver? It was shaped just like you."
— Stella -
Cash’s Real Name Reveal:
[26:39]"That's my name. It's short for Lillian."
— Cash (Lily) -
About Secrets and Protection:
[29:01]"As hard as it is, I'm not keeping secrets from you, Mac. I'm keeping secrets for you. And if it helps, try not to think of them as secrets. Maybe think of them as a microwavable revelation that's meant to serve you at the appropriate time."
— Cash (Lily) -
On Family and Emotional Risk:
[32:24]"Because you love me."
— Cash (Lily)
[32:31]
"That's what families do, Corson."
— Cash (Lily) -
The Farewell:
[36:50-38:55]"Just when you think you're done grieving. Alright. Goodbye, microwave. ... Goodbye, soda dispenser. ... Goodbye, desert skies. I'm gonna miss you. ... You made me a better man. So long, Frank. It's been a gasp. Gas. That's good. Goodbye."
— Mac
Humorous Banter and Warmth
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On Burritos and Enjoyment:
[11:13]"Speaking as someone who choked on one of these things for a very, very long time, it's an unpleasant experience. One of the only times I wish dead people could die."
— Corson (Mac) -
Packing Gone Overboard:
[33:06]"It's one of every item we keep in the store. About 6 gallons of Shack juice, 4 of each. Burrito packed on ice. A portable microwave. My book of childhood memories. My favorite rock."
— Corson (Mac)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment Description | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Cash greets Oliver and Stella | 04:28 | | Reunited friends reflect & exchange affection | 07:57–10:45 | | The secret Cash carries & friction | 12:17–14:43 | | Nani and Cash discuss leadership/feelings | 18:57–19:57 | | Greg and Betty’s surprise at Cash’s return | 21:09–22:20 | | Corson’s grief over Cash’s absence | 24:00–26:15 | | Cash’s real name revealed (Lily) | 26:39 | | Cash reframes keeping secrets | 29:01–30:53 | | The metaphysics of the spheres explained | 31:25–31:53 | | “Sometimes you gotta die a little...” | 31:58 | | Packing for the journey—comedy | 33:00–34:38 | | Mac’s emotional goodbye to the station | 36:50–38:55 | | The last visit to the grave | 39:43–40:50 |
Tone & Style
The episode is suffused with humor, warmth, and sharply-drawn characters—but also a profound sense of melancholy and anticipation. Moments oscillate between laughter, gentle ribbing, and deep emotional vulnerability, staying true to Desert Skies’ signature blend of the cosmic and the intimate.
Summary Takeaway
"Sometimes You Gotta Die A Little" is an episode about transitions—between worlds, states of being, and stages of grief. In the liminal comfort of the Desert Skies astral station, the characters face the hardest questions about love, truth, and letting go. Trust is both risk and reward; “home” is both a place and the people you choose. With one last look back, the travelers at Desert Skies step forward together onto whatever comes next.