Tails and Tassels
Hello, kitty cats! Welcome to Tails and Tassels. I’m your host, Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare, and by night, I host the Catbaret!, New York City's cat-themed variety show. On this podcast, you’ll dive into the world of burlesque and nightlife performers—their craft, their cats, and how these two worlds collide. You’ll also get bonus episodes featuring feline experts answering your most curious, cat-centric questions. New episodes drop every Thursday. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, and review—and come join our cozy com-mew-nity on Instagram. Thanks for listening! I’m paws-itively delighted you’re here. Get in Touch: Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod, @gemmasmithnyc Email us at TailsandTasselsPod@gmail.com Leave a comment below
Episodes
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
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Krista is the host of My Cat Calling, a podcast dedicated to celebrating cat people and their relationships with their cats — inspired by her own beloved cat, Prints Gary.
This episode is also the Season 2 ...
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
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Burlesque performer, producer, podcaster, and founder of the Silver Tusk Awards, Viktor Devonne joins me for a thoughtful conversation about his creative life in burlesque.
With over two decades as an artist and ...
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
Connect with Weruva
- Instagram: @weruva
- Website: weruva.com
Weruva + Episode Resources
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
Filmmaker and journalist Megan Liz Smith joins me to talk about her short documentary Cat Lady, a moving portrait of an independent rescuer in South Florida.
We discuss the emotional and physical labor of caring ...
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
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🎭 Connect with Fem on Instagram: @theladyappeal
🔗 Resources & Mentions
- See Fem in action 2/6 - Johnny Caligula’s Twin Peaks–themed birthday burlesque show featuring Fem Appeal
- Kitty Nights &nd...
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
🔗 Resources & Mentions
- Whirly Burly Brunch – Aubvious's monthly burlesque brunch at The Whirling Tiger
- The Bizarre Bazaar– Louisville-based burlesque and variety production company
- &...
Looking for a cat-themed event? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
In this New Year solo episode of Tails & Tassels, I’m reflecting on five lessons my cats, Lion-o and Luna, taught me in 2025 – and how I’m carrying those lessons into the year ahead.
Inste...
Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music & burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
Marketing your creative work doesn’t have to mean burning out, posting every day, or trying to “beat” the algorithm.
In this episode of Tails & Tassels, Gemma Smith chats with Har...
The Holiday Gift Guide Episode Is Here!
This week, I’m sharing my newly refreshed Holiday Gift Guide for Creatives and Their Cats — a curated list of tools, treats, small creators, and enrichment toys I actually use and love.
👉 Explore the full guide (with photos!) on the blog here.
Resources & Links (mentioned in the episode)
- Felis Lux Prey Wand Toy – Beautiful, sturdy wand toy Lion-o and Luna absolute...
Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Sterling “TrapKing” Davis – a rapper turned community cat advocate and founder of TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions. Sterling shares h...
Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Fortune Cookie—a NYC burlesque performer, acrobat and producer of Books & Burlesque, the literary-meets-burly show celebrating underrepresented ...
Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Luna Lovelee—a Long Beach–based burlesque performer, costumer, and producer of Show Me Your Kitties Cabaret.
Luna shares how rescuing a kitten ...
Looking for something fun and cat-themed? 🐱🎭
Catbaret is NYC’s cat-themed variety show featuring comedy, music, and burlesque – with in-person and virtual shows throughout the year.
Learn more at CatbaretShow.com
--
Welcome back to Tails and Tassels! We’re kicking off Season 2 with a solo episode all about balancing your day job with the art that fuels your soul.
If you’ve ever felt torn between paying the ...
Hi Kitty Cats! We're back this fall. This is the podcast where you pounce into the lives or burlesque and nightlife performers - their craft, their cats, and how these two worlds intertwine.
In Season 2, you’ll hear:
- Guest interviews with performers and feline experts
- Solo episodes with creative tips and behind-the-scenes reflections
- A bigger, bolder focus on building our com-mew-nity of cat-loving creatives
Season 2 prem...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
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Hello, hello, kitty cats! It’s the season one finale of Tails and Tassels! 🎉 Thank you for joining me on this journey since our debut in October. In this episode, I’m answering listener questions a...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
--
In this week's episode, Gemma sits down with El Jong—a multi-talented photographer, videographer, and YouTube content creator who’s mastered the art of turning passion into a full-blown creative hus...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
--
🐾 We’re nearing the end of Season 1! This solo episode is an unscripted chat about life, creativity, and what’s next. I’m reflecting on hitting 20 episodes, the behind-the-scenes work of runn...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
--
In this week's episode, Gemma sits down with Rogue, a magician, mentalist, and longtime animal lover. You might recognize him from America’s Got Talent or his jaw-dropping performances on the magic circui...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
--
In this solo episode, I’m sharing an inside look at the most recent Catbaret!, my NYC-based cat-themed variety show! From behind-the-scenes moments to my personal reflections on the last show, you&rsq...
Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!
--
In this week’s Tails and Tassels, Gemma sits down with the multi-talented Neysa Lozano, an actor, avant-garde theater artist, tarot reader, and storyteller. Neysa shares how her love for performance and m...
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