In this episode, titled Toe Beans, we visit Beans Cat Café to explore the cozy intersection of coffee, community, and cats. We’ll start by explaining what cat cafés are, their origins, and why they’ve become such a comforting space for both humans and felines. Through interviews with the café’s staff, we’ll learn what motivates them to work there, how they connect with the cats, and whether the café partners with local adoption programs. Along the way, listeners will meet some of the café’s resident cats and hear their unique stories, accompanied by the soothing sounds of purring, playful meows, and clinking coffee cups. After our visit, a brief voice-over reflection will tie together our experiences and emotions, before wrapping up with insights from psychological research about the calming and therapeutic effects of spending time with animals. Toe Beans invites listeners to unwind and discover why spaces like Beans Cat Café have become such beloved havens for connection and comfort.

Producer/Recordist: Chrissy Dazi
Editor/Researcher: Ashley Eglit
Co-Editor/Voice/Researcher: Sophia Gonzalez