0
SPEAKER_01
Hello?
0
SPEAKER_00
Hello!
0
SPEAKER_01
Oh my gosh, hello.
0
SPEAKER_00
What is your name?
0
SPEAKER_01
AJ.
0
SPEAKER_00
AJ?
0
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_00
What is happening, AJ?
0
SPEAKER_00
How is life going for you?
0
SPEAKER_01
Life s so good.
0
SPEAKER_01
I move into a new apartment in like four days.
0
SPEAKER_01
I am in bed and I just drank a margarita and two glasses of wine.
0
SPEAKER_00
You just drank a margarita and two glasses of wine by yourself?
0
SPEAKER_00
Are you alone getting drunk?
0
SPEAKER_01
I am alone.
0
SPEAKER_01
I live with my grandma right now, but I move out soon.
0
SPEAKER_00
That s cool.
0
SPEAKER_00
Did your grandma join you to get fucking wasted?
0
SPEAKER_01
Dude, I wish she would.
0
SPEAKER_01
I wish she would get wasted and smoke a joint or something, but no, she doesn t like any of that stuff.
0
SPEAKER_00
I m trying to quit weed, I ve decided.
0
SPEAKER_00
I m going to talk about it publicly so I m held accountable.
0
SPEAKER_00
I m quitting for a week, I m going to see how I feel.
0
SPEAKER_00
I think the problem is it activates my eating binges.
0
SPEAKER_00
You know, I mean I had a crud, a fucking crazy one the other day.
0
SPEAKER_00
I was eating Nesquik vanilla milk and fruit gushers and Skittles and it was just insane.
0
SPEAKER_00
It was just bad.
0
SPEAKER_01
Whatever, this isn t about me.
0
SPEAKER_01
No, I get it.
0
SPEAKER_01
I ve been smoking weed since I was 14 and I stopped for the first time for like two weeks a couple months ago and my brain just cleared like the fog was gone and I want to start doing that again.
0
SPEAKER_01
So bad, but I kind of use it to like help me with anxiety and stuff like that.
0
SPEAKER_01
Like right now I have been calling you for months.
0
SPEAKER_01
I listened so much so I m like,
0
SPEAKER_01
sweaty, shaken right now, but I m very excited.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_00
AJ, what s up?
0
SPEAKER_00
Um, well, you texted me something.
0
SPEAKER_00
You wanted to talk to me about how your ex is stalking you.
0
SPEAKER_01
Oh my gosh.
0
SPEAKER_01
I forgot.
0
SPEAKER_01
I try to forget about that when I can.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_01
Well, we don t have to talk about it if you don t want to.
0
SPEAKER_01
No, it s interesting.
0
SPEAKER_01
And I think that talking about it might help cause I really never do, but.
0
SPEAKER_01
Um, yeah, he was, I don t know.
0
SPEAKER_01
He was a sweet person.
0
SPEAKER_01
We met over the summer and I think religion is an awesome thing.
0
SPEAKER_01
I think it s cool to have something to believe in.
0
SPEAKER_01
It s not like my thing, but I m open to it, you know?
0
SPEAKER_01
And he was very religious and that kind of, I don t know, it got in the way of stuff.
0
SPEAKER_01
His parents didn t like me cause I have tattoos and I don t know, it just got kind of strange.
0
SPEAKER_01
I went to a Bible study and got pretty uncomfortable.
0
SPEAKER_01
So,
0
SPEAKER_00
So, uh, how did you meet this young Christian boy?
0
SPEAKER_01
Tinder.
0
SPEAKER_01
Always Tinder.
0
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
0
SPEAKER_01
I know.
0
SPEAKER_00
And, um, I mean, you don t sound, I don t know you, but you don t sound like you are the religious type.
0
SPEAKER_00
No, not at all.
0
SPEAKER_00
So then, what was it that drew you two together?
0
SPEAKER_01
Um, he was really...
0
SPEAKER_01
I love a mustache and I love a mullet.
0
SPEAKER_01
And he had those.
0
SPEAKER_01
And so like, it was a very like immediate physical attraction.
0
SPEAKER_01
And I don t know, I try and be open-minded.
0
SPEAKER_01
So it kind of like intrigued me when he said that he was religious because I was like, I don t know, like I d never really been with anybody or like dated anybody that was.
0
SPEAKER_01
So I was like, let me maybe give this a try.
0
SPEAKER_01
You know, he seemed nice and respectful enough, you know.
0
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_00
When you re very physically attracted to someone, red flags just become quirks.
0
SPEAKER_01
Very much so.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_01
And then you like meet their parents and I have like a, I have a cool little tattoo and it s from like an artist that I like on Instagram.
0
SPEAKER_01
And it says something about like dancing with devils and it s a little devil with cowboy boots dancing around.
0
SPEAKER_01
And that was a immediate, like I walked in, met his parents and his dad like started a discussion about that.
0
SPEAKER_01
And I just knew it was going to be.
0
SPEAKER_01
You know, getting picked apart.
0
SPEAKER_00
What did his dad say?
0
SPEAKER_01
Well, basically that he would like for me to add to the tattoo and make it something about finding God.
0
SPEAKER_01
And I had known him for a month at that point, you know, so I was like, and I feel, I don t want to expose this man s, you know, personal life, but his dad was almost a big reason why we kind of like stopped doing everything.
0
SPEAKER_01
Cause he would get really intense.
0
SPEAKER_01
Like he, uh,
0
SPEAKER_01
His dad was the big Bible-thumper guy.
0
SPEAKER_01
He kind of thought that God spoke through him to other people, so he would baptize somebody.
0
SPEAKER_01
I don t know how Christianity works too well, but I don t think you could just... I don t know.
0
SPEAKER_01
I just don t know if a civilian can just baptize another person, but he was out there doing that.
0
SPEAKER_00
And so, um, what do you think it was that drew him to you?
0
SPEAKER_01
I think, I know for a fact, um, I m sorry, I m out of breath.
0
SPEAKER_01
I m nervous.
0
SPEAKER_01
Uh, he was definitely overprotected.
0
SPEAKER_01
I think just throughout life, you know, like he opened up to me about some like curiosity with sexuality, you know, which like, I m super open to having my partner explore, you know, especially as like a guy, you know,
0
SPEAKER_01
I feel like a lot of people aren t able to explore that, so I was really open with that, but... I don t know, he just never really, I think, had been with someone, like, who was open-minded.
0
SPEAKER_01
He only dated Christian girls or been single with his parents all the time, you know?
0
SPEAKER_00
Did you put your thumb in his ass?
0
SPEAKER_01
I put my whole strap on his ass.
0
SPEAKER_01
I feel like, yeah, that s always a thing.
0
SPEAKER_01
I don t know why, but like, I don t know if it s a vibe I give off, but there s probably like three or four guys that they just like all match on Tinder and the first message is like, peg?
0
SPEAKER_01
Question mark.
0
SPEAKER_00
Are you, are you a lot of guys like introduction to pegging?
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, actually very much so, which I don t mind, you know, as long as they re super comfy with it.
0
SPEAKER_01
It s something I like, cause like I m bi.
0
SPEAKER_00
Do you take pride in that?
0
SPEAKER_01
Very much.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, it s like more so pride, but I guess like people feel comfortable enough with me to like open up in that way.
0
SPEAKER_01
But it s also like, yeah, just fuck that dude in the ass, you know?
0
SPEAKER_00
That d be sick if you did it while you were wearing a devil costume.
0
SPEAKER_01
Oh my god.
0
SPEAKER_01
I know.
0
SPEAKER_00
Imagine his dad walking in on that, he would have a heart attack.
0
SPEAKER_01
No, I actually, I felt really, as soon as we broke up, it was right before Halloween.
0
SPEAKER_01
And then I posted a picture on Instagram with me and like this really sexy, provocative man costume.
0
SPEAKER_01
And I was like, he s going to think that that s pointed towards him in some way.
0
SPEAKER_00
So anyway, I mean, this guy turns out to be bad news though.
0
SPEAKER_01
Bad news bears.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
0
SPEAKER_01
He, uh, I don t know.
0
SPEAKER_01
We, God, I m trying to think about it.
0
SPEAKER_01
Oh yeah.
0
SPEAKER_01
So he, while we were dating, subscribed to some people s only fans that he had previously been hooking up with.
0
SPEAKER_01
And sex work is awesome, I love that, but I don t really love the consumption of sex work while you re dating somebody.
0
SPEAKER_01
For me personally, it s a little boundary, you know?
0
SPEAKER_01
And he knew that beforehand, you know, and so we like talked about it, and then it ended up being that he didn t unsubscribe when he said he did, so.
0
SPEAKER_01
We broke up and I m like, immediately I was just being harassed like day and night with calls and like commenting on my tick talk from private accounts and just saying heinous stuff, not being very Christian.
0
SPEAKER_01
Like, you know, I don t know.
0
SPEAKER_00
Hmm.
0
SPEAKER_00
How long ago was all this?
0
SPEAKER_01
Uh, we broke up in October, I guess.
0
SPEAKER_01
It s been happening on and off.
0
SPEAKER_01
It was very heavy through November and it kind of,
0
SPEAKER_01
It s lightened up a little bit in December.
0
SPEAKER_01
Um, yeah, I m actually back with my like long-term ex that was from before him who travels around cause he s a firefighter and cuts down trees and puts down those crazy Canada fires.
0
SPEAKER_01
So back with him, back with doing all that long distance stuff, trying to avoid my ex.
0
SPEAKER_00
That s cool.
0
SPEAKER_00
That guy definitely sounds like he has a mustache and a mullet.
0
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, the firefighter has a better mustache, better mullet.
0
SPEAKER_00
Do you fuck him in the ass?
0
SPEAKER_00
Back on track.
0
SPEAKER_01
I ve asked.
0
SPEAKER_01
He s open to it, but it s not something I ever want to push, you know?
0
SPEAKER_01
If it happens, it happens.
0
SPEAKER_00
So how did you rekindle with the firefighter after so much time?
0
SPEAKER_01
Well, it s crazy because life s crazy.
0
SPEAKER_01
We, me and the Christian man were on the phone breaking up.
0
SPEAKER_01
While we were on the phone, he
1
SPEAKER_00
And it was like, hey, I m coming back to, I live in Ohio.
1
SPEAKER_00
He was like, I m coming back to Ohio from Washington State after six months and would love to see you.
1
SPEAKER_00
I ve been thinking about you.
1
SPEAKER_00
And so, yeah, I guess the Christian boy chose a bad time to fuck up and watch his ex s porn because the firefighter texted him.
1
SPEAKER_00
I don t know.
1
SPEAKER_00
I think that that s the person, like, I really, you know, he feels like the person I m supposed to be with.
1
SPEAKER_00
We ve been together for a while and split up over the summer just because distance, you know, can get to you, I think.
1
SPEAKER_03
So this, the, the Kristen guys, he s still like, he s not like showing up at your fucking house and shit, is he?
1
SPEAKER_00
Not showing up at my house.
1
SPEAKER_00
Just like.
1
SPEAKER_00
A lot of hurt.
1
SPEAKER_00
He did try and merry Christmas his way back into my life.
1
SPEAKER_03
What does it mean to merry Christmas your way back into somebody s life?
1
SPEAKER_00
I think it s, you know, when I guess you re no longer on speaking terms with someone and a holiday or special occasion comes up and it s an excuse to be like, hey, haven t talked to you in a while.
1
SPEAKER_00
Happy birthday.
1
SPEAKER_00
Merry Christmas.
1
SPEAKER_02
Smart.
1
SPEAKER_02
Smart.
1
SPEAKER_00
I got other stuff to worry about.
1
SPEAKER_00
I m in nursing school right now.
1
SPEAKER_00
I m moving to my apartment out of my grandma s.
1
SPEAKER_03
That s cool.
1
SPEAKER_03
Well, you and the, we got a firefighter at an EMT.
1
SPEAKER_03
That s pretty good.
1
SPEAKER_03
You guys can make a, you can deliver your own baby.
1
SPEAKER_03
You don t even need to go to a doctor.
1
SPEAKER_00
Absolutely.
1
SPEAKER_00
I m actually certified to do that.
1
SPEAKER_00
And I always hope that like one day I get the call.
1
SPEAKER_00
I would love to deliver a baby in the back of my truck.
1
SPEAKER_00
Not my own, but yeah.
1
SPEAKER_03
I ll take it to the chat for questions.
1
SPEAKER_03
Does the chat have any questions for AJ about anything at all?
1
SPEAKER_03
Life, being an EMT, being a human being on the planet Earth?
1
SPEAKER_00
I cannot believe I m on here, by the way.
1
SPEAKER_00
I m so very excited.
1
SPEAKER_03
Let s see.
1
SPEAKER_03
Someone wants to know what the best flavor Pop-Tart is, in your opinion.
1
SPEAKER_00
Oh, uh, s mores.
1
SPEAKER_00
I don t eat crust on Pop-Tarts or any other thing that s breaded, but I like the s more Pop-Tart.
1
SPEAKER_03
Uh, someone says, how do I pitch my wife, uh, on pegging me?
1
SPEAKER_00
Uh, honestly, I think your best way to go is maybe like start with ass play on her.
1
SPEAKER_00
I don t want to get too graphic, you know, but some light ass play on her and then maybe
1
SPEAKER_00
discuss switching it around while the heat s going.
1
SPEAKER_03
Somebody said, what is your most embarrassing EMT story?
1
SPEAKER_03
And then somebody said, what is your craziest EMT story?
1
SPEAKER_03
I don t know which one you want to cover, or if you ve got one that covers both.
1
SPEAKER_00
I don t know if I ve done anything embarrassing.
1
SPEAKER_00
I don t know.
1
SPEAKER_00
I ve been projectile vomited on.
1
SPEAKER_00
I ve had to swim around in people s blood and poo.
1
SPEAKER_00
I think like I guess like the most entertaining runs I get are my dementia patients.
1
SPEAKER_00
I love people like I love getting a 10 p.m.
1
SPEAKER_00
sundowner call and it s like a woman who s either mean and scratching at me or she s quietly sitting there like singing a really scary tune, you know?
1
SPEAKER_00
Like, I love it.
1
SPEAKER_03
I love my dementia runs.
1
SPEAKER_03
Someone wants to know, and this is a good question.
1
SPEAKER_03
Are you, how do you feel about like the stalking?
1
SPEAKER_03
Do you think it will get worse?
1
SPEAKER_00
Um, I don t feel like it will get worse.
1
SPEAKER_00
Uh, I do feel like he at heart is a good person.
1
SPEAKER_00
I think that I was really the first person that he had like a truly deep relationship with and felt like he told me I was the first person he could fully be himself around.
1
SPEAKER_00
So I think just like the intensity of that really got to him.
1
SPEAKER_00
So, you know, I m trying to be forgiving.
1
SPEAKER_00
I really don t judge him too much for it.
1
So.
1
SPEAKER_03
Well AJ, is there anything else you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?
1
SPEAKER_00
Thank you for having me.
1
SPEAKER_00
I appreciate you.
1
SPEAKER_00
I listen anytime that you stream.
1
SPEAKER_00
Have a good night.
1
SPEAKER_03
Have a good night and enjoy.
1
SPEAKER_03
Hey, pour a margarita out for me, huh?
1
SPEAKER_03
I ll pour two.
1
SPEAKER_03
Alright.
1
SPEAKER_03
Rock and roll.
1
SPEAKER_03
Alright, take care AJ.
1
SPEAKER_00
Rock and roll.
1
SPEAKER_00
Bye bye Lara.
1
SPEAKER_00
See ya.
1
SPEAKER_03
Man, it really would be sick to drink a margarita alone in my room right now.
1
SPEAKER_03
Should I?
1
SPEAKER_03
Ah.
1
SPEAKER_03
Hello?
1
SPEAKER_03
Hey there.
1
SPEAKER_03
Oh my goodness, is this the guy?
1
SPEAKER_03
Yes sir, to whom am I speaking with?
1
SPEAKER_03
Hi, my name s Peter.
1
SPEAKER_03
I m gonna assume you cut out a little bit, but I m gonna assume you said Seymour.
1
SPEAKER_03
Yeah.
1
SPEAKER_03
How often do you get people saying, feed me, Seymour?
1
SPEAKER_03
You don t get that reference.
1
SPEAKER_03
All right.
1
SPEAKER_03
Let s we ll save it for the people who do.
1
SPEAKER_03
All right.
1
SPEAKER_03
Honestly, it s kind of funny.
1
SPEAKER_03
It s funny that you even thought it was.
1
SPEAKER_03
It s funny that you even thought it was a reference, because if I didn t know that that was a reference and somebody said that to me, I wouldn t say I don t get that reference.
1
SPEAKER_03
I would say, what the fuck are you talking about?
1
SPEAKER_03
I wouldn t it wouldn t even register that it was a reference.
1
SPEAKER_01
Oh, man.
1
SPEAKER_03
Uh, dude, I m a little shaky right now because... Yeah, saying oh man is the perfect response to any of the bullshit I just said.
1
SPEAKER_03
So what s up Seymour?
1
SPEAKER_03
How s life?
1
SPEAKER_01
Uh, life is actually pretty good for the most part.
1
SPEAKER_01
I don t know if you saw that I sent you a text message after I tried giving you a call.
1
SPEAKER_01
Essentially I wanted to discuss a little dilemma I ve been having between me and my family.
1
SPEAKER_01
I sent him the message.
1
SPEAKER_01
I m 26 years old.
1
SPEAKER_01
Uh, and I come from like a Catholic family background.
1
SPEAKER_01
And, um, so I m 26 years old and like, I, I do smoke weed and I do vape.
1
SPEAKER_01
And like, I, I ve gone like through the whole thing, I guess you could say like the whole, the whole cycle of, you know, trying out marijuana, getting addicted to it, to getting obsessed with it.
1
SPEAKER_01
And to the point where like, you know, I had to, you know, I ve never been to rehab or anything like that, but I ve, you know, basically tried forcing myself to stop.
1
SPEAKER_01
And I guess since, you know, here I am still doing it, technically it didn t really work, but ultimately it s like, you know, I control or at least don t allow marijuana to control my life as much as it used to.
1
SPEAKER_01
Whereas like, you know, it went to where I m like, you know, I m smoking like two, three times a day.
1
SPEAKER_01
And so like, you know, I just smoke too.
1
SPEAKER_01
Uh, if I feel like it, I will, if not, whatever, you know, I don t need it.
1
SPEAKER_01
And so it s like, and throughout this whole process, I ve, you know, I ve tried discussing it with my family because, you know, in my family, you know, we try not to, we try to, at least I try to be honest with my family because, you know, with your family, it s your only family, you know, if they can t be honest or, you know,
1
SPEAKER_01
even trust your family, then who really can you trust out in the world?
1
SPEAKER_03
So then what would the conflict be?
1
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
1
SPEAKER_01
Well, for my family, I mean, to them, basically marijuana is just a no, no.
1
SPEAKER_01
It is basically a sin.
1
SPEAKER_01
And like, you know, to them, they see it as like a very evil thing or like a very addictive thing, which I mean, yes, it is addictive, but
1
SPEAKER_01
You know, I believe it s not the only thing that people can really get addicted to, or even the worst thing.
1
SPEAKER_01
Not to, not to put doubt that, you know, I believe marijuana can do its work.
1
SPEAKER_03
So, so, so first of all, what s your name again?
1
SPEAKER_03
Seymour.
1
SPEAKER_01
Seymour.
1
SPEAKER_03
We did the whole thing.
1
SPEAKER_03
That s a hilarious fake name to pick out of all fake names.
1
SPEAKER_03
I can t believe I asked you your name after we did the whole feed me Seymour thing.
1
SPEAKER_03
You know why I asked you that?
1
SPEAKER_03
Because I have very bad short-term memory.
1
SPEAKER_03
Seymour, you know why I have very bad short-term memory?
1
SPEAKER_03
Is because of weed it s cuz of weed probably I don t know I m not a fucking scientist, but Is the conflict here really with your parents because like I don t So obviously, you know, they re they re super Catholic and they think that The devil really did create the lettuce which you may have he might he may have he might have
1
SPEAKER_01
um yeah so is the conflict just that you can t talk to them about this this addiction that you have and that makes you feel kind of isolated yes and no because again like yes i mean i m mainly just using the you know me using weed as kind of like the the basis as to what the real issue is
2
SPEAKER_01
is like, my main issue is the fact that, you know, I have difficulty, you know, expressing what I really feel in my life, you know, cause I, uh, not to get too much into my, my personal life again.
2
SPEAKER_01
Cause again, like I m not trying, I m trying not to swerve too far off the topic here.
2
SPEAKER_00
Fucking go crazy, man.
2
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_01
So essentially like, you know, my parents divorced when I was three, I grew up in a house with four sisters, no brothers.
2
SPEAKER_01
I m the second youngest child.
2
SPEAKER_01
And, uh, you know, I think the divorce, you know, I think that the divorce kind of took a toll between me and my, my siblings, because throughout majority of our, of our childhood, you know, we ve always had arguments or fights, you know, majority of them with, with my mother, some of them with my father, but ultimately, you know, here we are, we re all growing up, you know, we re all adults here.
2
SPEAKER_01
And we all still have each other in our lives.
2
SPEAKER_01
I still have my mother.
2
SPEAKER_01
I still have my father.
2
SPEAKER_01
All my siblings, they re not doing bad.
2
SPEAKER_01
They all have jobs.
2
SPEAKER_01
They re doing their own thing.
2
SPEAKER_01
They re doing good.
2
SPEAKER_01
And that s, you know, I believe, I like to believe that I m doing as well.
2
SPEAKER_00
So, so Seymour, so, so, uh, again, and all of that is, is great.
2
SPEAKER_00
I m glad that everyone s doing good.
2
SPEAKER_00
So, uh, you know, in that case, when you, when you told me just now, you were like, I think weed is just a, a side note to what the actual problem is.
2
SPEAKER_00
Right.
2
SPEAKER_00
You said something along those lines.
2
SPEAKER_00
Am I correct?
2
SPEAKER_00
So tell me, you know, in as plain words as you can, what, what is the actual problem?
2
SPEAKER_01
I believe I m.
2
SPEAKER_01
I believe I m having issues ultimately just, I guess, finding a reason to stay around my family.
2
SPEAKER_01
Does that make any sense?
2
SPEAKER_00
Finding a reason to stay around your family.
2
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
2
SPEAKER_01
Like, I mean, again, like I don t want to, you know, confuse anything.
2
SPEAKER_01
Like I love my family with all my heart.
2
SPEAKER_01
You know, that s, that s my family.
2
SPEAKER_01
And I understand that we all have our personal problems.
2
SPEAKER_01
I know I have my problems that I ve caused.
2
SPEAKER_01
and they have problems that everybody has caused.
2
SPEAKER_01
But, you know, I feel like, you know, ultimately, why should we have to argue with each other and, you know,
2
SPEAKER_01
leave on bad terms if we still have each other in our lives.
2
SPEAKER_00
So, Seymour, you phrased this in a very interesting way.
2
SPEAKER_00
And I don t know if you did that intentionally.
2
SPEAKER_00
You phrased it as, I need to find a reason to be around my family.
2
SPEAKER_00
It s a very specific way to phrase what you re talking about, right?
2
SPEAKER_01
Again, I know I m beating around the bush because, again, I have issues
2
SPEAKER_01
pulling out the real truth because it s like, it s my own personal problems.
2
SPEAKER_01
I guess trauma, if you want to call it that again, I m, I m beating around the bush because like, I, I never really had opportunities or, you know, the option to actually save my, what I feel.
2
SPEAKER_01
Well, what I,
2
SPEAKER_00
You know, well look, here s the thing.
2
SPEAKER_00
Whatever you want to say about however you feel when you re talking on here, you know, it s up to you.
2
SPEAKER_00
You can say whatever you want or not say whatever you don t want to say.
2
SPEAKER_00
But okay, when you say find a reason, let me ask you, do you like your family?
2
SPEAKER_00
Do you enjoy being around your family?
2
SPEAKER_00
Because here s the deal.
2
SPEAKER_00
You re 26 now.
2
SPEAKER_00
You re an adult.
2
SPEAKER_00
I assume you have a job and you make your own money and you don t, you know.
2
SPEAKER_00
You re not living off of your parents financially.
2
SPEAKER_00
As an adult, you get to make your own decisions about what people you spend time with and allow into your life.
2
SPEAKER_00
It s not your fault that you grew up the way that you did and that it did whatever it did to you.
2
SPEAKER_00
But, you know, you re an adult now and you get to make your own decisions as to who you want to hang out with.
2
SPEAKER_00
And so I ask you, with that power that is bestowed upon you, and you can tell me the truth or you can not tell me whatever you don t want to tell me, but I ask you, plainly, you know, do you want to hang out with your family?
2
SPEAKER_00
Yes.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay, so if you re telling me that you re looking for a reason to be around your family, you ve just now produced the best possible reason to be around your family, which is because you want to.
2
SPEAKER_01
Right.
2
SPEAKER_00
So where s the conflict coming from within that?
2
SPEAKER_00
Because you gave me, you didn t just, you didn t even pause when you said that.
2
SPEAKER_00
You didn t even have to think about it.
2
SPEAKER_00
You gave me a resounding yes.
2
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
2
SPEAKER_01
Um, I don t know.
2
SPEAKER_01
I m, uh, I guess, I don t know.
2
SPEAKER_01
I feel like I m the, the thing is, is like, you know, it s like whenever, uh, whenever you have good and then you have your bad, you know, you can t have one without the other.
2
SPEAKER_01
Right.
2
SPEAKER_01
And it s like, and like, you know,
2
SPEAKER_01
I don t know, maybe it s because like, personally, I feel like, you know, I feel like I m a family oriented person, you know, to me, it s like, I hold my family, not in a high pedestal, but I value them very much.
2
SPEAKER_01
Because that s, I guess that s all, you know, personality wise aside, I guess that s just like, instinctively, that s how I feel.
2
SPEAKER_01
You know, it s more like- Do you just get a big, do you just get like a giant- I always feel compassion.
2
SPEAKER_01
Get a giant- I always feel compassion for the other person.
2
SPEAKER_00
box vape with THC and roll up onto your parents house and just blow up big fucking cloud and all their faces and go this is who I am and you must accept me for it.
2
SPEAKER_00
No, I don t actually know.
2
SPEAKER_01
No, I mean, okay, so I m if if I were to actually do that, like right now,
2
SPEAKER_01
My parent, my, okay.
2
SPEAKER_01
Planet Patriot.
2
SPEAKER_01
I actually live right now with my mother and one of my sisters in the house.
2
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_00
Oh, see.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_01
So you, so you live with your family?
2
SPEAKER_01
Yes.
2
SPEAKER_01
No, no.
2
SPEAKER_01
I, I should, I should have implied that I still live currently with my family.
2
SPEAKER_01
Cause you know, of course, yes, I do have a job and yes, I do make decent amount of money, but I m still trying to make my way, I guess, more financially stable.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_00
I m in the process, you know, yeah.
2
SPEAKER_01
And of course, and I was like, you know, there s that.
2
SPEAKER_01
And of course, like living in the house, we re always going to meet butting heads with each other.
2
SPEAKER_01
But with my family, it s like, it always seems like we want to like, instead of talking about it, we re just going to argue.
2
SPEAKER_01
And so we either, somebody walks away or the cops have to be called.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_00
All right now.
2
SPEAKER_00
All right.
2
SPEAKER_00
Um,
2
SPEAKER_01
If you want I can kind of paint a picture is like what you said earlier about me, you know Just bathing in front of the house Well, I was I was just I was just trying to be funny and it didn t work but I Well, okay, you ve all right.
2
SPEAKER_00
You ve you ve introduced several new elements into this conversation now that are peaking my my curiosity is I m You know
2
SPEAKER_00
Well, okay, you live with your parents, which is fine, dude.
2
SPEAKER_00
If you re like, you know trying to find a Nest or a core of financial stability I think living with your parents if you have the opportunity to do so and if it doesn t drive you fucking crazy To the point where you re suffering every day and you should do it, but you mentioned just now That things will escalate to the point where the cops are called Yeah, so like
2
SPEAKER_01
When I say like, like, Oh, it s like hardheaded, hardheadedness runs in the family.
2
SPEAKER_01
I know I m very hardheaded and I get it from both my mother and my father.
2
SPEAKER_01
Like it s like, you know, like, you know, the same, like it s my way or the highway.
2
SPEAKER_01
Well, like not to, you know, specifically like, okay.
2
SPEAKER_01
Especially with my mother, it s, it s my way or that s it.
2
SPEAKER_01
It s either you, you, either it s my way or you re at my house or I m going to call the cops and have them take you off my house.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_01
And, and she has done that.
2
SPEAKER_01
I want to say at least twice and once to me and once to one of my siblings, uh, and the time where I was not actually around, I was living on my own.
2
SPEAKER_00
Seymour Seymour get Seymour.
2
SPEAKER_00
Get with me on a few things.
2
SPEAKER_00
Um, okay.
2
SPEAKER_00
All right.
2
SPEAKER_00
Well, let s talk about, you know, your whole financial stability thing.
2
SPEAKER_00
Are you, do you have a job?
2
SPEAKER_00
Yes.
2
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
2
SPEAKER_00
What do you do?
2
SPEAKER_01
I work in a warehouse.
2
SPEAKER_01
I put like, you know, merchandise on a pallet to be put onto a truck, you know, reverse stocking, something like that.
2
SPEAKER_01
Cool.
3
SPEAKER_00
Cool.
3
SPEAKER_00
And do you, do you make enough that if you, if you wanted to, you could move out?
3
SPEAKER_01
Ideally, I want to say, okay, well, it s a little confusing.
3
SPEAKER_01
Look, I had to put, put a more human details here.
3
SPEAKER_01
Uh, I m currently working at this job ultimately until next year for like next summer.
3
SPEAKER_01
Cause I currently I m in a relationship right now with a girl and, uh, we ve been together about two years coming this, uh, this next May.
3
SPEAKER_01
Great.
3
SPEAKER_01
And she actually, she, she s from my hometown, but she ultimately, she actually moved to a bigger city.
3
SPEAKER_01
I m not going to say where.
3
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
3
SPEAKER_01
Um, are you thinking about moving in with her?
3
SPEAKER_01
I am, but it s, we got together in the relationship, like only a few months before she got offered the job and she had immediately moved.
3
SPEAKER_01
And I ve done the whole like, you know, like, Hey, let s go move to get moving together.
3
SPEAKER_01
It s going to be great.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, all of a sudden,
3
SPEAKER_01
no planning whatsoever and that has backfired on me three times already and so it s like I ve already talked with her about it before she moved I know I do want to move in with her however it s like because she s moving over there specifically for her job you know I told her like you know we re in a new relationship
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, I m not saying that I don t want to go with you.
3
SPEAKER_01
I do dude.
3
SPEAKER_00
Can I just see more?
3
SPEAKER_00
Can I say something?
3
SPEAKER_00
Can I can I say something to you and I hope you don t find this Offensive because this is an actual there s a thing I want to get your take on this entire phone call you have said I don t know if this is just how you talk or maybe you re just like frazzled because we re Speaking in a in a in a public
3
SPEAKER_00
setting here, but the way that you re talking, I m picturing you right now like a mad scientist with like pulling your hair out.
3
SPEAKER_00
You sound extremely stressed and frazzled and I just want to know if that s like only because we re talking on a podcast right now or if that s just how you are because you sound like you re jumping.
3
SPEAKER_01
Well, okay.
3
SPEAKER_01
Look, it s, it s a picture of things like, dude, I ve been listening to your podcast since the last, uh, this last summer.
3
SPEAKER_01
And I, it ultimately have been enjoying it very much.
3
SPEAKER_01
And I have like, I have like major stage fright, you know, if I know I m being recorded or other people are listening to, I get, you know, tensed up.
3
SPEAKER_01
And sometimes I have to like pace myself whenever I have to, you know, speak.
3
SPEAKER_01
That s, that s all that really is.
3
SPEAKER_00
Okay.
3
SPEAKER_00
Okay, cool.
3
SPEAKER_00
I just want to make sure I just that s totally fine.
3
SPEAKER_00
I just want to make sure that it wasn t it didn t have anything to do with like all the stuff that you re like stress over the things that you are talking about.
3
SPEAKER_01
You re doing fine.
3
SPEAKER_01
You re doing great.
3
SPEAKER_00
Well, anyway, I hope I didn t make you feel self-conscious just now, but you know, anyway, I mean to get to the root here, so you re, so you, this girl that you re in a relationship with, you re kind of, you,
3
SPEAKER_00
because here s the thing right is like you I I m I you know look I fucking lived in my mom s basement for two years trying to build up a Financial nest egg and and work on stuff and and you know do all do the whole thing I think it s a good idea right for some but but I
3
SPEAKER_00
I think it s a good idea if that if you re being very intentional about it in that way But there does come a point where like you gotta Be in your mind thinking about you know, what s next?
3
SPEAKER_00
What s your exit plan?
3
SPEAKER_00
Especially it.
3
SPEAKER_00
I mean, I m very lucky.
3
SPEAKER_00
My mom is isn t is is a great person but you know, it s like especially if you re if you re a
3
SPEAKER_00
the police.
3
SPEAKER_00
You haven t expressly mentioned that you are miserable, but you know, I mean, are you, is this, is this situation that you re in?
3
SPEAKER_00
Is it, is it, is it horrible every day?
3
SPEAKER_00
I mean, where, where, where are you at?
3
SPEAKER_01
I mean, yeah, I mean, yeah, on the surface it does seem horrible, but like, again, like when you have your, your good, you have your bad and like, um, I m only talking about the bad things here.
3
SPEAKER_01
Like again, like, you know,
3
SPEAKER_01
I do have good moments with my family.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, we had a good Christmas this past weekend.
3
SPEAKER_00
I m talking about just like the like living with with them, you know, because, you know, here s let me tell you something, and I don t care who the fuck you are and who your family is.
3
SPEAKER_00
This there s no way that this isn t universally true.
3
SPEAKER_00
Your relationship with your family is going to be a lot better when you move out, because I m a firm believer of absence, making the heart grow fonder.
3
SPEAKER_00
You know what I m saying?
3
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
3
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
3
SPEAKER_01
No, you re right.
3
SPEAKER_01
I mean, when I first moved out, I mean, I was like, you know, on cloud nine, I was ecstatic, but I was also, you know, like 19 at the time and very inexperienced.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, I, I take, I take my good with my bad here.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, it s like, you know, I understand like there are moments in my life where I m genuinely happy.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, I was, uh, you know, I am happy, but of course, I mean, I had my bad days.
3
SPEAKER_01
So just like, you know, I look at it as like, Hey,
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, my life is going to have ups and downs, you know, I ve been in worse situation before.
3
SPEAKER_01
And of course, I would wish like to be in other situations that are a lot better.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, if I had the option, I d literally talk to about it with my girlfriend today, because she s actually down in our hometown for the weekend, spending time with her family.
3
SPEAKER_01
She talked to me.
3
SPEAKER_01
I was like, if you re really that upset about it, like, just come move in with me.
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, I m right here.
3
SPEAKER_01
And it s like, and she s 100% right.
3
SPEAKER_00
So she s extended an invitation to come live with her already.
3
SPEAKER_00
Yes, yeah.
3
SPEAKER_00
No, I mean, there s no problem with me going.
3
SPEAKER_00
Then what are you waiting for?
3
SPEAKER_01
I guess part of it in me is like I m ultimately afraid because, you know, it s like I ve already done the whole moving out process.
3
SPEAKER_01
And like, you know, again, like it s backfired on me.
3
SPEAKER_01
And so now it s like, I d rather just play it smart.
3
SPEAKER_00
You know, moving out, how did moving out backfire on you?
3
SPEAKER_00
Is it a financial thing?
3
SPEAKER_01
financial and like, you know, friendships, you know, crumbling, you know, that, you know, your friendships crumbled when you moved out of your mom s house.
3
SPEAKER_01
No, no.
3
SPEAKER_01
Like when I moved out on my own, okay.
3
SPEAKER_01
Like, you know, when I moved out, I ve tried getting roommates, you know, none of the majority of them either backed out or they just couldn t pay their own.
3
SPEAKER_01
like their own half.
3
SPEAKER_00
Are you worried about your relationship with your girlfriend being affected by this?
3
SPEAKER_01
I mean, obviously, I mean, like, you re always going to be worried about everything whenever you re getting in a relationship and especially moving across, you know, cities or whatever.
3
SPEAKER_01
But like, it s mainly, I guess it s just like, it s mainly with me.
3
SPEAKER_01
Like, I ve already talked with her about this.
3
SPEAKER_01
It s like, you know, it s like, look,
3
SPEAKER_01
I just don t want to get in that headset space because I got really, really depressed having to pay a lease on my own for so long, especially in like, whenever, like the only advice I can get is from my family, which their only options or their only advice is like, well, why did you move out in the first place?
3
SPEAKER_01
If you weren t ready or why don t you just move back in with mom and dad?
3
SPEAKER_01
You know, it s, it s.
3
SPEAKER_00
Look, I want, let me, a few things is, um, you know,
3
SPEAKER_00
I ve said it a bunch of times over the course of this call, I m very much, you know, pro, you know, living with your parents if you need to.
3
SPEAKER_00
It s fucking extremely tough out there, you know, to pay rent and do all this shit.
3
SPEAKER_00
So, you know, if that s where you gotta be, that s where you gotta be.
3
SPEAKER_00
But, um...
3
SPEAKER_00
I, and I don t know, I ve only been talking to you for like a half hour.
3
SPEAKER_00
Has it been a half hour?
3
SPEAKER_00
No, not yet, but whatever.
3
SPEAKER_00
I haven t, I ve only been talking for 20 minutes, but I, I, I have a sense that just generally that
3
SPEAKER_00
Finding independence will bring you a more enriched life, particularly if your family drama is getting to a point where police are called.
3
SPEAKER_00
You know, so that s what I have to say about that.
3
SPEAKER_00
And, you know, before we go, Seymour, and by the way, thanks for talking to me for so long.
3
SPEAKER_00
I hope that this I wanted to bring it all back because I hope that this conversation was helpful to you.
3
SPEAKER_00
I know that there was a I know that there was a central thing that you
4
SPEAKER_02
wanted to talk about that we have veered far away from and so I just wanted to ask you if like if if there was a particular thing that you wanted to talk to me about I guess and if if if you feel as though we ve covered that thing or if there s any other aspect of any of this that you wanted to know the advice you ve given me today like it s
4
SPEAKER_01
Ultimately, similar to the majority of advice I ve been given, I ve been given by, you know, my friends and other people I ve talked to about this stuff.
4
SPEAKER_01
And it s like, ultimately, it s like, I guess the main reason I call it is mainly like, you know, like, you know, I want to keep talking more to people because I don t really get these.
4
SPEAKER_01
I don t feel like I don t get much of these opportunities or at least, you know, like maybe let me keep talking to people to see if like, if maybe I will get another answer and maybe I ll get a different point of view that I m maybe I m missing here.
4
SPEAKER_01
It s like, again, it s like, I want to keep my eyes or my mind open to other ideas, but ultimately, like, I guess, be smart with how I move.
4
SPEAKER_01
Cause the whole me, like, you know, not moving in with my girlfriend for like a whole year s time.
4
SPEAKER_01
And after she s moved out, it s just, again, just me one, one, making sure that our relationship is going to last.
4
SPEAKER_01
Cause I mean, I mean, long distance relationships are really hard, but also it s like, you know, I want to see like,
4
SPEAKER_01
you know, are you going to be okay?
4
SPEAKER_01
Am I going to be okay when we finally move over there?
4
SPEAKER_01
When I, when I finally like the financial issue is really not a problem.
4
SPEAKER_01
I m not, you know, in debt or nothing like that.
4
SPEAKER_01
It s just, you know, I want to see more.
4
SPEAKER_01
Um,
4
SPEAKER_02
Uh, two things before we go.
4
SPEAKER_02
Uh, one, I m very glad- I m very glad that, um, it sounds as though you re bur- it sounds like- This is me playing fucking armchair therapist here, but you mentioned not being able to express yourself that much when you were, like, a kid, and, um, I m very glad that you are comfortable expressing yourself now, but also, two, don t- don t kill yourself with your brain, man, because you re...
4
SPEAKER_02
I know you said it s just because of the podcast, but you I can I can like feel your brain thinking a thousand thoughts a minute and and and I Don t know.
4
SPEAKER_02
I don t know.
4
SPEAKER_02
I don t want to say calm down, but You know Don t don t kill yourself with your brain Don t overthink it.
4
SPEAKER_02
Yeah, don t overthink it No, you re right, man.
4
SPEAKER_01
No, I mean I mean, yeah, you ve only been talking to me for like 25 minutes or whatever like but you
4
SPEAKER_01
You hit me right on the nail, yeah.
4
SPEAKER_01
I am an over-thinker.
4
SPEAKER_02
Seymour, is there anything else you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?
4
SPEAKER_01
This is actually the part I ve actually been anticipating because I always like listening to people, what they say at the end of this.
4
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
4
SPEAKER_01
You mind if I hit it with a joke?
4
SPEAKER_02
Yeah, say whatever you want.
4
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_01
Bear with me because this kind of drags on.
4
SPEAKER_02
Hold on.
4
SPEAKER_02
How long is this joke?
4
SPEAKER_01
I m going to say at least a minute.
4
SPEAKER_02
All right.
4
SPEAKER_02
Tell the joke.
4
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_01
So it s show and tell in this class going on right now.
4
SPEAKER_01
And this little boy goes up at the front of the class and he says, I m going to show you all by dingaling.
4
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_01
The teacher sends them to the principal s office.
4
SPEAKER_01
The principal asked him, you know, why are you here?
4
SPEAKER_01
He said, because I wanted to show my dingaling.
4
SPEAKER_01
The principal sent him home.
4
SPEAKER_01
The parents asked him, why are you here?
4
SPEAKER_01
He said, because I wanted to show my ding-a-ling.
4
SPEAKER_01
The parents sent him outside.
4
SPEAKER_01
He gets hit by a car and dies.
4
SPEAKER_01
So the boy goes up to heaven.
4
SPEAKER_01
Yes, this is still going.
4
SPEAKER_01
The boy goes up to heaven and God asked him, why are you here?
4
SPEAKER_01
Oh, because I wanted to show my ding-a-ling.
4
SPEAKER_01
God sends him to hell.
4
SPEAKER_01
And then the devil asked him, why are you here?
4
SPEAKER_01
Because I wanted to show my ding-a-ling.
4
SPEAKER_01
The devil says, okay, well, show me your ding-a-ling.
4
SPEAKER_01
The boy pulled out a little bell from his pocket and goes, dingaling.
4
SPEAKER_01
Have a good night, Jack.
4
SPEAKER_02
Yeah, you too.
4
SPEAKER_02
That s a very nice joke about, you know, it s at first I was kind of appalled when Satan asked to see the little boy s penis, but then it s like, well, you know, he s Satan.
4
SPEAKER_02
Of course, Satan probably is a pedophile.
4
SPEAKER_02
I would not consider that out of character for Satan to want to see little boy penises.
4
SPEAKER_02
That seems apt of him.
4
SPEAKER_02
Hey guys, it s Lyle here.
4
SPEAKER_02
I m about to do some ad reads, but if you re a premium member of the podcast, you will not
4
SPEAKER_02
hear them.
4
SPEAKER_02
Premium members, or Gek Legends, as I like to call them, get access to every episode of this podcast ad-free.
4
SPEAKER_02
They also get bonus episodes, recordings for my live shows, members-only streams, and they support my ability to keep doing this show for a long time, do it in cooler, more interesting places, and also eat food, which is important.
4
SPEAKER_02
If any of that sounds cool to you, you can go to therapygecko.supercast.com to become a GECK legend, or find the link in the episode description.
4
SPEAKER_02
Alright, let s do some ads.
4
SPEAKER_00
Call from Violet.
4
SPEAKER_02
Hello?
4
SPEAKER_00
Hello?
4
SPEAKER_02
Hi, what s your name?
4
SPEAKER_00
Violet.
4
SPEAKER_02
Violet Beauregard from A Series of Unfortunate Events, how you doing?
4
SPEAKER_02
Wait, shit!
4
SPEAKER_02
Is that from a series of unfortunate events, or is that Willy Wonka?
4
SPEAKER_00
No, it s a series of unfortunate events.
4
SPEAKER_00
Okay, I was right.
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SPEAKER_00
My mum read it, and that s why.
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SPEAKER_02
Violet Beauregard.
4
SPEAKER_02
She s the one that likes to invent... No, wait.
4
SPEAKER_02
Okay, there s a kid who likes to read, and a kid who likes to invent stuff.
4
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
4
SPEAKER_02
Is she the one that invents or reads?
4
SPEAKER_00
She s the one that invents.
4
SPEAKER_00
She s the one with the little bow in her hair.
4
SPEAKER_02
Oh, okay.
4
SPEAKER_00
Um... Yeah, this is insane.
4
SPEAKER_00
I ve loved you for years.
4
SPEAKER_02
Oh, thanks, Violet.
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SPEAKER_02
Hell yeah.
4
SPEAKER_02
Where in England are you calling from?
4
SPEAKER_00
London.
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SPEAKER_00
I thought it was really strange.
4
SPEAKER_00
You ve never had anyone from London call you, or England.
4
SPEAKER_02
I ve talked to people from England before.
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SPEAKER_02
I did a show there.
4
SPEAKER_02
I did a show.
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SPEAKER_02
I forget the name of the venue, but I did two shows there.
4
SPEAKER_02
They were really fun.
4
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, me and my boyfriend, we want to book the next show you do in London.
4
SPEAKER_00
I m really excited.
4
SPEAKER_02
OK, cool.
4
SPEAKER_02
I ll come back over the pond soon.
4
SPEAKER_02
You can bring one of your famous inventions and we ll talk about it on stage.
4
SPEAKER_00
I will try.
4
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
4
SPEAKER_00
Sorry, the reason I was calling.
4
SPEAKER_02
Yes, please.
4
SPEAKER_02
I was going to ask.
4
SPEAKER_00
So I think it s interesting because my brother
4
SPEAKER_00
has been smoking weed for a while now.
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SPEAKER_00
And I think that it s become a problem.
4
SPEAKER_02
Um, what define a problem?
4
SPEAKER_00
I think, I think smoking weed can be like fun and also like anxiety reducing to a certain degree.
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SPEAKER_00
But I think the way in which he does it is sort of damaging to him.
4
SPEAKER_00
I think that he essentially smokes too much weed.
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SPEAKER_00
And I was wondering, because you talk about it quite openly, if you think that too much weed can be smoked.
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SPEAKER_02
Of course, yeah, of course.
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SPEAKER_02
I mean, it s crazy.
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SPEAKER_02
If you think there s no negative adverse effects to smoking weed, I mean, you re crazy.
4
SPEAKER_02
Of course, there s negative effects to, you know, inhaling shit into your lungs that s not air.
4
SPEAKER_02
You know, and I m not a doctor.
4
SPEAKER_02
I don t know.
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SPEAKER_02
Shit.
4
SPEAKER_02
You know, I mean, maybe it s maybe it s not maybe it s maybe it s healthy for you.
4
SPEAKER_02
But if I had to make a bet on it, I would say the opposite.
4
SPEAKER_02
How old your brother?
4
SPEAKER_00
Young 18.
4
SPEAKER_02
He s 18.
4
SPEAKER_02
Okay.
4
SPEAKER_02
Does he have any goals for his life?
4
SPEAKER_00
I mean, he s really clever, um, but he has the thing that, like, I take issue with is that, um, he s really, really intelligent, but because of weed, I think, and this is my opinion, probably not like everyone else s general opinion, but I think it s made him sort of less enthusiastic about doing well academically, if that makes sense, because
4
SPEAKER_00
I don t really know why, but I know Louis was my queen, and normally...
5
SPEAKER_01
not as sort of, what s the word, like sort of just lulled into a sense of not really caring about the academic success because of Weed, but he has sort of not, he doesn t care anymore.
5
SPEAKER_01
He just wants to sort of smoke weed, sit in his room and play video games, which is fine.
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SPEAKER_01
And I think that s completely fine, but I think he could achieve much more, which is why I m worried.
5
SPEAKER_01
But I didn t know if that s a cause for concern or anything.
5
SPEAKER_01
It s just, he seems, he s like pulled away from social interaction and he is really intelligent, but he just doesn t really seem like he wants to engage that anymore because it s that.
5
SPEAKER_00
Um, how old are you?
5
SPEAKER_01
Me?
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SPEAKER_00
Yeah, you.
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SPEAKER_01
I m 24.
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SPEAKER_00
So you ve got some years on the boy.
5
SPEAKER_00
What s your relationship like with the boy?
5
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, I love the boy.
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SPEAKER_01
I love him dearly, but I definitely am worried about him.
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SPEAKER_01
I think that
5
SPEAKER_01
He doesn t, like, as most 18 year olds, he doesn t really know who he is.
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SPEAKER_01
And I m not saying that I know who I am, but he really doesn t know who he is.
5
SPEAKER_01
And I think that he s trying to grasp at straws of that through weed and alcohol and sort of attention from other people.
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SPEAKER_01
And I don t think any of this is healthy, but
5
SPEAKER_01
Every time I say to him, maybe you should smoke less weed, he gets really defensive about it.
5
SPEAKER_01
And he s all, well, weed s actually great for you.
5
SPEAKER_01
And like, weed s actually really healthy for you.
5
SPEAKER_01
And, and I, I don t really know how to say to him that weed can be great for you, but it also can have really sort of negative consequences.
5
SPEAKER_00
Well, also he lives in London, so he s buying his weed from like clockwork orange looking guys instead of a store.
5
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
5
SPEAKER_01
I mean,
5
SPEAKER_01
A lot of people smoke weed in London, but a lot of that weed is probably not very good for you.
5
SPEAKER_00
Um, well, I mean, look, at the end of the day, when it comes to all things like this, where, you know, it s not you, it s your, uh, family or friend, it s like, do you tell them all these things?
5
SPEAKER_00
Do you tell them why you think you shouldn t smoke weed?
5
SPEAKER_00
Do you tell them like, um,
5
SPEAKER_00
things beyond that because he s cuz he can say like cuz like whatever a medical thing he thinks or read and on a On reddit or a podcast or whatever where he s like, oh, it s actually making me better.
5
SPEAKER_00
You can be like well We decide what the fuck are you doing?
5
SPEAKER_00
With your life, you know if it s myths, it seems like it s making you lazy or or from an outsider perspective, it doesn t seem like it s actually really
5
SPEAKER_00
helping you.
5
SPEAKER_00
Cause look, I mean, I ve been smoking weed super regularly since I was, I mean, fuck, I guess for a decade now.
5
SPEAKER_00
Um, but it did it and it has had its bad effects, but it never really like messed with the, uh, main quest of, of, of my life, you know?
5
SPEAKER_00
So for him, it s like, he s got to have a main quest.
5
SPEAKER_01
Do you find that, um,
5
SPEAKER_01
you or like people around you smoke weed because you re anxious.
5
SPEAKER_00
I smoke weed because I m anxious all the time.
5
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, for sure.
5
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
5
SPEAKER_01
I think that s like probably the core of it for him, which makes me feel like worse for saying, oh, maybe don t.
5
SPEAKER_01
But that s only because he s young.
5
SPEAKER_01
If he was older, I would think it was different.
5
SPEAKER_01
But I feel even worse being like, I can tell you re really anxious and I can tell you re trying to offset that.
5
SPEAKER_01
by smoking weed, because I know that helps, but it s having sort of adverse consequences that are making you active.
5
SPEAKER_01
Does that make sense?
5
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, of course.
5
SPEAKER_00
I mean, especially when you re, I mean, if you re when you re 18, and you don t really like know, you know, as you re talking about as you re, you re figuring out your life.
5
SPEAKER_00
I mean, it s a crazy, anxious time.
5
SPEAKER_00
And I can totally see him being like, I just don t want to deal with this right fucking now.
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SPEAKER_00
Yeah, I m gonna get high.
5
SPEAKER_01
I think that s actually really, like, probably really relatable for him.
5
SPEAKER_01
Like, I think he, his main issue is like, it s
5
SPEAKER_01
Like, personally, I ve always wanted to, like, grow up and be older, um, and, like, exist in the world.
5
SPEAKER_01
He s always, sort of, wanted to, sort of, revert back to being a child and, like, not exist in the big scary world and not be perceived, if that makes sense.
5
SPEAKER_01
And I think that has a lot to do with his weed smoking.
5
SPEAKER_01
I think that s, like, common with a lot of boys as well.
5
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, um... They don t really want to.
5
SPEAKER_00
Well, look, I mean, it sounds like you re a good sister for caring this much about him and trying this much.
5
SPEAKER_01
I was just wondering, from a weed smoker s perspective, if you had any advice.
5
SPEAKER_00
Have you ever tried weed?
5
SPEAKER_01
I have.
5
SPEAKER_01
I liked it for a while, but I was never really obsessed with it.
5
SPEAKER_01
I was like, this is lovely.
5
SPEAKER_01
you feel quite sort of calm and relaxed but I think also like one thing to note is that wherever you are I m not gonna guess but I imagine that generally in America weed is of a higher quality than in the UK.
5
SPEAKER_01
Weed here is quite heavily filled with things that it probably shouldn t be and it can actually make you much more anxious and paranoid than you probably should be so
5
SPEAKER_01
A few times I ve smoked weed I ve been like, ah, this is kind of scary and awful.
5
SPEAKER_01
Which is probably not the experience you should have, if that makes sense.
5
SPEAKER_00
I feel like smoking weed in London, it just makes you see everything like you re in Wallace and Gromit.
5
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, I know.
5
SPEAKER_00
That s probably true.
5
SPEAKER_00
Everyone s talking in British accents, it sounds scary.
5
SPEAKER_01
British accents are, in a sense, really frightening.
5
SPEAKER_00
Um, well, listen, Violet.
5
SPEAKER_00
Uh, it s nice that you care that much about your brother.
5
SPEAKER_00
I hope he figures his stuff out.
5
SPEAKER_00
He s only 18, too, you know?
5
SPEAKER_00
I mean, here s the thing about your brother, too, and this is why I don t think you should be so worried, is that your brother can, like, smoke weed and not do anything for, like, for, like, a pretty long time without it being a ginormous, uh, problem.
5
SPEAKER_00
He s got about
5
SPEAKER_00
You brothers got about... I m gonna say...
5
SPEAKER_00
I wouldn t even put a number on it.
5
SPEAKER_00
Maybe 12 years.
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SPEAKER_00
I don t know.
5
SPEAKER_00
Your brother s got several years ahead of him where he can do nothing and get high all day and like he s not gonna die, you know?
5
SPEAKER_00
I mean, it s not like he s addicted to heroin.
5
SPEAKER_00
If he was addicted to heroin, he would have less than 12 years, but... No, you know what?
5
SPEAKER_01
That d be much, much worse.
5
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
5
SPEAKER_00
So, you know, I think he s gonna be okay.
5
SPEAKER_00
I think you gotta let this shit play out.
5
SPEAKER_01
Okay, well you caught my mind at ease.
5
SPEAKER_01
Thank you so much.
5
SPEAKER_00
Good.
5
SPEAKER_00
Viola, is there anything else you want to say to the people at the computer before we go?
5
SPEAKER_01
I want to say please try not to make fun of my British accent.
5
SPEAKER_01
Thank you so much for listening.
5
SPEAKER_01
And also, don t worry about your weird family members doing their weird things.
5
SPEAKER_00
My weird what?
5
SPEAKER_00
Doing my weird what?
5
SPEAKER_00
Say that again?
5
SPEAKER_01
You re strange with family members doing whatever they might be doing.
5
SPEAKER_00
Oh, yes.
5
SPEAKER_01
Because they probably end up being okay.
5
SPEAKER_00
Yes, yes.
5
SPEAKER_00
Never ask your parents if they swing, because you won t want to know the answer.
5
SPEAKER_01
I don t.
5
SPEAKER_00
All right, I ll talk to you later, Violet.
5
SPEAKER_00
Thank you for calling.
5
SPEAKER_01
Bye, Lyle.
5
SPEAKER_00
Bye, Violet.
5
SPEAKER_01
Bye.
5
SPEAKER_00
Make fun of your accent?
5
SPEAKER_00
I would never.
5
SPEAKER_00
I would never.
5
SPEAKER_00
I would never.
5
SPEAKER_00
Never!
5
SPEAKER_00
Never Gromit.
5
SPEAKER_00
I ve never actually seen Wallace and Gromit.
5
SPEAKER_00
Gromit.
5
SPEAKER_00
Yes, Wallace.
5
SPEAKER_00
That didn t sound very British.
5
SPEAKER_00
All right.
5
SPEAKER_00
Hello, folks.
5
SPEAKER_00
It s Lyle here.
5
SPEAKER_00
That s the end of this episode.
5
SPEAKER_00
But get this, I m releasing a bonus episode this week.
5
SPEAKER_00
That s right.
5
SPEAKER_00
An entire extra hour of the podcast that you can listen to by becoming a premium member of Therapy Gecko over at
6
SPEAKER_02
therapygecko.supercast.com.
6
SPEAKER_02
Supercast subscribers get access to bonus episodes, they get a completely ad-free podcast feed of the regular show, they get recordings from my live shows, members-only streams, and they help support my ability to continue doing this podcast.
6
SPEAKER_02
So, here s a clip from this week s members-only bonus episode.
6
SPEAKER_02
You said your uncle tried to kill you?
6
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, like so him and I never got along at all in my life.
6
SPEAKER_01
And he asked me to do a favor for him.
6
SPEAKER_01
So I did the favor for him and he got pissed and went to go try to buy a gun to come kill me.
6
SPEAKER_01
Nice.
6
SPEAKER_01
And spend good times.
6
SPEAKER_02
It s kind of crazy how easy it is to just like if you don t like somebody, you just get a gun and kill them.
6
SPEAKER_02
Isn t it, like, weird that it s that simple?
6
SPEAKER_02
That, like, if you really just decide that you don t like a guy, you can pretty easily go to a store, buy a gun, go to wherever the person is, and then shoot them in the face, and then they die.
6
SPEAKER_02
It s easy to do that, and then afterwards you go to jail forever, but, um...
6
SPEAKER_02
It s pretty crazy.
6
SPEAKER_02
It s not hard to kill somebody, really, that you don t like.
6
SPEAKER_02
If you want to hear this full conversation, you can sign up to become a premium member at therapygecko.supercast.com or find the link in the episode description.
6
SPEAKER_02
That s therapygecko.supercast.com.
6
SPEAKER_02
Alright, I have nothing else to say.
6
SPEAKER_00
He goes on the line, taking your phone calls every night.
6
SPEAKER_00
Therapy kid goes doing it right.
6
SPEAKER_00
He s teaching you how to live your life.
6
SPEAKER_00
But he s not really an expert.