Words That Make Us Tony Bailey and Rama Shaar

In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Cats”. Listen to them as they discuss their experiences with cats. Rama reads some research about the health benefits of having cats, while Tony counters by reading statistics and other science about cat owners. How do different cultures see cats, especially black ones? Which countries have the most cats and which countries are restricting cat owning? Some interesting poetry about cats features in today’s episode as well!
 
The physical and mental health benefits of having cats:
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-being-cat-lover#4.-Health
 
Annual expenditure on cats and dogs USA
https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/cat-advice/cost-owning-cat
 
Needy cat people
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2911381/It-s-official-crazy-cat-ladies-exist-Pet-owners-neurotic-needy-cliams-study.html
 
"Quick! quick! ..." BY ANONYMOUS
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42906/quick-quick-
 
The Galloping Cat by Stevie Smith(1972)
https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/the-galloping-cat
 
Cat Idioms and Phrases
https://owlcation.com/humanities/50-Cat-Idioms-and-Phrases
 
Famous cats
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individual_cats
 
Cat islands:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5031.html
 
The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke
https://allpoetry.com/The-Panther
 
Cats in Shakespeare
https://www.thegreatcat.org/cat-shakespeare/
https://www.historyhit.com/the-bizarre-life-of-cats-in-shakespeares-england/
 
Black cat superstitions and witchcraft
https://www.msj.edu/news/2024/02/the-power-of-black-cats.html#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20European%20folklore%20evolved,would%20ultimately%20threaten%20their%20safety.
February by Margaret Atwood
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47787/february-56d2288025b1e
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com

In this new season of The Words That Make Us, Rama and Tony attempt to shorten the episodes. Listen to them as they discuss the topic of "Shoes". They tell you a little about the history and trends in shoes. Which shoe brand generates the most profit and what are elevator shoes? What does your choice of shoes say about you? There's a story and some poetry about shoes in there too.
Interesting facts and the earliest shoes:
https://shuzes.co.uk/blogs/news/10-facts-about-shoes-you-didnt-know
 
Cultural Significance of Shoes
https://www.walkingonacloud.ca/blog/the-cultural-significance-of-shoes/
 
https://www.comunitymade.com/blogs/posts/draft-how-footwear-reflects-community-and-culture
 
Shoe Traditions
https://woombie.com/blog/post/shoe-traditions-across-the-globe-that-leaves-tourist-wondering-why
 
http://traditionalshoes.com/en/archives/210
 
https://mainecrimewriters.com/2016/12/08/christmas-customs-a-shoe-in/
 
Sneaker Culture
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/sneaker-culture-sneakerheads-air-jordans-history-expression
 
Footwear Industry Trends
https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/footwear/worldwide
 
Bible Quotations and Topics about Shoes
https://www.bible-topics.com/Shoes.html#:~:text=Deuteronomy%2033%3A25%20Thy%20shoes,so%20shall%20thy%20strength%20be.&text=Bound%20round%20the%20feet%20with,am%20not%20worthy%20to%20unloose.

Phrases or Idioms with Shoes
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/shoe
 
My Old Shoes by Amos Russel Well
https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/amos-russel-wells/my-old-shoes/?utm_content=cmp-true
 
The Shoemaker by Evander A. Crewson
https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/e-a-crewson/the-shoemaker/
 
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com

In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Food”. Listen to them discuss the foods of their childhoods and respective countries. What are some statistics about meat and other foods around the world? How is food seen in stoicism, Islam and Christianity? How is the food industry evolving to keep up with modern trends? They also share with you some poems about food.
Trigger warning: If you find the topic of eating disorders triggering, be sure to skip the poem “The Diet” by Carol Ann Duffy.
On Eating and Drinking (from The Prophet) Kahlil Gibran 
https://poets.org/poem/eating-and-drinking-0
 
Evolution of Diet / Timeline
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_food
 
Learning to eat the stoic way
https://thestoicgym.com/the-stoic-magazine/article/127
Organic Foods Statistics
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-food6.htm
 
On US food consumption
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nZxOh7ghMjKeo2Y49_mb98OIzP1GUa2t/edit#gid=2065436962
 
Corned Beef and Cabbage
BY GEORGE BILGERE
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52248/corned-beef-and-cabbage
“The Diet” by Carol Ann Duffy
https://poemanalysis.com/carol-ann-duffy/the-diet/
FUN FACTS ABOUT FOOD!
https://www.thefactsite.com/100-random-food-facts/
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com

 
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Holidays”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of holidays and holiday makers. Which are the most visited countries? Which countries make the most revenue from travel? What is “Paris Syndrome”? What are some poems about travel and the feelings it conjures.
Country tourism revenue and statistics:
https://ourworldindata.org/tourism
Paris Syndrome:
https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/1850677468/paris-syndrome-troubles-in-tourism#:~:text=Symptoms%20include%20dizziness%2C%20anxiety%2C%20vomiting,in%20Paris%2C%20in%20the%201980s.
 
Shakespeare on holidays:
https://www.folger.edu/blogs/shakespeare-and-beyond/how-william-shakespeare-invented-the-holiday-romcom/
 
History and evolution of holidays
https://www.inghams.co.uk/blog/inghams/the-history-and-evolution-of-holidays-and-travel/#:~:text=31%20BC%2D1484%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Romans,the%20way%20to%20southern%20Egypt!
https://culturetourist.com/cultural-tourism/history-of-travelling-how-people-started-to-travel/
https://familyholidaycharity.org.uk/our-story/how-times-have-changed-social-history-holidays
Holidays  - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 
https://poets.org/poem/holidays
Vacation - Rita Dove
https://poets.org/poem/vacation
If Once You Have Slept On An Island by Rachel Lyman Field
https://allpoetry.com/If-Once-You-Have-Slept-On-An-Island
Extreme Wanderlust:
https://www.elitedaily.com/life/culture/damaging-side-effects-wanderlust/610398
The types of travelers:
https://travel.earth/different-types-of-travellers/
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com

In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “dreams”. Listen to them as they discuss the meaning of dreams and why women dream differently (and more) than men. How do dreams appear in Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sufism? What are the most recurring dreams? Of course expect some poetry too.
The story of Prophet Yusuf in the Quran:
https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-7/section-6-kings-dream-yusufs-interpretation
What are dreams and what do they mean?
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dreams-and-dreaming
What is daydreaming and what does it mean?
https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/daydreaming-and-concentration-what-the-science-says/
https://www.verywellmind.com/positives-about-daydreaming-5119107
Dreams by Langston Hughes 1901 –1967
https://poets.org/poem/dreams
Why women dream more than men:
https://www.dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/women-dream-men
Recurring dreams:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams/dream-interpretation/recurring-dreams#what-are-the-most-common-recurring-dreams
Dreams by Langston Hughes 1901 –1967
https://poets.org/poem/dreams
The Dream That Must Be Interpreted by Rumi
https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/dream-must-interpreted-rumi/
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com

In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Teachers”. Listen to them as they discuss their experiences with teaching both as students and teachers. They read a range of humorous poems and share some research about teaching.
My Teacher Wasn't Half As Nice As Yours Seems To Be by Roald Dahl
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-teacher-wasn-t-half-as-nice-as-yours-seems-to-be/
Napoleon BY MIROSLAV HOLUB
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51047/napoleon
 
Stoicism on teaching
https://www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/stoicism-relevant-teachers/
The Lesson by Roger McGough
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-lesson/
Mrs Stein By Bill Dodds 
https://www.giggleverse.com/?gv_poem=mrs-stein
The Supply Teacher by Allan Ahlberg
https://www.poemhunter.com/allan-ahlberg/
Where in the world are teachers most respected
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/12/teachers-where-most-and-least-respected/
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46063947
https://www.anefore.lu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/EURYDICE-THE-TEACHING-PROFESSION.pdf
European teacher salaries and other statistics
https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/07/05/teachers-pay-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-the-least-in-europe#:~:text=Annual%20gross%20starting%20salaries%20of%20teachers%20(2020%2F2021)&text=Leaving%20aside%20Luxembourg%2C%20the%20annual,than%20half%20the%20German%20figure.
Maya Angelou about her teacher:
https://www.boredteachers.com/post/celebrities-teachers-changed-their-lives
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: 
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com