“I GOT SOBER AND IT’S GREAT”

Summary

Therapy Gecko - “I GOT SOBER AND IT’S GREAT” (May 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this candid and empathetic episode, Lyle (a.k.a. Therapy Gecko) takes calls from listeners on topics of personal growth, addiction, and self-reflection. The main focus is a heartfelt conversation with Riley, who shares his journey of getting sober and redefining his life and hobbies. Other discussions with callers Jerry and Barry explore life transitions, loneliness, retail work, and what it means to find one’s community. As always, Lyle navigates these deep topics with humor, honesty, and a touch of therapy—gecko-style.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Riley’s Journey to Sobriety and Self-Discovery

• Existential reflection and life changes

  • Riley, 28, is confronting existential feelings leading up to his ten-year high school reunion and a career shift starting paramedic school.
  • He’s no longer comparing himself negatively to former classmates, but finds it “weird” and thought-provoking to observe everyone’s trajectories.
    • “I think I'm finally at the age where I'm realizing that I'm not like a young adult anymore and I'm more of an adult.” (07:07, Riley)

• Sobriety as a turning point

  • Riley recently quit drinking following unsuccessful coping after his uncle's death and its impact on his marriage.
  • Inspired by his wife and the Bomb Hole snowboarding podcast, he found sobriety helped his mental health and brought clarity.
  • Despite still sometimes using mushrooms and weed, neither are as prominent in his life, and “getting stoned” has lost its appeal.

• Relearning Life without Alcohol

  • Riley describes how activities like mountain biking and snowboarding were entangled with drinking, not just as social rituals, but performance enhancers or rituals.
    • “It was just kind of like a tool to get ready to drink beer. And so then, like, I'd finish a mountain bike ride…now what I do, I'm not getting beer.” (10:20, Riley)
  • Sobriety meant redefining the mental "reward" once tied to alcohol.
  • Discusses "unpavloving" himself from beer:
    • “I gotta unpavlov myself…it's been cool. It's seven months as of tomorrow.” (13:28, Riley)

• The Hard Part Isn’t Sobriety, It’s the Addiction Cycle

  • Notable reframing: Staying sober is easier than staying intoxicated and managing the logistics of being intoxicated.
    • “Being sober isn't what's hard. Like, staying fucked up all day is hard, like, financially and mentally.” (13:28, Riley)
  • Riley highlights the exhaustion of “today’s the day” feedback loops, and how for him, change required nearing rock bottom.

• Replacing Addiction with Healthy Activities

  • Recommends channeling energy for drinking into new hobbies (for him, cycling), noting others replace drinking with crafts or activities to keep hands busy.
  • Acknowledges not every replacement works for everyone, referencing his own ADHD and project fatigue.

2. Impact of Weather on Lifestyle & Community Identity

• Riley shares observations about weather’s impact on his outdoor passions (snowboarding, mountain biking), concerned about climate change and drought in Southwest Colorado.
• Discussion of snowboarding culture, Sean White’s initiatives, and comparisons between snowboarding and skateboarding mentalities.

3. Lyle on Socialization, Addiction, and Sobriety

• Lyle reflects on his behaviors of pairing substances with activities and his own struggles with cycles of addiction.
  • “Every day you go, today's the day. And then every night you go, tomorrow's the day.” (15:26, Lyle)
• Admits feeling “in a crazy feedback loop of my addictions”—asks Riley for advice on breaking out.

4. Community, Peer Comparison & Adulting

• Broad reflection on adulthood, peer comparison, and the feeling of becoming “just an adult.”
• Lyle muses how the former “draw dicks on the textbook” kid is now a “real guy in a suit,” illustrating life’s transitions and the loss of youthful essence.

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Conversation Highlights & Notable Quotes

• On growing up’s existential weirdness:
  • “There’s a definite change of when you go from, like, you move out and you’re figuring it out and then like…that’s your life.” (07:07, Riley)
• On sobriety inspiring performance:
  • “I had to relearn how to snowboard and mountain bike, though, which is interesting.” (10:13, Riley)
• On unlearning alcohol rituals:
  • “You gotta unpavlov yourself.” (13:23, Riley)
• On addiction and motivation:
  • “It is hard to get sober…but it is easier to stay sober than it is to stay up.” (14:47, Riley)
• On feeling stuck in addiction cycles:
  • “Every day you go, today’s the day. And then every night you go, tomorrow’s the day…and then it..dude, it’s the existential—if you’re just like, well, fuck it, every fucking day is today.” (15:26, Lyle)
• On loneliness and connection:
  • “I like being around people. My worst days, I’ll be going insane in my apartment, and then I’ll just, like, talk to someone. I’ll be like, oh, I just needed to…Other people are the only real thing that you have.” (54:15, Lyle)

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Secondary Callers

Jerry & Barry: On Work, Identity, and Social Loneliness

• Jerry’s Jobs & Search for Fulfillment

  • Works retail and DoorDash, feeling “soul-sucked”; previously a body piercer but left due to community toxicity.
  • Desires a creative, flexible job to accommodate travel and self-fulfillment.
  • Provides a frank look at gig work economics:
    • “Doordash does not pay you. You only make the tip that you give.” (37:43, Jerry)

• On Professional Body Piercing

  • Industry rife with drama and abuse, making restarting independent practice unappealing.

• Lyle on Creative Work & Podcasting

  • Considers experimenting more with the podcast format, including “interviewing a tree for an hour,” expressing a desire to break conversation norms and explore psychedelic, loop-based episodes.

• Reflections on Loneliness

  • Barry asks Lyle if he ever gets lonely despite talking to so many callers.
  • Lyle: The podcast is a social act but not friendship or intimacy; real-life adventures and projects have led to deeper connections.
  • “I actually was extremely lonely for many years, and then recently, I’m actually not lonely at all.” (49:02, Lyle)
  • Discusses the comfort of being around others without forced interaction.
    • “My dream social scenario…is to be, like, constantly surrounded by people that I don’t have to talk to.” (50:05, Lyle)

• On Human Connection and Reality

  • Lyle: Human beings need to “peer review” their reality with others, or risk spinning out in their isolated “profound consciousness.”
    • “If you’re just that, like, as a human, you’re a being of profound consciousness. And if you’re just…alone, wallowing in the pool of your own profound consciousness…You are like a fucking astronaut spinning around in space. You’re tethered to nothing.” (55:15, Lyle)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:57] – Riley introduces himself and discusses existential self-reflection
• [07:38] – Riley reveals recent sobriety and its impact on his life
• [10:13] – Discussion on relearning hobbies without alcohol
• [13:28] – Reframing sobriety & the challenge of “unpavloving” routines
• [14:40] – Lyle asks for “therapy” regarding his own addiction cycles
• [18:40] – Riley talks about paramedic school and living in Colorado
• [29:19] – Jerry discusses recent unusual podcast calls with Lyle
• [37:43] – Jerry details the realities of gig work (Doordash)
• [44:49] – Jerry and partner Barry ask Lyle about personal loneliness
• [49:02] – Lyle discusses loneliness, friendship, and community
• [50:05] – Lyle’s “dream” social scenario and philosophy on solitude in crowds
• [55:15] – Lyle’s metaphor about “tethering” one’s reality through human connection

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Memorable Moments

• Riley’s “unpavloving” his brain: The idea that certain activities are deeply conditioned with substance use, and sobriety is about breaking that connection.
• Lyle’s social philosophy: Prefers being around people he doesn’t have to talk to, and the energy of “the circle.”
• Barry’s mall theory: Sometimes just being around people is enough for connection—no need for direct interaction.
• Lyle’s existential astronaut: Without anchoring your conscious experience with others, you become “an astronaut spinning in space, tethered to nothing.”

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Takeaways & Closing Wisdom

• Sobriety is hard at first, but the real mental work is tied into the routines and rituals that reinforce addiction.
• Breaking ritualized habits is as much about self-compassion and healthy distraction as it is about willpower.
• Community—whether through hobbies, family, or simply being among others—is crucial in combating loneliness and perpetuating growth.
• Everyone is on their own timeline; comparisons can be productive only if they inspire growth, not shame.

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Final Quotes

• “Being sober isn't what's hard. Like, staying fucked up all day is hard, like, financially and mentally.” – Riley (13:28)
• “You gotta unpavlov yourself.” – Riley (13:23)
• “Other people are the only real thing that you have. ... You have to peer review your reality with other beings of profound consciousness in order to prevent you from going insane.” – Lyle (54:15)

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[End of Content]

Transcript

[Lyle]

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[Lyle]

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[Lyle]

hey folks, it's Lyle. How's it going? Before we start the show, I want to let you guys know that if you live in the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver or Minneapolis, I am coming to your town next week to do my therapy Gecko live show. These shows are a very good time. They're a combination of, you know, doing what we do here on this podcast where we bring People up on stage. We do a little group gecko therapy and it's also a storytelling show. I've been living my life. I went to Iraq, I went to Ukraine. I've been, you know, doing a bunch of interesting, cool stuff and I've written about it, I've performed, you know, created some material about it that I'm very excited to present to you guys. So please get a ticket and come to the show. I'd love to see you. June 4, San Francisco, Swedish American Hall. June 5, Portland, Polaris Hall. June 6, Seattle at the Crocodile. June 7 in Vancouver at the Biltmore Cabaret. June 9 in Minneapolis at the Parkway Theater. You can get tickets to all those dates. And I also have many other dates that I'm doing this month and August and September. I'm going all over the place. It's just next week I'm going to the Pacific Northwest. So I wanted to shout out those shows. In particular, you can get tickets to all of these [e-mail] so if you haven't gotten a ticket yet, you should come to the shows because they'll be fun. All right, let's get into the episode. Hello.

[Riley]

Oh my God, it's a gecko.

[Lyle]

What's up, man? What's your name?

[Riley]

My name is Riley.

[Lyle]

Riley. What's going on, Riley? How's life?

[Riley]

You know, it's, it's, it's ever changing.

[Lyle]

It is ever changing. It is ever changing as much as ever.

[Riley]

But it's good. It's like really good. I would, I would say it's good. Yeah, I don't know ever like super really good. But like right now it's good.

[Lyle]

So what is it that you wanted to talk about today?

[Riley]

I don't know, man. Like, I'm a long time listener of the show. Big fan. I've been dealing with a lot of existentialism over the past like couple weeks, which has been like, interesting because like I'm. I'm 28. My 10 year high school reunions this year. I'm currently starting school over going to paramedic school, which is like, I don't know, it's weird because like 10 years ago, like I. That was my goal to start 10 years ago and now I'm doing it now and then also I like look at people who also graduated school like 10 years ago and like where they're at in life and like I'm not like jealous or like feel bad about where I'm at in life. It just is just, it's just weird. You know? Does that make sense?

[Lyle]

Yeah. You know what, it's funny. I had a dude. I don't know what it is. I saw some like. I don't know. I don't know why I saw it, but I was like looking at the LinkedIn profile of this kid that I had art class with when I was in middle school, and he and I would like, draw dicks on the textbooks together, you know, and we would like. There was, I think there was this girl that we both liked and we were just trying to like get a rise out of her by drawing dicks on the, on the textbooks and stuff. And we didn't. Right. And he was just like a silly kid. Right. And I was looking at his LinkedIn and he's like a real estate agent guy now, you know? And I was looking at him and he has. And he looks like a real guy. He's got a suit, you know, he's like.

[Riley]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

And all. And the, the essence of like, just draw us drawing those dicks on the textbooks, it's like gone. It's like that guy is, you know, where is he? Where'd he go? It just gave me a weird feeling. Yeah, it gave me. It gave me weird feeling. Is that, Is that sort of the feeling you're getting where you're like. I'm not jealous of these people. It's just interesting seeing.

[Riley]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Where everyone. That everyone. Everyone wound up in a place.

[Riley]

You know? I know. I think that's. I think. I think I'm finally at the age where I'm like realizing that I'm not like a young adult anymore and I'm more of an adult. Like, there's like, there's a. There's a definite like, change of when you go from, like, you move out and you're figuring it out and then like. And then all of a sudden you're just. That's your life. And I feel like I'm at that point too. I think part of that too is I've recently gotten sober.

[Lyle]

Oh.

[Riley]

And I've had like a lot of like self reflection on that.

[Lyle]

What's that like?

[Riley]

It's. It's cool. It's cool to be sober. I was a drinker and now I'm not. And I haven't really done it, like, in like, other stuff. I do, like shrooms and weed, but I don't like getting stoned. Like, not. I don't get like, anxiety or. I don't know. It's not as cool as it was when I was in high school. I Think, like, smoking weed is, like, I get bored easily, or I just, like, don't enjoy it. So I just. Yeah, I've just been, like, sober for the longest. I've been sober since, like, 18.

[Lyle]

So what inspired you to. What inspired you to get sober?

[Riley]

My wife.

[Lyle]

That's why you feel like an adult. You have a. You have a wife.

[Riley]

Yeah, that. But, yeah, we. I mean, I don't know. Like, I never really had a drinking problem, per se. Then, like, two years ago, my uncle died, and that just kind of sent me off the deep end when I just progressively got worse and worse and worse. And it was, like, it took a huge toll on my mental health, and it took a huge toll on my wife's mental health. And so that was, like, step number one was just like, you know, I trying to be happy in my life and my marriage, and getting sober was the way to do that. And I don't regret it. And I'm, like, constantly. I don't. Every day is cool. And I was listening to a podcast the other day, the Bomb Hole podcast, snowboarding podcast. And the host of it got sober. And his, like, his talks of sobriety kind of is what, like, started spinning, like, spinning the gears in my brain without getting sober, because he, like, would talk about it, and it was very. It hit close to home, like. Like, when he was drinking and, like, when he was doing drugs. Yeah. And so getting sober has been really good. I had. I did have to relearn how to snowboard and mountain bike, though, which is interesting.

[Lyle]

How did you have to. Why did you have to relearn how to do it? Did you only know how to do it when you were drunk?

[Riley]

No. No, I wasn't. Like, it just. It's different, like, because, like. Like, because mountain biking is, like, a very social part of, like, drinking is a very, like, heavy part of it. Like, not in, like, a bad way, but there's a lot of, like, oh, we're gonna go for a mountain bike ride, and then we're gonna go. Go to a brewery and listen and, like, and drink beer. We're gonna go to a restaurant, go to the happy hour afterwards, and, you know. Or you'd have a beer beforehand. So it was just kind of like a tool to get ready to drink beer. And so then, like, I'd finish a mountain bike ride or a road ride and be like, okay, now what I do, I'm not getting beer. And then snowboarding. And then snowboarding. Like, you'd start the day sober and then, like, progressively drink more throughout the day, trying to find the threshold of like where I'm the best at the sport. And so like, like you got looser and the confidence was a lot more. So this is like my first year snowboarding sober. And it was, it was like a lot different, like, because it felt a lot more linear. Like snowboarding throughout the day of like, you know, I, you know, wake, you know, warm up, take a drink, have a beer, have a shooter, whatever, do another lap and like kind of pace yourself off that. Whereas without drinking, you're just like, oh, I just gotta just kind of stay in that headspace all day. Because it kind of like, it was like a cheat code. You drink and then you go and then you just be like where you want it to be. Performance wise. Sailboarding.

[Lyle]

Yeah. So it's like you had to relearn it in the sense that it's for you an activity that is deeply tied to drinking.

[Riley]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, that like those activities are deeply tied to drinking. And not that I couldn't do them without drinking, it's just, it's learning how to do them and not like unpav. Loving yourself.

[Lyle]

Oh, yeah, totally, Totally. I'm trying to think what I have that way. I mean, I have that with. I have that with smoking weed and everything. Not like, I mean, a lot of people have that right, where they're like, oh, I'm gonna go to the grocery store. Let me smoke weed beforehand. Oh, cool. We're gonna go see them this movie. Let me get blasted beforehand. I've had periods of time in my life where I was like, anytime I'm not working, I'm high, you know, like, it was just. Yeah, it's like, yeah, dude. And also I feel that with. Dude. All, all of my like, addictions. And I feel that way about like,

[Riley]

that was me with like beer. Like, like last year. Last year I'd be like, home. My wife would be at work and I'd be done for the day and I'd be like, well, I want to watch Adventure Time. I need to watch Adventure Time with a six pack.

[Lyle]

Right, right, right. Yeah, you got. Yeah, it's true. You gotta unpav. Lob yourself.

[Riley]

Yeah, I gotta unpavlov myself. Which is like, it was. It's been cool. It's seven months as of tomorrow. Tomorrow, seven months over. And that's like. And that's a, That's a cool. A cool feat. And I met, I met one of my heroes, snowboarding, who's also sober at him at five months. And he told me that was the hardest. The hardest time. And it feels like it's gotten easier every day. And then I could take away. I've had on sobriety, too. Is like, being sober isn't what's hard. Like, staying fucked up all day is hard, like, financially and like, mentally of. Well, where's the money going to go to buy a bottle of tequila? Or where's the money coming from to buy, you know, a six pack a night to watch Adventure Time and like. Or how do I. How do I stay up and people not realize I'm up?

[Lyle]

Oh, the. The. Yeah, the being up is the hard part. And the stinks.

[Riley]

Yeah, being.

[Lyle]

That's a. That's a fast. That's a fascinating reframing. That's a fascinating reframing. Yeah.

[Riley]

Yeah. Like, it. It's like, it is hard to get sober. Like, that is true. But it is easier to stay sober than it is to stay up.

[Lyle]

Dude, I. You know what, dude, give me some therapy because I'm. I'm at a point. I'm at a point right now where I'm like, I'm so. I feel like I'm in a crazy feedback loop of my addictions that I, like, can't escape from. Like, you know, you. You know how it is when you're addicted. Like, every. Every day you go, yeah. Oh, every day. Every day you go, today's the day. And then every night you go, tomorrow's the day. And it's just.

[Riley]

You just.

[Lyle]

And then it. Dude, it's the existential. If you're just like, well, fuck it, every fucking day is today. You know, it's just. It's so hard. I don't even know how to, like, get like. I don't even know how to get out of that, like, kind of rat race of it, you know?

[Riley]

Oh, no, because I've. I've been there too before because I like. I like, danced around the idea of sobriety and like, I kind of like grew up around sobriety too, because my parents both met in aa and so like my entire life I was like, I'm gonna be better than my parents. I'm never gonna be an addict. And then here. Here I am in the same boat. But it's like. I don't know, it's like hard. It's like a hard thing because I would do the same thing of like, okay, I'm done. I'm done drinking. Like, this is going to be my last drink. And then I go to work. And I hated my job or I was just overwhelmed by like, existing. And I was like, you know what? Tomorrow. Tomorrow's a better day to quit drinking. And then, like, tomorrow never came for, like, three years.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Riley]

And then, like, one day, it finally it clicked. And for me, it kind of, like, took getting closer to a rock bottom. And I don't want to say, like, I think it's disingenuous to say the only way to get sober is to be at a rock bottom. And I think it really depends on, like, the type of person you are. Like, for me, it took getting close to rock bottom to get sober. But for other people, like, other ways to, like, frame it, too, is, like, for your health.

[Jerry]

Right?

[Riley]

Like, it's like, I don't want to feel like anymore. And, like, the moment I stop doing this, I can. Sorry, I can stop feeling a little less shitty. And then another thing, too, is, like, finding something to replace it, like, healthily.

[Lyle]

Yeah. Helps a lot.

[Riley]

So, like, I want. Like, when I first quit drinking, I really just wanted to drink. So anytime I would drink, I would. I'd go on a mountain bike ride or I'd go on a road ride, and that kind of helped too. Like, it's like, well, like, well, I. I can't sit at home. I'm too tempted. I can't go out. I'm too tempted. So let me go do something I enjoy. And I've known people who, like, they decide to quit something and they need to keep their hands busy, so they got, like, a small craft going. Like, I know someone who started knitting because they wanted to get sober. And so, like, that. That's something that, like, I've looked into as well. Like, it never worked for me because I have adhd and I just get distracted by all the small little projects. Right. I can't, like, have, like, a craft hobby, like knitting or sewing or making something just because I get so, like, well, I can do it bigger and better and do this thing next when I, like, lose all the. All the steam for it because something else caught my eye.

[Lyle]

Yeah. It's hard to be. It's hard to do several things when you got that young adhd.

[Riley]

Yeah. So. But, yeah, that's where I'm at. Like, seven months sober in paramedic school, which is, like, I'm really excited for.

[Lyle]

Congrats, man.

[Riley]

And, yeah, just living in southwest Colorado and, like, the worst year to live in southwest Colorado.

[Lyle]

Why is it the worst year to live in southwest Colorado?

[Riley]

Oh, we had a terrible snowpack. Like, I'm so afraid of everything around us catching on fire. We had like one like when I first moved here in 2020, we had snow on the ground from October to, till April. This winter we didn't have snow on the ground until I got back from a job in California. And then we had snow on the ground for like into Ringo Colorado where I live for like maybe two weeks maybe. And that was in like February and then like a little bit in March. And then come April like everything in town was dry. We could, we could, there's really no point in the year. We could stop mountain biking. It was like really bad. We already hit peak river flow for the year like two weeks ago. So the river's not going to get any higher unless we get rain. So this is not a bad, it's a bad weather year to live in southwest Colorado is what I should say.

[Lyle]

You sound like you know a lot about the weather and I respect that.

[Riley]

I, I mean when you like when I, I love snowboarding. I got maybe 40 days this year and 60 days last year like last season. And so when you're like looking at how the, how that snow fall for like affects your like how the weather affects your like one of your favorite sports when your entire sport is like weather dependent. You got, you kind of gotta.

[Lyle]

And it's like how does, how's that, how's that guy Sean White doing? I bought a, I played his Wii game back, you know, back in the days when throwing dicks on textbooks.

[Riley]

Yeah, no, I remember that game. Nah, Sean White's like a cool guy in the space. He's doing a lot and a little for the snowboarding community at the time right now. Like he nft? No, he doesn't have an nft but he, he started his own snowboard apparel and snowboard brand and then he sponsors like a little dude who lives in Telluride, like absolute ripper. Like some 10 year old kid who's like better at snowboarding than I'll ever be. And then he started a competition called the Snow League, which is pretty cool. It's like another, another con contest space for half pipe snowboarders, which is good. Yeah, he's like, he's finally getting, getting back in there and like helping helping advance the snowboard community.

[Lyle]

Fuck yeah, man. I've never snowboarded before because I don't know, I like, I, I don't like the fact that your feet are clamped to the board. You know what I mean? I like, I like, I like, I like this freedom of skateboarding. I'm always afraid I'm gonna like, like, like like skateboarding, it feels like anytime you're on the skateboard, you can go back to the option to walk is right there, you know, I mean, there's nothing between you and changing your method of travel from skateboarding to walking. But with the snowboard, it's like your ass is snowboarding. And if you want to change from snowboarding to walking, there is a. There is a procedure. You know, I don't like having a procedure between me and walking.

[Riley]

No, that's. That's super fair. And I kind of like. I have, like, the opposite. When I skateboard. Every time I go skateboarding, I get, like, super frustrated because I'll be trying to drop into a bowl and it's nowhere near as steep or as deep as a half pipe, like the local half pipe of. At our local ski resort. And I. I'll do that all the time. I do that going switch, going regular. But on a. On a skateboard, I just sometimes with mental, I can't. And I like, be thinking, like, it'd be so much better if my feet were just strapped to the thing right now.

[Lyle]

Ah, interesting. Interesting. Yeah. Sometimes when I'm working on my desk, my ADHD makes me want to go, you know, leave the room and get a snack or get high or, you know, do whatever. And it would be easier if my feet were strapped to the ground. That's how I feel about those things. And most things in life would be easier to do if you had your feet strapped to them. What's your name again?

[Riley]

My name is Riley.

[Lyle]

Riley. Riley. That's a. By the way, that's such a name of a skateboard of a snowboarding guy, Riley.

[Riley]

Ah, thank you, Riley. For the rest of the year, Riley,

[Lyle]

is there anything else you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?

[Riley]

No, that's it. Thanks for. Thanks for answering.

[Lyle]

Of course. Thank you, Riley. Good luck with your continued sobriety. You've inspired me. Maybe tomorrow I'll stop eating cosmic brownies for breakfast every day.

[Riley]

Dude, that's. Those are so good. I understand this.

[Lyle]

So that's the problem. That's the problem with food addiction is it's so funny. It's like. Like I'm being serious and it's so funny.

[Riley]

No, I don't care too, because I have, like, I since. Since quitting drinking, I've traded the want for alcohol to, like, sugar.

[Lyle]

But you know what's funny is, is like, we're also, like, conditioned. Like the. Like, when I was a kid, I would have the hot fudge sundae Pop Tarts. And we're like, we've been, we've been conditioned to believe that. Like that's a breakfast.

[Riley]

Oh, yeah, no, I, yeah, I, that happened to me. I was like, I need, I need a better breakfast. I'm tired of oatmeal and I want something healthy. Pop tarts. Pop Tarts are healthy. They're not, they're not at all.

[Lyle]

They're terrible for you, but they're so good. Thanks, Riley. I'll see you around the universe, man.

[Riley]

All right. Thank you, Jack.

[Lyle]

That was Riley. Riley's a good guy. I love, I love one of the things I like about this podcast, man. Just meet a guy like Riley and you're like, damn, there's just a chill ass dude in the world somewhere. It's pretty cool how Fudge. Sunday ones are good. The Rugrats Go Wild had a wild strawberry pop tart with the characters on them back in 2000. Something, someone. How do we get those? How do I get my I want someone get. How do I get my hands on a box of 2,000 for Rugrats go Wild movie promotional pop tarts? Someone let me know if they have leads that.

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[Riley]

for calling the Bombas Comfort line.

[Jerry]

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[Riley]

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[Jerry]

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[Lyle]

Hello?

[Jerry]

Hi, is this Therapy Gecko?

[Lyle]

Yes. Hi. Who is this, bro?

[Jerry]

You can call me Jerry.

[Lyle]

Jerry.

[Jerry]

Oh, my God.

[Lyle]

You, you texted me and you said, what the hell has been going on with the podcast?

[Jerry]

Okay. Yes. Okay. So you've been getting a lot of, like, weird calls on the podcast. Like, like weirder than normal and not like, not like weird. And like, oh, someone has this like, long, like, strange story to tell. You know, it's kind of more so like it's just like unexpected has been happening.

[Lyle]

Okay.

[Jerry]

And. Yeah. How do you feel about that?

[Lyle]

I'm gonna tell you something. I, I, this podcast has been going for six years. There is nothing. I, I can't, I can't even kind of think of what you're talking about that is different than what it normally is.

[Jerry]

Yeah, I mean, I guess my, like, examples would be like, okay, like the Jose guy, that was weird, right? Everyone thought that was like, kind of obscure and everybody had different opinions about it. But I think it's so different.

[Lyle]

What, dude? It's so different,

[Riley]

dude.

[Lyle]

Why did that Jose call cause such a stir? It's so funny to me. It was like,

[Jerry]

I think it's because you put him on the two minute hold, right? Like, okay. I think a lot of people were kind of just like, what the hell? Because I know personally, like, I've been listening to you for, like, pretty much since like the pandemic. And I think it was just like something that, like, personally, I was taken back by and I think some people would probably agree with, like, oh, my God, Lyle just put this guy on a, like on timeout. And like, it wasn't a timeout.

[Lyle]

It was just a two. It was, it was okay. I Was trying. Here's the why I, why I had him sitting at 2 minute silence with us and is because he was coming into this phone call with a certain way that he wanted to be or a certain way he wanted it to go. And he was clinging so deeply to that idea that I, that he wasn't letting me have a conversation with him, however he was in that moment. And so I was like, all right, I'm. So, I was like, I don't, I. All right, on my end, I will refuse to cling to the idea that a podcast should even be, that this conversation should be. I'm, I'm gonna refuse to cling to the idea that this conversation should be anything. And I'm gonna sit in two minutes of silence. And so once those two minutes of silence happened, it was like, all bets are off as to what this conversation should or shouldn't or could or couldn't be. That's what I was trying to illustrate.

[Jerry]

Yeah, I mean, like, I understood that part too, because, like, it was just, it was kind of a wacky phone call, you know, like, obviously I've been listening for a long time. I've heard some, like, crazy phone calls, but that one was just kind of like, whoa, like, what the hell is even happening? And like, I think every other second, like, me and my partner were listening to it and we, like, we were just like, jaw dropped, like, every other second because, like, we didn't know what we were expecting. And I don't think, like, like you said, there is not like, direction necessarily, but, like, we were both just like, what the hell is even going on right now?

[Lyle]

Dude, I have this thought. I have this thing of. Go ahead. If you have more to say, I would want to hear it.

[Jerry]

No, I was just going to say, like, it was almost kind of like in the same way. Like, I can't remember if you've ever said if you've done like acid or anything like that, but it's kind of like when you're stuck in like a psychedelic loop and that's like, just kind of what it felt like listening to it.

[Lyle]

Dude, I want to do more stuff like that. I, I, no, sir. After that podcast episode, after that episode in particular, I was like, I had this thing where I was like, I should up this podcast more. I should release an episode where it's just me saying the. For. Yeah, for an hour. The.

[Jerry]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Lyle]

The, the, you know, I mean, because I already, I'm at this thing where I'm like, I've, again, it's Like, I already know what having a normal conversation feels like. So the only way to evolve is to just start doing wacky, dumb bullshit. But then. But then that's. That's me sort of, I guess, surrendering to this idea that I've heard all the stories that there are to hear. And that's not. That's not true, of course. This. We're constantly making new people. There's infinite people I have never spoken to, but I have that inclination to just be like, you know what? Let me. Just let me interview a tree for an hour. You know what? This. I'm gonna interview a tree for an hour.

[Jerry]

Wait. You should do something like that. You know how they have, like, the little. There's like, clips, and they are. I don't know what exactly it's called, but it's like how they make plant music and they, like, clip these little things. Yeah, yeah, you should do that and, like, see, like, what. It's. What it does when you're, like, talking to it.

[Lyle]

There's this guy, actually, you know, it's funny as. I feel like I've already done. I feel like this idea has been done before. There's this guy, Dan Henschel. He's a very funny. I guess we could call him a content creator. He makes this. He made this YouTube video where it's like. I think it's, like, challenging. He's, like, holding. He's in it. He films all his videos in his car. And he's like, in his car and he has a. He's holding a gourd. And he's, like, challenging myself to talk about this gourd for an hour. And I'm like, that's. See, that's genius. That's fun. That's just, like, creative, you know, that's cool. I mean, I like. It's nice also to do a thing that's grounded in reality, but I don't know. Have you ever felt like you were. You're, like, stuck inside? You, like, stuck as yourself? You ever felt that way?

[Jerry]

Like, what do you mean?

[Lyle]

Okay, so you. So you haven't.

[Jerry]

What you mean, like, do you mean, like, stuck, like, in a. Like. Like I couldn't, like, veer off my, like, path that I've beaten to, like,

[Lyle]

change sort of sort, or just that, like, you know, you are who you like. So at some. You, like little faith in your ability to, I guess, I don't know, change or whatever. Wait, what's your name again?

[Jerry]

I've been going by Jerry.

[Lyle]

Jerry, yeah. Jerry. What's going on in your life.

[Jerry]

So funny you ask. I was actually not supposed to get, like, stuck on the phone with you at all today. Like, that was not my plan. I actually had to go drive doordash and make money today. But this is infinitely better and I have all night to do that. But, yeah, I'm. I'm going camping this weekend with some friends.

[Riley]

Cool.

[Jerry]

I'm going on an Alaskan cruise, like, a week after that, which is kind of insane. But other than that, I hate my job and I'm trying to figure out new employment, and that has been the pinnacle of my life right now is how to survive.

[Lyle]

Is your job doing doordash?

[Jerry]

Sometimes I. I have. I am, like, doing a couple of different things. I work a retail job as, like, a stalker, and then I also work at, like, an office. But I hate those two situations that I'm in. So I've been driving for doordash, which is, like, getting so difficult because gas is so expensive.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

So, yeah.

[Lyle]

Yeah. I can imagine that the profit for that is kind of tough.

[Jerry]

Well, I. I think a lot of people who order doordash, because I know I didn't before, like, driving for doordash, I don't think they realize that doordash does not pay you. You only make the tip that you give.

[Lyle]

Is that true, Doordash? You don't get paid. You only get paid the tip.

[Jerry]

You only get paid the tip. So, like, if I'm like, if you tip someone $3 and the restaurant you order from is like seven miles away, they're only making, like, you know, not even a dollar per mile that they drive. And, like, not to mention the time

[Lyle]

that you spend on doing that, that's so fucking crazy. I hate. I hate the way that, like, I don't know, it's like, dude, one of the ones, the company just, like, pay the, like, tipping. Tipping in general is so, like, annoying. Like, I love, like, when you go to, like, like, Europe and Asia and stuff, and they just don't have it because, like, all the companies, like, you know, it's just so we. All the companies, like, kind of, you know, like, actually, like, pay the wage instead of, like, making the consumer pay the wage. It's kind of up and crazy.

[Jerry]

Yeah, Well, I mean, you would think, like, a company like doordash too, like, they tack on so many, like, extra fees and things like that to your order that, like, part of that would go to the dasher. But no, like, sometimes they have, like, incentives. But I haven't gotten, like, a notification for an incentive in a while, aside from like, oh, this area is super busy. You might make like one extra dollar per delivery, but like, that's it.

[Lyle]

What do you think you're gonna do after this doordash gig?

[Jerry]

You know, I've been asking myself that for months now and it has been so like, like dead end to me, I guess. I don't know. I had like a career for like 10 years like a while ago and then I like stopped doing that and then was just kind of like in and out of like retail type stuff. But it's so like soul sucking to me. And like, I know and like I, I can be a higher valued employee in some way somewhere, especially with like my like office experience. I don't know. Realistically, I kind of want like a work from home situation because I love to travel and just like have some type of freedom and autonomy.

[Lyle]

What was your, you said you had a career. What was your career?

[Jerry]

I was a professional body piercer for 10 years.

[Lyle]

Oh yeah. How come you don't do that?

[Jerry]

That's like a whole nother messed up like, story. But like, basically there's just a lot of like internal drama in the professional body piercing realm and community. And like people aren't very nice to each other and like, not that that should matter a whole lot, but it really does because a lot of it is like word of mouth.

[Lyle]

I, I, I feel like that should, I feel like that should totally matter. I feel like. Yeah, I mean, if that's like the, the universe, if the universe that you're being a part of is like a generally unkind universe, then yeah, that makes sense.

[Jerry]

Yeah, it's just really like toxic and I mean, I think the last couple of years it's been getting a little bit better. But like, there's just a lot of like, there's a lot of like, like essay and like abuse, not necessarily always physical and like harassment and things like that. And there's like a new generation versus like an old generation type of vibe and like people not being held accountable for certain things and people still like supporting them. So it's kind of like just a lot of moving pieces that like I'm more than like good like stepping away

[Lyle]

from, you know, can you, is there isn't a thing you can like go independent on though? Or do you need, or is that, do you need too many like licenses?

[Jerry]

It depends on where you're at. But it's certainly something you can be independent on. But it's like I said, it's hard to like it's hard to not be part of the community because it's a lot of word of mouth. And if you're, like, independent, it's just like any small business, like, if you're, like, a hairstylist or something like that, where it's like, you kind of have to build up your own clientele. And it's also just, like, not a great, like, industry to be in at the moment, because it is, like, a luxury service, so people aren't really wanting to spend that money. And plus, like, the cost of jewelry and shit is just not, like, it's not the same as it was like, when I was doing it, because I stopped, like, maybe, like, I don't know, like, four years ago. Ish. So it's just, like, kind of more of a pain than, like. Yeah, I was also pretty burnt out. So, like, I just don't think I would ever go back to it. But I would like some type of creative job that is maybe work from home. But if it's not creative, then it's just kind of, like, making money, and I'm not dreading working.

[Lyle]

Well, I believe in you. I don't know. I mean, yeah, it's a tough. It's a tough world, but. But I believe in you. I believe in you, Jerry, is there anything else you want to say to the people? Thank you, man. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm trying to believe in me. I'm trying to believe in me. We can believe in each other and fly off into outer space together, man. Jerry. Jerry. Jerry. Thank you for sharing. Jerry, is there anything you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?

[Jerry]

I do, but can I ask you one question?

[Lyle]

Yeah. Well, wait. Is the question the thing you want to say?

[Jerry]

No. No.

[Lyle]

Okay. So you have two things.

[Jerry]

Two things? Yes.

[Lyle]

Sure.

[Jerry]

Okay. So my partner and I were sitting in the car the other day listening to you, and they turn to me and say, do you think Lyle ever gets lonely? And I said, I'm pretty sure Lyle has mentioned being lonely on the podcast. Not that that's a funny thing, but it was just like. Like, I've heard you speak about things like this, but how are you? Are you lonely?

[Lyle]

What was. Can I. All right, let me. What was happening at the. In the podcast at the time when that person. When your. Your partner said that

[Jerry]

podcast, were we listening to?

[Lyle]

Well, I want to know the exact. Give me. I want to know the time. The podcast and the time code when. When he said that, so I can give that to my therapist. Go ahead. When was it?

[Jerry]

Oh, okay. It was the girl you were talking to about. She kept saying she wanted papers and she kept.

[Barry]

She.

[Jerry]

Her husband was sexting a Nigerian.

[Lyle]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Jerry]

And she had an affair with her co worker. And I don't know what you were like, actually saying in the podcast because I was driving. I was kind of zoning out a little bit because the whole episode was a little crazy, but, yes, that was just like, real estate. Me, too.

[Lyle]

What about that? Made. Made him. Made him feel like I was lonely.

[Jerry]

What made. Wait, can I put you on the phone with him?

[Lyle]

Sure.

[Jerry]

Okay. Here.

[Barry]

Hello?

[Lyle]

What's up?

[Barry]

Hey. What up, Gecko?

[Lyle]

Wait, what. What. What about that podcast? Made you feel like I was lonely?

[Barry]

You know, it wasn't, like, necessarily that podcast. I just. We ran, like, a string of, like, crazy episodes. And, like, you know, like, I just thought of, like, you talk to so many people and get, like, all walks of, you know, like, all perspectives and, like, situations, and just, like, you know, are exposed to all that. And maybe it's not like you're forming, like, relationships with these people or friendships necessarily, but it's just, like, you know, it.

[Jerry]

I.

[Barry]

For, like, I guess people like me, you know, I see a bunch of people every day, you know, strangers, and don't have any sort of, like, interaction other than, you know, hi at the most, you know, So I just. I was just wondering, like, does that, like, you. Do you ever get, like, lonely, even though, you know, you talk to so many people, you know, from all over, everywhere?

[Lyle]

Well, the. I mean, the. The relationship I have. I have multiple answers to that question. Well, the relationship I have with, like, like, callers on this show and the context in which I am having these conversations for a recorded podcast is, like. It's very, like. It's a very separate thing from my, like, actual personal life. Except in some instances. Except there's been, like, some instances mainly when I make my little documentaries. Like. Like. Like fucking. Like, the guy that I walked across Japan with, like, that, like, he became my actual friend.

[Barry]

Okay. Yeah, that makes. That makes sense.

[Lyle]

You know, the dude I went to. The guys I went to Ukraine and Iraq with, like, those guys are, like my actual friends, you know, But I don't. Like. I don't. This is. This feels like recording this podcast. It. It doesn't feel like I'm. It's. It's kind of a different paradigm because it's like, I guess, working. So it's not like I'm socializing in the same way. Like, when you're like, interviewing people or doing, like, especially, like, I guess it'd be different if I was like. If it's different when I'm doing it over the phone than when I'm over the. Like, when I. When I do, like, in. When I do, like, in person shit, it feels like I'm socializing, but when I do it over the phone, it feels like I kind of like a different specific thing. But to answer your question, I'm actually not. I actually was extremely lonely for, like, a few years. I was actually extremely lonely for many years, and then recently, I'm actually not lonely at all.

[Barry]

But that's good.

[Lyle]

I'm glad you're here because, I mean, it's the shit that I keep talking about in the podcast about, like, find the community of people and, like, be a part of it. So that way you, like, you know, like, you have a place. Like. Like, I found a place that I can, like, show up at every day, and there's, like, people there, and so I'm, like, truly, like, 90% less lonely than I have been in the past.

[Barry]

Yeah, but.

[Lyle]

Yeah, if that answers your question.

[Barry]

Yeah, absolutely. You know, I just. I was just curious. I guess that makes sense. You know, like, it's a whole different experience, especially the talking over the phone part. Well, like, what about when you do, like, live shows? You know, do you like. Oh, does that sort of scratch the same itch in the sense of, like, that, you know, socializing and interaction that you do with, like, the documentaries?

[Lyle]

Yeah, definitely. I like being, like. It's. Anything having to do with, like, being in person is very different from, like, being over the phone, you know?

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Like, I get a lot. I get a lot. I get a lot of energy from that. But I also, like, I'm very. I'm very. I'm very. I'm extroverted in, like, a super particular way. Like, my dream scenario, like, I love, Like, I. My dream social scenario or truly my dream mode of existence is to be, like, constantly surrounded by people that I don't have to talk to. That's why I love. That's why I love New York. Like, I'm constantly surrounded by. Don't. Or like. Or on my face. Like, if I'm at a party and I'm in a. My favorite social situation. I've said this before, a bunch of times. I'll say, my favorite social situation. I'm at a party. I'm in a circle with some people I know, and enough people in the circle are talking that I don't have to fucking talk. And I could just be a. I'm like, I'm a part of the circle. I'm in the scene. I can talk if I want to, but I don't have to talk to anyone. Worst social situation, I'm at a party, talking one on one with just some guy. That's the worst. I fucking hate that. Even if they're like. And the worst part, actually, this makes it. Even if they're, like, really nice and cool, that actually makes it worse. I would rather, like, I would. I would, like, be. If I'm at a party and I'm talking to some guy and he's a fucking asshole and he, like, wants to fight. Like, that's so much better than if I'm talking to a guy and he's, like, a nice guy, because then I. That takes so much more energy to entertain. You know what I mean?

[Barry]

To continue.

[Lyle]

Yeah. Like, if you're talking, like, if a guy's like, oh, that's cool, man. Oh, so, like, you know, like, do you like the city? Like, or even if. Or even if, like, you know, like, I like, you know what I mean? Just like a nice, cool guy. I fucking would. I. Oh, give me. Give me a depressed guy. I could talk to a depressed guy at a party. One on one. Pretty good. Or like, yeah, sure, sure. Or like, if I'm at a. Or a funny guy. Like, if I'm talking to a guy and he starts, like, doing act outs, you know, I mean, he goes like, oh, I'm gonna get like. You know what I mean? Like, when a guy's, like, doing act outs. I have no. I have no tolerance for that. I can't. Like when someone. I can't tolerate a. Jokes. Jokes. I know that sounds crazy, but, like, like, if you're gonna try to be funny, just do it in a. Like when people try to be. When people try to be funny in a way where it's like, if you don't laugh, it feels weird. But I like when people are being funny.

[Barry]

You're the only one there.

[Lyle]

Yeah. Well, I like when people are funny because they're being, like, real, you know, like, if someone.

[Barry]

Yeah, you just laugh naturally, you know?

[Lyle]

Yeah, you just laugh naturally. Like, if someone's like. How do I say this? If someone's like, if. Like, if I. Like, if I'm not talking to a guy at a party and I'm like, hey, man, how you doing? And he's like, I feel up, man. I ate 50 pop tarts today. I'd be like, nice that's funny. That's real. That's. Thank you for sharing that with me. But if a guy. But if a guy is like, doing a bit where I'm like, oh, how do you know the host of the party? And he goes, oh, yeah, me and Brian, we're married. No, I'm just kidding. I'm like, I have. Dude, I don't care about you.

[Barry]

Yeah, that's pretty horrible.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Barry]

You know, just to like, be around because you got to give like a half laugh.

[Lyle]

Yeah, I hate that. I can't do it.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Barry]

Yeah, it's pretty brutal.

[Lyle]

Fuck. That was a long rant. But yeah, sometimes I like. I like being alone around people. I like when I'm around a lot of people, I don't have to talk to any of them. That's my dream.

[Barry]

Yeah, I resonate with that. Because you still feel part of it and there's no real expectation. Sometimes socializing is hard.

[Lyle]

Yeah, I mean, I like. I like it. I like being around people. My worst days, I'll be going insane in my apartment, and then I'll just, like, talk to someone. I'll be like, oh, I just needed to. You can't tether. Like, other people are the only real thing that you have. You're. You're like a being of, like, profound conscience. I. I mean this spiritually, but also, like, on a very grounded level. You're a being of deep profound consciousness. And so if you're just that, like, as a human, you're a being of profound consciousness. And if you're just kind of like alone, wallowing in the pool of your own profound consciousness. You are like a fucking astronaut spinning around in space. You're tethered to nothing. Your reality is you have to peer review your reality with other beings of profound consciousness in order to prevent you from going insane with your own profound consciousness. You gotta, like, other human beings are the only thing. Maybe a dog, but even a dog. It's like, I mean, a dog has a dog. Is a being of. Of profound consciousness, you know, in comparison to like a leaf or a table or whatever. But.

[Barry]

Yeah, but they're not gonna, like, give you a reality check.

[Lyle]

No.

[Barry]

You know, delusional behavior.

[Lyle]

Yeah. You need a conc. You need to constantly have your. React. Your reality checked by other beings of profound consciousness or else you just fucking. Just go insane.

[Barry]

So, yeah, man, start doing things that, that you justify in your head.

[Riley]

That.

[Barry]

And you just push everybody away at that point because, you know, not good stuff.

[Lyle]

What's your name again? We had a Whole. I had a whole separate conversation with you. I feel.

[Barry]

Yeah. Well, I. You talk to Jerry, and I'm Barry.

[Lyle]

Barry.

[Barry]

Barry.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Are you lonely?

[Jerry]

Not.

[Barry]

You know, not really. I've, like, gone through stages in my life of feeling pretty isolated and lonely. But, I mean, in the same way, it's kind of like just interacting with people. I mean, like you said, like. Like, being part of the circle is just kind of sometimes all you need. Like, I, like, me and my partner, like, we go to the mall sometimes, and I like being at the mall, not just because, like, shopping, but just because there's, like, other people with, like, families and, like. Or, like, someone with their partner. Like, someone's. You know, like, I like people watching. It just makes you feel part of, like, the circle, you know? So just going out and, like, you know, not staying cooped up in my room has very much just sort of helped me just feel part of the circle.

[Lyle]

Barry, is there anything else you want to say to the people of the computer before we go?

[Barry]

Do you want to talk to Jerry again?

[Lyle]

No, I think I'm. I think I'm gonna move on.

[Barry]

But we're good here. Okay.

[Lyle]

I mean, if they want to say if. Oh, wait, they had a second thing they. Oh, wait.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Oh, wait. Okay, now I'm gonna. Hold on. Now I'm remembering. Now I'm remembering.

[Barry]

Yeah. Let me give you the. Jerry, here's. Here's.

[Riley]

Here's.

[Barry]

Jerry.

[Jerry]

Jerry speaking.

[Lyle]

Okay, you had a question for me, and then I turned that into a whole thing. But then you also had a thing you wanted to say, so what was the thing you wanted to say?

[Jerry]

Oh, no, no. I just wanted to say my people to the computer part.

[Lyle]

Yeah, yeah, please.

[Jerry]

Okay, first of all, don't litter. And second, be so nice to animals because they don't do nothing wrong here. And third, please follow my. In my skincare and makeup Instagram account. It is at totality of them.

[Lyle]

Cool.

[Jerry]

That's that. Yeah.

[Lyle]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jerry. Thank you. Did Barry have anything you wanted to say at all? Did Barry have the last word?

[Jerry]

Barry, with your mouth. With your mouth here.

[Barry]

Be kind.

[Lyle]

Swag. Thank you, Barry. Thank you, Jerry.

[Barry]

Thank you.

[Lyle]

I'll see you guys around the universe.

[Barry]

All right. Love you, dude.

[Lyle]

Thanks, man. See you guys. Deck Bless

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[Lyle]

Hello everyone. What's up? It's Lyle and I am going to end the podcast today by doing something I feel like I haven't done in a while, which is read a geck mail. That's right. I'm going to read a geck mail. Maybe a second geck mail, but I'm gonna start with one I don't want to. I'd rather read one and see how I feel than promise two. I'm gonna keep reading one and seeing how I feel and then we'll go from there. But yeah, geck mail. It's a thing where people Send me emails with whatever they want to talk about, and then we talk about it. You can send a geck mail to therapygeckomailmail.com, but other than that, let's read some. Let's read some geck mails. Okay, this is Chris. Ooh, this is from Chris. It's an update. Update. Starting a Beyblade community in my city. Okay, let's see. Oh, okay, I remember. Okay, this guy emailed me. Okay, I'm gonna read his first email. He read me. He wrote, there was a few emails. He said, okay, basically this guy sent me an email last time and he

[Riley]

said,

[Lyle]

one of the lessons I have learned from your show is if you want something, you have to go out and get it. And this lesson pushed me to contact a local game store to see if I can organize a Beyblade tournament. And I read that email and I was stoked on it. But I remember saying, let me know what happens. Let me know if you end up actually starting the Beyblade tournament. Like. Like, you know, show me pictures what happens. So, okay, this is another email. Okay, so update. Starting a Beyblade community in my city. Hey, Gak. First of all, I was so happy when you read my email on the pod. I felt like one of those crazy white boys in Mad Max. I have never seen Mad Max, so I don't know what that means, but okay. Anyways, the Beyblade tournament is happening. It's fucking happening. Hell yes. Okay. The Beyblade tournament is happening, albeit a bit slower than I anticipated because there's a lot of elements that had to align to make it happen. Yes, all the Beyblades, very busy people to get all those schedules lined up. But yeah, the 11th of July, my city will have its very first Beyblade X tournament, failure or not. I will send you a follow up email to let you know how it goes. All I know is I'm excited as hell. Wait, Chris, hold on, dude, you got to give me a fucking. I'm responding to. Where is. I want to tell the. I want to tell the podcast people about it. Where's the Spayblade tournament? Where is the tournament happening? Okay, I just responded to him. Where is the tournament happening? I'll promote. I'll promote it on the. On the fucking pod. We're gonna. Dude my tour dates. Let's. I'm gonna. I'm gonna change all pod promotion efforts away from my tour dates, which you can get tickets for at therapy Gecko tour dot com. I'm gonna take all of my podcast Promotion my podcast tour dates. Promotion away and put it all into the Beyblade tournament. That's what I'm gonna do. Okay, Chris, keep me updated. You better respond to that email. Let me know where this is. Okay. Alright. That felt good. I'll read another one. Let's see. This is this is this email's name is Fresh start. Hey Gecko man. I would like to go by Churro. I don't really know if this will make it to the Geck mail segment. It did, but regardless, I would like to write this as a means of yapping getting it out of my chest. I have been in the same career for the last eight years, going on nine now. I am currently 28 and moving up to the north. I currently live on the island of Puerto Rico and I am moving up to Maryland soon for a new job. I got. I am kind of anxious and nervous about how well I will fit in and most of all how I will handle the culture shock if I encounter some. Oh, okay. I thought he was going to. Okay. If he encounters some culture shock.

[Riley]

Okay.

[Lyle]

I've been living in Puerto Rico for most of my life and moving to the States feels surreal and I feel like I am leaving behind a part of me in the island. I've got family over in Maryland. Shout out Maryland. Which will make the move a bit easier. But it being my first time moving on my own and taking on a new career, feels like I am about to climb a mountain. One which I will reach the top of with help and support from my loved ones. Yet I have a little voice in my head that leads me to overthink and makes the worst case scenario possible. My question is, do you have any tips on overthinking and over analyzing anything and everything? Much appreciated, Geck. Blessed. I don't have tips, but I have a lot of experience. Maybe my experience can help you. My experience of doing that, I mean I do it all the time. A huge overthinking. I overanalyze. I, you know, it's what I'm. I'm really, really, really lucky. I've gotten to do a lot of shit in my life despite probably having spent like God, you know, so much significantly, I mean fifty, a hundred times more time thinking and overanalyzing than like doing shit. I'm just lucky. I. I had my little times where I got to do stuff, you know, and I. That's the, that's the thing I feel like I'll regret on my deathbed. I'll regret anytime I was a dick or anytime I was worried, I feel like those are the two things I'll regret. But how do I. How do I. How do you not overanalyze and overthink everything? I mean, it's hard. I do it all the time. But I ultimately think that in a scenario like this where you've been doing the same shit for eight years, you've been living in Puerto Rico for eight years, you're making a move. You feel. You're making a move that you feel pretty confident about, too. You have family over there, and you literally just said, I'm going to reach the top of it with the help and support of my loved ones. I mean, I can already tell. I can already tell that you're going to be okay just by the fact that you even said that. You know, the fact that you feel so confident in those relationships that they will guide you to where you want to be. So I believe in you just based on that fact that you believe in yourself. In this scenario particularly, I do think this is a nice move because. I don't know, man. I. This is just me personally, but I always want to keep. I want to keep evolving, you know, when I. I feel like I. I can get. I don't want to get stuck in something for so long and then. But, you know, I'm also 28, and at 28, it's like your life doesn't naturally evolve that much. You have to make it evolve. You have to take different choices and do different things to get your life to evolve. And if you just overthink, I mean, dude, you can over. You can overthink shit for, like, years. I've experienced that. I really have. I've experienced, like, I was reading journals of mine from, like, 2024, 2023, where it's like, I'm talking about shit that. There's some shit that I'm talking about that, you know, I actually have, like, taken action on and done well. But the social. I'm talking about where it's like, fucked it. I'm talking about doing. I'm talking about, like, oh, I'm gonna do that, like, today, you know, like, you can overthink and overanalyze for years and years and years and just not make a decision. And the time just fucking passes. Not to freak people out. But I'm glad you're making the decision. I'm glad you're doing a thing. So, you know, be happy. Be happy with your decision. I think it's a good one, especially if you have that much confidence in it that you're homies are gonna help you out. Well, we did it, folks. We did a geck mail. I'm pretty happy with it. I'm pretty. We had the, the guy moving from Puerto Rico and then we had the Beyblade guy. We're gonna see what happens with that Beyblade tournament. Go to this guy's Beyblade tournament July 11. That's all the info I have. When I have more info, I will let you all know, I promise. I am on tour. If you live in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver or Minneapolis, I am coming to your city very soon. Let's see. I'm coming to the Pacific Northwest like immediately. Like I'm coming there like next week. San Francisco, June 4, Portland, June 5, Seattle, June 6, Vancouver, June 7, Minneapolis, June 9 and a whole bunch of other dates. Many, many other cities are available now@therapy gecko tour.com. please go check that out. Please come see the live shows I've got. I'm, I'm doing. They're basically the live shows are like a combination of like this podcast where I invite people up on stage and we talk and then also I do a lot of storytelling. So, you know, I went to Iraq, I went to Ukraine. I've been living my life. I have stories about it. I'll be telling some stories. It'll be fun, It'll be nice. Go check that out. Therapygeckotour.com or the link in the episode description. I also have a bonus episode this Week on Patreon. Patreon.com Lyle Forever. You get access to every episode of this podcast ad free. Every episode of this podcast that is a bonus episode that is not on the main feed. And what else? Oh, you get, there's, there's extra footage from the documentaries. There's a whole bunch of stuff that. Patreon. Patreon.com lyleforever Here's a little clip. A bonus episode. Clip from this week's bonus episode.

[Jerry]

I'm gonna quit my job in the next week and I wanted your advice on how I should do it.

[Lyle]

Okay. What's your job?

[Jerry]

I do kind of like a like experimental testing, I would say is what I do. So it's hazardous environment, like high energy testing on animals? No, no. Oh gosh, no. Nothing that's alive. I do like aerospace grade testing, but the purpose of it is anything you want to do that you shouldn't do on the earth, you can instead do it in space because it's a little safer.

[Barry]

Hmm.

[Lyle]

What is the coolest dangerous thing that you are trying to figure out how to do in space.

[Jerry]

The highlight of my career was helping to build one of the most powerful rocket engines in the modern day. And seeing it fly over and over again, that was probably the coolest thing. So everything since then has been kind of chasing the same feeling, but not being able to find something that gets tainted, I would say, because it felt very purposeful.

[Lyle]

Damn, dude. So you built. You're building. You built a rocket?

[Jerry]

Yes. Yep.

[Lyle]

Okay. And why are you quitting? That was a preview of the bonus episode. You can check that [e-mail] Lyle Forever and that's about it. Thank you guys for listening. Geck Bless you all and I'll see you guys around the universe. Bye everyone.

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[Lyle]

During Memorial Day at Lowe's.

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[Lyle]

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[Jerry]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Lyle]

Guaranteed Human.