Let's Talk About Cats

We’re taking a short break in January, but we’ll be back in February! In the meantime, resident cat expert Julian (age 5) is here to tell you everything he knows about cats and how to care for them. What do different meows mean? What’s the one thing you should never let a cat have? And what can you do if your cat is afraid of her squeaky mouse toy? Plus: A not-so-subtle suggestion for Mary about getting another cat. Last chance to save 15% on Grendel’s favorite interactive puzzles. Go to CatAmazing.com/CatTalk now—offer ends Jan. 7! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary is joined by resident cat critic Ruby (age 6) to review cats up for adoption in the New York City area. If you like soccer, Beverly Cleary, or cats who “never give up" we may just have the pet for you. Plus: strong opinions about cat names, and a star rating system that goes beyond infinity. All cats were available for adoption at the time we recorded. Here are the shelters and rescue organizations we mention: Animal Kind NYWashington Heights Cat ColonyCat Castle NYCCLAWS NJChance At Life Cat Rescue (NJ)East Harlem Kitty Rescue Go to CatAmazing.com/CatTalk to get 15% off interactive puzzles and condos. Offer ends Jan. 7! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When guitarist Steve Selvidge isn’t touring with The Hold Steady, he’s home in Memphis with his extremely chill Maine Coon, Kumar, who likes to help assemble pedalboards. We investigate Memphis’s feline history, and Mary admits to almost getting carried away with this episode’s Quiz prize. Then Steve tells us about being a “lifelong cat nerd,” despite an early traumatic experience with some tomcats in heat. Plus: Introducing Steve & Steve, the cat-human supergroup the world has been waiting for. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Cat Amazing. Go to CatAmazing.com/CatTalk to get 15% off their interactive puzzles and condos! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alvin Ailey company member Patrick Coker was clueless about cats until he met Marnie—and he’s got the funniest new cat dad story we’ve ever heard. Naturally, Mary puts him to the test with a dance-themed Cat Quiz, which leads to a shocking revelation about a decades-long hoax. Then Patrick explains how Marnie (a gifted dancer in her own right) has inspired his craft, and why everyone should dance, even those of us with zero coordination. Plus: What really happens at professional dance auditions. Exclusive discount for LTAC listeners: Get 15% off interactive puzzles and condos at CatAmazing.com/CatTalk! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, author, nurse, and ex-nun Kelli Dunham inherited her late partner’s cat. That’s actually not the most unusual thing Mary gets into in this episode: There’s a mixup at a livestock auction, plans for a cat cafe comedy tour, litter as penance, and tips for houseboat living. Mary and Kelli also delve into the harsh reality of grief, and Kelli explains how accepting care—and caring for a cat—can help with healing. Plus: Finally, an outlet for Mary’s Catholic jokes. She’s been saving them. Get 15% off Grendel’s favorite interactive toys and condos at CatAmazing.com/CatTalk! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reyhan Harmanci, Gimlet Media’s new deputy head of programming, joins Mary to brainstorm a hypothetical cat media project involving GoPros and tiny billboards. Then we discuss cat journalism, audacious cat escapes, what it’s like navigating career changes in this unpredictable world, and how wrangling cats and wrangling babies is similar but also different. Plus: A brief survey of early 20th century cat magazines. This episode is brought to you by Cat Amazing, makers of award-winning interactive treat-hunt puzzles. I’m telling you, Grendel is obsessed with hers. Go to CatAmazing.com/CatTalk and get 15% off your purchase! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer/actor/tea drinker Mara Wilson tries to figure out if that’s an actual BBC episode plot description or a thing Mary just made up. Then we debate the biggest question facing Silicon Valley: Should there be a separate Twitter just for cat content? Plus: Mara’s best nap ever, cat sunburns, why spring is the worst, and cats in LA vs cats in NYC. Also, for you Night Vale fans, we finally get the real scoop about Khoshekh’s name. Go to catamazing.com/cattalk and get 15% off their award-winning (and Grendel-approved) interactive puzzles and modular condos! Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allure’s deputy digital director Sam Escobar is a beauty expert who uses makeup as a form of creative expression. Mary tried eyeliner once. This opens up a lively conversation about differing views on beauty, the pressures and pleasures of self-presentation, and our moms’ Clinique habits. We also talk about cats! Obviously! Sam makes the case for adopting FIV+ kitties and reveals what people really see when they look at Rorschach. Plus: Cat vs. red lipstick, a messy true story. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary invites Louise Hung, writer/producer at The Order of the Good Death, for a seasonally appropriate conversation about death, black cats, and why so many people fear them both. Spoiler alert, we're pro-black cats (especially Louise's companions, Dorothy and Agatha). We also discuss the death positive movement, mourning pets, and getting comfortable with spooky stuff. Plus: A Japanese cat funeral, a death-themed Cat Quiz, and a startling statistic about Halloween costumes for cats. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJ, video blogger, and cultural critic Jay Smooth helps Mary unpack one of hip-hop’s biggest mysteries: Why doesn’t Missy Elliott have a cat? Then we learn about Wallace, who’s been a source of positivity through times of change and who is a cultural critic in his own right (specifically, he likes all kinds of music but dislikes Jay’s broadcast voice). Plus: Growing up in NYC, and cats vs. racism. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stoya is a celebrated author, advice columnist, pornographer, model, and actress, but her most important job is caring for Widget and Pixel, who have finally forgiven her for driving them cross country (we think). Mary reports on a study that proves cats know their names, which begs the question: do cats know they exist? Plus: Treat parties, cat/lady stereotypes, and an especially entertaining Cat Quiz based on the title of Stoya’s book, “Philosophy, Pussycats, and Porn.” Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musician Chris Barron found international success with his band Spin Doctors, but a rare medical condition nearly ended his career… twice. Mary learns how Marley guided him during that terrifying time, why Ruthie Toots had to join Chris' family, and how cats help break creative blocks and remind us that life is worth living. Plus: We identify the greatest cat songs ever written, Mary opens up about her awkward teen years, and Chris’s pottery past resurfaces with a ceramics-themed Cat Quiz. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embroidery artist and writer Eboni Hogan joins Mary to talk cats, kids, and the problem with competitive poetry. Mary administers a high-stakes Cat Quiz about #artsandcats and saves the day by keeping people from eating a cheezy cat snack. Plus: The joy of hiding in the bathroom, and surprising insight about cat-turtle dynamics. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Evan Ratliff co-hosts the Longform Podcast, but how much does he know about cats and things that are long? We debate the ethics of feline forensic science, then Evan discusses his relationship with former Vine star Henry, who may be a lot smarter than he looks. Also: Awl nostalgia, why international criminals don’t have cats, and the single most horrifying story ever told on this show. Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadway star and author Al Silber kicks off our second season with the incredible true story of the time her late father visited her as a cat. We also debate cats as crime solvers, pay tribute to Angela Lansbury, and find out how the Union Square Petco helped bring Al and Tati together. Plus: How much do you know about cats and musicals (but not Cats the musical)? Get complete show notes and a transcript of this episode at our website! Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New episodes return 9/17! Upcoming guests include Stoya, Alexandra Silber, Evan Ratliff, Jay Smooth, Mara Wilson, Eboni Hogan, and more. The Cat Quiz is back and the prizes are better than ever! We’ll resolve feline quandaries in the Hot Topic debate and convince catless celebrities to change their ways in Hey, You Need A Cat! And, of course, we’ll have revealing conversations about how cats have shaped our lives, from the silly to the profound. Subscribe now! Know a cat who deserves a shoutout? Email shouts@letstalkaboutcats.com with the cat’s name, city/state, and whatever message you’d like included. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attention, LTAC campers: Today we’re brushing up on the most interesting cat facts we learned in season 1, covering everything from history to continental philosophy to travel tips. If you listen to the end, you’ll qualify for your Casual Conversation Starters badge! Socialize with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! The rumors are true—full episodes return in September! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey LTAC campers! Today’s agenda: Taking a look back at some of the weirdest cat behavior we heard about in season one, plus an exclusive update from Steve, the Brooklyn cat with dreams of making it big as an experimental musician. After that, we’re making lanyards. Socialize with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Let’s Talk (More) About Cats! Get excited—full episodes return in September! xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our season finale, and what a stellar way to wrap! Holly Frey hosts a bunch of podcasts (including perennial fave Stuff You Missed In History Class) and has a herd of cats. We put her to the test with a very futuristic Cat Quiz, then defy the limits of the space-time continuum to chat with Jane Addams in Hey, You Need A Cat! We also discuss which historical figures our cats are (can you guess which glamorous Old Hollywood star is Grendel’s doppelgänger?) and why it’s okay for everything around us to change—except cats. For more about this episode and a complete transcript, visit our website! Socialize with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! Sign up for our newsletter! Hey, we’re taking a little break, but we’ll be back soon! In the meantime, we’d love to know what you thought about season 1. Leave a review or drop a note: hi@letstalkaboutcats.com. xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Fany Gerson’s paletas, ice creams, and other Mexican-inspired treats are some of the best in town. When she’s not running her shop, La Newyorkina, and writing James Beard-nominated cookbooks, she’s home with her new baby and Leonard (aka Terremoto), the cat she didn’t intend to have. We find out how THAT happened in what may be the strangest cat acquisition story we’ve ever heard. We also talk cat-kid dynamics, optimism, oatmeal, and more. Plus! An extra-sweet Cat Quiz, and Fany invents an exciting new dessert inspired by Leonard. For more about this episode and a complete transcript, visit our website! Socialize with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Sign up for our newsletter! If you’re reading this far down, you probably like the show, so please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! Xoxo, LTAC HQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.