Weekly broadcasts from a city that punishes you for caring. Join Bill and Chris for leftist perspectives from Worcester, MA, an urban knife’s edge of gentrification and vulture capital. We discuss local current events, analyzing the ways in which these stories ripple outward from the city we call home. We’ll even talk some about what you can do to fight back!
www.worcestersucks.email (https://www.worcestersucks.email/s/outdoor-cats-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)
Talking municipal power (amazing) versus utility companies (horrible), Ray Mariano’s Governor take (horrible) and both gubernatorial candidates (horrible, Lovecraftian). And how Chris won the Tuber Tourney (incredible).
Also incredible: these custom bleach-dye Outdoor Cat shirts Katie made. Head over to the merch store to get yours (https://billshaner.bigcartel.com/product/outdoor-cat-bleach-dye-shirts). Each a unique work of art and folks they are going FAST. Only 15 left as of my writing, and larges and XLs are sold out.
Paid subscribers get free shipping! Head to this link to get the code (https://www.worcestersucks.email/p/merch-discount-for-paid-subscribers?r=bpz9), or, if you’re a free subscriber, to subscribe and then get the code!
Any way you do it, your supporting this outlet is the only thing—the one and only thing, folks!—that keeps this outlet up and running. No support, no outlet, no articles, no podcast, no etc.
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Some links from today’s conversation…
Bloomberg: “The Power Bill Divide (https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-electricity-price-utility-gap/)”
Ray Mariano on the governor’s race (https://smry.ai/https://www.telegram.com/story/opinion/columns/2026/10/02/ray-mariano-on-mike-minogue-and-maura-healey-for-massachusetts-governor/92008857007/)
Mike Minogue autographing flavored ZYNs (https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1aymqTav8f/)
Michael Minogue campaigned on understanding the housing crisis. He also owns a $31m home in an ultra-exclusive Montana club (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/30/metro/mike-minogue-yellowstone-club-big-sky-montana/?emci=8797c588-548c-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7B%7BContactsEmailID%7D%7D)
Intro music by Bill Shaner 10.19.26
Outro music: “Trouble Trouble” by Aesop Rock x Blockhead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFtK8qsGRaA&t=110s)
This podcast is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3h18ugRFuHQPxnz1QQf9XM), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outdoor-cats-podcast/id1785258649), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYS2GF89VhHz7qjCg6dqtz6M4D8M0Aw4S), Overcast (https://overcast.fm/itunes1785258649/outdoor-cats-podcast), Pocket Casts (https://pca.st/wcs3swbc) others via this RSS link (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/57244/s/168689.rss).
Get full access to Worcester Sucks and I Love It at www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe (https://www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
Nine questions, folks. On Election Day you will be asked nine freakin’ questions, ranging from byzantine to slightly less so, and Question 2 is perhaps the most ‘in the weeds,’ as they say, but also nearest to our hearts. It asks whether the state’s public defenders have the right to form a union. That they don’t is due to a bizarre and longstanding clerical issue I couldn’t possibly explain to you. So we brought on Nathan Wong of the Yes on 2 campaign (https://www.unionyeson2.org), himself a longtime public defender, to explain it to us, and talk about the overlooked and perhaps intentionally obscured role that public defenders play in keeping the democracy we have on paper a democracy in reality.
Listen to the end for Tuber Tourney updates and what I personally feel is the most pressing question before (certain select) voters in this midterm election.
Much like public defenders, local journalists are a ragtag and beleaguered bunch. We need your help to keep this little-outlet-that-could chug-chugging along. Paid subscriptions are best, but tips are also amazing :-)
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Intro music by Bill Shaner 10.3.26
Outro music: “Count Em Up (feat Lil Fame)” by Masta Ace & Marco Polo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8-Bffc9-38)
This podcast is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3h18ugRFuHQPxnz1QQf9XM), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outdoor-cats-podcast/id1785258649), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYS2GF89VhHz7qjCg6dqtz6M4D8M0Aw4S), Overcast (https://overcast.fm/itunes1785258649/outdoor-cats-podcast), Pocket Casts (https://pca.st/wcs3swbc) others via this RSS link (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/57244/s/168689.rss).
Get full access to Worcester Sucks and I Love It at www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe (https://www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
22 Sept 2026
Episode 74: A Pahked Frickin’ Cah
We talk about the only thing people are talking about. What to make of it all? Putting the Toomey Wreck in the context of a wider crank meltdown of late. We give props to John Fresolo for his civilian review board mea culpable. Then we talk about big bears and salty fish. The episode’s namesake comes from this guy (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g09v8n9vu1phd6v3l5zua/pahked-cah-guy.jpg?rlkey=xbiow067dhmtg0xrc7lbu49hy&st=35vr346k&dl=0). If you know you know and if you don’t then you will.
In today’s episode we’re working heavily off the timeline piece I put up the other day: “Sticky, sticky, sticky (https://www.worcestersucks.email/p/sticky-sticky-sticky)” on the through line between the primary election to the Toomey Wreck to the CRB vote to the upcoming debate (tomorrow) on whether to fine people for not having a home.
Fresolo’s Petrone story (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWC9YyNsjQ8&t=316s)
Lastly:
FAT BEAR WEEK 2026 (https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/news/fat-bear-week-2026.htm)
Thank you for listening and friendly reminder we need new paid subscribers all the time in order to keep doing this show in perpetuity, which we will, so long as at least one of us has the time to do all the production, post production, reporting, editing, video editing, etc. etc. That is where you all come in!
Subscribe (https://www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe) / Tips (https://buymeacoffee.com/worcestersucks) / Merch Store (https://www.billshaner.bigcartel.com/)
This podcast is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3h18ugRFuHQPxnz1QQf9XM), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outdoor-cats-podcast/id1785258649), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYS2GF89VhHz7qjCg6dqtz6M4D8M0Aw4S), Overcast (https://overcast.fm/itunes1785258649/outdoor-cats-podcast), Pocket Casts (https://pca.st/wcs3swbc) others via this RSS link (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/57244/s/168689.rss).
Intro music by Bill Shaner 9.21.26
Outro music: “When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around” by The Police
Get full access to Worcester Sucks and I Love It at www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe (https://www.worcestersucks.email/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
Who has been a guest on Outdoor Cats Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ashley Spring
Candy Mero-Carlson
Joe Petty
Thu Nguyen
Etel
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
12,525
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
Contact Outdoor Cats Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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