Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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Filmmaker and journalist Megan Liz Smith joins me to talk about her short documentary Cat Lady, a moving portrait of an independent rescuer in South Florida.

We discuss the emotional and physical labor of caring for community cats, what it means to document someone’s life with dignity, and how storytelling can shine a light on often-invisible work.

Of course, we also talk about her orange soul cat Jack, fostering, prescription food struggles, and a toy your cats might go absolutely wild for.

Watch & Follow Megan

• Instagram: @meganlizsmith
• YouTube: Megan Liz Smith
• Watch Cat Lady on Megan’s YouTube channel

Resources & Mentions

• Royal Canin SO Prescription Food – Discussed in relation to male cat urinary health
• Self-Heating Cat Beds – A cozy option for winter months
• Cat Dancer Wire Toy – A simple, affordable toy that sparks serious play
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) – Check your local animal services or rescue organizations for community cat programs near you
• Girls and Their Cats - Cat Lady Home Tours

Stay Connected

• Follow Tails and Tassels: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret: @catbaretshow

Got a question or a story about your cat? I’d love to hear from you.
Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a fellow cat person. It truly helps this indie show grow.

Support the show

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Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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🎭 Connect with Fem on Instagram: @theladyappeal

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• See Fem in action 2/6 - Johnny Caligula’s Twin Peaks–themed birthday burlesque show featuring Fem Appeal
• Kitty Nights – Weekly burlesque and variety show founded and produced by Fem Appeal, mentioned in this New York Times article
• Slipper Room – NYC nightlife and performance venue
• Galapagos Art Space – Former Williamsburg performance space now in Detroit
• Helsinki Burlesque Festival
• Jo Weldon’s New York School of Burlesque

🐱 Stay Connected:

• Follow Tails and Tassels on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow

Got a question or a story about your cat? 🐱 I’d love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Whirly Burly Brunch – Aubvious's monthly burlesque brunch at The Whirling Tiger
• The Bizarre Bazaar – Louisville-based burlesque and variety production company
• Crestview Studios – Dance classes in Louisville
• Bourbon Barrel Foods – Yoga and community events

🎭 Connect with Aubvious:

• Instagram: @aubvious_
• Website: movewithaubrielle.com

🐱 Stay Connected:

• Follow Tails and Tassels on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow

Got a question or a story about your cat? 🐱 I’d love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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In this New Year solo episode of Tails & Tassels, I’m reflecting on five lessons my cats, Lion-o and Luna, taught me in 2025 – and how I’m carrying those lessons into the year ahead.

Instead of resolutions or pressure to reinvent yourself, this episode is about rest, boundaries, consistency, play, and knowing when it’s time to walk away. These quiet lessons shaped a big transitional year for me and are guiding how I’m approaching 2026 with more ease, intention, and sustainability – both creatively and personally.

If you’re a creative, a cat parent, or someone craving a softer start to the New Year, this episode is for you.

Stay Connected:

• Follow Tails and Tassels on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
• Visit Catbaret’s website: catbaretshow.com

Got a question or a story about your cat? 🐱 I’d love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music & burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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Marketing your creative work doesn’t have to mean burning out, posting every day, or trying to “beat” the algorithm.

In this episode of Tails & Tassels, Gemma Smith chats with Harris Baker, founder of Catfluence, about low-stress, realistic ways creatives can grow an audience online — even if marketing isn’t your favorite part of the process.

Harris is a digital marketer and SEO specialist who’s built Catfluence into a thriving cat-creator community, spotlighting everyone from celebrities and athletes with cats to everyday creators just getting started. Together, we talk about how cat-loving creatives, performers, and artists can show up online with more intention and a lot less pressure.

Whether you’re a burlesque performer, show producer, podcaster, visual artist, or just a creative with a cat who wants your work to be seen, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can actually use.

🔗 Resources & Tools Mentioned

• Buffer – Social media scheduling tool for cross-posting content
• Hootsuite – Social media management and scheduling platform
• Ahrefs – Keyword research and SEO analytics tool
• SEMrush – SEO insights and keyword research
• Canva – Create simple media / brand kits for pitching brands
• Google AdSense – Display ads for passive income on blogs
• Bluetooth camera clicker / remote – Helpful for filming solo or working with pets
• Ring light + tripod – with a Bluetooth remote

Connect with Harris:

• Catfluence: @Catfluence on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook
• Catfluence Website
• Harris Baker: @harris_baker on Instagram
• Elliot & Olivia: @elliot_and_olivia on Instagram

Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
• Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

Subscribe & Review:

Follow Tails & Tassels on your favorite podcast app, & if you enjoy

Support the show

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The Holiday Gift Guide Episode Is Here!

This week, I’m sharing my newly refreshed Holiday Gift Guide for Creatives and Their Cats — a curated list of tools, treats, small creators, and enrichment toys I actually use and love.

👉 Explore the full guide (with photos!) on the blog here.

Resources & Links (mentioned in the episode)

• Felis Lux Prey Wand Toy – Beautiful, sturdy wand toy Lion-o and Luna absolutely love. Special Listener Offer: Use code TASSEL50 for 50% off your first order at Felis Lux (works on one-time purchases and subscriptions)
• Passion Planner
• Leopard Print Suitcase Set
• Leopard Print Packing Cubes
• Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lip in Beso
• The Burlesque Handbook by Jo Weldon
• Weruva Wx Phos Focused Tuna Lickable Treats
• Sustainably Yours Litter
• The Refined Feline Lotus Cat Tower
• Cosmic Fit Club with Fortune Cookie
• Photography Sessions with El Jong
• GiGi Holliday – Burlesque classes and Auntease Knows Best 1:1 sessions (Correction for clarity: GiGi is the #8 most influential burlesque performer in the world — the episode mentions a different number.)
• Sterling “TrapKing” Davis Merch – Shirts and gear supporting TNR and community cat advocacy plus a membership to his patreon

Experiences as Gifts

• Tickets to Books & Burlesque (Caveat NYC)
• Tickets to Show Me Your Kitties Cabaret (Long Beach, CA)
• A night out at your favorite local variety or burlesque show
• And of course… the next Catbaret March 5th in NYC and Livestream

💌 Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭

Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

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In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Sterling “TrapKing” Davis – a rapper turned community cat advocate and founder of TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions. Sterling shares how he went from life on the road to trapping, neutering, and returning cats around the world, and why he believes you don’t lose cool points for compassion. He breaks down what TNR really is and how his #SameTeam and One United Paw philosophy is changing the way rescuers work together.

📖 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions: trapkinghumane.org
• Support TrapKing’s rescue work: Patreon – TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions

🛒 Gemma’s Episode-Inspired Picks:

• Cat Clicker Training Set – simple clickers to start trick training and build confidence with your cats
• TrapKing's One United Paw Tee

🐾 Connect with Sterling “TrapKing” Davis:

• Instagram: @the_original_trapking
• TikTok: @the_original_trapking

💌 Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
• Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

⭐ Subscribe & Review:

Follow Tails & Tassels on your favorite podcast app and don’t forget to leave a rating and review – it truly helps our little indie, cat-loving corner of the podcast world grow. 💖

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭

Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com

--

In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Fortune Cookie—a NYC burlesque performer, acrobat and producer of Books & Burlesque, the literary-meets-burly show celebrating underrepresented authors and stellar performers. Fortune shares how Chinese dance and circus arts fuel her storytelling onstage, why a little improvisation goes a long way, and how she builds joyful community through art.

Plus, meet her ragdoll duo Donut and Koffee—gym mascot, stroller pros and occasional “assistants” to her costume-making adventures.

📖Resources & Links:
Follow Fortune Cookie: @fortunecookie_burlesque
Tickets to Books & Burlesque at Caveat NYC
Workout with Fortune: Cosmic Fit Club

💌 Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

⭐ Subscribe & Review:
Follow Tails and Tassels on your favorite podcast app and don’t forget to leave us a review—it really helps us grow! 💖

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau