“I WAS ON A JAPANESE TV SHOW WITH MY DENTIST’S COUSIN”

Summary

Episode Title: I WAS ON A JAPANESE TV SHOW WITH MY DENTIST’S COUSIN
Host: Therapy Gecko (Lyle)
Release Date: February 16, 2025
Description: An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing.
Host’s Call Information: Follow @lyleforever on Twitch for call notifications. Typically live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

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Introduction

The episode begins with Lyle announcing an exciting update about his live shows in Tokyo, Japan. Due to overwhelming demand, he has added a second show on Saturday, February 22nd at 3 PM. This sets the stage for the episode's theme of unexpected adventures and personal growth.

Quote:
"Hey folks, real quick. I announced a live show in Tokyo, Japan like a week or so ago, and it sold out pretty fast." [02:32]

Main Conversation with Andrew

Unexpected Appearance on Japanese TV

Andrew, a 27-year-old server with a background in biochemistry, joins the show via a phone call. He shares his surreal experience of being featured on a Japanese TV show alongside his dentist’s elderly cousin, Setsu. This unique opportunity arose unexpectedly, highlighting how unforeseen events can significantly impact one's life.

Quote:
"I announced a live show in Tokyo, Japan like a week or so ago, and it sold out pretty fast. So I added a second one on Saturday, February 22nd at 3 PM." [02:34]

Struggles with Depression

Andrew opens up about his long-term battle with depression, exacerbated during the COVID quarantine. He describes how the monotony of quarantine led to a deepening depression and even an eating disorder, making each day feel like a repetition of the last.

Quote:
"I've been depressed for years and years, and I think it's accepted it as a constant of my life. I'm really close to figuring it out." [04:54]

The Hypothesis: Talking vs. Action

A significant part of their conversation revolves around the idea that constantly talking about one's problems can reinforce a negative self-narrative, potentially worsening depression. Instead, taking actionable steps can help break this cycle.

Quote:
"I think talking about your problems might make them worse." [07:04]
"If you're always talking to your friends and your family and about it on the Internet, you just reinforce that narrative." [07:31]

The Japan Trip and Reinvigoration

Andrew recounts his month-long trip to Japan, organized through his dentist who connected him with Setsu. During this trip, Andrew participated in a TV show that followed him and his friends exploring Tokyo. This immersive experience challenged his self-perception and helped him regain confidence by proving to himself that he could step out of his depressive rut.

Quote:
"Being in Japan... proving to myself that I can do these things... has reinvigorated some sort of confidence in me." [21:54]
"I got to talk to you right now. I got to eat a hamburger. Everything was fine." [14:32]

Key Insights and Reflections

Lyle and Andrew discuss the balance between acknowledging internal struggles and taking proactive steps. They emphasize that while reflecting on one's issues is important, excessive rumination without action can trap individuals in a negative loop. Andrew's experience in Japan serves as a testament to the power of stepping out of one's comfort zone to foster personal growth.

Quote:
"There's some optimal way to be a human being. I haven't figured it out, but there is." [12:37]
"By getting a legal license and starting a little brand... you could be embarking on such a wonderful, awesome, great adventure." [69:59]

Conversation with Atticus

Struggles with Family Expectations and Personal Choices

Atticus, a 21-year-old college student from Minnesota, joins the conversation to discuss his feelings of disappointing his parents and his pursuit of starting a marijuana cultivation business. He explains the tension between his desire to follow his passion and his family's expectations for him to take over the family greenhouse business.

Quote:
"I feel like I have to be the good kid... I'm trying to make my own buck in this lawless hellscape of 2025 America." [50:31]

Starting a Marijuana Cultivation Business

Atticus details his venture into marijuana cultivation, highlighting the challenges of obtaining legal licenses and the stigma associated with the industry. He shares his efforts to create a sustainable business model and his collaboration with peers who support his entrepreneurial goals.

Quote:
"We make mostly like live rosin and hash right now... Once licenses are put out in, theoretically May to June, we can have our products on shelves." [65:43]
"Bakes Cultivation is social equity verified in the market, so we can't really sell anything yet." [66:23]

Support and Encouragement

Lyle provides Atticus with encouragement, emphasizing the importance of pursuing one's passions despite external pressures. He acknowledges the societal stigmas around marijuana but underscores the potential for positive community impact.

Quote:
"I blindly based off of my good faith that all of this is completely legal. I blindly endorse Bake’s Cultivation." [66:52]
"Do what you love, try and enjoy your life." [70:30]

Overcoming Challenges

Atticus discusses the difficulties of balancing his entrepreneurial aspirations with personal struggles, including managing relationships and maintaining self-confidence. Lyle reinforces the importance of taking action over excessive contemplation.

Quote:
"I need to get the fuck out of my house. I need to move out. I need to find a different job." [39:11]
"Do what you love, try and enjoy your life, go about it." [55:30]

Reflections and Takeaways

Throughout the episode, both callers—Andrew and Atticus—embody the theme that taking decisive action can lead to significant personal growth and overcoming mental health challenges. Lyle emphasizes the delicate balance between acknowledging one's problems and avoiding the trap of excessive rumination without accompanying action.

Quote:
"It's all about what you want to do tomorrow. Don't let your dad tell you what to do." [70:30]
"There exists two types of people: those who've never thought about anything, and those who have thought about too many things and keep trudging on." [43:29]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Lyle expressing his admiration for the callers' courage and determination to change their lives. He reflects on the importance of supporting small businesses and personal ventures that aim to make a positive impact, reinforcing the episode's central message of action over endless introspection.

Quote:
"I believe it's worth exploring... Just do it." [59:29]
"I love a cool small business... I hope he goes for it." [71:01]

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Notable Quotes:

• "I think talking about your problems might make them worse." — Lyle [07:04]
• "By getting a legal license and starting a little brand... you could be embarking on such a wonderful, awesome, great adventure." — Lyle [69:59]
• "It's all about what you want to do tomorrow. Don't let your dad tell you what to do." — Lyle [70:30]

Key Topics Covered:

• Overcoming depression through actionable steps
• The impact of unexpected opportunities on personal growth
• Balancing familial expectations with entrepreneurial ambitions
• The stigma and challenges of starting a marijuana cultivation business
• The importance of supporting and pursuing personal passions

Insights:

• Action Over Talk: Constantly discussing problems without taking steps to address them can reinforce negative self-perceptions and mental health struggles.

• Embracing Opportunities: Seizing unexpected opportunities, such as Andrew's appearance on a Japanese TV show, can lead to significant personal reinvigoration and confidence.

• Balancing Expectations: Navigating family expectations while pursuing personal entrepreneurial goals requires courage and self-belief, as demonstrated by Atticus.

• Supporting Entrepreneurs: Encouraging small businesses and personal ventures can foster positive community impacts and personal fulfillment.

Conclusion:

This episode of Therapy Gecko underscores the transformative power of taking decisive actions to overcome personal challenges and the importance of supporting others in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Through the stories of Andrew and Atticus, listeners are reminded that while reflecting on one's problems is essential, coupling reflection with action is crucial for meaningful personal growth and overcoming adversity.

Transcript

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[Lyle]

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[Andrew]

Hello? Who is this? What?

[Lyle]

What do you mean, who is this? You called me.

[Andrew]

Oh, well, I mean, it did, but this is. What the fuck? Wait, this is crazy. Is this actually the actual Mr. No, I know, I know. Don't get me wrong, I know, but this is like. I didn't. I expect you. Actually, the answer. What the hell?

[Lyle]

Hold on. Just stop. Stop for a second. You called? Yeah, this. First of all, first of all, do me a favor, and we don't actually have to cut this part out of the podcast. But this could be in the podcast. But I. Can you take me off. Can you take me off a speakerphone?

[Andrew]

Oh, my God. My headphones in.

[Lyle]

Oh, take me off of your headphones and just put me right in the. Take me off a headphones and just hold the phone up to your.

[Andrew]

Okay. Is that better?

[Lyle]

Yeah, it's better. We're gonna. I normally I. I ask people to do that and I cut it out of the show, but we're gonna keep it.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

This time.

[Andrew]

Okay. Okay. All right. Yeah, no, no, it's just. That's good. I didn't. I know that what this is. Now I understand why people. When they. They call in and they're all, like, flustered, it's like, damn. Actually getting in on the Mr. Therapy gecko. That's crazy.

[Lyle]

Hold on. Are you. And again, I Normally I cut these audio checks out, but we're gonna keep them in. Are you. You're. Are you yelling? Yeah, because I'm looking at your audio and it's all red. It's. All the bars are red.

[Andrew]

Oh, damn.

[Lyle]

Right now.

[Andrew]

Okay, okay, Maybe I should lower it a little bit.

[Lyle]

No, no, no, you're good now. You're good. You're good. You're good.

[Andrew]

Okay, now that's. That's good.

[Lyle]

Okay, just. Just. Now you calmed down a little bit. What's your name?

[Andrew]

Okay, okay, okay. Andrew.

[Lyle]

Andrew. You okay?

[Andrew]

Yeah, I'm doing. I'm doing all right. I got. Just hopped on the. The little treadmill that I got in here. Calm me down a little bit. Just got back from Run Club. Usually don't do that kind of thing, but. Yeah, no, I'm not. I'm doing okay. Thanks for asking. How about you, Lyle? How are you doing? I mean, therapy.

[Lyle]

I don't know.

[Andrew]

How do you want me to refer to you?

[Lyle]

Anything. Anything. Doesn't matter.

[Andrew]

Okay. Yeah. How you doing?

[Lyle]

I'm doing all right, man. I'm doing. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm okay. I'm. I feel okay. That's a lie. I'm depressed. That's. I'm just. Yeah, I'm depressed all the time. I've been depressed.

[Andrew]

That sounds like shit.

[Lyle]

I've been depressed for years and years, and I think it's. I've accepted it as a constant of my life. I think I'm pretty close, though. Hold on. I'm really. I'm really close to figuring it out, you know?

[Andrew]

Go ahead, Go ahead. Go ahead.

[Lyle]

There you go.

[Andrew]

I was gonna say something because I feel like during the whole quarantine and the whole, like, Covid. Like, during the beginning, like, okay, I didn't think I realized I was depressed, but, like, towards the end of it, I got really depressed. Like, I was developing an eating disorder. Like, every day was becoming the same old. Same old thing. Day in, day out. Just lay on the ground, be like, damn, what the. Am I even doing with my life? What am I. What are you. Like, I'm in school. I'm not even doing this thing because I even want to do it. And, like, yeah, like, you know, you feel it. But. But you mentioned how you're, like, on the verge of, like. Because I think it's like, logically you feel like you understand how to get out of the depression loop, but now it's more so, like. Like China, you know, the. The actual experiential feeling of getting out of that. Right.

[Lyle]

Yeah. Yeah, I've been thinking about that.

[Andrew]

Here.

[Lyle]

This is my little. And by the way, hold on. This is like. This is like a. I feel like this is like a. Like an alpha male talking point that I've come to. Yeah. Yeah, a little bit. But. But it's. It's a hypothesis that I'm thinking about, and it's a. It's a funny hypothesis. It's a funny hypothesis because it runs in absolute utter contrast to what I. Like, what my whole thing is, I guess, is I think I. I think. And again, nothing I say on this show is etched in stone. If you ever call me and you're like, hey, remember three years ago, this.

[Andrew]

Is all becoming an all in flux. Everything's in total flux. Yeah, I got.

[Lyle]

Everything's in total flux. Okay, there we go. You're on.

[Andrew]

You're.

[Lyle]

You're on the same level. Andrew, I share this with you. I actually. I'm playing around with the hypothesis. It's a new hypothesis I have. I think talking. I think talking about your problems might make them worse. Is that insane?

[Andrew]

I think. I think I would agree with you. What makes you think. What makes you think that? Because I would agree with you.

[Lyle]

I would agree with you because, like, if you're always talking to your friends and your family and about the end to the Internet, and if you're just always talking about your problems. Right. You just. You, like, center that. You, like, reinforce. Like. Like, I've. Over the years, I think, like, you know, you build, like, narratives in your head about yourself.

[Andrew]

Right, Right.

[Lyle]

Yeah. And if you're. If you're always like, oh, I'm so depressed. The narrative that. And this is just me, I guess, is I'm like, oh, I'm like, building. I'm building a story about myself. I'm building a narrative about myself that I am just a depressed guy. And I think I've walked myself into that rut by constantly telling myself that that's. The story is that I'm a depressed guy. Whereas, like, if I were like. Whereas if I were like, constantly like, oh, how can I. How can I. How do I do something about my problems, right? Like, what do I. Like, Like, I'm a solver or I don't know if I am a solver, but I want to be a solver. I want to be a solver. I want to be like, okay, okay, I have this problem. Let me fix it. Because if I just talk about it in circles, I'm just gonna keep reinforcing it.

[Andrew]

You're locking yourself into that story, right?

[Lyle]

Yeah. You're locked.

[Andrew]

Narrative. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I would totally agree with you on that. Yeah. Because it's like almost. Yeah, it's. It's a feedback loop almost. You know, like how it. Almost. Yeah, yeah. You start building this narrative about who you are and what you do. And like, if, you know, if I'm constantly depressed and it's like, you lock yourself into that. That's kind of how I felt with the whole quarantine covert thing or whatever. Was. Until I went to Japan, then came back and I was like, like, damn, I can actually do. But yeah, no, I should. Yeah, yeah. And the other thing too is I think there's. Don't. Don't quote me on it or whatever. Some psychotic, some psychiatrist dude or some said like, you know, the. The key, like the speaking region and the region of like, actual action are kind of highly, highly connected. So when you speak a problem, it's almost like you're acting like. I guess an analogy I would draw would be like, you know, you talk to your friends about, I'm going to be a doctor, I'm going to be this, or I'm going to do some shit. But then it's kind of like, well, you know, it's. It's like you almost did the act, so now you don't even want to pursue doing things because you already said and told and blovated on and on and on about that kind of shit. So I feel like it's a little bit along those lines. But yours sounds more of like a, you know, narrative. Narrativizing Almost reinforcing to yourself who you are. Right, right. Constantly talking about that. Right.

[Lyle]

Yeah. Well, before we go any. Hold up before. I. I'm. I mean, by the way, just so you. Just so you know, I'm really enjoying having this conversation with you, but I just. We got.

[Andrew]

Me too.

[Lyle]

I just. I just want to pause for a second. Are you still running on this treadmill? Because you sound like you're still running on this treadmill.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I am running on this treadmill. I'm trying to get a little bit of the. I'll slow it down. Not running. I'm kind of. I got, you know, I got the. I'm a little neurodivergent. I got. This is not an excuse, actually. I hate that. I don't want to be using excuses. I hate that. I don't like the. It's. It's a bad excuse. I'm not trying to excuse anything. I hate that. But. But I do it because it just helps me. You know, I've got. My mind is on. My body is moving and so now I feel like it's a little bit of sub stimulation in order to get me to where I'm now focusing and not all, you know, crazy. But. Would you like me to like, lower that or whatever or how do you.

[Lyle]

I don't care. No, I don't care, man. I'm just be. Be yourself. I just. You. I was concerned about you.

[Andrew]

Cool. No, I'm all good now. I'm. I'm leveling out a little bit. I should put that on my. Somewhere on my. In my room somewhere. Just be yourself. That's a. That's a good Hallmark quote.

[Lyle]

That one I like. That one. I like. That one I like. But like there's a lot of. It is funny as the. As the therapy gecko to be like, I think talking about your problems makes up there's. You know what. You know what it is? Actually, I. Actually here's. Here's. The thing is I think it's one of those things where it's like everything in moderation. Like there's a zone. Like there's an optimal zone of talking about your problems, and there's an optimal zone of it. But at a certain point, talking about your problems too much becomes a little bit masturbatory and you. And then again. Right. It just creates the fucking loop.

[Andrew]

Right? Yeah. But at some point you just kind of like you gotta just shut up and just keep it in your brain and then just act out what you need to do. Right. You Just gotta, you know, be the man of action, you know, You've been tinkering too long of just thinking about things being too in your head. You've been lost in the sauce, dude. You gotta get out and go out and do some, you know.

[Lyle]

Yeah, yeah, like the whole like, like the whole, I guess, like toxic masculinity thing of like, don't talk about your problems and don't. Whatever. Like I think like, like put a dash of that in there, you know? Not like.

[Andrew]

Yeah, a little, little, little risk. Right.

[Lyle]

If. If you never talk about your problems with anyone and you keep it all inside, something's gonna fester and it's not gonna be. And it's gonna come out.

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Lyle]

It's gonna come out in other evil. Cut. It comes out in other evil ways. But like also, if you're all constantly running, ruminating on everything, you know, everything is everything.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

There's. There's some optimal way to be a human being. I haven't figured it out, but there is. Yeah, I'm think I've been theory. Crafting it and maybe I'll figure it out.

[Andrew]

Hey, look, at least you're. You're in. You're in the becoming stage. You're in the becoming stage, right? You're looking to get yourself out of this damn hold. Is damn right that you're in. Right.

[Lyle]

Sure.

[Andrew]

And. And maybe, who knows? Maybe again, that's the thing. I don't think there's any. I don't think you can even think your way out of being depressed. It's just kind of like, you know, you can't damn choir. You probably already notice, you know.

[Lyle]

Yeah, well, you know what? You know, but you know what's so stupid, Andrew? You know what's so stupid? Is, is. Is. Is. Yes, a lot. You know what's so stupid, Andrew? And real quick, what's really stupid is that logically I know this. But also I do. Like on my computer right Now, I have three tabs that I've been saving for at least two days. And they all have like motivational YouTube videos on them. And I'm like, once I watch this motivational YouTube video, I will get my life together. But how many, you know, how many motivational YouTube videos I've watched over the last decade, you know? Yeah, but I've also. But also I. I've been thinking about my own life today and I was like, you know, I've been. Yeah, I've been like depressed and watching motivational YouTube videos for at least a decade. But I. But incrementally, like, when I zoom out, I did pretty okay. Yeah, I did pretty okay.

[Andrew]

When you say. When you say you've done pretty okay and you zoom out, which does that sort of mean that you've incrementally become. I guess. What does that mean? Like, incrementally becoming, in what direction would you say?

[Lyle]

Well, just like, if I died right now, I'm like, I did okay, you know, I got to talk to you.

[Andrew]

That is very flattering. I mean, I got to talk.

[Lyle]

I got to have this conversation with you right now. I got to look at the. I got to eat a hamburger. Everything was fine, you know, know.

[Andrew]

Damn. Got a hamburger too. Hell yeah, brother.

[Lyle]

I don't have. I don't have strong regrets. I think the basic.

[Andrew]

Okay if.

[Lyle]

I think basic human life doesn't come with any. Here's the thing. If whoever you are, Whoever you are, if you were forced at this moment to exam, even if you had, like a really shitty life, you could examine it and you could force yourself to have some kind of perspective where your life wasn't shitty and you would be. Right.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Like, you could, like, you could lay out, like, you could have had a horror. You could be like 50 and you just worked in, like a labor camp for now. Okay, well. Okay. What I'm saying is. What I'm saying is look at. You could look at your life and you could go like, well, I got to drink water a couple times. That was pretty good. And you wouldn't be wrong. This is insane, right? What's going on with you, Andrew? How's your life?

[Andrew]

No, no, but real. I will. I will answer that question. I just want to say I think I feel like I understand what you're saying in terms of the. Like, it is in some sense. Do you know how you. You know, there's a whole fucking mindset bullshit where it's like, yeah, your mindset. You, like, mind over matter. I do. You know, I like the meme about that a little bit, but they. There is a grain of truth to that, I feel. You know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like. And like you mentioned, like, you could live a shitty life. And, you know, and. And I think this will tie into, you know, the circumstance I'm in right now. And I'll let you know what, you know, what's going on. But like, yeah, like, you. It's some. Some degree, right, If. If you keep focusing on. And this is teetering, endangering into the realm of toxic positivity. But, you know, if you. If you focus too much on the negativity, then, yeah, your life is gonna be. And if you take the whole idea of eternal recurrence or whatever, like, if you had to live your life eternally over and over on repeat, then that could be hell. Right. But if you'd looked and focused on the positives and it affirmed life, and then it's like, you know, then. Yeah. That you'd made a life worth living. So it's like, in some sense. You got a joke, Joe? Jitsu mind. Mind yourself into thinking or experiencing somehow the. The positives. Right? Is. That's kind of along the lines of what you're saying, right?

[Lyle]

Yeah, no, 100%. 100%. But also, here's. I'm a. But also. But also, just so you know, just so you know, I'm. Well, actually, I'm not. I was going to say I'm a hypocrite, but I'm actually not a hypocrite because, well, it's.

[Andrew]

It's okay to be a hypocrite. Right. Life is all fucks and becoming. Right.

[Lyle]

Well, okay, so let me. Let me. Let me throw this out here. And I. Is.

[Andrew]

Go ahead. Yeah, yeah.

[Lyle]

Is Porcaino los dose? Because I have a strong belief. I'm like, look, I have certain. I have certain external conditions that I desire for my life.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

And I am in active pursuit of those external conditions. And.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Lyle]

I think it's good. I think it's good to be in active pursuit of external conditions for your life that you believe will make you happier. And, yes, there are. I think it can be true that there are unquestionably external conditions that make your life better and internal conditions that make your life better. So, like. So attack toxic positivity would be the dismissal of any and all possibility for any external conditions to make your life better and be like, Bro, 100 of it is in your mind, dude. Like, just think that life is good.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Lyle]

Yeah. But, like, a little bit of, like, hey, you know, mine. Your perspective is important and not hating your life and. And occasionally going, well, I got to drink water. That was pretty good. Combined with, you know, let me strive for better external conditions is good. That's like some yin and yang. So, you know. That's right.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lyle]

Optimal. Yeah, yeah.

[Andrew]

I. I would agree with you. Yeah. Yeah. You know, you're eating a. As if I may borrow from Mr. Bill Burr. You know, you're. Everyone's eating a sandwich, right. But some people got a little bit of sprinkles on There or something like that, right? So if you're eating a sandwich, you know, you're still eating it. It sucks ass. But at least you got a little bit of sprinkles on there, you know?

[Lyle]

What's going on with you, Andrew? What's happening? What's. You said you have a thing. You alluded to having a thing to talk about.

[Andrew]

Yeah, you know, I don't know. It was just like. It's nothing too crazy, you know? You know, I was. I was dating some lady for a bit. Like me. It wasn't even that long. But I felt like I got to know them pretty well. And, you know, we were talking for about a month, month and a half. And, you know, I thought, like, she was really interested. She seemed like she was. I don't know if it was like, her life is really busy. I mean, like, it seemed like she was doing graduate school. And had a lot of other things going in her life. And there was a little bit of Minkus, as Dan Geesling would say, Minkus. Around the. You know, around her, responding and all that. But, yeah, I just got ghosted. And that kind of sucks ass. But, you know, I just journaled that. I was like, yeah, this sucks ass. But, I mean, I don't know, maybe I should be. Also be grateful for the. For the things that I have and what I have. I at least have my body. At least. I have. I can run, I can go bold and all that. And even though that sucks ass, you know, it is what it is, you know?

[Lyle]

Yeah. Yeah. What?

[Andrew]

So also looking for jobs. That sucks ass, too. Go ahead.

[Lyle]

Was this. So, wait, was this a girl that you were, like, seeing for a while or, like, what. What was the deal with her?

[Andrew]

No, it was just, like, we met on Bumble and then one on the first. You know, on a couple. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Couple dates and then seen each other. And then I think it was, like, after the sixth date.

[Atticus]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

And then it was like, it was weird, too. I just don't. I don't know what the hell. I just wish that, you know, I get it. It's not easy to tell someone that, like, hey, look, it's fine, you know, if you're not interested, you're not interested. That's okay. Just let me know and, you know. Or something gets in the way. That's totally okay. But, like, I just wish they would have told. Told me, you know, Instead of me.

[Lyle]

Being all, yeah, no, you're right, you're right. No, no, it sucks. It sucks. It sucks. No.

[Andrew]

Yeah, it Sucks.

[Lyle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I don't know, man. Well, yeah, I mean, I'm curious. I'm curious about your life in general. How old are you?

[Andrew]

27.

[Lyle]

Okay, same.

[Andrew]

Yeah, Just working on my server right now. I went to university, thought I was going to do pharmacy. Then I realized my dad, that sucks ass. I love organic chemistry. Worked in a lab that also sucked ass. And I realized I was like, damn, why am I even doing this? I'm just doing this because like, I was told to do it. And then that was also during COVID and quarantine. I was like, probably depressed as. Or whatever. Then I went to Japan for a month with my brothers and I was like, damn. I think it reinvigorated like some confidence in me because then I came back and I was like doing all the stuff that I used to do when I was younger, like 18, 19, reading existentialist fiction, all that shit that I was. And journaling too. So I feel like there's a renewed, like a re, you know, revitalization within me now.

[Lyle]

Yeah. What? Tell me. I'm actually, I'm recording this in Japan right now. What are you doing?

[Andrew]

What the hell?

[Lyle]

Yeah, what do you do? What were you doing in Japan for a month?

[Andrew]

It was crazy. I don't even know. It was the oddest circumstances. Okay, I got a couple. Oh, Lord.

[Lyle]

Go ahead.

[Andrew]

Japan. It was great. It was. It was for a month. And thank you for letting me blow V8 on end by. By the way. Thank you. I understand it's the whole stick, but, you know, thank you still. So basically this is just something I always wanted to do. You know, I like anime, manga, whatever. In high school, don't really watch that much anime anymore, you know. And let's see. I was working Papa John's for a little bit, was saving up money here and there. Luckily, I have the fortunate of being fortunate to live my parents so saving up a lot of money. And then, yeah, I just did Papa John's doing side jobs here and there, saving up more money. And then I was like, bro, let's just go to Japan, right? And then my dentist, somehow my dentist learned about that and he's Japanese. And so, you know, I went to him and he put me in contact with this, this older, older lady. And she's like in her 70s and she was very, you know, helped us around with showing, you know, online or texting us information, helping us around Japan. She wanted to help us in Japan. So we, and so, you know, jump forward to going to Japan. And by the way. Let me know if there's any plot holes or whatever or some.

[Lyle]

Just. Just real quick. So you. Yeah, your. Your dentist hooks you up with this lady in Japan who do you. Do you hang out with? Yeah, do you hang out with your dentist's friend in Japan? Or does she just, like, text you, like, here's a restaurant to go to. No, we'll take you around.

[Andrew]

So. So, see, she was just like, hey, yeah, I can just show you around. I can show you around Tokyo. Like, I can. Yeah, I can just help you guys around.

[Lyle]

Okay.

[Andrew]

Yeah, we met up with her. Like, we landed, and she was texting us, like, okay, I'm. I'm wearing this, like, handkerchief. And. And like. Yeah, and then we met up with her. Okay. The other thing, too, is I was studying Japanese, and I'm gonna be honest right now, like, after coming back from Japan, I haven't studied or immersed myself any material. So Japanese fucking ass. But my brother. My brother's crazy. He's younger than me. God bless my brother. He just watches, you know, YouTube, Japanese content and, you know, so I kind of relied on him a little bit. He was much better. I mean, my ability was okay, but his is better than mine. And he's like. He's 10 years younger than me, so he was 17. And so. But the thing is, though, she was so hard to understand, maybe because, like, I don't know if it's because my jet. I mean, my Japanese fucking ass. But, like, I don't know if it's like the dialect thing or what, because there was another dude later on. We were. This is like. I feel like almost got sucked up by a cult too. That'll be later. But, like, if that's okay with you, I would like to tell you about the cult dude. But, like, at least alleged. Alleged. Alleged cult dude. Alleged cult dude.

[Lyle]

Okay, you. How did you get.

[Andrew]

Have the recording, too.

[Lyle]

All right, so you. All right, let me. So you go to Japan and your dentist is like, I have a. I have a friend who can show you around. And so you meet up with your dentist.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is cousin. It's his cousin. It's his cousin.

[Lyle]

You dentist. You guys. So you're hanging out with your dentist cousin, which sounds like something, someone, but in no way, shape or form do I think you're lying about this. But any. Anytime someone uses the phrase, I was hanging out with my dentist cousin, it sounds like they're lying. But I mean, hey, look, I don't think you're lying.

[Andrew]

I mean, you then.

[Lyle]

You then you, then you. Then you get involved in a culture.

[Andrew]

Well, okay, that's a little bit later, because the reason why. I'll let you know why we kind of. I don't even know if it is a call. I just feel like it is. And I'll. I'll lay out the evidence and you can come to your own conclusion. But I mean, before that, when we meet up with her, he also mentioned, like, hey, there's also like, these TV Japanese interviewers there. They'll probably interview you or something. I was like, yeah, yeah. I mean, probably, but I didn't really think anything of it. And then, you know. You know, if I think about third person, like, here it is, three white dudes just talking to this old, elderly, you know, Japanese woman, right? And you know, they're like, damn, this is crazy. Let's get the scoop, right? So they come up to us and like, we have a Japanese tv. Can we interview you? And I was like. At first, I was like, I don't know if I want it, but I was like, fuck it. You know what? Let's just do it. Let's take the challenge. Just do it. This is crazy. So we did it. And then they were like, hey, can we follow you around tomorrow and just inter. Like, watch you guys the whole day with Setsu? Or. I don't want to say her name. Sorry, I don't know if there's any way to whatever her. And so, like, then. And this is from TV Tokyo. So apparently we have a whole episode of us just walking around, you know, in Japan with her. And it was crazy, man. Everyone there was so kind, so generous. Like, the translator was so cool. We're talking about how he learned English. Yeah.

[Lyle]

Wait, wait, what's the story? It's just like, hey, three white dudes came to Japan. Like, what? What's the. Yeah, what's the new.

[Andrew]

I know. I don't know. That's what I'm thinking too. I mean, okay, it was. The point of the show is like, why did you come to Japan? So I guess for them, they're like, well, let's just follow them around Japan with this. This just them talking to a Japanese lady. I mean, I guess it's just. I guess. I guess it's odd because it's like three white dudes who, you know, like you said, their dentist cousin. It's like separation.

[Lyle]

This guy went. I guess, honestly, this guy went to Japan to hang out with his dentist cousin is a somewhat interesting story.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I know. Yeah, I get that. And I mean, yeah, and so they just, like, follow around.

[Lyle]

I'm titling. I'm titling this episod episode. I hung out with my dentist's cousin.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I mean, I got. I mean. Yeah, I mean, that's crazy. I mean, like, when I think about it like, that, it is kind of.

[Lyle]

Crazy and weird, but like a funny. Wait, so, okay, so this. This TV show, did you ever see, like, the.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah, they sent us the episode. Yeah.

[Lyle]

Okay, so.

[Andrew]

And the other thing that's crazy, too, is I'm on.

[Lyle]

This is the. Is the episode. Like, can. Like, is the episode. Like, can I find it on YouTube? Like, is it.

[Andrew]

I don't think you can find it on YouTube. I was able to download and record the video. I had to go through so many hoops to do it. Like, I don't even know if I should even be saying this, but, like, I do have it downloaded, but I think it's like. I don't think you could. The show's called White. Like, or some. I can't remember, Nihoni. That goes to show how my Japanese now is. But it's like, why did you come to Japan? It's like TV Tokyo, which is like the number one broadcasting, you know, whatever, in Japan.

[Lyle]

Yeah, no, I'm.

[Andrew]

I'm.

[Lyle]

I'm looking at it. I'm looking at it on. On. On Google right now. It's all in Japanese. I can't really see it.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah. Wait, so like, the episode. My episode? Or like.

[Lyle]

No, no, no, not your episode. I'm just on the. I am on the, like, the show page. Someone posted it in the chat.

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's. That's. That's. I'm also having whiplash.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

This is crazy.

[Lyle]

This is a verifiable, real story that someone.

[Andrew]

Yeah, no, it is. Yeah.

[Lyle]

Yeah. For real.

[Andrew]

It's. It's true. It's. And I don't know, it's, like, crazy. At least for me. Like, I never would have expected any of that to happen. I mean, again, I'm eternally grateful for everything that they did for me and. And what they. You know. Like. Like, you know. Yeah. It's just crazy. Like, I don't know.

[Lyle]

You have the episode.

[Andrew]

I do have the episode recorded. Yeah, I do. It's on my. It's like. I think it's on my Google Drive somewhere. I don't even know if I should. I mean.

[Lyle]

Well, I. Well, that's the funny thing is, is, like, I. It'd be kind of sick to be able to watch It. But then I don't. You're. I don't want you getting. I don't want either of us to get in trouble with Japanese whatever the.

[Andrew]

Yep. Yeah, that's my. That's my. My fear. So, sure. You know, like.

[Lyle]

So. Okay, so. So. So what. What was the episode like? Like, I mean, if you can't show it to us, describe it. What was it like?

[Andrew]

Yeah, so basically. Okay, so what the episode was like is basically, you know, we're in this hotel, they come by, and so, you know, she's showing us around. Let me get this. Let me get my. It's been a little bit. So, yeah, basically we go to Hachiko Statue. She shows us Shibuya Scramble, and Excuse me. Oh, my Lord, there's a peanut butter sandwich coming up. Excuse me. But she. Yeah, we, you know, going around Shibuya Scramble, and then they're like, hey, let's go down this. I wish I could remember the street. Some street. And. Oh, let's do pirikura. And so pirikura is like, I guess, really popular in Japan. It's like. I guess young girls, like, going there to take cute photos or some. Something like that or some shit. And so. Oh, dude. And that's the other thing. Right before that, they wanted to get me. Get a shot of me eating takoyaki. And I was like, okay. But it was like, hot as shit, dude. It came straight off the damn. The damn presses. And I was like, all right, I'm doing it for the damn camera. I'm gonna eat this takoyaki. And I burnt my damn mouth on the damn takoyaki. Yeah, it was like they had takoyaki, went to pirikura. We took like. Like super kawaii photos and whatever. I mean, in between segments where, you know, I'm talking to the. To the cameraman. I'm talking. I'm trying to talk to them in my shitty Japanese. And my brother's also helping me tremendously, you know, so, you know, trying to talk to them. And then obviously we have the translator, which is. That guy was cool as hell, too, man. That guy was so awesome. It's like, damn. Yeah. So, you know, we're talking to him, and then. So let me get back on track. This is now my. I'm trying to keep this as linear as possible. So sorry about, you know, taking little diversions. So, you know, then after that, we go to a. So that's the other thing, too. The guy, we. We were kind of like. We were like. I don't know when this episode is gonna end, but like, the guy was like, let's finish it off at a. At a. You know, let's eat somewhere. And let's finish off the episode there. And so, you know, we're. They're like, where'd you guys want to go? And we're like, I don't know, we're not really that hungry. Maybe we could eat. Dude. I said as a. Kind of a joke. But like, I was like, dude, let's go eat gyudon. Which is like, dude, you don't go eat gyudon with like a bunch of. I guess, like in an episode like that. There's like a meme in Japan about chidiu which is like, you know, cheeky is basically like.

[Lyle]

Yeah, goudons. Like the beef bowl, right?

[Andrew]

Yeah, the people. Yeah, the beef bowl. Hey, no, there ain't nothing wrong with a beef bowl. Right? But there's like a meme about like, chigyu, which is like, if you put cheese on gyudon, you like, you look like basically like that incel looking kind of guy. You kind of look like that. You look at. That's like. Like a beta thing or whatever. I don't think it's a beta thing, but like, there's a certain physiognomy that a type of person who eats chi. Chiu does or whatever. And like, I mentioned it to the. To the producer and he just kind of laughs. He's like, no, we're not doing that. And so, like, you know, we're trying to find different places to eat at. And obviously there's a whole. Like, you can't go into a building without asking, you know. Oh, wait, okay, can I. Let me backtrack a little bit. We also went to tower records. That was cool as hell being able to like, see all the damn records. And Tower records, that was awesome as hell.

[Lyle]

Like, let me ask you this.

[Andrew]

Go ahead.

[Lyle]

This. Let me ask you this. Okay, so you're on this Japanese television show and you went here for like a month and let's get. I want to get back.

[Andrew]

Yes.

[Lyle]

To the ultimate narrative of you because you said that this.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Lyle]

Experience was quite transformative for you is what you were saying.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Lyle]

And. And how. So, like, how did it reinvigorate you?

[Andrew]

Like, I don't think I realized it during. During there. During the whole process. I think it was more so after the fact. I think it was sort of aligns with the whole, like, maybe more so in like this narrative that you tell yourself. Like, you keep telling yourself this Narrative. I think it was like I realized that I was in a shit rut. And like, you know, I didn't want to do pharmacy. I didn't want to do fucking work in a lab, but I didn't know what the fuck I wanted to do. And I was, you know, here I am, graduated with a biochem degree, but now here I'm working as a server somewhere. Like, this ego thing about it. And, you know, I also got, like, some injury with, like, scapular winging. And so, like, I kind of lost my ability to, you know, exercise too. I liked exercising and, you know, I was just like, in this rut constantly, just day in, day out, being at home, doing the same damn thing over and over again. And then I, you know, I probably lost some sort of control, side of an eating disorder. And that was also fucking me up, making me depressed. And then I think. But what I think. I think it was my. My. My hypothesis for why it maybe got me out in trance. Why I feel this now, revitalization is. I feel like during that process, I felt like maybe I didn't. I had no value, or at least I wasn't able to do things. Like. I guess how I would describe it is when you go to the gym, you get some sort of confidence because, like, oh, look, I was able to do this thing that I, you know, wasn't able to do, right? Or at least I didn't think I was able to. And I have. I can show it off with my muscle, whatever, or, you know, you go and you do something.

[Lyle]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but somebody in the chat found your episode. Somebody in the chat found your episode.

[Andrew]

Oh, really?

[Lyle]

I'm looking. Yeah, I'm looking at. There's like, an article about it. There's an art. Is this you wearing the mad TV shirt?

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah. Mac. Mac DeMarco. It's a mad, but it's like a Mac DeMarco kind of thing. Yeah.

[Lyle]

Is that you?

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's me.

[Lyle]

Dude, that's so sick. That's awesome.

[Andrew]

I know. It's crazy. I don't know. It's crazy, man. It's crazy.

[Lyle]

Okay. This is a real verifiable story. Sorry, go ahead. I mean, to interrupt you.

[Andrew]

Yeah, no, it's true. No, yeah, but it's. It's real, man. And if they can somehow find the episode, I, you know, it's been a. It's been a bit. I don't know if you Can. But there's definitely that. Yeah, there's that article. Then, like, I guess I had got myself out of that rut. Like, I don't know, in some sense too. During the whole planning of the whole month of Japan, I was like, I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I want to. Like, I was also clinging so desperately to my routine, and I was like, no, it. Let's just go ahead and do it. And I think it was just like being out in Japan, you know, doing this thing that I thought I wasn't able to do and also proving to myself, I think this is my hypothesis is why. I mean, maybe it could be something completely different. I don't know, but like, that I was capable of doing these things I wasn't able to do and then coming back and then maybe realizing that subconsciously that had re. Reinvigorated into me some sort of confidence that I can do these things that, you know, I don't need to be told what to do. I can determine my own meaning and value.

[Lyle]

And see, Andrew, this. This is. Then, see, Andrew, you know, what is. You accomplish that not by talking and thinking endlessly in circles about how to figure out how to do stuff. You accomplished it, like, be. You accomplished it by being on a Japanese TV show.

[Andrew]

Yeah, right. Yeah, just like fucking doing shit. Just like.

[Atticus]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

I mean, like, there's a time and place for thinking, but also it's like, ties into this book I was reading about the Outsider, you know? Yeah. You just gotta. Yeah, there's. It's dynamic. There's a dynamic. Dynamic aspect of life. Go ahead. Yeah.

[Lyle]

So. So let's. So let's. So let's reel this on home. Andrew, let me ask you this before we go.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Okay. So now that you are reinvigorated and that you've realized. You've realized through a combination of. Through, through, through. And this is the. The main idea of what the whole thing that we've been talking about is, you know, you've realized this through a combination of action followed by thinking and revaluation and whatnot. A little yin, a little yang. What's next? What do you. What do you. What's next for you? What do you want to do?

[Andrew]

Well, the next. I think I know. I think I know now. I need to get the fuck out of my house. I need to move out. I need to find a different job, and I need to just, like, do something outdoors, find some sort of job outdoors and just, you know, as long as I Can just read. I can walk, I can run, I can Boulder. If I can keep those variables the same and just do that shit, that's. That's the next thing I'm going to be doing, you know, so right now you're just in the middle of doing job applications and shit and get the hell out of here and move out, and that's what I need to do, man.

[Lyle]

Andrew, this. I. I appreciate. I appreciate this conversation. This was. This was really fun.

[Andrew]

I appreciate, too. This is crazy.

[Lyle]

Can I. Maybe, maybe. Maybe I'll put a link to the. Should I. This is. This is not typical of what I usually do, but can I. Should I put a link to the article in, like, the. In like, the episode description just so people can see it?

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah, if you want to. God bless and all the rest.

[Lyle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fun. This is fun. You know, I'll put a link to. To the article in the episode description just so people can see this shit. Wow. I love this. I love. I. This is. This is. By the way, I just. I appreciate your story because this is. This. This is what I really want my podcast to be about is like, here. Here's. Here's a man who found. Who. Who found reinvigoration for his life by accidentally being on a Japanese TV show. I expect that's. Those are the kinds of stories I want to report on.

[Andrew]

Hell, yeah. I mean, like, I'm still in the state of becoming, like, you know, me too, buddy. I'm still trying to figure out my. Too. And, you know, not everything is all, you know, sunflowers and daisies or whatever, but, like, of course, I mean, if that can be any sort of, like, indication for others or whatever, then, you know, that's awesome. That's awesome. And again, thank you for letting me speak to you too and all that.

[Lyle]

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

[Andrew]

Anything else to say? I think I spoke my piece. I just hope the rest of you and everything else and your guys's life, you know, turns out well, or you get to do whatever you need to do or all that shit. I guess I don't really have that much else. Just keep living, you know.

[Lyle]

Thank you, Andrew.

[Andrew]

Don't ever kill yourself. Keep it 55th Street.

[Lyle]

Don't ever kill yourself. Keep it 50. 50. God bless you, Andrew. Keep.

[Atticus]

Go.

[Lyle]

I'm gonna keep running on that treadmill. Or don't. It's actually, yeah, I think you should just take a break, but God bless you. Andrew, Take care. You have a good rest of the day.

[Andrew]

Papa bless. Thank you. You do okay. Thank you, Lyle.

[Lyle]

See you later, brother. Later, brother. I like that guy. That guy was. That was a cool guy. That was a good guy. That's got. That was a. That man was a real life trooper right there. That guy. I felt that, I felt that man's wavelength. That man. You ever talked to someone who they just have never thought about anything, you know, it's like, it's like, how are you even alive? And then you talk to. And then it's nice because you, I tell you talk to a guy like Andrew and it's like, all right, you thought about everything. You've thought about everything. And some cuz there's two types of people. There's people who've never. Well, not two types of people, but there exists two types of people. Not finitely, but people have thought about nothing. And when you meet someone who they've thought about nothing, you're like, how are you alive? You know? And then you meet someone, you know, whose brain maybe works a little bit more like, like, like mine does or like Andrew does, where it's like, oh, you've thought about too many things. How are you alive? You know? And the answer is you just keep going. You just keep not dying. That's how you stay alive is every day. You keep avoiding death and danger and mayhem and you keep trudging on. You keep moving to the finish line. And if you're lucky, you. You wind up a talking gecko or you wind up on a Japanese TV show with your dentist cousin. That's what I've learned about life in the past 40 minutes.

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[Atticus]

Hey, what's up guick?

[Lyle]

How you doing? What's your name?

[Atticus]

My name is Addie, man.

[Lyle]

Addie.

[Atticus]

Doing well.

[Lyle]

Addie. That's like when. It's like when you're. Yeah, like when you go to a party and you're like, where's the party? Send me the Addy.

[Atticus]

It's actually atty. Short for Atticus.

[Lyle]

Like, like, like the book. Like a bird.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Atticus]

That was a rough like week of high school. There's like a lot of hearing that name. You don't, you don't usually hear that name just like out and about?

[Lyle]

No, not really. What did you. Did you read or did you spark note it?

[Atticus]

I read the shit out of my dad and my mom kind of like peer pressured me when I was a little kid to read it because they were like, that's what you're named after. It's like, important.

[Lyle]

So you're named after the book. So that is where you got the name.

[Atticus]

See, I asked them and they kind of just like side shift the conversation and they. I think they like to tell people that, but I feel like there's an ulterior motive.

[Lyle]

What's going on, Addie? What makes you want to call a gecko on the phone today?

[Atticus]

Well, so, like, I have this walk to class and it's really cold, and I like to listen to your podcast while I walk. And last week I heard someone talking about how they felt like they're disappointing their dad and that they have, like a work relation with them. Because that's kind of what happens with me is I like, work with my dad and I worry a lot lately at least that I'm, like, disappointing him and kind of my family. And it's like, making me feel a little shittier about kind of like the choices I'm making in my life.

[Lyle]

How old are you in college?

[Atticus]

Yeah, I'm 21. I'm in college. I'm about to graduate.

[Lyle]

You said you're disappointed with the choices you're making in your life. I kind of.

[Atticus]

I don't know, I feel like they're not great. I feel like they're kind of self destructive in a way. Like, I feel like I have a good thing going, like, going for me. So it feels kind of like sometimes the choices I make are like, just dumb. Like they're kind of like.

[Lyle]

Like what?

[Atticus]

Silly. So, like, okay, so like the big thing is, like, why I think I'm disappointing my parents is like I'm kind of big into, like, weed and I grow it. And the whole thing is I've kind of like, lately kind of like, you got a lot of weed and I'm a broke. College students. What do you. Do? You, like, sell it to your friends? And I've kind of gotten in a little hot water for that. And it's like. Feels just like it's a silly decision, you know?

[Lyle]

Well, here's the thing, is that there's actually a lot of people. I'm gonna. I'm gonna take a different. I'm gonna take an alternative stance on this one. I'm gonna. I don't know. I'm taking an alternative stance on this one. What state are you. Are you in a. Or don't tell me what state you're in, but are you in a legal state?

[Atticus]

It's recently legal, like in, in the last like few years for sure.

[Lyle]

Okay. Do you. I mean, why don't you.

[Atticus]

We're like on the border.

[Lyle]

Oh, yeah.

[Atticus]

So, like, I'm going to be honest here. I think some people I know because I like, I grew up in the other state and I'm in the border of one. But like, I'm gonna be honest here. Like no self admittance. I'm definitely questionable, you know, in, in where they're from.

[Lyle]

Well, hold on, hold on. You're. No, no, you're unquestionably doing something illegal no matter what. What Here you're. Just because you're in a lit. Yeah, just. Just because you're in a state where you can legally buy weed does not mean that you can legally grow and sell weed as just like a guy.

[Atticus]

I mean, I don't think I'm doing anything like that bad. Like, I mean.

[Lyle]

No, but that's, but that's not what the question. The question is whether or not it's illegal. But here's. Okay, but hold on back to what I was saying is why don't you. I don't know, why don't you. Once you go pro, you're 21.

[Atticus]

I, I mean, I definitely could. I'm working on it, like right now, you know, like, my state has like some stuff getting some like, like legalization for businesses and I'm doing the stuff to do that. But it's more of just like it feels like my, my parents are definitely getting in the direction like week by week almost month by month that it's like they don't want me to go that route. They kind of want me to like, choose the traditional route. I think my dad really wants me to take over, like the family business. He really wants me to like, connect it out. And it just feels like every day I go there, you know, it's like I like see him like slowly but surely he's kind of giving me that eye almost kind of like. Even though he may not necessarily agree with the, like, the practices of it, I think it's more of just the general, like, stigma is kind of leaning him out.

[Lyle]

Yeah, but brother, you're trying to start your own little family business.

[Atticus]

That's true. That's very.

[Lyle]

But why don't you go. Here's what I'm saying is I don't know. I don't really. Actually, I don't know anything about this industry. But like, how hard is it for you to go pro? Like, do you need a bunch of expensive.

[Atticus]

It's money. You know, it's definitely the money part. But I also, like, I'm a little worried about, like, the image part of it too is like, I say, you know, you don't have to care what other. I mean, like, the big thing is, like, I've noticed lately, like, a lot of kids I, like, went to high school cool with and, like, people I know are definitely starting to, like, I'm starting to lose some of the connections. It seems like some people are starting to, like, not necessarily see me the same way. It kind of feels like my. My ambitions and dreams are kind of correlating against, like, what my. The general image of, like, going on in life. And I know you're probably gonna say, like, oh, you don't need those people, and like, whatever, but it's like, I don't know, it's like, it feels. It's a little hurtful in a way. Like, my friends, my family are kind of feeling that way.

[Lyle]

Yeah, of course. Of. I, you know what? And yes, I. I was probably. Yes, I was probably going to go on a rant. Very similar to the rant that you think I'm going to go on, but also, you know, look, man, I'm. I'm not connected to your situation in any way, and I'm not used. Of course it's easy for me to say those things, and I know that the actually feeling them is quite a different thing, but. Well, I. Here's the thing is like, weed aside, like, the stigmas of weed aside. I mean, entrepreneurship is awesome, and I think, like, starting your own business awesome and is great. And, you know, I mean, that's. I can't help you in terms of, like, what your friends and your family think, but that's what I get out of it is like, this is a. This is a young man trying to make his own buck in this. In this lawless hellscape of. Of. Of. Of 2025America. And by God, do I, do I, do I. I just support that, you know, and if it happens to be a marijuana, it's like, you know, whatever. Marijuana is basically, you know, it's like cigarettes. It's like nothing.

[Atticus]

It is, it is.

[Lyle]

I mean, it's like that cigarettes are. Cigarettes are bad with the degree. Yeah, go ahead.

[Atticus]

It feels kind of rough. You know, that. That's the role I'm kind of getting into is like, you know, it may not be as bad, but it's also like the, you know, I got a degree and it feels like I'm kind of going into something that, like, not a lot of people have degrees or that I might not even make it, might have to work something else, you know, because that's the thing is, like, going every day and seeing my dad kind of like just a Feel kind of disappointed about it. It's kind of weaning me out. It's making me kind of want to leave my income, make it try and work. But then it's like that stability, you know, that guy was really. It was a good message, you know.

[Lyle]

Like, well, wait, what's the family business?

[Atticus]

Well, it's like my, My dad, he owns, like, a greenhouse company, but it's. It's. The problem is that, like, it's. It's relatively decent. Like, it does well for our area, so people know me, and that's where kind of that image comes in. It's like, I think he kind of. It's like a black sheep of the kid kind of thing. And I've had some problems before, like, growing up, so it's kind of. It kind of feels like it's all compounding into, like, one. One big thing, you know, where it's like, I don't know where this is gonna go in the sense of, like, how they're gonna treat me, where it's. Where it's gonna end up, you know? I mean, I got my degree. I did. I did the works. I did the things he definitely wanted. But then it's kind of like that whole weird relationship.

[Lyle]

Yeah, it's a bummer. I don't want to, like. I mean, it's. It's. It's a bummer, right? Because I, I, I, it's just, I. It's a shame that it's like, the fact that your parents don't, like. I guess, I don't know. I don't want to speak out of. Turn on your parents, whatever, but if your parents don't like your own. If your parents don't support your own independent vision of your life, that just sucks. That is a bummer. There's no, like, fixing that. I think that sucks. I think that's a bummer. But I also think it would be a bummer to, you know, dilute your life because of that. I think that would. That would take one bummer. That would turn one bummer into a double bummer from, From. From where I stand. Compound, Gecko. It would be a compounding bummer.

[Atticus]

Yeah. I mean, that's like. The thing is, I feel like compounding bummer is, like, not the end goal of growing. Growing up in in anywhere. I think. I think it's just kind of like, do what you love, try and enjoy your life, go about it.

[Lyle]

Okay, so you already. All right, so, I mean, see, you are. You already fundamentally understand that, but it's just like, oh, it sucks that scary is scary. Yeah, it is scary, but I don't know, man. I mean. Go ahead.

[Atticus]

The big thing is like, oh, sorry. It's just like. It's kind of a weird thing is like my sister, I have an older sister and she definitely had. I don't want to say she had other problems, but she had more like. The big thing is she like went to. Had a rehab stunt, had like a whole thing. And it's. It's kind of a weird comp problem because it kind of feels like I had to be the good kid growing up for a long time and every time I made a mistake, it like, like how you were saying, it's that compounding bummer almost. It feels like if I don't fill in what's going right, it's gonna kind of just eventually compound in, like, what is. What are they gonna say to me? And I feel like I should just do what I enjoy. But then it's like that, like how we were saying, it's that fear of getting over it is tough. Just like kind of going all in, going off the deep end, maybe cutting off some of the people who you may think are good for you.

[Lyle]

Well, can I ask. Can I ask you this? Well, why do you, like. What do you mean, go all in? Like, why can't you.

[Atticus]

I mean, just like, kind of like.

[Lyle]

Like what? I don't. I guess I don't understand why you. Because. All right, your parents want you to like, work on the family business, right? Like, can you. Do you not have.

[Atticus]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Are you not able to work on that for a little bit? And then also when you're not doing that, ask Chat, GPT how to get a license to sell weed and oh.

[Atticus]

Yeah, Arizona license thing. I'm doing that. But the, it's. The problem is like, it seems like my dad is like cutting my hours a bit recently. It seems like he's. He says he wants me to focus on school. And I'm like, hey, man, I need to work. I need to make money here. I need to be self sufficient, independent. And it seemed he's saying there's like budgetary reasons and I'm just like, man, I just don't trust that. I feel like there's something else going on around here because it's Never been a problem before until, like, especially the last about six. Six to seven months when I've been going really all in on my license. I've been trying to really go hard and getting it for my state, so it's kind of been like a bit of a, you know.

[Lyle]

Sorry, I just dropped a coin. I don't know if I was fidgeting with it, playing with a coin, and I dropped. Sorry, I don't know.

[Atticus]

Oh, I'm pain.

[Lyle]

I'm gonna cut that part. I'm gonna cut that out of the podcast. Actually, no. Actually, you know what? No, I'm gonna take responsibility for dropping the coin. And are you a hand visitor or, like, a leg? I'm a. I'm a. I'm gonna take. Yeah, Wait, Brandon. Brandon, let's leave this in the podcast. We're not. Not cutting any of this. Yeah, I'm a big. Sorry. I'm talking to Brandon. Brandon. Shout out. Brandon. Brandon edits the podcast. See, now I'm. Okay. All right, anyway. Anyway, continue.

[Atticus]

I'm a leg fidgeter. I like to walk, you know.

[Lyle]

Yeah, me too. I like to walk. I like to walk.

[Atticus]

I'm excited.

[Lyle]

I don't know what. Can I. What's. What state are you in? Can I ask?

[Andrew]

Oh, okay.

[Al]

I'll.

[Atticus]

I'll give myself a little docs here. I'm in Minnesota, so I'm in, like, the Deep Northwest. And funny enough, we've actually talked about this before. About six months ago, before I really wanted to, like, commit myself to. Well, because, like, we talked, like, a while back when I was just really getting, like, some, like, response.

[Lyle]

We talked on the phone before.

[Atticus]

Yeah. The funny thing is I kind of like. I don't want to say this is like my checkup, but it's. It's almost like a reinvigoration. I was sitting here and I was like, man, I'm just. I'm tired. I kind of want to go to bed. And then I saw you were streaming. I was like, ah, man, it's been a while since I've called.

[Lyle]

All right, well, let me. I mean, okay, can I. I'm just. I'm gonna take. Can I. Can I take what I acknowledge to be a blindly optimistic stance? I acknowledge this.

[Atticus]

Yeah, that's fine.

[Lyle]

To be a blindly optimistic stance. But it's. But it's worth. I believe it's worth exploring. Not saying it's what's gonna happen. Not saying that life is always sunshine and rainbows, but it's where I think it's for recreation. Sake. We can explore the blindly optimistic take, which is that, I mean, listen, you're gonna become a fucking. You're gonna start a brand, right? You know, that's what this shit is, is you start a brand, you're gonna go, yeah. You know, you. I mean, you could. I just. I just see, like, just. I just. The blind optimist take is that I just see you being able to, like, you know, you launch a little weed brand and maybe you start going to trade shows and maybe you start, like, getting involved in the. The Minnesota marijuana community and then. And then the culture of it. And then maybe you're like, oh, shit, I actually have a bunch of new, cool, awesome friends in this industry, and I'm actually doing a bunch of new, cool, awesome stuff. And so all the people that I went to high school with who didn't really fucking do anything that are upset at me because I'm doing marijuana, I don't even think about them anymore because I'm too busy hanging out with new, cool people who've accepted, Accept me and my way of life. And I'm making and. Yeah, and I'm making and I could be. And again, again, I'm not saying that this is what's going to happen because, yes, of course, all the time, but you could also be making way more money than if you took over your dad's business. And again, I'm not saying that these are guaranteed things, but I am saying that these are. These are things worth aspiring to and giving a shot at, because why the high.

[Atticus]

Don't sell me.

[Lyle]

Why the. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. So I'm just saying, like, it's like.

[Atticus]

You are right. It is. We did end on the spiel of who gives a. Of who, like, what everyone else is doing. Do what I need to do. Which is the correct spiel. We.

[Andrew]

We.

[Atticus]

Yes.

[Lyle]

Huh?

[Al]

Yeah.

[Atticus]

I think that is the right approach. I think it is the mentality I should have. I think it's going to help me just get out there, not worry about it.

[Lyle]

I mean, it's so cool. Like, it's also. It's just so cool. It's like you're going to. You could start a brand of, like, your own weed and you get involved in, like, a cool scene and culture.

[Atticus]

Yeah, I'm trying to be sustainable. I want to provide something for a community. Like, most of the thing is we. Have you ever heard of, like, ditch weed? That's what we got up here mostly.

[Lyle]

No. What is that?

[Atticus]

So it's. Oh, so it's like people call it like brickweed ditch weed. It's like. Comes from Mexico. It's like. It's what they bring over the border. It's like way back when. And it's. The whole thing is that it would come in like, plastic sealed cases so it looks like a brick, and they wouldn't dry or ferment it. So it smell like mold. And it's called, like, ditch weed. That's what we got up here because it's Minnesota, you know, where.

[Lyle]

What's. What city are you near? Like a major city where I just met.

[Atticus]

I mean, I'm gonna. I'm gonna fully dox myself here. I mean, like, I'm in. I'm in, like, right by. Like, there's morehead. I'm like a. I'm in the literal. No joke. If you just draw like a line towards Minneapolis. I'm in the stretch of that. There's just nothing.

[Lyle]

Mm. Mm.

[Atticus]

And it currently, like.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Atticus]

What? It's just cold, dry.

[Lyle]

Well, listen, I just. Look, I'll end. I'll end. I'll. It's. No, you're not no one. First, I forget. First of all, I forget what your name is because I forget everyone's name. But don't worry, you're. No one's gonna find you. And they're. They're gonna find you once. Once they're. Whatever. Okay, okay, okay, okay, look, look. Let me just end on this. And again, I know it's. I. I have so many voices in my brain telling me that I don't want to be. I think it's good. You know? You know what? You know, I'm like, no, I'm. Ignore all of those voices, and I'm going to be optimistic with you. I. You're. I really think that if you. You could be. By getting a legal license and starting a little brand and getting involved in the community of these things, you could be embarking on such a wonderful, awesome, great adventure and career for yourself, and I would. And I am bummed out that your dad does not see. Agree that same way. I am bummed out by that. But I don't think it should stop you from. From trying because you're young, you're clearly. You're clearly a smart guy, and you could be embarking on again what could be a really cool, wonderful adventure. Not just, you know, for. Just for you as a human being. Not even just as like a, oh, I'm gonna make a bunch of money thing. But, you know, you'll meet people. You'll try doing the thing that I want to do. Just do the thing that you want. Just fucking just. Yeah, just do it. And again, I'm bummed out that your dad doesn't see it that way, but I don't think you're gonna. You're gonna die, and you're only get. You're young, so it just. I just think you should try it. Yeah, okay.

[Atticus]

Well, I could die at any time. That's the thing. Yeah, Like, I could die at any time.

[Lyle]

Yeah.

[Atticus]

Might as well do it now.

[Lyle]

Especially. Especially now that thousands of people know where you live.

[Atticus]

Dude, the hitman's coming for me. I swear to God, I heard him already. Yeah, I. I mean, I definitely do not have guns on a compound farm. No, I'm not joking. I'm just joking.

[Lyle]

Well, hey, when you make. Can. Can you send me. Can you. Are you. You're not allowed to send it, right?

[Atticus]

I mean, hey, this is what I'll say. It's legally. You can transport it technically over the borders, but it's considered smuggling if you have to enter a state that it's not legal. All right, so it's kind of like a weird, picky law. But I do have an Instagram where I post pictures of them.

[Lyle]

Plug your. Plug your Instagram if you want. Yeah, go ahead.

[Atticus]

All right. Baked cultivation. B, A K E S Cultivation.

[Lyle]

Say that. Say that one more time.

[Atticus]

We don't have too much right now. Bakes Cultivation. B A K E S Cultivation.

[Lyle]

Bake.

[Atticus]

Right now we cultivate extracts.

[Lyle]

Yeah, Baked cultivation. All right.

[Atticus]

Yeah, yeah. So we make mostly like live rosin and hash right now. And those are mostly like, the, you know, post plant extracts, but we do some flower. But the big thing is we. We're currently, right now, social equity verified in the market, so we can't really sell anything. But once licenses are put out in, theoretically May to June, we can have our products on shelves.

[Lyle]

Wait, so is it.

[Atticus]

They just have to, like, pass testing.

[Lyle]

Wait a minute. So this Instagram, I don't want to put you on, like, blast here. This Instagram is not illegal, right?

[Atticus]

No, not illegal at all. I'm 21. I am within legality of what I can grow within my own home. I also am verified by the government to grow. It was perfectly fine.

[Lyle]

There we go. Nice. You know, hold on. Let me look. Right now it's bakes underscore. Is there another bakes? No, no understand. All right, hold on.

[Atticus]

I should probably make it public. I feel like.

[Lyle]

Oh, there it is.

[Atticus]

Public right now.

[Lyle]

No, it's public. Yeah, I like this I like the small batch crafts. Cannabis Minnesota entrepreneurs. Oh, you're good. You know, here's. By the way, let me just say this to you, because if you were just like, some douchebag and you called me and you were like, yeah, man, I like. I like smoking. I like selling weed to my friends. But, like, maybe I could. But, like, you're already doing. You know what I mean? Like, you're already. You have a website.

[Andrew]

The thing, though, you're gonna be fine.

[Atticus]

Water is more of like.

[Lyle]

Look, you already have a way. You already have a website. What the. You have, like, a whole. You're already doing. Yeah, okay. Yeah, you're already doing all this. You have a.

[Andrew]

It.

[Atticus]

You know, I. You know, you may think that I'm already doing it. It just feels. It feels like I'm getting told otherwise. But, you know, that's the. I think that's part of the battle of.

[Lyle]

It is.

[Atticus]

I think people just aren't gonna agree with it in the first place. Like, it's just.

[Lyle]

Bro, look, you have a website. Wait, hold on. Who are. Who are Alex and Danny? You have, like, homies that you're doing this with? Oh, my. This is sick.

[Atticus]

Yeah, so I have a girl. I have a. I got a buddy who grows through. He is, like, a student right now at a local college. He does biochemistry, so he does, like, the extracts part. And then I have a family member who grows within. Like, within. Just for fun. And he's grown for, like, 50, 60 years, so he's like, quite an older guy.

[Lyle]

Bro, you guys, like, see, honestly, I'm just looking at your website right now, and I'm like, oh, okay. You're not like, amen. Yes.

[Atticus]

We're not quite done yet.

[Lyle]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Hold on. I'm looking at your website right now. I'm like, okay, you. This is something that you actually, like, care about and want to do. You know what I mean? It would. It would bum me. I think you should do this. This is really cool.

[Atticus]

I think I'm excited. I really want to get it going. It's. I mean, it's a big battle of, like, getting it, like, you know, up off the ground, getting it in large scale. But, like, it's. It's a scary thing, too. I mean, I feel like I'm kind of putting my career in a way because, like, there's this. Another company in our local area started doing, like, CBD extracts, like, five, six years ago, and they essentially went out of business because they just weren't able to, like, really get a customer pool because our area isn't as, you know, open and accepting of, you know, cannabis byproducts.

[Lyle]

So I just followed your Instagram.

[Atticus]

It's interesting to see how it works. Thank you, Lyle. I fucking love you, man. That's great. That. I hope, you know, that's gonna make my. That makes my day, man.

[Lyle]

Thank you, everyone. Yeah, with the. With the. I was this Victorian guy, dude, so.

[Atticus]

That'S in the Smithsonian. It's like, this guy who draws, like, pieces of time, and that's what people call him. And, like, this guy is, like. The whole thing is he's smoking with his buddies, like. And there's a priest there, and someone snuck in tobacco into his bowl, and he's, like, spitting it out. I thought that was funny. That's all.

[Lyle]

All right, I'm gonna. All right, I. I official. I. I official. I blindly, officially endorse. I blindly based off of my good faith that you are telling me the truth, that all of this is completely legal. I blindly endorse. I blindly endorse Blake Bakes cultivation. Go follow them. Okay. All right, now you. Now there's good. Yeah.

[Atticus]

All right, now you gotta do it. I'm clipping that. I'm putting that out of proportion. I'm.

[Lyle]

Go ahead. Yep, go ahead.

[Atticus]

Oh, really? Wow. Beautiful.

[Lyle]

All right, man. Well, well, well, well. Listen, Atticus, is there anything else you want to say? The people, the computer, before we go?

[Atticus]

I would love to say that, you know, everyone has their own struggles. Everyone has, like, you know, everyone makes their ups. But the thing is, is, like, it's all about what you want to do tomorrow. I. I had my fair share of ups. You know, I can make my own things happen, but, you know, don't let your dad tell you what to do.

[Lyle]

Sick. Beautiful.

[Atticus]

Love you guys.

[Lyle]

All right, man.

[Atticus]

Love you.

[Lyle]

All right. Love you. Love. Hey, hey, hey. Love you too, man. Love you, too. I don't usually. I don't usually say. I don't usually say I love you to people who call in because it makes me feel a little weird. But I. I think I love you a little bit.

[Atticus]

Thank you, man. If you're ever in Minnesota. By the way, I went to your show. That was in Minneapolis. It's pretty cool.

[Lyle]

Oh, kick ass. All right, all right. Next time I'm there, I'm gonna. I'm gonna DM you. Yeah, no, next time. Next time I'm there, I'll DM you and I'll. I'm gonna try to smoke some of your weed.

[Atticus]

Absolutely, man. I'll. I'll make the Lyle pack. I got you sick.

[Lyle]

Sick. All right, take care. Good luck.

[Atticus]

Good night. Bye.

[Lyle]

Bye.

[Atticus]

Good luck.

[Lyle]

Yeah, I like that guy. That guy was cool. Yeah. I don't know, I'm just looking at his. What? I like. I love. I really do. I love. I love. I love a cool small business. You know what I mean? I love a cool small business. And I don't know, I really. Oh, God. Just looking at this guy's website and just the fact that he has one, you know what I mean? Because people call into the show and you hear people talk all the time about like, oh, I kind of might want to do this thing and blah, blah, blah and whatever. And, you know, this month this guy is. He's just already doing it. Like the fact that he even has all this shit out there, you know, So I hope. I hope he goes for it. Yeah, go follow bakes cultivation. God, I hope this is. I hope I'm not getting this guy like fucking raided by the police or whatever. I don't know. Oh, crap. Now I have to go back to Minnesota to smoke this guy's weed. I don't know why I'm. I know. Hold on. Actually, I don't know why I just dissed Minnesota. Now I have no reason to. I like. I like Minnesota. Minnesota is cool. Oh, look, his Instagram already has a few more followers. That's nice. Yeah. Shout out to Minnesota. If you're in Minnesota. Buy, buy weed from this guy. Or I mean, don't yet wait until he has. He's can legally sell it. Okay, sick. All right.

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[Andrew]

Yo.

[Al]

How's it going?

[Lyle]

It's going all right. How you doing?

[Al]

Not too bad. How's the whole Gecko thing going?

[Lyle]

How's the whole Gecko thing going today? It's going pretty good. Today it's going pretty good. We're having some nice conversations with some people. It's pretty, pretty chill. What's up with you, buddy?

[Al]

Not too much.

[Atticus]

Yeah, I just.

[Al]

I haven't tuned in your stream for a long time, so I just wanted to. Yeah, I thought I'd see what's going on. You don't have like the. The green screen background anymore. I noticed that.

[Lyle]

I have it sometimes. Wait, can you do me a favor? Can you take me off a speakerphone?

[Al]

Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. All right. How's that?

[Lyle]

I have it sometimes, but. Yeah, like I'm. I'm in. I'm in. Japan right now. And I brought. Well, I brought all my crap with me. I brought all my crap with me and now. And I just never felt like setting it up. And I'm like, wait a minute. I can achieve the same results with just my microphone, which is. Which, you know, some could call it lazy. I call it efficient.

[Al]

I can see that. That's, That's. That's fair. I mean, I mean, if you don't really need, you know, the, the green screen and the, you know, whatever effects. Yeah, I mean, I mean, you're good. I mean, if you're in Japan, that's. I mean, that makes it worth it. Are you doing any content in Japan? Are getting like, interview people in Tokyo or something?

[Lyle]

Yeah, I'm interviewing you right now.

[Al]

Well, I'm not in Tokyo, but sure.

[Lyle]

This, this, this is my. This is my Japan content is talking to people on the phone while I'm in a hotel room in Japan.

[Al]

Oh, okay. I got you. Yeah, that's. That's. I guess you're the one in Japan. So that, that, that, that qualifies me. Japan.

[Lyle]

Well, I. So I. I mean, I. I came here two years ago, and that was when I kind of did my whole. Like, that. That the trip I took two years ago is more focused on, like, I'm. This trip. I'm just kind of chilling here. But last two years ago, I did. I did, like, more Japan focused content. But today, this time. Well, I mean, I'm going on a walk. I'm. I am in, let's see, sometime next week or. Actually, I don't know when this episode is gonna air. So this might be this week. I don't. I don't know exactly, but sometime between Starting on what, February 6th? 17th. Starting on February 17th or 16th, depending on the time zone or whatever. Sometime the week of February, February 16th, I'm gonna go on a walk through the Nakasendo Trail, like 50 miles.

[Andrew]

Whoa.

[Lyle]

And I'm gonna live. I'm gonna live stream it on Twitch tv. Lyle forever. So that counts. I'm gonna do it. And I'm not gonna do it in my costume, though, because I don't. I don't really feel like it initially. I was. I wasn't even gonna stream it initially. I was just gonna do it for fun. And then. Well, I'm. I'm. I'm still doing it for fun, but I am streaming it. I am doing it and streaming it. Yeah, I used to back in like 2021.

[Al]

Oh, okay.

[Lyle]

You know, yeah, maybe. I admit, less people might watch But I don't. I think. I mean, it'll be fun. I wasn't even streaming. It is kind of like. I mainly just wanted to do it. So streaming it is more of like a. Why not? Well, I'm doing it with a friend, and my friend streams, and so he already has all the equipment and stuff, so I'm like, all right, let's just do it to my channel, too.

[Al]

That's pretty cool. Yeah. I don't know if I'd ever want to go to Japan, like, anytime soon. The only thing I hear about it that might be cool is, like, going to Akihabara or something. Or like, all the weave shit is because that. I like anime or whatever. But besides that, it's like. I mean, it'll be great to go, like, anywhere in Japan. I mean, Japan has great food and stuff, too, but it's just like. I don't know if I'd ever want to, like, live there or, like, go there, like, you know, like a long time, you know.

[Lyle]

It's cool. What. Where do you. Where do you live now?

[Al]

Oh, yeah, I live in the. I live in the States. I live in, like, the Midwest.

[Lyle]

That's cool. Yeah. I mean, um.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

No, Japan. Japan is cool. It's def. It has a lot of. It's a very different place than, like, New York City. Everyone here is. Is, like, about the rules, you know, Everyone, like. Like this weird. It's super. Yeah. Super clean, super efficient. No one. I was on the subway in Japan, and, like, it's funny. In the New York City subway, people will, like, come up, like, every single day, you. You get on the subway and somebody comes on, and they're like, hey, everybody, it's time to start the show. And they take a boombox and they play. Start playing music and, like, dancing, like, collecting tips, and it's like this completely normal. And then on the Japan, and then I was on the subway in Tokyo, and it was so. I had a paper cup, and it was so quiet that I took my thumb and I rubbed the paper cup, and I could hear the sound of my thumb rubbing on the paper cup. It was so quiet on the train.

[Al]

That's fine.

[Lyle]

I was sitting up. Being here, I'm like. I can't imagine what it must. What it would be like to, like, grow up in Japan and, like, you know, live here for all of your life and then go to New York City and go to the subway. Like, it would be. It's just such a crazy.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Lyle]

Culture shock. I really don't wonder I really. It would fuck you up. It would be like, that's insane. Culture shock. Yeah. Like, another thing is, like, on the escalators here, here, like, like, if you're like, you will see a big escalator. Every single person is standing to the left side of the escalator without fail every single time. Not a single person is not standing on the left.

[Al]

Like, I've never thought about that.

[Atticus]

It's.

[Lyle]

Dude, it's crazy.

[Al]

And I always walk on escalators and it's like. And now. And you're just saying that now. And I'm like, wait, am I not supposed to, like, walk on. I mean, you're not supposed to, but, like, I've never. No one's ever, like, said, like, hey, don't walk on the escalator, or don't like. Or don't move on the escalator.

[Andrew]

But, like.

[Al]

And I'm just now considering that's like, kind of. I feel like some people might consider that, like, indecent or something to, like, walk, like, up or down. Like, like, like up an escalator. Like, down escalator. Because it's like.

[Lyle]

But even like four. But like, in the States, like, if you go to a mall or subway or something, like, people are, like, hanging out on the, like, people, like, have their arms lased about on the. On the escalator. People are sleeping on the escalator. People are like, there is no. Like, I must stand on the left. People are standing on the left side. The stand on the right side. They're having a whole escalator party. People, like, a lot people, like, form lines to get on the subway cars. Like, nobody in New York does that. It's. It's. It's weird. It's interesting. Yeah, they did. They have a lot of little, like, stuff like that.

[Al]

Yeah, that's. I mean, it sounds nice. I heard the yen is down too, which is. I mean, that's good for you.

[Atticus]

I. I want to guess.

[Al]

Yeah, maybe if the USD is more. More powerful there because.

[Lyle]

Yeah, we'll see. I don't know. I'm curious. We'll see. I feel like the US this is. This is a hilarious thing to talk about on the Therapy Gecko podcast, but I think the U.S. i don't know how. I don't know how much longer the US dollar has anymore either. So we'll see. We might be joining the end in the near future. Who knows?

[Al]

Oh, no, I mean, that's not. I mean, I guess that doesn't make it worse to go to Japan Then that's the, I mean, that's on the bright side.

[Lyle]

I don't know. I don't know. I just. Let's see. How much longer do I have left to live? I'm 27. If I'm lucky, I got 53 more years, you know, I'll be okay.

[Atticus]

Do you think that.

[Al]

Do you think you're like. Do you ever wonder if it's possible that you might not die? Like, have you ever, like, looked. Do you know, Brian Johnson is like, you know, his whole shtick.

[Lyle]

Yes, I know who Brian Johnson is, and I think, I think it's a fool's errand.

[Al]

Really? Yeah, I hard to disagree with you on that.

[Lyle]

Why?

[Atticus]

Nope.

[Lyle]

Why do you hard. Why do you hard disagree with me on that?

[Al]

It's a fool's errand in the short term. Just because of science. I don't, I mean, I'm not, I'm not professional or anything, but, like, I mean, I think anyone can tell that it's. We're nowhere near to, like, you know, solving death or something, but I think that everyone, just, like, in the world culturally, has, like, grown to accept, like, death as being normal because, like, why wouldn't they? But this point with the way that our science is, no one has, like, it seems like no one besides, you know, people like Brian Johnson has seriously considered the possibility that death is just like an illness that we can cure eventually. And so people are not, you know, actually thinking about that as a serious possibility.

[Lyle]

To do what tonight? What do you not. What do you know what to do? What, what do you have, what do you not have enough time to do?

[Al]

I don't know, go, go to. Go to Jupiter or something. Who knows? Who knows what?

[Atticus]

I'll.

[Lyle]

Why do you need, why do you need to go to Ju. But also, I, I have a different. I, I, I'm lazy. That's why I'm not a good person to have this argument with. Why do you want to go to Jupiter? It's good, it's good to want to go to Jupiter. I genuinely believe that. But why do you want to go?

[Al]

I mean, you, I mean, you would be lame to go to Jimmy. Jupiter is a bad example because you would just go through. You just go through, like, a, like a lot of it. And then you would get to the, to the, like, to the core, y'all, by the way.

[Lyle]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, brother. You don't even want to go to Japan. You want to go to Jupiter.

[Al]

I just said I wouldn't want to live in Japan, I think it would.

[Atticus]

Be cool to go to Japan, but.

[Al]

Like, living in Japan is like, I mean, I just, I mean, I just, like, that's just like, you know, up in the air for me because Japan is like, I don't know if I can handle living in Japan just because it seems like it would be hard to, to get a job in Japan sustainably because I'm trying to be. I'm trying to work in like, the video game industry. And I feel like in Japan that would be awesome, but I would just not be able to compete with Japanese game devs compared to.

[Lyle]

I feel like here's, here's the thing is we need to, like, this is, I guess, shouldn't society be sustainable first and then we can make it forever? Shouldn't we make it. Shouldn't we make it, like, sustainable and utopian and then we can make it forever?

[Al]

I mean, in terms of, like, I, I guess it depends on what you're, what you're comparing. Like, because, I mean, if, if you're talking about, like, oh, we should, we should colonize Mars because Earth is gonna, you know, Earth is doomed. We need to go to a different, like, like, yeah, obviously stupid, because we should just take care of the planet we have now.

[Andrew]

Right?

[Al]

But in terms of living forever, like, I mean, you can, you got. I bet you can probably do both. I mean, I think there's a lot, like, a lot of science can be, you know, invested in that, like, thing and then we can figure that out at the same time. Like, it's not like, because, like, if whether or not we solve death, that's not going to prevent, like, it's not going to matter in terms of, like, wars happening. You know what I mean?

[Atticus]

Like, like, that is.

[Al]

No, those things are not, like, really connected that much. Like, we solve death tomorrow and there's still going to be so much war and so much, you know, there's like so many problems. Like, it's not, you know what I mean? Like, they're not.

[Lyle]

Let me tell you. Let me just tell you one thing. Let me just tell you one thing. 7:11. Food here is a lot better than it is in America. For that reason. You might want to reverse that. You might want to reconsider. And because I'm eating it, I'm probably gonna die sooner. But that's just what happens to me. What's your name again?

[Al]

Well, if you were eating, if you were eating it in America, then you would die even sooner.

[Lyle]

Oh, my God, I'd probably die on the spot.

[Atticus]

Yeah.

[Al]

Wait, what was your question?

[Lyle]

What's your name again?

[Al]

My name is Al.

[Lyle]

Is there anything else you want to say to the people of the computer before or like if you had. Do you have any other final thoughts on humanity or any, or anything before we go?

[Al]

Yeah, yeah, I mean they, they say that there's two things they can avoid which are death and taxes. But you can avoid taxes now and maybe in 100 years you can avoid death tax too. So guys, limit everyone.

[Lyle]

I like that. All right, man, I'll. You know what? Yeah, maybe we'll, maybe we can hang out in on Jupiter one day. That could be cool. I, I'll see you there, brother.

[Al]

I'll see you there. I'll see you on the Gas giant.

[Lyle]

God bless you, sir.

[Al]

You too, Lyle. Talk to you later.

[Lyle]

Later man. That was Al. That was Al. And Al wants to live forever on Jupiter and I hope he does that one day. I hope we can all live forever on Jupiter. And if we can't do that, I hope we can all live on Earth for at least 70 years. I used to say at least 80, but I think, I think 70 is probably more realistic. All right, thank you. Hello folks, it's Lyle here. That's the end of this episode. But get this, I'm releasing a bonus episode this week. That's right, an entire extra hour of the podcast that you can listen to by becoming a premium member of Therapy gecko over at therapygecko.supercast.com Supercast subscribers get access to bonus episodes. They get a completely ad free podcast feed of the regular show. They get recordings from my live shows members only streams and they help support my ability to continue doing this podcast. So here's a clip from this week's members only bonus episode.

[Andrew]

Essentially this like creature came out of it I would describe as like almost a comedic classical representation of the devil, but not in like the haha funny sense, in like the. It was like a, a three and a half foot tall, shriveled up husk in that moment, whatever that thing was, if it had told me to do anything, I would have just done it.

[Lyle]

You know, Brian and yeah, Brian, how, how are you doing right now? Do you still have this stuff going on? If you want to hear this full conversation, you can sign up to become a premium [e-mail] or find the link in the episode description. That's therapygecko.supercast.com Alright, I have nothing else to say. Therapy get goes doing it right, teaching you how to live your life. But he's not really an expert.

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