Therapy Gecko
Episode: “I’M AN ESCORT”
Release Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Lyle
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In this episode of Therapy Gecko, Lyle (the gecko therapist) takes spontaneous calls from listeners, diving into deeply personal issues, hidden desires, and life’s crossroads. Notably, the episode features conversations with Violet, a young woman who recently became an escort, Dev, whose attraction to her boyfriend is oddly heightened by his forklift certification, and Sean, who’s grappling with existential dread after a mushroom-fueled realization at a live show. The episode explores themes of self-worth, unconventional relationships, life direction, and unique human desires—all in Lyle’s signature humorous, nonjudgmental, and genuinely curious style.
Key Conversations & Insights
1. Violet: Life as a New Escort
Starts: [03:43]
How She Became an Escort
- Violet, 21, started escorting about two months ago, shifting from stripping due to burnout and seeking less rejection.
- “I’m a stripper and I got really burnt out. So I was like, okay, let me try something else.” – Violet [04:42]
Differences Between Stripping and Escorting
- As a stripper, the constant competition and rejection wore on her self-esteem, despite good earnings.
- “You could walk up to like 20 dudes a night and only five will say yes… Sometimes I'll tie how much money I'm making to my self worth.” – Violet [05:00]
Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Stripping initially helped her confidence; she enjoyed body transformation and financial independence.
- “I lost a little bit of weight… now I have money to do whatever… I love that. I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything else—even though I’ll get old eventually, but I’m only 21.” – Violet [06:30]
Torn Between Goals and Current Life
- Violet expresses uncertainty about her future, feeling both hopeful about college and trapped in adult entertainment.
- Lyle provides reassurance about different life paths:
- “Whatever decision you make will put you ahead in one way and behind in another… focus on the ways you are ahead.” – Lyle [08:09]
Escorting: Safety, Experiences, and Boundaries
- She screens clients (“try to make sure they’re not a serial killer”) and notes it isn’t always sexual.
- Encounters range from the bizarre (clients asking to be peed on or farted on) to seemingly mundane companionship.
Impact on Intimacy & Relationships
- Escorting has skewed her perceptions of men and intimacy; she doesn’t date and observes patterns in clients’ requests, including married men.
- “Sometimes my judgment of, like, men can be pretty skewed, because… a lot of the guys I meet are, like, married...” – Violet [11:57]
- Despite stereotypes, she often genuinely likes her clients: "A lot of them are really handsome, and I like them. The money is just a plus." – Violet [12:36]
Family and Friends
- Her friends and mom know about her work and want her to stay safe.
The Allure and Limits of Her Current Life
- Violet admits both enjoying her work’s benefits and fearing she’s unfit for conventional jobs:
- “I just make a good amount of money and I don't have to work super hard for it... but I want to go into criminal justice eventually.” – Violet [14:53]
Lyle’s Reflections
- Lyle emphasizes the intangible skills and emotional labor involved in Violet’s work:
- “You’re being rewarded... for your ability to make people feel seen and accompanied…” – Lyle [16:31]
2. Dev: Turned On by Forklift Certification
Starts: [18:19]
The “Forklift Certified” Fetish
- Dev confides in Lyle about an odd sexual attraction to her boyfriend’s forklift certification, a meme turned genuine turn-on.
- “He’ll call me at work and say, ‘I’m going on the forklift,’ and I’m just like—God damn, sexiest thing ever.” – Dev [19:04]
- Lyle normalizes this:
- “Women in general are attracted to competence and I think being forklift-certified is a strong indicator of competence.” – Lyle [22:48]
Fantasies and Relationship
- Because they’re long-distance, the fantasy is enhanced by imagination.
- Lyle suggests perhaps the fantasy is better left imagined than realized, as real-life details might disappoint:
- “Your boyfriend in the forklift only, like, stays in your imagination, because that’s where it’s... going to have the highest quality.” – Lyle [26:43]
- Dev agrees and thanks Lyle for the insight.
Memorable Moment
- Dev’s “hear me out” list now includes Bob the Builder, a revelation sparked by childhood memories and current attraction.
- “Maybe Bob the Builder could be added to it…” – Dev [28:05]
3. Sean: Mushrooms, Existential Dread, and ‘Fucking the World’
Starts: [32:48]
Psychedelic Realization
- Sean, after doing mushrooms at a Therapy Gecko live show, confronts a wave of existential dread and questions about his life trajectory and readiness to settle down.
- “I had this idea of, you know, what I wanted in my life—a relationship, to settle down and have a life, kids, all that… But on that shroom trip... I haven’t done enough or seen enough.” – Sean [34:39]
The Seekers’ Dilemma
- Lyle relates to the urge for novelty (“every five years destroy your life and start a new one”) and cautions Sean to avoid all-or-nothing thinking.
- “I have this fucking thing in my head that makes... every five years I just get this urge to like, destroy my life and start a new one. That’s me to a T.” – Lyle [53:36]
- Advises Sean he can “do a little bit of both”—maintain stability while pursuing adventure.
Travel and Relationships
- Sean feels he needs to be single to fully experience travel and life’s possibilities, but wonders if his concerns about settling down stem from lack of life experience or genuine doubts about his partner.
Job and Life Logistics
- Sean is a support worker at a homeless shelter, lives with his parents, and has the financial flexibility to travel if desired.
- Lyle offers practical advice: take short trips, use unpaid leave, and recognize the value in smaller adventures.
Self-Reflection and Acceptance
- Both host and caller acknowledge the never-ending cycle of aspiration and the necessity of balance.
- “I don’t think you have to be either a vagabond or an office worker… There’s something in between.” – Lyle [54:00]
Humorous Callbacks
- The two reminisce about wild live show stories—a woman’s attraction to “hooking up with straight guys” and a man’s daring sexual escapades, illustrating the “variety show of humanity” the podcast delights in.
Plug
- Sean ends by plugging his amateur MMA Instagram: “Follow me on Instagram stc403allerscore. Really appreciate it, guys.” – Sean [57:37]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- Violet: “As a stripper, you could walk up to like 20 dudes a night and only five… Sometimes I’ll tie how much money I’m making to my self worth.” [05:00]
- Violet: “I just really like my jobs… I make a good amount of money and I don’t have to work super hard for it.” [14:53]
- Dev: “He’ll call me… ‘I’m going on the forklift.’ And I’m just like, God damn, sexiest thing ever.” [19:04]
- Lyle: “Women in general are attracted to competence… being forklift certified is a strong indicator of competence.” [22:48]
- Sean: “…on that shroom trip, I kind of had this, like, flooding emotion of I haven’t done enough or seen enough… Existential dread.” [34:39]
- Lyle: “You never… you’re never compensated for your time. You’re compensated for a variety of things… you’re putting yourself out there.” [15:22]
- Lyle: “I don’t think you have to be either a vagabond or an office worker. There’s something in between.” [54:00]
Episode Structure & Timestamps
- [00:00-03:43] – Sponsored ads, show intro
- [03:43-17:29] – Violet: Escorting, stripping, self-worth, goals
- [18:19-28:38] – Dev: Forklift-certified boyfriend, sexual kinks, long-distance dynamics
- [32:48-58:20] – Sean: Mushrooms-induced existential questioning, work/life balance, therapy
- [Throughout] – Lyle’s reflective, humorous commentaries and tangents
Tone & Style
The conversation is raw, honest, and ranges from lighthearted to deeply vulnerable. Lyle strikes a balance between humor and empathy, making space for the callers’ feelings, never judging, and always seeking understanding—even in the strangest situations. His gecko persona adds just the right level of absurdity.
Concluding Thoughts
This episode of Therapy Gecko dives into the “variety show of humanity”: from the economics of sex work and the psychology of desire, to the uncertainty of life paths and the search for meaningful connection (even with heavy machinery). With guests like Violet and Dev openly discussing stigmatized or unconventional experiences, Lyle affirms the dignity in every story and encourages both acceptance and self-reflection.
For listeners:
If you enjoy empathy wrapped in reptilian wit, unfiltered personal stories, and existential musings with a comedic twist, this episode fits the bill. Just be ready to explore humanity’s quirks in all their messy, sincere, and memorable glory.