Podcast Summary

Podcast: Therapuss with Jake Shane

Episode: Session 98: Kaia Gerber
Release Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Jake Shane
Guest: Kaia Gerber

Episode Overview

This episode of Therapuss features a lively, deeply personal, and funny conversation between Jake Shane and his close friend, model and actress Kaia Gerber. The duo reflect on their whirlwind friendship, share playful banter about their adventures, discuss their careers in acting and content creation, and offer candid insights into relationships, mental health, and navigating the public eye. The session moves seamlessly between lighthearted anecdotes and heartfelt advice, including the classic “Tell Me What’s Wrong” audience Q&A segment.

Key Discussion Points

Friendship and Adventures

• Growing Closer: Jake and Kaia reminisce about becoming best friends over the past year, with shared trips to Austin and Portland, and building new memories.
• Portland Stories (04:38): Humorous retelling of Jake’s attempts at “nature” in Portland, swimming holes, cliff jumping mishaps, and Jake vlogging the experience.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Kaia: “We sold you the dream and we under delivered and I’m sorry.” (05:29)
• Adventurous Personalities (21:11): Kaia is dubbed Jake’s “most adventurous friend.” They joke about Jake being lured out on weeknights and his growing boldness.

Acting Careers and Set Stories

• Jake as Actor:
  • Kaia witnessed Jake’s first movie role, relaying how the crew raved about him and how well he handled joining an established set (07:34–11:49).
  • Memorable Moment: Kaia recounts Jake’s confusion during improv scenes and his quick adaptation (11:03).
• Kaia in “The Shards”:
  • Discussion of her role in Ryan Murphy’s new show, including character research and the challenges of playing an ’80s LA kid (15:04–16:02).
  • Quote: Kaia: “Honestly, I love Ryan Murphy. Like, I didn’t realize Glee was camp when I watched it... he does that so well.” (15:38)

Book Club and Reading Habits

• Reading as a Muscle (13:42): Kaia shares her passion for reading, how she fits it into her day, and encourages Jake to build the habit.
  • Kaia’s Book Club: Library Science.
  • Quote:
    • Kaia: “I actually think reading is a muscle. And the more you do it, the better your attention span gets.” (13:42)

Pop Culture, TV, and Needle Drops

• Favorite Shows:
  • Jake loves Scandal (16:45–17:03), Kaia is cycling through The Office (18:29).
• Ryan Murphy Universe:
  • The pair geek out over Glee, Scream Queens, American Horror Story, and what “camp” means in TV (15:38–15:53; 30:32–31:55).
• Needle Drop Obsession (68:44):
  • Both express love for emotional TV soundtrack moments, from Girls to Grey’s Anatomy and The OC.

Relationships & Dating

• Dating in LA & NY (22:12; 48:43):
  • Both discuss the struggles and quirks of dating in LA vs. New York, the prevalence of monogamous vs. open relationships, and the value of being true to yourself.
  • Kaia’s Advice: Date your friends—“If you have the opportunity to date a friend, do it. It just is so much better.” (40:24)
• Embarrassment & Self-Worth:
  • Kaia and Jake talk openly about insecurities, the impact of online comments, people-pleasing, and learning not to let others define their self-worth (37:27–39:13).

Mental Health & OCD

• OCD Experiences:
  • Both share their personal experiences with OCD, from intrusive thoughts to compulsions, and the challenge of being misunderstood.
  • Quote:
    • Jake: “One of my ocds is ... thinking you’re a bad person all the time ... that’s what hurts the most.” (38:08)
• Therapy Recommendations (63:38):
  • Jake shares exposure therapy techniques, helped by Kaia’s insights on how diagnosis can lead to understanding and self-compassion.
• Drinking & Sobriety:
  • Both reflect on taking breaks from alcohol and how abstaining improves their mental health (56:47–57:15).

Audience Q&A – "Tell Me What’s Wrong" (59:34 onward)

• Boyfriend brings condoms to college: Kaia’s advice: “If there is any suspicion of cheating, leave... wanting to leave is enough.” (60:04–61:11)
• OCD Diagnosis at 37: Emphasize peace from understanding behaviors and recommend exposure therapy (63:08–64:19).
• Throuple & Paternity: Mixed feelings about finding out the father, jokingly prescribe watching “Mamma Mia!” and “think about the kid” (65:01–65:24).
• Partner’s Pet Snake is an Ick: Kaia finds it sweet; if you’re looking for icks, maybe you don’t like them as much as you think (66:43).
• Dealing with Embarrassment from Clumsiness:
  • Kaia’s tip: “If I trip, I just look at the nearest person and I say, are you okay? It just confuses them...” (74:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Friendship:

  • Kaia: “It’s so fun to watch people meet you for the first time. I have never heard someone say something bad about you.” (21:22)

• On Adulthood:

  • Jake: “You got me out of the house on a Wednesday.” (03:10)

• On Public Perception:

  • Kaia: “The amazing thing about you is the person that ends up loving you is going to be so obsessed... if they don’t, then like, don’t you dare shave your legs.” (22:28–24:39)

• On Relationships:

  • Kaia: “I used to completely just change my personality and my values for someone...but that’s not actually how you build respect.” (22:48)
  • Jake: “I think just to start...for my first boyfriend I’d like it to be monogamous.” (22:24)

• On Advice for Rejection in Acting:

  • Kaia: "Either a role was always yours or never yours." (29:12)

• On Mental Health:

  • Jake: “One of my OCDs is thinking you’re a bad person all the time.” (38:08)
  • Kaia: “I think everyone’s mad at me all the time. I have friends who text me ‘not mad at you’ because they know I probably think they are.” (39:24)

• On TV & Music:

  • Jake: “I'll tell you my favorite needle drops right now if you really want to know…” (68:49)
  • Kaia: “You love a needle drop. More than anything.” (68:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Portland “Nature” Stories: 04:38–07:19
• On-Set Acting & Jake’s Movie Debut: 07:33–11:49
• Book Club & Reading Habits: 13:42–14:03, 36:38
• Ryan Murphy & TV Recap: 15:38–17:12, 30:32–32:17
• Dating, Friendship, and Self-Worth: 21:11–24:39, 40:23–41:43
• Online Comments & Insecurities: 37:27–39:13
• Mental Health, OCD, Therapy: 38:08, 63:08–64:27
• Tell Me What’s Wrong Mailbag: 59:34–74:54
• Pop Culture & Needle Drops: 68:44–71:15
• Reflections & What Did We Learn: 75:00–77:28

Episode Takeaways

• Celebrate True Friendship: The episode showcases the warmth and depth of platonic love, as Jake and Kaia support and tease each other with equal energy.
• Stay True to Yourself: Their stories about acting, making content, and dating emphasize the importance of authenticity—even when it’s hard.
• Mental Health Matters: Both host and guest speak frankly about OCD, anxiety, rejection, and therapy, normalizing these conversations.
• Date Your Friends: Kaia advocates for romantic relationships built on friendship and mutual respect.
• Don’t Let Fear (or the Internet) Define You: Whether facing social anxiety, online criticism, or the icks in dating, the duo encourage embracing your quirks and letting go of things that don’t serve you.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a joyful, messy, and profound celebration of friendship, vulnerability, and humor—with genuine advice for listeners navigating their own drama. Jake Shane and Kaia Gerber prove that therapy—real or amateur—can be as goofy as it is healing.

Listen for sharp-witted banter, heartfelt admissions, and plenty of pop culture recommendations. Perfect for fans of both hosts or anyone needing a reminder that being a little messy is perfectly normal—and sometimes exactly what you need.