…as in, stringed instruments! Brace yourselves for a high-strung episode connecting your favorite pet to three distinct stringed instruments in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, the world’s #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, science and history podcast. What is "cat gut" – and is it truly derived from feline materials, as rumored? Join Amanda “Captain Kitty” B. in this culturally informed and historically resonant investigation into the history of the banjo with Hannah Mayree, co-founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project, and gain a sense of appreciation for the past, present, and future of this very American instrument. And learn about another instrument it often accompanies, the violin, from Canadian-Romanian musical polymath and documentarian Joenne Dumitrascu, a lifelong violinist who helps clarify what is, and isn’t, making those strings sing. Then, we revisit Japan to speak to an expert on the shamisen, a three-stringed lute-like instrument that carries with it over 600 years of Japanese history and an ongoing message from the past. By the end of the episode, which of these instruments, if any, is embodied by cats? Listen and find out! Please note: While vivid imagery of deceased animals is not - and will never - be included, listeners who are more sensitive to the topics of animal death may wish to check out other 6 Degrees of Cats episodes, as referenced below. Join us on this historical trip through time across three continents to gain a deeper sense of appreciation, nuance, and context for the banjo, the violin, and the shamisen – and their connection to cats! Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced episodes: Cool Cat: How Cats Are the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll The Purr-fect Life: Cats, Kantian Ethics and Karma! Referenced materials: 6 Degrees of Cats: Banjos, Violins and Shamisens YouTube playlist About the experts: Hannah Mayree is a California-born banjoist, singer, songwriter and music educator. They are the co-founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project (BBRP), which is a creative eco-system that curates musical, cultural and land-based opportunities for Black, Afro-Diasporic communities around the world to work with the banjo as a tool for reclaiming ancestral wisdom & creating Afro-futures. You can find Hannah at http://hannahmayree.com and BBRP at https://blackbanjoreclamationproject.org. Joenne Dumitrascu, M.M., is a Canadian-Romanian musician and filmmaker. She has composed and performed works on major feature films and tours internationally as a concert violinist and pianist. Joenne can be found at https://www.joennedumitrascu.com and followed on Instagram @joenne_dumitrascu Keisuke Yamada, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center of Japanese Studies, University of Michigan. He is interested in sound studies. He has been working on a book entitled Ecologies of Sound. The book offers a sound-centered analysis of the logic and interplay of global capitalism, militarism, and industrialization that have shaped the soundscapes and sound-politics of twentieth- and twenty-first-century Japan. Special thanks to the Willie Mae Rock Camp community, Mr. Tony Thomas and Camille Pajor and Rebecca Stein.   Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Amanda B. (Instagram @catsuitband) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music Captain Kitty: all music supervision, mixes and arrangements unless otherwise noted Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 Samples licensed via Loopcloud Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2024 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Allen, G. (2011, August 23). The banjo’s roots, reconsidered. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2011/08/23/139880625/the-banjos-roots-reconsidered  Bogoian-Mullen, W. (2020, February 27). The history of the shamisen. Shamiko Guitars. https://shamikoguitars.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-the-shamisen  Bouquet, J. S. M. (2010, April). The lute: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn timeline of art history. The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/lute/hd_lute.htm  Bradley, A., & French, J. (2023, November 10). Black folk musicians are reclaiming the genre. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/t-magazine/black-folk-musicians.html  Bradley, C. (2021, December 2). Appalachia’s Native American history: How much do you know? OVERLOOKED. https://www.overlookedinappalachia.org/post/appalachia-s-native-american-history-how-much-do-you-know  Brouwer, Z. (2020, September 30). Oh no, kittens are killed for violin strings! - the truth about catgut. Violin Lounge. https://violinlounge.com/oh-no-kittens-are-killed-for-violin-strings-the-truth-about-catgut/  Buchman, M. (2011, November 4). Folk instrument’s historical connection to racism in the U.S. Solid Ground. https://www.solid-ground.org/banjo-connection-to-racism/  Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute Editors. (1997b). What is Buraku Discrimination ?. What is buraku discrimination ? https://blhrri.org/old/blhrri_e/blhrri/buraku.htm  Davisson, Z. (2020, September 11). Japan’s love-hate relationship with cats. Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/japans-love-hate-relationship-with-cats-180975764/  EIA US Editorial Staff. (2023, April 4). Japan’s Elephant Ivory Trade: Where Are We Now? https://us.eia.org/blog/japans-elephant-ivory-trade-where-are-we-now/  Fischer, C. (2023, April 5). 10 TV shows that feature the banjo. Bailey and Banjo. https://baileyandbanjo.com/10-tv-shows-that-feature-the-banjo/  Gaddy, K. R. (2019, February 28). Stedman’s creole bania. KRISTINA R. GADDY. https://www.kristinagaddy.com/blog/views-of-the-creole-bania  Gersten, J. (2017, July 17). Are catgut instrument strings really made from cat guts? the answer might surprise you. WQXR Editorial. https://www.wqxr.org/story/are-catgut-instrument-strings-ever-made-cat-guts-answer-might-surprise-you/  Hannah-Jones, N. (2019, August 14). The 1619 Project. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html  Keita, S. (n.d.). My culture: Griot Tradition. Seckou Keita. https://www.seckoukeita.com/my-culture  Knoepp, L. (2023, August 22). Exploring southern appalachia: “deliverance” and beyond. BPR. https://www.bpr.org/news/2019-09-02/exploring-southern-appalachia-deliverance-and-beyond  Linford, S. V. (2014, July 27). Historical narratives of the akonting and banjo. Ethnomusicology Review. https://ethnomusicologyreview.ucla.edu/content/akonting-history  Meyer, S. (2020, October 15). Between a forgotten colony and an abandoned prefecture: Okinawa’s ... The Asia-Pacific Journal - Japan Focus. https://apjjf.org/2020/20/Meyer.html  Morris, W. (2019, August 14). Why is everyone always stealing black music?. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/music-black-culture-appropriation.html  National Museum of African American History and Culture Editorial staff. (2017, November 22). Blackface: The birth of an American stereotype. National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/blackface-birth-american-stereotype  Okinawa Prefecture Board of Education. (n.d.). History of Okinawa. http://rca.open.ed.jp/web_e/history/index.html  Price, E. (2021, April 13). Hillbilly horror: Reckoning with a genre 15 years after “wrong turn.” 100 Days in Appalachia. https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2018/05/hillbilly-horror-stereotypes/  Public Broadcasting Service. (1996). Jim Crow laws. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/freedom-riders-jim-crow-laws/  Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Editors. (2014). Shamisen. SHAMISEN | Traditional Music Degital Library. https://www.senzoku-online.jp/TMDL/e/02-shamisen.html#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20sangen%2C%20the,and%20dog%20skin%20is%20used.  Shamisen Japan Editors. (2017, April 4). Shamisen body. Shamisen Japan. https://shamisenjapan.com/shamisen-body/  Thomas, G. (2022). From Slaves to Hillbillies: A Racial History of the Banjo in the 18th and 19th Centuries (MIT 2023 Undergraduate Term Paper Awardee - Ed. Note: this is not primary source but we wish to attribute robust valid research). https://history.mit.edu/news/2023-history-undergraduate-writing-prize-winners/ Thomas, T. (2011, June). About the banjo by Tony Thomas. About the Banjo [reprinted via Black Banjo Gathering]. https://usslave.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html Urban Native Collective. (n.d.). Turtle Island. https://urbannativecollective.org/turtle-island  Wacera, C. (2022, August 15). A short history of the Mali empire. Our Ancestories. https://our-ancestories.com/blogs/news/a-short-history-of-the-mali-empire  Whipple, M. (2023, October 10). The history of Appalachia & its people. The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/history-of-appalachia-and-its-people/  Yamada, K. (n.d.-b). The Political Economy of Nonlife: Biopower, Ontosecurity, and the Shamisen Skin Trade in Japan. In The Oxford Handbook of Economic Ethnomusicology (Ser. Oxford Handbook). essay, Oxford University Press.  

6 Degrees of Cats

Banjos, Violins and Shamisens: Untangling Cats and Strings

Dive into the purr-fect harmony between cats and rock 'n' roll in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, your favorite cat-themed culture, history and science podcast.  Explore the untold stories of how these enigmatic creatures have influenced the genre. From legendary rock icons like Freddie Mercury and David Bowie who found inspiration in their feline friends to the timeless melodies that echo the spirit of independence and liberation by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ma Rainey and - yes - Tracy Chapman, appreciate the hidden connections between cool cats and the soulful rhythms of rock 'n' roll.  We’ll be joined by not one, not two, but THREE award-winning rock stars! ‘My Cat From Hell’ star, musician and international cat advocate Jackson Galaxy shares how cats purr-fectly fit into his rock ‘n’ roll persona - and still do! Leading R&B musician and guitarist Malina Moye explains how cats have informed and inspired her artistry, and acclaimed music journalist and former Das Fürlines guitarist Holly George-Warren provides historic and cultural insights as to how, and why, cats are the rock stars of the animal kingdom. We'll talk jive about blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and hepcat slang - as well as about American history - in this fact and fret-filled episode.  Tune in for a fur-resh take on music history and cat appreciation! ?? Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced episodes: Cats vs Cupid: Why Cats are the Better Valentine’s Day Mascot Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore Referenced materials: Fast Car (from Tracy Chapman, Elektra Records, 1989) Chili’s Babyback Ribs Commercial BTS video (MUST WATCH)  Charles Mingus Cat Toilet Training Program (1954) Cab Calloway's Hepster's Dictionary (1939) 6 Degrees of Cats: Cool Cat YouTube Playlist About the experts: Jackson Galaxy is a cat behavior and wellness expert, YouTube creator, musician and the star of hit Animal Planet series, My Cat From Hell. Visit https://www.jacksongalaxyproject and follow @catdaddy on YouTube and all social media platforms. Holly George-Warren is a two-time Grammy nominee and the award-winning author of sixteen books, including Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones (Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed, 2023) co-authored with Dolly Parton, and Janis: Her Life and Music (Simon and Schuster, 2019), named best nonfiction book of 2019 by the Texas Institute of Letters. She teaches at SUNY New Paltz and New York University’s The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and can be found at https://www.hollygeorgewarren.com. Malina Moye is an award-winning blues guitarist and R&B singer and is the first African American female upside-down lefty guitarist to be endorsed by Fender USA. Her 2023 full length release, ‘Dirty’ landed at the top of the Billboard blues chart and was listed among Guitar World Magazine’s top five greatest guitar albums of 2023. Purchase her records, learn about the “Enough” campaign and when Moye will be playing your city by visiting https://www.malinamoye.com. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Amanda B. (Instagram @catsuitband) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music Captain Kitty: “Not Fast Car", all music supervision, mixes and arrangements unless otherwise noted Leathered: "Look Alive", “Break it Down” and “Nothing But Love” © 2022 Samples licensed via Loopcloud Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Alan Lomax. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. (n.d.). https://folklife.si.edu/legacy-honorees/alan-lomax/smithsonian  Brooks, K. (2016, October 25). Where the hell does the word “p***y” come from, anyway? HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/where-does-pussy-come-from_n_57fc0968e4b0b6a43034e7ac  DeMain, B. (2012, January 19). Jive Talkin’: The Origins of Cool Dudes, groovy chicks and hip cats. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/29777/jive-talkin%E2%80%99-origins-cool-dudes-groovy-chicks-and-hip-cats  Diaz-Hurtado, J. (2017, August 24). Forebears: Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock “n” roll. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2017/08/24/544226085/forebears-sister-rosetta-tharpe-the-godmother-of-rock-n-roll  Green, J. (n.d.). Green’s Dictionary of Slang. hep-cat. https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/bv7hhvq  Gutoskey, E. (2022, October 27). The unlikely origins-and rapid rise-of chili’s iconic “Baby back ribs” jingle. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/chilis-baby-back-ribs-jingle-origins  Hill, A. J. (2020, December 2). Flap over WAP: A brief history of “pussy” from fairy tale to hip-hop to culture-wars flashpoint. Medium. https://aninjusticemag.com/flap-over-wap-a-brief-history-of-pussy-from-fairy-tale-to-hip-hop-to-culture-wars-flashpoint-d7c13c7d9063  Larkin, C. (2002.) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th Ed.). Virgin Pub.  Marlowe, G. (2023, June 11). The story behind the queen song “cool cat.” Medium. https://gmarlowe.medium.com/the-story-behind-the-queen-song-cool-cat-4f1ba85c8122  McAlpine, F. (2018, October 11). The unexpected origins of Music’s most well-used terms. BBC Music. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/dc64e24d-c4e7-4e34-b2f7-e34a00ea16ad  McWhorter, J. (2019, December 10). Slate Debates (formerly Lexicon Valley). Slate Debates. episode, Slate. Retrieved from https://slate.com/transcripts/TVMrMkp2VHRqWjdIWlQxanIrM200THl2TWkvTlJMbDRxSlYrM2xsZkJIdz0=.  Mercedes, M. (2017, April 19). Hear David Bowie + Freddie Mercury’s unreleased “cool cat” outtake. Society Of Rock. https://societyofrock.com/hear-david-bowie-freddie-mercurys-unreleased-cool-cat-outtake/  Mohammad, A. (2023, July 31). Feline groovy: The cats of garden lodge. Sothebys.com. https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/feline-groovy-the-cats-of-garden-lodge  Nissim, M. (2023, January 3). Freddie Mercury facts: Real name, childhood, solo songs, sexuality and tragic death of the queen icon. Gold. https://www.goldradiouk.com/hall-of-fame/freddie-mercury-queen-facts-death-family  Cab Calloway’s “Hepster dictionary,” a 1939 glossary of the Lingo (the “Jive”) of the Harlem Renaissance. Open Culture. (2015, January 19). https://www.openculture.com/2015/01/cab-calloways-hepster-dictionary.html  Pippins, D. A. (n.d.). The Jazz History Tree. Jazz History Tree. https://www.jazzhistorytree.com/  Rao, S. (2018, November 3). Let’s talk about Freddie Mercury’s cats, the highlight of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2018/11/03/lets-talk-about-freddie-mercurys-cats-highlight-bohemian-rhapsody/  Reilly, L. (2018, September 12). Jazz icon Charles Mingus wrote a manual for Toilet Training Your Cat. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/556948/charles-mingus-jazz-icon-wrote-manual-toilet-training-your-cat  Skinner, D. (2014). How did cool become such a big deal?. The National Endowment for the Humanities. https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2014/julyaugust/feature/how-did-cool-become-such-big-deal-0  Springsteen, B. (1973). Kitty’s Back. Bruce Springsteen. https://brucespringsteen.net/track/kittys-back/  Stremes, B. (2022, February 22). The origin and influence of doo-Wop Music. Bertolt Press. https://bertoltpress.com/2020/04/24/doo-wop-music-history/  The Rough Guide to Hokum Blues. World Music Network. (n.d.). https://worldmusic.net/products/the-rough-guide-to-hokum-blues  Thornton, K. C. (2018, July 18). Hey there, cool cats and sly dogs: We invoke our friends in fun, ... https://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/pets/article215148715.html  Vocelle, L. A. (2021, January 26). Famous cat lovers-musicians, composers, dancers, singers. THE GREAT CAT. https://www.thegreatcat.org/famous-cat-lovers/famous-cat-lovers-musicians-composers-dancers-singers/  Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Leo Fender. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Fender  Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). The Coasters. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coasters  

Cool Cat: How Cats Are the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll

Who is a cat person? What is the essence of feline fandom and who exactly are the literal and figurative cat people among us? Listen and find out! Celebrate the Lunar New Year (Happy Year of the Dragon) or Têt, with us in Vietnam, where we discover a unique breed of cat people with the help of Austin-based comic Ivy Le of the FOGO: Fear of Going Outside podcast. Ivy is joined by audio producer, artist and educator TK "Keisha" Dutes and Cat Person social media manager Tracy Michelle, as we debunk stereotypes, challenge cultural and racial assumptions and redefine what it means to be a cat person - while advocating for everyone's rightful place alongside Taylor Swift as an iconic figure of our tribe. Prepare to embrace your inner cat person of the 21st Century and join the revolution! Tune in now for a purr-fectly engaging discussion that will change the way you see feline companionship forever. Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced artifacts: Cats vs Dogs map (original source: BudgetDirect) Referenced episodes: Felines & Fatherhood: Exploring Masculinity, Father’s Day, and the Unique Bond Between Men and Cats Cats vs Cupid: Why Cats are the Better Valentine’s Day Mascot Cats Are the Consummate Domesticate: Origins and Evolution of Our Feline Friends [Pilot] About the experts: Keisha “TK” Dutes is a multimedia producer and artist whose work has been featured on NPR’s LifeKit. She serves on the board of AIR Media and has consulted for Spotify USA and Willie Mae Rock Camp as an audio educator. TK can be followed on Meta and X as @tastykeish and on TikTok as tk_creates. Ivy Le is a Vietnamese-American comedian, actress, writer and producer of Spotify’s hit podcast, FOGO Fear of Going Outside. She can be followed on social media @ivylewithonee and found at ivylewithonee.com. Tracy Michelle is a stylist, writer, gamer and content creator who serves as the social media manager of lifestyle brand Cat Person. She can be followed on social media @ohheytracy and found at ohheytracy.com. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B. - Instagram: @catsuitband) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 The Captain & Tenille 2: Snuggles: Jeoparty Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Booth, J. (2023, December 11). All about Taylor Swift’s cats, Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button. People Magazine. https://people.com/pets/all-about-taylor-swift-cats  McGrath, M. (2023, December 20). Cats vs. dogs: Which does the world prefer?. Budget Direct. https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/pet-insurance/guides/cats-vs-dogs-which-does-the-world-prefer.html#:~:text=Key%20Findings,are%20all%20dog%2Dpeople%20countries.  Megna, M. (2024, February 1). Forbes Pet ownership statistics 2024. Pet Ownership Statistics 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/  Mitovich, M. W. (2024, January 19). Ratings: Law & order trio grow after 8-month break, SVU Tops Thursday. TVLine. https://tvline.com/ratings/law-and-order-svu-season-25-premiere-viewership-1235131925/  Rigby, S. (2023, March 16). What’s the longest a cat can live for? Here are the world’s oldest felines. BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/whats-the-longest-a-cat-can-live-for  Taylor Swift Life and Career. Taylor Swift Museum. (n.d.). https://www.theswiftmuseum.com/life-and-career  With almost 1 million video choices, women 18-34 turn to classic TV. Nielsen. (2023, June 30). https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2023/with-almost-1-million-video-choices-women-18-34-turn-to-classic-tv/  Yin, S. (2019, February 5). What Lunar New Year reveals about the world’s calendars. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/science/chinese-new-year-lunar-calendar.html  

Beyond Taylor Swift: Who Are Cat People?

Discover the fascinating origins of internet culture in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, the worlds #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, science and - in this instance - tech podcast.  Did you know that pizza was the very first item ever bought and sold online? Or that approximately 1% of all internet activity revolves around adorable cat photos and videos? While some of these facts may not be independently verifiable, it's undeniable that cats and pizza have become iconic symbols of the worldwide web. Join us on an entertaining journey into the depths of host Captain Kitty (a.k.a. Amanda B.)'s psyche as she explores the intertwined relationship between felines and pizza. Alongside Roberta's Pizza alumni and renowned pizza consultant Anthony Falco, delve into the reasons behind this peculiar connection. Special guest Maria Bustillos, a prolific writer and expert on cat internet culture, sheds light on the unique charm of online communities and the pivotal role of cats within them. Prepare to immerse yourself in the quirky, captivating world of internet folklore, where pizza, cats, and eccentricity reign supreme. Together, let's celebrate the delightful weirdness that makes the internet such a vibrant and fascinating place. Tune in for a truly enjoyable and enlightening exploration of pizza, the internet, and our beloved feline companions in this wonderfully weird episode! Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced artifacts: Image of the original Geocities Hamsterdance page PizzaNet original form The (alleged) first cat video posted on YouTube Referenced episodes: Cats Are the Consummate Domesticate: Origins and Evolution of Our Feline Friends [Pilot] Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore Cats vs Cupid: Why Cats are the Better Valentine’s Day Mascot About the experts: Maria Bustillos is an American editor, journalist, information activist, and the founding editor of Flaming Hydra, Popula, and the Brick House Cooperative. She authored the viral essay, “How Cats Won the Internet” (BBC.com, via Cat is Art Spelled Wrong, Coffeehouse Press, 2015). Maria can be found at https://thebrick.house, https://mariabustillos.com/ and on Mastodon at @maria@thelife.boats. Anthony Falco is an American chef, author and pizza consultant. He is the author of Pizza Czar: Recipes and Know-How from a World-Traveling Pizza Chef and can be found at https://www.piz.za.com. Follow Anthony’s pizza travels on Instagram at @millennium_falco. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 The Captain & Tenille 2: Snuggles: "Not the Hamster Dance Original Song" Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Beaver, Gilbert (2023, January 31). Cats Overtake Dogs As America’s Most Popular Pet: Exploring The Reasons Behind This Trend. Hyaenidae. https://www.hyaenidae.org/cats-overtake-dogs-as-americas-most-popular-pet-exploring-the-reasons-behind-this-trend. Blackburn, R. (2011, November 4). 1493 by Charles C Mann – review. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/nov/04/1493-americas-charles-mann-review  Bolster (Ed.). (2020, July 10). From LiveJournal to myspace Tom: A Social Media timeline. Bolstered. https://medium.com/bolstered/from-livejournal-to-myspace-tom-a-social-media-timeline-164461e47da1  Bryant, M. S. (2016, March 3). 20 years ago today, the World Wide Web was born. TNW Insider. https://thenextweb.com/news/20-years-ago-today-the-world-wide-web-opened-to-the-public  Buckley, J. (2021, March 12). How this fruit became the star of Italian cooking. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/tomato-italy-history  Bustillos, M. (2022, February 24). How cats won the internet. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150918-how-did-cats-win-the-internet  Cheslak, C. (2018). Biography: Hedy Lamarr. National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/hedy-lamarr  Collins, L. (2018, December 27). The oral history of the Hampsterdance: The twisted true story of one of the world’s first memes | CBC arts. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-oral-history-of-the-hampsterdance-the-twisted-true-story-of-one-of-the-world-s-first-memes-1.4958325  Crosby, A. W. (2016). Ecological imperialism: The biological expansion of Europe, 900-1900. Cambridge University Press.  de Argaez, E. (Ed.). (2023, November 15). World internet users statistics and 2023 World Population Stats. Internet World Stats. https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm  Emspak, J., & Zimmermann, K. A. (2022, April 8). Internet history timeline: ARPANET to the world wide web. LiveScience. https://www.livescience.com/20727-internet-history.html  Ferdman, R. A., & Ingraham, C. (2014, July 28). Where cats are more popular than dogs in the U.S.—and all over the ... The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/07/28/where-cats-are-more-popular-than-dogs-in-the-u-s-and-all-over-the-world/  Graham, M., & Sengupta, A. (2017, October 5). We’re all connected now, so why is the internet so white and western? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/05/internet-white-western-google-wikipedia-skewed  Hoffman, J. (2018, July 30). The first thing that ever sold online was pizza. The History of the Web. https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/postscript/pizzanet/  Kemp, S. (Ed.). (2023, October). Digital around the world - datareportal – global digital insights. DataReportal. https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview Markoff, J. (2012, June 25). How many computers to identify a cat? 16,000. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/technology/in-a-big-network-of-computers-evidence-of-machine-learning.html Morais, B. (2013, October 15). Ada Lovelace, the first tech visionary. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/ada-lovelace-the-first-tech-visionary  National Science and Media Museum, The. A short history of the internet. National Science and Media Museum. (2020, December 3). https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/short-history-internet Phillips, O. (2018, January 30). The numbers don’t lie: Dogs are the internet’s favorite animal. The Outline. https://theoutline.com/post/3128/dogs-cats-internet-popularity  Reiter, A. (2015, October 12). Can you guess the world’s most-instagrammed food? Food Network. https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2015/10/can-you-guess-the-worlds-most-instagrammed-food  Richter, F. (2022, February 21). Infographic: English is the internet’s universal language. Statista Daily Data. https://www.statista.com/chart/26884/languages-on-the-internet/ Sparkes, M. (2021, April). What does Wi-Fi Stand For?. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/question/what-does-wi-fi-stand-for/  Turim, G. (2012, July 27). Who invented pizza?. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/a-slice-of-history-pizza-through-the-ages  Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Cats and the internet. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_and_the_Internet  Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Digital Revolution. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Revolution  Witter, B. (2021, January 19). Katherine Johnson and 9 other Black Female Pioneers in science. Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/scientists/katherine-johnson-black-female-science-technology-engineering-mathematics 

Pizza Paws: Decoding the Internet's Obsession with Cats and Pizza

Join us as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, also known as Yule and explore the intriguing tale of Iceland’s legendary Yulecat and revisit the captivating history of Viking settlements in Iceland. In this illuminating discussion, led by renowned Iceland folklore expert Terry Gunnell, Ph.D., discover why the typically cat-loving Icelanders avoid encountering this colossal cat, and gain insights from journalist Haukur S Magnússon on strategies to evade its clutches. Musician Júlía Hermannsdóttir shares her childhood experiences immersed in these captivating folktales. By the end of this episode, uncover the deeper significance behind this seasonal folklore - it’s a revelation that goes beyond mere storytelling. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of Icelandic folklore and traditions intertwined with the Winter Solstice and Christmas! Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced episodes: Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore Witches, Whiskers and Whisky: Re-introducing the Original Cat Lady of Halloween!  About the experts: Terry Gunnell, Ph.D., is a professor of folkloristics at the University of Iceland. Gunnell is a leading published expert on Norse folklore and history and has served as a consultant for films such as The Northman. Júlía Hermannsdóttir is a Reykjavík, Iceland-based musician and health technologist who performs vocals and synthesizers with her indie shoegaze band, Oyama. Haukur Sigurbjörn Magnússon is an Icelandic musician and journalist. He was the editor in chief of the magazine Reykjavík Grapevine from 2012-2016 and is the guitarist of the band Reykjavík! Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 The Captain & Tenille 2: Snuggles: "(Don't) Let it Snow" Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Árnadóttir, N. (2018, February 6). From Iceland - Reykjavík Catwalk: A brief history of cats in Iceland. The Reykjavik Grapevine. https://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2018/02/07/reykjavik-catwalk-a-brief-history-of-cats-in-iceland  Budrovich, N. (2023, January 3). The Wild Holiday that turned ancient Rome Upside Down. Getty. https://www.getty.edu/news/the-wild-holiday-that-turned-ancient-rome-upside-down/  Dunn, M. (2023, October 26). Bonfires, feasts, and human sacrifice: How the Vikings celebrated “Christmas.” All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/yule  Gunnell, T. (2001). GRÝLA, GRÝLUR, GRØLEKS AND SKEKLERS: Medieval Disguise Traditions in the North Atlantic. In ARV: Nordic Yearbook of folklore 2001 (pp. 33–54). essay, The Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy.  Karlsson, Á. G. (2020, December 17). The Yule Cat. Icelandic Folklore. https://icelandicfolklore.is/the-yule-cat/  Lea, R. (2021, October 26). When is the winter solstice and what happens?. Space.com. https://www.space.com/winter-solstice  Magnússon, H. S. (2015, January 21). From Iceland - The Christmas Cat. The Reykjavik Grapevine. https://grapevine.is/culture/art/2008/12/10/the-christmas-cat/  McAfee, S. (2023, January 16). 2 “pagan roots of Christmas” claims you can refute. Catholic Answers. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/refuting-the-pagan-roots-of-christmas-claim  McGowan, A. (2023, December 4). How December 25 became Christmas. Biblical Archaeology Society. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/how-december-25-became-christmas/ Torres, D. (2021, January 8). Which literary genius had the biggest inner cat lady. The Best Cat Page. https://thebestcatpage.com/which-literary-genius-had-the-biggest-inner-cat-lady/  

How the Cat Stole Christmas: Introducing the Yule Cat of Iceland

The team at 6 Degrees of Cats is taking a tiny break but will be dropping a fun  Christmas-themed episode next week, so be sure to turn on your notifications for 6 Degrees of Cats to be the first to listen when it's out! In the meantime, we are thrilled to recommend our pals: Nuances Podcast: A podcast exploring the nuances of Asian American and Pacific Islander identity, culture, and how they affect everything from our career choices to our views on anti-racism, disability justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, climate justice, and many more issues. Good People, Cool Things: a weekly podcast featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, musicians, writers, and other good people. Be sure to check out these rad podcasts!  And if you love 6 Degrees of Cats, please help keep us going! You can support the podcast by signing up for The Captain’s Log, our biweekly newsletter and following us on social media for more clips, cat facts and chit chat from your favorite cat-themed podcast team at linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And for a limited time only, the team will send you a free limited edition postcard for listeners in the United States, Canada and Mexico who take five minutes to complete this survey: https://tinyurl.com/6Doc-postcard23. Music: Leathered: "Break it Down" © 2010 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: mtotallywired) 

Stay tuned for our special holiday episode coming next week!

In this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, we go DEEP into the meaning of life...through cats...with the help of experts in Western and Eastern philosophy. Dr. Abigail Levin, an animal ethics professor at Niagara University, returns to the podcast to explore our duty through deontological (say that five times fast!) ethics according to one Immanuel Kant, after a few false starts with the fathers of so-called Western philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Dr. Levin, a practicing Buddhist, is joined by fellow Buddhist and animal ethicist Janet Gyatso, Professor of Buddhist Studies at Harvard Divinity School, whose lifelong love of cats and compassion for animals provide a focused lens on cats and Buddhism. You will be as enlightened as host Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) by the end of this playful and profound episode in which we assess the life we have chosen for our pets - and the life they might have chosen if they had their say. Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced episodes: The Golden Age of Cats: The Medieval Middle East, Muezza and the Mark of Muhammad (or Mary) Community CATalysts: Kosovans Caring for Their Animal Survivors About the experts: Janet Gyatso, Ph.D., M.A., is Harvard Divinity School's first Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. She is a specialist in Buddhist studies with concentration on Tibetan and South Asian cultural and intellectual history.  Abigail Levin, Ph.D., J.D., is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Niagara University in Buffalo, New York. Her primary research interests are in political philosophy, animal ethics, feminism and philosophy of race and gender. She recently published a book about celebrity animals and the ethical obligations arising from keeping animals in captivity. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles   Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Code of Hammurabi: Laws & facts. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/hammurabi  Attending to animals. Harvard Divinity School (HDS). (2019, October 29). https://hds.harvard.edu/news/2019/10/29/attending-to-animals  Burnham, D. (n.d.). Immanuel Kant: Aesthetics. https://iep.utm.edu/kantaest/  Camenzind, S. (2021, February 16). Kantian ethics and the animal turn. on the contemporary defence of Kant’s indirect duty view. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7919796/  Descartes, R. (1972). Treatise on man (T. S. Hall, Trans.). Harvard University Press.  Hatfield, G. (2023, October 23). René Descartes. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/descartes/  Jones, T. (2014, February 8). Two meanings of karma. The Buddhist Centre. https://thebuddhistcentre.com/westernbuddhistreview/two-meanings-karma  Karlis, N. (2021, December 13). A “talking” cat is giving scientists insight into how felines think. Salon. https://www.salon.com/2021/12/12/a-talking-cat-is-giving-scientists-insight-into-how-felines-think/  Plato. (1980). The Allegory of the Cave. In The Republic of Plato. essay, Cambridge Univ. Press.  Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Islam: Empire of faith - profiles - Muhammad. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/profilesmuhammed.html  Scharping, N. (2023, March 21). How the ancient code of Hammurabi reveals a society both similar and alien to ours. Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-the-ancient-code-of-hammurabi-reveals-a-society-both-similar-and-alien Wormald, B. (2015, April 2). Buddhists [Pew Research Center]. Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/buddhists/ 

The Purr-fect Life: Cats, Kantian Ethics and Karma!

We all know cats we worshipped in Egypt - but that's not the only culture that - to this date - holds a special place for cats in their homes and hearts! In fact, there are many - and this care and compassion for cats is even codified in religious texts! Join us in this episode, we set sail towards the captivating kitties in Islam's Golden Age, a period marked by innovation and artistic brilliance in the Near East aka the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) aka Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). Religious scholar Dr. Megan Goodwin sets us up for this historical journey by providing historical context for Europe's Dark Ages and their misguided anti-feline decrees. She is joined by Dr. Ali Olomi, our Islamic history expert, as he unpacks the significance of cats in the region during that era and sheds light on why they continue to hold a special place in the Islamic world. Discover the profound connection between caring for cats, all animals, and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, as demystified by Dr. Olomi. Season 1's guest, Catholicism researcher René Ostberg, shares a delightful anecdote affirming our podcast's theme that everything is interconnected. Come for the fascinating cat facts, and stay for the enlightening exploration of Islam's Golden Age (which was also a Golden Age for Cats, at least on that side of the world.) Complete our anonymous LISTENER SURVEY and sign up for a limited edition free 6 Degrees of Cats postcard! Go to https://tinyurl.com/6Doc-postcard23 Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Photo of Binky’s “M Referenced episodes: Witches, Whiskers and Whisky: Re-introducing the Original Cat Lady of Halloween! A Mother’s Tail: Introducing St. Gertrude, the Patron Saint of Cats (and Her Mom) About the experts: Ali A. Olomi, Ph.D., is a writer, historian, and podcaster of Middle East and Islamic history. He is Assistant Professor of History at Loyola Marymount University,  an Affiliated Scholar with the Rutgers Center for Security, Race, and Rights and the host of “Head on History”, a podcast on Islamic intellectual history. Dr. Olomi can be followed on all social media @aaolomi Megan Goodwin, Ph.D., is the host of the hit podcast “Keeping it 101: A Killjoy’s Introduction to Religion” and author of “Abusing Religion: Literary Persecution, Sex Scandals, and American Minority Religions” (Rutgers University Press). She can be followed on X/Twitter @mpgphd  René Ostberg, M.S., is a Chicago-based writer and researcher who specializes in Catholic culture whose writing has appeared in many publications such as National Catholic Reporter and Encyclopaedia Britannica.  Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: A&E Television Networks. (2023, June 6). Middle ages - definition, Timeline & Facts. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/middle-ages  Arabian Peninsula, 1000–1400 A.D.: Chronology: Heilbrunn Timeline of art history: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. (n.d.). https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/07/wap.html  Blakemore, E. (2023, June 6). What life in Medieval Europe was really like. History. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/what-life-in-medieval-europe-was-really-like  Chism, C. (2009, March). Arabic in the Medieval World. Modern Language Association, 124(2), 624-631. Dash, M. (2013, July 22). Islam’s medieval underworld. Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/islams-medieval-underworld-15821520/  Hoh, A. (2017, October 26). A Thousand and One nights: Arabian story-telling in world literature: 4 corners of the world. A Thousand and One Nights: Arabian Story-telling in World Literature. https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2017/10/a-thousand-and-one-nights-arabian-story-telling-in-world-literature/  Moritz, B. M. (2019, February 25). Tycho Brahe - “those who study the stars, have god for a teacher.” Science meets Faith. https://sciencemeetsfaith.wordpress.com/2018/10/24/tycho-brahe-those-who-study-the-stars-have-god-for-a-teacher/  Nicolaou, E. (2019, May 24). The origin story of “Aladdin” is far wilder than you know. Is Aladdin Based On True Story? Surprising Myth Origins. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/233443/is-aladdin-true-story-real-legend  Ortega, R. (2023, October 27). National Black Cat Day 2023: Why do people struggle to trust them?. MARCA. https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/2023/10/27/653be17a46163f9c518b458c.html  Prager, S. (2020, June 10). In Han Dynasty China, bisexuality was the norm. JSTOR Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/in-han-dynasty-china-bisexuality-was-the-norm/  Sheldon, N. (2021, April 17). “Thou shalt not suffer a cat to live”: Why pope Gregory IX’s Vox in Rama implicated cats in devil worship. History Collection. https://historycollection.com/thou-shalt-not-suffer-a-cat-to-live-why-pope-gregory-ixs-vox-in-rama-implicated-cats-in-devil-worship/ Yale School of Medicine. (2005, September 15). From the Middle East, in the Middle Ages. Yale School of Medicine. https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/from-the-middle-east-in-the-middle-ages/   Yuko, E. (2023, August 9). How Cats Became Divine Symbols in Ancient Egypt. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/cats-ancient-egypt Zeitlin, J. T. (1997). Historian of the strange pu songling and the Chinese Classical Tale. Stanford University Press. 

The Golden Age of Cats: The Medieval Middle East, Muezza and the Mark of Muhammad (or Mary)

We are back for Season 2 of "6 Degrees of Cats," your favorite cat-themed history, culture, and science just in time for Halloween! Learn about the original cat ladies and what they really were brewing in those cauldrons - as well as what the heck was up with those hats. Learn about weird trivia, women’s history and whisky brewing with Dr. Megan Goodwin, host of hit religion and history podcast “Keeping It 101” who gets to the heart of the witch trope; food historian and author of “Endangered Eating” Sarah Lohman who explains the origins of the witch costume; and Kings County Distillery founder and writer Colin Spoelman, who introduces us to distillery cats Carlos and Jeffy.  Celebrate the launch of season two on this special haunted holiday for an alternative history of the original crazy cat lady - the witch.  uisge beatha (Middle Irish / Scottish Gaelic)  → usquebaugh (English)  → whisky  Recommended listen: Witch podcast (BBC)  Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Referenced episodes: Cats Are the Consummate Domesticate: Origins and Evolution of Our Feline Friends [Pilot] Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore About the experts: Colin Spoelman is the founder of award-winning Brooklyn whisky distillery, Kings County Distillery, and co-author of DEAD DISTILLERS: A History of the Upstarts and Outlaws Who Made American Spirits, “A spirited portrait of the unusual and storied origins of forgotten drunkenness.” Follow Colin on Instagam @colinopolis and Kings County Distillery @kingscountydistillery Megan Goodwin, Ph.D., is the host of hit podcast “Keeping it 101: A Killjoy’s Introduction to Religion” and author of “Abusing Religion: Literary Persecution, Sex Scandals, and American Minority Religions” (Rutgers University Press). She can be followed on X/Twitter @mpgphd  Sarah Lohman is a culinary historian and author of “Endangered Eating: America's Vanishing Foods”, one of Eater's “Best Food Books to Read This Fall”. For more information about Sarah and to access archives of her influential blog, Four Pounds Flour, visit https://sarahlohman.com. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Bennett, J. M. (1999). Ale, beer and Brewsters in England: Women’s work in a changing world, 1300-1600. Oxford University Press.  Brooks, Laken. (2021, March 8). Why did women stop dominating the beer industry?. Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/women-used-dominate-beer-industry-until-witch-accusations-started-pouring-180977171/  Guilford, G. (2018, February 13). The Dangerous Economics of racial resentment during World War II. Quartz. https://qz.com/1201502/japanese-internment-camps-during-world-war-ii-are-a-lesson-in-the-scary-economics-of-racial-resentment Miller, A. (1996, October 13). Why I Wrote the Crucible. The New Yorker. The explosion of Irish Whiskey Distilleries. Distiller. (2023, July 12). https://distiller.com/articles/new-irish-whiskey-distilleries  The origins and history of whisky: Scotch Whisky experience. The Scotch Whisky Experience. (2023). https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/about/about-whisky/history. Tucker, A. (2021, October 28). The Spooky History of how cats bewitched us. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/10/31/the-spooky-history-of-how-cats-bewitched-us/ Whiskey or whisky? The Water of Life Etymology. Silverback Distillery. (2021, March 25). https://www.sbdistillery.com/blog/2021/2/14/whiskey-or-whisky-the-water-of-life-etymology 

Witches, Whiskers and Whisky: Re-introducing the Original Cat Lady of Halloween! [Season 2 Premiere]

6 Degrees of Cats, your new favorite cat-themed culture, history and science podcast hosted by lifelong cat custodian Captain Kitty, aka Amanda B. launches in one week on October 31 (Halloween!) Please follow @6DegreesofCats on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, sign up for the mailing list at linktr.ee/6degreesofcats and tell all your friends to subscribe now! Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. 謝謝, gracias, 감사합니다. धन्यवाद, merci beaucoup, ありがとう, dziękuję, asante, شكرا لكم, danke schön, thank you so much...   _^..^_ Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Featured voices: Malina Moye, award-winning blues guitarist and singer (Instagram: @malinamoye) Sarah Lohman, food historian (Instagram: @fourpoundsflour) Megan Goodwin, Ph.D., religion scholar, writer and host of Keeping It 101 Podcast (X: @mpgphd) Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist, YouTuber and host of My Cat From Hell (Animal Planet) Featured tracks: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 The Sailor's Hornpipe - Leopold Moeslein (1906) Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: mtotallywired) 

[Trailer] 6 Degrees of Cats is back for Season 2 on October 31!

GREAT NEWS EVERYONE! Save the date for Halloween, 6 Degrees of Cats Season 2 drops October 31! Turn on your notifications for 6 Degrees of Cats to be the first to listen when it drops. In the meantime, we are thrilled to share with you a fun, uplifting, and thought-provoking conversation that your favorite #1 cat-themed culture, history and science podcast host, Captain Kitty (“Amanda B.” when off-mic) had for the season finale of the Nuances Podcast.  Featuring guest experts from across the Asian diaspora on topics like comedy, religion, feminism, media and history, Nuances is one of Amanda’s favorite knowledge- and nuance-packed longform podcasts. Listen in on this dynamic discussion with Nuances’ host Lazou Lee to get to know a little more of your favorite host's backstory - and learn about topics like power-based interpersonal violence prevention*, intersectionality and Amanda’s hot take on the limits of empathy for behavior change. Listen to Nuances wherever you get your podcasts, or follow @nuancespod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. Show notes and transcript for this episode can be found at https://nuancespod.com/2023/09/24/amanda-b/. Thank you, Lazou! And everyone - we can’t wait to see you in a few weeks! If you love 6 Degrees of Cats, please help keep us going! You can support the podcast by signing up for The Captain’s Log and pledging your support, and subscribing and following us at these links: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And for a limited time only, the team will send you a free limited edition postcard for listeners in the United States, Canada and Mexico who take five minutes to complete this survey: https://tinyurl.com/6Doc-postcard23. * If you, or someone you know, has been harmed by power-based interpersonal violence such as sexual, or intimate partner violence (also called "domestic violence"), please visit this link for English-language resources available to North Americans. There is never an excuse, and we can all prevent and interrupt violence in our spaces. And to consult with Amanda on pro-social bystander intervention and other ways to be an ally to survivors, please visit tinyurl.com/Ask4Amanda. Music: Leathered: "Break it Down" © 2010 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: mtotallywired) 

Captain Kitty on Nuances Podcast: Amanda B. on 6 degrees of cats, educating in the domestic violence space, and her experience as a trans-national & trans-racial adoptee

In the season 1 finale of "6 Degrees of Cats,"  and just in time for Father's Day, the team explores the remarkable and often overlooked bond between men and cats. Join us as we uncover fascinating insights, starting with Niagara University professor of philosophy Abigail Levin’s commentary on the gender stereotypes applied to cats, and the remarkable hunting skills they exhibit. We're also joined by Gabe García, a DEI analyst and LGBTQ+ youth advocate, who helps us delve into the origins of gender-based stereotypes and labels that Tony Porter of “A Call to Men” collectively refers to as "The Man Box" and led to the misconception that men can't have cats. Additionally, friend of the podcast and returning TNR celebrity Sterling "TrapKing" Davis shares his experiences in educating communities about trap/neuter/return while promoting a broader understanding of masculinity and its relationship with cats. Throughout, host Captain Kitty herself reminisces about her late father, who exemplified masculinity and fatherhood through his care for her and her cats during her childhood. Tune in to this special episode as we celebrate Father's Day and unravel the multifaceted connections between masculinity, cats, and personal experiences that challenge societal norms. Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and learn about way$ to help keep this ship afloat for our next season here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. About the experts: Abigail Levin, Ph.D., J.D., is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Niagara University in Buffalo, New York. Her primary research interests are in political philosophy, animal ethics, feminism and philosophy of race and gender. She is currently at work on a book-length project about celebrity animals and the ethical obligations arising from keeping animals in captivity. Gabe García is a DEI analyst and marketing consultant who leverages their background in philosophy, economics and communication studies to drive diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging in all their spaces. They serve on the board of OkaySo, a free confidential text-based app for LGBTQ+ youth and young people with questions about relationships, sex, identity, mental health and more. Gabe can be followed @gabefgarcia on most social media platforms. Sterling “TrapKing” Davis is an Atlanta, GA-based trap hip hop musician, community organizer and educator on feline trap-neuter-rescue. Davis and his team consult across the continental U.S. to provide sustainable, humane solutions for feral cat population control from a positive, collaborative and community-centered approach (trapkinghumane.org). Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Children’s voices: Arie B., Benjamin C., Ira B. and Kamron P (special thanks to the parents!)  Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2022 Leathered: “Indictment” © 2010 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Provided with permission: Corey Rodrigues: “Cats Are Better Than Dogs” © 2018 Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Banks, M. S., Sprague, W. W., Schmoll, J., Parnell, J. A., & Love, G. D. (2015). Why do animal eyes have pupils of different shapes? Science Advances, 1(7). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500391. Retrieved from: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1500391 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, November 8). What noises cause hearing loss?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html  Fair, J. (2022, May 11). Apex predators in the wild: Which mammals are the most dangerous?. Which mammals are the most dangerous? | BBC Wildlife Magazine | Discover Wildlife. Retrieved from: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/hunting-success-rates-how-predators-compare  Nash, O. (1941). “The face is familiar: the Selected verse of Ogden Nash”, Garden City Publishing Company, Inc. Provide with the permission of the Ogden Nash estate. Porter, T. (2023). Healthy manhood. Healthy Manhood. Retrieved from: https://www.acalltomen.org/healthy-manhood 

Felines & Fatherhood: Exploring Masculinity, Father’s Day, and the Unique Bond Between Men and Cats

In this second part of our two-part series on cats and science, we continue our fascinating journey with biophysicist Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., based in Vienna, as he unveils the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and demystifies the significance of Schrodinger's cat - a thought experiment that has intrigued minds for decades.  Joining Dr. Elsayad is materials scientist Titilayo Shodiya, Ph.D., an expert familiar with the diverse states of matter, including liquid, solid, collapsed, and more, in which cats astonishingly exist. Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce rising young researcher Kaeden Henry and co-investigator Kerry Hyde, who have employed the scientific method to conduct an innovative study that promises to ignite spirited conversations among cat owners worldwide. Check out part 1 here!  Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. About the experts: Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., heads the Advanced Microscopy team at the Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities (VBCF) in Vienna, Austria. His research has broadly contributed to the fields of microscopy, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, and nanophotonics. Dr. Elsayad can be followed @kelsa909 on Twitter. Titilayo Shodiya, M.S., Ph.D., is the host of hit pop culture and science podcast, Dope Labs with co-host Zakiya Watson, Ph.D. Dr. Shodiya received her B.S. in Materials Science from Penn State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She currently works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Shodiya can be followed @dr_tsho on Instagram and Twitter. Kaeden Henry and Kerry Hyde are a Florida-based independent research team whose innovative science fair poster, “Does Your Cat’s B***hole Really Touch All The Surfaces In Your Home?”, gained worldwide attention in 2021 upon publication on social media. Reference image: Adam Ellis "Books of Adam" cat meme Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Opening and closing credits: Leathered: "Look Alive" (c) 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Howgego, J. (n.d.). Schrödinger’s Cat. Schrödinger’s cat: A thought experiment that highlights the strangeness of quantum theory. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/definition/schrodingers-cat/  Humphreys, J. (2021, December 11). How Erwin Schrödinger indulged his “lolita complex” in Ireland. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/how-erwin-schr%C3%B6dinger-indulged-his-lolita-complex-in-ireland-1.4749204  Myers, M. (2021, April 27). Kid’s science project centered around if a cat’s behind touches surfaces. K 104.7. Retrieved from https://k1047.com/2021/04/27/kids-science-project-centered-around-if-a-cats-behind-touches-surfaces/  Zhu, A. (2022, July 11). The Ig Nobel Prize: Why are Cats Liquid? Retrieved from  https://stemfellowship.org/the-ig-nobel-prize-why-are- cats-liquid/ 

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat, Part 2: Exploring Science Fairs, Schrodinger’s Cat, and the Fascinating Concept of Cats as Liquids

Welcome back to the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast.  In part one of our two-episode series on cats and science, we take a cue from cats and let our curiosity lead us through an exploration of how science and cats go hand in hand - er, paw in paw. Join your host as she welcomes a stellar lineup of scientists - and comes to a slightly scientific conclusion of her own about cats! Materials scientist Titilayo Shodiya, Ph.D., host of hit pop science podcast Dope Labs and Vienna-based biophysicist Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., share their insights on the invaluable role curiosity plays in hypothesis-driven research and break down the basics of scientific methodology. And writer and physicist Greg Gbur, Ph.D., of hit pop science book, “Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics” provides a fun survey of cats’ partnerships with scientists across time. Get ready to - once again - see cats in a whole new light.  Check out part 2 here! Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Reference image: Nicola Tesla’s letter about Macek the cat About the experts: Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., heads the Advanced Microscopy team at the Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities (VBCF) in Vienna, Austria. His research has broadly contributed to the fields of microscopy, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, and nanophotonics. Dr. Elsayad can be followed @kelsa909 on Twitter. Greg Gbur, Ph.D., is an American author and physicist who specializes in the study of classical coherence theory in optical physics. He is a full professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Department of Physics and Optical Science. He writes the popular science blog, Skulls in the Stars and has published several hit pop science books, including Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics and Invisibility: The History and Science of How Not to Be Seen (both Yale University Press). Dr. Gbur can be followed @drskyskull on Twitter and Mastodon. Titilayo Shodiya, M.S., Ph.D., is the host of hit pop culture and science podcast, Dope Labs with co-host Zakiya Watson, Ph.D. Dr. Shodiya received her B.S. in Materials Science from Penn State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She currently works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Shodiya can be followed @dr_tsho on Instagram and Twitter. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Opening and closing credits: Leathered: "Look Alive" (c) 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Felton, J. (2022, September 22). The cat flap is surprisingly ancient, and not the work of Isaac Newton. IFLScience. Retrieved from  https://www.iflscience.com/the-cat-flap-is-surprisingly-ancient-and-not-the-work-of-isaac-newton-65443  Gbur, G. (2019). Falling felines and fundamental physics. Yale University Press.  Gbur, G. (2022, July 22). The oldest falling cat explanation. Retrieved from https://skullsinthestars.com/2022/07/02/the-oldest-falling-cat-explanation/.  George, S. C. (2022, September 23). 5 cats who owned famous scientists. Discover Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/5-cats-who-owned-famous-scientists  Tearle, O. (2023, March 16). The interesting meaning and history of the phrase “curiosity killed the cat.” Interesting Literature. https://interestingliterature.com/2019/12/meaning-and-history-phrase-curiosity-killed-the-cat/ 

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat, Part 1: Research and Righting Reflexes

Welcome (back) to 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast. In this episode, get ready for the motherload - in which we delve into the topic of motherhood through the captivating story of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the Belgian abbess and (alleged) patron saint of cats. Joining our host is Catholic culture researcher René Ostberg, M.A., who guides us through the life of St. Gertrude, her relationship with cats, and the pivotal role of motherhood in her story. Alongside René, we have returning guest and doula Jade Hillery, M.P.H., and media professional and working mom, Alem Tedeneke, M.A., who share their unique perspectives on motherhood, from the physical to the spiritual and emotional dimensions of mothering. Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. Reference image: Cat meme on St. Gertrude (source: unknown) About the experts: Jade F. Hillery, MPH, CD (DTI), is a reproductive and sexual health trainer and educator, full spectrum doula, and sensual movement instructor. She works to support other trainers and educators in creating intentional learning spaces; promote healing through sensual movement; and help people tap into their own power. She is also a board member for Aaliyah in Action and a co-host of The Good Black Podcast. Rene Ostberg is a Chicago-based writer and researcher who specializes in Catholic culture whose writing has appeared in many publications such as National Catholic Reporter and Encyclopaedia Britannica. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in library and information science.  Alem Tedeneke, M.A. holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and works for a large international organization in the social impact space. She can be followed on Twitter via @eyealem. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles Animal voices include: Binky & Snuggles _^..^_ Opening and closing credits: Leathered: "Look Alive" (c) 2022 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii) Research used: Drife, J. (2002, May 1). The start of life: A history of obstetrics. Postgraduate Medical Journal. Retrieved from https://pmj.bmj.com/content/78/919/311  Fried, J. P. (2001, March 4). Following up. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/04/nyregion/following-up.html  Garner, G. (2021, July 20). Mother cat in recovery after heroically saving her kitten from Barn Fire. People.com. Retrieved from https://people.com/pets/mother-cat-recovery-after-saving-kitten-barn-fire/  Green, R. (2011, August 28). Scarlett the fire cat stray cat's devotion to kittens she carried one-by-one from fire an uplifting story of Motherly love. Spokesman.com. Retrieved from https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/dec/09/scarlett-the-fire-cat-stray-cats-devotion-to/  Kybele. CYBELE (Kybele) - Phrygian Goddess, Mother of the Gods. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.theoi.com/Phrygios/Kybele.html  Leeson, J. (2022, September 27). Is your cat ready to give birth? here's what to expect on the Big Day. How to Tell When a Cat Is Ready to Give Birth, So You Can Support Your Little Mama on the Big Day. Retrieved from https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/health-care/cat-neutering-spaying/how-to-tell-when-a-cat-is-ready-to-give-birth  Ostberg, R. M. (2021, March 17). Meet St. Gertrude, cat lady of the Catholic Church. U.S. Catholic. Retrieved from https://uscatholic.org/articles/202003/how-st-gertrude-of-nivelles-became-the-cat-lady-of-the-catholic-church/  Small, M. F. (2023, April 12). The biology of . . . morning sickness. Discover Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/the-biology-of-morning-sickness  University of Edinburgh The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. (2019). Understanding feline social structure - ed.ac.uk. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/1._understanding_feline_social_structure.pdf  Youens, R. (2021, February 17). 11 facts you should know about mommy cats. Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos. Retrieved from https://petcube.com/blog/11-fact-about-mommy-cats/  

A Mother’s Tail: Introducing St. Gertrude, the Patron Saint of Cats (and Her Mom)

Why were cats gods in ancient Egypt but Satan’s familiar by Europe’s Middle Ages? Why do serial killers and despots hate cats? When did cats get into jazz? And how the heck does all of this random cat stuff connect to us in the here and now? Listen to 6 Degrees of Cats, the world’s #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast to join cat worshipper Amanda B. as she investigates these and other hard hitting questions with a diversity of guest experts from across the globe. Subscribe now, and join the clowder by visiting http://www.6degreesofcats.com or follow @6degreesofcats on all major social media platforms.

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