“MY MOM RAN AWAY TO DISNEY WORLD”

Summary

Therapy Gecko: “MY MOM RAN AWAY TO DISNEY WORLD” – Episode Summary

Release Date: March 12, 2025
Host: Therapy Gecko (iHeartPodcasts)

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Introduction

In the episode titled “MY MOM RAN AWAY TO DISNEY WORLD,” Therapy Gecko embarks on a journey to explore the intricate dynamics of familial relationships and personal struggles. Through heartfelt conversations with callers, the gecko psychologist delves into themes of abandonment, responsibility, and the quest for personal growth amidst chaos.

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Caller Logan: Navigating Teenage Heartbreak and Aspirations

Timestamp: [02:04] – [08:51]

Logan, an 18-year-old high school student, reaches out to Therapy Gecko expressing frustration over a recurring pattern in his romantic relationships. He shares that out of the five girls he has dated, four have cheated on him, each experiencing their own misfortunes shortly after ending the relationships.

Key Points:

• Recurring Betrayal: Logan discusses feeling cursed by his ex-girlfriends' subsequent misfortunes, which he perceives as karmic retribution.

  Quote:
  Logan: "I've dated like these five girls and like they've cheated on me, but like almost every time something bad, like really like karma bites them in the butt, basically."

• Emotional Impact: Despite these experiences, Logan maintains a positive outlook, focusing on personal development and future goals.

  Quote:
  Logan: "I'm living my best life right now. Going to the gym, getting my life on track."

• Future Aspirations: Logan aspires to become a traveling nurse, listing destinations like Japan, Egypt, and the Bahamas, highlighting his desire to explore the world.

Therapy Gecko’s Response:
The host offers empathy and encouragement, reassuring Logan about his bright future and advising him not to dwell too much on past relationships.

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Caller Anthony: Coping with a Mother’s Obsession and Family Turmoil

Timestamp: [09:09] – [27:12]

Anthony, a 22-year-old, shares his distress over his mother's obsession with Disney, which has led her to frequently disappear to Disney World, abandoning her responsibilities and family. His mother’s actions have left Anthony and his siblings feeling neglected and burdened with responsibilities at home.

Key Points:

• Mother’s Obsession: Anthony explains that their mother prioritizes her desire to become a Disney blogger over her family, often leaving her minor children and husband to handle household responsibilities alone.

  Quote:
  Anthony: "She wants to be, like, a blogger. A Disney blogger to, like, make white content. She wants to live stream, I guess, and be famous."

• Family Strain: The absence of their mother has caused financial and emotional strain on the family, with Anthony working multiple jobs to support his younger sister and father.

  Quote:
  Anthony: "I think about the fact that, like, as soon as all of us were legally able to work... my mom was so irresponsible with money."

• Impact on Siblings: Anthony is particularly concerned about his 17-year-old sister, who depends heavily on their mother and has developmental challenges exacerbated by the mother's absence.

  Quote:
  Anthony: "She has some mental, developmental disabilities... clung to my mom for dear life."

• Personal Struggles: Anthony grapples with the loss of familial connections and the deterioration of their living environment, including issues like hoarding left by their mother.

Therapy Gecko’s Response:
The host encourages Anthony to focus on maintaining relationships with the remaining family members and investing in his own future. Emphasis is placed on self-care and not letting the family turmoil hinder his personal growth.

Quote:
Therapy Gecko: "Just focus on salvaging the relationships that you can... Don't let them bring you down. You got a whole life ahead of you."

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Caller Joe: Reflecting on Personal Growth and Coping with Loss

Timestamp: [31:38] – [48:15]

Joe, a 24-year-old physical oceanographer, discusses his journey through grief after the loss of his mother and uncle to suicide. He reflects on his coping mechanisms, career path, and the challenges of balancing work and family life.

Key Points:

• Grief and Loss: Joe recounts the profound impact of losing his mother and uncle, which led him to question genetic predispositions versus environmental factors in mental health.

  Quote:
  Joe: "My mom had shot herself... my uncle did the same thing... What was really going on."

• Career and Stability: Transitioning from frequent relocations in his 20s to settling in Western North Carolina, Joe now enjoys more stability with a partner and a young child. He emphasizes the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with family life.

  Quote:
  Joe: "With the kid being here, you start taking jobs that you necessary... to keep the beast fed, I guess."

• Personal Growth: Joe highlights his engagement with hobbies like pottery and gardening as avenues for personal healing and fulfillment.

  Quote:
  Joe: "I like throwing pottery... starting a garden, and that's growing."

• Future Outlook: Despite past struggles, Joe expresses optimism about his current life, acknowledging the support systems that help him navigate challenges.

Therapy Gecko’s Response:
The host offers affirmations and emphasizes the importance of self-love and prioritizing one’s own well-being amidst external pressures.

Quote:
Therapy Gecko: "You have to live your own life... hold on tight to the fact that you have so much potential to make a great life for yourself beyond this."

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Insights and Conclusions

Throughout the episode, Therapy Gecko provides a compassionate ear to callers grappling with complex personal issues. The recurring themes revolve around:

• Handling Abandonment: Both Logan and Anthony deal with feelings of abandonment—Logan through romantic relationships and Anthony through familial neglect.

• Personal Responsibility vs. External Circumstances: The callers navigate the balance between taking responsibility for their own lives and the uncontrollable actions of others.

• Coping Mechanisms and Personal Growth: Emphasis is placed on finding personal outlets and focusing on self-improvement to overcome adversity.

Notable Quotes from Therapy Gecko:

• “Don't let them bring you down. You got a whole life ahead of you.” – Encouraging callers to focus on their futures.
• “You have to live your own life... don’t let us hold you back from living.” – Advising self-prioritization.
• “You hold on tight to the fact that you have so much potential to make a great life for yourself beyond this.” – Reinforcing hope and potential.

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Final Thoughts

“MY MOM RAN AWAY TO DISNEY WORLD” is a poignant episode that sheds light on the struggles of dealing with familial abandonment and the journey towards self-empowerment. Therapy Gecko adeptly navigates these sensitive conversations, offering empathy, guidance, and encouragement to those seeking solace and direction.

Transcript

[Matt]

Hi, I'm Matt.

[Leah]

And I'm Leah and we're from the.

[Matt]

Grown Up Stuff podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And just in time for tax season, on this week's episode, we're chatting with CPA Lisa Green Lewis about how small businesses can tackle their taxes using TurboTax Business.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

A Forbes study mentioned that a whopping 93% of small businesses overpay their taxes and 17% of Gen Zers believed that you could write off any expense as a business expense. So can't blame them. It's really important to do your taxes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to Grown up stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

[Nikki Glaser]

This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser Podcast. On a more serious note, I'm still thinking about that commercial with Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg hating on each other. Because when you listen to the reasons for hating someone or something, you realize just how stupid they really are. There is too much hate in this country and it's gotta stop. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out, and you can learn more by following at. What's up with Hate?

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Matt]

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[Logan]

Hey.

[Matt]

Hey there. What's your name?

[Logan]

My name's Logan.

[Matt]

Logan. How you doing, Logan? What's up?

[Logan]

This is. This is Lyle, right?

[Matt]

Yep, this is Lyle. This is me. It's weird to. It's weird to have a name. It's Weird to be alive. It's. It's too psychedelic. I've been. I've been having too many psychedelic thoughts lately. I need to return back to reality. I need to stop at stop signs and use a coupon at the grocery store and put. Put a new roll of paper towel on the. On the paper towel holder and you know, wash my hands when I go to the bathroom and get mad at a cashier. That was rude to me. Like, it just like grounding human things, you know what I mean? You know I'm talking about Logan.

[Logan]

Oh, yeah. Hey, definitely stop it. Stop signs.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Logan]

Almost got hit by a car today.

[Matt]

You almost got hit by a car today. What was that like?

[Logan]

It was. It was pretty sensational. I thought I was about to die. My flesh before my eyes would you see.

[Matt]

When your life flashed before you, your eyes.

[Logan]

Probably. Probably say. Saw the ocean. Yeah, I think I saw the ocean. It was something big and blue.

[Matt]

So you saw the ocean? Mm, pretty good. Pretty good. Well, Logan, it's okay. If not, man, we can just shoot the shit and talk, but did you have something in particular that you wanted to talk about?

[Logan]

Yeah, I wanted to call and tell you about my. My girlfriend curse.

[Matt]

Girlfriend curse?

[Logan]

Yeah. Or it's more of a curse for them, but not for me.

[Matt]

Okay, sure. What is it?

[Logan]

Yeah, so basically I've dated like these five girls and like they've cheated on me, but like almost every time something bad, like really like karma bites them in the butt, basically.

[Matt]

Okay, hold on one second. You dated five different women and they all cheated on you?

[Logan]

Yeah. Not all at once. Not all at once, but yeah, they all cheated on me.

[Matt]

There's gotta be. Hold on. How old are you?

[Logan]

I'm 18.

[Matt]

You're 18?

[Logan]

Mm.

[Matt]

Okay, you've date. And how long over the. Over the course of. How long did you date these five different women?

[Logan]

Most of the time. All their. All those relationships lasted maybe five months and then they cheated. Besides one of them.

[Matt]

Okay, I. What? This is a bizarre situate. And you're 18. You. I mean, these aren't even real. I guess these are. This is like high school stuff. None of this. This is all precursory to anything.

[Logan]

Yeah, this is high school. Yeah.

[Matt]

Okay. I mean, what I. I almost sure. I mean, what's the curse?

[Logan]

So, okay, the curses all the time, like when the girls would like date me, when I found out, like they cheated on me or something like that. Like something like bad happens to him. Like something either embarrassing or it was just something that they really like, cared about kind of like, either, like, broke or, like, something bad happened. It was just. It's crazy.

[Matt]

Okay. Yeah. I. Oh, my God. You're. You're. I mean, these aren't even. This is. This isn't even anything. I mean, where. I want to talk. I don't know why. I'm, like. I feel like you're my son or something. Do you want to talk about, like, where are you gonna go to college? What are you gonna do with your life, man?

[Logan]

Oh, yeah, I'm going to college to go become a traveling nurse. I want to explore the world.

[Matt]

Oh, that's so wonderful. A traveling nurse.

[Logan]

Mm.

[Matt]

What is a traveling nurse do they basically.

[Logan]

So they basically just. They sign contracts with different hospitals, and, like, I'm. I'm pretty sure they, like, either teach other nurses stuff or, like, they do special things. I'm not really sure exactly, but they just. They make a lot of money and they get to travel, and that's what I look for in life.

[Matt]

Cool, man. Where. Where's on your list of places to travel?

[Logan]

I want to go to Japan, Egypt, the Bahamas. They'll probably be some other places.

[Matt]

Those are all great places. I've never been to Egypt or the Bahamas, but actually, I've heard varying things about Egypt. But, you know, whatever. You got to go to these places to figure it out. Don't be too sore about the. First of all, you have a great life plan. I'm excited for you. Don't be too sore about these girls cheating on you. That's not even. I don't. Did they even cheat on you? I don't. This is. It's, like, just so not real. Like, what, did they just snap? I don't. I can't even begin to dissect this situation or even desire to call it a situation. Not to downplay your. But also a little bit to downplay your situation, because I think it's worth being downplayed. You have a much brighter future ahead of you, so I'm not worried about you at all. I'm so excited for you. To traveling nurse. That'll be good, man. That'll be good.

[Logan]

Yeah. I mean, I'm. I'm not. I'm not sad at all.

[Corn]

I'm.

[Logan]

I'm living my best life right now. Going to the gym, getting my life on track.

[Matt]

Cool, man. What do you. What are you benching these days?

[Logan]

I'm benching about, like, 1 10ish. Not. Not really doing the best. But my legs, on the other hand, I'm doing good on legs. I'm squatting like, two. I think it's like, 240, 260, something like that.

[Matt]

Cool, man. Cool. Well, well. All right, man. Look, you. I'm gonna. I'm gonna let the lines clear for, you know. There's people out there who, you know, are in deep pain and suffering. We want to talk to them. No, I'm just kidding. But you're going to be okay. You're going to be okay. Is there anything else you want to say to the people, the computer, before we go?

[Logan]

Yeah, you guys, don't let a. Don't let your girlfriend or your boyfriend cheat on you. Something like that. Don't let them bring you down. You got a whole, whole life ahead of you. Experiences beautiful love. You all.

[Matt]

All right, Take care, man.

[Logan]

Thank you.

[Matt]

Hey, what's your name?

[Anthony]

Hey, let's say my name is Corn.

[Matt]

Corn. What's up, Corn? How you doing? What's going on?

[Anthony]

Doing okay. Okay. Today. It's a beautiful day outside.

[Matt]

It is. It's a nice day outside. It's a nice day outside. What? Did you go out? Did you do anything today?

[Anthony]

Not really. I mean, everyone else is going out. The windows are open, though, and the sun is shining, so it's a good day, I think.

[Matt]

Corin, is there anything in particular that you wanted to talk about today?

[Anthony]

Yes. My mother is a wannabe Disney influencer.

[Matt]

Ooh, continue.

[Anthony]

Yes. So she kind of, like, prioritizes her own happiness and, like, Disney above, like, anything else, including her. Her children, one of which is still a child, is still a minor, but we. She. The first time she kind of ran away to Disney, she wouldn't answer our phone calls or text and like, locked me, my dad, and my sister so she would stop getting calls from us.

[Matt]

She. She's just at Disney alone.

[Anthony]

She wants. She wants to be, like, a blogger. A blogger. A Disney blogger to, like, make white content. You know what I mean?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Anthony]

She wants to, like, live stream, I guess, and be famous.

[Matt]

Okay. Wow. How old are you? How old are you? And it's like the You. And how old is your brother or sister?

[Anthony]

I am 22. My middle sister, she takes with her is 19. And then my. Our youngest sister is 17.

[Matt]

So you have. So. Oh, it's. Wait, you said your mom takes your. Your sister with you with her?

[Anthony]

She takes the middle sister with her.

[Matt]

Oh.

[Anthony]

But just her.

[Matt]

Are you. Are you. Why don't you. Do you not want to go with her?

[Anthony]

No. She never asks or invites us. She never really tells me anything or anyone anything anymore. She kind of just does whatever she wants without any like, consequence because yeah, she can.

[Matt]

Yeah, your mom's off. Your mom's gone off the deep end.

[Anthony]

Oh yeah, she also, let's see here. She had, we had gambling issues. Oh man. She decided to adopt some or not adopt by a bunch of dogs after her mom died. And so right now her like entire life is Disney and these dogs, which kind of sucks because like, you know, like, I, I don't live at home anymore, but she really doesn't really reach out or anything like that. It's all about the dogs and Disney.

[Matt]

Yeah, that fucking sucks, man. Cuz I, it's, it's weird. It's hard with you when, when, when you have a thing like this with your parents. Like, have you, have you had a con? Have you like sat her down for a conversation and been like, listen, I'm trying to have you in my life and you just keep running away to Disney World.

[Anthony]

Yeah, basically we have. I, I remember, you know, like calling her and like, basically like crying, being like, why, why are you doing this? Like, we, my, my sister who's, who's still, who's 17, she was like 60 at the first time she did. She was like 15 or 14. And she was just, and she was, we're just like upset because she's not answering the calls and ignoring all of us. And I, I remember I was crying. I'm like, mom, why aren't you answering? Why do you care more about Disney and then us? You just left all your responsibilities at home. What about your, your dogs? Just abandoned them and forced our father to take care of them when she, when he has a full time job he has to do on top of everything.

[Matt]

Or are you guys like, Are you guys in Florida or is she like taking no plane trips?

[Anthony]

No, she's driving.

[Matt]

Where, what state are you in?

[Anthony]

We're in New Jersey.

[Matt]

She fucking is driving. She's driving. How often is she driving down to Florida to become a Disney blog person?

[Anthony]

Okay, well, right now she has a stupid thing called a job that, so she can't like take as much time off as she wants to spend in Disney, but she needs a job to pay for Disney so she has to work, unfortunately. So sad. So, so sad. Okay, but she goes. She used to. The, the longest she was there was maybe six weeks once. And then she went, she goes maybe about three times a year at least.

[Matt]

So what? I mean, what's up with, what's up with you? What are you doing? Are you like in school or something?

[Anthony]

No, I worked. I've Worked, like, ever since I was, like, legally able to. Actually, I was. I was kind of thinking about that recently. I feel like it's kind of, like, sad that, like, my sister, who's 17 right now, she has two jobs right now. And then my other sister, who's 19, she has a job too. And I'm just like. I think about the fact that, like, as soon as all of us were legally able to work, even though we're not. We're not, like, struggling, we were never, like, my dad had a good job, but just my mom was so irresponsible with money. It just, like, never. Never felt like we had any money. So now I'm trying to make sure my sister, who's 17, doesn't fall into the same trap I did where I gave up most of my. My high school years to working and didn't do anything fun socially.

[Matt]

Well, what do you. I mean, what do you. Do you have dreams for the future, moving forward?

[Anthony]

Yeah, I mean, like, I want to do things. Like, I have goals and aspirations, but, like, bottom line is I really miss my family. I miss having. They don't. They don't even live that. My family home is 20 minutes, 15 minutes away, but I can't do that. I can't even go see them.

[Matt]

And. And you can't. You can't get. You can't rally your mom or your dad or your siblings to always try get to go to therapy or something like that, can you?

[Anthony]

She claims that this is good for her anxiety or something. Like, this is. We all stress her out and we. And this is for her mental health. And I'm like, I always tell her, what about my mental health and your other daughter's mental health and our father's mental health who, you know, we're all miserable because, like, first of all, I. When she's not my dad, he works in. In the city, and, you know, someone, he. He has.

[Matt]

He.

[Anthony]

He gets to work from home most of the time, but he has a hybrid schedule. So there were times when, like, I had to literally take off of my job that I need to support myself so she can go take. Take my sister to school because my dad had to go into the office and like, the mat. Like, I don't. I don't want to know how much money, but I. I bet it's tens of thousands of dollars in the past couple years. Yeah.

[Matt]

You know, listen, here's the thing, and I'm. I'm just gonna give it to you straight. Is the. This, this. This. Is this what's your name again?

[Anthony]

Let's go with corn.

[Matt]

Corn. Oh, yeah, Corn. Corn. Look, I'm gonna tell you something. I, I, I'm, I, I don't know. I'm not a family therapist. I'm fucking a dumb little boy. And, you know, I can only tell you things that are, how I would operate if I was in your situation. There's a weird natural, I guess, unraveling of, of, of things as you get older, I suppose, of like, friend groups and, and family, you know, and, and, and sometimes it's like, I don't know, at this point, if you've rallied everyone together, if you can still, if you can keep a good. It sounds like your mom has gone off the deep end, but, like, if you can keep a good relationship going with your sisters, like, I would just focus on that. I would just focus on, like, rallying the troops that want to stay on board. Because if your mom is going to Disney World and she doesn't give a, like a. First of all, I'm really, really sorry to hear that because that's just sucks. But, like, you know, who's left? Like, who, who can you rally that's left? How can you stay in touch with your siblings? How can you, you know, let your siblings know that you're still there for them? How can you, you know, you know, keep doing dinners, keep going to their house? Like, just if you want your family back, like, you know, stay. Try to have a positive relationship. Because I'm sure that your sis. You're maybe not the one, the one that is being dragged along to Disney. I actually can't tell if she likes your mom more or hates her more than the people who client.

[Anthony]

But, like, the thing is, is, like, she has, like, she, she has, like, some mental, developmental disabilities, okay? And she's like. And she, like, is clung to my mom for dear life, okay? I told her, like, I, I told her, like, listen, mom, like, I don't mean, like, she's always had issues. She was physically violent to me as children, okay? And I always was like, mom, you have to do something before it's too late. When she turns 18, you cannot force her anymore. You have to do this. She's like, oh, no. And then next thing you know, after she turns 18, she's calmly complaining, your sister's a monster. She's doing all this stuff. I'm like, you made her a monster. You made her that way. And she won't, she doesn't want to. She's in great denial about it. She's in Denial about everything. There's never a problem. It's always us being a problem. We stress her out because of me crying to her, that stresses her out. So she needs to stay longer in Florida.

[Matt]

What about, what about your, what about your younger sister?

[Anthony]

Like, her track, she's, she's good. I mean right now she's doing really good in school. I'm really proud of her actually. But like the issue is that my mom also is she's also a hoarder. So all that's, there's no, I can't really go to the house really and hang out with them.

[Matt]

Here's the thing is I, I, I, here's what I'll say and you should, you should really go talk to a real therapist about this because I'm not.

[Anthony]

I, yeah, I know.

[Matt]

I, I, look is here, here are just two things I will say from just my perspective on the situation is a Try your best to. It sounds like the, the younger sister. I mean, I don't know what's up with your dad. I don't know if your dad is just kind of in quiet.

[Anthony]

My dad's miserable, okay? Yeah, he's, he's miserable. There's no love in their relationship, but she won't leave and he can't legally kick her out. And my dad's basically just trying to hope, at least until my sister graduates high school and she can go off to college and then hope do something because right now there's no real option.

[Matt]

Okay, so here's what I, here's what, here's what I'll say is like the, the, the family members that have not jumped ship into whatever, like whoever's left that you can have a relationship with. Try your best to have a relationship with them. Like it sounds like you're the sister that's still in high school. It sounds like you can continue to have a good relationship with her. It sounds like you can continue to have a good relationship with your dad. Try your best to do those things and then for the remainder of time, like if you need to like chill on hanging on scene. If you, because this situation, you sound like it's driving you fucking mad and you have a life, dude, you're only, you're 22. You, you can fucking go. You're 22. You're a hard working person. Okay? Corn. You're a hard working person. You've been working your entire fucking life. You're a young person. You, you have so you hold on. You have so much potential to fucking go out on you. You Live with. You live alone. You live. You. You left the house, right?

[Anthony]

Yeah, I left the house. Yeah.

[Matt]

Okay. Do you live by yourself? You live with roommates?

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Do you live by yourself? Do you live with roommates?

[Anthony]

With roommates. Roommates. Sorry.

[Matt]

You live with roommates? You. Fuck it. You. Look, you. You had enough initiative coming from this crazy situation to work your way so that you're out of the house, independent, on your own, I assume, paying your own bills and shit. You. And for the rest of your fucking life, you just have the work ethic. You have the fuck like you. You just for whatever fucking craziness you came from, right? Like, just hold. Hold tight on the fact that the rest you have the potential to just make a fucking great life for yourself beyond this. Yeah. So just do me it. So just do me. Do me a favor. And I know that you're trying really hard to keep your family together and you should keep your relationship going with the people who you really desire to keep a relationship going. And I also know, and I'm talking out of my ass and I have no idea what I'm doing, but you just. I know it's painful. I know it's so fucking painful to like be a part of this and I know it's going to take a while to get over that pain and to fucking feel that pain. But just on the other side of that pain is a great life. One day you'll. You'll fucking meet some. Someone, right? And you'll eventually have kids and you'll. You'll be able to have the agency to make a household that's not as fucking crazy as the one that you grew up in. And you'll be able to. You have. Have friends like you just. Just don't. I just. The worst thing from my perspective that could happen in this situation is that you spend so much time trying to fix this thing with, with your mom that is. Is unfortunately a lot of it is out of your control. Because if your mom is crazy, your mom is crazy and that's her own battle and you've done it sounds to me like everything. You've done everything you can to get the family back together. But I would just hate if you, after spending so much time doing that were doing it, it were now in. In active neglect of. Of your own life's potential. So again, if I were you, just salvage the relationships that you salvage and invest in the relationships that you can with your sister, with your dad, with your mom, if she comes around, with your other sister, if she comes around. But don't. But focus. Take your focus away from. My mom is crazy. And this is the.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Your focal point of my life. And just. And just move it and. Good. And just like, bring it forward to, like, what. What's going on in Corn's life, you know?

[Anthony]

Yeah. My dad always tells me that you need, like, as much as you care about me and your sisters, you have to live your own life. You can't let us hold you back from living. And I know it's the truth, and it's. I hate to have to come to terms with it, but it's the truth. And I. I can't keep. I can't grow if I'm. I'm stuck worrying about them. That's an issue I have. I worry about a lot of people.

[Matt]

And here's the. And here's. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I. I have. I have a good support system. I think it's just like, you know, just like. As an adult, I've come to realize these patterns that my mom and behavior, they're not new. They've always been like this. They're just like. I notice it more because I'm more self aware. You know, My mom had me be. It was. I was a child model. And like, I never saw a penny of that. And like. And I didn't realize it at the time, but one time my mom tried to try, told me that $500 is more than $800. She can spend 300 on jewelry.

[Matt]

Listen, again, I. I would. Corn. Listen, Corin, again, I'm sorry, though. You should probably go talk to a real therapist about all this stuff too. But again, what I really have to say is, like, hold down sight on your own fucking life. Okay? Try to have some. Within the craziness. Hold on tight to the hope that you're gonna have a. You're gonna have a great life. You're gonna rate you. If. If it's what you want. I don't know if it's what you want, but if. If one day it's what you want to have your own family and whatnot, you know, you can do that. You can live a great life. And if you do decide that you want to have a family in the future, you can take their asses to Universal Studios because it's. It's much better anyway.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Corn? Yeah.

[Anthony]

I mean, you're right.

[Matt]

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

[Anthony]

I'm trying to think here. I don't know. I mean, Is there any, like, anyone, anyone have a question or anything like that in the chat or I can answer? I just, you know, it, it's just really, I, I know I have to love. I love myself more and put myself above all.

[Matt]

Good, that's what you should do.

[Anthony]

But I just have to accept that part. That's the hard part I can't accept is that, you know, I need to stop loving others more than myself.

[Matt]

Good luck. Good luck. Korn. Just again, I, I'll say it for the 500, for the, you know, I don't know how long I've been ranting, but just try, try, try, try beyond the craziness to find a, a good path forward for your own life. Okay? And just try to focus on that shit.

[Anthony]

I will, I will. I really appreciate it.

[Matt]

All right, take care. Corn. Bye bye.

[Anthony]

Thank you. Bye bye.

[Matt]

I truly do believe that the, the rides at Universal Studios are a lot better. What does Universal Studios have? Well, first of all, Universal Studios have the Mario ride, which is good actually, but I didn't like the Mario ride that much. Here's the problem with the Mario ride is that it was a shooting ride and it was a 3D ride, but it also had like physical sets, you know, so like there was too much going on and I like, occasionally I would like take my 3D glasses off and have to look around at the physical sets. You know what, maybe I'll have a family and abandon them and become a Universal Studios blogger. That actually, that sounds kind of fun.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

This is Ashley Iconetti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. You could have lost 10 pounds already if you already started one month ago. So are you ready to start today? Find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just 3 minutes at tryfh.com try fh.com try fh.Com results vary based on start weight and adherence to diet, exercise and program goals. Database on independent studies sponsored by Future Health. Future Health is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion.

[Matt]

Hi, I'm Matt.

[Leah]

And I'm Leah and we're from the.

[Matt]

Grown Up Stuff podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And just in time for tax season. On this week's episode, we're chatting with CPA Lisa Green Lewis about how small businesses can tackle their taxes using TurboTax Business.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

A Forbes study mentioned that a whopping 93% of small businesses overpay their taxes and 17% of Gen Zers believed that you could write off any expense as a business expense.

[Matt]

So can't blame them.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

It's really important to do your taxes right.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to grown up stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

[Leah]

It's tax season and by now. I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to hear. $16.5 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Here's another 20%. That's the overall increase in identity theft related to tax fraud in 2024 alone. But it's not all grim news. Here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points Lifelock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it. Backed by another good number, the million dollar protection plan. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock identity theft protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Stock up sale is on now, which means you can save big on all your favorite essentials throughout the store. Stock up on participating items and earn four times points to redeem for your discounts on groceries or gas. Now through March 25th. Saved by shopping in store or online for participating items from your favorite brands like Pampers, Dove, Band Aid, Playtex and Premier protein. Offer ends March 25. Promotions may vary, restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Matt]

Hello.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Matt]

Hey, what's your name?

[Joe]

Anthony.

[Matt]

Anthony. What's up, Anthony? How you doing?

[Joe]

Good, how are you, man?

[Matt]

I'm alright, man. I'm hanging in there. I'm trying my best. No, but I'm figuring it out, you know.

[Joe]

What's wrong? What's wrong, Dick?

[Matt]

Oh God. I don't wanna. Look, man, here's the thing. I'm. I'm. I'm just not interested in farting out diarrhea of my life any. And in this very moment, in this very moment, I would prefer actually for you to diarrhea the what's going on in your life. So please diarrhea into my ears.

[Joe]

I mean I honestly didn't expect to get on here. So yeah, I had a topic to talk about. Not really necessarily about my life. I don't know if you Want to hear about it?

[Matt]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Joe]

I mean, yeah, I'm kind of. I've been interested in bitcoin for a while. That's something that interests you?

[Matt]

Sure, man. We can talk about.

[Joe]

Do you think it's.

[Corn]

What's your.

[Joe]

What's your opinion on it? I'm sorry, do you care.

[Matt]

Do you care at all? Do I care at all about bitcoin?

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Do I care at all about bitcoin?

[Joe]

What do you think? Yeah, what do you think about it?

[Matt]

Do I care at all about bitcoin? It's a thing. I don't know. I. Does it do it. Does it do anything? Can you use it?

[Joe]

Like, can you figure. You're saying. Can you spend it at a store?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Joe]

On Amazon or something?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Joe]

No, can't spend on Amazon quite yet.

[Matt]

Okay. Do you. I. Do you care about bitcoin?

[Joe]

I do. I do. Yeah.

[Matt]

Tell me. Tell me why you care about it. Fuck me.

[Joe]

I mean, I'll tell you my. My story.

[Matt]

Tell me your story. Tell me your story.

[Joe]

Okay. Well, you know, so since I was 18, like in. In high school, I was always interested in, like, I got interested in like, the stock market and stuff. You know what I mean? So, like, that interest me. I'll start learning about investing and then kind of go into, like. This was pre covered. So, like, pre covered investing was different, I'd say, right? Like, you learn about investing and you're like, oh, dividend stocks. Oh, you can make $0.03 per share if you buy, I don't know, Coke or Pepsi or something. This is sounding boring. Sorry, this is. This isn't very entertaining, I guess.

[Matt]

Listen, man, I'm here to. I. I am here to listen to you talk, so. Dear God, just go ahead.

[Corn]

All right.

[Joe]

Yeah. So, you know, started investing into, like, dividend stocks. And I'm like, okay, this is going, you know, I start to build up a little bit of a position, get a couple like a thousand or $2,000. I'm 18 at the time, so, like, I'm, you know, I'm young, so I'm, you know, a couple thousand is pretty good for me, I guess. And then covet, hit. And like, I started learning about real estate too. I start learning about all that kind of stuff, like how the market works and how all of this happens and all this stuff. But then Covid kind of changed everything for me. In my, like, life perspective, I'd say I. As it did for everybody. Because, like, when you're working hard for your money and then the government can just print 12 like, $1200 to everybody. That really changes my mindset. And like, I don't know, I'm on more of like a investing side of the Internet. So, like, you see the Fed chairman go out and say, oh, yeah, we have unlimited cash to hand out to people that need money. Well, it's like, well, I work for my money. I don't. I don't. We don't have money printers. We can't just print money. So, yeah, I started looking into money. I'm like, this. This whole. And then I started doing research, and then you find out, like, okay, well, they say the stimulus check isn't going to cause inflation, but you know for a fact it is. And then Jerome Powell and all of these people say, oh, no, inflation, that's not going to happen. And then inflation happens. And they're like, okay, well, inflation is transitory. And then, well, you're like, well, you're lying, because this is a lot of money and inflation isn't transitory. It's going to keep happening for years.

[Matt]

Okay, you know what? You know what? You know what? You know what? You are. You're right. This is getting a little boring. Yeah, I kind of figured that's okay. But.

[Joe]

But anyways.

[Matt]

What do you want to do with all your money, man? What do you want to do with it? What's the point? What's the goal?

[Joe]

What do I want to. So basically a lot of people. So my perspective is that bitcoin is the new revolution, the new money of the world. I think it is the best invention to ever, you know, one of the best inventions ever created. I think the story of bitcoin is very interesting, I think. Yeah. And I think a lot when I talk to people about it, it's either something like this, you know, it's boring, my story's boring about it, whatever, or it's a scam, or, you know, and it's like, how do I go about talking to people about bitcoin, you know, in an. In a better fashion.

[Matt]

Listen, man, how old are you?

[Joe]

24.

[Matt]

24. And you wanna. What do you want to do with all your. Because here's. Here's. Let me tell you something. One day. One day you're gonna have a million dollars, right?

[Joe]

You think so?

[Matt]

Yeah. One day you're gonna have a million dollars. What are you gonna do with it? You know? What are you gonna. Is it gonna. What are you gonna do? You want a Lambo? You want to fucking do nothing? What do you want to. What do you want to do?

[Joe]

You know I just want to take care of my future family and stuff. Nothing crazy, probably.

[Matt]

That's pretty good. That's pretty good. All right.

[Joe]

Well, very boring. I'm not. I'm not really interesting. I mean, it's not the.

[Matt]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, man. Why. Why don't. We don't need to. We're just talking. We don't need to be talking. And also having. Hitting ourselves with. With judgment calls as to whether or not we're interesting or boring or, you know, we don't have.

[Anthony]

Well, I mean.

[Matt]

I was being funny. I mean, also, it is kind of boring. But. But we. We. But we can withhold our judgment calls on ourselves. Okay? And I'm not saying. Hold on. Sure, the conversation that we were having was boring, but we don't. But you. I'm not. I would never say that. You are a boring person. You are not an interesting person. As you. As a human being, your essence. I would never say that, and I wouldn't want you to say that about yourself. You know, we're just talking. I mean, we could talk about a billion different things. I'm not. But I don't want you to walk away from this conversation thinking that you yourself are not. Are inherently not interesting. Even if I. Look, I like talking about stocks and things. You know, maybe it's. Maybe. But. But in. In this very moment, perhaps I am not that interesting. Perhaps you are not that interesting in this very moment. But we've lived long lives. We're gonna keep living long lives. We'll be. Will be more things at more moments. We don't have to fucking say that we're one thing forever and in the future and forever in the past. You know what I mean? So, yeah, that's. That's. That's. That's my takeaway from this conversation about Bitcoin says don't beat you. Don't beat yourself up about it, man. You're plenty interesting. You're a human being alive on the earth. You're. The fact that you are. Are a conscious being is. Is an insane thing. So just keep being that. And you're inherently interesting, and whatever you do on top of that is interesting.

[Joe]

You know, again, I think you're just. I really. To be honest, I think you're just saying a bunch of words to get me off the call. I think that's where this is going event.

[Matt]

Well, yeah, eventually, yeah, we'll have to end the call, But. But do you think. I don't mean the things I'm saying to you right now?

[Joe]

I mean, not necessarily. No. Honestly, no.

[Matt]

You mean, you know, as in you believe. No, as in you think I don't believe them and. No, as in you.

[Joe]

I don't think you're. I don't think you believe the words that you say.

[Matt]

Well, you know what? I do right now, and if you. If you don't want to. If you don't want to believe them, that's on you. But I believe them.

[Joe]

Okay.

[Matt]

All right, man. What's. What's your name again?

[Joe]

Anthony.

[Matt]

Anthony. Anthony. I sincerely hope.

[Joe]

Are you religious?

[Matt]

No, I'm not. I'm not religious, really.

[Joe]

Why?

[Matt]

I don't know. I grew up a little religious. Are you religious?

[Joe]

Recently, I. I've been getting religious, yeah.

[Matt]

Way into Jesus.

[Joe]

Yeah, I've actually. Actually just got baptized on Sunday, so.

[Matt]

Well, good, actually. Good man. I. Listen, here's the thing is I. I was again, on here.

[Joe]

Do you talk about it on here?

[Matt]

Do I talk about what on here?

[Joe]

Religion.

[Matt]

So sometimes. Sometimes. Okay, I. Genuine. And you know what? All right, this is the last thing I'm gonna say, because I. You. I believe these things I'm saying, and I'm gonna say them to you in finality. I genuinely believe you're gonna make a million dollars. Jesus is gonna guide you. You think I'm fucking lying to you? I'm being 100% serious. You're gonna make a million dollars. You're gonna find a beautiful wife. You're gonna have children. You're gonna long forget when you're like 45 years old and you have a beautiful wife and children and you're taking them to church and you have a bunch of money. You. It'll have been 20 years since you even ever thought about this phone call. And you're gonna be. I don't. I don't know what I'm gonna be doing, but I just know in my gut you're gonna be living a happy and nice life. And you think I'm just saying. And you think I'm just saying this to you to get you off the phone. I'm gonna get you off the phone just because I am. But you. But you think I'm fucking bullshitting you. And I. I mean what I'm saying 100%.

[Joe]

Okay? I'm. I don't. I don't. I don't think I'm. Look, I started getting into Bitcoin because of the money. I don't. I think it's bigger than just the money. I think it's about the whole system of government, you know, people you know, on the left, they say it's because of capitalism. You know, I don't. I think that the fiat currency system is the problem. So, like, when you say, oh, I'm gonna make a million dollars, I don't really have that exact perspective. You know what I mean? Like, I don't look at the world through a dollar perspective, if that makes sense.

[Matt]

It does make sense.

[Joe]

That. That sounds corny, but.

[Matt]

No, you look at. I get it. I get it. You think in terms of value now, not in terms of dollars. Right?

[Joe]

Because of. Because of.

[Matt]

I understand, but. But you're. Hold on. You're getting lot, but you're getting lost in the semantics. You will have a million. You will have whatever the equivalent of a million dollars is and for. But it's not going to matter. What's going to matter is you're going to have a wife and children and Jesus, and that's going to guide you through this insane experience of being alive. And that's. That's what I have to say to you. And I'm. I'm extremely happy for you. I think you're gonna be. I think you're gonna fucking blow it out of the water. And you really do think I'm being facetious right now. And I just swear on my child's life that I'm not.

[Joe]

Don't. Don't swear on your child.

[Matt]

I know I'm swearing on my first child's life. I'm not being facetious about any of the things I'm saying to you. I think you're gonna have a good life because you're guided, but you seem sane. I mean that in my God. That's how I feel. As you feel. You see?

[Joe]

Yeah. We're gonna end the call, but I really. Last thing I'm gonna say, okay. Is it's about, you know, religion and Jesus. And if you're. You care about the truth in life, you know, you want truth. I would say really historic, from historical evidence. You know, ask yourself these questions.

[Matt]

There's no true. Anthony. That there's no fucking truth. There's your truth. There's my truth. There's 8 billion truths.

[Joe]

That's not the perspective I have. But I'm a. Leave.

[Matt]

Exactly. No, exactly. That's what. Hold on. What you. Anthony, what you just said proves my point. That is not the perspective that you have. We have two different perspectives. We have two different truths.

[Joe]

That's not necessary because. Okay, say you don't believe in God and I do. And Jesus is real. And God is real. And you think that when you die, you just go into the ground and you become fertilizer, but that's not true. There is one truth. You know what I mean? Do you see what I'm saying?

[Matt]

Look. Right. The sky is blue, but if I say it's green, that's my vote in reality. And reality is kind of reality. What is truth?

[Joe]

Truth is what the truth is. It's the. It's the facts.

[Matt]

God, you're gonna have such an awesome life. I really believe that. You're gonna have such an awesome life.

[Joe]

If you.

[Matt]

I really believe I was green.

[Joe]

That's not true.

[Matt]

You're gonna have an awesome life for multiple. I. I just. You're gonna have an awesome life for multiple reasons. Is one, you're gonna find some other super Christian lady, and you guys are going to start a Christian household. Your life is going to have direction to it, guided by Jesus and God. You're going to raise Christian children. You're going to get involved in the church community. You're going to make smart financial decisions and be able to send your kids to. You're going to have a great life, Anthony.

[Joe]

Dude, I appreciate that. I believe you're going to have a great life.

[Matt]

I don't know what. I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I know you're going to have a great life. And I fully. And we. I. You have your own truth. That's what's exciting to me about your life, is that you have your own truth. I have my. I'm sort of searching for a little. For some version of truth right now, but you have your own truth. That's great. I'm excited for you. And I swear on. On the future of. Of not only America, but also of the. The. The uae. I swear on the future of the. Of. Of Saint Lucia. I swear on the future of the state of Montana, and I swear on my cousin's life that you're gonna have a great life, because I believe in it so heavily and you think I'm being facetious, but I'm not.

[Joe]

Awesome.

[Matt]

I was not. You know what? Yeah, go ahead. You have. All right, go ahead. You have something else.

[Joe]

Well, I was just gonna go back to the three questions.

[Matt]

I'm not gonna. I'm gonna end it before you get into the three questions, but I. Because we're going to go in circles. But, Anthony, I love you so much.

[Joe]

I'm literally going to.

[Matt]

Anthony, I love you so much. You're going to have a Great life. And I will see you. Hopefully. Hopefully. Anthony, if there is one truth. If there is. Anthony. Anthony, shut the fuck up. Anthony, if there's one truth. Anthony, shut up for a second. I hope there is one truth and that I see you in heaven and I will talk to you around. I will actually, I'll probably never talk to you again, but I think you will have an awesome life and I love you very much and I'll see you around. Hopefully we will. I'll see you in heaven. Okay, I'm going to hang up on you. Bye. That was Anthony. I know we're going to get. I've hold on a few things to clear up. I know we're going to get a ton of negative comments about Anthony and I. And I will defend him against all of those negative comments because I believed it deeply in what I said to him just now. I believe he's gonna have a good life. He's gonna raise nice children. He'll never unders. I don't think. Can I say, Can I share something? Maybe it's a little bit depressing, but I saw a comment on the Internet, which is where I go to receive all of my best information. Saw a comment on Reddit. If ignorance is bliss, is clarity, misery. I think. I don't want to say that Anthony is ignorant. I actually take that back, but I don't. I think in Anthony's belief, he finds meaning and happiness. And I. I think he's going to have a good life because of that. And I think that because he's gonna. He. I think he'll be. I just think he'll be okay. I. I mean, everything I said. I even. And I. And I swear that I mean everything I said on the state of Montana and on the UAE and on. Yeah, he'll be fine. He'll be fine. You'll be fine. Go. If you're thinking about writing some fucking comment, you can. But you'll be fine. And he'll be fine. And everything will be fine.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

This is Ashley Aetti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. You could have lost 10 pounds already if you already started one month ago. So are you ready to start today? Find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just 3 minutes at try fh.com try fh.com try fH.com results vary based on start weight and adherence to diet, exercise and program goals. Database on independent studies sponsored by Future Health. Future Health is not a healthcare service provider. Meds are prescribed at provider's discretion.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hi, I'M Matt.

[Leah]

And I'm Leah and we're from the.

[Matt]

Grown Up Stuff Podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And just in time for tax season. On this week's episode, we're chatting with CPA Lisa Green Lewis about how small businesses can tackle their taxes using TurboTax Business.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

A Forbes study mentioned that a whopping 93% of small businesses overpay their taxes and 17% of Gen Zers believed that you could write off any expense as a business expense.

[Matt]

So can't blame them.

[Lisa Green Lewis]

It's really important to do your taxes right.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to Grown up stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Spring is here, which means it's time to do some spring cleaning because a clean home is a happy home. Now through March 25th. Shop in store or online and get great savings on all your spring cleaning essentials like Windex Glass Cleaner, Lysol Disinfectant, Spray Scrubbing Bubbles, Bathroom cleaner and Febreze Fabric Refresher. Hurry in before those deals are gone. Offer ends March 25. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

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[Matt]

Joe hello.

[Corn]

Hey man, how are you?

[Matt]

Hey, what's up man? I'm okay, man. How are you?

[Corn]

Good. I'm actually working from home today.

[Matt]

Very nice. What do you do?

[Corn]

I trained as a as a physical oceanographer.

[Matt]

Hey what? Say that one more time.

[Corn]

A physical oceanographer. So I do physics.

[Matt]

Physical oceanographer Wow.

[Corn]

I don't, I don't, I don't do like dolphins or whales or any of that stuff, but just, you know, how currents move around the ocean.

[Matt]

Wow. How currents move around the ocean. Is that exciting stuff?

[Corn]

It can be if you want to know where trash is going or if you're a. I suppose if you're a government and you want to sue another government for polluting your water, it could be exciting. But yeah, it's cool.

[Matt]

Very nice, very nice. Josh, you said Joe. Joe.

[Corn]

You can call me Josh. But I'm Joe.

[Matt]

That's very sweet that I can call you that if I want. Joe, is there anything in particular that you want to talk about today?

[Corn]

Not much, actually. Wasn't even expecting to get through. It's been, I don't know, an easy day. Figured be fun just to shoot the ship. Saw your streaming and. So you just got back from Japan and I did. Welcome back to the States, I guess.

[Matt]

Thanks, buddy. Well, let's see, let's see, let's see. What get. What gives you meaning in life, Joe? Why do you wake up in the morning and do anything?

[Corn]

Well, these days I just had. It feels like just yesterday, but I've got a two year old at home now.

[Matt]

Oh, nice.

[Corn]

That's. That's quite bizarre. You know, I, I think about a year ago I had, I had been reaching out to you, been processing a lot. You know, you have a kid and suddenly everything feels like it changes in terms of priorities.

[Matt]

Yeah, yeah, tell me about that, what you do.

[Corn]

And it's like so more often these days it's you get up and you do this, you do your job because, well, you have to, not necessarily because you like it. I felt like in my 20s I could just kind of around and if I didn't make money, it was just me, you know, it wasn't really high, high stakes. You know, now there's a, there's a, A being that actually depends on me. So it's, you know, sometimes you put up with more things that, than, than you probably would have when it was just you. Yeah. But no, this. Having so God damn like 10 years ago. What year is this? 20, 25. 15 years ago. Holy. 15 years ago when I started studying oceanography, my mom had died and you know, I kind of went into this phase of just kind of like putting my head down and doing work. And then it was more trying to travel and you know, kind of figure out what, what the hell this whole thing is that I'm living and I don't Know, I can't believe, well, I can't even believe 15 years has gone by to get to this point. But I moved around a lot, like basically every two years. Went to another state, tried another job. You know, I just really. The partner got pregnant and we had.

[Matt]

To figure out, oh, sorry, you cut, you cut out after you said that you moved states every two years.

[Corn]

Oh, yeah, no, so it's just after a while of doing that, my partner got pregnant and. And we had to figure out how we were going to accommodate, you know, another person. We had been living like in a little 500 square foot apartment with a dog and a cat already. It was, I don't know, it just didn't seem like it was going to be a nice, comfortable space to have a family. And so we ended up moving to a very rural area. This is not like a lot to do, but I don't know, it just opened up some opportunities since folks were getting more comfortable with like remote work. Started working for myself and just doing consulting and other things on the side and eventually became enough to keep it going. But, but now, you know, with, with the kid being here, it's. You start taking jobs that you necessary. You know, years ago I would have turned down, but now you just kind of do them because, well, it's work. Not necessarily supposed to enjoy it, but you need to keep the, you know, keep the beast fed, I guess.

[Matt]

Right, right, right, right.

[Corn]

Yeah.

[Matt]

I mean, how, how old are you now?

[Corn]

I am 34.

[Matt]

And how do you feel about life compared to when you were in your 20s? Do you feel better about it? Do you feel worse about it? Feel different about it?

[Corn]

Way better, Way better. I mean, I was just, I don't know, shoving a lot of down in, in my 20s. And it is just like, I think the moving was just like running constantly, just not really wanting to process deaths in my family and all that.

[Matt]

Yeah. What, what do you feel like you were running from? I suppose.

[Corn]

Well, so, I mean, my mom had shot herself and I was trying to understand, you know, where that capacity to do something like that came from. And I, I'd have nights, you know, I ended, you know, smoking weed a lot and I sort of have problems with alcohol a little bit and kind of, kind of went through these like, sort of roller coaster phases of like, no, I'm going to be clean and sober. And sometimes I was like, ah, it all, who cares? And I think. But there was a lot, a lot of the times when I was in those, like those darker phases, it was just thinking about where. Where that capacity comes from. Is it like a genetic thing? Is it. Is it. You know, is it really brain chemistry, or was there just, like, a certain set of circumstances that. That drove her to that? And you know, what didn't help that, you know, three to four years after that, my uncle did the same thing on my dad's side. So it's like, okay, now I got two sides of the family that are offing themselves for, you know, whatever reason, but. And I don't think I really ever got a straight answer from folks about, like, what was really going on, because, like, a lot of the family just doesn't want to talk about it. But, yeah, there's. There was a lot of processing of death in my 20s that I didn't think I'd have to confront that young. And, you know, that I did start going to therapy and really digging into that, and that was. That was actually kind of hard to talk about that first. Yeah.

[Matt]

So what's. What's. What's giving you life now? What's. What's making you feel better now?

[Corn]

Well, I like that I've got a house that I can't. I know it's a very hard thing to get to these days, but it's something, you know, I don't. I don't own it yet. I'm paying a mortgage, but I've got something. I've got land enough to where I can spend time out in the yard. My partner and the kiddo, and we're, you know, starting a garden, and that's growing. I can kind of. I can get up and work really flexible schedules. I think I'm very blessed that that situation ended up working out pretty good. I like throwing pottery. That's been neat getting into it. I didn't realize it when I moved to where I moved to, but there's a really cool pottery tradition in this area. People doing wood firing and digging up their own clay, and it's. It's pretty neat.

[Matt]

What part of. What part of town are you in?

[Corn]

Western North Carolina.

[Matt]

Western North Carolina. Pretty good.

[Corn]

So not. Not. Not Asheville, but it's, you know, something a little bit more affordable.

[Matt]

I've heard Asheville is like the. A crazy, like a hippie place now.

[Corn]

It is. And I went there, like, 10 years ago, and it was pretty cool. And then I went there two years ago, and the street smelled like piss.

[Matt]

They got. They got hit pretty hard with some natural disasters, didn't they? Yeah.

[Corn]

Last fall. Helene. Yeah. Yeah. Their whole water system got knocked out out there. I actually have a cousin out there and she's still getting, you know, I don't want to say rationed water, but they got to go with the jugs to a truck and get fresh water. Yeah, it's pretty rough. Have you been?

[Matt]

No, I don't think I've been. Although I'd like to do a show there at some point. I'm sure that there's listeners of this podcast that live there.

[Corn]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, you've been to Charlotte, but. Yeah, going from Asheville to Charlotte, you know, that's a two hour drive.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Corn]

For folks coming further west. Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. Well, let's see. John. Let me, Let me. Let me see if the chat has any questions for you. Maybe. Let's see. Does the chat have any questions for John? Someone said. Well, someone said, ayo, pottery is so fun. Get involved if you can and are interested. Best choice I ever made.

[Corn]

Yeah, man, it's the. It's like, I don't know, once. Once you get some of the frustrating parts out, it's. It's a lot of fun.

[Matt]

Someone said.

[Corn]

A lot of cool people.

[Matt]

Someone said, Are there any UFOs in the sea?

[Corn]

Are there?

[Matt]

U.

[Corn]

No. So they're USOs. Unidentified submerged objects.

[Matt]

Oh, I.

[Corn]

Man, I don't. I don't know. I. I don't. I tend not to look at that kind of stuff. I'm. It's weird. I'm oceanographer, but I sit behind the computer most of the time. It's all, you know, ocean forecasting and that kind of. My wife used to go out to sea. She. She did the real. So she'd be able to tell you, but she's actually doing a job interview right now, so.

[Matt]

Nice. Nice. See, someone wants to know what. What do you think of the evolution of the Kelvin waves in the southeastern US in the past 50 years?

[Corn]

Evolution of Kelvin waves in the southeastern US and I'm. I mean, aren't Kelvin waves.

[Matt]

Oh, they got you, bro. They got you. They got you.

[Corn]

Well, kelvin Kelvin waves are high frequency, so I don't know what they mean by evolution of Kelvin waves in the southeast. I don't know what it was there. Is there maybe. Ask them if there's.

[Matt]

Maybe they're just trolling.

[Corn]

What is it?

[Matt]

Someone wants to know.

[Corn]

Do you do.

[Matt]

Do you. Do you scuba?

[Corn]

Do I scuba? No, No. I went for my cert in grad school and then never used it and I just fell out of it. Yeah.

[Matt]

It's funny because your connection kind of sounds like you're calling me from under the sea?

[Corn]

Nah, man. I'm in rural North Carolina. The cell service kind of shitty.

[Matt]

Okay, then finally someone wants to say, do you know Dr. Jeffrey Agnew?

[Corn]

Agnew. Agnew. I kind of. Spiro Agnew, the dude who worked with Nixon. But no. Dr. Jeffrey.

[Matt]

Well, let's see. John, I want to keep talking to you, but your connection has kind of been a little shitty. But it's. It's great. Oh, wait. Okay, we have one more. Actually, we have a couple more questions I kind of want to ask. What's your favorite fish?

[Corn]

Favorite fish? I like flounders because they got two heads on two eyes on one side of their body. They're weird. That. That or if you haven't seen them. Some people call them sunfish, other people call them mula mulas. They look like a fish that got cut in half but is still living. They're weird. I like weird things.

[Matt]

Where is the biggest trash island? And can we live on that?

[Corn]

Can you live on? I mean, no one can stop you. I think some billionaires were trying to, like, do this. I think the biggest one is still in the Pacific. Most of the stuff I'm looking at these days, though, and this is just to explain my potential ignorance if there's a bigger one than in the Pacific. But I'm looking in north. North of Europe, around the English Journal and all that. Near civilization. But, yeah, I think the Pacific is the biggest one and then the most disgusting.

[Matt]

Well, let's do something about that, John, I think. Yeah, your phone is bad, but you're a good guy and that's all that matters. Is there anything else? Oh, thanks, man. Is there anything else you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?

[Corn]

No.

[Matt]

No.

[Corn]

Throw some pots maybe. I don't know.

[Matt]

Beautiful. All right, take care.

[Corn]

Sorry about the shady phone.

[Matt]

No, it's okay, John. Take care and good luck with your kid. All right, thanks, man.

[Corn]

Bye.

[Matt]

Take care, brother.

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