Therapuss with Jake Shane
Session 96: Julia Fox
Release Date: September 20, 2025
Episode Overview
In this introspective, laughter-filled session of Therapuss, Jake Shane welcomes Julia Fox—author, actress, fashion icon, and self-proclaimed “it girl.” The conversation weaves through Julia’s magnetic public persona, her Italian-American upbringing, life lessons from New York and “IRL” living, the pitfalls and perks of fame, reality TV fandom, and authentic advice in response to audience woes. Both guests and listeners are reminded of the complexity and resilience behind the internet’s most meme-able personalities.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Inspirations and Digital Origins
- Jake reveals Julia’s direct influence on his career:
- Jake credits Julia’s early TikTok and social media antics as the spark for his “Tell Me What’s Wrong” series and current podcast hosting.
- “You are the reason why I have a show at all.” (02:21)
- Jake credits Julia’s early TikTok and social media antics as the spark for his “Tell Me What’s Wrong” series and current podcast hosting.
- Julia reflects on her waning desire to be online, citing ADHD boredom and a newfound appreciation for offline living:
- “I feel like I’ve just really been living IRL recently… I went on a full three week vacation. No one would even know. There’s no photographic evidence of it.” (03:05)
The Burden and Complexity of Public Attention
- Julia on fame and authenticity online:
- “There was a moment I was like, oh wait, I’m like, actually famous… It’s hard to even show up authentically if everything you say is going to get picked apart.” (04:18)
- She describes how the scrutiny erodes spontaneity and playfulness on social platforms.
- The limits of phone addiction and reclaiming privacy contrast between Jake and Julia’s perspectives.
Shifts in Social Media Culture
- Both reminisce about the early, insular days of Instagram and TikTok:
- Julia laments Instagram’s evolution “from fun to LinkedIn,” longing for a “little circle” community and the infamous “following page.”
- “That caused me so much, like, unwellness, but also like, I needed to see… what is my boyfriend liking?” (06:27)
- Anecdotes on social “detective work,” and catching partners' sketchy likes (06:41).
- Julia laments Instagram’s evolution “from fun to LinkedIn,” longing for a “little circle” community and the infamous “following page.”
Italian-American Roots and Food Culture
- Julia defends the supremacy of Italian food in Italy, attributing its flavor to mineral-rich volcanic soil (07:19).
- “It’s different… It’s about the minerals in the soil of Italy… we have farmed the [expletive] out of our land.” (07:23)
- The culture of home cooking over restaurant dining in Italy:
- “That is where the bangers are.” (08:52)
New York Upbringing: Eclecticism and Escape
- Contrast between homogeneous Italian culture and the chaos of NYC’s melting pot:
- “In New York, it’s really a free for all…Everyone’s house has different rules.” (10:22)
- Julia’s innate escapist tendencies; fantasizing about “firing everyone… quitting… and buying an Airbnb in the middle of nowhere” (11:41).
Wanderlust, Risk, and Adventure
- Julia’s spontaneous move to Louisiana for a “weird side quest” (13:44), and subsequent years of road tripping across the US.
- “I always had cars because I’d find men to buy me cars all the time. I’ve gone through like 20 cars…” (15:06)
The Evolution of Party and Attention Culture
- Iconic stories from the club scene in late 2000s New York:
- “Back then, you really had to, like, go outside to make a name of yourself. And I did that… everyone knew Julia Fox.” (19:09)
- The impact of phones and surveillance killing spontaneous fun:
- “I feel like I have to be nice to everyone because then it'll be like, ‘I met Julia Fox and she was a [expletive].” (21:10)
- Fame as isolation, referencing Marilyn Monroe as a cautionary tale (21:16).
Perception, Depression, and Reality
- Julia candidly admits fame didn’t fix her depression, but offers empathy for reality TV contestants longing for obscurity (22:32).
- TV talk: The shifting pressures and self-awareness of Love Island contestants (23:39)
- The psychological effects of always being observed online and in reality TV (24:45).
Reality TV Fandom & Potential
- Julia on joining Real Housewives of New York (Roni) rumors:
- “I felt like I would ruin the show.” (25:19)
- Describes the alchemy of great reality TV: the mixture of relatability and spectacle that makes classic RHONY irresistible (26:10).
- Best franchises according to Julia: Salt Lake City (“the best one”), Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Potomac (28:50–29:18).
- Discusses the dark, wild side of reality TV “Mormon Wives,” “Hunting Wives,” and TV thrillers (30:15–32:36).
Advice Segment: “Tell Me What’s Wrong” (45:24–59:00)
In the traditional Therapuss advice section, Jake and Julia answer viewer submissions:
- On Bad Breath in Marriage (46:05):
- Julia: “Divorce. That’s a huge dealbreaker… bad breath and stinky feet.”
- On Emotionally Incestuous Partners (46:52):
- Julia: “You dodged a bullet, babe.”
- On Post-Breakup Reactions:
- Julia recounts petty revenge, from damaging iPhone chargers to discarding favorite pants (47:29).
- Dating Like Your Dad: Nuanced take; “need to know more about her dad” (48:30).
- On Men Buying Her Cars:
- Julia details transactional relationships, encourages women to ask:
“They get such a thrill from doing it, too.” (49:57)
- Julia details transactional relationships, encourages women to ask:
- On Singleness at 27:
- Julia: “You’re on a winning streak… try men from other countries” (51:32).
- On the Fear of Internet Backlash:
- Julia offers comfort and resilience:
“Once it happens, it’s so liberating because you don’t have that looming fear anymore… you did it, you survived it.” (52:51) - “I now wear a shirt that says ‘cancelled twice’… I love it. I feel like such a baddie in it.” (55:16).
- Julia offers comfort and resilience:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
[03:05] Julia:
“I feel like I’ve just really been living IRL recently… There is no photographic evidence of it. Right. I’m just living.” -
[04:18] Julia:
“There was a moment I was like, ‘oh wait, I’m like, actually famous.’ Like, I didn’t… It’s hard to even show up authentically if everything you say is going to get picked apart.” -
[07:23] Julia:
“It’s about the minerals in the soil of Italy. Italy sits on volcanic, like, ground… you can’t get that here in America. No way.” -
[11:41] Julia:
“I will daydream about moving to Hawaii… I just wanted to get out for some reason. I wanted to escape… I still to this day do that, like, probably once or twice a week.” -
[15:06] Julia:
“I always had cars because I’d find men to buy me cars all the time. I’ve gone through like 20 cars…” -
[19:09] Julia:
“Back then, you really had to, like, go outside to make a name of yourself… now we can get attention just by never leaving our bedroom and posting online.” -
[21:16] Julia (on fame):
“If the most famous woman in the world [Marilyn Monroe] was that miserable, is, like, fame really all that great?” -
[25:19] Julia:
“There was [a rumor]. And ultimately, I felt like I would ruin the show.” (re: joining RHONY) -
[32:36] Julia (on ‘Hunting Wives’):
“It is amazing… these Republican women—they put up the facade… but really they’re like getting drunk and doing body shots and like [redacted] each other. But it’s all behind closed doors…” -
[52:51] Julia (on public shaming and cancel culture):
“Once it happens, it’s so liberating…I promise you, Jake Shane, one day you’re going to do something, and they’re going to turn on you… And you bounce back.”
Selected Timestamps for Reference
- [02:21] — Jake credits Julia for starting his show
- [03:05] — Julia on living offline
- [04:18] — Julia realizes the reality of fame
- [11:41] — Julia and fantasy of escape
- [15:06] — Julia on men buying her cars
- [19:09] — Social scene in mid-2000s New York
- [21:16] — Celebrity isolation and Marilyn Monroe reference
- [25:19] — RHONY casting rumor
- [32:36] — Wild reality TV tales
- [45:24]–[59:00] — “Tell Me What’s Wrong” advice segment
- [57:28] — Julia on human resilience
- [58:02]–[60:49] — Julia’s new movie “Him,” love of acting and escapism
Tone and Atmosphere
Conversational, confessional, incisive, and always delivered with a blend of wit, raw honesty, and dark humor—Julia and Jake maintain the original candor that characterizes both their internet presences. Listeners are offered a mix of vulnerability and irreverence, with Julia often couching emotional truths in dry, punchy quips, and Jake volleying back with self-deprecating humor and curiosity.
Concluding Insights
The episode achieves what “Therapuss” promises: a therapy-adjacent deep dive that pokes fun at life’s struggles while still mining them for wisdom. Julia Fox emerges as a paradox: rooted yet restless, craving connection but wary of its costs, meme-ified but achingly real.
Jake and Julia remind the audience that even those who launch internet trends and thrive on attention are still learning, surviving, and healing—one wild story (or petty act of breakup revenge) at a time.
For fans of reality, resilience, and telling it like it is, this is one of Therapuss’s must-listen sessions.
