Therapuss with Jake Shane

Session 93: Brett's B-Day!
Date: September 7, 2025
Host: Jake Shane
Guests: Brett, Julia, Peyton, Manny

Overview

This special birthday episode celebrates Brett turning 25 with an exuberant, hour-long session of classic Therapuss banter. Jake, Brett, and friends dig deeply (with their trademark mix of humor, pop culture obsession, and genuine friendship) into all things Taylor Swift, pop music, personal growth, marathon running, room makeovers, and a lively round of advice during “Tell Me What’s Wrong.” The episode is a heartfelt celebration of friendship and growth, peppered with passionate debates about music, self-care rituals, and amusing life mishaps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brett’s 25th Birthday & Quarter-Life Reflections

• Brett reflects on reaching "the mid-20s," feeling both old and excited about what’s ahead (01:28).
• The group discusses goals for the next year, appreciating the privilege of doing what they love at a young age, and plans for business growth (especially Brett’s run club merch and marathon ambitions) (19:00 - 22:10).
• Notable birthday tradition: knocking three times for luck, a superstition shared by the friend group (19:43).

2. Room Makeovers & Living Space Dynamics

• The group details a full makeover of their living spaces, emphasizing the impact decluttering has had on their mood and willingness to host (02:19 - 04:24).
• Thanks given (repeatedly) to Ashley and Stacy, professional organizers, for transforming their house:

  “They changed our rooms. Changed our house. Like, I’m not embarrassed anymore to have people over. Me either. And you know what? We’re going to keep it that way.” – Brett (03:41-03:56)

3. Taylor Swift Deep Dive: "Life of a Showgirl" and Beyond

• The group spends a solid portion theorizing about Taylor’s next album, "Life of a Showgirl," claiming tracks, and connecting the project's direction to Taylor’s pattern of responding to fan criticism (10:03 - 16:33).
• Julia forecasts a three-part 13th album—country, pop, and folk—inspired by Beyoncé’s multi-act structure (15:27).
• Discussion on Swift’s competitive drive and why critics dislike her chart-obsessed approach:

  “Who doesn’t care about the charts? Why are we pretending this isn’t her job? … That is Billboard. That’s the Grammy album of the year; it’s the football championship of music.” – Julia (17:13-18:00)

• The group links pop success with societal misogyny and defends Taylor’s ambition as a professional (18:15-18:28).

4. Pop Music Appreciation: Carly Rae Jepsen, Audrey Hobert, Megan Moroney

• Julia and Manny recount a magical, intimate Carly Rae Jepsen concert—performance of "Emotion" front to back (24:50 - 37:05).
  • The group ranks Emotion tracks, likening Carly’s lack of mainstream "pop girl" status to media’s disinterest in women who separate personal from professional lives (27:23).
  • Julia claims, "Carly Rae Jepsen is our modern-day Robyn," drawing a parallel with "Your Type" and "Dancing On My Own" (33:01).
• Manny sings the praises of Audrey Hobert’s new album for its relatability and quality, with comparisons to Emotion (36:37-37:59).
• Megan Moroney’s "Before He Cheats moment" is predicted; Brett claims addiction to her music (39:13-39:18).

5. Marathon Culture & Running Influencer Life

• Brett shares marathon highs and lows:
  • Boston Marathon was "the worst day of my life," but New York offered redemption and memorable candid photos (21:01-23:07).
  • Chicago Marathon is the big upcoming goal; group vows to make Brett the most tracked runner (21:44-21:59).
  • Discussion on the difficulty of getting into London and Tokyo marathons and the influencer marathon bib controversy (23:33-24:24).

6. Skincare and Self-Care Rituals

• Julia shares her current skincare routine, notably the Rhode Pineapple Face Wash and glazing milk, emphasizing authenticity over sponsorship (40:34-41:12).
• Hot tip: Aftershave for "minty, cold" freshness (41:08-41:19).

7. Taylor Swift Song Rankings & Release Traditions

• The group shares personal top five Taylor Swift tracks (42:41-54:25).
• Ritual for every Taylor album drop:
  • Take the day off work, marathon listen, Shibuya dinner, Miss Americana pre-game, and capture first-listen reactions on video (45:48-49:02, 47:11-47:58).
  • “When you wake up and you’re like, I have a whole new album, I have 12 new tracks. And that’s community.” – Julia (49:07-49:23)

8. Advice Segment: "Tell Me What’s Wrong"

A batch of listener submissions discussed with trademark therapies:

• Secret Twitter Porn Account (54:28)
  • “Maybe this is toxic of me, but have him on Twitter and be like, ‘Oh, what’s your other account?’” – Brett (55:30-55:56)
• Losing Money & Stripper in Vegas (56:10)
  • Pragmatic financial advice—"make your friends pay for you"—and comic relief about making out with a stripper.
• Roommate Pees on the Door (58:59)
  • "Thank God pee is sterile," advises Julia with deadpan humor (59:42).
• Friend Queefs on Command (59:55)
  • Julia: "If my friend could queef on command, I would let them do it whenever they wanted. Next." (60:10)
• God Complex from Independence (60:29)
  • “You’re so self-aware... So implement it.” – Julia (61:02-61:10)
  • Brett: “You don’t need to rub it in your friends’ faces, but ... if you think it about yourself, who cares?” (61:28-61:33)
• Moving in with a Betraying Friend (61:42)
  • Advice to break the lease or at least demand to switch roommates.
• Being Babied by Mom (62:30)
  • Gentle push to accept parents’ quirks if it makes them happy unless big boundaries are crossed.
• Throwing 30th Birthday Party with a Theme (64:01)
  • Sex and the City is the unanimous theme suggestion; friends who reject themes "hate fun."
• Perpetually Late Friend (64:53)
  • Solution: "I’ll just meet you there," and handle differences in friendship pragmatically.

9. End-of-Episode Reflections

• Brett reflects gratefully on turning 25, how much growth has happened since college, and the positive changes in life, work, and friendships (66:08-67:00).

  “I’m just really happy with my life… a few years ago, like, I was down in the dumps. Let me just tell you that.” – Brett (66:47)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “They changed our house. Like, I’m not embarrassed anymore to have people over.” – Brett (03:53)
• “Taylor loves the charts…that is Billboard…that is what it is.” – Julia (17:00-18:00)
• "If my friend could queef on command, I would let them do it whenever they wanted." – Julia (60:10)
• “If she was a man…It would not be a conversation.” – Brett (18:24-18:27)
• “Put some motherfucking respect on her name.” (re: Carly Rae Jepsen) – Julia (35:45)
• “No other song is 10 minutes.” (re: All Too Well Ultimate Version) – Julia (51:19)
• “Hold on to your inner child. Hold on to the memories; they will hold on to you.” – Julia (64:43)
• “You have to come to each song in your own over time.” (on appreciating new albums) – Julia (41:51)
• “I just want to... continue to grow in my career and... do things that I love so much at a young age.” – Brett (20:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Room Makeover and Decluttering: 02:19–04:24
• Taylor Swift Album Predictions & Commentary: 10:03–16:33
• Marathon Goals, Chicago, New York, London: 19:00–24:24
• Carly Rae Jepsen/Pop Music Deep Dive: 24:50–37:59
• Skincare Routine: 40:34–41:19
• Taylor Swift Song Rankings: 42:41–54:25
• “Tell Me What’s Wrong” Advice Segment: 54:28–65:42
• End-of-Episode Reflections & Life Lessons: 66:08–67:29

Episode Tone & Language

The episode is candid, irreverent, and full of affectionate ribbing. There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie and shared language (with terms like “balls deep,” “sick day,” “queef on command,” and "I'm dead ass serious"). Jokes and insights flow rapidly, undergirded by genuine advice and strong opinions on music, wellness, and growing up.

Conclusion

“Session 93: Brett’s B-Day!” is both a celebration of Brett’s life milestone and a deep pop culture therapy room for all listeners. If you are a Swiftie, music nerd, or navigating your own early adulthood, you’ll find warmth, wisdom, and cathartic laughs throughout the episode.