“MY DAD IS BEING A JERK”

Summary

Therapy Gecko – “MY DAD IS BEING A JERK” (March 4, 2026) Host: Lyle (Gekko)
Podcast: Therapy Gecko (iHeartPodcasts)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Therapy Gecko finds host Lyle (in his trademark unlicensed lizard psychologist style) fielding calls from listeners with family struggles, emotional crossroads, and unique observational stories. The main themes revolve around complicated parent-child relationships, emotional boundaries, and the ongoing process of self-discovery. The episode gets personal, with callers sharing stories about emotionally unavailable parents, family secrets, the struggle for independence, unique coffee shop adventures, and the lessons of spontaneous travel and self-assertion.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller Nina: Struggling with an Emotionally Distant Father

(Start: 01:52)

• Background & Main Issue (03:23 – 04:46):

  • Nina shares she doesn’t have a great relationship with her dad. He supports her financially (for school), but emotionally is unsupportive and harmful.
  • Whenever she attempts to open up, he uses personal revelations against her, e.g., calling her selfish based on comments from her ex.

• Father’s Background (05:26 – 06:19):

  • Adopted as a Black child into an abusive white family, spent time in jail, became a lawyer, has personal trauma.

• Power Struggle & Emotional Blackmail (06:52 – 07:33):

  • Whenever Nina tries to distance herself for her mental health, her father threatens to withdraw financial support.

• She feels “really stuck”:

  • Torn between protecting herself and staying financially afloat for her education.

• Gekko’s Advice (10:05 – 12:41):

  • “You can't force anyone to be any way other than they are. All you really can do is put yourself on the table.”
  • Reframes Nina’s options as both valid: she could walk away for personal integrity or disengage emotionally but continue minimal contact for support.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “You deserve better. And I'm sorry that you got unlucky in this situation.” – Gekko (09:01)

• Nina’s Reflections (12:48 – 13:21):

  • Swallowing pride is difficult because she and her dad are similarly prideful—recognizes sometimes “there’s actually no winning.”
  • Positive note: she has a strong, best-friend-like relationship with her mother, who provides emotional support and strategies.

• Discussion on Parents Blaming Childhood Trauma (16:24 – 17:32):

  • Both agree there’s a limit to how long childhood pain can excuse poor adult behavior.
  • Gekko: “It can’t be this continuous roadblock...you have to want to get over it, and some people just don’t.”

• Humor & Coping (18:14 – 19:43):

  • Talk turns a bit lighter as Gekko jokes about rat studies in behavioral neuroscience, connecting it to Nina repeating painful patterns with her dad.

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2. Caller Maddox: Family Secrets, Parental Dysfunction, and Personal Boundaries

(Start: 21:25)

• Family Dynamic (24:01 – 28:22):

  • Maddox reveals her mom has a severe spending addiction (hoarding expensive things).
  • Maddox also knows her mom has been having a years-long affair, which Maddox discovered at 16. She’s now 22 and the secret gnaws at her.

• Compounding Complications (31:20 – 33:35):

  • Maddox’s mom is bipolar and has had psychotic breaks, threatening harm.
  • Her parents’ marriage is sexless, toxic, financially entangled, and held together by avoidance and fear.

• Gekko’s Guidance (33:46 – 37:53):

  • Suggests it’s healthy to step back and prioritize her own adult life: “At a certain point, your responsibility as a young adult is to focus on developing your own life...not being so engulfed in your family’s drama.”
  • Validates the challenge, especially as an only child, but affirms she’s already doing well: living independently, in a healthy relationship, holding a job.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “If you can pay your bills and you are in a relationship that makes you happy...you are like, pretty crazy successful.” – Gekko (35:33)

• Finding New Focus (38:22 – 41:52):

  • Maddox asks for tips about her new travel-heavy job.
  • Gekko gives playful advice: bring almonds (but buy Skittles), and wherever you are—“just go on a walk...look at stuff that’s different.”
  • Emphasizes that “everywhere is kind of the same,” driving home the idea that joy is found in ordinary places if you’re open to it.

• Maddox’s Parting Words:

  • “Be kind to one another. You never know what someone’s going through. Don’t comment on other people’s bodies. It’s really none of your business.” (42:04–42:22)

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3. Caller Lindsay: Surviving a Weird 24-hour Coffee Shop in a New City

(Start: 46:17)

• Navigating Newness & Loneliness (46:22 – 53:16):

  • Lindsay moves to a new town for college, spends most time at The Bitter End, a 24/7 coffee shop in Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Tells harrowing and odd stories: being chased by a stranger at 3am, witnessing someone repeatedly pee in chairs, and balancing the draw of people-watching with personal safety.

• Finding Community (51:17 – 51:58):

  • She has started small conversations and made a connection with a barista, but mostly uses the shop as a space to be alone and adjust.

• On Making Friends vs. Being Alone (52:49 – 54:44):

  • Lindsay is learning how to be alone for now, but considers moving back closer to her old friends, even if it means commuting.

• Gekko’s Curiosity:

  • Gekko is deeply entertained by the coffee shop’s “peak people-watching” and hints he’ll visit it on tour.

• Lindsay’s Safety Wisdom (62:24):

  • “If you think that somebody might chase you: run, bro, run.”
  • She also urges: carry pepper spray.

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4. Caller Johnny: Living Life Now, Spreading Spontaneous Kindness

(Start: 63:39)

• Simple Pleasures, Big Lessons (64:01 – 74:21):

  • Pharmaceutical warehouse worker with a happy home life and a girlfriend; loves to travel.
  • Found the value of solo travel after a friend’s untimely death; now prioritizes experiences rather than waiting for others.

• Gekko ruminates (67:38 – 70:05):

  • Shares a story about connection with strangers, rewarding boldness, and appreciating unexpected interactions.
  • Discusses how some cultures are naturally more open to random connection.

• Johnny’s Ongoing Goal:

  • Wants to visit every major league baseball stadium—and maybe beyond.

• Memorable Johnny Advice:

  • “Clean out your room because you don't know if they might be infested with moths. I had that recently and it was a pain to clean out.” (74:21)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments By Timestamp

• Nina’s father dilemma:
  “He’ll use what you say about you against you...your ex-boyfriend was right, you definitely are selfish.” – Nina (04:51)
  “You can't force anyone to be any way other than they are.” – Gekko (10:05)

• On boundaries and self-preservation:
  “As long as you can look at yourself and say, ‘I’m doing the best I can with this relationship,’ that’s enough.” – Gekko (11:49)

• On parents & trauma:
  “It’s good to understand yourself...but it can’t be this continuous roadblock.” – Gekko (16:41)

• Maddox’s family secret weight:
  “It’s so hard to look at my mom. It’s hard to look at my dad...this worrying is doing nothing for me.” – Maddox (30:05/33:28)

• Gekko on adulthood:
  “Your responsibility as a young adult is...to focus on developing your own life.” (33:33)

• Lindsay’s coffee shop ordeal:
  “I got chased by a man [at a 24-hour coffee shop]...I almost had to run him over to get away.” (47:43)

• Random humanity:
  “People just randomly talk to each other for no reason...it's kind of nice.” – Gekko (68:54)

• Johnny the warehouse wanderer:
  “Why wait for something I want to do?” – Caller Johnny (71:49)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Caller Nina’s story: 01:52–19:53
• Caller Maddox’s story: 21:25–42:26
• Caller Lindsay’s coffee shop saga: 46:17–62:59
• Caller Johnny’s travel philosophy: 63:39–74:46

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Tone and Style

• Wry, compassionate, and candid.
• Gekko blends humor with genuine empathy and practical advice, often finding levity on difficult topics without dismissing the caller’s pain.
• Many conversations close on a self-reflective or slightly absurd note, underscoring the show’s unique brand of entertainment therapy.

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Closing Thoughts

This episode grapples with the complexities of family dysfunction, boundaries, and self-care, interspersed with everyday absurdity and encouragement to embrace life’s messiness. From tough love to playful advice on midwestern travel, Therapy Gecko reminds listeners it’s OK to step back, seek joy, and sometimes, just go for a walk—or run if you need to.

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“Never give up on yourself.”

–Caller Nina (19:53)

“Be kind to one another. You never know what someone’s going through.”

–Caller Maddox (42:09)

“If you think that somebody might chase you: run, bro, run.”

–Caller Lindsay (62:24)

“Clean out your room because you don’t know if they might be infested with moths.”

–Caller Johnny (74:21)

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Jill Winterstein]

Shop [e-mail] hi, it's Jo Interesteen, host of the Spirit Daughter Podcast where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. Today I'm talking with my dear friend Christa Williams. It can change you in the best way possible.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Dance with the change, Dance with the breakdowns.

[Jill Winterstein]

The embodiment of Pisces intuition with Capricorn power moves.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Just so. I'm like delusionally proud of my chart.

[Jill Winterstein]

Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your podcast.

[Caller Lindsay]

Call from Nina.

[Narrator]

Hello.

[Caller Nina]

Hello.

[Narrator]

What's up?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

How's it going?

[Caller Nina]

Hi.

[Caller Lindsay]

It's going pretty good.

[Caller Nina]

I. I did not expect you to pick up. This is crazy.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's your name?

[Caller Nina]

Nina.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Mina or Nina?

[Caller Nina]

Nina. Like N?

[Caller Lindsay]

I N. A N with an N?

[Caller Nina]

Yes, with an N. That was a

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

stupid thing to say. N with an N. That was. You know how people say like B as in boy? That was the opposite. It was like as in blue. I added no new information on the second line. I was just saying a bunch of nonsense.

[Caller Nina]

You know what?

[Caller Lindsay]

And that's okay.

[Caller Nina]

I feel like people fuck up the phonetic Alphabet a lot.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you, Nina. That's very forgiving of you. What were you going to say?

[Caller Nina]

I was gonna say, how's your day?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Knowing how's my day going. My day's going okay. I'M in the middle of a lot of mental reorganization, but I think that that is kind of a constant of life. Things keep moving. Nothing ever stays the same. What about you? What's up with you, Mina? What made you want to call the Gecko show today?

[Caller Maddox]

Well, I, like, I always listen to

[Caller Nina]

your podcast, so I just really wanted to call in, and I guess I have, like, kind of, like an ongoing issue that I don't really think there's a solution to, I guess.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Interesting.

[Caller Nina]

So, yeah, yeah, sorry, I kind of have to make this a little quick because I am at work.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, go. Whatever you got to do.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah, so basically, I don't really, like, have a great relationship with my dad, you know, like, he just consistently is not really there for me in the ways that I need him to be. Like, emotionally. Like, he's there for me financially, but, like, that's not all, like, a person needs, you know? And so basically, like, we constantly will get into, like, fights about this because he doesn't, like, understand that, you know, that you can. You have to show for someone in multiple ways. And he also, like, when I try to kind of, like, curate that relationship and build it, he'll, like, constantly, like, use anything that I say, like, about myself, like, against me. But it's kind of like a different.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I'm sorry to interrupt. He'll use what you say about you against you. What does that mean?

[Caller Nina]

So, like, for example, like, I had, like, this ex boyfriend, and, like, I was telling him kind of about the situation because we had broken up, and I told him that, like, my ex boyfriend had said that he thought I was a bit selfish, and my dad was like, yeah, your ex boyfriend was right. You definitely are selfish. And you, like, told me that, like, while we were in an argument. So it's like, things that I say, like, in my life, like, he'll use that against me.

[Caller Lindsay]

Who.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's your dad's.

[Narrator]

What's your dad's deal?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Like, who is he as a person? What's. What's. Give me. Give me the rundown.

[Caller Nina]

Okay. Yeah, so he has a lot going on himself, too. Like, he was adopted, and he also, like, was adopted by a family that was, like, not really great. Like, my dad's a black man and he was adopted by a white family. And so it just. It wasn't really, like, a great, like, mixed up. Like, they. They were, like, kind of, I would say, abusive, I guess. So he never really had, like, a great, like, upbringing. He ended up, like, going to, like, jail for, like, a year or Two. And then he got out and, like, he became a lawyer, so now he's a lawyer. So he has, like, a really, like, crazy upbringing, but because I don't think.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Are here. Your mom still together?

[Caller Nina]

No. So they were actually, like. They only dated for, like, a little bit, but then they had me when they. My mom was like, 20 and he was like, 23 or something like that. So they weren't like, just dating. They were never married or anything like that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Hmm.

[Caller Lindsay]

And so should I go on? Huh?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead, Go ahead.

[Caller Nina]

Okay. So should I go on about, like, the actual issue at hand?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, sorry, sorry, I didn't. I thought. I thought you did get into the actual issue. Let's hear it.

[Caller Nina]

No, sorry. So, like, so he's there for me financially. Like, I'm in school now, and he's able to, like, I guess, like, pay for that stuff. But, like, I really hate, like, talking to him and being around him and stuff like that. And if I, like, try to, like, not talk to him or listen to him, he, like, will threaten me, like, to, like, stop paying for school or something like that. So, like, I. I feel like I'm kind of, like, really stuck in this situation because, like, I don't really want to talk or interact with him, but, like, I need him to be there for. To pay for my school.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, interesting. Okay.

[Caller Maddox]

Yeah.

[Caller Nina]

Okay.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So the dilemma is that your dad is not, like, interacting with you in the way that you need him to, like, be there for you, but you also are still reliant upon him financially.

[Caller Lindsay]

Exactly.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

But also.

[Narrator]

But.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

But in addition to that, there is also a genuine desire to interact with your dad on the level that you desire to, not just purely financial motivation.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah, no, it really wasn't. I feel like I just tried so many times, and like, recently in November, like, during Thanksgiving time, me and him got into, like, this really big argument, and he said, like, a lot of things that were, like, really hurtful to me. And I just feel like I can't be around someone who is going to, you know, put me down and isn't going to be, like, contributing to my life in, like, a positive way.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, that's really tough. And I'm. I mean. Or. Nina.

[Caller Nina]

Nina. And I heard an end.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I heard an end.

[Caller Nina]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Nina. First of all, Mina, I. I'm really genuinely very sorry to hear that this is going on with you and your dad because no one fucking, you know, deserves that from their parents. Yeah, you know, it's. It's. It's. It's not cool. You deserve better. And I'm sorry that you got unlucky in this situation, because, I mean, that's the. That's the really tough and kind of sad thing is that the onus. After you've kind of done your best to express these feelings towards him about your relationship, you've kind of seemed like you've put everything that you've got on the table. And for him, it's like, it's such a bummer because you can't force anyone to be any way other than they are. All you really could do is put yourself on the table. And it's a bummer because, you see, you're his fucking daughter. He should. He shouldn't be, you know, telling you that you're, you know, self. He shouldn't be, you know, he should really be trying to appeal to you.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

As his daughter. So that's. That's a shame, and I'm sorry about that. Now, as. As far as, like, what do you do? Like, do you keep hanging out with him? Listen, I don't think if you wanted to stand on your own principles of whatever and say, you know, fuck it, I'm gonna just try to figure out some other way to make this happen financially or take out a loan or do whatever, you know, if that was the decision of integrity that you wanted to make, I don't think that there would be anything wrong with that. But also, if you. If you swallowed your pride and you were like, he's my fucking dad, I'm gonna try my best on my end to honor this relationship I have with him. I'm gonna do 100% of my part of trying to be a good daughter. Whatever. Whatever that means to you. And if you go to bed at night and you go, I was the best version of my. The best daughter, whatever that means to you. I was the best version of myself in this relationship I have with my dad. And you know what? That's good enough for me to go to sleep at night and feel like I tried and, you know, I can kind of suck up whatever's coming from him. You know, I don't think. I don't think there's anything wrong with that either, but I think there's a way to. If that's the route you want to go, I think there's certain ways to do it that kind of still protect your piece. That's one of them. Is. Is I feel like in a relationship like that, where you approach it as best as you can within your ability, and sometimes that means just like if there are. If. If he's trying to pick a fight or he's doing this, he's trying to agitate you, and you just try to take the high road every time, and you're like, I'm not gonna escalate things with him. I'm not gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna disengage. I've put myself out on the table. I've told him what I'm willing to deal with, I'm not willing to deal with. I'm gonna disengage. I'm not gonna take any bait. I'm not gonna. You know, I'm just gonna spend the minimum amount of time around him as I need and then be like, listen, man, I'm trying my best, and the rest is on you.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So I don't know if that was helpful, but that's my ponder about it.

[Caller Nina]

That's kind of the conclusion I came to already. But, like, it just kind of sucks, like.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, a lot. Yeah.

[Caller Nina]

Like, it also is, like, really annoying because I think why me and him clash was because we have very similar personalities. We're both pretty prideful people. So, like, swallowing my pride is, like, a bit hard for me. But, I mean, I've, like, this kind of. In this situation, I feel like there's actually no winning. So I've kind of, like, decided I kind of just have to do it.

[Caller Johnny]

Mm. Mm.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

No, I feel. I feel for you, dude.

[Narrator]

It does suck.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Like, it's. It's. How's your relationship with your mom? What's her.

[Caller Nina]

What's her deal Actually, so good. I love my mom so much. Me and her have an amazing relationship, and we're super close. We talk every day. And I feel. Honestly feel like she's like my best friend. Like, she gets me. I feel like, on every level. So, like, that's.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Wow.

[Caller Nina]

A positive thing that I feel like I have out of this is like, my mom knows my dad. She's been around him for longer than I have, so she, like, kind of is able to, like, give me reassurance and, like, able to help me navigate how to handle things with him in the way where I'm still able to, like, get what I need financially but, like, not be hurt emotionally.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's your mom's take on this whole thing?

[Caller Nina]

She is kind of just, like. She kind of thinks, one, I should kind of just fake it till I make it and then, like, because I still have to go. Like, right now I'm in, like, my third year of school of university, and I still have to go to, like, medical school or that's my goal. So, like, I still have, like, I'm gonna have to rely on my parents for a little bit. So she's like, either fake it till you make it or just kind of don't, like, you know how he is. So it's like, don't let these things affect you. But, of course, that's easier said than done.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Right? Right. How long have they been apart for? How long have they been divorced or separated?

[Caller Nina]

So they were never married, but they've been apart for, like, my whole life. Like, since I was born. They pretty much been, like, not together.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Well, I'm glad that, you know, at least one of your parental relationships worked out pretty well.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah, I'm really happy about that too.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Mm.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Again, don't stress stuff out about too. I. I feel for you. It's a bummer having a parent that is, like, not supportive of you in that way. But my feeling is that, like, after you put yourself out there, the onus is really on him. He's got to make a separate call. We'll talk, me and your dad. That'd be interesting.

[Caller Nina]

No, I. I wish that would happen, but I don't know. I feel like even if he, like, we. Me and him have had conversations about it, and, like, he's kind of been honest with me, but I feel like he, like, weaponizes him in his, like, childhood for, like, to, like, be the reasoning for why he can't, like, build this relationship now. But it's also like, you're 40 years old, like, get your together, you know?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, of course.

[Caller Nina]

Or, like.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, of course.

[Caller Lindsay]

45.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

No. Yeah.

[Caller Maddox]

So long.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. At that point, you got to get your fucking shit together.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah. I feel like there's only so long that you can really, like, be in that mindset, and I also feel like that's kind of common with people, like, today, honestly.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, what, just, like, blaming childhood trauma for a little too long?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah.

[Caller Nina]

Or just like. Yeah, like. Yeah, I would say that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Childhood trauma and shit like that there. It's good for. It's good for getting to where you are now. If that information is helpful to. It's good for understanding yourself 100%. But you. It can't be, like, this continuous roadblock. You have to. You have to kind of want to get. That's. You have to kind of want to get over it, and sometimes. And some people, they just don't, like, have the desire to get over it or the strength or the energy, and I. Yeah. I get why. As it gets older, as you get older, there's less of a inclination for that.

[Caller Nina]

Yeah, I. I feel like people just have to like, want to help themselves. And if you don't, obviously there's going to be no change and you're just going to be stuck in like the same cycle or same place that you're at.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What are you going to school for?

[Caller Nina]

Behavioral neuroscience.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Behavioral neuroscience. Okay, what have you learned anything about what you should do in this situation from a behavioral neuroscience perspective?

[Caller Nina]

I mean, like, honestly, like, no. I mean, I'm not like super psych. We're more like biology.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Do you ever, like, think of yourself as a rat pulling a lever?

[Caller Nina]

Honestly? Yes, a little bit. I feel like I keep pulling the lever that is the relationship with my dad and I keep getting the same result. So it's like I'm not learning at all.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, yeah? Yeah. Damn. Isn't that the whole point of behavioral neuroscience is we make rats pull a bunch of levers and then that tells us whether or not we're supposed to repair our relationship with our father?

[Caller Nina]

Yeah, yeah. Honestly, that is like the whole point. But we do a whole lot of fucked up shit to. Rats can't lie.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Yeah. You think, you think the rats ever. Do you think any of them feel like they should be serving us humans? Do you think any of them are like, like, I will gladly give my life to humanity so that they can like have a. Have like this cool perfume or whatever it is? Like they're martyrs?

[Caller Nina]

Honestly, no. Like, I definitely don't think they think that. But also I don't think they think that far. But

[Caller Lindsay]

I don't know, we.

[Caller Nina]

The stuff that I've like or the studies that I've read about, like the just things that we're doing with the rats, like to prove whatever they're trying to prove.

[Caller Lindsay]

Sometimes it's just a lot.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

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

[Caller Nina]

I guess just like never give up on yourself.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Beautiful. Thank you, Nina.

[Caller Lindsay]

All right, no problem.

[Caller Nina]

Have a good day.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

How was Nina? Yeah, man, that stuff's a bummer. I feel like it's just another one of those situations where like, you can't force another person to like, exist in a different way. Although sometimes you get lucky and you put yourself out there in some way, shape or form and people are receptive to it. I feel like I've seen people change, but they have to kind of wanna. Hello?

[Caller Lindsay]

Hello.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Hi. What's up?

[Caller Maddox]

Oh my gosh. No, Way.

[Caller Lindsay]

Nothing. What's up with you?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's up with me? I'm in a room. It's kind of dirty. It's a little depressing looking. It's dark, there's clouds. I'm looking at a Gatorade zero bottle. It's half full. It's kind of beckoning me to drink it, but it's a little too far away for me to feel like getting up to go get it. So I'm going to stay here. What's your name?

[Caller Maddox]

My name is Maddox.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Did you say that already?

[Caller Maddox]

No, I don't think so.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What are you doing, Maddox?

[Caller Maddox]

I am sitting here with my boyfriend and just watching him play a game and calling you. And I can see why people say they get nervous because this is making me nervous.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Now what game is your boyfriend playing?

[Caller Nina]

What are you playing?

[Caller Lindsay]

Rivals.

[Caller Maddox]

Marvel Rivals.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Marvel Rivals. I've heard of Marvel Rivals. This is not a Psyop ad for Marvel Rivals. It's like one of the most advertised fucking games I feel like I'm seeing. Is it like. Does it have all the like Marvel characters in it? Like, can you play as like Spider man and shit?

[Caller Nina]

Yes.

[Caller Maddox]

Yes, you can. I don't know much about it and this is not sponsored by them.

[Caller Lindsay]

So can you do me?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Can you look at the screen right now?

[Caller Maddox]

Yes, I am doing that.

[Narrator]

And what do you use?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What character do you see?

[Caller Nina]

She's got a great bod.

[Caller Lindsay]

A really big booty.

[Caller Maddox]

But he will have to tell you.

[Caller Lindsay]

Invisible Woman.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Invisible Woman? No, is that. That's. Wait, the Invisible Woman is. Hold on. Visible Woman? Is she one of the Fantastic Four? Okay, yeah, she's in the Fantastic Store. I was wondering. I was. So are you playing as her or you're just looking at her?

[Caller Lindsay]

No, I am playing as her, but my, my girlfriend's just watching me because

[Caller Johnny]

she really wants to talk about something else.

[Caller Lindsay]

This is just a distraction for her.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

She really wants to talk about something else. Okay, yeah, you can give the phone back to her.

[Caller Lindsay]

Okay.

[Caller Maddox]

Okay, I'm here.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. So you really want to talk about something besides Marvel Rivals?

[Caller Lindsay]

Preferably?

[Caller Maddox]

Yes, Yes, I do want your. Your advice.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, please. Yeah, please, please

[Caller Lindsay]

do.

[Caller Maddox]

Okay. Do you have any context from my text or is that not a thing?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

No, that's not a thing. I've. I have no context at all.

[Caller Lindsay]

Okay,

[Caller Maddox]

well, my mother is. She has a severe spending addiction that is sabotaging my dad and I's relationship. And she's also been having a years long affair. And I'm the only one that knows about It. And I don't know how to tell my dad.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay, so what's the deal with her spending addiction?

[Caller Lindsay]

She

[Caller Maddox]

just will not quit buying things. I'm an only child. Just me and my parents, they live in a. Just for context, they live in a five bedroom house. And three of the five bedrooms are just filled with things that she buys. And it's just gotten to the point where she's filled up the entire house and my dad and I don't really know what to do with all of the. She keeps buying.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So she's a hoarder?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes.

[Caller Maddox]

Like a clean hoarder.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. And.

[Caller Nina]

But she likes very.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

And you live with her. Sorry.

[Caller Lindsay]

She likes very bougie.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

She likes very bougie. Okay, so she buys a lot of expensive, fancy luxury shit.

[Caller Nina]

Yes.

[Caller Maddox]

I mean, not like Louis Vuitton or anything, but very like 300 jeans. Like that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Do you. And so you live in this house? It's you, your dad and your mom?

[Caller Lindsay]

No.

[Caller Maddox]

So I moved out when I was 19 because I just couldn't take it anymore. They've fought my whole childhood and it just was a toxic environment.

[Caller Nina]

So I got out of there.

[Caller Maddox]

But I quit my job not long, too long ago. And I'm going to be traveling for work soon at a new job, so I might have to live with them and move back in with them when I'm in between traveling.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

And how did you find out that your mom was having an affair?

[Caller Maddox]

Well, I found out because When I was 16, she asked me to check something on her phone. And when I did, I saw a text from a former co worker of hers. And it was something about meeting up. And I clicked on it and saw hundreds of messages that they had met up and slept together. And yeah, all this stuff because he lives an hour away, but they found meeting spots and kind of just found all this out.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

That was when you were 16?

[Caller Maddox]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So you've known about this for how long?

[Caller Maddox]

I'm 22 now,

[Caller Nina]

but there's a lot

[Caller Maddox]

of factors that go into that. So shortly after I found out, When I was 16, I had an eating disorder and was admitted into treatment for four months. And then right after that, Covid happened. And then my dad suffered a massive heart attack and was in the hospital and had to get a pacemaker put in. His dad almost died. And then my mom's dad did die, all in the span of this time. So I never would have thought that she was still having an affair. But when I was 20, I saw another message when she had me check Something on her phone, it had popped up, and I saw that this had still been going on, even through all of the shit my family had been through together. And I thought we had gotten stronger through all that, but clearly, she was still finding time to cheat, so.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

And all with the same guy?

[Caller Maddox]

Yes. And he's the CEO of a company, married, with children my age. They were family friends. His mom, the guy that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Wait, wait, wait. This. Hold on. This guy is. You're. You said you're 22. This guy is. This guy's 22.

[Caller Lindsay]

No, no, no.

[Caller Maddox]

He worked with my mom. He's my mom's age, so. In his 50s, but his kids are my age.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. All right. Okay. That freaked me out for a second. I was like, this is gonna get way crazier of a story than I anticipated. Okay, go ahead.

[Caller Maddox]

No, it's already crazy enough, but. Oh. So his mom. The guy that she is sleeping with, his mom was actually my grandpa's secretary for, like, 30 years as well. So there's, like, a lot of lore there. So, like, our families really know each

[Caller Lindsay]

other well,

[Caller Maddox]

so that makes it even more uncomfortable. We don't, like, hang out with them or anything, but, I mean, I guess my mom does, but not my dad and I.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. So are you. What are you. Are you thinking about, like, revealing this or. Cause it's been six years. Are you, like. Have you kind of learned to just live with it? Like, what's your vibe?

[Caller Maddox]

No, it is something that eats away at me every day. I mean, I can't. It's so hard to look at my mom. It's hard to look at my dad, but they have never had a good marriage. They have bought my whole childhood.

[Caller Lindsay]

They.

[Caller Maddox]

My mom told me, not like, maybe a couple years ago, that they hadn't had sex in, like, 15 years.

[Caller Nina]

Like, they're just.

[Caller Maddox]

They've never been affectionate, so it's not a good marriage. My dad is kind of still with my mom because she. He doesn't want her to take, like, all his retirement and all his money if they get a divorce now, like, everything he's worked for. It's kind of what he's told me. My mom's bipolar, so that's also a factor. She's threatened to severely harm and kill my dad and I before she's gone. And she's had psychotic breaks, so he also is worried about her and what a divorce would do to her mental state as well.

[Caller Nina]

So there's just a lot there.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Bro.

[Caller Lindsay]

I'm sorry.

[Caller Maddox]

I'm sorry.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is. You have nothing to be sorry for at all. The follow up to me saying, Bro is, so you're. You're 22. What's going on with you? Because at a point, certain. Certain point. Right. At a certain point, I believe that, you know, at the age of 22, if you so desire to be like, you know what? My family is a little crazy. And I think my responsibility as a young adult is, Is for me to now focus on developing my own life, whatever that looks like for me, and not being so deeply engulfed in my family's drama. Do you know what I mean? I know that's a really hard thing to do, but I feel like that's at a certain point where your brain's got to be at. You know what I mean? What. So where are you in.

[Caller Johnny]

In.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

In that context?

[Caller Maddox]

No, definitely. And I, I think depending on what is going on, like how I'm doing mentally, I guess, like, kind of dictates how involved I get into it because I think if I'm. I don't know, if I am being treated like at work and I'm like, depressed, then I think I'm more. I like, go into it more if that makes sense.

[Caller Lindsay]

Like, I. I don't know.

[Caller Maddox]

I don't know. It's almost like maybe a. I don't know, I think about my up family to not think about. To face my problems that are actually happening in my day to day life.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah. But that makes perfect sense. Sure. That makes perfect sense.

[Caller Maddox]

And I think it's easy to be like, oh, my family's up and all this shit's going on, so let me deal with that. But it's like I am realizing now,

[Caller Lindsay]

like, how many years am I gonna

[Caller Maddox]

deal with this and, like, worry about this? Like, this worrying is doing nothing for me. And so I'm.

[Caller Nina]

It.

[Caller Maddox]

It's hard, like you said, but I'm trying to distance myself from that. But it's just hard when I'm an only child too, and I feel like I need to take care of my parents and.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Caller Maddox]

Be there for them.

[Caller Lindsay]

So that's part two.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Because it'd be what? Because. Right. Because if you had a, A brother or sister and they were checked out, you might be able to look at them and go, all right, well, they're checked out. I think I'm gonna go ahead and check out too. Or if you had a brother that was like, you know, dealing with it, you'd be like, well, it might. It might, could bring you either way. But. Yeah, I understand why as an only child, you feel this, like, Responsibility of some kind to still be involved.

[Caller Nina]

Mm.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

But, I mean, you have a boyfriend who's playing Marvel Rivals.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes. Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You have a job.

[Caller Nina]

Mm.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

And you, you rent an apartment. You don't live with your parents.

[Caller Lindsay]

Right, Right.

[Caller Maddox]

Yes, I do have an apartment.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

All right, so you've got your own life going on.

[Caller Maddox]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You've got your own gardens to water.

[Caller Maddox]

So I love plants, so I love that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So that's pretty good. That's pretty good.

[Caller Nina]

I guess.

[Caller Maddox]

Where, where do I start with that? Because I feel like I've lived in such. This like, trauma ridden state or like just a state of high anxiety and how can I fix things and walking on eggshells and that. I just don't even know how to go about prioritizing myself, I guess. And I feel so selfish for that and.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, well, for what?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I mean, you. Look, you're already doing it, right? Like, you have. I mean, in. I feel like in America, if you can. I really do. I feel like in America we have a thing where it's like, listen, if you can pay your bills and you are in a relationship that makes you happy, that's not every relationship has some form of problem. Right. But if you're in a relationship that, you know, one could look at and judge it to be healthy and your bills are paid and you. You feel moderately happy, you're not on drugs, you're not killing anyone, you're. You're like, pretty crazy successful. If you can accomplish those basic things as an independent adult and you're. You're managing to accomplish them. So, you know, a plus already on that. So you've already. You're already doing it. So.

[Caller Lindsay]

Thank you.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I think this like, high anxiety thing is like, well, I don't know. I don't know. I don't really know what other aspects of your life you're hoping to develop and endeavor for or just maintain and enjoy. If those are the two real things we can do in life is either continue to develop it or enjoy it for whatever it is that's your task is just being in your own life. How do you go about doing it? I mean, you're already. I don't. You're already doing it. So, like, limit the amount of time you spend indulging in your family's drama and, you know, indulge in your own drama. You know, I'm sure. Tell your boyfriend he's playing too much Marvel Rivals. He's gotta, you know.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Or whatever.

[Caller Maddox]

Yeah, yeah, I like that. I like that. And okay.

[Caller Lindsay]

That.

[Caller Nina]

Thank you.

[Caller Lindsay]

That was amazing.

[Caller Maddox]

And I needed to hear that. This leads me into another question. I just got this new travel job and do you have any tips on being on the road, being away from one place, your home? I guess.

[Caller Lindsay]

Since you travel, have you done much traveling?

[Caller Maddox]

I have, just not for work and not for, like, weeks at a time or a month at a time.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Where are you going?

[Caller Maddox]

Wherever they send me any. Anywhere. But probably I'm in Kansas and so probably around the Missouri area first.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Are they sending you to the land of Oz? That was like a dad joke. That wasn't that funny. Oh, wait. Do I have any tips for traveling around Missouri?

[Caller Lindsay]

No, no, no, no.

[Caller Maddox]

Just in general. Like, do you bring anything for comfort from home or any. I don't know, just any kind of

[Caller Nina]

beginner travel for work tip.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Bring a teeth. Bring a toothbrush. Almonds. Bring. Bring almonds to not eat and to buy Skittles at the gas station instead and eat those way you have. That way you have almonds to look at. You go, by the way. Well, truthfully, if you live in Kansas, Kansas and Missouri are kind of the exact same place. There's no true difference between those two places. There's a version. There's, you know, your exact life and the exact life of all of your friends and family. Also, someone has the exact same life in Missouri. There's a McDonald's in your hometown of Missouri that is also. There's another McDonald's there. It's the same. It's all the same. Kansas and Missouri are pretty much the same exact place. And someone who lives there might get upset with me about that, but I don't. I mean, they're. I mean, I mean, listen, I'll take it further. I think everywhere is also. I think everywhere is kind of the same. That's what you learn traveling is that everywhere is exactly the same. You know, I think Missouri and Uzbekistan and Beijing and Australia are all the same place. I'm sorry, this is a horrible answer to your question, but.

[Caller Maddox]

No, I think my question was just horrible.

[Caller Lindsay]

So that's.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

No, it was not a horrible question. It was. It was a nice question. I should have a better answer to that.

[Caller Nina]

Known.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, just. I don't have fun. Go on a walk. On a walk. That's my actual answer. Just wherever. If you. I'm dead serious. If you. Okay, that. Okay, that's my actual answer. If you get stuck in some, like, ass. La Quinta Inn on the side of the road in. In Missouri. Just go on a walk and look at stuff and just be like, this stuff is different from the stuff that is directly around me most of the time. So just walk around and look at stuff. That's my best travel advice.

[Caller Nina]

That's good.

[Caller Lindsay]

I like that. I like that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

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

[Caller Nina]

Oh, gosh.

[Caller Maddox]

Just be kind to one another.

[Caller Lindsay]

You.

[Caller Maddox]

You never know what someone's going through. Don't comment on other people's bodies. It's really none of your business. And everyone have a great night and love you all.

[Caller Nina]

Love you guys.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you, Maddox. Have a good rest of the night.

[Caller Lindsay]

Bye. Bye. Bye.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Marvel Rivals. It's not an ad, but I'm. It seems like something I'd like. I mean, I like video games a lot. Okay, it's a PvP shooter. Is it on the switch? Okay, it's not on the switch, so I'm not gonna play it. It's free to play. I don't know if I fuck with those free to play games. Who do you play? Who are the characters in it? Playable characters? Penny Parker. Who the fuck is that? All right, you can play as Thor. That's cool. You guys Remember Marvel vs. Capcom? No? All right.

[Narrator]

We all need a little help sometimes. And quitting nicotine can feel like a big challenge. X Program by Truth Initiative has your

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

back from the very start.

[Narrator]

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[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

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[Narrator]

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[Sponsor Representative]

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[Jill Winterstein]

Shop [e-mail] hi, this is Jill Winterstein, host of the Spirit Daughter Podcast where we talk about astrology, natal charts and how to to step into your most vibrant life. And I just sat down with a

[Caller Maddox]

mini driver, the Irish traveler said when I was 16.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You're going to have a terrible time with men.

[Jill Winterstein]

Actor, storyteller and unapologetic Aquarian visionary. Aquarius is all about freedom loving and different perspectives and I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius like are misunderstood. A Sun and Venus in Aquarius in her seventh house spark her unconventional approach to partnership.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms, on different houses, in different places, but just an embracing of the isness of it all.

[Jill Winterstein]

If you're navigating your own transformation or just want a chart side view into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity and real life, this episode is a must. Listen Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcast.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Hello.

[Caller Lindsay]

Hello.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Hi. What is your name?

[Caller Lindsay]

I'm Lindsay. Nice to meet you.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Nice to meet you too Lindsay. How's life Lindsay? What's going on?

[Caller Lindsay]

Well, life is really weird right now. I am living in a new town and I don't know anyone so I've been spending a lot of time at like this school coffee shop that's open for 24 hours every day. I am there almost as much as an employee I would think. It's kind of sad. It's open 24 hours, it's open 247 and never closes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Are are you in and what hours are you typically in there?

[Caller Lindsay]

It really ranges. Sometimes I'm in there from like 1pm to like 5. Sometimes I'm in there like in the night. But weird stuff always happens there in the night. I don't know. So I try to go like more in the evening time.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay, you said weird stuff happens at night. I really want to know if you've been in there at like 3am and if you have what is the vibe.

[Caller Lindsay]

I I have only one and I'm never going back in there because I got chased by a man that was in there. And then I didn't have any pepper spray, but I bought pepper spray immediately afterwards.

[Narrator]

Whoa.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You got chased? What? Was there any context or, like, this dude just starts chasing you?

[Caller Lindsay]

It was. I mean, he was like in there and he was kind of acting weird and, like, looking at me a lot. And I was like, I can tell that, like, there's something wrong with you. And he kept on trying to give me stuff while we were in there. It was just us, too, in this coffee shop. Nobody else was in there besides the barista. And I was like, I don't really know what she's supposed to do about this. So I just kind of was like, okay, I think I need to get out of here. So I. I went to go leave, and he followed me outside. And I. I started to run and then he started to run, and I was like, oh, my God, what the fuck? And I like, I did like the horror movie fumble with the keys in my car, and I almost. I almost had to run him over to get away.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Jesus Christ.

[Caller Lindsay]

I mean, that was just strange. But the weirdest thing that I've seen in the coffee shop has been this past week or so. I've seen the same person three times. And they keep on peeing in the coffee shop chairs.

[Narrator]

They keep peeing in the coffee shop chairs?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Like. Like you're seeing them do it.

[Caller Lindsay]

I mean, I'm pretty sure that it's pee. It's

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

what I. Are you, like, going over there and sniffing it? Like, how do you know that it's pee?

[Caller Lindsay]

Well, this has happened three times now. Three times. A few. A few days ago I was in there. And I mean, it's just like this person. I mean, I'm 20. They look like they're probably around my age, like college age. And they always bring in this giant gaming computer. Like, it's just like a very heavy duty. Like, I don't really know that much about computers, but it's. It's like, pretty big. I wouldn't really expect that you would, like, take it out of your house. But they just go in there with headset on. They're in there for hours, just like on the game. And they, like. I don't know, I guess they just sit there for so long. I don't know if they have, like, a weak bladder or something, but I am. I suspect that they are peeing. I don't have any, I guess, real proof, but they reek of pee. Reek. And the chair is always wet when they get out.

[Narrator]

So why do you like this coffee shop?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I've only heard horrible things so far.

[Caller Lindsay]

You know what? All of my friends ask me that same exact question. And honestly, it's just like a really. It's, you know, it's really cool in there. Like, it's a cool place. It's usually pretty busy and like it's pretty cheap. And I'm in college. I don't really have that much money. It's open late, so I can go do homework whenever I want. I don't have to worry about leaving at any specific time. I mean, there are a lot of things that are good about it, but also it is prime people watching it's peak. People watching in there because there are so many characters that come in.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I mean, you got to weigh how much you like people watching with the fact that it sounds like people are also watching you.

[Caller Lindsay]

That is true. That is true. I. I feel like now I have protection. I have like. I mean, I don't really know how much pepper spray would do to a person, but.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So have you made any friends there? Have you had. You seem like you kind of mentioned a little bit that you were, you were lonely, that you just moved to this new place. Have you kind of found what you've been looking for at this coffee shop in terms of making new connections?

[Caller Lindsay]

I mean, I don't really like, I usually just kind of go to do homework, but I've met a couple of people. Sometimes it's pretty busy and there aren't really enough seats for like everyone to sit down when it like gets pretty busy. So sometimes people will come sit with me, kind of like talk to me. That's pretty nice. But honestly, the person that I feel like I've bonded with the most in the coffee shop is one of the baristas. I just like, I just got her phone number the other day and she's. She's pretty cool. But I don't know if I would ever actually ask her to hang out just because I don't even know like what to do in like the area that I'm in. But I mean, I don't really go there to make friends.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You say you don't really go there to make friends?

[Caller Lindsay]

No, I'm just kind of. I'm just gonna try to learn how to be by myself.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Why did you move to this new place?

[Caller Lindsay]

Well, I. I go here for college. This, it's my second year of college and last year what I was doing wasn't really like working for me, so I transferred to like a new City,

[Caller Nina]

which is really only an hour away

[Caller Lindsay]

from where I was at college before. And I made a lot of good friends over there. So honestly, on the weekends I just kind of drive over to where I used to go to college and hang out with my friends from there.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Okay, so are you trying to make a, like, nice place for you to be in the place that you're at so that you don't have to, you know, kind of always go home for the weekend?

[Caller Lindsay]

Not really. I mean, I'm kind of thinking about. I feel like this would make my life so much harder. Like, school wise, I'm thinking about just moving back to where I went to college last year and just commuting to school like an hour every day. I mean, the bus ride that I take now, it only takes. I mean, it takes an hour because, like, it does like a whole bunch of stops and it goes a whole bunch of places. So there's a different bus that goes between the two cities that also takes an hour. And I feel like I would much rather do that and go live with my friends from like, where I used to live than continue to live here. I don't really have that much time left in the school year, so I feel like it's kind of too late for me to try to find friends.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What are you studying?

[Caller Lindsay]

I am a product design major and I go to an art school. It's a very small, very small art school.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

So you feel like you don't have enough time left in school to even make friends?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, at least not this year. Like, no one that I would, like, consider living with. And I don't want to, like, live by myself, but I live with these roommates right now that are so bad I can't deal with them anymore.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Why?

[Caller Lindsay]

I'm just waiting for to be up. They just like. I know that this doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but they're really just so messy and I can't take it.

[Caller Nina]

Especially in the kitchen.

[Caller Lindsay]

I feel like I'm mothering. And they are also both like a decade older than me.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's the name of this coffee shop? I'm sorry, I can't really get it out of my head. It seems like a fascinating place. I really want to go there.

[Caller Lindsay]

It's called the Bitter End Coffee Shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Wait, hold on. The Bitter End? Oh, shit. Okay, I'm gonna. Okay, I'm gonna try to check this place out when I go to Grand Rapids this year.

[Caller Lindsay]

Please do leave.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

That would be Grand Rapids. Okay, well, I'VE Dude. Well, it's kind of. It's. I've never ever in my life seen. I'm looking at it on Google right now. I've never in my life seen a 24 hour coffee shop.

[Caller Lindsay]

I know. Me either. That's why I was so excited. That's why I go there so much. It really is cool in there. There's just a lot of stuff happening. A lot.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

It's housed in an old bank building.

[Caller Lindsay]

It's pretty cool in there. The interior is like really pretty sweet. They have a lot of artwork up and stuff.

[Caller Nina]

There's also this, like.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Really want to go to this place. This looks sick.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, some of the other regulars, they are this group of like seven or eight. Like I don't know where they're from, but they are like. I think that they speak Arabic. I don't really know how to like distinguish a lot of different languages. I'm not very knowledgeable with languages. But they go in there and play cards for hours every day. And on the wall there is a painting of them playing cards.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, that's awesome. Okay, I'm on R slash. I'm on our slash coffee shops. And somebody posted the Bitter End Coffee House. And the top comment is, I am a Grand Rapids native and I have been here many times. Do not recommend many, many, many things wrong with this place. You know what's funny? I feel like that's telling about me is that you were like, yeah, I went into this place and I got chased by a stranger to my car and almost died. And I'm like, oh, that sounds cool. Let's go.

[Caller Lindsay]

I mean, I don't know. I love. I mean, okay. That happened to me and I told my sister about it and then I went back the next day to do homework. It was like 12 hours later. And she was like, I can't believe you're already back in there.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Is that. I mean, have you seen that fucking guy again?

[Caller Lindsay]

No, I have not seen him. I like, told. I mean, I was kind of like in shock about what was happening while it happened. And then like, I didn't really know what to do about it. And I was like, shit. Like, I don't want this guy to chase anybody else out of here. Like that. That was scary as fuck. That's the first time anything like that's ever happened to me. And like, I guess I'm from like a smaller, like town that has like less strange people, I guess. But like, I don't know. Anyways, I went back the next day and I told the girl that was working in there like, hey, at a weird like experience last night, I don't know if you guys have like any cameras or anything that you could maybe look at. Like you could like see this guy. Like he keeps on coming up to me and stuff and maybe you could like. I don't know if you recognize him. If he ever comes in here again, maybe just let John to leave.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I don't know. I'm definitely gonna check it out. This place looks sick. The Bitter Coffee House are there. I don't even know if I've never heard of any like 247 coffee houses in the. On in the world.

[Caller Lindsay]

I. This is the first one I've ever seen.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Hit me, hit me in the comments folks, if you know any. I want to, I want to check them all out because I like a good 24 hour place. I like being, being in a place late, but. Yeah. What'd you say?

[Caller Lindsay]

Covid killed the 24 hour establishment.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Covid killed the 24 hour establishment. It's so lame. I hate fucking New York. Like advertises itself as a place that, that you can get anything and do anything all the time, but it's totally, totally not that. At least in Brooklyn it is. I mean there's some areas where it is, but the whole city. I wish there were more like 24 hour cities like that. But you know, it start. It starts, it starts with the, with having a weird coffee house. So good, good looks to Grand Rapids. Yeah.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah. I. I'm so sad about the fact that like when Covid first happened, I was in. I was just starting high school and like just kind of like starting to get a little bit more like independent where I could like go places by myself. And all I wanted was to go to like. Do you know what Meijer is?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Meijer?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, it's like, it's kind of like Walmart, but it's like just in Michigan and Ohio, but it's very popular here. I haven't heard of it, but Meijer, it's kind of, it's kind of just like Walmart. It's like any like supermarket really, but like they used to be 24 hours before COVID happened. And all I wanted was to go just like walk around in a meijer at like 4 or 5 in the morning. That was all I wanted. And now I can't do it because none of them are 24 hours anymore. Nothing. Yeah, not around here.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You know, I. When I first got my driver's license, I really wanted to just go to Target and play the. The Xbox demo kiosk, and they don't do them anymore. They don't really do the demo kiosks anymore.

[Caller Johnny]

Huh.

[Caller Lindsay]

I mean, I've never even touched an Xbox, like, in my life, so I really don't. I don't know. I've never seen anything like that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Lindsay?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

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

[Caller Lindsay]

If you think that somebody might chase you. Run, bro, run.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you very much for calling Lindsey.

[Caller Lindsay]

And carrot pepper spray, too. Yeah, that's it. Thank you so much, Gekko, for answering my. My plea. My text.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you, Lindsay. I hope that you continue to have enjoyable experiences at this coffee shop where you do not get chased by people.

[Caller Lindsay]

Thank you. I think it'll happen. I hope you have a good night, too.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Bye, Lindsay.

[Caller Lindsay]

Bye.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

The Bitter End coffee shop. Okay, when am I in Grand Rapids? I'm in Grand Rapids on the 12th of September. Tickets at therapygeckotour.com for Grand Rapids and many other shows. Okay. When I'm there, I will definitely be going to this. Hello.

[Caller Lindsay]

Hello.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

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

[Caller Johnny]

My name's Johnny.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Johnny. Johnny. Be good. What's going on, Johnny?

[Caller Johnny]

Oh, nothing much. Just chilling night before, day off, you know.

[Narrator]

The night before.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

A day off?

[Caller Johnny]

Yep.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Day off of what?

[Caller Johnny]

From work.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What do you do?

[Caller Johnny]

I work in a pharmaceutical warehouse.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You ever take some of the pills just for fun, see what they are?

[Caller Johnny]

No, because I know what they are, and I don't necessarily need them. I have thought about, like, nasal spray for my allergies, though.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, what kind of pills are they? Heart medication.

[Caller Johnny]

Oh, man. We care. We carry everything then.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Nothing. You're not. You're not, like, let me scoop a little bit of the penis stuff. Let me take some allergy medication. Let me take two allergy medications. Just get a little. Get a little loose for the shift.

[Caller Johnny]

No, that's what the after hours are for. It pays. It pays well, so I can't really, like, lose it.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What's your life like outside of the pharmaceutical warehouse?

[Caller Johnny]

Honestly?

[Caller Nina]

Pretty good.

[Caller Johnny]

Got a girlfriend going on for a little over two years, and we go and travel the world. I mean, I can't complain.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Where do you. Where do you guys be going? Where you been doing?

[Caller Johnny]

Well, I've gone to Italy on my own. I mean, recently, you know, it's still. Two years is still kind of new for me, I guess, but we've gone Mexico City trying to do Costa Rica later this year and see how that goes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, Mexico City is awesome. Wait, where in Italy did you go alone?

[Caller Johnny]

I went to Roman.

[Caller Lindsay]

Florence.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Cool, man. I studied abroad in Italy. Long time ago. Rome. Parlo un po italiano. I ate a lot of pizza. I got. I got fat. I looked at the fountain. I freaked out a little bit. I remember. I actually, you know, it's funny, I had my own, like, I went a little crazy when I was in Rome and I had like. I was listening to the Misfits on my phone and I had like a little Joker Stairs moment on the Spanish Steps, just like rocking out to punk music, you know, I'm talking about.

[Caller Johnny]

Isn't that what it's all about?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

That's what it's all about is disturbing the locals.

[Caller Johnny]

How did you. How did you feel about only having Italian food at that time, though?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

How did I feel? I. I like Italian food. I like prosciutto, I like the bakeries. I. There was. There's a moment that I remember vividly from my time there, which was I was eating with a couple, like, other kids in the program outside of this pizza shop. And this, like, this girl a little older than us, she was kind of tall and lanky and nerdy looking, and she. She just sat at our table and she was like, I. I'm here alone and I don't have anyone to eat with, so I'm going to eat with you guys. What are your names? And I was like. I was like, whoa, that's awesome. Anytime. So anytime something like that happens, I. The, the people I was with were a little taken aback. But I. Anytime, Anytime I see it, it's a very real, recognized, real type of thing. I'm like, that was a bold move. I'm inspired by it. I'm going to reward it. And so I started being like, my name is Lyle. How are you doing? What's going on? You know, start trying to. I start really. I like when I see. When I see someone reach out like that, like, you know, you're kind of putting yourself out there when you do shit like that. I always want to try to reward it. I always want to be like, I'm gonna. I want you to feel like you made the right decision coming over here. So we, you know, we talked or whatever, and I don't remember anything about the lady. I just. I only remember her doing that. And I was like, well, you can. It really stands out. I feel like in Europe they have a year maybe. I don't know if it was like the mindset that I was in at the time. I was, like, 21, and I was really. I mean, my whole, like, career is predicated on, like, talking to strangers and stuff, but I was really obsessed at that time with, like, how I could just do it naturally. Just in my personal life, like, I was obsessed with, like, weird connections I could make with folks on the train or the bus or whatever. And, like, I really. I really appreciated. I don't know, this is like, a weird spontaneity I had in my brain about, like.

[Caller Lindsay]

Like,

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

you know, whatever kind of moments you could make with people that. That you wouldn't necessarily expect. And so I was inspired by that lady. And I don't know if it was, like, the mindset I had at the time or if it's like, Europe in general, but, like, you know, there's certain places in the world where people just talk to each other, just to talk to each other, and I feel like it'll. Yeah, Italy and Europe are one of those places. Fucking. In Iraq, I noticed a lot people would come up and, like, talk to me or talk to my friend who was showing us around there just. Just because they would. I would, like. I would think I was like, is this person. They try to ask you for money or whatever? They would just be talking, like, just. Because in, like, a place like New York or la, everyone only talks to each other. If someone starts talking to you randomly, it is because they want to ask you for something. But there are a lot of. Or like, in Japan, you know, people. People never talk to you at all. But, like, there's certain places, I feel like Europe's one of them, where people just randomly talk to each other for no reason. It's kind of nice.

[Caller Johnny]

I've kind of felt that in New York, I. I go to New York, I would say, semi often, and I feel like I'm. I'm near the Bay Area in California, and I feel like what you're saying about people not talking kind of happens in New York. I've met more people out there than I have here at home, which I really enjoy. I. New York City's probably one of my favorite places.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

And where do you live now?

[Caller Johnny]

Near the Bay Area in California.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Very.

[Caller Johnny]

So by San Francisco?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Very exciting. You know, what I'm realizing is that I just went on a whole rant to you about whatever, and I never asked you if there was a particular reason why you called me today. And so I would like to take this time to do that

[Caller Johnny]

particular reason. Not really, but, I mean, I can go on about what you were talking about. And just how you can respect someone that can kind of just put themselves out there like that. Like, I respect it because in the same position that you were, I mean, I would welcome them as well. I wouldn't be able to do that myself. I'm more of a go on my own kind of person. Yeah, I guess I can say. And I think I had my revelation about that maybe a few years ago. I had like, one of my close friends pass away. And he was. He was younger than I was and kind of put into light, like, why wait for something I want to do? Because I used to ask my friends if they wanted to go on trips with me and everything, but, you know, no time, no money, blah, blah, whatever excuse. And so that was part of the reason I went to Italy. Just, why wait for other people, you know?

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, of course. Do you have any other, you know, it's fun. I also try to live my life that way. I also very much try to be like, you know, anything you could possibly conceive of wanting to do with yourself, like, don't wait to do it. Part of me wonders if that applies to everything or, like, what it might not apply to or whatever. But, like, do you have anything that you can think of on your list that you're like, shit, I don't want to wait to do that?

[Caller Lindsay]

Not necessarily.

[Caller Johnny]

I've been pretty good on getting on top of what I want to do and doing it when I want. Only thing for me is, like, I'm a big fan of baseball. So one of my things is, like, try to hit all of the baseball stadiums in America. Maybe even some international. Just. Yeah, I've knocked some down.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

I like that. How many you got left?

[Caller Johnny]

Oh, maybe like 20. There's 30 right now. There's. I need 20 more, maybe.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Do you have plans to do to see any more in the future?

[Caller Johnny]

Yeah, I haven't been to San Diego yet, so luckily the girlfriend has been nice enough to join me along with me on those trips. And she enjoys it as well, which helps out a lot. She's really got with the flow kind of person. I appreciate that.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

What are you going to do with your day off tomorrow?

[Caller Johnny]

Whole lot of nothing. That's exactly what I like to do on my days off.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Johnny?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you for calling. Thank you. Nice. Thanks for letting me rant at you. I know that.

[Caller Johnny]

Yeah, no problem.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You know, I feel like we both got a lot of stuff off our chest. This is a nice interaction.

[Caller Johnny]

I enjoyed it.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Is there anything else you want to say to the people of the computer before we go.

[Caller Johnny]

Clean out your room because you don't know if they might be infested with moths. I had that recently and it was a pain to clean out.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

You're saving a lot of people from moths. And the people appreciate it.

[Caller Johnny]

I think that's my purpose in this world.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Thank you, Johnny. Have a good rest of the night.

[Caller Johnny]

You do.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

Bye.

[Caller Nina]

Bye.

[Gekko (Podcast Host)]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jill Winterstein]

Guaranteed Human.