Comfort Creatures

Harry Chaskin is an incredible director, animator, and writer but don't worry that's not why he's here! Harry tells us all about his two dogs, Ziggy and Ernie, and his cat Boo! We get to hear each of their origin stories as well as the fun dynamics between the three of them. Plus, Percy is upset at Ella's busy writing schedule, worry our neighbors fear for our mental health, and Cricket and Crumb...

This week Ella and Alexis discuss the SHOCKINGLY good new Puss in Boots movie (don't worry, no spoilers!) as well as the original tale of the adventurous Puss! We also get detailed about the complicated relationship we have with litterboxes, learn a new word for a rabbit, and we have a GREAT Ready, Pet, Go from Stephanie! Tune in! Send us YOUR pet stories (Ready, Pet, Go!) at comfortcreatures@maxi...

THEY'RE HAPPY TEARS WE PROMISE. This week we have so many heartwarming foster pup stories that you absolutely shouldn't listen while driving, its an audio delight and a visual obstruction! Susie Shircliff joins us to discuss her 123* foster puppies including her keeper, Benson. So much comfort and so many creatures.  *Note: after we recorded this episode Susie got another foster so the count is no...

Rosie Talbot is the author of Sixteen Souls as well as being a big deal on booktok… but you know the drill, we comfort creatures crew just don't really care about that. We're far more interested in hearing about her sensational cat names, the badgers in her garden and magical white Narnia deer of the British countryside. If you like cottage core, ghost pets and wonderful writer women with modern D...

Happy New Year cosy comfy gang! We're off to a flying start, not least because we have a homonym happening here and you know we love wordly play. This week we chat to KAT about her CAT! Ah, yes, wordy perfection! Kat Delacorte is a YA writer, Ella's agent-sibling and cat-mum to Yoongi. She's a Venice dwelling New York Native and her debut novel With Fire In Their Blood is out now for your reading...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! This week we're discussing our pet's resolutions, our mixed feelings about New Years as a holiday, and we have a fantastic listener story about CHICKENS! We hope you have a great day no matter what you do on this strange holiday! THANK YOU for listening and making this an incredible first year for Comfort Creatures! Send us YOUR pet stories (Ready, Pet, Go!) at comfortcreatures@max...

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLE PETS and other festive things! It's Christmas Eve's eve's eve and we are talking reindeer, six white boomers and generally cramming in as many yule-yide animal related traditions and customs as is humanly possible in under 40 minutes. Tune in to hear a cosy christmas catch up, plans for pet presents and Ella and Alexis taking on the very important task of correcting the 12...

We all had a phase where we said we'd be zoologist, but our guest today ACTUALLY followed through. Jules Howard is a real life zoologist and the author of Wonderdog: The Science of Dogs and Their Unique Friendship with Humans! We chat about Jules' dog Ozzy, learn about the original Frog Hotline, and discuss the very special relationship between dogs and humans! Plus, we discuss the alternate reali...

Veterinarian, author and exotic pet expert Dr. Doug Mader joins Ella and Alexis today to share some amazing stories, ruminate on the reality of the human-animal bond and chat about his incredible new book The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital. Dr Doug really has seen it all, from Emus to Alligators and even a fancy Eel! He proves that animal care is inextric...

What do Fossas, big cats and lemurs have in common? Everything and Nothing! The answer to this riddle lies in today's episode, where Ella and Alexis do an excellent impression of scientist-type-people and deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of convergent evolution. How are critters that look so similar, actually so different? Tune in to get nerdy! Plus, a Ready Pet Go, and more! Don't for...

Happy Thanksgiving (USA) and/or happy Thursday to the rest of the world! No matter what kind of Thursday you're having we guarantee this episode will boost your mood! We've got the absolutely wonderful James Arthur M. (Former MaxFuner and Marvel Red Carpet Host) on the show! We chat about Tyson, the adorable dog of his teen years, Festive Season, and the complications of owning goldfish. Are there...

Steven Ray Morris, host of the purr-cast, the moustache behind my favourite murder and certified podcasting Big Deal, joins Ella and Alexis to chat all things Penny Lane, Okapi and Dinosaur. Tune in now to hear Ella do an impression of someone trying hard not to fan girl and to hear Alexis get real technical about long necked under water dudes. Join us on Discord: Comfort Creatures Podcast Send us...

If you're searching for something cozy to listen to, this is a great week for you! Katelyn Hempstead (The Monster Line) joins us this week and we learn about her Opera-singer-named childhood cats, her experience cat fostering, and her hopes for a cat of her own someday. Plus, a very adorable "What pet would you be?" discussion, bird aunts, and teen angst! Join our NEW Discord Server: Comfort Creat...

This week we're back in our fantasy bag and deep diving into daemons with publishing publicist and podcast host Hannah Love! She is 1/4 of the Down The Rabbit Hole podcast and is probably the reason you've heard of Ella's novel. We discuss her cat Pekkala, Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials and all the hilarious ways in which cats let you know that they're very unimpressed with you.  Send us YOU...

Listeners, it happened. After much anticipation, Ella and Alexis met in real life! In this episode we discuss our respective trips and the creatures we saw on them, from mule mating practices to the mystical nature of the urban fox. We also have an excellent Ready Pet Go from Kyleigh about her many, many splendid pets! Send us YOUR pet stories (Ready, Pet, Go!) at comfortcreatures@maximumfun.org a...

If you're looking for fun animal facts and great pet stories, this episode is JAM PACKED! We are joined by Ellen Weatherfod (Just the Zoo of Us) where we get to learn about her old beagle Puppy and her cat Ackee. Plus, we also chat about being a pet-less animal loving child, the incredible animals in Florida, and learn about some FASCINATING birds! Get cozy and tune in! Send us YOUR pet stories (R...

What do Jimi Hendrix, the production of The African Queen (1951) and Simpson's Nursery in east Pasadena have in common? Find out in this weeks episode as Alexis and Ella talk birds! Out of place exotics, birds with mythic status and even birds we're (Ella) not so fond of. So fly on over, settle in your nest or take up a roost if you're so ornithologically inclined! Send us YOUR pet stories (Ready,...

Vic is an improv genius so it's truly no surprise that this week's episode uncovers some of our most unprecedented chats yet. We deep dive with some mollusks- both land and marine- talk trouble dogs and teen angst and discussing unique naming conventions. You're in for a treat! Don't forget to send us your Ready Pet Gos as well as listener suggestions, topic suggestions and generally any thoughts...

This week, Alexis and Ella are joined by writer and performer Courtney Ceanne Buchner. She is Cat Mum (Mom, blah bah blah) to Bailey, a fountain of fun South Africa stories (wild rhino chase anyone?) and one of Ella's best friends. We get sentimental in this one and take a moment to really appreciate the ways in which our pets aid and affect our mental health. Its a proper emotional support animal...

Today Ella and Alexis are joined by Vanessa Zoltan, the host of glorious podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, The Real Question and Hot & Bothered. She is also the CEO/Founder of Not Sorry productions and the dog Mum (Mom, whatever, we're transatlantic) to Rory Hermione Gilmore Zoltan. She talks socialite dogs, blended families and german pets! Ella fan girls (big surprise) and Alexis has a...

Welcome back to Comfort Creatures- and this week we have three of the most comforting creatures in... the world? The galaxy? The known universe? Seals! A fluffy pitbull! And RENEE COLVERT! AKA: THE BIG COMFORTING THREE! The former CIPYD host (who is now a very important adult business lady) is basically the godmother of perfect pet podcasting and boy does she deliver. Plus, Alexis talks Crumboat,...

This week we're giving you bread and butter, salt and pepper, ice cream and jelly (is that just a Brit thing?). A classic pairing indeed, it's an Alexis and Ella episode. We have some strong opinions on animals in movies, animated creatures and the internal logic of Stuart Little. Alexis also dons her professors cap and gives an animal art history lesson. It's a very rainy English day as I (Ella)...

Well here we are again, as promised, back with part 2 of our chat with Hannah and Marcelle. Early on in the Comfort Creatures process we carried out a very scientific, international study of two women under 40 and realized that people who love their pets are 100 times more likely to be fantasy nerds who want to talk about fictional, fantastical animals too. The results were so conclusive that we s...

We have never been funnier than we are in this episode and so dear, darling listeners, we present to you- part one of two. A two parter after just two episodes I hear you say? Well we are nothing if not bold, daring, podcasting geniuses. And we promise it is entirely necessary as we are joined this week, and next, by the wonderful hosts of Witch, Please, Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman. In thi...

Sofie Hagen has been a comic favourite for years. From their time as host of The Guilty Feminist to their amazing work as part of the Fat Liberation movement and their hysterical show Generation boy Band, they are a force for light and laughter in our world. Naturally we don't fancy chatting about any of that, or their book Happy Fat, and instead focus entirely on the love and loyalty of their pre...