Welcome to the first episode of 2026 and to the beatiful month of January which offers us a unique opportunity to reset - gently, and delightfully.

There is no reason to rush anywhere or to set any goals just yet, it’s time to rest, dream and notice the wonders of winter.

And also… to look at life through the eyes of an alien cat with Carlie Sorosiak and her heartwarming book Leonard: My Life as a Cat. Though aimed at children, it is better than any self-help book you will ever read, and perfect to start your year with.

We also discuss Carlie’s love for both writing and animals, her work as a volunteer at a cat shelter, how animals inspire her and some fun facts about cats you may not have known.

All that is waiting for you inside the Cat Coach Café today, along with some New Year’s wisdom from your Cat Coach Apricot.

I do apologize for my voice in this one as I've been fighting the flu since the end of the year, and so far, it seems to be winning! But I didn’t want to postpone the release of the episode as I felt that January needs that extra inspiration asap :)

This episode includes:

January self-care tips, including the science behind fairy lights and why they make us happy!

New Year’s Wisdom from your Cat Coach Apricot

Interview with author Carlie Sorosiak

Carlie Sorosiak links:

Buy My Life as a Cat on Amazon UK

Buy A World of Cats on Amazon UK

All other Carlie’s Books on Amazon UK

Carlie Sorosiak Official Website

Carlie’s Instagram

Other Links:

Cat Coach Diaries - New Year, Same You

Spotify Playlists

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist

Winter Evenings Magic Playlist

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

Welcome to the Christmas Special of the Cat Coach Café! Where we gather with friends old and new, joined by your Cat Coaches, to share on the Christmas spirit and talk all things Christmas!

CJ Fentiman, the author of The Cat with Three Passports and the The Zen of Cat, joins us to tell us all about Christmas in Japan, and her Christmas favorites, as will returning authors Alex Howard, Fiona Ferris, Lili Hayward, and the Yogi Witch, Bethany Ellison. We will also be joined by our upcoming guests, Carlie Sorosiak, author of My Life as a Cat, and Emma Howarth, author of A Year of Mystical Thinking. And I also invited the creator of the Cat Coach Café Podcast theme, my best friend and film composer, Ros Gilman to share his favorite Christmas things too.

We’ll talk about the Winter Solstice, too, the one Christmas sweet that cannot be missing on any Christmas table in the Czech Republic - Vánočka, listen to some festive excerpts from books Alfie In the Snow by Rachel Wells, and Toby Jug by Denis O’Connor.

And the Cat Coaches will tell you all about their Christmas favorites and include some well wishes for the new year, as will everyone else.

So lots of goodness in store for you, and lots of festive cheer. Are you ready?

Other links

Cat Coach Diaries

Spotify Playlists

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist

Winter Evenings Magic

Peaceful Christmas Instrumentals

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

It’s time to prepare for Christmas! But also - to enjoy the time that leads up to it. In this episode we talk to Fiona Ferris, author of the lifestyle series of books about living a “chic” life, and an expert in simplifying things and brining joy to our everyday.

Fiona shares many practical tips for stress-free December and Christmas, how Kiwis celebrate Christmas in sunny New Zealand, her favorite Christmas things and so much more! We dive into her self-publishing journey too, her love for cats and finally get inspired to create our “inspiration files” and live in tune with our inner child.

We’ll talk all about the dark magic of December and the many protective rituals and traditions connected with the season, including some divination magic. I’ll tell you all about the origins of Czech Christmas cookies and of course, your Cat Coach Aragorn will share his own December wisdom.

This episode includes:

Important December days: Catherine’s Day, Andrew’s Day, Barbara’s Day, Lucia’s Day, Nicholas’ Day

Weather Lore for Barbara’s Day (December 4)

Interview with author Fiona Ferris

December wisdom from your Cat Coach Aragorn

Journaling tips for December - including a letter challenge and writing a letter to Santa

Fiona Ferris links:

Fiona Ferris Website: How to Be Chic

Fiona Ferris Substack

Buy Fiona’s books on Amazon UK

Fiona Ferris on Instagram

Other Links:

Cat Coach Diaries

FREE Printable Christmas Planner - THE ONE CHristmas Planner

My Printable Christmas Chronicle

Cat Coach Café Season 1 December Episodes:

* S01E04 Hopeful December & Planting Seeds of Magic with Sheri Fink

* S01E05 Pre-Christmas Self-Care & Inside Rachel Rowlands’ Catpurrcino

Czech the Recipe

Spotify Playlists

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist

Winter Evenings Magic

Peaceful Christmas Instrumentals

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

In this episode we talk all about honoring our ancestors, the magic of the Celtic New Year and the thinning veil between our worlds and how we can use it for our self-growth. We embrace November’s feasting as well as the energy of rest and slowly start preparing for Christmas.

With our guest, Lili Hayward, author of A Midwiner’s Tail and The Cat of Yule Cottage (also known as the best-selling writer of historical fiction Laura Madeleine) we delve into the magic of Cornwall, its folk tales, why cats are inseperable part of them, a sense of belonging to a place…. and so much more.

So, sit down and relax, we’re about to start!

This episode includes:

Halloween

All Saints Day

All Souls Day

St Martin’s Day

Czech weather lore for November

Interview with author Lili Hayward

November wisdom from your Cat Coach Aragorn

Tips for embracing November’s energy of rest

Christmas planning

Lili Hayward’s Books:

The Cat of Yule Cottage

A Midwinter’s Tail

Historical fiction under Laura Madeleine

The Anthology Lili mentions - Of Enchantment, Enigma, and the Infinite

Other Links:

Cat Coach Diaries

Cat Coach Café Season 1 November episodes:

* Story-telling November & Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah (includes St Martin’s Day)

* Christmas Preparations & the Story of Elderly Lola

Czech the Recipe - Martin’s Mini-Rolls Recipe

Spotify Playlists

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist

Winter Evenings Magic

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

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Welcome back to the Cat Coach Café - and to the Season of the Witch!

We have entered a magical season that invites us to connect to our inner wisdom, and our magic within.

In today’s episode we will explore the autumn energies, the theme of letting go, invite in some magic, talk all things witchcraft and debunk some myths surrounding it, and of course talk about cats!

Your Cat Coach Princ will share some October wisdom, and I will also offer some book tips and films tips for cosy October.

In this episode we welcome a very special guest, Bethany Ellison, also known as the Yogi Witch, who will inspire you to explore your own magical practice and the witch within. She explains all about who a witch really is, both from historical and nowadays perspective, why witchcraft and yoga compliment each other so beautifully and why cats are forever connected with the witches. We will also touch upon the fascinating topic of how old fairytales influence our lives, and talk about the magical lands of Wales.

So, sit down and relax, we’re about to start!

This episode includes:

October magical rituals & self-care tips

Journaling prompts on the theme of letting go

Interview with Bethany Ellison, the Yogi Witch

October wisdom from your Cat Coach Princ

Cosy book tips & film tips

The Yogi Witch Links:

The Wake the Witch Program

The Yogi Witch YouTube Channel

Instagram

The books Bethany recommends:

Witch by Lisa Lister

IntuWitchin by Mia Magik

The Little Book of Spells by Astrid Carvel

Other Links:

Cat Coach Diaries

Pawsitive Mind Club - October Journaling Session

A Letter to Robert Redford (+ Film Club Announcement)

Cat Coach Café Halloween Episode (2024) with the Cat Coaches’ Origin Story

The Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch

You've Got Mail - movie tip

Spotify Playlists

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist

October Instrumentals Playlist

Autumn Mornings Instrumentals

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

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Welcome back to the Cat Coach Café - we are official open for season 2!

With all your favorite bits - seasonal tune-ins, Czech folk traditions, cosy conversations featuring cats, Cat Coach Diaries and the drink meditation to start with. Yes, it’s time to slow down once more, and from now on, we’ll do so every four weeks together, all year round.

Today we welcome a very special guest, Alex Howard, the author of the Library Cat and the Ghost Cat, who might just make you want to jump on a plane to Edinburgh, but definitely to grab one of his books if you haven’t read them yet.

So, sit down and relax, we’re about to start!

This episode includes:

September journaling prompts

Interview with Alex HowardCat Coach Diaries: Making Life Less Complicated

September feasts and celebrations in Czech folk tradition

Tips for filling up our pantries for winter!

Alex Howard Links:

Buy the Library Cat

Buy the Ghost Cat

Alex Howard Official Website

Instagram

TikTok

Other Links:

Krtek - the cartoon Alex mentions

Pawsitive Mind Club - September Journaling Session

More about the Pawsitive Mind Club

Cat Coach Diaries - Making Life Less Complicated

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist on Spotify

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

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In our last episode of Season 1, we’ll tune to the powerful spring energies and we will take some bold actions towards our dreams. This is the time to make a plan for the year ahead and start acting upon it. As our energies turn from the inward to outward, we are called to create and show up in the world.

We will also talk about all of Donna Bradley-Brown’s 30+ rescued animals, including cats, dogs, hens and a pig, as well as her horse Sia, the inspiration behind her Substack Life Is Beautiful, her writing and what it takes to become a veterinary nurse.

As our last episode of season 1, this one is once more a little longer, but it is a treat and I hope you will enjoy it, cozied up with your cat(s) by your side!

JOIN THE DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP HERE! - offer valid until March 24, 2025click the link for more details for your exclusive bonuses!

This episode’s topics:Spring Equinox goal setting & year planning

Journaling prompts

Interview with writer, poet, veterinary nurse & animal lover Donna Bradley-BrownCat Coach Diaries: Catfidently You by Cat Coach Aragorn

Finding balance

Easter origins

Links:Cat Coach Diaries Membership at the discounted price until March 24th!

Donna Bradley-Brown’s Substack: Life Is Beautiful

Cat Coach Diaries - Catfidently You

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist on Spotify

Spring Mornings Instrumentals Playlist on Spotify

Czech the Recipe Donna Bradley-Brown photo credit: Carolin Ixyz

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

Today’s episode is a treat! Together with our today’s guest author CJ Fentiman, we immerse ourselves in Japanese culture, slow down, find our ikigai, learn all about ichigo ichie AND the many ways cats are celebrated and roothed in Japanese tradition.

Apart from that, we’ll tune in to the season and slowly start preparing for the arrival of spring, welcoming in any necessary endings, so we can begin again. We will declutter our minds as well as our spaces, forgive, pray and embrace Lent in a whole new way - whether you are religious or not.

And finally, your Cat Coach Princ will share step by step guide to facing our fears.

This episode’s topics:

Easing ourselves into spring

Interview with author CJ Fentiman (Carla Francis)Cat Coach Diaries: A Guide to Facing Your Fears

Ash Wednesday & Fasting Season (Lent): time to declutter and fogive

Links:

The Cat with Three Passports by CJ Fentiman

The Zen of Cat by Carla Francis (CJ Fentiman)

Dr David Hamilton - Official Website

Cat Coach Diaries - A Guide to Facing Your Fears

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist on Spotify

Spring Mornings Instrumentals Playlist on Spotify

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

Subscribe to not miss any new episodes!

Today’s episode is inspired by love!

It’s time to create the conditions for the new seeds to grow and that’s why the second half of February is dedicated to self-love, so we too can grow once spring arrives.

We also talk about new ways to approach Valentine’s Day no matter your relationship status and welcome our special guest, Dr David Hamilton. Together we discuss all the incredible health benefits of kindness, what is ‘kindfulness’ and why mindfulness may not be enough, and how nature rewards us for being kind. We will also talk about the incredible bond between animals and humans and the two naughty cats David grew up with!

And of course, your Cat Coach Aragorn shares some of his wisdom on how to show love every day.

This episode includes:

February self-love tips

Cat Coach Diaries: How to Show Love Every Day

Valentine’s Day - origins, and tips to celebrate in a meaningful way

Interview with Dr David Hamilton

St Matthew’s Day & St Matthew’s Doughnuts

‘Tell a Fairy Tale Day’ inspired activities

Links:

The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck by Dr David Hamilton

I Heart Me by Dr David Hamilton

Dr David Hamilton - Official Website

Cat Coach Diaries

Czech the Recipe: Traditional Czech Doughnuts

The Official Cat Coach Café Playlist on Spotify

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com

Subscribe now to not miss any episodes of Cat Coach Café!

February is a time for envisioning, gaining clarity and planting those seeds of a successful year ahead - so we can begin the necessary growth as we come out of our hibernation in spring.

Leave your fears behind and get inspired by a cat who went from an extremely anxious cat living in a basemenet to a true adventurer who visited over 13 countries! Helen Vincent is here this week to share the transformative story of her cat Bao Zi which will inspire you too step out of your comfort zone this year. Because is she can, you can too!

This episode includes:

February Journaling prompts & wellbeing tips

Interview with Helen Vincent of @ bestadventurecat on Instagram

Cat Coach Diaries: Your Already Are All You Want to Be

Hromnice / Imbolc / Candlemass traditions

Surprising tea ritual!

More about Bao Zi and Helene Vincent:

https://www.instagram.com/bestadventurecat/

FREE Adventure Cat Training resources

February journaling prompts:

What have you learned this past season? About yourself or the season as such?

What would you like to leave behind in winter? And what would you like to see grow in spring?

What lights you up?

What dreams are you ready to dust off and finally make reality?

How can you be your most authentic self as you prepare to step out of your hibernation?

What makes you you?

Other links:

catcoachdiaries.substack.com

instagram.com/monieforrs

instagram.com/catcoachdiaries

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monieforrs.substack.com