“MY MOM WANTS ME OUT”

Summary

Therapy Gecko – "MY MOM WANTS ME OUT"

Date: July 8, 2026
Host: Lyle (aka The Gecko)
Podcast: Therapy Gecko (iHeartPodcasts)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Therapy Gecko features heartfelt, unscripted conversations with callers Maxwell and Vince, each seeking support and perspective on personal struggles: Maxwell grapples with family tension, the pressure to move out, and relationship insecurities, while Vince discusses social connection and self-acceptance as a scientist. The Gecko, with his trademark absurdist humor, empathy, and unlicensed-lizard-wisdom, offers advice, solidarity, and a few gut-level truths.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maxwell’s Situation: Family Conflict & Independence

(Starts at 01:38)

Summary
Maxwell, a 20-year-old from the Inland Empire near Los Angeles, calls in feeling alienated by his religious Mexican mother, who sees him as "a disappointment" and wants him out of the house. Maxwell pays $500/month in rent, works double shifts, but still feels unappreciated. He also faces criticism from his girlfriend for his habits (weed, drinking, socializing instead of “doing more”). Lyle explores Maxwell’s options for independence, his relationship with his mom, and his own sense of ambition.

Highlights & Quotes

• Mother-Son Relationship
  • Maxwell: "They don't see me as their son anymore...it hurts. At night, it makes me cry." (02:06)
  • Lyle: "If you're paying rent anyway and your mom is fucking treating you like shit...just for your own health, man, I would go see what else is out there." (06:31)
• Practical Advice on Moving Out
  • Lyle live-browses housing/rental sites: "You could totally move out of your parents. That's all I'm saying...For like a few hundred dollars extra." (10:45)
  • Lyle: "I would get it if you were staying there because you're saving money, but if you're paying rent anyway...just see what's out there." (07:46)
• On Parental Expectations
  • Maxwell: "She thinks that I have to step out of my comfort zone and pursue more...but for me, personally...I'm pretty happy where I'm at." (13:09)
  • Lyle: "If that's how you really feel, then I would leave your mom’s house...Your mom just wants you to live your own life." (14:38)
• Getting Pushed Towards Growth
  • Maxwell: "I want to get out of this house before I'm drained...I don't want to be coked up and fucked in the head." (17:56)

Memorable Moment

• Lyle detours into Craigslist and Facebook groups on-air, scanning real San Bernardino room listings, mixing practical support with classic Therapy Gecko improvisation. (08:31–11:18)

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2. Advice on Moving Forward & Self-Improvement

(14:38–18:29)

Summary
Lyle reframes Maxwell's conflict as an opportunity for growth, suggesting that leaving home is less about rejection and more about love pushing him into adulthood. Maxwell admits to fears about self-sufficiency, referencing his brother's struggles and stating his desire to escape a toxic dynamic.

Notable Quotes

• Lyle: "It sounds like [your mom] wants you to go live your own life...not that she doesn't love you, not that she thinks you're a piece of shit." (14:38)
• Lyle on adulthood and motivation: "Your mom just wants you to live your own life." (14:38)
• Maxwell: "I really do want to move out and explore. It’s something in my heart I really want to do...I just want to look at this world and see how beautiful it is.” (16:39)

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3. Maxwell’s Relationship Dynamics

(18:29–22:43)

Summary
Maxwell’s girlfriend critiques his lifestyle and occasionally threatens to break up. Lyle questions Maxwell’s happiness and whether he truly wants change.

Quotes & Advice

• Lyle: "If you really want to be with this lady, try everything in your power to be the kind of guy she wants to be with...let that be your thing." (20:41)
• Lyle: “You don’t want another person to force you to be something you’re not. But you do want your partner to force you, honestly, indirectly...to become better.” (20:41)

Memorable Moment

• Maxwell abruptly pivots: "If you're stuck on an island for a hundred years, would you prefer burgers or pizza?" Lyle: "Did you listen to anything I just said? I just went on a whole impassioned rant." (21:15–21:24)

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4. Motivation, Choices & Self-Reflection

(22:43–26:00)

Summary
Maxwell admits to doing the bare minimum, feeling dissatisfied, and realizing he must move forward. Lyle encourages him: “You’re too young to throw in the towel.”

Quotes

• Lyle: “If you really, honest to God, think you would be happy doing the bare minimum, then do it. But I think if you were that happy...you wouldn’t be calling me right now to talk about it.” (25:01)
• Maxwell: “That's what I'm doing, huh? I'm just giving up early.” (25:01)

Send-off

• Maxwell expresses gratitude: "I love you, man...I've been listening to you forever. It's crazy, the things you do for people." (26:11)
• Lyle: "I'm rooting for you, Maxwell...Give us an update." (26:49)

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5. Vince’s Story: Social Connection & Identity

(30:00–49:36)

Summary
Vince, a graduate student scientist, discusses the tension between his drive for “optimization” and learning to simply “live.” He struggles with vulnerability and feeling authentic connection at social events, fearing being judged for his “nerdy” interests or science identity.

Key Quotes

• Vince: “I always try to fix or ‘optimize’ my mental health problems, but now I’m learning to just...live.” (31:26)
• Vince on social struggles: “Even when I do socialize and make some friends, sometimes I still find there’s some kind of block...I don’t resonate with people.” (35:57)
• Lyle: "Your bids for connection don’t have to be based off liking the same stuff...Just leave yourself for a second and try to connect." (39:08–40:04)
• Lyle: "You have to be willing to leave yourself...You’re valid in your existence as a human being trying to connect.” (41:36)

Practical Advice

• Lyle: "Don’t be so attached to who you think you are...Let the walls down. That’s the only way you’re gonna get anywhere new." (44:55)
• Vince: "I like metaphorically...I feel like at an event, I'm just behind walls, vigilant about what to say." Lyle: "Yeah, let the walls down." (44:33–44:55)

Humor & Humanity

• Vince jokes: "I gotta wear a praying mantis costume or something [to be more outgoing]." Lyle: "Well, I wear a big fucking gecko costume." (45:07)

Closing

• Vince: "Keep moving forward...do the best you can. As I am trying to do the best I can, and Geck is doing the best he can."
• Lyle: “Thank you, man. Keep doing science.” (49:26)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Maxwell: “I just turned 20 this year in May. And I’ve been struggling. I’ve been struggling with money. I’ve been struggling with my girlfriend. She’s helped a lot, but at the same time, she’s been kicking me down.” (02:06)
• Lyle: “Your mom just wants you to get the fuck out of here and, like, live your life.” (14:38)
• Maxwell: "My mom only wants better for me and…just the way she does it, it just sucks." (22:56)
• Lyle: “You’re too young to throw in the towel.” (25:01)
• Vince: “I’ve always tried to fix or ‘optimize’ my mental health problems...I think 60-70% of my life has been that term. Now I’m learning to just live.” (31:26)
• Lyle: "You have to be willing to leave yourself…You’re valid in your existence as a human being trying to connect." (41:36)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:38 – Maxwell's call starts
• 04:39 – Maxwell’s work situation & rent
• 08:33 – Live search for rentals in San Bernardino
• 13:09 – Reflection on ambition and personal satisfaction
• 17:56 – Maxwell discusses brother’s addiction & urgency to leave
• 18:29 – Transition to relationship dynamics
• 21:20 – Lighthearted tangent about pizza vs. burgers
• 22:43 – Real talk on moving forward
• 25:49 – Episode close-out with Maxwell
• 30:00 – Vince’s call starts
• 35:22 – Vince describes trouble forming deep social bonds
• 41:36 – Lyle explains the “leave yourself” approach to connection
• 44:51 – Advice about dropping barriers at social gatherings
• 45:07 – Gecko costume humor
• 49:19 – Vince’s closing message

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Tone & Style

The tone is candid, gentle, sometimes playful, and grounded in the mutual weirdness and struggles of being human. Lyle mixes practical advice with humor, earning trust through vulnerability (and occasional absurdity, true to Therapy Gecko’s style).

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Final Thoughts

This episode stands out for its emotional honesty and actionable advice—whether you’re contemplating moving out, searching for self-motivation, or trying to connect in a world where everyone feels a little weird. As always, Therapy Gecko proves that sometimes, talking to a podcasting gecko in a costume is exactly the therapy we need.

Transcript

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[Maxwell]

Paul from hello. Hello.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Hey, what's up man?

[Maxwell]

Hey, what's up man? How's your day, man?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

My day has been fine. I would say my day. Okay. How about yours? What you been up to?

[Maxwell]

It's been all right, man. I just gotta work. It's hot as. It's like 95 right now over here in California.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Hot as. It's pretty hot as shit.

[Maxwell]

It is hard as.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What's up, man? What'd you want to talk about today?

[Maxwell]

Oh, all right. I wanted to talk about how like my family's just been like degrading me lately. Like they don't see me as, as their son anymore. I feel like they just see me as a, as a disappointment. The I grew up as a Mexican. My mom's very religious, she's Mexican. And lately she's just been, been looking at, looking at me with disgust with disappointment with, with, with like she doesn't see me as her son anymore. And it hurts. It makes me like at night makes me cry. Makes me. It makes me like, it makes my heartache. It seems like. Like she doesn't want me to, like, be with her anymore, like, live for. And I'm. I'm 20. I just turned 20 this year in May. And I've been struggling. I've been struggling with money. I've been struggling with. With my girlfriend. She's. She's. She's helped a lot, but at the same time, she's been kicking me down.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Hmm. What do you mean she's kicking you? Okay, wait. I have questions about your mom, but what do you mean your girlfriend's kicking you down?

[Maxwell]

Like, sometimes she. She sees me as a bum because. Because I smoke weed. Because I have. I have my time by myself with my friends, just smoking and drinking. And she thinks that instead of me doing this, I should be. I should be going out and, you know, doing more, which I agree with. But in the way that she explains it to me, it seems like she's. She's just, like, sick and tired of me already.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

All right, let's start with. Let's start with your mom. Then we'll get into your girlfriend. But. So your mom is deeply religious, and she's been ragged on you. Why is.

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

What.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What is she ragged on you for?

[Maxwell]

Lately, it's been about work and that I don't do anything around the house. I'm not helping her that. That she sees that I'm not doing much effort into. Into going forward into my life, even though she. She sees it from, like, a closed door. You feel me?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Tell me more.

[Maxwell]

I feel like I'm working double shifts. I'm working overnights just to. Just to, like, give her rent, just to make her satisfied with me, to make her feel like, hey, yeah, no worries.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay. Wait, so you're. Okay, we'll talk. All right. We'll talk about, like, the relationship in a sec. But logistically, you're paying your mom rent?

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Bro, how. How much do you pay your mom in rent?

[Maxwell]

I pay 500 each month.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You pay your month 500 in rent?

[Maxwell]

500 with, like. With the Internet bill and. And my phone bill.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Can I ask. Oh, can I. Can I ask you a question? What? If you're paying rent, why do you still live with your mom? Like, why would. Why would you rather live with your mom than, like, live in an apartment with, like, three or four other dudes?

[Maxwell]

Honestly, I don't have that many friends. I don't. I don't. This. This job I just started working at, it's. It's been hard for me to, like, even talk with my peers, with my. It's the people I'm working with. The only friend I. I have is my. My friend from childhood, but right now he's doing his own thing and, you know, I don't even want to, like, bother him with, like, with my troubles.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, but there's other, like, what, what. What part of California do you live in?

[Maxwell]

I live in, like, the. The ie. Like, near Los Angeles.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Oh, you live near Los Angeles?

[Maxwell]

Yeah, like an hour away from Los Angeles. We'll say.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, well, like Anaheim type of area.

[Maxwell]

We'll say. You know San Bernardino.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Sure, I've heard of it.

[Maxwell]

Yeah. Yeah, I live around there.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay. Dude, the first thing I would say is, like, if you're living. I would get it if you were, like, living with your folks to save money, but if you're still paying your mom rent and, like, your relationship with her is making you pissed off, then, like, and you're like, just not around anyone like you. I think, I think you should try to find a different situation where you can probably. You can probably find a situation somewhere in San Bernardino where you're still paying, like, a relatively similar amount, maybe a. A couple hundred dollars higher, but still like something relatively that amount where, like, you're with, like, other dudes your age, you know, and they don't have to even be dudes, you know, like, just, you know, like, there's Facebook groups you can go on and like, meet people. Like, there's ways to. To do it so that you have, like, some form of autonomy. I spent. I would get it if you were, like, staying there because you're saving money, but if you're paying rent anyway and your mom is, like, fucking treating you like shit, I mean, just for your own health, man, I would, I would go see what else is out there.

[Maxwell]

Yeah, I haven't been doing that. I haven't been looking at, like, lady. I've just been hearing from my. From like, other people about how. How much they're paying over it and how much they can't. Even with the job I'm working, I feel like it's not enough for. For within an apartment or a studio. You feel me?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Well, that's definitely not. You're not going to have enough for a studio, but, like, at least our apartment. But if you're going to have, like, an apartment with people, you might. If you're going to, like, be paying rent on an apartment. You know what? You know what I'm going to do? Let's. I'm going to do this. I'm actually curious right now. Let's go on to Craigslist. Craigslist.

[Maxwell]

Oh, shit. You getting to go in?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I want to go in. I'm just curious because you might be right. This might be. But let's. Let's do this right now. Okay. Room for rent, San Bernardino. Rooms for rent in San Bernardino. Let's see here. Roomies.com. what is this? Okay, let's see here. Oh, look at this.

[Maxwell]

Quick question.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, hit me.

[Maxwell]

Where are you right now? Are you still on tour?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I'm in New York. Okay, look at this.

[Maxwell]

I'm in New York.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Look at this furnished room. Wait, sorry. What are you gonna say?

[Maxwell]

No, no, no. Tell me, tell me. I don't care about anything else. Tell me.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, look at this. $720 a month furnished, private room, shared bathroom, Internet included. Parking available. The landlady likes to practice her piano in the morning. I don't know. I've Never used this roomies.com shit, but like, me neither.

[Maxwell]

I've never heard about this. But

[Lyle (Gecko)]

let's see. Let's go on Craigslist. Craigslist is maybe a little weirder, I'd say. Look at this furnished room, $600 a month. San Bernardino, right near college.

[Maxwell]

I live by the college.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You live by the. You live by that College? That what? CSU.

[Maxwell]

CSUSB or Valley?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, CSUSB.

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Dude, there's so many rooms that are like 755. 50, same price. Where is this? Let's see. Oh, look, you could rent a cat. Look, you could save one. $25 a month if you rent a couch. Okay, Manuel is looking. Manuel is looking for men to sleep on his sofa for $375 a month. You could do that.

[Maxwell]

Lao. What if we sleep on a couch together?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What if you and. You and me sleep on the couch together?

[Maxwell]

Yeah, with manual.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I'm gonna politely decline. Wait, living room, private. Look at this. Living room, private area. $600 for like. For like a few hundred dollars extra. You could totally move out of your parents. That's all I'm saying. I'm looking at it right now. I'm on the Craigslist. I'm on Zillow. You could probably find some. Not. Let's look at the. Let's look at the Facebook group. Let's see what's going. Let me see if I can find a chill looking person on the Facebook group because you definitely don't want to be hanging out with any, like, insane people.

[Maxwell]

No, no. What do we got now, dude? Especially in San Bernardino, you never know. I don't know if you heard about San Bernardino.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

No. What's up with. What's the deal with San Bernardino?

[Maxwell]

Dude? This is ghetto, bro. This shit is over here.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Hello. I'm looking for a room also. Like, probably so many of these people. Yeah, like, I'm looking at the Facebook group right now, and so many people are like, I don't use drugs or alcohol. Like, I think a lot of people are, like, get burnt on, like, folks who are moving in without paying rent and just, like, using drugs and. But yeah, I bet. For. Again, I'm just saying. I'm just saying I've done a quick little Google search, and I'm seeing that it is possible for you to move out for only a couple hundred bucks more than

[Maxwell]

what I'm paying.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Than what you're paying. So. So there's that. Logistically, I really think you should do that. Okay, we've covered that. Anyway, let's talk about the other things. Let's talk more about your mom because, like, let's talk more about your mom because your mom's still your mom. Even if you move out, your mom's your mom. Why does she not see you as a son? What's that deal? What's that deal? What's going on there lately?

[Maxwell]

She just thinks that, like, me smoking and. And, like, just sticking with this UPS job is. She seems like I'm not, like, going forward with my life. She thinks that I have to, like, step out of my comfort zone and, you know, pursue more.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, well, let's talk about that. Forget about your mom and for a second, forget about your girlfriend. We'll get to your girlfriend. But how do you feel about your life? Do you want more out of your existence right now?

[Maxwell]

Like, I'm satisfied where I'm at, to be honest. Like, I don't need anything more or anything less. But for her, she thinks that I just need to keep going.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay.

[Maxwell]

But for me, personally, in my heart, in my mind, I'm pretty. I'm pretty happy where I'm at.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay? If that's how you really believe, if that's how you really feel, I'm telling you, like, if that's how you really feel, then I would leave your mom's house. Your mom was probably also just, like, pissed off because, like, you're. You're in. Like, does she do anything to take care of you? Like, I know you pay rent, right? But, like, does she do around the house? Like, does she do your laundry? Like, is any of that shit going

[Maxwell]

on well, after, like, I. Me turning 18, she just stopped doing all that. She said, like, you're grown. You take care of yourself. So, like, after 18, I've been cooking for myself. I've been making food for my. I've been making my own clothes. I've been folding my clothes. I've been buying my own clothes. So, like, it's not really that, like, she doesn't, like, care for me. Like, she just wants me to, like, be on my own lane. Now she doesn't even want to, like, be with me anymore, you know?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

It sounds like. It sounds like she wants. Okay, I'm. This is just the vibe I'm getting, right? I mean, it sounds like she wants you to, like, go live your own life. Not necessarily. I'm not hearing that she doesn't love you. I'm not hearing that she thinks you're a piece of shit. I'm not hearing that she wishes you were never born. I'm just hearing that, like, she's like, hey, bro, like, you're my son, and that's great, but you got to get the fuck out of here and, like, live your life.

[Maxwell]

Yeah. It just sucks, you know? Like, coming out here was, like, almost nothing. And, like. Like right away, having to, like, be on your own.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What do you mean? What do you. Wait. What do you. What do you mean, coming out here?

[Maxwell]

Like. Like. Like. Like life, you know? Like the adult life, we'll say. Like, having no one around you, you having to focus on your. Your bills, your rent, your. Your necessities, your. Your job. It's like she. When. When I was growing up, I feel like she didn't really, like, show me how to. How to be on my own. She never. She was never really there for me. She. She. She would just say, whatever you need, I'm here, and that's it. She will never say. She will never go out on her own way and help me.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Wait. She's so growing up. She said, whenever you need me, I'm here.

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay. All right, so it sounds like she gave you.

[Kohler Ambassador]

Is.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

It sounds like she gave you pretty good unconditional love as a child?

[Maxwell]

Yeah, no, of course.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay.

[Maxwell]

She was a loving mother.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay.

[Maxwell]

But now it's just, like. It's different. I mean, now, like, I really do want to move out and, like, explore. It's, like something in my heart that I really want to do. I just want to just look at this world and see how beautiful it is. I don't want to be stuck here forever. For example, my. My. My brother, he Used to live with us for, like, until he was 25, and. And he got addicted to cocaine.

[Vince]

He.

[Maxwell]

He's addicted to. To. To other drugs. And. And the reason is from. From our parents. I won't go into detail of my brother's trauma, but it's something that. That I don't even see him anymore because he doesn't even want to be near us. That, like, our parents drained him so much that he doesn't want to live with us anymore. He's. He's gone. I. I rarely see him, like, every. Every couple of months, and, like, I want to get out of this house before I'm. I'm drained just like him. I don't want to be coked up and, like, in the head.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Dude, go. Dude, go. You should. You should move out. You should go on Craigslist and find some, like, you know, find a fucking house with, like, five roommates and, like, get on that shit. Your mom just want. Your mom just wants you to, like, live your own life. Let's talk about your girlfriend. So your girlfriend. Your girlfriend is also kind of like. Is that your girlfriend is also on your ass?

[Maxwell]

She. She's not on my ass as much as my mom, but she. She does, like, when I'm. When I'm out with my friends or, like, some. Some petty. She does. So she just. She just wants to, like, be done with me and, like, not be with me anymore.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Brother, let me ask you a question.

[Maxwell]

Ask me anything. Loud. I'm open ears, my boy.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Do you. Do you love this girl?

[Maxwell]

I love her, bro.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Do you actually. Do you really?

[Maxwell]

Dude, I love her, dude. Like, even though, like, she does, like. Like, she, like, she does these things. Like, I look up to her, bro. She. She's like. She makes me feel.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Are you serious?

[Maxwell]

Yes, bro. Like, she. She's my. My past ex.

[Vince]

She's.

[Maxwell]

She literally me over. She with my head. She on my heart.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, forget about. Forget about your ex, man. Forget about your ex. This lady, this woman who is, like, telling you that she's gonna be done with you because of, like, drinking and smoking, all these things. If you really love this lady and you really want to be with this lady, you try everything in your power to be the kind of guy that she wants to be with. And. And the whole. One of the great things about being in a relationship is that it forces you to become better. So, like, let this girl force you to become better. You don't want to. You don't want another person to force you to be something you're not. You know what I mean? But you do want your partner to force you honestly, indirectly, through, like, a spot. Through looking up to them, or through just, like, this inherent desire to want to be better for them? Like, let that be your thing. Like, if, if, you know, like, your girlfriend wants you to stop. It's not like you're telling me like, your girlfriend wants you to stop playing guitar because she thinks it's stupid or whatever. Like, like your girl wants you to be a better person.

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Like, let her do that and, like, use that as motivation to, like, do the. That's gonna make your life better.

[Maxwell]

I have a quick question for you.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

L. What's up?

[Maxwell]

How much do you love pizza?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

How much do I love pizza?

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I like pizza a lot. Why do you ask?

[Maxwell]

If you're stuck on an island for a hundred years, would you prefer burgers or pizza?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Did you listen to anything I just said? I just wanted a whole impassioned rant.

[Maxwell]

I'm so sorry, dude. I, I, I'm so sorry. No, I did listen to everything you said.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Listen, by the way, can I. Can I be real? Can I actually, by the way, listen, here's another thing. I don't think you should do this. I think this will make you depressed. I really do. I really think this will make you depressed. Or maybe it will. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Everyone's wired differently. People live lives that seem depressing, but they're happy with them. If you really do just want to, like, not have a girlfriend and just, like, pay your mom $500 in rent and work your job, and you really are, like, like. Because you were telling me that you were happy. Like, you don't have to do any of this shit if you really don't want to. But, like, at bare minimum, like, your mom wants you to leave the house. Like, you should leave. And your girlfriend wants to be with someone who, like, wants to step up for her. And so, like, at least, like, if, if you don't want to do any of this, you don't have to. You're obligated to nothing in this planet, but, you know, do you get what I mean? Like, make the choice.

[Maxwell]

I guess I understand. I understand. And like, like, hearing it, like, it sucks to hear it, because why does it suck?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Why does it suck? None of this should suck. None of this should suck.

[Maxwell]

No, no, no, no, no. Let me explain, all right? For me, I always see myself to, like, I'm gonna just to do the minimum and, like, it Sucks that. That I'mma have to. To be completely satisfied with myself. I have to move on and I have to keep going and I have to look up and do my shit and do. And not exactly how you said. I'm obligated to do what you recommended me, but it's the truth. My mom only wants better for me and. And just the way she does it, it just sucks.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But everything you just said doesn't suck. Everything you just said is good. Like, you're being. Dude, you're 20. You're 20, man. Yeah, like, you, like, you go be. Go be a better version of yourself that you'll like. You'll learn that you can do it.

[Maxwell]

How did you get so knowledgeable, bro?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I don't know. I'm.

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

I'm.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I'm. I'm a piece of.

[Maxwell]

But no, you're not gonna say that, bro.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Whatever. Whatever. No, you're right. I'm gonna stop.

[Vince]

You're right.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You're right, dude. No, you learned that you can do it. I mean, it's scary, dude, by the way, it is scary. It's scary to, like, try to be better. It's hard, man. I mean, I. I have so many habits that I'm like, that. I don't like that I'm like, stuck in and it's hard. But, like, you're. I use. Too young to, like, throw in the towel against yourself.

[Maxwell]

That's what I'm doing. Huh? I'm just giving up early.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But yeah, dude, don't give up early. Go on Craigslist, move out of there. Consider. Consider submitting to your girlfriend's pleas that you, like, get your together and you'll be. You'll be happier. You'll realize. You'll realize you can do it. Like, you just don't know because you haven't tried. But, like, you can. You can do it. You just gotta give yourself permission to, like, try and not just do the bare minimum. Or if you really, honest to God, think you would be happy doing the bare minimum, then do it. But I think if you were that happy doing the bare minimum, you wouldn't be calling me right now to talk about it.

[Maxwell]

Yeah, I wouldn't be calling you right now. Right.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah. What's your name again?

[Maxwell]

My name is Maxwell.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Dan Maxwell.

[Maxwell]

Maxwell.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Maxwell. Maxwell. Thanks for talking to me, man. I appreciate you. Is there anything else you want to say to the people Is there anything else you'll say to the people at the computer before we go?

[Maxwell]

Well, hopefully this goes on a podcast if not it. As long as I talk to my man Lyle. I love you, man. I love everybody that talks to you. It opens my ears, it opens my mind of how different everybody can be and what everyone goes through. And I thank you, bro. I've been listening to you forever. It's crazy that the things you do to people, that you do for people, the trips you go on. I wish you more and more and more in your lifetime, bro.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Thank you, Maxwell. You too, man.

[Maxwell]

Forever.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You too, man. I appreciate you very much. I'm. I'm rooting for you. Maxwell, Give us an update. I want to. Maxwell, give me an. Call me, call me a year from now. You know what?

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

Call me.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Don't even wait a year. Call me when you have an update. When you have an update. If you're like, things are going well, I moved out of my parents house. My. You know, give me an update when, when you have one. I want to hear it.

[Maxwell]

I got you, man.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

All right, man.

[Maxwell]

Just keep getting it. Keep living your life, man. And thank you, everyone. Thank you, Lula. Thank you, Lao. Have a good one. All right.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You too, Maxwell. Take care, man.

[Maxwell]

All right, you too, man. Peace out.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Damn, dude. Maybe I'll move to San Bernardino. 800. These are some you can get. You can get some pretty nice digs for like $800. That's pretty good. Furnished room in a nice house. $900. Oh, this one's cannabis friendly. LGBTQ friendly. Dog friendly. Nice.

[Joe]

Hey, guys, it's Joe, It's Kevin.

[Kevin]

And this is Nick Jonas from. Hey Jonas.

[Joe]

Do you remember growing up when it felt like every teacher had a favorite student?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Everybody knew who it was.

[Kevin]

Well, I was homeschooled, so I like to think it was me. A class of one. Congratulations.

[Joe]

But we're not here to talk about favorite students. We want to talk about a teacher's real favorite Kleenex tissues. According to teacher list, Kleenex is the number one facial tissue brand trusted by teachers.

[Kevin]

Kleenex Ultra soft tissues are silky soft to help prevent skin irritation. And now you can take them anywhere with Kleenex Snap and Go.

[Joe]

Between dance, soccer, school events, and everything else kids have going on after school, Kleenex Snap and Go is easy to take along. It fits in backpacks, sports bags, or even in the car. So it's ready for whatever comes next. So do the best thing for your kids and teachers. Stock up on the ultimate classroom favorite. Maybe you'll even become the teacher's favorite parent.

[Kevin]

We still haven't settled who would be the favorite in our school. We haven't settled who the favorite brother

[Joe]

is either for whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.

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[Lyle (Gecko)]

Hello?

[Vince]

Hi, is this Lyle?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

This is. What's going on with you?

[Vince]

Holy crap. Not much. I was just in the lab right now. Holy crap. Oh, you're recording right now?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yes, we are recording. Is now a good time to talk?

[Vince]

Yeah, yeah, I. I'm not too busy right now, so I have some time. Yeah. Holy crap. This is exciting. How's it going, Geck?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

How's it going with me? It's going all right. It's a bit of a cloudy day here in America. I don't know where you are. You sound American. I assume you're in America.

[Vince]

Indeed. Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What's going on with you, Vince? How's life?

[Vince]

Things are going pretty good. It's a lot of. How I say it, a lot of optimization. I've had to change a lot of things in my life, but I've. How I say it? I think optimization has been the key word in my life. And I've had to embrace a lot of changes in my life thus far, but I'm learning to embrace it in a more positive manner now.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, what do you mean by optimization is the key word in your life? What do you mean by that?

[Vince]

So in my case for optimization, I've. I think I always try to look at things as like, I have to fix this problem. I must fix this issue. I must fix blah Blah, blah, blah, blah. And that's always something that has persisted. So I've always tried to fix or quote, unquote, fix, like, my mental health problems, my own issues that occur in my. My brain. But. But, you know, I think I have been learning to try to just not focus on optimization as much as that's been a. Like, I would say 60 to 70% of my life has been that term. And then now in the past few years, I've been trying to see life as, oh, I just kind of live in it, and I can just live. And that's okay.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

All right, I get what you mean. You've been trying to, you know, make more money, make your penis bigger, live. Live life better, do all your stuff, optimizing. But now you're like, you know what? I'm just gonna live.

[Vince]

Yeah, I like to just kind of live.

[Maxwell]

And.

[Vince]

And at the same time, because I really enjoy science, so I try to just. There's a lot of people in science, they, like, look at it as if, oh, we must try to, like, optimize or, like, do things just so then there's a lot. There's a section of people, they look at it as solely just for the benefit of, like, humanity. And there's nothing wrong with that for sure. I've always liked learning about and researching science just for the sake of it. That's. That's, you know, just in its purest form because I like looking at how things work, how, you know, cells behave and how they operate in our bodies, you know, you.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You'd mentioned earlier that you were calling from a lab. What lab are you at?

[Vince]

Yeah, I won't disclose the institution, but I am at a university. Current. Currently, I am a graduate student. So the kind of research we do, without bogging down with jargon, is we try to look at, like, the kind of the shadow molecules that exist in the cells of the heart. So these kind of mysterious molecules that kind of guide disease progression. So when someone has, like, a heart attack, how do those proteins behave such that, you know, cardiac disease progresses? And I look at one of these weird proteins that, like, no one really knows what it does. Like, it's. It's. Even by, like, biology standards, it's weird. It's a weird protein. So at least I think it is. But that's what makes it interesting to me. But, yeah, that's cool.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I like protein. I had. I had a. I had a muscle milk today. There's protein in that.

[Vince]

Yeah, I think a lot of people do. A lot of people appreciate Protein. I try to recognize when I need protein, but, yeah, I probably should consume more protein.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

So, Vince. So, Vince, let me ask you this, Let me ask you this. You reached out to my show. What is it you wanted to talk about?

[Vince]

Recently, I sent. There's four separate things, but really they're just like two major things, the one of which we could talk about or both, depending on the time that you have, but I think so one is far more like philosophically and the other one is more like real life kind of.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You know what, just day to day stuff, which I feel just hit me with it. Vince, tell me the things.

[Vince]

All right, I'll start with. I'll start with, like, the relatability aspect.

[Maxwell]

So.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay.

[Vince]

Something that I have faced in my life and like, I. I've listened to the podcast for quite a bit, and I know that you have provided quite a bit of advice on community building and finding friends through your hobbies and whatnot, which indeed I have attempted to do for a while.

[Maxwell]

Great.

[Vince]

So, you know, I've gone to different events and whatnot. But my problem is, even when I go to these events and even when I do socialize and I do, like, make some friends, sometimes I still find that there's some kind of block. There is still some kind of inhibition. And it. It could be any number of things. And like, just as a forewarned, like, I am seeing a therapist and I, like, been seeing one for a while, so. But I still find that I have a block.

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

So what.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

What is this block that you have

[Vince]

think the block is? So sometimes there's a lot of different things that, like, I would like to talk about that. And sometimes I think people, when they get to know me, at least on the surface, they're like, oh, this guy is just only science. This is. This is all he does. And that's it. And I'm like, no, there's a lot of other, like, nerdy hobbies and other interests that I have in my life that, you know, when I try to, like, join these different hobbies, you know, I try to embrace it with people. But even when I go to. So, for example, like, I've. I know I've been to, like, a game store nearby in my town and the people that I played D and D with, even when I played that game with them, and even after like four or five months, I was still pretty quiet and I was like, what the fuck is going on? Because I'm like, I feel like I should be more.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Okay, all right, so what I'm What I'm. What I'm here. What I'm. What I'm. What I'm hearing. What I'm hearing is that you're going out to these events, you're spending time with people, you're giving it a good shot. You're hanging out in there for a little while, but you still don't feel as comfortable as you want to feel. That's. That's what you're trying to say?

[Vince]

That's what I'm hearing, Yeah. I still. For some reason, I still don't resonate with people, and I don't know where that block is coming from.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

When was the last time you felt like you resonated with anyone?

[Vince]

I think the moments where I did resonate with people is when I'm able to be far more vulnerable with people, which, you know, I think people try to find those entry points, and I'm sure there are people that they have a greater propensity to find that way more than others. But there are times where I wish I could find it easier, you know, and maybe that's just due to me being like, I'm worried about telling people that, like, I've been playing Slate As Fire, too, for, like, 50 hours. Like, I don't. You know, and then, like, I'm talking to someone who maybe just, I don't know, like, they watch. Not that I watch Love island, but maybe they. They're into, like, other things in pop culture, and I'm like, I don't know those things, so I worry about.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But, okay, but. But Vince, you say your name was. Yeah, but Vince. Like, your bids for connection don't have to be based off of liking the same stuff. And also, like, listen, you know what? So what if someone likes Love Island? Ask them about Love Island. You're. Just because you don't know what. Just because a person is different from you, it doesn't mean you can't connect with them. It means you have to let go of yourself a little bit. Like, it. Like, you know, it's okay that you spent, like, you know, the fact that you spent 50 hours playing Slay the Spire doesn't mean that you can't connect with this person. All you have to do is leave yourself for a second, you know? Leave yourself for a second and try to connect with this person and see what happened. Like, okay, maybe they want to talk about Love Island. Maybe they're the kind of person where you're like, there's no way that I would connect with this person, but that the only you feel that way, because you're not leaving yourself because you're, like, attached to this, like, ego you have

[Vince]

of, like, I'm still touching my own inner beliefs.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, you're stuck to your own inner beliefs of, like, who you will and won't connect with. And I don't mean ego in the sense of, like, egotistical feeling like you're better than everyone else. I mean ego in your. Your identity. So, like, what. What you have to do. And I. I struggle with this myself sometimes, but, like, dude, there's a thing you got to do of, like, joining the living and respecting that. You don't know everything and you don't know everyone. And when you want to join the living, you leave yourself and you go, you know what? I can connect with anyone. I don't care if they're like, frat guy, whatever, or if they're, you know, fucking a Chinese businessman or whatever. Like, that's. I can connect be like, I can connect with anyone. All I have to do is leave myself for a second. You know, I don't have to. Because. Also, another reason you have to leave yourself is because the nothing that's preventing you from connecting with other people is you're, like, fear of being judged or your fear that, like, you just. You were talking about playing this video game like you were going to be judged. You know, like, you're afraid of. You're afraid that your bid for connection is going to be judged by nature of who you are because you haven't left yourself because you're still, like, afraid of your own identity, being vulnerable out there. And.

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

But.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But. That's a. But you. But that's. That's an attachment. That's not necessary. You're valid. Like, you're valid in your existence as a human being trying to connect with other people like that. Like, plain and simple. That's. That's it.

[Vince]

So that should at least be the baseline.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

That's the baseline that you operate out of 100. It's basically, you got to operate of 100. You have to operate like, listen, if I. If this guy finds out that I just played video games for 50 hours and then he's a dick to me about it, that's so his problem. That's so his problem. I am trying to connect with another person. I'm valid in doing that. And if the other person is gonna reject me, or even if they're. Even if they look at. Dude, by the way, even if they look at you and they don't want to hang out with you for Whatever reason, that's okay.

[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

That's okay.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

That's another thing you have to do. That's not even their problem. They might just not. It's okay if people don't like you.

[Podcast Announcer]

It really.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

It really is. I'm trying to get better at doing that. I really. I. I've struggled with, like. I mean, everyone does. Everyone wants people to like them.

[CarMax Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But I've struggled with that. I've let my ego get in the way of, like, oh, this person should like me. Everyone should like me, you know, platonically, romantically, whatever it is. Like. But that's because. That's because I was. For some reason, I just. I just took ease. Took and ever take everything personally. Like, why. This is no reason. So, like, it might not feel smooth to be comfortable with people, but if you want to build these bids for connection, you ha. You have to be willing to. I keep saying it, but you have to be willing to, like, leave yourself. And so that's what I would do, man. I wouldn't, like. I think you have this. You sound like you're hung up on, like, yourself as, like, you know, I don't know that. You sound like you feel like you people will judge you. And I have that too. I feel. I have this feeling that, like, you know, I think everyone. Everyone has a little bit of that. Not everyone. Some people walk around being like, I'm fucking awesome and cool all the time. I always hear, I want. Dude. I try to observe those people, and I like, really try to. Because life has so many, like, inherent awkwardnesses that I'm like, I wonder how a really confident, secure person would react in a situation, like, social situation. Yeah, I'm fascinated. I'm truly fascinated by it. But they're able to. They're able to do it. It's like, it's truly like a magic. But anyway, yeah, don't be so attached to, like.

[Vince]

I have to learn to leave myself.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah.

[Vince]

Like, leaving. Letting my, like. Letting my essence flow from my body, which, like.

[Maxwell]

Yeah.

[Vince]

I don't know. I always. I, like, metaphorically. I've always felt like at an event, I'm kind of like, just in, like, behind walls. I'm, like, vigilant of, like, what am I going to do? What am I going to say? Who am I going to talk to who did, like. But I'm like, I need to just, like, let those walls down and kind of let myself leave a little bit.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, let the walls down. That's so. That's the only way you're going to get anywhere new.

[Vince]

How do you. How do you try to let yourself leave from yourself?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

How do I try to let myself leave for myself? Yeah, Well, I. Well, I wear a big fucking gecko costume.

[Vince]

That's the start. That's what I got to do. I got to wear like another. I got to wear like a. Like a praying mantis costume or something.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

How do I. How do I let myself. How do I let myself leave myself? Well, it's hard. It's not always easy. I mean, sometimes I like, Sometimes I just feel like a fat piece of shit and I'm like, in a situation where I'm like, oh, I don't feel like this. This is not. Yeah, I don't like this. And other times I feel like I'm off.

[Vince]

That is not working out.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

But at the end of the day, how do. How do I leave myself? I try to. I don't know. I just. I'm just okay. I think I'm just okay with putting myself out there when I need to. And I'm okay with, like, my flaws and other things, even when they're, like, painful and when they. And when I'm like, ashamed of them, I still, like, at the end of the day, I'm like, okay with it, you know?

[Vince]

Like, you have a level of self acceptance that you.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I'm trying. I'm trying. I don't know. Sometimes, you know, sometimes you think you got it and then you don't, but keep going, man. What's your name again? Vince.

[Vince]

Vince. Yes.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Vince the scientist.

[Vince]

Someday I will be. Hopefully in like the next year or two, I will have my doctorate, so that's cool. We will see. You can make.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

You can make Vince protein bars. Yeah, if you make Vince protein enzyme bars, I'll. Let me know. I'll. I'll promote them on the. On the podcast. You can have a free advertisement for the Vince protein bars.

[Vince]

Sick. I'll let you know. They'll be like the most like, nutritional bars that will like, reduce like, your risk for cardiac.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

No, no, no. I want you to. I want you to. I want. I want you to have it be something that makes people fatter. Yeah.

[Vince]

Okay.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I want you to make everyone fatter. I want you to give everyone bigger tits. I want you to make everyone fatter. Bigger tits. You know, I gotta. I want to, you know, I want to live in a world of more fat people. I think that'd be awesome. Vince, is there anything you want to say before we go?

[Vince]

Saturated fats? I just want to say to people like, keep, keep Moving forward, things are, things are changing a lot in our lives and we gotta keep, gotta maintain some level of hope and whether that's in yourself, whether it's in your community, the people around you, you do the best you can. As I am trying to do the best I can. And Gek is doing the best he can. I will say, I want to say one thing before I go, Geck. I think I went to, I think it was in 2023 you went to. There was a Columbus show that you held. I know I went to it briefly. That was a good time. I'd like to try to go to another Ohio show. I think there wasn't there one in Cleveland.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, I did one in Cleveland a few weeks ago. Yeah, that Columbus show, that was the one where, that was the show where famously everyone was afraid that a guy who came on stage was going to come back in and kill everyone. Do you remember that?

[Vince]

Oh, I'm trying to remember that.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I know there was a guy who, there was a guy who came on stage and he was like, I've been playing this video game. I forget what it was. Some like Soviet themed video game. And he is, he was like, people in this video game are trying to find me and kill me.

[Maxwell]

I see,

[Vince]

I think I remember it. Yeah, that was, I was like, oh,

[Maxwell]

I gotta go.

[Vince]

But hell yeah. Yeah.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Thanks for still listening to the show, man. I really appreciate that.

[Vince]

Yeah, no, it's great. I, I love listening to the show, especially while I'm like conducting my research. It balances like the logic that I have to put into my studies with like humanity when I listen to like various people talk about their lives and I'm like, oh, yeah, I relate to that too.

[Maxwell]

I'm a human being like them too. So sweet.

[Vince]

Yeah. Thank you for all your work.

[Maxwell]

Good stuff.

[Vince]

Thank you, Vince, Keep checking on.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Thank you, man. Keep, keep doing science.

[Vince]

I, I, I will for as long as I can. I hope to do so. So yeah, talk to you later.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Take care, man. Oh, he hung up. That was Vince. I know it sounds like I hung up on him, but he hung up. But that was Vince. I like Vince. Vince is a scientist. He's a good science person. Science is important. Science is very, very important. So I'm happy that Vince is doing it.

[Joe]

Hey guys, it's Joe, it's Kevin.

[Kevin]

And this is Nick Jonas from hey Jonas.

[Joe]

Do you remember growing up when it felt like every teacher had a favorite student?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Everybody knew who it was.

[Kevin]

Well, I was homeschooled, so I like to think it was me a class of one. Congratulations.

[Joe]

But we're not here to talk about our favorite students. We want to talk about a teacher's real favorite Kleenex tissues. According to Teacher List, Kleenex is the number one facial tissue brand trusted by teachers.

[Kevin]

Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues are silky soft to help prevent skin irritation. And now you can take them anywhere with Kleenex Snap and Go.

[Joe]

Between dance, soccer, school events, and everything else kids have going on after school, Kleenex Snap and Go even is easy to take along. It fits in backpacks, sports bags, or even in the car, so it's ready for whatever comes next. So do the best thing for your kids and teachers. Stock up on the ultimate classroom favorite. Maybe you'll even become the teacher's favorite parent.

[Kevin]

We still haven't settled who would be the favorite in our school. We haven't settled who the favorite brother is either.

[Joe]

For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.

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Getting to a great idea is hard in college. Nonsensical essays, cringe inducing presentations, and seemingly unsolvable problem sets. But then the first thought becomes a final thesis. Jumbled slides transform into a polished keynote. And that midterm assignment gets a lot less mid because the road to great ideas is littered with bad ones. You just have to keep going until something clicks. Great ideas start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com college awkward

[Lyle (Gecko)]

time to ask this, but hey, did

[CarMax Ad Voice]

you download the trail map?

[Lyle (Gecko)]

Yeah, no, I don't need to.

[T Mobile Analyst]

I don't understand. You're trusting your signal out here.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

I'm trusting T Mobile. They have the best network and if we end up in bumtots nowhere, well, we've got T Satellite for backup.

[Maxwell]

Whoa.

[CarMax Ad Voice]

I don't trust my carrier that much.

[Lyle (Gecko)]

We'll just use your phone as a flashlight.

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[Lyle (Gecko)]

Visit t mobile.com hello, folks. How's it going? Welcome to a segment I do on this show called Geck Mail, where people just like you, real human people, real human beings send me emails to therapy. Gecko mail gmail.com and I read them, I ponder them. I see if there's anything that we can learn about society and the world by reading the emails that you people send me. So let's read some of these emails. I'm excited about this. This one's from. Or no. Okay, we'll bleep that out. This is from. This is not from that person. This is from Ryan. Subject line. I accidentally became a masochist. Hey, Gecko. My name is Ryan and I am writing to explain how over the past week, I've started to become a masochist now. Okay. A masochist is one who likes pain inflicted upon themselves. Sadist is the one that likes to inflict pain. Okay, all right. I get those two confused sometimes. This started because I have always been terrified of pain. I've always been scared of things like needles and going to the dentist, but lately I've been wanting to get a lot of tattoos and piercings. My job is to walk around a warehouse all day, so I walk around listening to podcasts. I listened to one where someone explained the way that the brain processes pain, and I started looking at it as just information being sent to my brain rather than something scary that I should avoid. That's crazy. Yeah. Once you start to fucking. Dude. Once you start to realize that everything that you experience in this world is just fucking chemicals and biology and stuff, you become numb to it. You become numb to pain. You become numb to love. You realize love is a chemical. That's bad, though. You shouldn't think like that. You should continue to believe in the beautiful magic of the universe, that it's not all just chemicals. Ice cream. Ice cream is a chemical. Okay. Anyway, that's pretty interesting. After that, I started to work on avoiding the instinct to pull away immediately when something hurt. And I calmed down and realized that even though it hurt, I was fine. So I started seeing how far I could push it by pinching myself and having my girlfriend pop pimples on my back. I usually pull away, but this time I sat there, still and calm. Overall, I think this is a good thing. I have been avoiding going to the dentist because I've been terrified that it will hurt. I have had a cavity since I was 14. I'm 18 now, and I'm missing half my tooth. Surprisingly, it doesn't hurt yet, but it's been a huge source of anxiety waiting to wake up in pain from an abscessed tooth. But now I think I'm ready to go get it pulled and move on. This has relieved a lot of stress for me, and I think it could help others, too. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on it. Peace and love from Kentucky. Hold on, Brandon. I'm gonna cough real quick. We can cut that out or we can leave it in. Let's leave it in. It's okay to cough. We're keeping it real here. Okay. Yeah. This is fascinating. You basically just like, here's. I. Here's the thing. Honestly. Honestly, Ryan, I don't. I don't think I buy this. I don't think I buy this. I have tried myself to use logic on the central nervous system and it's not good. Like, I've like what you're describing. I think you're bullshitting me because again, I've tried to use logic on the central nervous system. You know, I've tried to tell myself logically, I should not feel pain, I should not feel nervousness, I should not feel this and that. The other thing, the central nervous system does not care. You're telling me you told your central nervous system that logically, pain is just information and then it believed you and then it stopped being painful. I don't know if I believe that, but, I mean, that's crazy. I don't think you're a masochist, though. I don't think none of this tells me that you're a masochist. Just that you were able to reason with the central nervous system. But I don't know, man. I don't know if the central nervous system responds to logic like that. I think it just kind of makes stuff hurt. But I don't know, you could probably be. Dude, you could be one of those like magician guys who like, staple to their heads for money. You should. You should. You should not go to college and you should become one of those magician guys that stable shit to their heads for money. That's my official take on this. Let's see here. This is from Anonymous. Hey, Gekko. Emailing with positivity to tell you how good my life is. About five years ago, I quit all my shit to become an artist. I moved into my parents house and started working as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Previously, I had been working in an office that paid semi well. And I lived independently. I hit a wall of boredom with having money and sitting at a desk and decided that working 14 hour shifts on the weekend washing pots was considerably more interesting. I had accepted being poor forever and was almost looking forward to it. Weirdly, my plan worked and I've become a real artist. I went to art school and learned a ton of skills, which I would have seriously struggled to teach myself. Through this, I found a gallery that I am now represented by and show my work everywhere from New York to China. I do this full time and earn a pretty decent wage. I work most days, excluding Christmas, funerals and shit. I love it so much. I always want to say that if someone gave me £1 billion, this guy's from the UK. The first thing I do tomorrow is go to the studio and paint. This is true. Through hard work and luck, I've made the only life I would ever want to live. Every single day stimulates me, makes me truly happy and satisfied. I wanted others to know that this is possible. Put in enough work and everything will be fucking sound. You're the man. I saw you live once in a northern UK city. That'll be Belfast. It was ace. All the best, man. Anonymous Man Hell yeah. I love seeing people living the dream. That's great. I love when. When a motherfucker can live the dream like this. This is awesome. Respect to you. Anonymous Artist man, anyone? Yeah, that's a good litmus test for if you love your life. Like, how much would a billion dollars change it? Still? Go to the studio and paint. That's beautiful. Fuck yeah, dude. What kind of art do you make? What do you do? What is this? Tell me more. Anonymous man, what are you doing in China? I'm sorry. I wish I had better. I wish I had more information to add to this, but I just wanted to. I just wanted to hop on here, read a few emails. I think that's it, folks. I'm Lyle. I'm a gecko. Thank you guys for listening to this podcast. I will be making more of them. We will be having more phone calls and I think. I think things are going well. Let me know if they're not. Let me know if you want me to start talking in a. In a stupid voice, something like that. I could do that. I can start talking in a. I could do the whole thing in a British accent. I could do the whole thing in like a Jamaican patois voice. Is that how you say that? Patois? I'm probably not gonna do that, but let me know if you want me to and I'll and I'll read and I'll read you saying that. And I'll think about it. This was Geck mail Geck. Bless you all. Thanks for listening. See you guys around the universe. Therapy kept goes doing it right, teaching you how to live your life. But he's not really an expert.

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[Interjecting Voice / Producer]

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