We're Here to Help

Episode 216: Weird Here to Help – Full Shamans Only & The Language of Dance

October 10, 2025 | Hosted by Jake Johnson & Gareth Reynolds, featuring Steve Berg & Eric Edelstein

Episode Overview

This "Weird Here to Help" spin-off dives into the stranger side of advice-giving, with Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds bringing in Steve Berg and Eric Edelstein to field listener questions that veer into the paranormal, obtuse, or just delightfully odd. In this special episode, two memorable callers arrive: Isabel, facing a dilemma with her shaman father’s bull-sacrifice ceremony, and Kelsey, wanting to break up with her dance therapist. Throughout, the hosts trade good-natured ribbing, heartfelt anecdotes, and a willingness to seriously consider (and sometimes seriously riff on) each weird situation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spinoff Introduction: Setting the Tone

• "Weird Here to Help" is introduced as a safe space for unusually strange problems.
• Hosts joke about their own limits:

  “Jake and I would not be suited to handle any of the calls on this show. They are certainly different.” — Jesse Thurston (01:26)

• Eric Edelstein and Steve Berg are framed as true connoisseurs of the odd and supernatural.

2. Personal Anecdotes: Past Weddings & Modern Day Spirituality

Time: ~03:05–10:30

• Jake and Eric reminisce about Eric officiating Steve’s wedding at the Burbank Moose Lodge, the affordable quirks of LA venues, and the influence of David Lynch.

  “You put that Lynch magic into the world, it’s going to come back. It’s got paid dividends, Eric.” — Jake Johnson (04:58)

• Discussion about celebrity encounters (meeting David Lynch), music taste (Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers), and goals for simple living and downsizing their book collections.
• Steve describes trying to live simply and letting go of his collection of UFO and occult books:

  “I got rid of a lot of, like, high strange occult books... I already had the information absorbed. It’s in my bones.” — Steve Berg (10:13)

3. Caller #1: Isabel from Boston — Shamanic Initiation & the Ethics of Ritual

Time: 14:33–34:17

The Dilemma

• Isabel’s father is training to become a shaman in a South American rite, which will culminate in a multi-day festival including a bull sacrifice. Isabel, a lifelong vegetarian and medical student, feels unable to witness the sacrifice but wants to find a meaningful way to honor her father’s achievement.

Host Discussion and Advice

• Hosts probe the situation:
  • Is the ceremony rooted in indigenous culture? (Yes—her father is being accepted into a Native South American community.)
  • “Why the hell does the bull have to suffer for this white guy to be a shaman out the gate?” — Gareth (20:27)
• The hosts distinguish between respecting cultural tradition vs. cultural appropriation.
• Both validate Isabel’s discomfort and support her seeking an alternative.

Solutions & Memorable Suggestions

• Nature-Based Bonding:

  “If like, I had a daughter... and they were like, ‘I can’t be here for this. But what we’re going to do is...go by the Madison river and rent a cabin and fly fish all weekend, connect with nature...’ That’s a bond that’s hard to break.” — Jake (23:07)

• Alternative Celebrations: Suggestions range from a "graduation party" to a father-daughter adventure such as hiking, camping, or building bows and arrows together.
• Invite to Podcast:

  “What if I bring you onto a very buzzed about growing podcast for you to talk about your journey into shama, and we talk to you and your dad for 10, 15 minutes here?” — Eric Edelstein (25:51)

• Hosts highlight the values of both honoring the tradition (if possible) and following personal, ethical boundaries.

Notable Quotes

• “Morally, I don’t have an issue with the idea of killing a cow... I just don’t want to be there for it.” — Isabel (22:35)
• “Sometimes beauty is pain. And I think it paid off, Eric.” — Jake (09:12), on sacrificing comfort for something meaningful.
• Advice on assertiveness and boundaries, with invitations for ongoing follow-up:

  “You sound like a pretty young person... your dad’s probably fairly youngish... So, I would say, an added thing would be, you both trying something for the first time... develop a new skill together.” — Jake (25:06)

• “Detach with love.” — recurring advice mantra

4. Caller #2: Kelsey from Chicago — Breaking Up with a Dance Therapist

Time: 36:49–58:53

The Dilemma

• Kelsey enjoys but feels drained by her dance therapist, who blurs professional lines by oversharing and treating sessions like friendly gossip.
• She wants to “break up” but feels guilt doing so.

Host Discussion and Advice

• The hosts empathize deeply, sharing their own stories of paying the “empath tax” and having difficulty with confrontation.

  “There are certain people I know I’m gonna have to take an Epson bath and really blast some obscure Neil Young stuff to feel better.” — Gareth (42:41)

• Both validate her right to prioritize her needs (and her $30 copay!).

Solutions & Memorable Suggestions

• Gentle Honesty: Frame it as a graduation:

  “We got so much out of this dance therapy. We are now able to graduate from it.” — Gareth (45:19)

• In-Person Breakup: Suggests telling her therapist in person at the end of a final session (and then, possibly, dancing out the door).
• Detach with Love:

  “If you keep that, that mantra in your head of ‘I’m detaching with love’, I don’t think you can go wrong.” — Jake (49:46)

• Dance Out the Emotions: Entertaining the idea of making this an actual dance break-up, with humor (“What if right after, you just dance out the door?” — Gareth, 47:34).
• Unconventional Music Choices: To distract or amuse, joking about choosing aggressively bad music (Smash Mouth, Limp Bizkit) for the last session.
• Song Recommendations:

  “If you have nothing, I’d recommend maybe a ‘Father Figure’ by George Michael, which is a great song.” — Jake (54:51)
  “Carole King: ‘Cause it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late...’” — Gareth (55:13)

Notable Quotes

• “This person is draining your energy. And, yeah, it’s a loaded term, but energy vampires are very real.” — Gareth (42:41)
• “The more I hear about this therapist, the more I feel like, take any guilt, ball it up into a little wad and throw it to planet Saturn.” — Jake (53:53)
• “Let your body do the talking... Let the language of dance.” — Jake (56:11)
• “Perhaps this is an invitation for you to take this giant step toward standing up for yourself and how you want to be treated.” — Gareth (47:53)

Final Encouragements

• Both hosts invite Kelsey to update the show after she makes her move.
• Emphasis on self-care and setting boundaries, delivered with their characteristic warmth and humor:

  “You got two giant guys that have your back anytime, anywhere.” — Gareth (58:35)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Boundaries:

  “For years, it was the magic of yes, saying yes. And now for me, I’ve really found the magic of no and not feeling resentful.” — Gareth (47:53)

• Joking About Boston Tours as an Alternative Ritual:

  “Take him on like a trip by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s house. I’m kidding. I’m sorry.” — Jake (31:01)

• The Language of Dance:

  “Well, dance is a language, you know, it’s a language.” — Jake (51:38)

• Final, Affirming Send-off:

  “You know, you’re on our team... you just joined a gang. Again, light here.” — Jake (58:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Spin-off Framing & Personal Bits: 01:26–10:30
• Caller #1 (Isabel, Shamanic Dilemma): 14:33–34:17
  • Dilemma Introduction: 14:33
  • Hosts probe indigenous authenticity: 18:06
  • Alternative celebration brainstorming: 23:07, 25:06, 25:51
  • Invite to future episode: 25:51, 27:51
• Caller #2 (Kelsey, Dance Therapist): 36:49–58:53
  • Dilemma Introduction: 39:10
  • Discussion of boundaries/energy vampires: 42:20, 42:41
  • Break-up advice and dance exit jokes: 45:19, 47:34, 51:11
  • Music recommendations: 54:51, 55:13
  • Wrap-up and encouragement: 58:11–58:53

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is rich in humor, warmth, and earnest empathy. The hosts are playful but deeply respectful, especially when discussing other cultures and listeners’ emotions. They combine practical advice with the comedic “weirdness” their listeners expect, making even strange problems feel relatable and valid.

In summary:
This episode blends heartfelt listening, quirky stories, and genuinely thoughtful advice, helping callers honor both themselves and their loved ones—even when the solutions involve sacred bulls or a cathartic dance goodbye. The hosts encourage personal boundaries, creative problem-solving, self-care, and above all, having a little fun even when life gets weird.