Podcast
Curious Cat
Hosted by Jennifer Hotes · EN
After my father's death, I had some strange stuff happen that nudged me to learn about the supernatural. What I've been finding out is life is way more complicated, strange, and wonderful than I'd ever dreamed. The best part? Science is starting to catch up. I focus on the place where science and supernatural collide. What does it mean to be a soul in a meat suit? All episodes are made and offered in love. *All Curious Cat content is owned and operated by Storm Mystery Press LLC
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
BONUS: Djinn and Tonic with Sam "The Skyguy"
2w ago00:18:49Tap to summarizeWe told you last week's interview with Sam "The Sky Guy" was pure fire. But after the lights went out and Jesse was super sauced, we got into supernatural stuff with our guest. From Sam attending a djinn wedding to Jenn encountering one at a Kirkland grocery store to ways to increase your odds of encountering Bigfoot on a hiking trail, this is a delicious half hour.Links to our special guest:Sleep Paralysis episode of Curious CatWant a reading from Sam "The Sky Guy" - then email him: skyguyreadings@gmail.comSam "The Sky Guy" on SubstackSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Sam the Sky Guy Reads Our Birth Charts (but not AI's because it is not alive)
3w ago01:23:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Curious Cat, Jenn and Jesse chat with a mysterious, underground figure (as described by our mutual friend, Rachel White) "Sam the Sky Guy”— aka Sam aka Skyguy. He keeps his details locked down because he has a real world job that might mix with the woo like oil does water.He read Jesse and Jenn's birth charts, and we have questions! Especially how our charts relate to each other and to AI. But, folks. That's just the beginning to what is an instant classic.Topics we cover include:Venus in ScorpioJesse's personal akashic record storeSam's astrological giftsGolden days at Booktrope and on socialsHadron ColliderKrull and the word, 'craptastic' is coinedPolybius, that Portland, Oregon arcade game mythWayback Machine going, going, gone?USB cable survivor tv show with tech brosOld school vid/computer games including ZORKBubba HotepA memorial to Rowdy Roddy Piper complete with bagpipes (you're welcome)and more*******Look for part two May 19th, Djinn and Tonic with Sam******* Links to our special guest:Polybius - the mysterious arcade video game, WikipediaWant a reading from Sam "The Sky Guy" - then email him: skyguyreadings@gmail.comSam "The Sky Guy" on SubstackJenn Sam’s Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmptyNestMamaShopSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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BONUS: Give me a break! Is this the best product collab ever?
3w ago00:47:50Tap to summarizePoor Jesse had a rough week, and Jenn was to blame for sending him a tweet about Amazon using AI chatbots to create podcast episodes for products. But soon his snarly frustration transforms into laughs as he shares one of the best product collaborations in Western history, a Kit Kat candy bar and Faraday cage for cellphones so people can take a real break rom those perpetual spy machines and/or distraction tools in our pockets. It only went up, up, up from there.And Jesse's therapy is really paying off. Listeners will notice that he-who-must-not-be-named-especially-in-relation-to-rockets is not referenced. Well, mostly.The news stories:Is this Hell? Raw Story, Nicole Charky-ChamiMaryland Is First State to Ban Surveillance Pricing in Grocery Stores, The Guardian, Sanya MansoorKit Kat Wrapper Faraday Cage - Give Yourself a Break and Put Away that Cellphone! Boing Boing, Gail ShermanSubscriptions to ChatGPT DropDisney Announcements, no more phones on moving rides and use of facial recognitionMade and offered in love for you, dear listener. Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Joshua Tree Campfire with special guest Abigail Kochunas
4w ago01:26:46Tap to summarizeAbigail Kochunas is a trauma-informed reiki specialist, an artist and a published poet, and actor. She describes herself as having gone from trauma "survivor to thriver." She understands the delicate nature and importance of both trauma recovery and spiritual awakening at a human scale - having the experience of that lived-in experience.Jesse and I ask her about her gifts, the unique family she was raised in, and how she came to learn that she could talk with animals. Her story, her life, her journey? I hope they inspire YOU to dive headlong into your own beautiful life, dear listener.AWAKEN. HEAL. EVOLVE. UPLIFT. All of Abigail's links: Website & GalleryEtsy ShopSubstackUSE Listener Discount Code: AIPOD — $25 off a session as a gift from AbigailReview us on Yelp and GoogleIG: @sacredhealing_artSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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BONUS: Jenn Tests Jesse on Modern Slang
4w ago00:44:20Tap to summarizeShow IntroIt's about damn time we lightened it up, like fully and completely, Jesse. And I thought what better way than to catch you up with modern slang. Who knows? Maybe it'll make your next barn sale even more fun!(JH) And Jesse...I'm gonna start REALLY easy. This first batch comes from FOX 5's Tyler Thrasher. Here goes:"Clanker" is a derogatory term for robots or artificial intelligence. The term originated from the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" animated series, where it was used as a slur for battle droids, and is now being used again as robots and AI become more prominent in daily life, according to a video of middle schoolers explaining "Clanker" to their teacher, user @mr_lindsay_sped, on TikTok. If your middle-school student is used to a Roomba at home cleaning the floors, you may start to hear the word "clanker" being thrown around as if they are having an argument with one another."Crashout" means to "throw a fit," "lash out," or have a "meltdown". The term has a new meaning for Gen Alpha, as previous generations used it to mean "go to sleep hard." This one has been around a bit longer than "Clanker," but is likely the most common Gen Alpha slang term you will hear going into this new school year. To be honest, at least this one has some usefulness for adults as well. Because doesn't inflation, traffic and the 5 a.m. alarm make us all want to "crashout?""67" is from a viral meme associated with the song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla. It is also linked to NBA star LaMelo Ball, who is 6'7" tall. It can be used for basketball references, to mean someone is "very tall," or in a comedic context to mean "so-so."Chopped - No, parents. This isn't a reference to The Food Network. "Chopped," in this context, means "bad," "ruined," "messed up" or of "poor quality.""Wow, did you see McKynleigh's outfit today? It is chopped." SDIYBT - Where do we even begin with this one? Here goes nothing. This is a niche internet acronym with conflicting definitions, including "Start diggin in yo butt twin" from a SpongeBob meme and "Stay driven, inspire yourself, be true." It is an internet acronym blending casual speech and texting culture.It is more likely the first one they're referencing, if we are being totally honest. Meltmaxxing- is a meme where you film yourself appearing to "melt" by letting your face go slack and double-chinned.The term Opp is a shortened version of "your enemy. Aura, an updated version of "vibe," refers to their perceived stylishness and strong presence.Maxxing, which is a slang term for optimizing one's physiSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Dr. AI Will See You Now
May 101:00:15Tap to summarizeAfter covering the article about how bad AI is at diagnosing ER patients in a recent Doom Hole, I strong-armed Jesse into dedicating a whole episode to the subject. I hope it serves as a warning, and helps you to inform someone in your sphere to ALWAYS seek a real human being when dealing with health issues, mental OR physical. Let's get into it.(JH) Today on Substack I experienced a first. I was tagged on an AI-related article about a new law proposed in Utah, or maybe it's just an informal agreement at this stage. The agreement is between an AI company out of San Francisco to provide prescription refills for psychiatric medicines. The need, the state says, comes from overworked doctors, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists, and they see the AI bot to be a relief valve.I have real concerns about chatbots and human bodies. They mix like oil and water, at least at this moment in time. Chatbots, we are told, have black boxes of data training, programming, weighted algorithms, that we cannot know or see or tweak or question. They have proven to be sycophantic, give us what feedback it thinks we seek, and do not catch subtle cues. The human body, the degree-on-the-wall-nurse practitioner or doctor, is genetically predisposed to catch subtle cues. Thousands of years of fight or flight, of surviving DNA because our ancestors caught a subtle hint of trouble or whatever? It pays off when we interact with other human beings. In my response to that article, I mentioned Zoloft because it is personal. It can feel like a last-best-lifeline to the patient and when they experience severe side effects, like say, increased suicidal ideation? Scared to have that lifeline yanked away, they may not admit to them. But a human health practitioner? They might see the hesitation and ask a follow up question that could lead to helping the patient find a course of action that is truly lifesaving. A chat bot? Its degree framed on the wall holds a blank piece of paper.Sources:Potter Puppet Pals, YouTube5 Major Disadvantages of AI in Healthcare, Keragon.comDisadvantages of AI in Healthcare: What CTOs Should Be Aware of, TechMagic.coGoogle's healthcare AI made up a body part - what happens when doctors don't notice? The VergeMan Went to ChaSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Rockets & Robots & Lil Pink Mice
Apr 2800:41:18Tap to summarizeThis week Jesse admits that Bezos' rockets live rent-free in his head. We talk about the week's AI headlines. Jenn shares the story of a little local fair where a strange guitarist interacted strangely. Article LinksBetter Offline episodePalantir and Farmland, CNBCSasha reporting on old economy and AI now - drop in productivity firstIs the Bezos marriage over? Reading faces...Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Modern Love
Apr 2400:57:39Tap to summarizeShow SourcesThe Whitest Summer, Jennifer Hotes, Substack (good for a few laughs, I hope!)The women in love with AI companions: 'I vowed to my chatbot that I wouldn't leave him,' Alaina Demopoulos, The GuardianLove in the Time of A.I. Companions, Anna Weiner, New York MagazineSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Jesse Pours Out His Bucket of Rage in Fan Favorite Segment, Doom Hole
Apr 2100:27:03Tap to summarizeFan favorite segment, Doom Hole, is back with more AI-related headlines. This week we begin with a feel-good shout out to Sam "The Sky Guy" who did our birth charts, and will be our honored guest in a few weeks. Then Jenn shares some GATE research from a deep rabbit hole she's dug for herself.And finally, Jesse and Jenn get down to the business of headlines. Jesse empties out his bucket of rage as he shares three Amazon.com-related stories from the week.Here are the story sources if you want to read them at your own pace and give these journalists some love in the form of clicks.Show SourcesGATE Program - White Rabbit on Substack (if you want to try the Munro hemisync)The Race to the Shackleton Crater Is On, ARS Technica, Stephen ClarkeLauren Bezos Sanchez's Happiness Routine Goes Viral for All the Wrong Reasons, Fast Company, Maria Jose Gutierrez Chavez (our new hero!)Amazon Worker Killed and Workers are Told to Look Away and Keep Working, NewsNationSisters song from Holiday Inn, YouTube (so don't sue us!)Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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Predicting the Future with Monique & Alex of The Homewrecker Podcast
Apr 1701:14:27Tap to summarizeToday we have TWO special guests that we adore. A married couple, former professional wrestler ”The Golden Greek” Alex Arion & his wife, certified hypnotherapist Monique, attack conventional wisdom and ways of thinking by bringing alternative viewpoints and different subjects to light in an attempt to not only change the thoughts and feelings most people accept as reality, but to obliterate them completely...all while having some fun in the process.Monique is many things, an intuitive healer, a gardener, a reiki practitioner, an artist that creates orogon pieces, and she is a certified hypnotherapist and her business is called, Innerstandings Hypnosis. Monique is also a talented tarot reader and she and her husband host a show called, The Homewrecker Podcast. They stay on top of current events, and she's here today to help us understand the future of AI, and yes, I'm secretly praying she will see the data centers transformed into community centers in her cards.Welcome to the show, Monique and Alex!Find links to support them, listen to their show, book a reading or hypnotherapy session HERE!Alex and Monique's Podcast, The Homewrecker PodcastInnerstandings HypnosisBUY Monique's orgonite or candles HERESend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!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. ***Is AI the Devil? on Substack!***Hero Organizations:80,000 HoursCenter for Humane TechnologiesState of Surveillance, an organization that helps foster online privacyBuy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
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