Strangers With Kittens: Gen X Stories from the Least Parented Generation.
Welcome to Strangers With Kittens, the ultimate Gen X comedy podcast celebrating the least parented generation in history. We might have been labeled the "slacker" generation, but we somehow raised ourselves, parented our kids, and are taking care of our aging parents. Â Hosted by Eileen Kelly, this Society & Culture show brings you unfiltered comedy interviews and raw storytelling. We dive deep into childhood trauma, midlife crisis moments, relational struggles, and the dark humor required to survive the 70s, 80s, 90s and modern adulthood. Laugh through the breakdowns, toxic family dynamics, and chaotic memories. It's time to finally give credit where c...
You In Danger Girl - Women & Monsters with Sandra Rose Salathe
In this Halloween bonus episode of Strangers with Kittens, host Eileen Kelly talks with Sandra Rose Salathe, journalist and host of the podcast Matriarchs of Horror. They look at why horror so often reflects women's real lives. Sandra explains how the genre deals with bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, motherhood and not being believed. That includes the gaslighting of Rosemary by her husband Guy Woodhouse in Rosemary's Baby. They also cover Carrie, Alien, The Exorcist, Jennifer's Body and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. Along the way they discuss the "monstrous woman" trope, how horror treats single mothers, and why...
Feminine Rage: The 100% Real Horrors Women Live Everyday
Eileen is back, and fuming doesn't even begin to skim the surface. This week you waited an extra week for a Gen X fix, and this time it packs a punch. Eileen is joined by returning guest Audra Socinski, Licensed Therapist, Mom, and Elder Millennial, to talk about the collective female experience. Confronting the horrors concerning the Cornell Case and the many cases that have come to light recently. Women hear time and time again that it is "NOT ALL MEN"... and we know that to be true; but why is it that every woman has a story to sh...
Getting Haunted With Emily Winter: Ghost Stories Worth The Goosebumps
In this episode, Eileen Kelly and Emily Winter swap some ghost stories and share a little practical magic with pendulums and energy work. This paranormal episode lifts the veil dividing this realm and the next, although this realm is not without its horrors. Find out if modern culture has killed joy or if society as a whole is scarier than the things that go bump in the night.Â
More About Our Guest:Â
"Emily Winter is a former journalist turned comedian, TV writer, live show producer, and author. Before pursuing comedy writing, she co...
80s Slang & Retro Pop Culture: Words Gen X Refuses To Give Up Part 2
Eileen ruminates on her most recent slang episode. As it turns out, she’s more embedded in slang than she originally realized. She shares new thoughts about how slang continues to evolve over generations, noting how words have different meanings based on our experiences.Â
Eileen shares her shock about how much slang is still frequently used in her everyday conversations. Remember **“heinous,”** which has less to do with crimes these days and more to do with bad haircuts? Or what about **banger**? Which once referred to headbanging music but now simply signifies a great song.
When every...
Gen X Style Overhaul: How to Shop Your Own Closet with Alix Robinson
Staring at a wardrobe full of clothes but feel like you have absolutely nothing to wear?
This week on Strangers With Kittens, we are diving deep into Gen X fashion and closet organization. Eileen is joined by Alix from The Unruly Closet Co and @outfits.with.alix to bring you realistic, accessible wardrobe styling fixes for the pieces stuck in your closet.
Learn how to take your outfits to the next level, elevate your personal style, and feel entirely authentic doing it. We know fast...
Gen X Childhood, Religious Trauma & Healing Through Travel with Heidi K. Brown
Remember 70s and 80s beach trips? It was all zero sunscreen, looking out for Jaws, and getting sun poisoning so bad you and your siblings would take turns peeling each other's skin off. But for author Heidi K. Brown, the beach meant working—specifically, pounding the hot sand to recruit kids for her parents' strict Vacation Bible School. Bitchin' summer? NOT!Â
In this episode of Strangers With Kittens, Eileen sits down with Heidi K. Brown to discuss her powerful new travel memoir, THE MAP I DRAW. They dive deep into growing up in a <...
80s Slang & Retro Pop Culture: Words Gen X Refuses to Give Up
Is your vocabulary still stuck in the 1980s? This week on Strangers With Kittens, we are diving into the world of Gen X slang and proving exactly why our generation refuses to lose its cool.
Eileen breaks down the legendary 80s slang and 90s phrases that still slip off our tongues today. We look at the words we didn't start but adopted, the catchphrases we can't believe anyone actually uttered in public, and the cinematic trends that shaped how we spoke. Did real teenagers actually say these things, or was it...
Rock Your Look! From Melting Eyeliner to Midlife Beauty: Aging Powerfully with Michelle Spieler
For girls growing up in the 70s and 80s, retro skincare meant exfoliating with harsh apricot scrubs until you bled and washing your face with generic bar soap. And 80s makeup? It was bold, expressive, and completely chaotic. We applied eyeshadow with tiny foam Q-tips, used our fingers, and literally melted eyeliner pencils with a Bic lighter to get that smooth application. There was no setting spray, but man, was it fun.
In this episode of Strangers With Kittens, host Eileen sits down with Michele Spieler, a professional makeup artist with...
Overcoming Midlife Burnout, Ageism, and AI: A Gen X Guide to Reinvention
Remember the electricity of childhood when the world could still surprise you? When you snuck out after dark, read the jokes on popsicle sticks, and didn't look at the future through a lens of fear or cynicism?
These days, after decades of navigating love, heartbreak, divorce, and career setbacks, it feels like nothing surprises us anymore. Is Gen X just stuck in a rut, or are we finally resting?
In this week's episode of Strangers With Kittens, we confront the realities of midlife burnout and the unique pressures of the sandwich generation<...
70s, 80s & 90s Feminist TV History: Iconic Women of Television with Cynthia Bemis-Abrams
Don't touch that clicker! Keep your dial tuned right here for a special nostalgic episode of Strangers With Kittens.
This week Eileen is joined by special guest Cynthia Bemis-Abrams, the creator and host of the Advanced TV Herstory podcast. Together, they are diving deep into classic television history and exploring the evolution of feminism through the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Revisit the cultural milestones we all watched together on the living room rug—shows that captured a moment in time and the groundbreaking women who kept us hooked. From sitcom ic...
Feral 80s Pets vs. Modern Fur Babies: The Gen X Pet Evolution
Back in the 70s and 80s, Gen X pets were just as feral as the latchkey kids. They roamed the neighborhood streets, marked their territory, and didn't hesitate to scratch or bite if you got too close. There were no puppuccinos, no "gotcha days," no fancy groomers, and they definitely weren't allowed on the bed.
But thankfully, times have changed and our relationships with our animals have evolved.
In this episode of Strangers With Kittens, Eileen reflects on the hilarious and stark differences between 80s pet culture and how we love...
Toxic Gen X Bullshit - Unpacking Latchkey Trauma & the Coping Habits We Wear as a Badge of Honor with Kira Sabin
We’ve all seen the memes celebrating how "tough" our generation is—but how much of that is actually just unhealed generational trauma?
This week on Strangers With Kittens, host Eileen meets a real-life stranger from the internet: the incredible Kira Sabin. Together, they connect, cackle, and dive deep into the Toxic Gen X Bullshit that many of us collectively wear as a badge of honor.
From our obsession with toxic comfort television and the survival tactics of a latchkey childhood, to navigating the absolute chaos of pe...
Mixtapes, Arcades & 80s Sunburns: A Gen X Summer Portal
Picture this: It's an 80s summer. You have sunshine for days, a bike, and a neighborhood ripe with opportunities. Your days are filled with movies at the drive-in, hours at the video arcade, a custom 80s mixtape pumping through the cassette player, and ice cream for a dollar. Could you do it all over again?
In this episode of Strangers With Kittens, Eileen uses the summer as a portal to travel back to the past. She dives into the ultimate 1980s childhood nostalgia to remind us to be greedy with our...
Little Episode Big Personality
This week, Strangers With Kittens is celebrating National Gen X Day with a minisode. An episode that combines some of our favorite moments on the show.Â
Revisit clips with guests: Chris Shahnahian, Vijai Nathan, Cynthia Levin, and Becky Veduccio.Â
Strangers With Kittens returns to their regular scheduled programming next week!Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.Â
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Dark Humor, Vulnerability & Healing Gen X Trauma with Becky Veduccio
Why are the things we are most afraid to say out loud often the exact stories that need to be heard?
This week on Strangers With Kittens, special guest Becky Veduccio joins host Eileen Kelly. These two instantly reconnect through invisible threads, shared memories, and a healthy dose of dark humor.
In this deeply candid episode, Eileen and Becky pull out the dark, embarrassing, and traumatic parts of life that we usually hide away. Together, they explore how sharing our vulnerabilities helps us find ourselves, heal from past wounds...
Suddenly Single: Dating At 50 with Kristi Belcamino
Relationships are complicated. If you are a woman who currently finds herself stuck in a toxic relationship or a loveless marriage, this episode is a warm embrace just for you.
This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen is joined by guest Kristi Belcamino to talk about the terrifying but exhilarating reality of dating over 50. Kristi opens up about her personal journey, detailing how she found unexpected peace, happiness, and ultimate freedom as a single woman thriving in her 50s.
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Today, she has become a safe space and a...
Boston '76: Toxic Parenting and The Gen X Family Vacation That Never Was
What happens when you grow up in a world where you have to figure out everything for yourself?
This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen looks back at a poignant moment between the latchkey generation and younger generations. She reflects on the universal truth that we are all just trying to navigate life for the first time—a compassionate lens that was rarely extended to Gen X children.
Unpacking the reality of growing up with detached parents, Eileen digs into a childhood littered with emotional manipulation, insecurity, and ch...
Crystal Pepsi, Weight Loss Culture & Minding Your Own Business
We are ushering in the summer season just a little bit early with a fast-paced Strangers With Kittens minisode!
This week, Eileen takes a trip down memory lane to recall some of the most obscure, long-forgotten 80s products (The AYDS Diet Plan, anyone? Anyone? Bueller?). Were they actually too legit or just full of formaldehyde?
Plus, we tackle the modern world and the major side-eye thrown at GLP-1 medication trends and weight loss culture. Finally, don't miss an essential Gen X Spotify hack designed specifically for anyone who's sick...
Badass Single Moms, Cereal-Eating Strangers & 9/11 with Emmy Winner Taigi Smith
When you think San Francisco in the 70s and 80s you think the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, the AIDS crisis, rampant drug use, a thriving music and counterculture scene, and profound social challenges. Now imagine navigating this scene as a kid and throw in an earthquake.
This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen is joined by Emmy award-winning television producer Taigi Smith to explore the three C's of the latchkey generation: Creativity, Community, and Chaos. Taigi opens up about her unique Gen X childhood, sharing what it was like being raised by a <...
Hey Mama, You're Doing Great
Motherhood is hard, and if you are struggling to "enjoy every moment," you are not alone. In this special Mother's Day parenting episode, Eileen sits down with psychotherapist and mom Audra Socinski to have an honest conversation about motherhood—including the exhausting moments that nearly knock you out.
Forget the traditional cards and macaroni necklaces. Today, we are sharing real parenting advice, validating the struggles of raising kids, and giving you the compliments you actually deserve. This one is for every mom who needs to hea...
Hey Gen Z! Navigating a Brutal Job Market? Been There. xo, Gen X
Are you looking at the news headlines and wondering what year it is? This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen dives into the striking similarities between Gen Z and Gen X in the workplace.
Inspired by her daughter's upcoming college graduation, Eileen looks at the harsh realities of entering the workforce today. When Gen X first entered the job market, things were bleak—and for Gen Z entering adulthood, it feels like history is repeating itself. Tune in for your weekly dose of Gen X cynicism, co...
Boys Don't Cry (And That's A Problem)
Why are we still telling young boys to toughen up? This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen sits down with Kimmi Berlin, founder of the non-profit organization BuildUpBoys, for an honest conversation about parenting boys and eschewing outdated gender roles.
Gen X moms Eileen and Kimmi challenge society's toxic cultural norms regarding masculinity. Boys aren't inherently bad—it isn't in their biology. Discover practical parenting advice on how to nurture a boy's emotional intelligence, teach them how to communicate feelings, and raise empathetic sons. Boys ar...
Overwhelmed Autism Parenting & Self-Care with Dr. Theresa Lyons
Feeling completely overwhelmed by an autism diagnosis? This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen sits down with Yale-educated scientist, medical strategist, and autism parent Dr. Theresa Lyons PhD, founder of Awetism.net.
Eileen and Dr. Lyons dive deep into the raw, unspoken realities of autism parenting and special needs advocacy. This episode isn’t just about the kids—it’s about how parents can navigate the complex medical system, advocate fiercely, and prioritize parent self-care before hitting absolute burnout. Discover how to tackle information overload and manage the un...
Toxic Sibling Relationships: Bad Blood or Bad Parenting?
Did you grow up in a household where you had to fend for yourself? This week on Strangers With Kittens, host Eileen Kelly dredges up the hidden stories behind childhood trauma, sibling scars, and intense family drama. Look back at what it was really like growing up Gen X—a generation often described as "feral" where kids were left raising other kids. From brutal sibling rivalry and backyard brawls to navigating dysfunctional family dynamics without adult supervision, Eileen shares hilarious, dark, and honest stories of survival. Whether it's a knockout brawl wi...
Breaking Generational Trauma & Setting Healthy Boundaries with Katrina Oliver
As Gen Xers, many of us grew up with the phrase "suck it up." But as adults, we are finally learning that protecting our peace is essential.
This week on Strangers With Kittens, we are exploring how to build healthy boundaries without shutting the world out. Host Eileen is joined by licensed therapist Katrina Oliver to share actionable, effective strategies for setting boundaries in midlife.
Katrina shares her expertise on how to recognize and resist generational trauma (or trickle-down trauma) passed down from our childhoods. Learn how to navigate...
Surviving Action Park & Jungle Habitat: 1970s New Jersey Nostalgia
Yearning for the blissful days of youth? This week on Strangers With Kittens, host Eileen Kelly dives into the wild, terrifying, and 100% real reality of surviving summer and spring break in 1970s New Jersey.
We are looking back at the infamous Action Park history—home to concrete water slides, sub-zero lagoons, and dangerous wave pools that became the stuff of Garden State legend. Plus, Eileen shares crazy listener stories from Warner Bros.' Jungle Habitat in West Milford, where baboons routinely climbed onto car hoods and exotic animals escaped into local ne...
Were the 90s really a "Love Story"?
Did we really love the 1990s, or are we just looking back through our Buddy Holly rose-tinted glasses? This week on Strangers With Kittens, Eileen sits down with Carey Reilly for a hilarious comedy interview about the raw, unfiltered reality of growing up in the 90s.
Before smartphones and streaming, life was dictated by landlines, pagers, and Friday night trips to Blockbuster Video. Eileen and Carey look past the 90s nostalgia to tackle the grit of old-school New York, the rampant cultural sexism of the e...
Generation X-Hausted: Surviving Sandwich Generation Burnout & Midlife
Generation X has been called a lot of things: cynical, detached, slackers, just to name a few. But the truth is? We are just completely exhausted. This week on Strangers With Kittens, host Eileen Kelly delivers a raw, honest look at the heavy burdens carrying the sandwich generation.
As a group that essentially parented themselves as latchkey kids, Gen X has spent decades being held responsible for fixing everyone else's problems. Now in midlife, we are stuck juggling the emotional and financial strain of raising teens and adult children, caring for
Hitting Rock Bottom With Nikki Mammano: Making The Best Of Bad Situations
Eileen invites Nikki Mammano, author of Breaking Good to the show. Without spoiling the memoir the two discuss addiction, drug abuse, bad decisions, and even worse consequences. A harrowing and suspenseful glimpse in time that reminds us that sometimes breaking completely is the only way to become whole.Â
Get A Signed Copy of the Book "Breaking Good"Â hereÂ
www.nikkimammano.com
Get Involved and Learn More About Ryse Hawaii HereÂ
www.rysehawaii.org/donate/
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by E...
Good Grief
Strangers With Kittens returns this week after a 2-week hiatus. This week, Eileen confronts death and explores grief within our society. After losing a close friend, Eileen reflects on that core relationship. Wrestling with death, end-of-life care, relationships, this life, and after. Get one GenXer's take here.
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.Â
✨ If you love raw, authentic Gen...
More Woo Please
Just can't get enough woo with Chris Nolan. This episode includes all the moments you missed from the previous episode. Think of it as a little treat. A bonus. Special Edition. Director's Cut. You've been fighting fascism all week; you deserve a little something extra. Â
To find the post on Instragram referenced in during the introÂ
Click Here:Â
https://www.instagram.com/p/DURRqUCAQI5/?img_index=17&igsh=bGwwMzdxY2E0djVhÂ
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I'm Glad My Mom Is WooWoo
Everyone has that one book that fundamentally alters their perceptions, perspectives, or, in this case, their future. We can't say that everyone finds their purpose in the eighth grade, but this week's guest will make you think about your life's purpose and proves Mom really does know best.
Join Astrologer and Friend Chris Nolan on this episode of Strangers With Kittens.Â
Together we dive deep into topics surrounding birth charts, astrology, numerology and more.Â
Connect With Chris and Grab Tickets To Future Events HereÂ
https://lin...
Burning Down The House
This kitten is sincerely torn to pieces. Burning Down the House is an episode about releasing pent-up emotions, frustrations, and fears. Eileen confronts the social need to find a distraction or tune out during a time when it's crucial to tune in. The distractions diffuse the harsh reality that this house is on fire, and there isn't anyone coming to save us.Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen t...
Girls Just Wanna Live Unapologetically
This week, my Producer, Ashley, joins me on the podcast to hash out deep-rooted conflicts that have warped women's minds for generations. In this cross-generational episode, we confront some of the reasons we tend to feel crippled by comparison, run-down as parents, depressed in our careers, or insecure about our choices. Strangers With Kittens is keeping it calm and cool while breaking barriers and fighting for your right to be whoever you wanna be... without apologizing for it.
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Ak...
L'eggo My Ego
You know that loud and inflated voice that asserts itself like some kind of arrogant moron? That's your ego talkin'. This is the second half of the episode with special guest Cynthia Levin and we get into the pits of ego and self-identity. Making sense of emotions, ego and art.Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.Â
✨ If you love...
My Gen X Rockin' NYE
This year, we skipped the ball drop and did something a little different. Bring in the new year with Cynthia Levin and I. Together, we reflect on the year past and what we hope to do more of in 2026. They aren't really resolutions per se, but they are quintessentially GenX.Â
Grab Your 2026 Bingo Cards Kittens & Cheers To The New Year 🎉
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Sp...
Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animals
Twas the week before Christmas and only chaos was brewing. Tune in with some strangers for comedic interviewing. Special guest Sam Tschida joins in on the fun. Sharing stories both bizarre and gleefully spun.Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.Â
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I Want My Mtv…and CDs and Concerts Back
Remember when you made mixtapes for your friends and every song was a reference and ode to your relationship? Or spending your entire check at Sam Goody? Eileen and special guest Chris Hajian are dusting off some of their most memorable music memories. This episode is one you won't wanna skip.Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and Produced by Ashley Aker. Original music composed and performed by Chris Hajian. You can listen to full podcast episodes on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, and A...
The Nitty Gritty and Shitty Jobs Of Gen X
Have you ever looked back at your job history and wondered how the hell you ended up where you are today? Gen X, the generation that started working at the age of 10 hasn't stopped working in 40 years. We have worked in some of the most obscure and bizarre positions. This was before OSHA, before Uber, before DoorDash, before GPS. Gen X wore every hat.
Go back in time with Strangers With Kittens in this brand new episode.Â
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Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Ei...
From Bullies To Billionaires
The bullies have become the billionaires. In this minisode, Eileen draws distinct parallels between the kids who stole our lunch money in the fourth grade and those who are stealing our tax dollars today. The kids who made us feel scared, guilty, and worst of all, complicit in their terror are all grown up. It sounds like deja vu, but it feels like the sleep paralysis demon in our nightmares. What better way to kick off the holiday season? 🎉Â
Support the show
Strangers With Kittens is a podcast created by Eileen Kelly and...
