Therapuss with Jake Shane
Session 112: Tyriq Withers — March 28, 2026
Episode Overview
In this candid, comedic, and deeply introspective session, Jake Shane welcomes actor Tyriq Withers, star of the new film "Reminders of Him," for a freewheeling conversation about identity, therapy, anxiety, the entertainment industry, fandom anxieties, personal hygiene, and much more. Together, they field real listener dilemmas with a mix of sincerity and irreverence, riffing on everything from attachment styles to the art of Instagram photo dumps. Highlights include behind-the-scenes stories from set, honest chats about OCD and anxiety, and vulnerable talks about career self-worth.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Early Banter: Therapy, Attachment Styles & Summer Happiness
- Discussion about therapy habits
- Jake explains switching therapists:
"All I was doing was sitting there and talking shit. And then I would tell her something that would happen with my OCD and she would be like, omg. Whereas, like, my new therapist is like, oh, that's this. And you need to combat it by doing this..." (01:10)
- Tyriq admits to ghosting his therapist:
"I'm ghosting my therapist at the moment...I don't want to talk about things right now. So I ghost her and then I see her again in like a month." (01:27)
- Jake explains switching therapists:
- Therapy in summer?
- Tyriq reasons, “I think I'm happier in summer...The sun's out. I feel good. I'm tan, I'm skinny, like.” (02:15)
Tyriq’s Career Trajectory: YouTube to "Reminders of Him"
- Origins
- First professional work was on YouTube and CW’s "Legacies":
"My first professional professional was an episode of Legacies on CW. I played a Wolf tour student." (05:09)
- Attempted Vine and musical.ly. Jake is surprised Tyriq made musical.ly videos, especially to Jacob Sartorius songs (06:19–06:38).
- First professional work was on YouTube and CW’s "Legacies":
- Inspirations and Set Life
- Fond memories of LA parties, meeting Doja Cat and Paris Hilton, and costume anecdotes—Halloween as a Teletubby (03:12–04:23).
On Fandoms, Book Adaptations, and Performance Anxiety
- Pressure from Pre-Built Fandoms
- On playing Ledger in "Reminders of Him," a Colleen Hoover novel adaptation:
“Books, it's all imaginative...people…have their idea of who Ledger is. And you just want to, like, breathe life into this character in the proper way.” (20:46–21:16)
- On Colleen Hoover’s daily presence on set and the anxiety it can bring (21:28)
- On playing Ledger in "Reminders of Him," a Colleen Hoover novel adaptation:
Navigating the Entertainment Industry
- Industry Connections
- Jake name-drops seeing Tyriq’s work in "Atlanta," "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (with Madeline Klein), and discusses how support from co-stars can impact the environment on set (17:19–18:09).
- Self-Doubt and Luck
- Both discuss feeling like a “stunt cast” or the need to “prove yourself,” with Tyriq stating:
“Success is when luck meets hard work. And I think you put in the work to be there.” (26:19)
- Both discuss feeling like a “stunt cast” or the need to “prove yourself,” with Tyriq stating:
Mental Health, OCD, and Public Life
- Spirituality and Trauma
- Tyriq discusses growing up with religion-based fear, distancing from it, and how it contributed to anxiety and OCD:
“It made me OCD, like, hyper fixate on, you know, am I a bad person?” (14:35)
- Jake resonates, “Don't you feel like a bad person all the time?” (14:47)
- Tyriq discusses growing up with religion-based fear, distancing from it, and how it contributed to anxiety and OCD:
- Anxiety as a Public Figure
- Tyriq opens up:
“If somebody comes at you and says you’re a bad person, you’re just like…wait, I know.” (15:06)
- Discussion of medication for OCD; Jake mentions Luvox and beta blockers (15:42–15:54).
- Tyriq opens up:
Hot Takes: Disney Adults, Waxing Experiences, & Hotel Bathrooms
- Disneyland/Disney World
- Tyriq: “...if you think about what you’re, like, actually doing, you’re all just, like, sitting. Yeah, you’re sitting. You’re, like, smiling, posture, eating, like, mystery meat.” (03:38–03:44)
- Jake contemplates adult Disney fandom: “...my confusion with Disney adults...what is so special? Like, Mickey Mouse isn’t releasing new music...you’re watching the same Beauty and the Beast over and over.” (07:56–08:28)
- Waxing and Hygiene
- Both share waxing stories, building rapport with waxers, venting about European Wax Center logistics, and male hygiene advocacy:
Tyriq: “I think I’m an advocate for, you know, good hyper male hygiene.” (33:36–33:43)
- Both share waxing stories, building rapport with waxers, venting about European Wax Center logistics, and male hygiene advocacy:
- Hotel Shower Rant
- On hotel showers’ height and inclusivity, water pressure preference, and bath rituals (35:25–37:24).
On Personal Body Insecurities & Humor
- Body Image
- Discussion of “love handles” and stubborn fat:
"No matter how, like, skinny I get, they're always there." (38:12)
- “I'm trying to become like a mid drift baddie, you know?” (38:24)
- Discussion of “love handles” and stubborn fat:
- Puberty and "Ball Talk"
- An extended comedic riff about fears around balls, shaving mishaps, and vulnerabilities:
Jake: “They’re just like organs…they really bug me out.” (30:18–30:37)
- An extended comedic riff about fears around balls, shaving mishaps, and vulnerabilities:
Entertainment & Music Obsessions
- Current TV & Music Faves
- Both share love for "Traders" (Rob and Madeline Klein references) (39:32–40:00);
- “Industry” is declared the best show on TV, praising its realistic, diverse casting led by Mahala (41:06–41:54).
- Music
- Olivia Dean, Rod Wave, Sienna Rose, and Dijon are discussed as current obsessions, with much love for sad music and songwriting that “puts feeling into your body” (44:14–48:23).
Instagram Culture: Photo Dumps & Social Media Rituals
- Photo Dump Philosophy
- Both reflect on the artistry, friend vetting, curation, and meaning in Instagram photo dumps, swapping favorites and techniques (50:43–55:06).
- Tyriq:
“When you put that heart into it and people love the balance…that’s why TikTok works so much. Because you’ll scroll. You’d be crying, and the next one you’d be laughing…” (54:49–55:05)
"Tell Me What’s Wrong": Listener Advice Segment
- Relationships and Boundaries
- Listener confronts her new boyfriend’s suspicious texts; Tyriq stresses defining the relationship (DTR), honesty, and not tolerating disrespect (56:32–58:20).
- Advice for someone sleeping with their drug dealer as a rebound: “Don’t catch feelings. Get up out of there...if there’s an FBI raid, it’s not...” (60:27)
- Embarrassing Moments
- Support for someone who accidentally sent a "dick pic" to their dad—Jake commiserates, Tyriq recounts a college roommate who was a “Grindr all star” (61:01–61:46).
- Sympathetic humor for someone who soiled themselves before a job interview: “Everyone shits their pants sometimes...move on.” (63:29–63:35)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Art & Perspective:
“Three sides to every story: their side, my side, and the truth.” - Tyriq Withers (13:01)
“We attach emotion to how something happens to us. And so we’ll tell a story like…” - Tyriq Withers (13:10) - On Public Anxiety:
“I just want to make sure they're having a good moment experience with you as well.” - Tyriq Withers (15:35)
- On Success:
“I think success is when luck meets hard work. And I think you put in the work to be there.” - Tyriq Withers (26:19)
- On OCD:
“I'm chronically anxious, you know...absolutely. Yeah, going back to like the fear mongering that was instilled in you?” - Tyriq Withers (16:01, 14:26)
- On Instagram Curation:
“I do not want to admit how much time I put into this photo dump.” - Jake Shane (50:48)
- On Validation:
“I'm validating you right here, right now.” - Jake Shane, re: body insecurities (38:19)
- Wild Tangents:
“I’d rather eat a jean jacket than cut my own balls.” - Jake Shane (31:03)
“This episode is brought to you by booking.combooking. yeah.” - Jake Shane (33:53) (as a deliberate, parodic break into ad copy)
Key Timestamps
- 00:48 – Therapy habits, ghosting therapists, summer moods
- 03:23 – LA event anecdotes (meeting Doja Cat/Paris Hilton)
- 05:08 – Early career (YouTube, CW "Legacies", Vine, musical.ly)
- 07:55 – Analysis of “Disney adults”
- 14:05 – Religion, OCD, anxiety, and taking agency
- 17:19 – Atlanta, I Know What You Did Last Summer, set dynamics with Madeline Klein
- 20:24 – "Reminders of Him" fandoms, adaptation anxieties
- 35:25 – Hotel bathroom and bath rituals
- 38:12 – Body dysmorphia and love handles
- 40:04 – TV talk: "Traders," "Industry," love for Mahala
- 44:14 – Olivia Dean, Rod Wave, and favorite sad songs
- 50:43 – Instagram “photo dump” culture
- 55:43 – "Tell Me What’s Wrong" advice segment
- 63:33 – Self-compassion: everyone has embarrassing moments
- 63:57 – Episode wrap-up & main lessons
Final Reflections
Jake and Tyriq cover a wide range of topics with honesty, humor, and surprising vulnerability. The episode is a hilarious, touching reminder that everyone struggles with doubt, identity, and self-worth—whether they’re on stage, in therapy, or just posting a photo dump.
Summary by Therapuss Summarizer — for session 112: Tyriq Withers