6 Degrees Of Cats Launches Third Season: Naps, Joseph Pilates & Burnout

 

What do naps, Joseph Pilates, and burnout have in common? In the Season 3 premiere of the hit podcast 6 Degrees of Cats, Tricia Hersey - NYT bestselling author of “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto” and founder of The Nap Ministry - joins 93-year-old Pilates legend Mary Bowen to explore the radical potential of rest. The episode, titled “Catnaps: On Pilates and Rest,” is the first in a two-part arc on sleep, tracing surprising links between Pilates history, the science of napping and how cats might be modeling the resistance we need in the 21st century.

“In a world that won’t let us rest, cats remind us how to,” says Amanda B., podcast creator, producer, and host. “Mary and Tricia offer real wisdom about reclaiming time, healing, and what it means to be human - especially when it feels like the world is falling apart.”

Created by Spotify Sound Up alum Amanda B. and named one of Lifehacker’s Top 10 Podcasts for Pet People, 6 Degrees of Cats is the internet’s only cat-themed culture, history, and science podcast. Since its launch, it has developed a cult following for its meditative and deeply researched episodes that connect feline behavior to broader human questions - from mental health and mythology to espionage and social justice.

Let me start by stating that 6 Degrees Of Cats is not a "cat" podcast. You won't learn how to keep your cat from scratching your faux leather couch or suddenly obey all of your silly commands.

Instead, Amanda B. (also known as Captain Kitty) embarks on a journey through human history, culture, and the advent of science.

6 Degrees of Cats has a lot of things going for it as an ear-worthy podcast. First, it's not a "cat lady" podcast where cat lovers, primarily women, tell super-cute stories about their cat Mittens. The show looks at cats in history, mythology, and culture.

Described by The Cat Museum of NYC’s Executive Director Jenny Pierson as “The Radiolab for cats and cat people,” 6 Degrees of Cats has been praised by listeners as “educational, thought-provoking, meditative AND fun.” Tink Media’s Lauren Passell called the show “well-written and researched,” adding that Amanda B. is “spunky and playful with audio.”

Season 3 features a globe-spanning lineup of guests from fields as diverse as Egyptology, podcasting, and pop culture. In addition to Hersey and Bowen, upcoming episodes include interviews with Egyptologist Dr. Salima Ikram, Stacy LeBaron of The Community Cats Podcast, International Spy Museum historian and curator Dr. Andrew Hammond, and Vulture film critic Angelica Jade Bastién. Each episode drops every two weeks on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.

Amanda B. is a Korean American transracial adoptee based in Brooklyn, New York. Selected from a pool of 18,000 applicants for Spotify’s inaugural Sound Up accelerator, she brings a dynamic mix of musical, cultural and educational experience to her work. As a performer, she has supported artists like Peaches and Lunachicks’ Gina Volpe and currently performs with NYC-based rock band Leathered. Amanda also serves as a learning and development facilitator and independent podcast consultant.

6 Degrees of Cats is a genre-blending podcast that explores the hidden connections between cats and human culture. Each nine-episode season weaves together science, history, and storytelling - always with a feline twist, for more, visit 6degreesofcats.com.

Listen to the Season 3 premiere now on all podcast platforms.

What I like most about 6 Degrees of Cats is its scholarly intentions toward cats, the hosting skill of Amanda B, and the catchy friskiness of its audio.

In 2024, 6 Degrees Of Cats won the Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Award for Best Pet Podcast. 

 As an independent podcast, 6 Degrees of Cats relies on the support of its listeners. Remember that even though cats are rumored to have nine lives, podcasts do not.