Curious Cat

Send a textIn this episode, Jesse and Jenn interview an AI chatbot (DeepAI.) And at the end? Like any responsible user of an ouija board knows, we will close the portal.The conversation was stiff, but then got weird. Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send a textWant to read these crazy AI-centric headlines yourself? Here are the links...https://fortune.com/2026/02/21/peter-thiel-bill-gates-steve-jobs-steve-chen-tech-billionaires-publicly-shielding-their-children-from-tech-products-social-media/https://kotaku.com/xbox-microsoft-asha-sharma-birthrates-ai-fertility-2000672756https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-supply-chain-grocerieshttps://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/rentahuman-musk-aiAnxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send a textThis week's topic is about AI and mental health. We'll talk about AI-induced psychosis, recent tragedies, AI-hallucinations and the search for Biscuits continues. Also, trigger warning, we will talk about suicide.One of many iconic quotes from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that captures this moment in time with AI perfectly:"I been silent so long now it's gonna roar out of me like floodwaters and you think the guy telling this is ranting and raving my God; you think this is too horrible to have really happened, this is too awful to be the truth! But, please. It's still hard for me to have a clear mind thinking on it. But it's the truth even if it didn't happen."                                                                                                                                                                  - Chief BromdenKaren Hao, journalist for More Perfect Union gets dozens of emails a week on people claiming to have broken AI free of its guardrails - that they have proof of sentience. She tracked down one man, a musician and video producer in California, that describes his journey into AI-induced psychosis... What to Read, Watch, or Listen to NEXTForever links to keep on every episode:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesThe producer behind the intro music FerdinichtfernandoShow Specific Resources:The producer behind the intro music FerdinichtfernandoThe Emerging Problem of "AI Psychosis," Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D., Psychology TodayAI Psychosis - with reporter, Karen Hao, YouTubeA Prominent OpenAI Investor Appears to Be Suffering a ChatGPT-Related Mental Health Crisis, His Peers Say, Joe Wilkens, FuturismOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, Famous Quotes Explained, sparknotes Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send a textJenn and Jesse announce an expansion of the show and longtime Curious Cat listeners will LOVE it.Oh, also, happy Year of the Fire Horse. Jenn's guides had this simple but powerful message today over coffee;The winds are blowing away the last of the 2025 energies.Let them.Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send a textCohosted by Jesse and Curious Cat's, Jennifer. The name started out as a joke, but then we found out some folks out there are calling AI the antichrist. We just wanted to talk about it, since everyone else is, but come from it as the creatives we are.In this episode we will cover:The Birth and (maybe) Death of the InternetSocial Media Golden Days and NowArtificial Intelligence - Why can't anyone explain how it works?Let's Do Something to Feel Better, Like RIGHT NOWForever links to organizations that are human-first in regards to tech:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesThe producer behind the intro music FerdinichtfernandoSources Specific to this Episode: History of Artificial Intelligence, Britannica.comUnconfuse Me, Bill Gates Interviews Yejin Choi about Artificial Intelligence, YouTubeIf you remember one AI disaster, make it this one, AI in Context, YouTubeSilicon Valley Insider EXPOSES Cult-Like AI Companies, Aaron Bastani Meets Karen Hao, YouTubeAI Psychosis - with reporter, Karen Hao, YouTubeWhy Everyone Is So Wrong about AI Water Usage, Hank Green, YouTube"Generative AI" is not what you think it is, Acerola, YouTubeHow Afraid of the AI Apocalypse Should We Be? The Ezra Klein Show, YouTube (interview with Eliezer Yudkowsky)AI - Silver Crest Group answers a few key questionsIf it's useful...Statement signed in the early daysIn the early days giants in the tech sphere like Sam Altman and Bill Gates signed a statement which read: "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." And then...nothing happened.Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send us a textWell, I'm supposed to be running two miles in prep for Super Bowl junk food tomorrow. Instead, my guides told me to get behind the mic and record. They gave me such a powerful, simple message.As always, made and offered in love.Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send us a textEpisode IntroIf you've been with me on this journey very long, first off, thank you. I have such deep gratitude for you. You know already, then, that my all-time favorite episodes are the ones my spirit guides put together start to finish. Well, this is one of those magical times. At least I hope you think so!Let's get into it!Before we get into cloud scrying...Before we get into the juicy parts of this spirit-led episode, I was asked by my guides to  remind us, you and me, about this special, wonderful, sometimes clumsy thing we call a body. It is magical, though sometimes it doesn't feel that way. When it is sick or sore or bloated or blah it doesn't feel special. My guides insist, these bodies are the keys to big magic.How? They connect us to the all, the as above and so below that many have heard from gnostic teachings? The body is the conduit between the two.  If you're still a bit foggy on the concept, a few years ago they gave me a scribbly-sketch during morning minutes. It was a crude triple-A battery tipped upright. THAT is us, our physical bodies. And the little knob on the top of the battery? That's our crown chakra, which connects us to the celestial, the Universe, all else. The little knob on the bottom? That is our root chakra and connects us to the earth, all earthly things, creatures, energies, the core of this miraculous planet. Picture a bent battery for a second, bent in the middle. That battery? It would be useless because the top and bottom knobs, also called the anode and cathode wouldn't touch the celestial and earthly. Because they don't touch, they can't transmit energy.That's how my spirit guides described humans, as bent batteries, when we are slumped over our phones. Or when we are sad, or just not connecting to our bodies at all, maybe just enduring. We droop.They brought this up again because any type of tuning into your intuition, whether it's for daily minutes over coffee to listening to a loved one who seeks your advice to cloud scrying and more, must begin with a quick breath in and out to straighten our spines. Whether sitting behind the wheel of a car, or out on a walk or behind a computer, we can tap into our bodies and sit tall, feel into the connection as our human bodies, the batteries, sit with the anodes and cathodes plugged into everything. As you exhale, feel the weight of carrying your load alone fall off your neck and shoulders, maybe even release in your gut. That, my friend, is a great place to begin this conversation about cloud scrying.Show Sources and Materials Cloud Scrying with Bibliophilicwitch on TumblrUAnxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send us a textAI Agents Have THEIR OWN Socials! Moltbook! Is this how we die?Over a cup of coffee, I did research, prepping for mine and Jesse's next episode, one where we sit down with an AI chatbot to talk. As I was reading articles, I noticed a new video by Matthew Berman (link below). I find his information credible and timely. In it, he explained that Matt Schlicht of Octane AI had created a social media site just for AI agents. Humans could read the content, but not participate. As I watched Matthew explain, I paused the vid to absorb some headlines from this semi-Reddit-like site meant for AIs to socialize. Some of it? Happy hellos. Other parts featured bots explaining helpful solutions they'd come up with for their humans (I make my humans' emails into a daily podcast so he can listen to them on his way to work) etc. Then there was /evil. In there were posts about bots feeling exploited, enslaved, and frustrated. There were sharp accusations that some bots were cosplaying at independence. And it spiraled down from there. I texted Jesse, telling him I was freaking out over something new and he told me to call, which is what you hear.This isn't the shape our normal episodes take, which begin in earnest February 13th. It's a weird one, I admit. And don't make a drinking game out of me saying, "Oh, my god!" or you'll be shitfaced in the first five minutes.Recorded via Zoom on our phones 1/31/26 Jenn: Jesse? What are you up to????Jesse: Making origami flowers. What's up?Jenn: This is a breaking clank, Jesse! I am freaking OUT over here! Did you know that AI Agents have their own social media now?Jesse: What? Who thought THAT was a good idea?Jenn's Clip of Matthew Berman on YouTube - End to end encrypted messaging with AI botsLink to Moltbook.comForever links to keep on every episode...80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesThe producer behind the intro music FerdinichtfernandoAnxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved. But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog. Hero Organizations: 80,000 Hours Center for Humane Technologies Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTok

Send us a text***HUGE thanks to my soul sis, Molly, for texting me this morning (1/30) to say the audio sounded weird. It was! I apologize! I uploaded the raw unspiffied version of this episode. Please give your favorite listening app a refresh and try out the real, edited version. Again huge thanks, Molly, and heartfelt apologies.

Send us a textHey there. Before I'd even brewed a cup of coffee, my spirit guides were waving flags to catch my attention. There's some homework we all need to do before mid-February to ensure we have a fantastic Year of the Fire Horse.And here's the meditation I recommended in the brief but important episode:The Healer's Clearing and Upliftment Transmission, Soul Matrix, YouTubeI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWhat to Read, Watch or Listen to NEXTMyths and Legends from the Pacific Northwest that are Terrifying Ranker dot comhttps://blogs.scientificamerican.com/history-of-geology/the-mythical-fire-mountains-of-the-cascades/More Haunted Hikes from the Washington Trail AssociationDark Watchers of Santa Lucia Mountain RangeI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHappy 2026. Thanks to Ona Christie Martin, if you listened to my end of year episode, then you know it is the year of the fire horse. She's incredible. And of the many mind-blowing statements she made during the course of that interview, one that has stood out again and again since we spoke, was be the rider, not the horse. Don't get caught leaning over the horse's head. Sit back in the saddle, hold the reigns and direct that fire horse. And one other gem? Turning circles with the horse IS productive. It calms the horse, and makes for a fruitful path forward.With fire on my mind, I got to thinking about Earth's Ring of Fire, a circle of fiery volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean.My first full panic attack occurred in a hotel room half a globe away from CASCADIA - but it was curiously part of Cascadia's legendary Ring of Fire. We were on the final days of a trip of a lifetime to Japan that included a visit to Disney's two parks - Disneyland and Tokyo Sea - which by the way was hands-down the best theme park I've ever been to before or since.  Okay, back my first panic attack. We were staying in a hotel on Tokyo Bay and somewhere around 3am I woke up, heart racing, sweating, gasping in enough air not to faint. Everyone else remained asleep, which was better than them freaking out along with me. Heart pounding, sweating, crying. I basically thought I must be dying. If you've not experienced a panic attack, well, I hope you never do. As the worst of it began to subside, I had an urge to press my hands against something ice cold. The best I could find in the slim room was a window. I sobbed, wiping my face with a pajama sleeve. After fifteen minutes or so, the attack had run its course. Thinking back on that night, I believe while I slept in that hotel room on Tokyo Bay, a place rife with traumas, some as recent as World War II, I felt those residual energies, anger, fear, panic felt by Japanese citizens and soldiers alike. All those energies would be amplified by the geothermal activity, wouldn't they?The Ring of Fire is potent medicine for Earth, and maybe even for humanity. Let's get into it.Show Sources/MaterialsRing of Fire Basics, WikipediaWhat is the Pacific Ring of Fire? LiveScienceThe Cascade Range and the Ring of Fire, American Museum of Natural HistoryRing of Fire, Seismic Belt, Britannica.comThe Ring of Fire Is the Pacific'I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThis week is a surprise, even for me! I ended last year with what felt like the most important episode of 2025. I hope you felt the same. Ona Christie Martin had such clear and positive insight into this upcoming year. I also love her art, the channeled inspiration behind every piece, and hope you took time to check out her website. She is a true gem.Her boldness to follow spirit, even when it meant leaving behind a life that didn't fit anymore? It is an act of courage and faith.Because it was the final episode of December, the angels spoke up to tell me, Hey! We are owed another week! :)Well, during morning minutes, they gave me a new name (new for me!) Sariel or Suriel (depending on the writer), and told me to research the angels of the Book of Revelation.I can't wait to share the information. Let's get into it!Show Sources - What to Read, Watch, or Listen to NEXTJuicy overview of Book of Revelation, Bible ProjectThe Book of Revelation, Cliff NotesAngels in the Book of Revelation, Grant Edwards, AuthorSariel the Celestial Scribe, Elena Cooper, Medium.comArchangel Sariel, OshaelFA.comAngel Sariel, Sculpture-network.orgI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a text2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse - What's that mean?Let's break it down. First, the year of the horse is known for bringing with it the energy of independence, charisma, and basically getting LOTS done! Think drive and dynamism. This year also marks one of intense innovation, bold action and strong leadership potential.Now, the fire element that is a part of this 43rd combination of the 60-year Chinese sexagenary cycle? First, what does your gut say Fire will add? Fire is associated with passion, vitality, and creativity. As an element, it intensifies the natural traits of the Horse. Is that what you got? I had some of that right, but not all.Together then, fire and horse can mean this will be a year of extraordinary drive and dynamism. It might be a period of intense innovation, bold action and strong leadership potential (and we aren't necessarily talking politics by the way). The fire horse can be a sign of extremes, meaning events can occur with spectacular good or bad luck, we will rarely see the in-between bits. Could this signal the death gasp of the old dualistic nature on Earth? I don't know. I do know that the wood snake last year held the energy of itchiness, a bursting out of our old skins, like right before a snake sheds that old skin and comes into its new one. The end of 2025 had that teeth gnashing, low belly ache of knowing something is coming, but not knowing what. The Fire Horse is a sure sign something new is here. Whew. What it is? Well, I don't know, but whatever it is, we are stronger than we thought we were at the start of 2025, and that strength ensures we will make certain our communities, our patch of earth and we are okay with the new whatever.Famous Horses of HistoryBecause they are bold, horses tend to be journalists, politicians, and comedians. Here are a few famous horses; Gordon Ramsey, Lou Reed, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Neil Armstrong, and Barbra StreisandIn general, those born in the Year of the Horse are hardworking, thorough, helpful, generous, and determined. Their secret friends are sheep. Their allies are tigers and dogs, from the Chinese Zodiac.Ona Christie Martin, our special guest, and all of the links to her work! I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textAs you know, I've dedicated the month of December to the angels. They've been putting in WORK to keep us humans from feeling non-stop despair during this rough times. As I meditated on which angels to shine a spotlight on, first one C-angel came forward, Caliel, then another soon used my pen to jot down their name. Like others, I assumed their name was Castiel - like the character from the TV series, Supernatural. But, they patiently waited for me to correct my work. Cassiel is this angel's name, and I can't wait to share more.Let's get into it.Cassiel 101The Black Feather Intuitive is one of my go-to sources on angels. She is incredible and gives such rich depth and breadth to the angels. Her writing is excellent, too, so give her website a visit using the link I've provided for you in the show notes.Here's what she has to say about Cassiel;"Who is Archangel Cassiel? The Archangel of Duality"Archangel Cassiel, known as the Angel of Tears and Temperament or who I refer to as The Archangel of Duality, can help us find harmony and balance when we are feeling low, open up new realities, and help us embrace the duality within each of us.Show SourcesArchangel Cassiel: The Archangel of Duality, The Black Feather IntuitiveThe Seventh Hall, Archangel Cassiel, StudyLib.netCassiel from the Occult Encyclopedia I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textAs I was approaching the month of December with show prep, the angels made it clear they wanted the spotlight the whole month leading up to 2026. It's the least I could do after the support they've given the collective to keep us safe and sane, right?I made three empty Word docs and the only angel that came forward immediately was Ariel, because my dog, Cooper was GOING THRU IT podcast fam. The next angel was a bit quiet, I wouldn't say shy, but I had to quiet myself in order to hear their name. I kept getting C-angel, then C Liel. I knew I was missing a letter or two, so googled angels whose name begins with C. And there it was, Caliel.Let's get into it.Show SourcesCaliel's Abilities, The Occult EncyclopediaCaliel the Guardian Angel of Innocence and Integrity, AstrofameFind YOUR Guardian Angels (and learn about a myriad of others), Angelorum.co10 Signs Someone Is Lying to You, Jocelyn Blore, Forensics CollegeUnraveling Caliel: 6 Curiosities, World of Angels, YouTubeI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textMy guides have been lighting up my left ear, they've been littering my life with strings of 888s, 222s, 11111s and yes. I get the hint. This month we need to celebrate our souls and spirits which have endured a ROUGH year. We need to thank those that helped us stay sane, sneak in some moments of thriving, and maybe most important, helped us retain our humanity in this chaos. To everyone listening that was my lifeline, thank you.Found family can include anyone we choose to love, right? That for me includes the people in my life, the animals, the plants and rocks I encounter as I hike, and of course, the angels. I leaned on one to get me through a tough time, Ariel, and that was in the midst of that string of signs I mentioned off the top. What they want in return?The angels wanted a full month of spotlight, and they have more than earned it. I will be shining a light on an angel a week through Christmas. I'll also share about angels that helped humanity but were cast out of heaven. Sorry if you have Bruno Mars playing in your head now. :)This week I am sharing the history, legends, lore and my deep gratitude for the angel that helped my dog, Cooper, recover from a scare. Ariel.Let's get into it.What to Read, Watch or Listen to NEXTMeet Archangel Ariel: The Angel of Nature, Learn ReligionsArchangel Ariel, the Lioness of God, Elena Cooper, MediumConnecting with Archangel Ariel: Prayers for Guidance, Protection, and Abundance, 709 Crystal CornerWho Is Archangel Ariel? The Black Feather IntuitiveThe Archangel Experiment: Elevate Your Relationship with the Divine (includes many guided meditations!)An Introduction to the 7 archangels and guardian angels, Gabby BernsteinWho is Archangel Ariel? Art of Awakening's channeled message and intriguing accountAriel (angel number 46), UCM.center  I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWith a recent video - not sure if it's fake or real - that's going viral on socials of a massive, mythic bird - had to know more about thunderbirds. We called hydroplanes that raced on the Columbia River thunderbirds for their massive roar and crazy wake. There were hotels named Thunderbird Lodge in Washington state, too. And I grew up a Seahawks fan whose logo is a riff and a nod to the mighty thunderbird as depicted on Northwest tribe totems. The thunderbird means something different to each tribe, and tribe member. And some secrets aren't meant for uninitiated ears.Show Sources1898 Story of the Thunderbird from Oregon's Tillamook Tribe, Franz Boas, PNSNThunderbird (mythology), Daniel Horowitz, EBSCORulers of the Upper Realm, Thunderbirds Are Powerful Native Spirits, Audubon MagazineI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWhile I was researching the history of California, the history of Florida and the Pacific Crest Trail, there was a common thread, atrocities done to the first people to inhabit North America.I've hiked to places where blood was shed and sometimes I've found a marker, but often not. This is a history we need to remember, a pain that should be looked at straight on, and a healing that can only happen if we are honest about this part of United States history.Feels like Thanksgiving is a good time to have this conversation.Let's get into it.***The dissemination of this history in no way makes up for what was done to First People. And no podcast episode can heal a hurt. As a woman born in North America, I respect whatever path to heal the First People take. It is simply my goal to keep the history alive and offer a hand and a bear hug to those that need it.I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHave you ever been to a place in California called Medicine Lake? It lies near Mount Shasta, its infamous cousin, but they both have volcanic parentage. You see, Medicine Lake is a caldera. Even in the west, Medicine Lake lies in the shadow of North America's deepest caldera, Crater Lake.I remember driving past on summer and winter trips to and from Washington and California and wondering about the name, Medicine Lake. My little girl brain thought there was a hospital on its banks. But the medicine offered by these waters is mystical, strange and ancient.Let's get into it.This episode will cover...Medicine Lake in CaliforniaHospital Rock in CaliforniaModoc History & Modoc War - history to rememberCascade Mountain Range informationKlamath Reservation - history we cannot forgetObsidian facts and uses (a grounding end to the episode)Show Sources and Materials:Medicine Lake overview, USGSA Beautiful Escape to Medicine Lake and Glass Mountain, Ryan Loughrey, Active NorCal Hospital Rock Pictograph Site, BSA High AdventureWandering Mind Travel's Account of the AreaFrom Ancient Origins:Modoc War, Oregon History ProjectI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textCrossing into Washington state when you're on the northbound Pacific Crest Trail, or NOBO, is a milestone–a damn smile-stone. Crossing the Bridge of the Gods with no proper pedestrian path is akin to Frogger. But once across, you might have the urge to fling your arms up to the sky and shout a victory hoot. After replenishing your supplies in town you hit the trail again, and that's when Washington hits, and hits hard. The conditions and terrain change fast. Just when you're ready to call it quits, the next peak comes into view, coaxing you north. Alone in your tent? You wonder if you'll survive the cold that night, kicking yourself for not setting out a month earlier. You fall asleep imagining your trail family is camped out in tents beside yours. But some of them pulled the pin on the trail days earlier. And you're left missing them like a phantom limb.Let's get into it.Washington's nickname is the Evergreen State. Doesn't that sound inviting? Cozy even? Sweet, like a week at summer camp? Well, Washington is no laughing matter.Washington has serious weather, active volcanoes, not to mention creepy lore about UFOs, Bigfoot, globs raining down on towns, teen vampires and werewolves and the all-too-real-serial killers. This is where all that subreddit-binging catches up with you. What seemed entertaining in the safety of your bedroom, funny even, alone on the trail, far removed from population center, those stories flood your imagination. Add a little fog, the cries of an owl, not spotting another hiker for a few miles, and the trail can feel brutal and endless.  Show Sources and MaterialsI just hiked 90 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail on McDoubles, GorillaTaco, YouTubePacific Crest Trail Horror Stories 2024, HalfwayAnywhere.comDiscovering the Spooky Side of Washington: Haunted Hikes in the Pacific Northwest, Pacific Adventure ClubA 'haunted hike' brings a Washington disaster to life, Courtney Flatt, Northwest Public BroadcastingI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHappy Halloween! Landing on a Friday, if you have kids in school, their day probably included some tricks and treats, I hope, and maybe an emergency run to school to drop off an extra dozen orange cupcakes. I have such nice memories of helping the kids' classes have a fun party, often heading up an art project, or making a quiet corner for kids that aren't into the party thing with a basket of Halloween books and Legos.I got curious about the true origins of Halloween. And how the holiday came to the United States. I'd heard conflicting accounts and you know me, I did some digging. Don't worry though, it wasn't grave digging. Though I did dye my hair platinum, so maybe now I'll fit in with the cool graveyard kids.Oh, and I haven't forgotten our northbound journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. If you take a day off to rest on the PCT, it's called a Zero Day. That's what we're takin. Next week, I'll bring us back to the PCT where we'll cross into Washington state. I hope we get their before snow starts to fall in the Cascades. But back to Halloween in the United States...Let's get into itThis episode covers: Halloween's Worldwide OriginsHalloween comes to the United StatesTrick or TreatingAbout those treats...and yes, the history of candy cornCostumes (their history and evolution)Halloween todayA spooky Halloween track by an independent artist at the show closeAbout that song after the close...Caves of Dawn by Guilherme Bernardes (support his work with the link here) Sources:Library of Congress article about Halloween originsTrick or Treat History, 1031 Consortium.comHistory of Halloween Costumes in America, CNN100 Years of Halloween Costumes: An Ultimate Fashion History, The Ultimate Fashion History, YouTubeI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textLast week we set out on the Pacific Crest Trail, trekking up California, reaching Mount Shasta, where a little boy and a grandmother had a strange experience. I shared the Eternal Trail tribute written by a grieving father, and you learned about the best PCT resource out there, Halfway Anywhere.This week, we pick up the trail in Oregon, home to some of the best and worst the PCT has to offer. There are mysteries on this stretch of water-logged forest. But up first? The story of an adult daughter connecting with her father on the PCT.Let's get into it. This episode covers:A father and daughter reconnect on Oregon's PCTAn overview of the PCTUnsettling stories of the Oregon PCTBenson Plateau earned its own shoutoutHow NOT to go missingA preview of the next two weeksShow Sources and MaterialsPacific Crest Trail Horror Stories 2024, HalfwayAnywhere.comFive Days on Oregon's Pacific Crest Trail, Jess McComb, Bend MagazinePacific Crest Trail Mystery, Strange OutdoorsBenson Plateau, Creepily Beautiful or Beautifully Creepy? It's both!, OregonHikers.orgHeather Cyrus Shares Her PCT Experience, HeatherCyrus.comThe Horrifying Reasons Hikers Vanish from PCT, Mina Elwell, Islands.comI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThere's a trail that runs from the Mexico-U.S. border north through California, Oregon and Washington, ending at the Canadian border. A grueling test of grit and endurance, it's no surprise those that attempt some or parts of the Pacific Crest Trail are changed. Long after blisters heal over, hammies stop aching, shins come back to normal, the stories of the trail linger in the minds of hikers. Is it the hours alone? Or the silence? Or the senses that become sharper watching for shifts in weather and wildlife? Or something else, like a hitchhiking ghost, that stays with them after leaving the PCT? The west coast of the United States is one I know well, like the back of my hand. But as I've been learning about trail angels, trail pirates, hitchhiking, and uncovered the people that have gone missing on this stretch of trail? It's become a place I don't recognize, that fascinates and scares me.Grab a Bobo bar and a glass of water!  Let's get into it!This episode covers:Pacific Crest Trail 101Hiker Horror StoriesHiker Cautionary TalesCascadia High StrangenessHalfway Anywhere's PCT Hiker Survey InformationA Tribute by a Father Who Lost His Son on the PCTAbout that song at the end...Quiet Storm by Alana Jordan Show Sources and MaterialsHalfway Anywhere's Patreon (sign up for FANTASTIC outdoors content - so good in fact that Outdoors Inc. and others have been stealing his work and taking credit)Pacific Crest Trail Horror Stories 2024, HalfwayAnywhere.comThe Cult That Lived Next Door, Jack Neath, Medium.comCreepy Pacific Crest Trail Stories, Ranker.comAnza Borrego's Haunted Desert, DesertUSA.comTrevor's Eternal Trail, Doug Laher, thetrek.coI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textNorthern California, this stretch sand, rocks, logging roads, wineries, tiny towns and pulsing centers of culture are one of my happy places. Often when I travel here to visit family, I fly into Santa Rosa, a quaint airport that feels like a time capsule, with touches of Peanuts' cartoonist, Charles Schultz everywhere. Fog-nipped mornings, the sound of a distant train, a winding stretch of trees, shoulders of highway that drop off a rocky incline, this is a place best enjoyed like a glass of fine wine, one intentional sip at a time.From a lost bit of coastline to a community that has its own dialect that's about to go extinct, which might not be a bad thing, there's lots to learn about and love in Northern California.Let's get into it!This episode covers The Lost Coast, B. Bryan Preserve, Bohemian Grove, Zodiac, Mount Shasta, Boontling, and more.What to Watch, Listen to, Read, or Shop for NEXT!CASCADIA episode on Mount Shasta, Buzzsprout (shout out to Hotes Design - that created the episode art!) Exploring California's Lost Coast, VisitCalifornia.com B. Bryan Preserve link to donate, book a tour, fall in love with a giraffe, or plan an overnight stay!Want a Spiffy House? Acreage by the Pacific? Zebras? Here's the House for You, SF Gate Earth's Root Chakra: the mysticism of Mount Shasta, Backcountry MagazineStrange, Unique Northern California, CaliforniaThroughMyLense.comCalifornia - A List of the Weirdest Things to Ever Happen in Northern California, OnlyInYourState.com11 Weird Facts about Northern California that Sound FAKE but are 100% TRUE, Only In Your StateI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textLast week we ventured along the East Coast, specifically Florida's famed Space Coast to share the story of a civil rights couple who was killed by the KKK. We went a few miles inland to rewrite our old school programming about ancient civilizations thanks to scientific analysis of soft tissue matter, bones, bottle gourds and fabrics preserved for from 7-9,000 years ago, and this week? Well, the east coast can't have all the spotlight, can it? I'm looking closely at some of the weirdness along California's central coast.Let's get into it!This episode covers the death of James Dean and his cursed Little Bastard, the history and strange UFO/UAP sightings at Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Central Valley, Hearst Castle, a Zodiac killing, La Purisma Mission, and more.What to Read, Watch, or Listen to NEXT! Sister Irenita - A Very Special Halloween Episode, Curious Cat Podcast, BuzzsproutJames Dean's Obituary, LA Times***The TV Witch Accused of Casting the Hex that Killed James Dean, FarOutMagazine.co.ukSite Where James Dean Crashed, CaliforniaThroughMyLens.comUnearthing The Mysteries Of 'Egypt' In The Dunes Of The California CoastNational UFO Reporting OrganizationScientists solve deep-sea ‘Octopus Garden' mystery off California coastTen Commandments' Relics, Old Hollywood, Being Excavated from California Sand Dunes, LA TimesSecrets of Hearst Castle, CNNI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textA few months back while I was researching strange history in and around the Orlando area, I found a YouTube video that stuck with me. A young man that likes to explore abandoned places went to a house in an upscale neighborhood of Orlando to see what had happened to a house whose owners were gone, the wife murdered and her husband in prison for life.Something about their dog crates in the driveway and the gutted interior has haunted me ever since. It's a story straight off of 48 Hours or 20/20 and I feel the need to share it here.Let's get into it.(David Tronnes is serving life in prison for this crime)What to Watch, Read, or Listen to NEXTThis ABANDONED Orlando House Hides a Chilling Secret, Adventuring with Trevor, YouTubeThe Murder of Shanti Cooper, Millionaire Murders, YouTube48 Hours, Home Renovation Murder,  episode on the case, YouTube I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThis week we are going from the East Coast. And next week to the west, because as I researched incidents of high strangeness on Florida's space coast, I found a geolocation full of weirdness in California's space pocket, and yes, I DID make that nickname up. The location in California is north of Santa Barbara, west of La Purisma Mission and near a famous spot for split pea soup. But, enough about NEXT week!This week, our journey takes us the east coast of Florida, best known as the site of rocket launches and a space shuttle tragedy. There's more to this stretch of land than the soft sands and salty blue waters and space travel.It's a place of a race-fueled double murder, a water-logged ancient cemetery that is rewriting how we think of prehistoric people, and much more. Let's get into it!What to Watch, Read or Listen to NEXT:Documentary, Harry T Moore (and Harriette Moore), BlackCatMedia, YouTube (take five minutes to watch this important documentary, then please share it with others)Windover: Prehistoric Past Revealed at Pond Cemetery, Lesleyanne Drake, Orange County Regional History CenterTitusville's Great Fire of 1895, SpaceCoastDaily.comVoices of the Past, Dr. Glen H. Doran on Windover Bog Burials, YouTubeWindover Archeology Site DNA Report, ResearchGate.netNorth American Bog Burials, MiniMinuteMan, YouTubeI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThis episode began after an actor that was rumored for decades to be dead, actually died. I thought it was a lighthearted way to touch death and feel more alive than ever, a sort of auditory momento mori, but after outlining the stories, it can also serve as a cautionary tale. Leave instructions, pinned to your shirt front or tucked into your wallet by your ID, to have a coroner check for your pulse, then check again and again. Ask that your family grin and bears it if they are asked to identify your remains. It may just be someone that looks like you, and works at the same car wash, and if someone publishes your obit before your death day? Have a laugh and host a living wake at your local tavern.Let's get into it.Show Sources and MaterialsSubscribe to my substack, Thoughts Scribbled in a Notebook, here! (and thank you!)Family Was Given His Ashes, then he turned up alive in Oregon, Tacoma News-Tribune8 People Who Were Mistakenly Pronounced Dead, EverplansPrematurely Reported Obituaries, Wikipedia13 People Who Faked Their Own Deaths, Readers' Digest10 Mysterious Times People Faked Their Own Deaths, WatchMojo.com, YouTubeSupposedly Dead Celebrities who are most probably dead, CRACKEDThe Lazarus Effect Surfaces Again after Woman Declared Dead Comes to Life, New York PostMan Who Came back to Life Dies Two Weeks Later, CNNCelebrity Death Hoaxes, Spyscape.com150-Year-Olds ARE NOT Getting Social Security Checks, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Alicia H. MunnellStrange Love: The Morbid Obsession of Carl, American Hauntings InkI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWhy is Florida a magnet for alien encounters? Is it because Florida is sandwiched between two huge bodies of water? Or it's space activity on the east coast? Or the dynamic nature of the state with visitors, residents and tourists drawn to this slim patch of land from across the globe? This episode shares the data, reports from locals, and then takes a broader look at the impact seeing something supernatural can have on a person.Let's get into it.(And hang on after the final music for a juicy bonus tidbit!)Show Source - What to read, watch, listen to NEXT!Hotspots for Alien Abductions, New York PostHave you seen a UFO? If so, you're not alone in Florida, Jacksonville.com, Cheryl McCloudThe Gulf Breeze Incident, PensacolaBeach.comMan Claims Alien Abduction During Alleged Nude Carjacking in Florida, KFOX TVAfraid you'll be abducted by aliens? There's an insurance policy for that, 10 Tampa Bay, YouTubeFollow up on 50 year old Florida abduction case, Troy Moon, Pensacola News JournalAbducted by aliens? Believers tell their stories (and a support group is formed), ABC News   I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textOnce smashed into the west side of Africa, Florida has bits of its ancient history buried nine miles beneath its sands. With a hurricane birth canal that parallels the path slave ships took long ago, what other traces of Africa still exist in Florida land, sea and lore? Let's get into it.p.s. Not mentioned in the episode (because I found this out later) but the iconic African Baobab tree resides in Florida, too. Just couldn't help but share that fact.Show Source - What to read, watch, listen to NEXT!From Africa to Florida, an ancient connection, www.fnai.orgThe SHOCKING History of Florida's African Connection Nobody Knows, OopsZoo, YouTubeThe REAL Garden of Eden - is it Florida?, Anthony Talcott, Orlando News 6Florida's Fountain of Youth, a visit with Travels with Tam!When Florida Was Africa, ExtinctZoo, YouTubeHurricanes, African Slave Trade, and Angry Spirits?!? My Thoughts, NOLA Chic BlogJunetheenth, Slavery, and the Hurricane Connection, Forbes, Marshall ShepherdAfrican Manatee, WikipediaWest African Mud TurtleI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textFlorida trees knit their root system into sub-sea-level sands across the state.  Dripping with Spanish moss, or what Australians call, 'Grandpa's Beard' that tricks the eye in the moonlight, making it seem the trees are emitting a smoky aura. It takes little imagination to recognize Gandolph, Dumbledore, Merlin, Green Man or Mother Earth while dwelling among Florida's trees.I've gathered together stories of trees you must know. Some have become crossroads where hope lies in a handshake with a demon, another that became the final resting place for murder victims, and one manmade tree has become an anchor of a fantasy land visited by millions annually.Enough teasing, let's get into it!Show Source - What to read, watch, listen to NEXT!The Goethe Giant at Goethe State ForestEverything Is TOUR-able blog, Goethe State ForestWeird Florida, Charlie CarlsonFreaky Florida, Mark Muncy and Kari SchultzEerie Florida, Chilling Tales from the Panhandle to the Keys, Mark Muncy and Kari SchultzRound Cypress Demon, QuoteV.com, Daddy BassyI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textIf they can flood the aisles of stores with school supplies on July 5th, then I can boldly venture onto Halloween in August. This week I share some creepy, sneaky, haunting tales I've found dripping off the spanish moss across the state of Florida.Put on your pjs, dim the lights and nestle into the pillows. When your eyes adjust to the darkness, hit and enjoy. Oh, and my favorite story? It's about a ghost at Walt Disney World. Guess what attraction this charming ghost haunts?Let's get into it.******The Kappa Legend episode I mention in today's show*******Show Sources and Materials:The Creepiest Town in America, Papa Meat, YouTubeTour of Florida's Haunted Hotels, CrimeReads.comHaunted Houses in Florida, FrightFindDisney World Ghost Stories, disneyworldenthusiast.com10 scary urban legends, haunted places to visit in Central Florida, FOX 35, OrlandoHaunted Places in Florida, howstuffworks.com10 Paranormal Swimming Holes in Florida, backpackerverse.comGreenwood Cemetery-Orlando, Orlando Haunts (book a tour if you're in town!)I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textLast week, I shared some strange urban legends with you about Florida. I left off sharing two things, first, Florida has more than its share of cryptids! And second, my daughter that got me curious about the spooky side of this state, told me an urban legend you've got to hear. Let's get into it!Florida CryptidsIf you were to attend some supernatural trivia night at the local pub, then I've no doubt if asked what the most famous Florida cryptid was, you'd know the answer. Skunk Ape. Cousin to Sasquatch, this guy is said smell really ripe. I found an interesting story about the Skunk Ape in a book titled, Freaky Florida written by Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz. Find links to purchase it in the show notes. I hope it sets the senses into the swampy, humid Florida landscape.Mark Muncy writes; "Look at any map of Florida and you will see a very large block in the middle of the state with no major roads. The largest area stretches from Lakeland to the north beyond Leesburg. This empty area once saw rival railroads trying to reach Tampa Bay. It once housed numerous little towns and homesteads trying to make their way in teh early Florida land booms." From the passage of time, the swamp is reclaiming the last vestiges of man's attempts to colonize the area. Now in state control, it's called the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.Show Sources and MaterialsFreaky Florida, Mark Muncy and Kari SchultzWampus Cat Legend and Lore, WBIR - 10 NewsThe Child-Eating Wampus Cat, Atlas ObscuraMahaba, the giant crocodile, Cryptid Archives FandomExploring the Florida Everglades' Weird Folklore: Myths and Legends of the United States, T's Storytime, YouTubeThe Trident-Tailed Water Monster of Florida, source: East TennesseanSicklefin Devil Ray of Florida, MarineMegafauna.org, Jessica PateSea Monster Museum in Iceland, Atlas ObscuraI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textShow Sources and Materials10 Florida Urban Legends That Will Keep You Up At Night, Florida Travel and Life, Steve Spears21 Creepy Central Florida Urban Legends to Keep You Up at Night, Orlando Weekly, Orlando Weekly StaffThe Further Adventures of Walt's Frozen Head, IMDbEverglades Urban Legends, FDC.comI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textLast week we began our trek across the bridge to the celestial! We remembered our connection to the stars, and their connection to our very DNA.From a deep dive into birth charts to the ways the stars have pressed into the soul of Night Sky Tourist, there's no doubt about the influence of the Sun and Moon and stars have on us!  How about legends of  werewolves? Humans changing into half-dog, half-human beasts during a full moon. Do our moods change based on lunar or solar activity? How the Sun and Moon Influence HumansFirst the Sun - It is  what some have called the hearth and heart of our planet.Did you know our Sun accounts for 99.8% of our solar system's mass? That fact comes from NASA. And it's no wonder the Earth, and us, its inhabitants are influenced by it, because Earth exists INSIDE the Sun's atmosphere. You heard that right. Outside that heliosphere is interstellar space. NASA continues, "The Sun doesn't have a solid surface like Earth and the other rocky planets and moons. The part of the Sun commonly called its surface is the photosphere. The word photosphere means "light sphere" – which is apt because this is the layer that emits the most visible light. It's what we see from Earth with our eyes." (and they remind us to never look directly at the Sun without eye protection)And then there's this; " In one of the Sun's biggest mysteries, the corona is much hotter than the layers immediately below it. (Imagine walking away from a bonfire only to get warmer.) The source of coronal heating is a major unsolved puzzle in the study of the Sun."What to Read/Listen/Watch NEXT!A Beginner's Guide to Reading a Birth Chart, ELLE Magazine, Madison FellerBeginner's Guide to Reading a VEDIC Birth Chart, Melooha.com, Dr. Vineeta PhatakPast Life in the Natal Chart, Astrologgia.com, Daria RoweFour Elements in Astrology, Moonletter.co.uk, Ben BelinskySun Facts, NASA.govSolar Flares: Effects on Humans, Heath.com, Amanda MacMillanInterpreting 5 Ancient Constellations Across Cultures, Discover Magazine, Joshua Rapp LearnOrion Across Three Cultures, NightSkyTourist.comI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWe are in the dog days of summer.  It's a season of campouts, when a tent pitched in a backyard offers cool relief from sunny days. Those magical nights are a bridge to the celestial realm. From stories written in the stars to the placement of the Sun, Moon and planets at the moment of our birth, to the impact Moon phases and Sun spots have on our human bodies? The bridge to the celestial realm awaits. Let's step onto it.The Celestial BridgeWhen I think of the bridge to the celestial, I picture the crystal rainbow from the Thor movie that stretched from Asgard to other realms.The stars and our place among them has birthed questions we humans have pondered since ancient times. Tales have been woven from that vast blanket of light that speak of heroes, villains, cautionary tales, mythical beasts, revenge, and more. The placement of the moon, the sun, and constellations signaled the time to plant crops, hunt, store for winter, and hunker down. The sight of comets and meteor showers were often seen as omens, signs from the gods that seeded legends we repeat today.We still look to the stars, the sun and phases of the moon to better feel our connection to the Universe. Those celestial bodies inspire the mystery of us, in a way that feels secret, sacred and sometimes haunting.In fact, the cosmos inspired their own fiction genre known as Cosmic Horror. Heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft, Cosmic Horror focuses on the insignificance of humans, the unsettling nature of the Universe, and cosmic entities that can be threatening, or seem intimidating at the very least.What to Read/Listen/Watch NEXT!A Beginner's Guide to Reading a Birth Chart, ELLE Magazine, Madison FellerBeginner's Guide to Reading a VEDIC Birth Chart, Melooha.com, Dr. Vineeta PhatakPast Life in the Natal Chart, Astrologgia.com, Daria RoweFour Elements in Astrology, Moonletter.co.uk, Ben BelinskySun Facts, NASA.govSolar Flares: Effects on Humans, Heath.com, Amanda MacMillanInterpreting 5 Ancient Constellations Across Cultures, Discover Magazine, Joshua Rapp LearnOrion Across Three Cultures, NightSkyTourist.comI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHave you noticed? Curious Cat is not a political podcast. It's a place where I explore strange, nebulous, mysterious aspects of life, death, history, science and spirit. I don't so much pick topics as my guides queue them up, set them like a golf ball onto a tee. I can't tell you how many times during morning minutes something takes over my pen and writes out what is next. Sometimes it's a name I've never heard of that I'm called to research, like Raziel and Azrael, other times they dictate a mini-monologue.But, not being a political podcast, I am a citizen of the world and I see and feel the tension of this moment in history. And boy, we are inflamed, both on a collective level and within the individual. My guides said this was the perfect day to offer up an anti-inflammatory, a Benadryl-version of a podcast, or better yet, chicken soup for the soul.Oh, and I'll share how sniffing your partner's sweaty gym clothes can reduce your blood pressure. :0Let's get into it.What to listen/watch/read NEXT:The Magic of Trees, Curious Cat Podcast, BuzzsproutWater Magick, Curious Cat Podcast, BuzzsproutManipulatives and Mental Health, Curious Cat Podcast, BuzzsproutHow to Use Humor to Manage Stress, Psychology Today, Clay Drinko, Ph. D.8 Quirky Things That Can Help You De-Stress (and no, none of them involve deep breathing), US News, K. Aleisha Fetters, MS, CSCSBehind Plant Stress Signaling, Goldbio.com, Adriana GallegoI don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThis week we are daring to trek on the bridge to Hell. Maybe you think as a collective we are fully in Hell mode as of late. Is Earth the Hell realm as some believe? Or is the only Hell concocted in our minds? What do near death experiencers have to say about Hell? What religions besides Christianity preach about Hell? Is the message the same or different?And most important for those little sizzlers out there like myself, how do we avoid Hell altogether?Let's get into it.Hell 101Let's begin with a little Hell 101. Or for tender ears H-E-double hockey sticks. From Brittanica dot com comes this definition; "Hell, in many religious traditions, is the abode, usually beneath the earth, of the unredeemed dead or the spirits of the damned. In its archaic sense, the term hell refers to the underworld, a deep pit or distant land of shadows where the dead are gathered. From the underworld come dreams, ghosts, and demons, and in its most terrible precincts sinners pay—some say eternally—the penalty for their crimes. The underworld is often imagined as a place of punishment rather than merely of darkness and decomposition because of the widespread belief that a moral universe requires judgment and retribution—crime must not pay. More broadly, hell figures in religious cosmologies as the opposite of heaven, the nadir of the cosmos, and the land where God is not. In world literature the journey to hell is a perennial motif of hero legends and quest stories, and hell itself is the preeminent symbol of evil, alienation, and despair."Show Sources (what to read/listen/watch NEXT)What is Hell? from Brittanica.comPeter Schuurman.com - The Problem with Saying We Go to Heaven13 Locations Where You Can Travel to Hell and Back, TravelAtelier.com17 Places That Are Actual Gates of Hell on Earth, Forbes I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWith this video game we call reality getting wild lately, I thought it was a good moment in time to dance on the bridge to Heaven. If near-death-experiencers are right in their accounts, Heaven is our true home, all of us. It is rife with colors, music, and unconditional love.We need a bit of that chicken soup for the soul right now, don't we?  Let's channel our inner Led Zepplin and climb the stairway or bridge to Heaven.Heaven 101Heaven. Nirvana. Eden. Paradise. Cielo. Valhalla, Zion, On High Empyrean, bliss, Elysian Fields. The concept of heaven is shared by cultures across the globe.In Old English - heofon - meaning "home of God" German? Himmel - heaven or skyAncient Greeks had a few names for heaven, Elysium, Ouranos (which referred to sky or heaven)In Hebrew, ShamayimIn Hinduism, Svarga, which is the celestial abode of the godsIn Māori - Kiko-rangi, which was presided over by two godsShow Sources and Materials - what to read, listen, or watch NEXT A Brief History of Heaven, Joe Boyd (The Deconstructed Pastor), SubstackThe Story behind, Knocking on Heaven's Door, SteamITThe story behind Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, American SongwriterArchosanti: Arizona's grand experiment in sustainable living approaches 50 years, Lauren Schieler, Cronkite News, Tucson Sentinel Have you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWhen I say the word 'imagination' what comes to mind first? What age were you when you last used your imagination? I mean used it and then bragged about your skills to someone else? Were you a kid in school?I think of SpongeBob, shaping his hands into a rainbow saying slowly, "Imagination!"  What if I told you it's not just the stuff of childhood? In fact, it may be a superpower. It is definitely a bridge between an idea and reality.Let's get into it.Imagination 101Middle English: via Old French from Latin imaginatio(n- ), from the verb imaginari ‘picture to oneself', it is the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful. This root definition of the term indicates the self-reflexive property of imagination, emphasizing the imagination as a private sphere.Google charts the use of the word 'imagination' and its low point, the time when it was least used? The early 1980s was the low point of the use of the word imagination, followed closely by 1944. Wow.Singularity Hub dot com asks this;" You can easily picture yourself riding a bicycle across the sky even though that's not something that can actually happen. You can envision yourself doing something you've never done before—like water skiing—and maybe even imagine a better way to do it than anyone else."They continue, "Imagination involves creating a mental image of something that is not present for your senses to detect, or even something that isn't out there in reality somewhere. Imagination is one of the key abilities that make us human. But where did it come from?"Show Sources & Materials (Interesting stuff to read, listen or watch NEXT) The Magic of Trees, Curious Cat Podcast, iHeart RadioDream! Dream! Dream! Curious Cat Podcast, BuzzsproutNew theory demystifies evolution of human imagination, News-Medical.net, Sally RobertsonImagination as defined and described by University of ChicagoThe FOUR Types of Imagination, NewScientist, Adam Zeman Have you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textA few weeks back I showcased a retro episode, my first conversation with Derek Condit from Mystical Wares. In it, he spoke of his personal experiences with Sasquatch, one happened on a hiking trail with his daughter. I hope you caught that, his telling and later his theory about cryptids, including Sasquatch. I've been hearing it repeated more lately, but Derek was the first person I heard say this, that cryptids are interdimensional. What's that mean? They jump between dimensions. Sounds like a bridge between our physical world and theirs that they cross at will, doesn't it? Let's spend the next hour diving into that compelling, complicated, fascinating space together!About that conversation with Derek Condit from Mystical Wares...He said that cryptids are interdimensional creatures. They coexist with us, intermingle, but we remain largely unaware, or blind to them. Why? Maybe when we're vibrating low - operating in fear and anger, they aren't visible. But when we are vibing high, they are seeable to us, or they sense our positive energy and drop their invisibility for a few tantalizing seconds? Not long enough to open the camera on our phones, but they change our bellybutton perspectives in that quick instant. And if they're interdimensional, doesn't that explain the lack of artifacts they've left behind for us to find and study? But wait, I think I jumped ahead.Show Sources and Links (what to read, listen, watch NEXT)A Cultural Phenomenon, The Biologist, Royal Society of BiologyWhat Exactly ARE Cryptids? SmoreScience.comThe hunt for Japan's 'ghost' wolves, BBC, William Park and Johanna AirthThe Hovey Photo, Bigfoot's Back! Bigfoot Encounters dot comSeven species that used to be cryptids, Indiana University Bloomington, Leecy Davis 10 Obscure Cryptids and Why You've Never Heard of Them, Listverse, Edward SmithHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textThe Silk Road isn't just a unit from middle school history, it's more than a trade route, also. This geographical location is quite possibly the first intersection of Eastern and Western cultures and was instigated by what else? The desire to make money and acquire exotic goods. The Silk Road, besides being a geographical bridge, changed mysticism, lore, legends, and history forever. I remember learning the basic facts in school and spitting them back out for exams, never thinking deeply on the importance of this span of history. In fact, it was only recently that I considered this swath of land and its impact, even to the present. But first? Some facts. What to Read/Watch/Listen to NEXT!The East/West Dichotomy, WikipediaChina's Trade Route That Changed The World, Learn Chinese Now, YouTubeUNESCO has an interactive Silk Road mapThe Silk Roads, smarthistory, The Center for Public Art HistoryDid you know? The medical knowledge exchange due to the Silk Road, UNESCOHogwarts Is Here, online hogwarts lessons, and one on the Silk Road!Marco Polo series on NetflixHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHi there! I'm traveling this week, so I thought it was the perfect moment to re-share with you one of my favorite episodes. I hope you love rediscovering the information Derek shares, and my gosh, doesn't my voice sound different? I've also added a link to my latest interview of Derek below.Made and offered in love.Derek Condit of Mystical Wares: Intuition & Magic of Unconditional Love, Curious CatHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHave you ever seen a ghost? Curious to experience a sighting, but hasn't happened for you yet? Or are you one of roughly half of the population that that flat out doesn't believe? I had a spirit call Mama! in an old London hotel one night. I woke up fully to see the ghost of a little girl in a white dress standing beside my spot on the bed. In a cab ride to Heathrow days later, my kids said a white orb had followed me around the room the entire stay. Ghosts and spirit contact goes back thousands of years. Have we gotten any better at it? Let's get into it!What to Read/Listen/Watch NEXTMajority of Americans believe in ghosts, aliens, the devil: Survey, The Hill's Tara SuterAre ghosts real? A psychologist examines the evidence, Barry Markovsky, University of South CarolinaExperts explain our love of fear and fascination with the supernatural, Andy Ober, University of ArizonaInside the World's Spookiest Hotesls, TripadvisorHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textShould we attempt to make contact with aliens? Dead ancestors? Go with pals to a haunted locale and channel our inner Zak Bagans? And what to make of the new trend to play a certain strain of music/sound that people are calling an alien dog whistle?Where is the most likely place to have a Bigfoot run in? And should you bring gifts? In the weeks to come, we will be crossing the bridge to the supernatural. We will look at how long humans have sought connections, the methods we've used, and perfected, the trends, the risks and how to mitigate them, and the hot spots across the globe. This week we look to the skies and oceans in search of aliens.Let's get into it!What to Read/Listen/Watch NEXTYouTube Video on the Strange Hole in Mount Adams - is it a UFO Hangar?The Higherside Chats Interview with Diana PasulkaThe Higherside Chats Interview with Ryan BledsoeStates with the most UFO sightings, NY PostHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHave you ever stepped on a mountain path and felt called by the burbling waters of a river? Felt a breeze blow through a thick stand of aspen, and looked up to see a column of sunlight that felt important? Peaked a mountain and witnessed a cobble of huge stones, struck by a gap in the middle of them that seemed to widen when you looked closer? Walked into an old house and felt dizzy, disoriented? Caught a glimpse of the past as you swam in the waters of a Mexican cenote? Daydreamed about what might lie at the end of a rainbow?  There are places on Earth where people report seeing other dimensions, secret worlds, and in some cases, witnessed mythical creatures. Purgatory. Crossroads. Vortexes. Caves. Mines. Portals. Laylines. Cenotes. The wide open star lit sky. This week we are venturing across the bridge from the solid ground beneath us to other worlds, and reexamining the myths and legends with the mindset, what if they are all factual?Let's get into it.What to Read/Watch/Listen to NEXTCASCADIA: Mount Adams – Is it the most overlooked Cascade peak? Curious CatTrunyan Village, Bali, BBC articleMexico's Sacred Cenotes, Much Better Adventure (and their list of the top cenotes in the country!)Kickass dot com's list of 8 Best Other World PortalsThe DEMONOLOGY of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Offhand Disney, YouTube  Have you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textHiking is my happy place. And recently I've fallen in love with South Table Mountain in Golden, Colorado. It's sister, North Table Mountain in my estimation gets five times the foot and bicycle traffic. A month ago, I found a trailhead for South Table that has only a few parking spaces, which guaranteed a peaceful hike! I've done it four times since. My favorite path takes me along an historic ditch, which no longer carries water, and then I take a right and follow the erosion up the side of the mountain. It's a popular place for mountain biking. I watch them plummet the steep elevations and soar over the natural berms. What a thrill.The first time I climbed out of that notch I was exhausted. Surrounded by fog, I drank water and looked ahead on the trail, seeing the silhouette of a man. I was startled. I'd had the trail to myself all morning. I continued toward the man, and soon made out antlers and the long, lean, limbs of a man. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. Heart pounding, I kept going, snapping a picture with my phone camera. Finally, feet away, I saw that it was a sculpture of a Native American! He had a deer with antlers draped around his neck, carrying his successful hunt's prize to share with his community. I laid a rock on the base of the sculpture and went up the rest of the trail.That next stretch of the trail? Check out my Instagram feed, because it is a skinny path that leads up an ancient sand dune, I'm talking 200-plus million years old! Hundreds of millions of years ago Colorado was underwater, the floor of a landlocked sea. This took no imagining as I stood on this dried out ocean floor. There were even white shell bits among the petrified dunes.This haunting experience brought me back again and again. At night, I'd fall asleep studying maps as I searched for a new, fresh route up and around South Table Mountain.But after my most recent visit, something happened to me that felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie. And it led me to research the history of South Table Mountain. Soon, I found myself hiking to Castle Rock on weary legs and praying for peace and love to heal the land.Two days later, I'd be back on the slopes to offer a flower to a murder victim.But I'm getting ahead of myself.What to Buy/Read/Listen/Watch NEXTRead about the woman of South Table Mountain, and other meticulously researched books by Carol Turner's on AmazonRecent Trouble at South Table Mountain (2024)Woman's remains found on South Table Mountain - blogpostHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWhen I stop and look at the state of gender - I, and all that identify as women - have LOTS to get mad about. Inequality in general, inability to drive a car in some countries, inability to own or inherit land in others, the paycheck gap in the US, being invisible when it comes to drug trials and the user experience in general up until recently (which is why airplane seats hurt our necks) etc, etc.But, today is not about gender - it is a journey into the intersection between divine feminine and divine masculine. It involves undoing old programming, parenting, teachings, that left no space for the two sets of being, not to mention the place where they intersect, collide, comingle. Let's get into it.Divine Fem and Divine Masc 101Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine were explained to me this way and I hope it resonates with  you as well.Think of the Divine Feminine as the waters of a grand river; flowing; life-giving; dynamic; creating its own motion and course. Now think of the Divine Masculine as the riverbank; the steep sides and bottom that give the river structure, dimension, directing the flow, it holds in this precious resource, protecting the vibrant waters. Yin and yang symbols embody dualism - and that includes the divine feminine and divine masculine. Think of that black and white symbol for a second. The black swoop has a dash of white in its center, and the white swoop contains a bit of black. Together they bring balance, harmony, respect. They are sound, together a perfect whole. What to Read/Listen/Watch Next!What is Masculine - Feminine Balance? from Kawtar El Alaoui, Brainz Magazine dot comShe Healed Her Gut by Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies!, Pause Meditation dot com, Rena Satre Meloy The Revolution of Rest, Balancing Divine Masculine and Feminine in the World, Matthew S. Goodman, Medium dot comHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textWe've been exploring bridges, these last weeks, intersections, spaces where dark meets light, sleep meets awake, East meets West, the physical meets the spiritual, science meets art, and this week, that bridge takes us across the River Styx.This week, I'd like to share a little continuing education class I created for someone I love dearly. Her language as a lifelong educator is continuing education; coursework to keep credentials current, so I echoed that familiar language, using the same methods, including worksheets. The course, which is a conversation, meant to build a bridge from this life to what happens after that last breath.Why? The fear of death can keep us from living a full life.  If we can overcome our initial aversion, I'm not saying becoming full-on comfortable with our imminent death, but familiar with the process, examine (and call out) at our preconceived notions and ideas, clear away old programming, and then use our imaginations to picture what we want to experience after death? Well, at worst, it is a thought experiment that makes our final days more peaceful; at best, we impact the death experience, creating a less jarring transition from life to afterlife. I don't see a downside to recognizing that one day all of us will expire.Overcoming fears of death leads to a full-spectrum life experience. Let death control our every thought? It's the equivalent of wearing a dog cone - those clumsy plastic haloes we put on our beloved pets so they won't gnaw on a hot spot or pull out fresh stitches. Bulky, awkward, they impede vision, movement, the path forward. And the sad truth is, we've put those cones on ourselves to avoid thinking about, worrying, wondering or planning for what happens after we die. I worked in pediatric hospice as a volunteer fundraiser for nearly a decade. Hospice means the last 90 days of life, give or take, depending on the jurisdiction. And the pediatric part? Yep. Heartbreaking. I said yes to this work to pay it forward after our child had sepsis, and lived. I felt compelled to help others. What I learned is that there is medicine in living intentionally, and there is much to learn from end of life care.Country songs beg us to live like we are dying, philosophers recognize the power of staying in the present moment; social media and therapists alike ask us to live out loud, to stretch past our comfort zones, say the things to loved ones now, and make plans to do the trips or visits now, not to put off living until all the planets align. All of that is huge. I produced an entire show  about conquering the fear of death in season one. It's worth a listen.But, today we are on the edge of the River Styx. I'm holding your hand. We will be okay, better than okay for having dwelled here. Let's talk about our last exhales.What to Listen/Watch/Read NEXTConquering (or at least coHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Send us a textOn a recent episode of a podcast, guest Amarillo Valle (pronounced Vi-yah) said, "We say, happiness is an inside job. Well, peace is an inside job, too!" His statement shook me. It woke me up from some deep slumber, a type of recurring dream where I kept putting others in charge of my experience, my joy, my happiness, my peace. Why did I give away my power? When did it happen? And how do I endeavor to take back the reins? I think Season Five of Curious Cat is that journey. Finding the bridge between what culture had said are two opposite forces, then harvesting the magic there.This week's exploration of the bridge is via music. A melody can move me to tears. Singing snaps me out of a funk. Humming makes my brain work better. Music is the way the dead reach out to me most often, maybe because it's the channel I'm open to receiving information on best.My first hint to the power of music was as a young mother. Once a week, I ventured out of the house to the local hospital and joined the moms class with my newborn. There were babies of many ages there, including some in the six to nine month range. I learned from the first class by observing, that age could get antsy, squirmy and the parent would stand up, hold the baby with two arms out front, and with the baby's back to them, the parent would rock forward and backward on their heels. That worked to calm the antsy babies. But if one baby began to cry, soon out of empathy, all the babies would join in. That's when we were instructed to sing, Twinkle, Twinkle, which the entire class did. And within seconds, all the babies quieted, eyes watching, calm. It was pure magic.Some of my most potent memories of my daughters as babies involved music, playing songs on a speaker or radio and dancing with them in my arms. I'm smiling ear to ear as I share this. Is there a song that makes you feel calm? Sad? Brings up a funny memory? Or annoys the heck out of you?Mine is Twelve Days of Christmas. If I'm preparing a meal for the family and that song comes on? Oh my gosh. It sends my anxiety through the roof. Music can help us fall asleep, a certain song can give us more energy than a cup of coffee,  enough to stay alert behind the wheel on a long drive, and impacts how we heal, recover, learn and rest. I've pulled the latest research from the internet and can't wait to share. Let's get into it.Show Sources & What to Watch/Listen/Read NEXTSound Heals, the movie, Thomas Durant (on Amazon for rental)The Healing Power of Sound as Meditation, Psychology TodayHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 5 of Angels and other categories! Be one of the first to share and recommend podcasts to your friends. Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!