Hear me out: cats, witches, and women have been tangled together for as long as we all remember, and it’s not random, cute, or harmless. I thought I’d jump into the conversation mix!

In this episode, we unpack why societies obsessed with control have consistently demonised the same things: feminine autonomy, non-obedience, and power that exists outside patriarchal usefulness. From witch hunts, to 2020 crystal culture, “crazy cat lady” jokes to midwives turned criminals and more, we trace a through-line that reveals how fear gets disguised as preference.

We talk about why independence is treated like a threat, why femininity is only celebrated when it’s useful, and why aging, sexually autonomous women become cultural villains instead of respected elders. Along the way, we look at how female knowledge gets reframed as superstition, how loneliness is weaponised as a warning, and how demonisation softens into jokes that keep misogyny socially acceptable.

Because cats, witches, and the women associated with them weren’t feared for being harmful, they were feared because they couldn’t be owned.

Content Disclaimer:

This episode includes discussions of misogyny, abuse, ownership, control, and historical violence against women which may be triggering. It also contains SPOILERS through references to various TV shows, films, books, and folklore used as cultural examples throughout the conversation.

Listener discretion advised, and encouraged. 🐈‍⬛🕯️