6 Degrees of Cats

Our Feline Fictive Kin: Are Cats Full Fledged Family? [Season 2 Finale]

Did you know that we share a whopping 90% of our homogeneous genetic material with…cats? That’s actually more than man’s other best friend! And in the Season 2 finale for 6 Degrees of Cats - the world’s #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast - we make the case to promote our pets - especially our cats - as full-time family, full stop. Join us in conversation with a family sciences professor, a family therapist and a kids’ podcast host as we dive deep into what “family” is, and isn’t - and why. By the end of this episode, you’ll notice and appreciate the strength and length of your own family ties, including those with your cat! Tune in and share with your family, near and far!
Special thanks to Bjorn and Trip at the National Council on Family Relations and Dr. Stephanie Coontz. 
The producers also thank Dr. Regina Morantz-Sanchez, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
This episode is dedicated to the memories of William O. and Stephanie M.
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
5 Ways to Say ”I Love Mew”: Using the 5 Love Languages…With Your Cat?
The Purr-fect Life: Cats, Kantian Ethics and Karma!
About the experts:
Katie Bozek, Ph.D., L.M.F.T. is the executive director of the Korean Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN) and the owner and operator of Transitions Therapy, PLLC, her independent private marriage and family therapy practice. She serves on the boards of the West Michigan Asian American Association (WMAAA) and the Michigan Board of Counseling. Follow KAAN @wearekaan on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Carol Johnston, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at Kansas State University (Go Wildcats!) whose work has explored different ways to measure and operationalize family structure patterns over the life course to better capture a holistic picture of family dynamics. She is also the cat parent to Ash and Arlo, and can be followed at @carolanna12 (Instagram) or @carolannacoffee (X).
Melissa “Melly” Victor is the founder of 2-time Black Podcast Award nominee Stoopkid Stories, a storybook podcast featuring 7 young Black characters which has been featured on the NY Times’ "A Big List of Podcasts for Bigger Kids", in Podcast Magazine, and by Bello Collective. She is also a musical theatre actress, most recently seen as a member of the touring ensemble for Little Shop of Horrors. She can be followed @stoopkidstories on Facebook, Instagram and X or @melly_music on Instagram.
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", “Break it Down” and “Nothing But Love” © 2022
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (Instagram: @mtotallywired)
Research used:
AFTH Marketing. (2021, February 5). The complexity of transracially adopting black children. AFTH. https://afth.org/the-complexity-of-transracially-adopting-black-children/ 
Boston School of Theology Editors. (n.d.). History of Korean immigration to America, from 1903 to present. History of Korean Immigration to America, from 1903 to Present | Boston Korean Diaspora Project. https://sites.bu.edu/koreandiaspora/issues/history-of-korean-immigration-to-america-from-1903-to-present/ 
Brief history of adoption in the United States: Adoption network. Adoption Network |. (2022, September 22). https://adoptionnetwork.com/history-of-adoption/ 
Cats Protection. (n.d.). Pregnant cats, birth and care of young kittens. Cats.org. https://www.cats.org.uk/media/1029/eg18_pregnant_cats-_birth_and_care_of_young_kittens.pdf 
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 30). What is epigenetics? the answer to the nature vs. Nurture Debate. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/what-is-epigenetics-and-how-does-it-relate-to-child-development/ 
Claggett, S. R. (2023, July). Native American settlement of North Carolina. NCpedia. https://www.ncpedia.org/history/early/native-settlement 
Crowell-Davis, S. L., Curtis, T. M., & Knowles, R. J. (2004, February). Social organization in the cat: A modern understanding. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.013 
Federal Depository Library Program. (n.d.). FDLP Resource Guides: Military History: American conflicts and wars: Home. Home - Military History: American Conflicts and Wars - FDLP Resource Guides at U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://libguides.fdlp.gov/military-history-american-conflicts-and-wars 
Funk, L. M. (1970, January 1). Fictive Kin. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_16-1 
Graff, E. J. (2010, September 13). Anatomy of an adoption crisis. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/09/12/anatomy-of-an-adoption-crisis/ 
Laybourn, S. M. (2024). Out of place the lives of Korean adoptee immigrants. New York University Press. 
Lussenhop, J., Philip, A., & Eagle, J. G. (2023, June 15). Native American families broken up despite federal law meant to keep them together. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/native-american-parental-rights-termination-icwa-scotus 
National Geographic Society. (n.d.). New England colonies’ use of slavery. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/new-england-colonies-use-slaves/ 
Native Americans. Native Americans | Minnesota Historical Society. (n.d.). https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/native-americans 
PBS. (2003b, April 7). The origins of adoption in America. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/daughter-origins-adoption-america/ 
Park, S., Hongu, N., & Daily, J. W. (2016, August 12). Native American Foods: History, culture, and influence on modern diets. Journal of Ethnic Foods. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352618116300750#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20to%20keep,plants%20and%20animals%20for%20food. 
Park, Y. S. (2019, September). Park on mckee, “disrupting kinship: Transnational politics of Korean adoption in the United States.” H-Net network on Diplomatic History and International Affairs. https://networks.h-net.org/node/28443/reviews/4715102/park-mckee-disrupting-kinship-transnational-politics-korean-adoption 
Pearl S. Buck International Editors. (2021, September 14). Pearl S. Buck International: About our founder Pearl S. Buck: Pearl S. Buck International. Pearl S. Buck International. https://pearlsbuck.org/about/biography/
Putnam, Robert D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster. 
Randall, C. (2023, May 19). How much DNA do we share?. AlphaBiolabs. https://alphabiolabsusa.com/learning-center/how-much-dna-do-we-share/#:~:text=Our%20feline%20friends%20share%2090,species%20are%20so%20closely%20related. 
Renick, C. (2023, June 16). The nation’s First Family Separation Policy. The Imprint. https://imprintnews.org/child-welfare-2/nations-first-family-separation-policy-indian-child-welfare-act/32431 
Schwartz, M. (n.d.). A History of Dogs in the Early Americas. The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schwartz-dog.html 
Stack, C. B. (2003). All our kin: Strategies for survival in a black community. Basic Books. 
Tolman, C. (2019, January 15). Kosekis from Gotō: Japanese Genealogy explained. Legacy Tree. https://www.legacytree.com/blog/japanese-genealogy-explained 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2023, July 24). Hague process. USCIS. https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/hague-process 
U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). Chinese Immigration and the Chinese Exclusion Acts. Office of the Historian. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/chinese-immigration 
U.S. Library of Congress. (n.d.-b). Overview  :  colonial settlement, 1600s - 1763  :  U.S. history primary source timeline  :  classroom materials at the Library of Congress  :  library of Congress. The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/colonial-settlement-1600-1763/overview/

Banjos, Violins and Shamisens: Untangling Cats and Strings

…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. 

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

Dive into the purr-fect harmony between cats and rock 'n' roll in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 (and only) 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 © 2024 (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 

Beyond Taylor Swift: Who Are Cat People?

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 on the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast!
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
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (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 

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

Discover the fascinating origins of internet culture in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, the worlds #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history, 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"
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (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

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

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 on this episode of the world's #1 cat-themed culture, history and science podcast, 6 Degrees of Cats.
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"
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (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/ 

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

Dive DEEP into the meaning of life...through cats...with the help of experts in Western and Eastern philosophy on this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast.
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
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (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 Golden Age of Cats: The Medieval Middle East, Muezza and the Mark of Muhammad (or Mary)

We all know cats were considered gods (well, god-adjacent) in ancient Egypt - but did you know that nearly 2 billion people in today's world still consider them in connection to their religion? Find out more here at 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 cat-themed culture, history and science podcast.
In this episode, we set sail across oceans of, um, water and time to 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
Samples licensed via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2024 (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.