“I TAKE THE BUS 3 HOURS TO DAVE AND BUSTERS”

Summary

Therapy Gecko: “I TAKE THE BUS 3 HOURS TO DAVE AND BUSTERS”

Released on February 2, 2025, “I TAKE THE BUS 3 HOURS TO DAVE AND BUSTERS” is an episode of the whimsical podcast Therapy Gecko, hosted by iHeartPodcasts. Featuring heartfelt and often humorous conversations, the episode delves into personal struggles, resilience, and the quest for self-understanding. This summary captures the essence of the key discussions, insights, and emotional exchanges between Therapy Gecko and his callers.

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1. Angel’s Journey: Early Responsibilities and Relationship Turmoil

Timestamp: [02:02] – [27:56]

Overview: Angel, a 20-year-old caller, shares his tumultuous experiences balancing work, financial responsibilities, and a challenging romantic relationship. From a young age, Angel found himself shouldering significant burdens, supporting his girlfriend Lorraine and a roommate he considers a “little brother” named Zach. His story highlights themes of early independence, emotional resilience, and the complexities of young relationships.

Key Points:

• Early Financial Responsibility: Angel moved out at 17 with his girlfriend Lorraine, initially managing rent and supporting both Lorraine and Zach. Despite working long hours fixing games at Dave & Buster’s with a three-hour daily commute, he struggled to cover the increasing financial demands.

  Angel [06:14]: "I'd probably have to say the getting cheated on. They left me with like an $8.4K bill for the apartment."

• Relationship Challenges: After breaking up with Lorraine due to the strain of their situation, Angel discovers that she quickly moved in with Zach, exacerbating his feelings of betrayal and financial strain.

  Therapy Gecko [04:12]: "I am going to assume that... you're a good enough boyfriend that you wouldn't be on the phone with the therapy gecko in this moment if your girlfriend's mom was in horrible pain right now."

• Resilience and Self-Reflection: Despite the hardships, Angel remains optimistic about his future, securing a promising job offer from his girlfriend’s father and contemplating his career aspirations in gaming and electrical work. He acknowledges his tendency to overextend himself for others, hinting at a need to balance self-care with his altruistic nature.

  Therapy Gecko [25:15]: “Do you think that you're, like, taking care of people, like, to your own detriment?”

Notable Quotes:

• Angel [05:31]: "When I was seven, I got legally kidnapped by my grandparents."

• Therapy Gecko [14:35]: "You're gonna be okay for the rest of your life, you know what I mean?"

• Angel [27:32]: "Keep it pushing, keep it pushing. No matter what happens, you can always find a way."

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2. Abby’s Musings: Pop Culture, AI, and Existential Questions

Timestamp: [33:06] – [50:14]

Overview: Abby, a 19-year-old caller, engages in a reflective dialogue with Therapy Gecko about the longevity of pop culture icons like the Beatles and Garfield, the impact of AI on personal inquiries, and the ephemeral nature of fame and memory in the digital age.

Key Points:

• Pop Culture Longevity: Abby and Therapy Gecko discuss whether future generations will remember iconic figures and franchises like the Beatles and Garfield, considering the fragmented and niche nature of modern media consumption.

  Therapy Gecko [34:22]: "I think we're going to have 19-year-olds who don't know who the Beatles are."

• AI and Curiosity: The conversation touches on the utility and limitations of AI, particularly ChatGPT, in addressing seemingly trivial or profound questions without judgment.

  Therapy Gecko [38:57]: "AI will never tell you that your question is too stupid."

• Twin Study Anecdote: Abby recounts a childhood experience of being part of a twin study, where she was subjected to distressing procedures without her full understanding, highlighting ethical concerns in scientific research.

  Abby [44:21]: "She straps me down and like puts like those laughing gas masks on me. And I guess she starts just like giving me some like random ass gas that makes me start to panic."

Notable Quotes:

• Therapy Gecko [41:20]: "Sometimes you don't need to know the answer."

• Abby [49:14]: "Don't trust scientists, I guess."

• Therapy Gecko [50:14]: [Transition to ads]

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3. Stella’s Aspirations: Balancing Personal Desires and Relationship Dynamics

Timestamp: [51:47] – [78:17]

Overview: Stella, a 28-year-old caller living with her sister and her boyfriend, shares her aspirations for a rural, family-oriented life versus the challenges of her current urban job and relationship dynamics. Her narrative explores themes of overthinking, personal growth, and the struggle to align her dreams with reality.

Key Points:

• Aspirations for a Rural Life: Stella expresses a strong desire to transition from her current executive administrator role in a big organization to a more fulfilling, rural lifestyle centered around family and homesteading.

  Stella [63:22]: "I'm reaching this. You're not begging, but you're reaching your hand out to this man and saying, walk the walk with me, my friend."

• Relationship Challenges: She details the difficulties in her relationship, particularly her boyfriend’s reluctance to commit to their shared dreams, and her struggle with overanalyzing his actions and words.

  Stella [60:54]: "He says, yes. He says, okay, great."

• Overthinking and Decision-Making: Stella acknowledges her tendency to overthink decisions, which hampers her ability to act on her aspirations. She discusses her efforts to stay present and grounded through faith and mindfulness.

  Therapy Gecko [66:31]: "Overthinking fucking everything is not the way to do it."

Notable Quotes:

• Stella [55:25]: "If you don't have those two things, you're probably fucked and miserable."

• Therapy Gecko [62:05]: "I'm pretty sure that people in general are happier when they're just in the moment of the thing."

• Stella [77:50]: "Nothing's wrong with it. Actually. It's perfect."

---

Reflections and Insights

Throughout the episode, Therapy Gecko serves as both a confessional and a sounding board for young adults grappling with life's complexities. The conversations reveal a common thread of striving for balance between self-care and altruism, the impact of early responsibilities on personal development, and the quest for meaningful connections and fulfilling careers.

Key Takeaways:

• The Burden of Early Responsibility: Angel’s story underscores how early financial and emotional burdens can shape resilience but also lead to burnout and self-neglect.

• Navigating Relationships: Both Angel and Stella highlight the challenges of maintaining healthy relationships while pursuing personal goals, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and understanding.

• Impact of AI and Modern Media: Abby’s discussion reflects on how AI and the fragmented media landscape influence our understanding and retention of cultural icons, raising questions about the permanence of fame in the digital age.

• Overthinking vs. Being Present: Stella’s introspection on overthinking illustrates the struggle to stay present amidst personal and professional pressures, advocating for mindfulness and self-awareness.

Notable Combined Quotes:

• Therapy Gecko [25:15]: “You’re going out of your way to take care of other people at your own detriment...”

• Stella [75:58]: “If God could just take everything and do anything with my life, I would not mind having to decide.”

• Angel [27:32]: “Keep it pushing, keep it pushing. No matter what happens, you can always find a way.”

---

Therapy Gecko’s “I TAKE THE BUS 3 HOURS TO DAVE AND BUSTERS” offers a candid glimpse into the lives of young individuals striving to navigate personal challenges. The episode blends earnest dialogue with reflective insights, providing listeners with relatable narratives and thoughtful commentary on modern life’s intricacies.

Transcript

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[Therapy Gecko]

Hello?

[Angel]

Hello?

[Therapy Gecko]

Hey, what's up? Where are. Where are you right now? I'm hearing some, like, stuff in the background.

[Angel]

Oh, muted me. I accidentally touched my cheek.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh. Hello? Okay.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Hey, I can. No. What's up, man? What's going on? Where are you right now? You sound like you're at a place.

[Angel]

Yeah, I'm at a hospital right now.

[Therapy Gecko]

You're at a hospital right now? Are you working there or are you dying?

[Angel]

I'm a friend of somebody who's dying.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh. Oh, dear.

[Angel]

I guess almost died. Almost died. They're good now.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. That's a big difference. This. Are they dying? Well, I guess we're all dying. But are they. Well, how are you? Your friends?

[Angel]

Oh, they're good now. They had, like, a tear in their brain from a car accident that happened years ago, and then they got super stressed recently and had, like, a seizure.

[Therapy Gecko]

They're chilling now?

[Angel]

Yeah, they're chilling now.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. What. What's your relationship to them? How do you know this person?

[Angel]

Oh, I'm dating their daughter.

[Therapy Gecko]

You. Oh, this is your. This is your girlfriend's father?

[Angel]

Mom. Mother.

[Therapy Gecko]

This is your girlfriend's mom?

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

And how's she. She's doing okay.

[Angel]

Yeah. Yeah. It happened like, a couple days ago. They just. What is it? The dad asked to have her over, like an extra day or two, so they're observing her, and she's doing all right.

[Therapy Gecko]

All right, cool. How's your girlfriend? How's your girlfriend? I'm. I'm. Here's the thing. And here I guess why I'm. I am going to assume that. I guess it's easy to assume that your girlfriend's mom is doing okay, because if she wasn't, I'm going to assume you're a good enough boyfriend that you wouldn't be on the phone with the therapy gecko in this moment if your girlfriend's mom was in horrible pain right now.

[Angel]

Yeah, no, she's. She's doing wonderful.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay.

[Angel]

My girlfriend, she was trusted first. But she's, you know, she's all stabilized now. Things are good. She come home yesterday, but. Yeah. So it should be all right. Should be all right for now. For now.

[Therapy Gecko]

Is your girlfriend there with you in the hospital?

[Angel]

She is, actually, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Where is.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Where are you.

[Therapy Gecko]

Are you in, like, a hallway? Are you in the hospital room? Like, where are you taking this phone call from?

[Angel]

I'm in. I'm in a hallway that's, like, across from their room.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. Okay. What are you. How long have you been at this hospital for? So far?

[Angel]

Personally, it may seem like. What time is it right now? I'd say, like, two and a half hours.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay, well, well, well, let's. Well, let me do this. My. What's your name, by the way?

[Angel]

Angel.

[Therapy Gecko]

Angel.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, Angel, I mean, we could keep just chit chatting, but I guess before we do that, I'll ask you if there's anything in particular that you called in to talk about.

[Angel]

I mean, I've got. I've got two things I'll let you choose because they both have, like, a bit of context. When I was seven, I got legally kidnapped by my grandparents. And then there's. I financially Supported two people for about four years to find out recently that apparently, like halfway through, they cheated on me the entire time.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, my God.

[Angel]

We got. We got a ray.

[Therapy Gecko]

All right, well, well, talk to me here. What's the mo. What's. I'm. I'm curious, I mean, about your life presently, I guess. Which of these things is more present for you?

[Angel]

I'd probably have to say the getting cheated on. They left me with like an $8.4K bill for the apartment.

[Therapy Gecko]

Jeez.

[Angel]

Yeah, but I mean, like, I worked it out, you know, just got to deal with the bill, I suppose.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, man. What happened?

[Angel]

Oh, so like, oh, man, started in Colorado, I suppose. Went from Colorado, we moved to Oregon. And I've known this lady, this chick named, since I was like 14.

[Therapy Gecko]

We're gonna bleep that. Maybe we're gonna bleep that. We're gonna call her Lorraine so that everyone can assume that you're dating an 85 year old woman.

[Angel]

All right, all right, Lorraine. You're right. You're right, Lorraine. So, yeah, I've known Lorraine since I was like 14 and was it. We started officially dating like 17. We move out together and like first six months is all right. She's holding down a job, you know, she's doing all right. Meet some of her friends, her friends and I, we all move out into an apartment together. We do that for like six months. And the original plan was like, I was gonna move to Maine with Lorraine and they were like, no, let's go with the roommates into Oregon because one of the roommates, oh, grandma had like dementia and they moved her grandma over to Oregon and she was like, you know, my mom will pay for it. She's well off. She's got like, what is it called, like dead people money inheritance. There you go. So we're like, okay, you know, don't really know where we're going. We got no plan. Like, I don't know, I was iffy on it, but I was like, all right, you know, if you want to do it, we're in. You got this. So we move on over there and maybe around like 2021, 2022, I think 2021. And I was one of the first ones to get a job. Lorraine almost the entire time did not have a job. So doesn't have a job, but we're still like working through it. And there's one time I'm like, hey, like, Lorraine, I'm not gonna lie. You need to like make rent by the end of this month or No, I give it like three months. I was like, in three months, you kind of need to like, start making rent or.

[Therapy Gecko]

How old are you guys at this point?

[Angel]

I was. I'd like to say 18 or 19.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, wow. Geez. So how old is she? The same age?

[Angel]

Yeah. Yeah, we're like a month apart.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. All right. So you got. I mean. Yeah. So you guys are like really doing it at fresh 18.

[Angel]

Oh, yeah. No, 17 is when we originally moved out.

[Therapy Gecko]

Geez.

[Angel]

18. We moved out of state.

[Therapy Gecko]

Mm.

[Angel]

And I was pretty. Just locked in financially.

[Therapy Gecko]

Right.

[Angel]

It gets to a point where I'm covering her rent and mine, and that's like 1400. And then I'm also helping. Okay. What's his name? I'm gonna go.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, that's. I mean, that's. Yeah, that's wild to be doing that so young.

[Angel]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I've been working since I was like 14, so it's nothing new.

[Therapy Gecko]

Mm.

[Angel]

But yeah, I locked in on that. Like, I got my ged. I kind of. I. I was up in Maine for a bit, and then I came over to help her out. That's the Colorado. And then moving into Oregon. It was a domino effect. And so what is it? Yeah, basically do all that. Support them, cover. I'm gonna call him Zach. Cover Zach's bills as well.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. Wait, who's that? Who. Who. Who is that?

[Angel]

Zach is a fake alias name that I made for the guy she cheated on me with.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay, wait, but so why are you. Okay, so you. So you're living in a. So you're 18. You were living with your 18 year old girlfriend and some guy.

[Angel]

Some. Not some guy. It's also same roommates that we had in Oregon. I mean, in Colorado we have in Oregon now. Or not right now, but like, when.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay, so you. Your girlfriend and so. Okay, so you and your girlfriend and these roommates all move together to Oregon from. From Colorado.

[Angel]

Yeah. And we've like, for a minute too.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay, so now you're fine. So you're financially. So you're 18 years old and you're financially supporting the whole house?

[Angel]

No, no, just Lorraine and Zach.

[Therapy Gecko]

Why are you support. Why are you financially supporting Zach?

[Angel]

Oh, well, he was like, oh, it was a bad choice at the time, but it was like he was like. I considered him kind of like a little brother figure, you know, because I related to a lot of the issues he had seen through, like a bunch of physical abuse. He was a little held back, like, kind of mentally. So I like, you know, I kind of I pitied him a little bit. I felt bad for him. It's like I knew how rough it was. So, you know, I got you a little bit, you know, I'll get you here and there. Like so much so that I did genuinely consider him to be a little brother. And like, near the end of that whole renting thing, we were gonna move into a separate place, which we did. But then he ended up on my phone plan as well, so I was paying for his phone bill.

[Therapy Gecko]

Mm.

[Angel]

And paying for her phone bill as well. Yeah. And then what is it? We move into this new apartment and she's having issues again. But we moved out of the, like, we moved away from the other roommates and we moved into this new apartment with a different roommate. And we're clutching up a little bit, except Lorraine loses their job, Zach loses their job, and then the other roommate also loses their job. And it's just me. And I'm making like, you know, 1400amonth. I can't cover like 2.1k bill, so I'm struggling, I'm struggling. I'm like, I don't know if we can, you know, this is sustainable.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, wait, so you were making fourteen hundred dollars a month? How were you even cover. How were you even like making enough to like support? I mean, I mean, damn, like 1400amonth. Like, how are you even making. That's like barely, I guess enough to even support yourself, let alone like two other people.

[Angel]

Yeah, no, it was tough. It was tough. I just had to like. It was 1400amonth. I'm not like trying too hard, but I'd say it was around maybe like 16, 18, 2k if I was really able to pick up enough shifts because I was like working at a Dave and Buster's fixing up games. Oh. And then the travel time was crazy. It was like hour and a half. Almost two hours to get to my job too, each way. And. Yeah, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

And you're. And you're doing, and you're doing all of this at 18. You're dry. You're. You're doing three hour commute every fucking day.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

To make.

[Angel]

And I'd be closing, so it'd be like icy and. Oh, it'd be terrible. Be like 1:30am and I'm walking. It's like windy. It's icy. I'm like, all right, you know what though? Like, I like the job. I like fixing games, I like electricians work. So you know, I was suffering for an alright cause because I enjoyed it.

[Therapy Gecko]

Damn, dude. What? Where can I. Well, I have a couple. I want to hear the rest of your story, but I just. I want to butt in with, like, two questions. How old are you? How old are you now? How old are you now?

[Angel]

I turned 21 in March.

[Therapy Gecko]

You turn 21 in March?

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

I thought you were, like, at least seven years older than me. Honest to God. You have. You have the. You have the demeanor and the. The ethics of someone who I thought was at least 39 years old.

[Angel]

I appreciate that. A lot of people tell me I have a lot of restraint. They're like, if it was me and my. If it was me in your situation, I would have been, like, airing the place out or, like, starting fights, and I'm like, yeah, but I'm just too tired for that, you know?

[Therapy Gecko]

Jesus Christ. Who the fuck are you, man? You're. What kind of. What's up with your. What's up with your parents? Like, where were they at the time?

[Angel]

My mom's in Maine, and she's dealing with, like, another two siblings that I got. My dad's. He's a deadbeat, you know, deadbeat dad type situation. And, you know, my mom's trying to. She was trying to start up her own business. I was helping her out with that, which is part of the reason why I was working at 14. Well, no, because when I met her, I was, like, 16. So when I was working at 14, it was more like gang activity. But then I moved to Maine, started helping my mom out, and it turned into, like, cleaning Airbnbs and construction work and pouring and stuff like that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Shit, man. All right, so. All right, so you're 18. You're. You move out, you're supporting your girlfriend and this other guy. You're driving three hours back and forth to. To work public transport. Oh, you're taking. You're taking the bus. You're walking and taking the bus to a Dave and Buster is an hour and a half. Yeah, go ahead.

[Angel]

Oh, sorry, sorry. One time I ended up closing, and I didn't have a ride, so I had to walk the 10 miles. That one was funny. It was like 1:30am and I'm just walking all the way from. From Clack to Gresham. That one was nice.

[Therapy Gecko]

I genuinely. I feel. I feel like such a baby talking to you right now. I really do. I really do. I don't know if you get that very often, but I feel like a baby.

[Angel]

I don't. Please don't. I've been wanting to call you for years. Like, I. I actually. I called you One time. And I made it to the wait list, I think, and, like, 20, 21. When I first moved into the apartment in Colorado, I got rejected because it was a dumb reason, though. It was really dumb. I was like, what about streaming? I was like, no, everybody asks that, so.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, here, let me. I want to hear the rest of your story. So you're okay. You're. You're. You're 18. You're the Dave and Buster's hero. You're taking the bus at home in the rain. What? Yeah. Go ahead.

[Angel]

Yeah. So then we move into this other apartment with the other roommates, right? Everybody loses their job. Nakia is packing stuff. And I'm. I'm a little autistic, right? She's packing stuff. She just moved from, like, her room into the loft, and she's like, I don't know. It's just cluttering. And I'm kind of a minimalist. So I was like, no, honestly, I get that. I didn't think of anything of it until, like, a week later, she just disappears and, like, sends us a message being like, hey, I'll come back to sign off the lease later. I'll try and help y'all find a different roommate. But I can't do it. A little before then I break up with Lorraine because it's like, you know, it's draining. I can't handle it. And she immediately gets with Zach, like, immediately sleeping in his bed. You know, they're chilling together, cuddling up, getting cozy, drinking all that. So I'm like, all right, you know, I might as well. Like, I'll put myself back out on the field as well, which they get angry at, which is weird to me. So it's like, I'm following your rules, you know? Like, I've been. I didn't just do this randomly. I just want to, like, I gotta get my mind off it. Because not only do I know you're with somebody I consider to be my little brother, you're with it. Like, you're with him in the same house. I have to see it daily. Like, you gotta get. You gotta give me a break. And so they. They also tried to say, like, that I was a big cheater and that I was cheating the entire time. Then I realized, like, it was a lot of projection, because since the old house, they would, like. Like, apparently when I wasn't there, they'd be, like, holding hands. Or, like, we come home and they're, like, both asleep on the couch together and, like, stuff like that. But because I saw him As a little mentally delayed. And I related to his issues because he's got a dead mom, and I'm a big mama's boy. So I was like, oh, poor Zach. You know, poor Zach. I wouldn't expect him to do anything like that. And then she. Right after they all lose jobs, Zach and Lorraine get together. We start to lose the apartment because, right. You know, nobody's paying rent except for me, and I can't pay $2,000 in rent as well as, like, what is it? Electricity, WI fi, phone bill, like, food. I can't cover it all. Like, I'm drowning. So I'm like, hey, guys, you know, I don't want to catch this eviction. I really suggest, like, you guys got to get a plan or something to do something, because we either get the money to pay for this, or I give up ownership because I can't take this eviction on my record. So they. They moved to Colorado together, and I move out, and they kind of foot me with the 8.4 grand a bill, which is. I mean, it sucks, but I've got a couch I'm paying, like, 500 for, I guess. So I'm warm, I'm fed. I can deal with it. I have time to deal with it. You know, I can build up the funds. Then the girlfriend I have right now, her dad offered me a job, like, 51 an hour at a construction site that starts in, like, March, so pretty good. Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Damn, man. So what's. Yeah, well, tell me about what's your life look like now?

[Angel]

I'm living with the original roommates we moved out with. What do I call them? I'm gonna go with. I'm gonna go with.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, well, so. So how many Aries? And I'm gonna probably forget those two names, but. So it's you and. And those two.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

And so Zach and Lorraine are gone. They're doing their own thing.

[Angel]

Yeah, they moved to Colorado. She's still, like, making reposts about me, which I'm like, come on, man. If you have a man, you should be thinking about me anymore. Especially. You've been cheating with this dude for a minute.

[Therapy Gecko]

Are you.

[Angel]

She told. Oh, God.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, you go. Sorry. Go ahead.

[Angel]

I was just gonna say I found out because she told a mutual friend of ours, and the mutual friend, like, reached out to me to be like, hey, I just want to let you know, like, she told me this, and I was like, oh, I'm at work right now, but thanks for letting me know.

[Therapy Gecko]

So are. And you are your two roommates? Are they paying rent?

[Angel]

Yeah, they're paying rent, which is good. And I very reduced rent because I got the couch. So I'm only paying 500 now, which is a big step down from like 14, 15, 1600amonth, man.

[Therapy Gecko]

God damn. You're. You're, you're, you're a real like. I, I don't know, just talking to you, I'm like, Damn, you're only 21 or you're not even 21 yet.

[Angel]

Yeah, I'm 20 right now. 21.

[Therapy Gecko]

Jesus Christ, man. You're gonna be. I don't, I don't want to like inflate your head too much or whatever, but you're gonna be okay for the rest of your life, you know what I mean? Because you. I really. I don't. I know that's a lot to say to you right now, and I'm. But. And I don't know how much that's worth coming from me, but just hearing the way that you fucking, you know, are just going out of your way to take care of other people and. But some, by the way, at your. You're going out of your way to take care of other people at your own detriment, which has, you know, its own set of whatever's. But I mean, God damn, dude, you just, you got, you got this crazy work ethic to you at such a. Yeah, I don't know any. When I was 20, I don't know anyone else who would, you know, put up with all of this stuff. I mean, it's, it's, it's interesting, it's commendable. What's your dream? What do you want to actually do with your. What do you want to do with your life?

[Angel]

Oh, I wanna two things. I'm either like, it's kind of dumb, but I either want to like pro game and stream or become an electrician. So I'm gonna rock out with both of those and try, I suppose.

[Therapy Gecko]

Are you already an electrician?

[Angel]

Dad knows anybody in the electrician field? Almost. I'm like a game technician or I used to be because I just switched jobs because I needed more hours. So, like, I know more about the field and that's what kind of got me into that field, because I was messing with wires. You know, I'm checking the ohms of stuff, switching out micro boards and chips and disassembling things to put a switch in somewhere. Like, I found that really fun. So it's like, I either want to do that if I can't or not even can't. I'll even do that main or on the side if I have the pro gaming streaming thing comes to fruition as well.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, look, here's the thing. If you think you want to be. I don't know why I'm giving you advice right now. You know, I could ask you for advice more. I could give any to you, but I don't know. Hey, look, if you want to be an electrician and you want to be a pro gamer, I. I think the cool thing is that you could do both. I mean, the electrician is probably where the money is, and then, you know, stream and play games on the side and enjoy your life.

[Angel]

Yeah, I'm hoping. I'm hoping, you know, it's a big hope. It's a big prey. I gotta. I think one of the big things I've got to do is learn to, like, know when to stop taking care of people, because I think I have, like, a savior complex about it.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah. Yeah. I guess that was kind of one of the. I mean. Oh, I don't know. It's. It's hard, right? Because I actually, I. I think it's obvious. Obviously, it's, like, good to care about other people, but especially, like, I don't know, just at 18, to be taken. Taken on. Yeah, that's. This is too much. It's too much, man. Eddie. At that.

[Angel]

Oh, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Young. Of young of an age to be doing that. So, I mean, I guess I don't. I really. I. I don't know. I guess, like, do you think that you're, like, taking care of people, like, to your own detriment?

[Angel]

I mean, I think I used to. Right now I'm just kind of. I honestly couldn't tell you, like, if I am or not because, like, ever since childhood, it's just been a thing to, like, you know, I was forced to work since a young age. I was forced to look out for other people my entire life. So it just kind of comes naturally, you know? So, yes, like, I couldn't even tell if it's detrimental or not until after the fact. And, like, all the things I've done previously are usually detrimental, but, like, while I'm going through the motion, you know, like, I'm just doing it.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. All right. Well, man. Well, look, man, I don't know. You work hard, so I make sure that you're doing all right before you, you know, rip your own fucking, you know, before you stick a straw into your heart and let other people suck all the blood out of your body.

[Angel]

No, seriously, I need to work on that. I do need to work on that.

[Therapy Gecko]

It's been nice talking to you, man. What's your name again? Angel.

[Angel]

Yeah, yeah, Angel.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, you know, we're gonna bleep that. We're gonna bleep that. We're gonna. I'm gonna, I'm not gonna. We're. We're a fur. We're a fake first name only podcast over here, so we're gonna bleep that. I got angel, is there anything else you want to say to the people, the computer before we go?

[Angel]

Oh, let's see. Keep it pushing, keep it pushing. No matter what happens, you can always find a way. You, you won't find a way if you're just stressing about what will. You gotta just do what you can for you got.

[Therapy Gecko]

Hey, take care, Angel. Good luck to you.

[Angel]

Hey, you too, man. Goodbye, man.

[Therapy Gecko]

What a fascinating interview with a 53 year old, 20 year old that guy was. I don't know, bro. Sometimes you just like. You guys. You ever just talk to someone who has like. Just makes you feel like such a piece of shit? That was what? That whole conversation, that whole conversation made me feel like a piece of shit. Not to make it about me, but yeah, that guy, what a he. That guy just bent his entire body into a fucking slinky for. For people who fucked them over. And you know, I'm sure I. Look, it was a bit of some time ago, but he doesn't even say. That's the thing is he doesn't even seem rattled about it. He doesn't even seem rattled about it. He just keeps going. This guy, he's gonna be. Sometimes I just talk to people on this podcast and I'm like, ah, this fucking guy's gonna be fine. This person's gonna be fine. Because they just have the thing that lets them just take life's miseries and spit them out with. With so much grace. It's fascinating. I wish I had that. I'm trying to work on that a little bit more. I'm trying to work on like life not being perfect and amazing all the time. And the more. And I keep. I. It's hard. I don't want to. I just, I know my own real life brain so much and I don't want to be one of those motivational people who sits on a podcast and goes, life is all about perspective and then go into my real life and, you know, mentally complain. But I just keep running across situations in, in my real life and in doing this podcast that just make me keep being like, damn, life is about perspective. Especially well, you know, when we have a caller like this last one who just, you know, gets it, who just gets it in the, in the fucking chest, takes it with pride, keeps going. He's gonna be fine. I hope, really. I hope he, you know, he's unfortunate. He's a great target for like a love scam or something like that. I hope he doesn't, I hope he, I hope he maintains some kind of like self preservation, this guy. Right? That's the way that's a weird conundrum is like how much do you attempt to self preserve versus how much do you give to others? Because if you, if you're 100% self preservation, you're going to be fucking miserable and alone. But if you're 100% giving to other people, then you're, you won't, you're not going to have anything. And you're also going to be just an empty squeeze. You're gonna be an empty plastic water bottle in a gutter. You know, I don't know. I'm being dramatic. I'm being dramatic. Okay.

[Ashley Kineti]

This is Ashley Kineti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. It feels like everyone is talking about GLP1s these days. Those are Ozempic and Semaglutide. And with Future Health you can find out if they're right for you too. Maybe you feel like you've been struggling with your weight and no matter how much you diet and exercise, you just don't feel healthy. Just go to try fh.com to find out if weight loss meds are right for you. Future Health is not a health care services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by Future Health.

[Amica Insurance]

At Amica Insurance, we know it's more than a life policy. It's about the promise and the responsibility that comes with being a new parent, being there day and night and building a plan for tomorrow today for the ones you'll always look out for. Trust Amica Life Insurance. Amica Empathy is our best policy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. February is the month of love. And while you're spending time showing love to your family and friends, make sure you show yourself some love too. Now through February 25, shop in store and online and save on sell love items from Dove. Like Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Wash, Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash, Dove antiperspirants, Dove Shampoos and Dove conditioners. Offer ends February 25th. Offers may vary restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Leesa]

Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Upgrade the whole [e-mail] Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business [e-mail].

[Therapy Gecko]

Lenovo hello.

[Abby]

Hello.

[Therapy Gecko]

Hey. What's your name?

[Abby]

My name's Abby.

[Therapy Gecko]

Abby. What's up, Abby? Like Abbey Road. You know the Beatles?

[Abby]

A little bit. Not too much, sadly.

[Therapy Gecko]

How old are you? Can I ask?

[Abby]

19.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. I, you know, I was just thinking about this. We're getting to a point in time where I, I was like, at some point there's gonna be like a generation of people who just don't know who the Beatles are.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

I'm sorry, do you know anything about, do you know, like, do you know anything about the Beatles? I don't know, I don't know why I'm doing this right now, but I'm just curious.

[Abby]

Oh, no, you're good. I know they're, I know they're British. I know John Lennon is kind of maybe a bad guy. I know they, I know they have some pretty good songs.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay.

[Abby]

I can't list too many, but, you.

[Therapy Gecko]

Know, you're, but you're, you're aware that the Beatles exist?

[Abby]

Yes.

[Therapy Gecko]

You know who they are? You know, like, if I say the Beatles, you're not. Like, what's that? Yeah, okay, but the, but the information you have. Can you name one Beatles song?

[Abby]

Isn't there. Hey Jude?

[Therapy Gecko]

There's, yeah. Okay. There we go.

[Abby]

Here comes the sun.

[Therapy Gecko]

All right. And you're 19. Okay, so we're a work. Oh, it's only it. I think in the next five years, we're gonna have 19 year olds who don't know who the Beatles are.

[Abby]

Really? You really think that?

[Therapy Gecko]

I think so. I don't know. I, I'm such an. I'm, I'm insane. I, I, I, I'm ins. I was talking to Chat GPT and I was like, when do you, I, this is something. I literally asked to Chat GPT. I was like, when do you think people will forget about Garfield?

[Abby]

That's, that's like, how to me. Because, you know, the Internet and everything. Like, I feel like, I feel like that kind of stuff's just gonna be around for a really long time, but.

[Therapy Gecko]

I, but I don't, because, like every, because here's the thing. Like, like, I don't like, if you're, like, if you're like, 15. You're probably watching some, like, YouTube thing that. Like, that, like, I have no fucking idea what. Like, you're probably not like. Like, the. Like, when I was 15, there were still, like, we would go to. I don't know why I'm going this rant, but, like, there would be, like, a movie that everyone would watch. But now, like, for young people, like, media is so, like, segregated and. And not every. It's. It's not as homogenous as I think it was, and it's getting, like, rapidly less and less homogenous. So I just wouldn't be surprised if there were, like, a lot of, like, I don't know, like, people in high school who just don't know who Garfield is. Like, like, soon, like, where would you. Where do you find out who Garfield is? Like, like, who on Twitter and TikTok and Instagram is, like, talking about Garfield? Like, how do people even keep knowing who he is? Does that make sense?

[Abby]

Yeah, I guess that makes sense, but I guess I don't know. For me, growing up on the Internet, I kind of just got everything all at once just thrown at me, you know? So I feel like it's.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Abby]

I feel like it will last a pretty long time, but it's because when.

[Therapy Gecko]

You say you got everything thrown at you all at once, it's like, well, what is everything? I mean, you know, who's, you know, SpongeBob. It's gonna. I think SpongeBob's gonna be around for a long time.

[Abby]

Oh, yeah, of course. Of course.

[Therapy Gecko]

But you weren't, like, when, like. Okay, so the first three seasons of spongebob is where most of the memes come from. It's like the golden age. And, like, I think I was at, like, spongebob watching Age a little bit after those came out. But you. You were probably at spongebob watching Age like, long after those came out. Like, we were on the SpongeBob seasons that people consider shitty. When you were around, like, the age that spongebob is, I guess, marketed towards.

[Abby]

Yeah, I guess you could say that. I think my parents actually bought, like, the older disc or, like, the older seasons of SpongeBob when we were growing up.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Instead of, like, the newer ones.

[Therapy Gecko]

There go.

[Abby]

Maybe you got a point there.

[Therapy Gecko]

Like, are you familiar? You know the episode where Squidward forms a band?

[Abby]

Oh, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. All right. I don't know why. I just. I guess I. I'm, like, pessimistic because I don't know a lot about, like. Like, do you watch, like, Mr. Beast. Like, who's the guy now?

[Abby]

I. I don't. I don't really know. Like, I think I'm just too busy with, like, college. I. I don't know. I.

[Therapy Gecko]

Right.

[Abby]

The interesting thing about Mr. Beast is I actually knew someone from my high school who got on to his Amazon show.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, really? How'd that go for them? Are they dead?

[Abby]

I think they got out first episode. I think they had like a one, like, second thing. But it was so cool seeing that.

[Therapy Gecko]

I. I have a random thought. Hold on. By the way, I. I know that you called in probably to talk about something and we're gonna get there, but I just need to talk about Garfield for, like, one more minute.

[Abby]

Oh, you're so good. Don't even worry.

[Therapy Gecko]

I was talking up. I opened my la. The last podcast by talking about how we're part of the. The 6% of people who are alive out of all the people that have ever been born. And I got the. The there. Somebody made a comment because you can make, like, comments on Spotify now. And somebody made a comment being like, lyle, Lyle, you need to shut the fuck up about death. You're clear, you're depressed. You need to see a therapist. You're clearly very depressed. But, like, you need to shut up about it and, like, go get therapy. You're depressed. And I'm like, maybe I actually think this person is right. I think I think about death too much because I just had this thought just now. I was like, like, in, like. Okay, human being, let's say you live to 80. Like, how much time of the 80 years of your life does the average person spend looking at Garfield?

[Abby]

That's interesting. I thought you would go a completely different route. I think it's a little bit more depressing of, like, I thought you're gonna be like, more depressing of, like, how. How long does the average person now spend looking at their phone? But I guess Garfield's a lot funnier.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, no, no, that's really depressing. Oh, well, because all the. There's like, you can. You can Mathematic. There is a mathematical percentage. I'm looking at a picture of Garfield right now. There's a mathematical percentage. You know what? That spot right now, that Spotify commenter guy, I'm gonna. I'm gonna keep talking about death. It's important. I'm looking at Garfield right now. And it's like, if you. I always wonder about, like, you ever. You ever heard that thing of like, oh, when I die, it would be cool to have, like, stats. Like, there's a stat. There's a literal percentage of the time I have been alive and the time that I will until from now until I die. That you can calculate that is a number of the percentage of time that I have been alive that my eyes have been looking at Garfield. And I'm just curious what that percentage is. And I'm curious what that percentage is, you know, nationally, across all the people that have died before 1976, the answer was zero percent. But then after Garfield was created, that number went up. Okay, what'd you want to. Okay, all right, I'm done with this. What did you want to talk about today?

[Abby]

Well, I was just gonna. I was just gonna ask, how often do you think about Garfield if you're having.

[Therapy Gecko]

Truly not. Truly not that often. Truly not that often. I just. I don't know why, but I just, like, searched. That is because Chat GPT, it's like talking to fucking God, dude. And you can ask it insane questions and it will humor. Because if you. If. Because if you're like talking to your friend and you're like, do you think people. When. Do you think Garfield will be forgotten? Your friend will go, what? Shut up. What are you talking about? That's a really stupid thing. But if you have a really stupid question and you ask it to AI AI will you. It will use power to try to answer your stupid quest. It will never tell you that your question is too stupid. Sometimes I think it should. Sometimes I think if you ask Garfield a question like, I mean, if Garfield. If you ask Chat GPT a question like, when will people forget Garfield? I do think as part of a, like, an artificial intelligence safeguard to prevent it from destroying humanity, it should tell you to go outside. But it doesn't do that. It actually helps you answer your stupid questions. What's up? What's your name again?

[Abby]

Abby. I do wonder what Chat GPT would say to your question now, though.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, but you could just. You could just keep ask. I've asked it so many questions that are just. Are like, I don't. Why do I need to know the answer to this? Sometimes having questions is better than having answers 100%.

[Abby]

Sometimes you don't need to know the answer.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, I don't like reading the chat on the podcast, but I'm gonna do it. Somebody in the chat just said, good friends will hear out any questions that you ask. And I don't think that that's necessarily true. I think occasionally a good friend. You know what? Maybe that's true. Maybe that's true. But if you. If you ask if I treated my good friend the way I treat Chatgpt, if I. If my good friend was good enough, my good friend would be like, you need to just. You need to drink some water and have a cigarette, and you'll be okay. What's up, Abby? How you doing?

[Abby]

You just got to keep people real. I'm doing all right. I just got the flu, but that's okay because I'm getting better.

[Therapy Gecko]

That's a very optimistic thought to have. I'm curious, and it's totally okay if you didn't because we. We found our way to whatever this is, but did you have something specific that you wanted to talk about today?

[Abby]

I have a very interesting story to tell, I guess.

[Therapy Gecko]

What's it about?

[Abby]

So I'm a twin, and when I was younger, my mom signed me and my brother up for a twin study. And it went very interesting, I'll say that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay. Care to elaborate?

[Abby]

So I guess I was like, I don't really know how old I was. I was, I guess at that age where I was, like, marketed towards spongebob, like, what were we talking about? And there was this college and they were doing just studies on twins. And since I'm a twin, I think my mom got some money out of it, and she's like, oh, I'll just. I'll just sign them up for it. Like, what's the worst that could happen? And we go in there and they immediately, like, start asking us, like, the normal health questions, like, how old are you guys? Like, who's older? All that other stuff. But there's two rooms behind these two people that are like that. I guess they're the ones that are doing the test on us. And they tell us that there's going to be like, a quiz test and there's going to be a physical test. So my brother goes into like, the quiz test and I go into like the physical test, which is like in the room right over. And you go into this room and it's really tiny. And this lady has this L shaped desk and, you know, like those dentist chairs that are like. Like, it looks like a dentist chair, but it's like propped all the way up. Like, it's not like fully laid back, and there's all these contraptions just strapped to it. And she's just asking me these very normal questions. And then we start doing the physical test and it's like, normal, like blood pressure, whatever. But then she's like, we're gonna do something Different. And she like straps me down and like puts like those like laughing gas masks on me. And I guess she starts just like giving me some like random ass gas that makes me start to panic. But she's like reading all these super scientific calculations on her computer. And it was just, it was, it was very interesting going through that as like a little child. Like, I don't have any trauma related to it. I just think it's funny. It's like, why would you do that?

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, I guess. So is this, Is the study still going on?

[Abby]

I think. I don't know. I like, I think they're still doing a twin study. I don't know if they're still doing that specific study.

[Therapy Gecko]

Hmm.

[Abby]

But with this lady, it's. She was like, she was just gonna be like, hey, just tell me when, like it gets too much to you. And I like, I like just started like panicking because, you know, that's a really weird situation to be in. And so I tell her, take it off. And she says, no, we're getting good test results. All the while my brother's hearing me like scream and cry in the room next over. Probably like really nervous for what he has to do next.

[Therapy Gecko]

Right? What did. Did they. I mean, so did they. Do they get any conclusions?

[Abby]

Well, that's the next part of it. My brother, since he didn't do the physical test because like, we went to go switch, my brother was like, absolutely not. They technically couldn't make a conclusion because they didn't get the other half.

[Therapy Gecko]

Oh, so your brother heard you screaming and noped out?

[Abby]

Yeah, basically.

[Therapy Gecko]

Ah, you can't have a twin study with. With just one.

[Abby]

No, you can't. So I just. I like just randomly remembered this thing too.

[Therapy Gecko]

Like, did your mom. I guess a year ago, but did your mom get any money for. For your torture?

[Abby]

I think so. I don't know if it was torture. I think it could have just been me genuinely panicking as a kid. But I just think the situation is more funny than anything. Just very peculiar.

[Therapy Gecko]

Did, did your. Was your mom like mad at your brother for not participating in the study?

[Abby]

She seemed a little disappointed more than anything. But they still gave her like the full amount of money, which I find interesting. I guess that just comes with like working with children, you know, like, sometimes they're just not gonna cooperate.

[Therapy Gecko]

Right. Yeah. This sounds like how. How people get human centipeded is with like a studies like this.

[Abby]

Oh. Don't compare to that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, what's your name again? Abby.

[Abby]

Yeah, Abby.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, thanks for letting me rant to you about Garfield for 10 minutes. I really do appreciate you, you know, let it being there while I did that.

[Abby]

Oh yeah, of course.

[Therapy Gecko]

Is there anything else you want to say to the people, the computer before we go?

[Abby]

Not really. Just don't. Don't trust scientists, I guess.

[Therapy Gecko]

Don't. Yes. What? That is a great message. Do not trust science.

[Abby]

I didn't think about do not trust.

[Therapy Gecko]

No, no, no. Abby, you said it. You can't take it back. We do not trust scientists. We question everything. There is no such thing as verifiable evidence and the the solar system revolves around the earth. Thank you very much for calling, Abby.

[Abby]

All right, see you. See you later.

[Ashley Kineti]

This is Ashley Kinetic from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. It feels like everyone is talking about GLP1s these days. Those are Ozempic and Semaglutide. And with Future Health, you can find out if they're right for you too. Maybe you feel like you've been struggling with your weight for years and no matter how much you diet and exercise, you just don't feel healthy. Just go to try fh.com to find out if weight loss meds are right for you. Future Health is not a health care services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary.

[Amica Insurance]

Sponsored by Future Health At Amica Insurance, we know it's more than a life policy. It's about the promise and the responsibility that comes with being a new parent, being there day and night and building a plan for tomorrow today for the ones you'll always look out for. Trust Amica Life Insurance. Amica Empathy is our best policy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest. For Albertsons and Safeway, February is the month of love. And while you're spending time showing love to your family and friends, make sure you show yourself some love too. Now through February 25, shop in store and online and save on self love items from Dove like Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Wash, Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing body wash, dove antiperspirants, dove shampoos and dove conditioners. Offer ends Feb. 25. Offers may vary, restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Leesa]

Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Upgrade the whole [e-mail] Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business [e-mail].

[Therapy Gecko]

Hello.

[Stella]

Hello.

[Therapy Gecko]

Hey. Hello. Hi. What is your name?

[Stella]

Hey. My name Is Stella. How you doing, Lyle?

[Therapy Gecko]

It's. It's what?

[Stella]

Stella.

[Therapy Gecko]

Stella.

[Stella]

Sure. Or whatever you'd like.

[Therapy Gecko]

Stella. Like. Like the beer. Stella. A rose.

[Stella]

Yes. Yeah, I done a lot of tours. That's how you.

[Therapy Gecko]

Stella.

[Stella]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

Because when the sun shines, we'll shine together. So. All right. What's up, Stella? How you doing? How's. How's life, Stella?

[Stella]

Life is pretty up in the air, trying to stay afloat, but, I mean, nonetheless, it's good to be alive, you know? How are you?

[Therapy Gecko]

How am I? Every single. It's. Every single day, I'm realizing that I don't know anything about fucking anything. And there's like, life can only be. There's a. It's. I don't know if it's a quote directly that somebody said or if it's more of a just general adage, but the idea that life can only be lived forward and understood backwards makes so much goddamn sense to me every year that I get a little bit older and things start to make sense a little bit more. And it's weird for me. I'm giving you the actual answers to the question of how I'm doing. So give me a sec.

[Stella]

As you should. As you should.

[Therapy Gecko]

And, you know, I genuinely. I really like doing this podcast when I am in the position of like. Like being. I don't know, sometimes. Sometimes I struggle with it. Sometimes I struggle with. But sometimes, like. Like today, for some reason, I'm having a real good time with it, but sometimes I struggle with it because it's. You know, people will be wanting, I guess, my perspective on things, and I'm just like, I don't know. I don't. I don't really know, but it's. I don't know. Sometimes I. I like it, yet I like it the other way around. I like when I get people's perspective on stuff. It's fun, it's interesting, it's a real. On. It's an honor to get to. And that's all. It's an honor to get to do something like this. But also, it's. It's way better when I'm caffeinated. I'm learning about that. I'm learning about how to be. How to not be depressed. I think I figured it out. I actually genuinely think I figured out how to not be depressed.

[Stella]

Okay. What. What? The equation.

[Therapy Gecko]

Okay, first you have to have $5 million. We can't talk about any of the other steps unless you have $5 million. First you have to have $5 million, and then you have to have a beautiful husband or wife that does. They can be. They can be really Nothing less than 10 out of 10. This is the most gorgeous person that you've ever seen. And they have to love you unconditionally for you. Like, you have to be, you know, like. Like, like they have to love all of your flaws. They have to love you unconditionally. So $5 million beautiful life partner who loves you unconditionally. What else? I know it starts with those two things.

[Stella]

Okay.

[Therapy Gecko]

If you don't have those two things, you're probably fucked and miserable. But what's. What's up. What's up with you, Stella? What's. What makes you. What made you call in today?

[Stella]

Nothing in particular. I mean, I just. In general, if. Think you kind of opened it up perfectly with not knowing anything day by day as you get older. I kind of feel the same way, both like in a micro level and a macro level when it comes to just living life day by day. But let's get specific. Let me just give you a random micro level to that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Go ahead.

[Stella]

I currently live with my sister and her boyfriend. It was just me and her when it first began, but now I'm really looking into getting out and just going on my own. But again, that goes back to your $5 million and someone who loves you unconditionally. You know, I don't have five mil. I have someone. Do they love me unconditionally? No, probably not. I mean, can anyone really? No, I don't think so, but. So I'm just stuck between, like, do I go on? I mean, I can do it. I have money. Not 5 mil, but I got. I can go on my own. I mean, the economy is not the best right now, but I can probably be okay.

[Therapy Gecko]

So what's going on? What's. What's going on with your current situation? Why are you trying to get out of it?

[Stella]

Nothing's wrong with it. Actually. It's perfect. Like, me and my sister are great. We've been through a lot together and made our bond stronger, you know, And I think living with her has been such a blessing. But I want something that's my own, you know, like my own space, my own universe within four walls, you know, And I think it's just time. I've been in the same place for five years now, and I have a good job, so it's given me, afforded me the ability to even think about this, you know, like, be able to say, hey, I can and want to get my own place, but Then I just think I overthink things. Especially when it comes to just making decisions in general in life. It's not like, my forte. I second guess things all the time and have to overanalyze and overthink. So I'm, like, constantly on the Internet trying to find answers to things, use chat GPT to, like, to the finest detail. Ask, like, how do I get from point 8 to point B?

[Therapy Gecko]

What. So, yeah, I know. I have. I have a similar. A similar thing. I have a similar thing now. So you said there's. You have a person in your life and they love you with, you know, a few conditions, which is, I think, the best that you can get. What. And what's. Are they gonna move in with you? Is that the idea? Or are you, like, totally, totally placed on your own?

[Stella]

That's the thing. I don't know. I don't think financially and mentally there. It's doable for them to come and be with me if we get, like, a place together. And that kind of, like, that hurts a little because I. I make it very aware what I expect and what I want, you know, from a partner or my. My boyfriend or whatever. And it just doesn't seem to click. But then I understand that there's a lot of mental boundaries that can stop somebody from seeing their own potential and then being that for somebody else who has vocally let them know, like, hey, this is what I want. So I don't.

[Therapy Gecko]

Can I ask what. I mean, what's. If this is, you know, something you want to talk about or go into, like, what is. What does that look like?

[Stella]

So, I mean, he's my boyfriend. He's the type to, like, go back to the past a lot and say, I used to make so much money and I was able to afford an apartment for me and my partner that's like his ex at the time or whatever, and he's like, but shit's not like that anymore. You know, I'm not the same person physically, and I'm not capable of making so much money like you or whatever. And I don't make six figures or anything, but I'm. I'm pretty okay where I'm at, you know? But he says that a lot. And I'm just like, where's, like, the motivation to be in this together, to want to make what I make or more possibly, you know, I know there's a lot of boundaries and obstacles that stop people from doing things, but, like, I'm here with you. I want to do this with you. Like, let's go. Let's the fucking ride or dies. You know, like, that's always what I thought having somebody would be. And obviously my path isn't perfect either, but, like, I'm ready to go through the ringer with anybody. Like the muck and the mire just to come out like the shining phoenixes from the ashes. Cornier.

[Therapy Gecko]

Like God. Oh, my God. You are. You are reaching your hand out to. To this man, begging him to. Well, begging, but you're. You're reaching this. You're not begging, but you're. You're reaching your hand out to this man and saying, walk the walk with me, my friend.

[Stella]

And he's my dear.

[Therapy Gecko]

He doesn't walk the walk with me, my dear. And what's he saying?

[Stella]

He says, yes. He says, okay, great. What are you gonna say when somebody's saying that to me? You know, he has a great heart. He's a good man. I'm not saying anything is wrong with him, but everybody has their flaws, and I want to work with him on them, you know, But I have also been, and that's another thing, too, is myself. I don't want my past to get in the way of going on this journey with this person, because I have my flaws. Of, like, the minute of voices raised in a conversation or, like, disrespect is there. I'm like, no, I gotta go. I gotta walk away. I need to, like, it's done, it's over. And he's like, whoa. You know, it's. I may add a flaw, you know, for me. Well, like I said, I think maybe because of my past, I see everything as a red. Not a red flag, but, you know, something to be wary of and scared of and anxious of. And then I take it to the next because of the overthinking, overanalyzing, if that makes sense.

[Therapy Gecko]

Yeah, sure. Yeah. Interesting.

[Stella]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

What's kind of. What's. What's your job now?

[Stella]

So I. I'm basically an executive administrator for a very big, powerful organization. And, yeah, it's been. It's very comfortable positions, very cool position. I'm able to help a lot of people, and that's what I love the most. But it's. I want, like, the rural life, and it's this kind of job is more like city, political, you know, smiley face when you want to burn everything down kind of position, you know, and I hate that.

[Therapy Gecko]

But you want the rule life.

[Stella]

Yeah, I do. I really. I want something quaint, the traditional, like second white picket fence or farm, whatever, with the husband and the kids. That's what I want. I don't want this fucking businesswoman shit. That's so overrated for me anyways. No offense.

[Therapy Gecko]

And you're like in your, like, like when you like the rural life, like, do you want to be like, like do I just like, like just take care of the kids or do you want to have like work on a farm or like what's, what's. What can I. What's, what's the dream? Give me, give me the dream for you. Like the dream.

[Stella]

Yeah, dream scenario is. Yeah, I'm a work. I'm with my kids all day and me and my kids are doing farm work, helping with the, the goats and the rabbits and the, you know, not the cows. That's a bit, that's a lot of work. And horses are too, but you know, at least like a homestead ish kind of thing with the hubby that, you know, does his, his gets his hands dirty too and is able to provide for us and I provide for him, you know, in that way because of what he does for the family, you know, like that's, that's what I want. And away from the city, away from too many people. I do want family around, but just, you know, in general it's good to be, to create your own, you know.

[Therapy Gecko]

Now I'm curious and I, by the way, I, I fall victim. People would not believe for a guy who runs a. I really, I hate calling this an advice podcast, but whatever. People I, I talk a bunch of shit on here and people I don't, I think would be surprised at how often I Google how to be happy or overthink decisions or, or you know, do I do all the things that you describe. I call a billion friends and talk to chatgpt about things and all on all this stuff. And so I feel actually kind of interesting asking you this question. But as from talking to you for two seconds, you sound like actually a person who's pretty confident about what they want out of life and who they are and whatever. That's just a projection I'm getting upon you. And so what do you, what are you overthinking?

[Stella]

I think I overthink maybe that life that I just said to you right now right in my head, I'm like, well, maybe that's not the way. Maybe I am supposed to be this cocktail hour businesswoman lady with a high rise and Florida ceiling windows and you know, girls night and stuff like that. Like the basic non traditional woman. I guess. Yeah, I second guess that and then I second guess, hey, maybe this person isn't the ones with me. And. But then I'm like, wait, aren't you supposed to stay and fight for things? You know? And this is the most healthiest relationship I've ever been. And like he is, I love him. Like he's great. But again, past stuff, right? And then you second guess and overanalyze and yeah, like I could take it back all the way to childhood type of overanalyzing. Like that's how much I go into the thinking. I was even like I even had to get off of birth control because it was making me so existential. Even like I would smoke weed and I was on birth control and I literally thought I was in other planes of existence because I was overthinking myself. But like now I can do it. I'm chill. I'm like, no birth control anything. And I smoke and I'm like, okay, I can analyze and not be thrown into other orbits. But yeah, that was so. It's funny. Sorry about that.

[Therapy Gecko]

No, no, no, no, it's, that's, it's, it's, it's, it's a whole bar. It's one continuous bar. One complete bar. It's. Well, it's funny you say all this stuff cuz I, I, I was just saying that I don't know anything. And by. I've. There are a couple of things I have come to fight that I can say that I believe with my whole heart that I won't question. There's a couple of things. One is that I believe this in like, I gutturally believe this like when I am in a. Like because you know, there's, there's sides of yourself, right? There's like you when your emotions are out of it and when you're like in tune with your higher being. And then there's you when you're like whatever hungry or horny or sad or angry or happy or joy to related and you're like letting those emotions run the fucking show. But me, when I'm in my like connected to what I feel like is like oh, this is like my, this is, this is my superego or the, or the high in that state of mind. I genuinely believe that like the ability to make the decisions that I overthink is like a deep privilege. It's like a deep honor to even get to decide. And, and like again when I'm in, when I'm connected to my higher being for you know, one second out of the day, which again I'm really typically not. I just want to make it clear. I'm really typically not. But when I am, I'm like, that's how I really feel. It's like, oh, it's such a privilege to even be it like, oh, which you know, you know, who will I fall in love with and what cool career will I have? And like, all these things are like, they're privileges to even get to think about, right? That's how I really feel. And so I know that to be true when I'm connected to my higher being. Normally I'm not thinking about that. Normally I'm overthinking and spiraling and whatnot. But the other thing I know to be true, I forgot while I was explaining the first thing, but, oh, okay, I remember it now. I. I really feel like I. I'm coming to some conclusion. I 90, I 80. I'm not even sure how sure I am. That's how insane I am. I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna go with pretty sure. I'm not gonna put a number on it. I'm pretty sure that people in general are happier when they're just in the moment of the thing, you know, when they're just like, when they're not overthinking, when they're not talking about death and overthinking every single one of their fucking decisions. And we're just like, oh, today I have to, you know, milk the cows. And I don't have time to think about whether or not this is what I should be doing with my life because I gotta go milk these fucking cows. You know, I don't have time to think about it. I'm just fucking doing it. And I don't know. It's hard, right, because some people, they, you know, some people are like, I don't have time to think about whether this shitty office job is making me miserable or not, because I gotta do it. And that's not, that's ultimately not good. There's a. There's got, there's some kind of like, ideal optim. You know, optimal balance between thinking about things and being in the moment to stuff. And I haven't found it, but I definitely know that like, overthinking, fucking everything is not the way to do it. And it's like this with, I think, I guess, I guess, relationships too, because on one hand you could, you could sit and think, oh, is this the right thing for me? And then the other hand you could just be in the moment of whatever it is and life is. I Guess like trips to the. The. The basement of I'm actually in my life versus the, the attic of let me think about things for a second. And I guess you just. I guess you balance that until you die. I don't know the proper thing. And also it's weird because some people, like, we all have like friends who they just somehow they just are not overthinkers and they just do shit with their life and they don't think about it and they just have. They're just innately fucking like born with it. Like, I have friends like that and I'm like, I don't know how they just. I have friends who just do life perfectly without even thinking about it somehow. And then I have friends who cannot stop thinking. Eileen close. I lean much closer to that part of the spectrum. And yeah, I don't know. I don't know how much of this is just. You're just born with more neuroticism versus you just are a person who does shit. But yeah, I don't ultimately. I guess when I'm in my. When I'm in touch with my higher being for the one second a day that. That I am lucky to be, that's how I feel. It's like, oh, it's. It's a privilege. Most of the time though. I like every other human, like. Like a lot of other human beings on the planet and, you know, controlled by fear based decision making and emotion based overthinking and you know, all these fucking things. But yeah, that's my rant about anything.

[Stella]

I loved it. That was great. It resonated for sure, 100%.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, what. How old are you, by the way? Because I'm gonna be honest, when you first picked up the phone, I thought you were like 15, but now I think you might be like 25.

[Stella]

Oh, shit. Good job. Yeah, 28.

[Therapy Gecko]

You're 20. Okay. You're older than me. All right.

[Stella]

I am. Well, sometimes it is like that though. Honestly, Lyle, sometimes you make me feel like I'm 20 or something. Like, let me your mind work. I appreciate that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Please take me. Please take everything I just said to you at face value. Well, it's funny though, because. Well, I'll tell you something real quick. I was at a. I was at a bar two nights ago and I was talking to someone and I was like, oh, how old are you? And they were like, I'm 22. They were like, how old are you? And I was like, I'm 27. And they made that face and they went, oh, like that Was old. And it's fun. It was funny to me because I literally, I swear, just Yesterday I was 22 at. I literally had that exact same interaction fucking just yesterday, where I was the 22 year old and I met a guy who was 27 and I made that face when he told me. And it's so weird that I'm on the other end of that. I feel like I just flash forwarded like five years or something.

[Stella]

Yeah, he just had like a retro memory. Yeah, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko]

And now that I'm, it's funny because I remember being like 22 and I couldn't imagine what it would like to be like 27. And now like I, you know, I'm in Reddit and you read a Reddit post, like you read a Reddit comment or some guy is like, I'm 46 years old and here's what's going on with me. And I'm like, you're telling me I'm going to be 40. You're telling me that 20 years later I'm still going to like have problems and thoughts and feelings and this just keeps going. It's crazy. It's too much. It's so much to think about. It's insane.

[Stella]

And that's why I have to stop myself. Because then everything else that's like literally in my face happening in my life is not going to get dealt with because I will go that far into my L King back to what you said. Just being present in the moment and having like that attitude of grace and gratitude that you get to have these fucking decisions be so in your life and not like, hey, what am I gonna eat the next day? Which many do have to think of like that. But I agree with you. And then also I do, like, I go to my faith a lot and that does keep me grounded and stable half the time. Most of the time, actually, 95 of the time.

[Therapy Gecko]

Are you religious?

[Stella]

I'm. Yeah, sure, I guess. You know, I really. It's the cliche thing where people say I have a relationship with, with Christ. You know, that's like, that's how I see it.

[Therapy Gecko]

Cool.

[Stella]

But yeah, religious. Call it that.

[Therapy Gecko]

Cool. Cool. I think that's good. I think having a, you know, I don't know, I've been thinking about like, it's funny because I think when you're like, when you're like a young atheist or whatever, you're kind of like, you kind of like blow, I think blow it off. But then you're like, oh, it's kind of nice to like, believe in something, you know?

[Stella]

Yeah. There's a peace and comfort that comes with it. It's like, you don't. I kind of like the thought of not having to control everything in my life. Like, literally, if there was. If God could just take everything and do anything with my life, I would not. I wouldn't mind having to decide. Scared the shit out of me.

[Therapy Gecko]

Right, right. I was thinking about. I was actually gonna bring this up when I was on this rant is I. I'm. If somebody has. If somebody has an experience with this, please call in. I would love to talk to you, but I was thinking about, like, arranged marriage, you know, and it's like on one hand, it's like, oh, arranged marriage. It's like the ultimate, like, you know, lack of freedom. Like your parents. It's a very like, un American idea. Like your parents, like, pick who you're gonna like. Your life is like, chosen. This, this huge thing is like, chosen for you youu know, and it's like a very. I don't know, like I. There's. There's a lot of course, on paper wrong with that idea. But then in the back of my mind I'm a little bit like, oh, there's something about, like, you're okay, this is what you gotta deal with. And no, you don't get to decide whether or not it works for you. You just have to fucking deal with it. Yeah, I'm like, oh, that probably has, like, pros to it. I'm kid. If someone is listening to this and has experience with it, please call in. I'm curious about it because they might call in and be like, it sucked. But anyway, sorry, go ahead.

[Stella]

Yeah, I can't even speak on that. I thought the same as you. I can't speak on it. No arrangement, which is over here. But just the thought of, like, if I had a healthy family dynamic and relationship, they would have my best interest in picking, you know, this person who's going to be able to provide for me and for the family. Right. Because it's a whole endeavor. It's not just about me and this other person. It feels comforting in a way. But again, I can't speak on it. That's not a part of my circle. But that's my thoughts anyway. But pros and cons to everything. And like you said, everything's a balance.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well, Stella, is there anything else that you wanted to talk about or say to the people of the computer before we go?

[Stella]

Not at all. Also, your voice sounds completely normal. Doesn't sound Any different than on the podcast.

[Therapy Gecko]

Well good. I'm very honored to have a normal voice.

[Stella]

Yes, normal can be laugh. It was great talking to you.

[Therapy Gecko]

Great talking to you too, Stella. Hope you have a good rest of your entire life. And I will, I will, I will see you around the universe.

[Stella]

Yeah, same to you.

[Therapy Gecko]

All right, take care. Still. What is it? Stella arose sterile. Stella. Hold on, I'm gonna figure out. How do you fucking pronounce this? Stella. Okay, well, everyone's everyone. Everyone shut up for a second. I'm trying to think. Everyone. Everyone's everyone. I'm trying to think. Everyone stop. Okay, Stella Erodis. Artodis. Why would you name your products something that people can't even say it? Stella are. I'm gonna say it's Stella Artowis. How do you pronounce it? Stella Artowis. Phonetic pro. Pronounce pronunciation. Artois. What the fuck? Okay, it's Stella Artois. This looks. If you read it literally, it's Stella Artois. I'm calling it Artois. Why would you name your product something that people can't say what it is? Okay, so.

[Leesa]

Therapy geckos do it right.

[Therapy Gecko]

Teaching you how to live your life. But he's not really an expert.

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[Therapy Gecko]

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