In this episode Fox talks with Cat about their experience with the label DID, and why they no longer feel comfortable identifying with it.

Together they touch on the discourse surrounding the plural communities, and discuss different experiences from their own perspective.

In this episode we would like to warn for discussions of abuse, including sexual, and the effects of trauma.

We are aware that this is a controversial topic, and we hope that we have handled it with the necessary care and respect. At the end of the day we believe in inclusion, acceptance and healing for everyone, regardless of their opinion on this fraught topic.

Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

In this episode, Bat and Cat discuss Bat’s never-ending fight with the system, to get the gender confirming surgery that is necessary to her well-being and survival as a trans person.

We would like to warn for mentions of transphobia, ableism and frustrating bureaucracy.

Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

In this episode Husky and TP open up about a difficult topic for all members of our polycule – the topic of receiving help.

We talk systemic level help, the everyday help we receive from our loved ones, and we speculate on our personal histories with receiving help.

In this episode we would like to warn for mentions of suicide, child neglect, substance abuse and selfharm.

Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

En excerpt from episode 6: "What's your damage". 

CW for mentions of suicide

Music:

Strength Of The Titans by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5744-strength-of-the-titans

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode Husky and Trashpanda answer questions from our listeners, ranging from the love letters they’ve written, to the intersection of mental illness, queer identity and much more.

This is the first episode of its kind – if the format is popular, the Petting Zoo will be back with more Q&A’s at a later point!

There are no specific warnings for this episode.

Music: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

In this episode Cat gets together with their partners Fox and Bear for an introduction to their personal trauma histories, and the different ways they reacted to it. Fox talks about their experiences with DID, and how Fox and TP came to be the main alters in their system, while Bear tells the story of how they went from denial to PTSD. Meanwhile Cat speculates on how, in a way, his trauma didn’t cause his mental illness – his mental illness caused his trauma.

In this episode we discuss trauma, and while nothing is explicit, we would like to warn for mentions of suicide, hanging, self-harm, sexual assault, emotional manipulation, animal death and harm - sexual, emotional and physical abuse, murder, drowning, live burial, syringes and euthanization

Music:

Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting

by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

In this episode TP and Cat discuss what autism is, as well as their individual relations to the diagnosis. TP, who was recently diagnosed, discuss the impact on his self-understanding, and Cat touch on the similarities between schizophrenia and ASD.

There are no specific warnings for this episode.

Also, yes, it's called Autism Spectrum Disorder, not Autism Spectrum Diagnosis, Cat is just not good with words :P

Find us at welcome-to-the-petting-zoo.tumblr.com 

Music:

Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting

by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

Episode 4: Enter the System

In this episode the Cat interview Katten of compassionatereminders about her experiences with living in group homes and psych wards for the past many years.

In this episode we would like to warn for discussions of abuse of power and ableism.

Music:

Danse Macabre - Violin Hook and Disco Sting

by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.