Your Necessary Delusion

What happens when you marry a stranger for money — and end up mourning them as a widow?This week on Earth Monster Jen tells a raw, haunting (and surprisingly funny) tale about how she married a complete stranger for a good story... and some cash of course. A legally binding, secret-filled friendship that ended in a real life tragedy. From a catfished Tinder date to a wedding officiated at a strip mall, while the groom was on acid, Jen takes us through the messy, dark, and strangely beautiful twists of a story that defies every expectation.She thought it was just legal. Just business. Just a plot point. But grief doesn't care about your contract.

Born with spina bifida and told he'd never walk, talk, or live independently. Against every expectation, Peter Rico has forged his own path—drawing strength from his family, his love of storytelling, and a relentless determination to overcome both physical and environmental obstacles.Peter opens up about growing up in a neighborhood surrounded by drugs and gang violence while navigating the challenges of a disability, and the “necessary delusions” that fueled his grit and resilience. From childhood surgeries and daily pain to the influence of his hardworking grandfather and the escape of video games and books, Peter's journey is a testament to the power of self-belief, hard work, and the refusal to be defined by others' limitations.If you've ever felt underestimated or struggled to find your own strength, Peter's story will inspire you to embrace vulnerability, defy expectations, and celebrate every victory—no matter how small.Earth Monster is the storytelling podcast that uncovers the real stories and biggest ideas that have helped to shape (or mis-shape) our lives. Subscribe for more episodes that celebrate the messy, beautiful journey of being human through talking to strangers on Craigslist.

In this episode of the Earth Monster podcast, we connect with Jacob, a man who has escaped the digital world through living in his van without a smart phone for nearly 5 years. Jacob shares the realizations that led to him changing his life and how ditching his smartphone and stepping away from the internet has led to profound personal growth, deeper relationships, and a renewed sense of self. But it has also challenged him greatly in the areas of his family, friendships, and sense of belonging in modern society.Through candid storytelling, Jacob explores the hidden costs of digital life: the erosion of attention, the outsourcing of our cognition, and the loss of authentic human connection. He also discusses the unexpected benefits of isolation, the importance of truth-seeking, and how living offline has strengthened his marriage and sharpened his mind.He also unexpectedly stumbles on the origin of his necessary delusion, which reveals WHY he feels these sacrifices are so necessary. Listen along and find a piece of yourself in his story as we celebrate vulnerability, question the true impact of technology, and uncover the stories that shape or misshape our lives. If you've ever wondered what life is like beyond the screen, this episode is for you.

In the premiere episode of the Earth Monster podcast, we dive deep into the story of Shannon Kringen, an artist and storyteller who discovers the impact that one song had on shaping her identity and helping her to heal after her parent's divorce. As a child caught between two worlds, Shannon found solace and identity in Tom Petty's “Refugee,” a track that became her anthem of survival and self-discovery. Through candid conversation, Shannon reveals how music helped her navigate the emotional turbulence of family separation, code-switching between parents, and the ongoing journey to find her authentic self.Listen along and find a piece of yourself in her story as we celebrate vulnerability, explore the messy truths that shape us, and discover how the right song at the right moment can transform a life. If you've ever felt lost, divided, or searching for your voice, this episode is for you.

Welcome to Earth Monster, the storytelling show that celebrates vulnerability and speaks to the darkest messiest little parts of your heart about the lies that we tell ourselves every day. The stories that we used to get out of bed, the fantasies that we let propel our lives. I called these things necessary delusions, and I am really interested in talking about the biggest ideas that we have had about ourselves and the world around us that have helped to shape and mis shape the path that we've taken in life.

**Season Two Finale** The complicated delusions of parenthood unpacked by 10 storytellers who have lived it. Featuring my very pregnant wife, my mom, my dad, my unborn child, my best friend the shrink and many more.

Regrets. We all have them and we all use a delusion to live with them. We speak with 8 storytellers about the regrets that haunt them.

Patterns don't change in a day, Bobby returns to discuss the baby steps he has taken towards being upfront with women and Matt shares a time when he turned a marriage into a divorce in just 3 short months.

Michael buries his true identity with vices and delusions alike, until a hook up dating app reveals the path to his dreams.

In an attempt to flee the mess that she has made for herself in NYC, Rosie follows her secret crush to the wilderness of Alaska hoping to make a connection.

Rosie marries a stranger that needs citizenship in a secret attempt to make his friend fall in love with her.

Grace never thought about the ways they might have experienced trauma, until the answer became so obvious it made them rethink everything.

Your necessary shrink, Marcus returns with life long delusions to be a secret agent and all of the unexpected ways that he has manifested this fantasy.

Eric's desire to be in control began in 4th grade when his mom left him by himself to live in West Africa.

Devon's dad went away to prison when she was only 2 years old and the ideas that grew in his absence changed the way that she saw herself.

It has taken her a long journey to get here but Kenni has known there was something different about her since she was a very small boy.

Ben navigates friendship and science with an uncontrollable twitch that happens when he imagines his greatest fantasies coming true.

While Gillian aims to find fame as a singer, she learns every lesson life has to offer through music along the way.

After years of receiving threatening emails from an anonymous harasser, Madison tries to take back control by turning the troll into a friend.

Jasper hates sports; always has, and yet he has lived his whole life compulsively watching them, playing them and collecting memorabilia, in fear of what might happen if he doesn't.

Colleen thrives as a tomboy with a razor sharp wit until she's faced with something that can't be joked away.

Dan walks a narrow path and taps into the heart of a universal human experience.

Sam isn't afraid and he always cares. This perspective leads to varied results when attempting extreme physical stunts and (even more dangerous) socializing with coworkers.

What's in a name? Reyna unpacks the unexpected delusional baggage acquired from holding a name that means royalty.

A naturally occurring chemical imbalance fuels Peter's greatest fantasies and drives him to the edge.

Join the conversation. We check in about Season 2 and invite you to reach out to us for a list of themes we're discussing in Season 2. yournecessarydelusion@gmail.com OR Call our voicemail. 323-540-4540

Join the conversation and leave us a message with your own necessary delusion or feedback for the show at 323-540-4540

**Season One Finale** Imaginary friends from literal to figurative. Featuring the Shrink, the Guru and Special Guest my Mom.

Despite being smart, beautiful and ready for a relationship, Pao found herself single because she believed the way to get a man was to act completely disinterested.

If Abby doesn't plan to worry about catastrophes, then how is she ever suppose to respond to them if they ever come true?

Make your mess your mission.

Marcus has been a New Yorker for nearly 20 years, but in a week he and his family will move to their new home in the suburbs in Scarsdale. So then who is he suppose to be?

**Trigger Warning** Phoebe is “gifted” with a harmful delusion from the time she's a child. She knows it's wrong but it can be very hard to change your story.

We all use dreams to create ourselves, but most of us don't have the guts to chase them as boldly as Anthony from Sacramento.

Leo is fascinated with bees. He dreams of one day being a bee keeper, if only he could push passed the research phase.

Will Travis get to keep the girl of his dreams? Will he be driven enough to run the marathon, or is this whole new life a quickly fading fantasy?

Travis finds his whole life changing when he follows a momentary impulse and signs up to run a marathon to impress a girl.

Janie is threatened with physical harm when she ignores all warning signs to indulge in her usual nightly routine.

Russell‘s career as a drinker... The delusions that got him into it, the ones he used to keep going and how he eventually changed his story to quit.

Having recently been secretly baptized and feeling more desperate than ever to fill the hole inside of himself, Bobby drives 12 hours from home not sure if it will get him any closer to his goal.

Bobby is searching for a sense of belonging when one day the answer literally knocks on his door.

Jackie follows a dangerous delusion that if she ignores a problem it will go away, unfortunately that’s hardly ever the case.

Reyna follows a necessary delusion that makes her change careers, move cities and risk everything on an idea.

In the midst of divorcing her first husband, Devon thinks she may have found her true soulmate online, now she just needs to meet him in person.

Devon believes if she doesn’t get married and have children before she is 30, then she is a complete failure. So she goes after her goal by any means necessary.

Dave was only a kid when he decided he wanted to be a gangster. While he excelled towards his necessary delusion, his actions changed the course of his life.

Host, Matt LeBlanc explores the origins of his own necessary delusion of believing he was the funniest kid in his 2nd grade class. Don’t miss the SURPRISE GUEST!

Creator, Matt LeBlanc introduces the storytelling show that celebrates vulnerability.