Therapy Gecko Podcast: “I AM A SYRIAN SHEPHERD”
Date: December 14, 2025
Host: Lyle (Therapy Gecko)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Brief Overview
In this episode, Therapy Gecko (Lyle) connects with strangers across the globe for candid, vulnerable, and often amusing conversations about their unique life situations and feelings of isolation, transformation, and self-discovery. Callers share stories from shepherding in Syria, uprooting a life for a dream, falling in love across distances, learning to deal with panic, and facing existential anxiety. The Gecko offers thoughtful, sometimes humorous, but always compassionate insights about loneliness, personal growth, and embracing the unknown.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Loneliness and Self-Discovery as a Young Shepherd in Syria
Caller: Yehu ("Yu")
Timestamps: [01:53] - [14:33]
- Life as a 17-Year-Old Syrian Shepherd: Yu describes volunteering as a shepherd on a remote farm near Syria, typically spending hours alone tending animals. While initially content, he now finds isolation harder (“It's been starting to get lonely, which is something… weird for me to say because I've always considered myself an introvert.” [03:52]).
- The Double-Edged Sword of Solitude: Yu enjoys the meditative aspects but admits loneliness is building, despite his introverted tendencies.
- Friends Drifting Apart: High school friends have scattered to university and military service, leaving Yu with less social contact.
- Host’s Take on Isolation: Lyle highlights that being a shepherd is "intentionally isolated," and points out the need for balancing peaceful solitude with the comfort of community:
- "When you're kind of like designing the life that you want… you have to keep these things in mind. So there's trade offs… But you got to really understand what you're choosing. And what you're choosing is isolation." [07:33]
- Openness to Change: Yu is reassured that it’s okay to change direction (“I'm very happy with, you know, experiencing different things, even though it doesn't turn out to be what I want to do.” [13:59]).
- Memorable Quotes:
- Yu: “Turns out, I'm not [the kind of person who thrives in isolation].” [11:13]
- Gecko: “You can decide that you want to go be a shepherd… But you gotta really understand what you're choosing. And what you're choosing is isolation.” [08:00]
- Takeaway: Loneliness can sneak up even on introverts, and youthful experimentation is healthy. Social connection is a core human need.
2. Reinvention, Relationships, & Fearlessness in California
Caller: Nick
Timestamps: [14:45] - [32:30]
- Radical Life Change: Nick shares how he blew up his old life in North Carolina after ending a long, unfulfilling relationship and losing a job. He moved across the country to pursue archaeology, his dream career.
- Social Loneliness and Making Connections: Feels distant from making true friends, but finds camaraderie with an older neighbor, and is actively dating, although with mixed results and few deeper connections.
- Dating Woes & Vulnerable Moments: Nick recounts a challenging date where someone openly discussed their mental health and scars (“…was, like, completely relieved [partner didn’t come along]. That's not a good sign.” [15:19]).
- Host’s Empathetic Perspective: Lyle frames Nick’s journey as one of admirable bravery, comparing him to Mike Wazowski in Monsters University:
- "You might not have that natural Sully scariness… but you’re fearless. You go into this bar by yourself and you start talking to people. You move across the country, you abandon your life…you are fearless." [29:27–30:43]
- Self-Improvement by Stepping Outside Comfort Zone: Nick describes forcing himself to socialize in new places, which gets easier over time (“…once you can just talk to a random person for...a couple minutes, then it becomes so much easier to...try to talk to co-workers.” [23:41])
- Memorable Quotes:
- Gecko: “You are not, you may not be scary, but you are fearless.” [30:43]
- Nick: “It feels so much better to actually, like, take steps to improve your life than it does to, like, just sulk about it.” [31:31]
- Takeaway: Big life changes are daunting but can lead to meaningful personal growth. Bravery isn’t about lacking fear, but acting in spite of it.
3. Cross-Country Romance and Falling in Love in Norway
Caller: Adrian
Timestamps: [35:36] - [51:40]
- Long-Distance Relationship: Adrian drove nine hours across Norway to meet someone met on Facebook Dating (“The first time meeting her was driving across the country.” [37:00])
- Comparing Past and Present Love: Contrasts this open, accepting new relationship with a previous secretive one due to cultural disagreements (“It…was very, very difficult.” [40:20])
- Looking Forward: Adrian shares the anticipation (and nerves) about meeting his partner's family.
- Host's Playful Curiosity: Lyle delves into Norwegian culture (“Did you know that the difference between American Jesus and Norwegian Jesus is that Norwegian Jesus is... Norwegian.” [44:14]), asking about school, religion, and gaming preferences.
- A Negative Experience with Weed: Adrian describes a distressing first encounter with cannabis (“I was lost...dissociating from reality...in pure agony…I felt this uncomfortable feeling in my body constantly.” [46:58–47:45])
- Memorable Quotes:
- Adrian: “It just feels more real…this one is different.” [40:04]
- Gecko (on future): “You're gonna have a good life. You're gonna live in the countryside with a wife and a PlayStation and no weed.” [50:14]
- Adrian (parting advice): “So I just don't give up. Never give up.” [50:46]
- Takeaway: Openness, family, and being seen for who you are matter more than anything; trying new things is valuable even if outcomes are uncertain.
4. Alone for the First Time: Panic, Coping, and Embracing Solitude
Caller: Nono
Timestamps: [54:44] - [73:07]
- Anxious About Solitude: At 27, Nono is experiencing living alone (partner away for two weeks) after a lifetime in a bustling family home (“I'm pretty much here alone in my house for like, first time ever.” [55:05])
- Isolation vs. Opportunity: Torn between anxiety and excitement for having a space of their own; plans to keep busy with puzzles, drawing, inviting friends over, and self-care.
- Coping with Anxiety & Panic: Open about experiencing panic attacks, having previously been on Lexapro, now practicing acceptance and letting emotions pass (“You kind of gotta feel it before it can be passed. And then I essentially, like, I feel that fear long enough for my body's like, okay, this is actually, like, a false alarm.” [67:15])
- Therapy & Emotional Awareness: Recently started with a new therapist, focusing on identifying bodily sensations and naming emotions (“Sometimes I get so excited...my body's like, oh, shit man, are we, like, dying?” [69:21])
- Host’s Gentle Reassurance: Lyle offers both humor (“Are you gonna watch porn with sound on?” [61:12]) and empathy (“It's a valuable skill to know how to just be alone, you know?” [60:11]).
- Memorable Quotes:
- Gecko: “Sometimes you have to just accept that you’re kind of a weakling.” [63:48]
- Nono: “Just don’t give up. Never give up.” [50:46]
- Nono: “Live your life. Eat good food and sleep well.” [72:47]
- Takeaway: Learning to be comfortable in your own company (even through messy emotions) is a lifetime skill, and small pleasures help ground us.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Comment | |:--------:|---------|:--------------| | 07:33 | Host (Gecko) | “When you're kind of like designing the life that you want to live, you have to keep these things in mind… there’s trade-offs… what you're choosing is isolation.” | | 13:01 | Yu | “Maybe that's what I miss.” | | 19:38 | Nick | “I guess I'm a bit of an odd guy… most of them have just been like kind of… boring.” | | 23:41 | Nick | “Once you can just talk to a random person for a couple minutes, then it becomes so much easier…” | | 30:43 | Host (Gecko) | “You are not, you may not be scary, but you are fearless.” | | 40:04 | Adrian | “It just feels more real… this one is different.” | | 46:58–47:45 | Adrian | “I was lost... dissociating from reality... in pure agony… that was just like the first few minutes.” | | 55:05 | Nono | “I'm pretty much here alone in my house for like, first time ever.” | | 67:15 | Nono | “You kind of gotta feel it before it can be passed… I feel that fear long enough for my body's like, okay, this is actually, like, a false alarm.” | | 72:47 | Nono | “Live your life. Eat good food and sleep well.” |
Important Timestamps by Topic
- Shepherd’s Story (Yu): [01:53] – [14:33]
- Radical Transformation (Nick): [14:45] – [32:30]
- Norwegian Love & Cannabis Story (Adrian): [35:36] – [51:40]
- Solo Living & Panic (Nono): [54:44] – [73:07]
Tone and Style
Therapy Gecko’s tone remains warm, conversational, and peppered with humor and pop culture references (“…can I have your permission to use literary themes from Monsters University…” [26:46]). He validates callers’ struggles while nudging them to see other possibilities, mixing earnest encouragement with light sarcasm. Callers respond in earnest, bringing vulnerability, self-deprecation, and hope to the exchange.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a gentle, wide-ranging meditation on loneliness, change, love, and learning to live with discomfort. Through its diverse calls, it affirms that everyone—regardless of age, country, or circumstance—navigates their own version of isolation and longing for connection. Therapy Gecko guides listeners and callers alike with acceptance, humor, and the joyful reminder that it’s okay to change your mind and try new things, over and over, as you figure out what really suits you.
Quotable Close:
“It's okay to, like, especially when you're young, to try something and realize it's not working for you and then go do something else.” – Host (Gecko), [13:42]