Welcome to The Petting Zoo
By Cat Felis
~We have personal experience with polyamorous life, queer sexuality and gender, autism, schizophrenia, DID, trauma, ADHD, robot building, graphic design, psychology and more ~
Join us as we discuss topics relevant to us, and to others who live on the fringe of normality.
Welcome to The Petting ZooOct 25, 2019
Ep. 12: The Fox and the Hound
Be advised that we briefly mention medical transition and gatekeeping, surgery, recreational use of prescription drugs and the effects of covid-19.
The episode also includes an in-depth discussion of Hound’s relationship to his gender and identity as a member of a system, which could potentially be upsetting to some listeners.
Read more about Bat’s surgery journey at welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com/search/bat+gets+surgery
Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 11: Enter Syscourse
In this episode Fox talks with Cat about their experience with the label DID, and why they no longer feel comfortable identifying with it.
Together they touch on the discourse surrounding the plural communities, and discuss different experiences from their own perspective.
In this episode we would like to warn for discussions of abuse, including sexual, and the effects of trauma.
We are aware that this is a controversial topic, and we hope that we have handled it with the necessary care and respect. At the end of the day we believe in inclusion, acceptance and healing for everyone, regardless of their opinion on this fraught topic.
Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 10: Enter bureaucracy
In this episode, Bat and Cat discuss Bat’s never-ending fight with the system, to get the gender confirming surgery that is necessary to her well-being and survival as a trans person.
We would like to warn for mentions of transphobia, ableism and frustrating bureaucracy.
Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 9: Introduction to Receiving Help
In this episode Husky and TP open up about a difficult topic for all members of our polycule – the topic of receiving help.
We talk systemic level help, the everyday help we receive from our loved ones, and we speculate on our personal histories with receiving help.
In this episode we would like to warn for mentions of suicide, child neglect, substance abuse and selfharm.
Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 8: Q&A with Husky and TP
In this episode Husky and Trashpanda answer questions from our listeners, ranging from the love letters they’ve written, to the intersection of mental illness, queer identity and much more.
This is the first episode of its kind – if the format is popular, the Petting Zoo will be back with more Q&A’s at a later point!
There are no specific warnings for this episode.
Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 7: Some things just ARE
In this episode we would like to warn for discussions about paranoid and suicidal ideation.
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 6: "What's your damage?"
In this episode Cat gets together with their partners Fox and Bear for an introduction to their personal trauma histories, and the different ways they reacted to it. Fox talks about their experiences with DID, and how Fox and TP came to be the main alters in their system, while Bear tells the story of how they went from denial to PTSD. Meanwhile Cat speculates on how, in a way, his trauma didn’t cause his mental illness – his mental illness caused his trauma.
In this episode we discuss trauma, and while nothing is explicit, we would like to warn for mentions of suicide, hanging, self-harm, sexual assault, emotional manipulation, animal death and harm - sexual, emotional and physical abuse, murder, drowning, live burial, syringes and euthanization
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 5: Enter Autism with Cat and TP
In this episode TP and Cat discuss what autism is, as well as their individual relations to the diagnosis. TP, who was recently diagnosed, discuss the impact on his self-understanding, and Cat touch on the similarities between schizophrenia and ASD.
There are no specific warnings for this episode.
Also, yes, it's called Autism Spectrum Disorder, not Autism Spectrum Diagnosis, Cat is just not good with words :P
Find us at welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep 4: Enter the System
Episode 4: Enter the System
In this episode the Cat interview Katten of compassionatereminders about her experiences with living in group homes and psych wards for the past many years.
In this episode we would like to warn for discussions of abuse of power and ableism.
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Find us at welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com and find Katten at compassionatereminders.tumblr.com
Ep. 3: Wibbley Wobbley Gendy Bendy
Cat and Bat get together for a personal talk about their relationship to gender, transitioning, and their road into the world of the wibbley wobbley gendy bendy. CW: transphobia, gatekeeping, NSFW discussion
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This is not "Transgender 101" and a few concepts may be unfamiliar to some listeners. So here follows a brief explanation:
Assigned female at birth = Anyone who has been thought to be a girl growing up. They may or may not disagree with this later. Shortened to AFAB. Assigned male at birth = Anyone who has been thought to be a boy growing up. They may or may not disagree with this later. Shortened to AMAB. Transwoman: A person who is AMAB, who identifies as a woman. Transman: A person who is AFAB, who identifies as a man. Genderqueer/Nonbinary/Agender/Genderfluid etc: Genders that do not fit the binary "man or woman" options.
Cis woman: A person who is both AFAB and identifies as a woman. Cis man: A person who is both AMAB and identifies as a man.
T: As in "I may want to go on T" - the hormone testosterone, AFAB people can take this hormone as a step in their transition.
(Physical) transition: The act of physically altering your body to be more aligned with the typical characteristics of people who share your gender identity. This often includes hormones and surgery. Not all trans people choose to transition.
Dysphoria: More accurately, "gender dysphoria" - feelings of unease and depression etc. caused by the disconnect between how a trans person feels they should look, be perceived etc, and how they actually are. Not all trans people experience dysphoria, but many do, and it can be very painful.
Top surgery: Usually refers to removal of chest tissue for AFAB people. Bottom surgery: Surgery to alter your genitals. Check out our blog welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com
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Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep 2: Is this a sex thing?
In this episode Bear, Moose, Cat and Fox have a conversation about kink based on a question from anon. We talk how to meet other kinky people, aftercare and safe practice, while sharing personal anecdotes from kinky happenings and miss-happenings. CW: NSFW discussions, kink, weed, minor injuries, rape and trauma. Check out our blog welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Ep. 1: Enter the Petting Zoo
Welcome to the very first episode of the podcast “Welcome to the petting zoo”. In this episode we join Trashpanda in an interview with Cat. Topics include Cat’s less than stellar career in social activism and his plans for the podcast as a platform of such. The interview also covers an explanation of Cat's main diagnosis, schizophrenia, and a discussion of the stigma surrounding the psychotic disorders. CW: Discussions of ableism and right-wing terrorism. Brief mentions of police brutality, racist and misogynistic violence, suicide, murder and serial killers. Check out our blog welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com
Music:
Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting
by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.
Fireworks
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5744-strength-of-the-titans
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/