Behind the Scenes Minis: Balloons and Cat Trees

Summary

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Behind the Scenes Minis: Balloons and Cat Trees

Release Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Holly Frey & Tracy V. Wilson
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

---

Episode Overview

This week, Holly and Tracy dive into the curious social history behind balloon riots—a series of 19th-century public disturbances involving hot air balloons—and reflect on the design and culture of pet inventions, most notably cat trees. The conversation ranges from exploring human nature’s sometimes riotous response to novelty, to sharing personal anecdotes about their own pets and favorite inventions for animal companions. The hosts muse on the quirks of history, the evolution of pet products, and even indulge a playful theory about cats and human psychology.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Balloon Riots and Human Behavior

[02:15–10:23]

• Balloon Riot Requests and Surprising Quantity:

  • Tracy began researching a listener request on a specific balloon riot, but quickly uncovered many similar events from the era, all sharing peculiar cultural and social patterns.
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “One riot was the request... then the 1864 one was the other one that immediately kind of showed up... and then I was like, oh, there’s a lot of them, actually.” (02:19)

• Naming Conventions and Anglophilia in Early US Cities:

  • Both hosts note how venues for balloon launches were often named after English gardens or European sites, underlining the new nation's tendency to copy old-world names.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “So much—‘We are our own new thing,’ but everything got named after something in Europe.” (03:05)

• The Psychology of Rioting:

  • Tracy reflects on the similarity between balloon riots and modern sports riots, observing that disappointment and boredom play a role in both.
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “So often it really seems like... the initial run up to the rioting was something involving a combination of boredom and disappointment.” (05:39)

• Violence in Response to Novelty:

  • Holly offers an analogy:
    • Holly: “I feel like even the most staid human in the right circumstance will just turn into a berserker and start stabbing things and setting them on fire. ... Everybody go to therapy.” (05:04, 05:37)

• Balancing Awe and Fear of New Technology:

  • Balloon launches were planned with publicity, yet the spectacle sometimes triggered fear—locals at times attacked landing balloons out of confusion or suspicion.
  • Tracy mentions the consistency of reports about rural communities attacking balloons:
    • “The account saying it was attacked with pitchfork, that’s pretty consistent. ... Maybe they really did attack the thing that fell out of the sky.” (04:23)

• Echoes in Modern Events:

  • The hosts compare the phenomenon to reaction to failed spectacles today (e.g., concert cancellations, sports riots).
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “If it were 2025 and people were going to a Taylor Swift concert... and then what if the crowd just rushed the stage and destroyed all of the instruments and lighting?” (09:13)

• Balloon-Related Hoaxes and Cultural Mania:

  • Edgar Allan Poe’s balloon hoax is discussed as a historical aside about gullibility in the age of early aviation.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “He published a story in the Sun in New York claiming someone had crossed the Atlantic in a balloon in three days. ... That is what happened. And then he had to retract it two days later.” (08:36–09:02)

---

Pet Inventions – Cat Trees, Wee Wee Pads, and Living with Animals

[13:55–21:54]

• Affluence and Pet Products:

  • Alan Simon, the inventor of the “wee wee pad,” had a lavish lifestyle, notably a $40 million New York home—an indicator of the booming pet product market.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “He was a very fascinating man... very tan. He is very straightforward.” (15:38)

• Ugly Cat Trees and Real World Use:

  • Both hosts lament the lack of attractive cat trees, sharing personal stories about their experiences with various models.
  • Tracy gifted Holly a large classic cat tree, which remains a favorite for Holly’s current cats.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “Marva’s favorite place at night.” (17:06)
    • Holly: “Cat trees, by their nature, are just hard to be real cute.” (16:36)

• Challenges of Multi-Cat Households:

  • Stylish cat trees exist but are often too small for larger cat families, leading to practical (though less attractive) solutions.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “We did buy a cuter, smaller, gothic-y looking one ... but they really prefer the kitchen, the ugly kitchen one.” (20:51)

• Cat Tree Logistics and Expense:

  • The cost and size of suitable cat trees are discussed, especially for accommodating large or multiple cats.
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “They can be really real pricey.” (21:54)

---

Pet Product Oddities, Toxoplasmosis, and Online Pet Debates

[24:59–32:21]

• The “Crazy Cat Man” and Toxoplasmosis Theory:

  • Holly floats a playful, speculative theory about Ed Lowe (inventor of kitty litter), suggesting his eccentric behavior might've been influenced by toxoplasmosis, which is sometimes linked to unusual personality traits in cat owners.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “Did he have toxoplasmosis?” (25:19)

• Toxoplasmosis – How It Spreads:

  • The hosts briefly explain the science—how the parasite spreads from rodents to cats and then to humans (primarily via feces)—and debunk some myths.
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “My understanding of toxoplasmosis is that the source... is really rodent, when cats are able to catch rodents.” (27:19)

• Potty Pads and Internet Disdain:

  • Holly expresses gratitude for Alan Simon’s pet potty pads, pushing back on online communities that disparage their use as lazy or unhygienic.
  • Quote:
    • Holly: “I stumbled upon a part of the Internet I was not ready for ... a Reddit anti-dog subreddit... Having a human in your house is disgusting and gross! Like, we all come with stuff.” (29:12)

• Practical Uses for Wee Wee Pads:

  • Tracy and Holly share that the pads are often indispensable for elderly or ill pets, and even handy for non-pet messes (e.g., craft projects).
  • Quote:
    • Tracy: “My one time that I’ve ever used them was when Sestina was in her last months of life...” (30:27)
    • Holly: “If you’re doing a weird craft project that has a lot of fluid, put a puppy pad under it.” (30:56)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Humans are always a second away from violence.”
  – Holly Frey (05:04)

• “This whole like, ‘I’m mad at the balloon, so we need to set it on fire’ mentality is one that I just can’t grasp.”
  – Holly Frey (04:14)

• “Because that’s what it’s about, baby.”
  – Holly Frey on repeatedly saying “balloon” (10:47)

• “Marva’s favorite place at night.”
  – Holly Frey, on the inherited cat tree (17:06)

• “Thank you, Alan Simon, for the invention of potty pads for pets.”
  – Holly Frey (29:11)

• “Having a human in your house is disgusting and gross! Like, we all come with stuff.”
  – Holly Frey (29:12)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Balloon Riots and Social Response: 02:15–10:23
• Poe’s Balloon Hoax: 08:23–09:13
• Cat Tree Ownership Stories: 16:23–21:54
• Toxoplasmosis Theory & Pet Owner Stereotypes: 25:03–29:12
• Praise for Pet Potty Pads: 29:11–31:00

---

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, humorous, and insightful, with a breezy, personal tone that blends historical curiosity with lived experience. Holly and Tracy banter easily, punctuating their historical lessons with jokes, affection for their pets, and lighthearted speculation.

---

Summary Takeaways

• Balloon riots were culturally widespread and driven by complex social forces.
• Both the awe and fear of new technology played a role in public reactions.
• Early adoption of European place names reveals both a break from and a lingering tie to colonial roots in American history.
• The evolution of pet products like cat trees and potty pads reflects both practical needs and changing social attitudes toward animals.
• Internet forums on pet topics can be surprisingly harsh and miss the reality of living with animal companions.
• An undercurrent of humor and skepticism toward “official” history and received wisdom pervades the entire episode.

This behind-the-scenes episode offers a unique blend of quirky historical discussion and relatable, pet-loving dialogue, perfectly capturing the spirit of Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Transcript

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Ed Helms]

And now Superhuman Shack.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

I keep telling them not to say that. I'm no superhuman. Believe it or not, I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA in adults with obesity. Moderate to severe OSA is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep, with loud snoring, choking, gasping for air, and even daytime fatigue. Let's just say it can sound a lot like this. Sound familiar? Learn more at don't sleep on OSA.com.

[Ed Helms]

This information is provided by Lily, a medicine company.

[Holly Frey]

Listen to your elders, honey. You might know them from their viral videos. But now the old Gays are pulling back the curtain with their podcast Silver Linings with the Old Gays. Brought to you in partnership with I Heart, Ruby Studio and Veeve Healthcare. Hosts Robert, Mick, Bill and Jasse share their favorite pride memories and the importance of celebrating all year long in honor of Palm Springs Pride celebrities. So check out Silver Linings with the Old gays on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kal Penn]

Hey audiobook lovers. I'm Kalpin.

[Ed Helms]

I'm Ed Helms.

[Kal Penn]

Ed and I are inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with our new podcast, Irsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

Each week we sit down with your favorite iHeart podcast hosts and some very special guests to discuss the latest and greatest audiobooks from Audible.

[Kal Penn]

Listen to Hearsay on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow earsay and start listening on the free iHeartradio app today.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it. Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad. They have up to 40% off select tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowe's celebrates Black Friday. Early selection varies by location while supplies last.

[Holly Frey]

Welcome to Stuff youf Missed in History Class, a production of iHeartradio.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Hello and Happy Friday. I'm Tracy V. Wilson.

[Holly Frey]

And I'm Holly Fry.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

We talked about balloon riots this week.

[Holly Frey]

Sure did.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

An episode that was, you know, one. One riot was the request. I initially thought that it was going to be about two riots because the the one that was initially requested was one, and then the 1864 one was the other one that immediately kind of showed up in my preliminary research. And then I was like, oh, there's a lot of them actually. And they all have some striking similarities. And also it seems like everyone who was opening a gardens somewhere that was either part of the British Empire or had once been British territory, they just all named them after gardens.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Same name over and over. Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

That's one of those interesting factors to me about early US History is that there was so much. We are our own new thing.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

But everything got named after something in Europe.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Not everything, but a lot of things.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, yeah. It's like people like to make fun of how weird. I mean, not just in Massachusetts, but I feel like Massachusetts gets a lot of it. How weird the pronunciation of town names are compared to how they are spelled and they're all just pronounced roughly the same way as the same spelled town in England is like, that's the reason. Not all of them, but a lot of the times that's pretty much the case. I was of course reminded of various sports related. Related riots that still happen.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

When a team wins something important or loses something important. Although a lot of times that is more like generic property destruction. Not chasing after the team that won or lost to set the ball on fire. Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

This whole like, I'm mad at the balloon, so we need to set it on fire mentality is one that I just can't grasp.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, yeah. One of the earliest things that we talked about about, you know, the balloon launch happening successfully, but then the balloon, which did not have a crew on it, kind of coming down in a more rural area outside of Paris, and then the local people attacking it. Like, when I saw that, I was like, this, to me, does not sound like necessarily a real thing that happened. It sound like it might more be commentary about how whoever was writing it thinks that rural people are dummies. But the account saying that it was attacked with pitchfork, that's pretty consistent. It shows up in several different places. And I was like, maybe they really did attack the thing that fell out of the sky. I don't know.

[Holly Frey]

Humans are now in my head after this particular episode. I know this intellectually. We have certainly studied the course of human history enough to know. But you know that saying, and I don't know if it's true that horses are always a second away from madness. Sure, humans are always a second away from violence. I feel like even the most staid human in the right circumstance will just turn into a berserker and start stabbing things and setting them on fire. Yeah, I don't love that.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

No.

[Holly Frey]

Everybody go to therapy.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I also think, like so often it really seems like what, Like The. The initial run up to the rioting was something involving a combination of boredom and disappointment. And I'm sort of like imagining, like, if. If a rain delay during a NASCAR race or a baseball game or something suddenly caused the crowd to rush the field and, like, break all the baseball bats or take baseball bats to all the race cars. I don't know.

[Holly Frey]

Right. It's very weird.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

It doesn't quite align with. Like I said, I know there are still things involving sport and spectacle that lead to some kind of rioting or vandalism or whatever today, but it just, like the happening over and over and over in that relatively short amount of time is just a little odd.

[Holly Frey]

It is weird. I mean, it's interesting, too, because ballooning is, in so many instances, written about this very romantic kind of way. Right. The freedom of it. The, you know, sort of surreal experience of taking to the sky. And then the flip of that culture is just people being like, let's kill it. I don't know. I don't know. There's an element of like, how dare you try to do something new and then not succeed in it.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Which I don't. I'm not a fan of, obviously.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Right. Well. And like we said in the episode, it wasn't like they could go. It wasn't like it could be secret. Like, even if you had, say, a farmer had said, yeah, you can do this in my field. And the farmer lives somewhere with nobody around. Maybe you could get the balloon inflated without an audience being there. But, like, then it's in the sky. People are gonna see it. Right. It's gonna be obvious.

[Holly Frey]

Right. And if you don't tell them it's gonna happen, they're gonna think that we being invaded by UFOs.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Possibly true. Yes. Which is what inspired the balloons of World War II episode a couple years back was various weather balloons and spy balloons that were spotted and raised alarm.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah. I mean, there are lots of instances of those kinds of things happening.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

So you kind of have to be public about it because you will terrify people.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah. Raised reports of UFOs.

[Holly Frey]

There was entertainment in the sky.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

That would be kind of amazing.

[Holly Frey]

It would be. I also can't help but think of Edgar Allan Poe's balloon hoax.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Oh, yeah. That came up in some of the research that was part of this. And then I was like, that's a little bit more of an aside than I want to include.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah. Yeah. Which just in case anybody doesn't know, he published a story in the sun in New York about claiming that someone had crossed the Atlantic in a balloon in three days.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Right.

[Holly Frey]

And people went wild. This was like, literally it would be the equivalent of somebody publishing an article tomorrow saying, I built a jet in my backyard and I flew it to Mars.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

And people would be like, what? And that is what happened. And then he had to retract it two days later and admit that it was a hoax. And then nobody had done that.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

So funny. I am still also just really stuck on like thinking of trying to have something that like, seems like a comparable phenomenon. You know, there was like the whole Beatlemania phenomenon. We talked about Liz Domania on the show before of people just going absolutely out of their minds over Franz List. But like, if it were today, if it were 2025 and people were going to like a Taylor Swift concert and like the power went out, there was no possible way to continue the show as normal. And then what if the crowd just like rushed the stage and destroyed all of the instruments and lighting? Yeah, that would be wild. And not really what I would expect to happen currently in the world. I would totally expect though, people to knock over light poles and toilet paper houses and stuff after sports. Win or loss.

[Holly Frey]

Anyway, it happens. Humans.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

It does happen.

[Holly Frey]

Humans made for trouble, apparently. Yep.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I think we have exhausted all of the allotment of the word balloon that could be said in an episode. On this one episode, that is a.

[Holly Frey]

Word that the more you say feels crazier and crazier. Like your brain goes, that's not a real word.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

There was one sentence that I think you were saying it and I was like, why did I put the word balloon so many times that close together?

[Holly Frey]

Because that's what it's about, baby.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it. Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad. They have up to 40% off select tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowe's celebrates Black Friday. Early selection varies by location.

[Annabe Sofas Advertiser]

While supplies last, life gets messy spills, stains and kid chaos. But with anibe, cleaning up is easy. Our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out, so you never have to stress about messes again. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa and effortlessly perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Get early access to Black Friday pricing right now. Sofas started just $699. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, everyone. Ed Helms here.

[Kal Penn]

And hi, I'm Cal Penn, and we're the hosts of Irsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

[Annabe Sofas Advertiser]

You know what?

[Lowe's Advertiser]

I can see you as Mr. Darcy.

[Annabe Sofas Advertiser]

You got a little Colin Firth.

[Ed Helms]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that. But are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here. Listen to earsay the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

People never believe me when I say I'm just like them. I take out the trash, do dishes, and I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or osa. And a lot of adults with obesity also struggle with moderate to severe osa. You know, those scary breathing interruptions during sleep, the loud snoring, choking, and daytime fatigue. I knew I had to talk to my doctor. Don't sleep on the symptoms. Learn more@don'tsleeponosa.com this information is provided by.

[Ed Helms]

Lilly, a medicine company.

[Holly Frey]

There's so much to talk about this week because we talked about pet inventions and since, you know, we both have pets and many people in our listening audience do.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Mm.

[Holly Frey]

And we have experience with lots of these products. Plenty to discuss. Also, a wild theory I have that has absolutely no substance to it other than it occurred to me.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Okay.

[Holly Frey]

But we'll talk about the other stuff first. One of the things that came up a lot when I was researching this in regard to Alan Simon, the last person that we talked about who invented the wee wee pad was that in 2019, he put his very lavish New York home on the market for $40 million. Wow. And I looked at pictures, and I understand why it was $40 million, even outside of it being a prime Location in New York that overlooks Central Park. That was a lavishly decorated home. I understand that he had to. They had to drop the price on it by about 13 million. That was the last thing I saw on it. So presumably somebody bought it at like 27 million. But I don't know for sure. But that's a lot of money. But that was a very beautiful space, which I just find interesting.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

He.

[Holly Frey]

It also speaks to like how popular pet products were.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

And he was a very fascinating man. Looking at videos with him, he's so interesting. Cause he talks like a guy from New York. He's very tan. He is very straightforward. The obituary that I read of him kind of hinted at what a sweet man he could be and how he was very dedicated to his customers and, you know, people with pets, but that he also really loved business. And I'm like, was he kind of like hardcore as a deal maker, but also was personally very sweet? Cause that can certainly happen. I just think he seems absolutely delightful.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Can we talk about how ugly most cat trees are? Yeah, we sure can. That whole like, can go with any decor. It's elegant and beautiful. And I know there is a big movement for like fancy cat trees.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

But it's also cat trees, by their nature are just hard to be real cute.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

You, I don't know if you still have. But you did have one. Yeah. So you have one that used to belong to me. That was a Christmas present. That was your standard. Poles wrapped in rope, covered in carpet platforms. Cat tree.

[Holly Frey]

Huge.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Real big.

[Holly Frey]

It's like 7ft tall. It's a big one. It's a really nice cat tree.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

So thank you.

[Holly Frey]

Because I still have it. And it's Marva's favorite place at night.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Oh, I love it.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I'm like, how did I even get that to my house? I feel like it was a Christmas gift for my parents. But then when I moved to Massachusetts, there was going to be nowhere to put it.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And like moving it to Massachusetts was adding a whole additional thing to the expense of an interstate move. And so now it's in my bedroom. Now it belongs to Holly.

[Holly Frey]

I feel like I should also tell you, I don't know if I ever told you this.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Uh huh.

[Holly Frey]

Our cat, Ozzel, who passed earlier this year, up until he was 18, one of his favorite things was to go to the very top of that cat tree and then jump from it the roughly 5ft to our bed.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Okay.

[Holly Frey]

And just roll around like a giggling cat and wanted to be petted. And he would do this over and over. It was his favorite exercise on Earth.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah. I also had been given that when I had three cats and when I was moving to Massachusetts, I only had one cat who was in her elder years and did not really use it. So anyway, when we were ready to get more cats into our life after we lost Sestina, I was looking for number one. We had very specific space requirements, like, where will a cat tree fit? And then I didn't want something that was just entirely covered in carpet for like allergen reasons. And it took a lot to find something that would work. And it is more attractive than a lot of cat trees I feel are. But I also sort of felt like, at least at that time, which this would have been in 2019, it was the only one that existed in the whole world. Yeah. Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

The other thing too is that there are, like I said, some very stylish looking cat trees. In my experience, having shopped for a lot of them, they tend to be on the smaller side. So if, like us, you have four cats. Yeah, that's not gonna be enough.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

The other thing is that we similarly, for a while had all older cats. So other than Ozzel's divebomb party, we didn't have. None of the other cats were really into the cat tree situation. They were like, I'm gonna sit on the couch or the bed. Cause that seems easy to get to and super cozy. But this year, as I have mentioned before, we adopted three new cats who are all about to turn seven. Cause they're all from the same litter and they need more vertical party space. And so we ended up getting this huge monstrosity of a cat tree that is in our kitchen.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Okay.

[Holly Frey]

Because our kitchen is kind of. I don't know how well you remember it, but it's kind of a deepish space. And there's a big tree that overlooks. Or a big tree, a big window that overlooks our deck at the back of the. Of the kitchen. And so we were like, you know what cats would love is a cat tree here. And it may not be the cutest thing on earth, but they will love it. And they do. Like, that was a good call because it really helped with transitioning them into our household. And our other cats not feeling like all their stuff got taken over. Cause there was a new thing.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Right.

[Holly Frey]

But it's not cute. We did buy a cuter, smaller, gothic Y looking one that lives in our living room, which is all Halloween all year round. But they really prefer the kitchen, the ugly kitchen.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

One. Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Cause it's got a million places to go and it's tall and they Jesse's big badonk doesn't fall out of it. Which is a very real a very real problem to solve in many spaces in our house.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Right.

[Holly Frey]

Anyway, cat trees and also big cat trees get expensive in our property.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Holy Moses.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I have sort of. I occasionally look around to see if there is something specifically taller that would work somewhere in our house for our cats. And it's one of those things where I kind of idly poke around at it and then go no, I don't really see anything that would work. But yeah, they can be really real pricey. Yeah.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it. Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad. They have up to 40% off select tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowes celebrates Black Friday. Early selection varies by location while supplies.

[Annabe Sofas Advertiser]

Last time for a sofa upgrade. Introducing Annabe sofas where designer style meets budget friendly prices. Every anibe sofa is modular, allowing you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Annabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquids simply slide right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high resilience foam lets you choose between a sink in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus our pet foam stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality. For price, visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space. Today sofas start at just $699 with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee. Get early access to Black Friday now. The biggest sale of the year can save you up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Kal Penn]

Hey audiobook lovers. This week on the podcast I'm sitting down with musician, producer and walking encyclopedia Questlove. We're talking about Mark Ronson's memoir Night how to be a DJ in 90s New York City. All right, like we talked about before, Mark Ronson found sanctuary in the DJ booth. What's a tool or piece of equipment in the studio or on stage that gives you the most control?

[Ed Helms]

So I have two microphones on stage we have the microphone that you hear as the audience. Then we have a second microphone in which we communicate with each other. I feel like that second microphone kind of saved all of our friendships. No band likes each other after 20 years or 25 years. The Beatles broke up in seven and a half years, and we're going on 35. 5.

[Kal Penn]

Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

And now, superhuman Shaq.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

I keep telling them not to say that. I'm no superhuman. Believe it or not, I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or osa in adults with obesity. Moderate to severe OSA is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep with loud snoring, choking, gasping for air, and even daytime fatigue. Let's just say it could sound a lot like this. Sound familiar? Learn more@don'tsleeponosa.com this information is provided by.

[Ed Helms]

Lilly A Medicine company.

[Holly Frey]

Okay, are you ready for my possibly cockamamie theory?

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

The discussion, the only reason, if it stood out as any to anybody, as like, that's a weird thing to include, but the discussion of Ed Lowe's fallout with his kids.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Uh huh.

[Holly Frey]

And the way they described his behavior.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah.

[Holly Frey]

And the fact that he was kind of a crazy cat man, by which I mean with love, like the way I would call myself a crazy cat lady made me go, did he have toxoplasmosis?

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Oh, I mean, possibly.

[Holly Frey]

Right. Because for those of you that don't know if you have a cat, you know, toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Very common in cats. It's very, very common in cat feces. It's why if you're pregnant, you are suggested to not clean the litter box in your house. Because pregnant women are especially prone to contracting it, as are people with, you know, weakened immune systems. And for a lot of people, if you're of robust health and you know your immune system is fine, you won't even show symptoms. You kind of. It runs its course and you're fine. But there have been some interesting studies over the years about the way that people might behave differently.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Mm.

[Holly Frey]

There was. Was it in Wired. There was a huge article some years back, like probably a decade ago that suggested that some of the things that we consider crazy cat lady behavior, the crazy part being what they were focused on, is actually like a manifestation of toxoplasmosis, that it can make you more impulsive, mess with Your judgment in a way that would benefit the cats, because there are a lot of parasites that work that way in the natural world where the parasite will help the host animal or will help itself by making the host animal do a certain behavior. And I was like, ooh.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And my understanding of toxoplasmosis is that the source of it in the cats is really rodent, when cats are able to catch rodents. And the toxoplasmosis facilitates that by making the mice less fearful. And that makes it easier for the cats to catch them and then get the taxoplasmosis from them and then spread it in their feces.

[Holly Frey]

I think it can also come from meat and shellfish.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Okay. Lots of potential sources there.

[Holly Frey]

Right?

[Tracy V. Wilson]

So.

[Holly Frey]

Literally, like a cat food could potentially carry it if it were not cooked fully, if it were not, you know, if it were exposed to air in some way.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Right.

[Holly Frey]

There are.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Those are.

[Holly Frey]

Those are very common ways. But for a human to get it from a cat, generally speaking, you have to have contact with cat poop.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Which.

[Holly Frey]

Comes with having an animal. Anyway, I was like, did Ed Lowe have toxoplasmosis? Is that why his family was like, you're. And he's like, listen, the issue of alcohol misuse is a whole other thing. And I don't wanna in any way play down the seriousness of it, but it does make me wonder. Cause he was so adamant, like, no. Now, granted, some people that are dealing with addiction will say no. So I don't know. I don't know the personal thing, but I. It did occur to me. Anyway, here's the other thing I would like to end on. I'm going back to Alan Simon. Praise you, Alan Simon, for the invention of potty pads for pets.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Oh, yeah.

[Holly Frey]

Because I stumbled upon a part of the Internet I was not ready for the other day. There's like a Reddit, anti dog subreddit, like, people that just don't like dogs and think having dogs in your house is disgusting and gross and like, one of those. And like, whatever. I don't understand it, but whatever. Having a human in your house is disgusting and gross. Like, we all come with stuff. And there was a whole big thing about how disgusting potty pads are for dogs and the presumption that people are just putting them down and letting their animals go all over the house. And I'm like, I know you don't like dogs, but you know, that's potty training a dog. Like, there will be some whoopsie daisies or if a dog becomes elderly and they can't always control their stuff. Or if your animal, dog or cat or any other has surgery and maybe loses their level of locomotion for a little. I mean, there are so many valid reasons for it, but these people were so mad that they even existed because they felt like it promoted laziness on the part of pet people. And I'm like, right, yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

My one time that I've ever used them was when Sestina was in her last months of life and she was still pretty much making it to the litter box all the time. But she was. She would get into the litter box. She couldn't really squat anymore.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah. Arthritis will do that.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah. The urine was not going into the box anymore. And so we just put a puppy pad underneath it.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And sort of out the front to catch anything.

[Holly Frey]

Yeah, yeah. They're super handy. I mean, they have. They have. Even for non pet things. Right. If you're doing a weird craft project that has a lot of fluid, put a puppy pad under it. Cause that's a heck of a lot easier than trying to mop up a mess with a towel afterwards, like and all these things and more. Anyway, I know there were hospital pads first, but now they're so easily gettable at your local supermarket in the pet food aisle. Like. Thank you, Ellen Simon. That was great. I hope if you are training a puppy that that training is going well. I know there can be moments of exasperation, but worth it in the end. It's a puppy who doesn't like that. If you have this weekend coming up free to do whatever you wish. I hope that you fill it with things that delight you or that you don't feel it at all and you just have like super rest weekend. Which sounds amazing to me right now. As Tracy and I record this, we are getting ready to leave the country. By the time you hear this, we will be back. But right now we're both very tired from preparation, so. So it sounds great to have two days of rest. I'm hoping to rest on my flight. We will be right back here tomorrow with a classic episode and then on Monday we will have something branched.

[Ed Helms]

New.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Stuff youf Missed in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Ed Helms]

Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

People never believe me when I say I'm just like them. I take out the trash, do dishes and I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or osa. And a lot of adults with obesity also struggle with moderate to severe osa. You know those scary breathing interruptions during sleep, the loud snoring, choking and daytime fatigue. I knew I had to talk to my doctor. Don't sleep on the symptoms. Learn more at don'tsleeponosa.com this information is.

[Ed Helms]

Provided by Lilly, A Medicine company.

[Holly Frey]

Hey listeners, if you're planning on taking a family trip to Orlando this summer to be transported to magical universes, well, you should know that there's one portal you don't want to miss. Your portal to the original universe Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where they have flying dragons too. It's about science where no spells are required. Walk beneath a towering Falcon 9 booster, touch a real moon rock and come face to face with space shuttle Atlantis. Plus take the behind the Gates bus tour for an exclusive look at NASA's legendary launch sites and the future of space exploration. Visitors also have the chance to meet an astronaut, talk about a core memory in the making. And get this. Our friends at Kennedy Space center have offered our listeners $7 off admission. Just use code HISTORY7 at checkout. With missions to Mars, rocket launches and deep space exploration, no trip to Orlando is complete without landing at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Discover something.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it. Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad. They have up to 40% off select tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowes celebrates Black Friday. Early selection varies by location while supplies last.

[Kal Penn]

Hey audiobook lovers, I'm Cal Penn.

[Ed Helms]

I'm Ed Helms.

[Kal Penn]

Ed and I are inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with our new podcast, Earsay. The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

Each week we sit down with your favorite iHeart podcast hosts and some very special guests to discuss the latest and greatest audiobooks from Audible.

[Kal Penn]

Listen to hearsay on America's number one podcast network audience iHeart. Follow Irsay and start listening on the free iHeartradio app today.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This is an iHeart podcast.