Therapuss with Jake Shane

Session 94: Rickey Thompson

Release Date: September 11, 2025
Guest: Rickey Thompson
Host: Jake Shane

Main Theme

This episode of Therapuss is a vibrant, laughter-filled therapy session with internet personality Rickey Thompson. Diving into themes of friendship, queer dating life, reality TV obsessions, navigating your 20s and 30s, and memorable moments from both their online lives and pop culture, Jake and Rickey bring their signature candidness and humor. They answer listeners’ submissions from "Tell Me What's Wrong," share personal "crash out" stories, and serve up a crash course in iconic reality television, all in their trademark unfiltered, tongue-in-cheek style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rickey’s Move Back to LA

• [02:00] Rickey shares he’s now bicoastal but realized LA feels more like home.

  “I realized I love LA more. New York is just not for me.” – Rickey ([02:02])

• [02:22] Admits to suffering from seasonal depression in New York and feeling much happier in LA, where more friends and his sister live.

2. Early Online Career & Taking Risks

• [03:36] Rickey left North Carolina and dropped out of college last minute to pursue his dream in LA.

  “The day before, I dropped out... L.A is my dream.” – Rickey ([03:46])

• Started on Vine, transitioned easily to YouTube after Vine ended.

  “Was it depressing when [Vine] ended?”
  “No, I was ready for something new.” – Rickey ([04:16])

3. The Realities of New York vs. LA

• [05:28] They discuss the nightlife and dating scenes, both agreeing LA nightlife is lacking but that New York can be isolating and “sad.”
• Rickey describes the social fallout from a breakup in New York and losing all his friends through the breakup ([06:01–06:15]):

  “When you break up with your boyfriend, now no one's going to be your friend anymore.”

4. Dating, Crash Outs, and Age

• The "crash out"—blackout moments and embarrassing stories—recurs as a theme.

  “I woke up with the worst anxiety ever... what did I do?” – Rickey ([08:00])

• Both commiserate about dating, with Rickey sharing how he’s no longer wasting time if it's not going anywhere ([05:46]).
• Relatable content about getting “the ick” and awkward dating mishaps.

5. Astrology and Friendships

• [09:20] Astrology talk: Rickey is an Aquarius (“I’m actually an Aquarius, Virgo, Scorpio!”), Jake is a Scorpio with Gemini rising.
• The differences in personality, and Denzel’s role as the Capricorn planner in their partnership ([09:55]).

6. Reality TV Deep Dive

• From [14:49] onward, a spicy dissection of reality shows (Real Housewives, Love Island, Bad Girls Club, Baddies, etc.)
• Favorites: Real Housewives of Atlanta (“Ms. Nene!”), Salt Lake (“Salt Lake is such a good franchise”), and nostalgia for early-reality TV chaos.
• Honest takes on failed seasons and the self-awareness problem in recent Housewives:

  “They're so privy to what people say about them online and they self-produce so much.” – Jake ([19:26])

• Behind-the-scenes discussion: Bravo does not pay for all the Housewives’ trips ([20:00]).

Notable Quotes:

• “If you're a housewife, the chances of you going to jail are so high.” – Jake ([19:50])
• “I need wealth you can’t touch.” – Rickey on what makes good Housewives ([19:36])
• “Old reality television would show people leaving!” – Rickey ([31:55])

7. Social Media and Online Drama

• The intensity of Love Island fandom on TikTok and Twitter is discussed ([21:05]):

  “I've seen men who are like 50 going off on Hutta... you need a job.” – Rickey

8. Therapy Session: Tell Me What’s Wrong ([39:59])

• Jake reads “Tell Me What's Wrong” submissions. The two react (sometimes ruthlessly!) to:
  • Breakups in shared friend groups
  • Acapella-induced icks (“What is this, Glee? No, girl.” – Rickey, [40:56])
  • Roommate boundary issues
  • Ghosting friendships (“We outgrew each other... I haven't thought that much about you.” – Listener, [42:37])
• Rickey reveals as an Aquarius he can cut people out without feeling bad ([43:05]):

  “I sleep good at night. It’s so awful...”

9. Travel, Pride, and European Summers ([46:08])

• Rickey’s favorite place: Madrid for its nightlife and men.

  “Madrid is like, more of the party lifestyle. And the men, they are so fine, girl.” – Rickey ([46:21])

• Jake and Rickey compare European and American Pride, recapping wilder overseas experiences.

10. Final Thoughts & Lessons

• Crashing out, loving and losing, confronting the ick, and why men “ain’t” wraps up the session.

  “And it’s okay to crash out.” – Rickey ([50:28]) “Maybe I need to watch Real Housewives of Orange County.” – Jake ([50:29])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On LA vs. New York:
  “LA is more me. All my friends are here. My sister lives here.” – Rickey ([02:50])

• On ghosting friends:
  “I could be friends with you for 10 years, you do one thing to piss me off, I’ll be done. Drop you down, like, no problem.” – Rickey ([43:05])

• On Real Housewives:
  “Old Beverly Hills. I need old Beverly Hills. I need wealth you can’t touch.” – Rickey ([19:36])

• When listeners admit their boyfriends joined acapella:
  “The ick down. What is this, Glee? No, no, girl.” – Rickey ([40:56])

• On blacking out:
  “I hate that. I don't even want to hear what I did. Just let me apologize.” – Rickey ([08:06])

• On the hardest crash out over a guy:
  “When I’m with my man, don’t try him. Don’t look at him. Don’t say he’s fine. Don’t touch him.” – Rickey ([50:13])

Key Timestamps for Reference

• [02:00] Rickey’s move back to LA & mental health
• [03:36] Leaving college for LA
• [05:28] Nightlife and dating in LA vs. NY
• [08:00] Blackout stories & anxiety
• [09:20] Astrology banter
• [14:49] Reality TV dive—Housewives, Love Island, Bad Girls Club
• [21:05] Love Island fandom and TikTok drama
• [39:59] "Tell Me What’s Wrong" listener advice
• [46:08] Rickey’s travel recs: Madrid, Pride, European summers
• [50:13] Final thoughts on men and crash outs

Tone and Style

The conversation is irreverent yet sincere, hilarious and honest—true to the Therapuss brand. Both Jake and Rickey invite listeners into their lived experiences with self-deprecating wit, unfiltered advice, and a deep kinship rooted in queer culture and the shared language of reality TV and online celebrity.

Summary Takeaway

For anyone who loves reality TV, thrives on drama (the good kind), or needs a laugh-therapy session with two friends who keep it way too real, this episode delivers. Rickey and Jake's candidness, shared stories, and unapologetic opinions make for an episode that’s as much about healing through humor as it is about dissecting today’s (and yesterday’s) pop culture.