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TigerTails Radio Season 16 Episode 28 Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf Join the Telegram Chat: https://t.me/+yold2C77m0I1MmM0 Visit the website at http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of any song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. Credits: Opening music: Magic by Hedge Haiden (Double Hedge Studios) Character art: Fitzroy Fox - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/lunara-toons / https://bsky.app/profile/fitzroyfox.bsky.social Background art: Charleston Rat - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/charlestonrat / https://bsky.app/profile/charlestonrat.bsky.social If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Hey there, PapaBear,

First, I wanted to say thank you for answering my ambitious question earlier in the year. This will be a bit more serious. Just to warn you, I'll be venting and sharing my strange, probably incoherent, and impulsive feelings. I hope you don't mind. I'll talk to my therapist about this, too.

All right, here it goes....

I have the feeling that the Fandom will fully disown me for everything I've done, including those I trust the most, too. I've been thrown under the bus so many times of my own accord through my own selfish, impulsive behaviors. I don't even know why I try anymore to be someone special in the Fandom. Sure, I may be autistic and have impulsive thoughts, but I think that facade has rotted way past the threshold. I don't think I'll ever be welcomed in the Fandom because of what I've done and who I associate with. Frankly, I haven't seen the need to keep trying to fit in when I know I'll just blow it up again. The thing is, this isn't really a new issue, either.

I used to avoid the Fandom like it was something I shouldn't be doing or associating with, all because I didn't know any better about furries and what they actually do. Even after my admittance to the fandom, things were always rather rocky for one reason or another. I sometimes wish I had a better experience overall where I didn't have this backwards view of the fandom before and didn't have such a hard time trying to get myself around. Now I feel like I'll never get that experience because of all my sins catching up to me.

I used to have fun being in the Fandom and, well, being myself, but ever since those incidents happened. I feel like those days are long gone. I don't know what I'm gonna do, and I feel like doing this will be used against me, but you never know. I don't even know what I'm trying to say anymore. I just want that feeling again, that feeling of security, acceptance, and engagement that I don't think I've been able to find anywhere else. I want to find a way to reconcile these sins, but do you and I really think it'd be a good idea?

I guess a good way to explain my situation with the Fandom is through songs, the main one being Post Malone's "Circles." The lyrics resonate with me beyond the chill tune. Another one would probably be the one English translation of "Makenai ai ga Kitto Aru," as it talks about my sense of wanting to belong and be understood. (you might know it from Megaman, or somewhere else).

I think that's all I have to say. This message is probably gonna be an emotional roller coaster to read, but I at least hope it'll be organized enough to be understandable. I apologize for any kind of confusion, or complications I may have caused.

With (off the pill) regards,
Riley.

* * *

Hi, Riley,

What actually happened to you that caused this shift from feeling accepted to not feeling accepted? Was it something specific? Several things? Or just a general feeling?

Hugs,
Papabear

* * *

Hello there, PapaBear, thanks for the response! 

It's actually a combination of all three. I think this information might be used against me, so as to prevent drama I'll just say there have been several specific, but unrelated incidents that ultimately ruined my morale of being a part of the Fandom. They range from years ago to somewhat recently. Add that to the fact that my mind goes everywhere at certain times, it makes the general feeling of my guilt a very strong one.

Now, there are a few reasons why I haven't reconnected and tried to reconcile yet. One is that I don't feel like enough time has passed, even if it was 2-3 years ago. Another is my general self-doubt and deprecation looking back at what I did. I don't know if they'll ever forgive me because I probably won't be able to forgive myself unless I really try. I usually just call off whatever thing I want to fix because I feel like we need more time.

I also get that feeling--because of the fear--that everyone I know will find out and will ultimately disown me. "Seasons change and our love went cold, feed the flames cause we can't let go. Run away, but we're running in circles...." Is it irrational? I dunno, most likely, but that feeling remains.

I guess on that note, if anyone I know is reading this and is shocked over what I've said, I don't blame you. I just wanted to get it out for a while, and I have nothing against anyone who's seen me as a great person.


Overall, I think I just need to believe that I have the strength, because "in my heart I know there's love, unbeatable and strong like the heartbeat inside of me." I mean, what do you think? Are these feelings really irrational and won't get me anywhere? Or do you think there's little merit in them? I'll let you be the judge.

With (on the pill) Regards,

Riley.

* * *

Dear Riley,

I believe I may have mentioned before that the furry fandom is not a homogenous, single body. Therefore, it is literally impossible to be rejected by the entire fandom. There are likely tens of thousands of furries or more who have never heard of you or whether or not you have done anything wrong. I mean, I, for one, have not, so I'm certain many others have not. That's Point #1, which then implies that there are plenty of furries out there you can come into contact with and make new friends. 

As for those who have rejected you for whatever reason, many of them do so for some pretty bad reasons, including: 1) gatekeeping, 2) feeling better about themselves for tearing other people down, and 3) not having any forgiveness in their hearts. All three reasons are terrible. You don't want to be friends with such furries anyway. True friends will forgive you when you ask for forgiveness.

Next up: forgiving yourself. Literally nobody is perfect; literally everyone makes mistakes; literally anyone can do selfish, hurtful things without really meaning to. Usually, when people do things that are seen as bad, it is because people can be ignorant or stupid or simply socially awkward and lacking in confidence and self-respect. It's not because they are mean, necessarily. I've done some stupid things in my life, too. You're no different. Give yourself a break.

But how does one forgive themself?

• Stop obsessing about the past. The past is done. You can't change it, so there is no point in constantly thinking about it...
• EXCEPT for learning from your mistakes and promising yourself to do better....
• And to do better, one first apologizes for the mistake, including apologizing to oneself: "I never meant to hurt you, and I am sorry. I will learn from this error and do my best not to repeat it."
• Do what you can to make amends to any harmed parties. Some will accept your gestures, but others might not. You can't do anything about the latter, so simply say something like, "I'm sorry you feel that way. Goodbye."
• Accept that you may lose some relationships. Embrace those who show forgiveness. Those are the cool people.
• After acknowledging any wrongdoing, apologizing, and resolving to do better, substitute negativity with self-affirming encouragement. Example: "In my heart, I know I am a good person and there are things I can do in my life that will create positive effects in the world. I will start working on that today."
• Finally, embrace your shadow self. Everyone has Light and Darkness within them. No one is able to completely eliminate feelings like hate, envy, fear, and selfishness. You must therefore learn to integrate them into what is fully you. 

Most people are either unaware of their shadow self or they try to repress it. This is rather the basis of a lot of research in psychology (think especially Freudian psychology). But repressing or hiding the shadow self doesn't make it go away; instead, it will express itself in uncontrolled and often hurtful ways. To stop this from happening, the best way is to acknowledge the shadow by doing such things as journaling (write down your negative feelings and traits) and mindfulness. Here is a good article about the shadow self, the types of shadow self, and how to live with your shadow instead of avoiding it: Shadow Self: 13 Types & How to Embrace Your Dark Side ⋆ LonerWolf.

Everyone makes mistakes and does bad things on occasion, Riley. The fact that you are concerned about this and want to do better clearly demonstrates you have a strong good side. (If you were truly a bad person, you wouldn't care one bit about hurting people.) At this time in your life, I would suggest you stop worrying about what people in the fandom think about you and focus on yourself. Once you find peace in your heart and acceptance of yourself, you can put yourself out there again and, trust me, people will notice the difference. People who are self-confident and at peace with themselves send out good vibes that have no need to be vocalized. People sense it and will have good feelings about being around you. 

You will be okay.

Hugs,
Papabear

* * *

Hello, PapaBear,

I read and reread your response over, I think it's exactly what I needed to hear. I think it makes perfect sense for me to not worry too much about these old figures.

Also, I didn't know that doing something as simple as journaling, or, well, trying to comprehend my Dark Side could do a lot to improve my mental health. I usually find resolve in that stuff through action, but I guess writing stuff down would be a better idea than doing stuff I might regret. I completely understand everything being said here. I really need to stop overthinking all of this stuff. It's a bad habit of my psyche, and being autistic usually tends to bring out these feelings a lot more. I just need to find a way to accept and control these things in a positive way. 

Now that I think about it, there are plenty of people in my life--online and in real life--that still care for me. It's very important to take a hold of these Precious Time, Glory Days and, well, keep holding on. Even if I feel like I'm buried six feet deep today, I gotta make sure my tomorrow won't be that way because I know I'll be okay....

Thank you, Papabear. I really do gotta appreciate the time you take reading emails like this. I hope that I'll come back to this message whenever I feel down about this. I hope that the next time I write you a letter it won't be under circumstances like this.

With (Grateful) Regards,
Riley.

The folks at Dynamite Comics have been busy again, still injecting new life into classic TV cartoons. And it’s time we caught up! Here’s their description of Justice Ducks, which started up last year: “Flying saucers descend from the skies, to (maybe) wreak (possible) havoc upon the (mostly) innocent citizens of St. Canard! All that’s stopping these aggressive alien agitators is Stegmutt, Gizmoduck, Neptunia, Morgana, and (most important, in his opinion) Darkwing Duck! Written by the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning Roger Langridge and illustrated by celebrated Darkwing Duck artist Carlo Lauro, this latest chapter in the ongoing saga of St. Canard’s web-footed wonders is surely destined for greatness – just like DD himself!” Every good superhero needs a team, right? Issues are available on line and at your local comic book store.

image c. 2025 Dynamite Comics

MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!

Welcome to another off the rails episode of BFFT! Flecko the Fennec is back with us for an update on his off the grid living in beautiful British Columbia. We have furry news, furry events upcoming, a movie review, and so much more. So tune in for another confusing (and long) episode of BFFT. Moobarkfluff everyfur!

This podcast contains adult language and adult topics. It is rated M for Mature. Listener discretion is advised.

Support the show

Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting S6E3 - Sugary Cereal

August is here and that means Halloween is on its way (the best holiday, personally), along with October in general. October means Furry Book Month! We are planning to put together another furry book bundle this year, so if you have a book you’d like to submit, now is the time to do some last-minute revisions. We’ll post in a few weeks with details regarding submissions, so keep an eye out.

For me, August also means I’m moving to another city in another state. I’ll be very busy for the next few weeks, but if you have an issue or question that needs guild officer attention, feel free to email and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to autumn in my part of the world. I always feel more productive when the school supplies go on sale. I have editing and writing projects to finish, maybe even a new project to start for Furry Novel Jam! I hope you too are able to settle in with your seasonal drink of choice and a crisp new notebook and pen, and get some words written.

We have some new channels on the Discord server that might help you prepare for your next project, or help you get past a block. Our vice president Flash Kitterson started a weekly prompt–sorry, pawmt!–that’s a lot of fun, and we have a new worldbuilding channel too.

Here are the current open markets for your short stories:
Indecent Exposure – Deadline December 22, 2025
This Is Halloween – Deadline When Full
Children Of The Night – Deadline When Full

Please also check out the latest book releases from our members:
Tales of Scales, by Michael Miele, Released April 2, 2025.
Wind Singer: An Imbrium Novella, by Frances Pauli, Released April 19, 2025
Meeting Dominique, by Royce Day, Released May 1, 2025.
Dragon’s Soul, by J.F.R. Coates, Released June 7, 2025.
Two Strikes and I’m Out, by Michael H. Payne (poetry), Released June 16, 2025.
Tales from the Guild: Blood and Water, Released June 30, 2025.
A Portrait for Tomorrow, by Raynarde, Released June 30, 2025.
Legend of Ahya: A Divinity Decayed [Book 5], by Matthew Colvath, Releasing Nov. 30, 2025.

Happy writing!
Kate Shaw

Relic developed one of my favorite strategy games, the Dawn of War series. So when they announced Earth vs. Mars, I was taken aback that they were making a turn-based game instead of an RTS. Announced earlier this year, it was a departure from their usual style of gritty real-time violence. Earth vs. Mars is a turn-based strategy that feels intimately familiar to those who played games like Advanced Wars, Wargroove, or Tiny Metal. Units consist of infantry, tanks, artillery, and helicopters, led by commanders with special abilities you charge up by winning fights and capturing points. There are two things I noticed that expand the formula.

We like how Scout Comics describes this: “It’s chunky Roger Rabbit with a bad temper meets Indiana Jones, set in a Sam Raimi’s looking cityscape.” What is it? Mitch, a new full-color series created by Maxim Simic. “Mitch mixes comedy, science fiction and urban fantasy, with character Mitch as the anthropomorphic lead, juxtaposed to the seemingly realistic world of the late 90s… It’s a story about one furry guy on a quest to find his true origins, unintentionally stumbling into adventure, mystery, and a secret ongoing extraterrestrial conflict over Earth and its unsuspecting occupants.” And, it’s out there on the shelves.

image c. 2025 Scout Comics

Widespread love of quality word games has permeated throughout the history of puzzle pastimes. Whether that’s games like Hangman, Crosswords, Scrabble, Boggle, or more recently Wordle, there are limitless variations on finding joy in parsing together pieces of our collective vocabulary and alphabet to accomplish various goals. Entering the scene is a mix of many of those games in “Birdigo”, created by screenwriter John August (Corpse Bride, Charlie’s Angels) and developer Corey Martin (Bonfire Peaks, Pipe Push Paradise). You’ll guide various birds along their migration paths by crafting words using a custom “deck” of letters that you draw from at the start of every turn. Utilizing a healthy dose of Balatro-like elements to boost your scoring power as you guide your bird along a roguelike migration path to reach their final destination, Birdigo excels at providing a simple game concept with satisfying scoring devices and a “one more round” addictiveness that makes it hard to put down.

Heya, Papabear!

I have just recently stumbled upon your website while catching up on my usual fur-media, if you will. :3

While I do have my question, first I would just like to say I really respect and love what you have going on over here. This site is a great resource and I really wish I had found it sooner. So thank you!

I am 17 and have been in the fandom for about 5-6 years now. I truly love it here and finally feel very comfortable in a space I know I will not be judged, ridiculed, teased, or otherwise about who I am. I have always had an odd interest in anthropomorphic characters when I was younger and ever since I found the fandom it all started to make a little more sense lol! Anyhoo, it's safe to say that being a furry is a big part of who I am and my passions. And I don't see it going anywhere, anytime soon. Now, being that I am 17, and still in high school, I live with my mother. (I don’t have contact to my dad). And my mom and her family are not the warmest to the furry community as I have sadly found out. They see the fandom for the complete opposite of what it is, weather it's, “People believing they are animals, dressing up like dogs and barking at people.” Or “Overweight 30 yo men having sex in suit.” All the way to thinking that getting crazy cosmetic surgeries and changes, walking on all fours and whining at their teachers and bosses like an actual animal are what furries are/do. And having news reports at some of the local schools in our area about a few out of hand students that are apart of Otherkin doesn’t really help either.

Other than that, I have heard them talking a number of times about how “strange,” “disgusting,” and “weird” furries are. A lot of them were with me sitting at the table, trying to not get defensive, embarrassed, or act suspicious. They always seem to have something bad to say about them, especially whenever they see a furry-related bumper sticker, event, online account, or God forbid, a fursiuter in public. (I actually happen to live in the same city as one of my favorite furs! Verplex!) I digress, but it honestly breaks my heart to hear how my mom, aunts, and even some of my cousins talk about something that is so dear to me. And all I can do is sit there in my nervous sweat. And knowing how they are, if they found out about me, I would never hear the end of it. I would probably be seen as a freak by the entire family. I am also quite afraid that my mom might take a route that my father had taken. To be honest, the reason why I don't have any contact with my dad is because he no longer wishes to have me in his life. And a big chunk of it was due to him finding out about my hobbies (the fandom) and my sexuality.

Not only is this hard and frustrating to hear others talking bad about something I enjoy and brings me so much more support and love than anyone else ever has, but I am really wanting to get more involved in the community now that I have been a quiet internet fur for a while now. I would love to get some merch, art, go to meets and conventions, and get some real-life friends who also share the interest. Not to mention (out of reach) but eventually commission a fursuit of my sona. But not only living with my parents but unsupportive ones makes that a real challenge.

I do know that I am making it to the later chunk of my teen years, and eventually will have a lot more freedom, but I doubt I'd be able to move out when I hit 18. My childhood and teenage years have been such a struggle for me, and I really would love to try to start to enjoy something before it ends. Asides from that, it would be a huge relief to just break all this tension. Even if I know there will be plenty of moments ahead of me. The best time is always the present.

I'm sure you have gotten a bunch of questions or help letters like this one. And maybe even a sit-down talk would change their minds, but before I go full send on revealing my floofy side, I would love to just get some advice and thoughts. Anything would be appreciated. Thank you.

Sorry for the long letter, I know how these can get overwhelming. I hope all is well, especially In these crazy times! >~

Thanks again.
Best,
Pi Husky

* * *

Hi, Pi,

Quick question: Are you familiar with VRchat and/or Second Life?

Papabear

* * *

Hi again!

Yes, I used to play a little bit of VRchat, back when I had a capable setup. Only heard of Second Life. Don’t know what it is though.

Thanks!

Pi

* * *

Hi, Pi (I like saying that, hi pi ;)

Second Life is a virtual world that is still around but was much more popular than it is now because VRChat has sort of one-upped it by offering 3D capabilities. You don't need a 3D VR visor to use VRChat, but it's nice if you do.

Anyway, although both SL and VRC are for all audiences, there are HUGE furry communities in both with furry worlds and meetup places where furries gather. You can wear an avatar (you can buy them or custom make them) to go with your fursona, you can make friends, buy merch, build yourself a home or other getaway, etc. In VRChat there is even an annual convention called Furality that you can attend (there is a fee). The cool thing about a virtual con is that you don't have to pay for travel, hotel, food etc. Last year, 21,000 furries attended Furality.

Here's the point: If you're having trouble being furry in the real world, opt for the virtual world. You don't have to do the SL or VRC thing, of course. If you're a gamer, I recommend having a Discord account where you can play furry-related games with lots of furries. And there are popular sites like FurAffinity, SoFurry, and the phone app Barq!

Tell me, what websites, apps, etc. related to furries are you already familiar with?

Papabear

* * *

Haha it’s got a nice ring to it! (Hi, Pi) :P

Anyway, I actually am quite familiar with most of these! I used to even have a original Oculus Quest (before they changed to Meta) and an HTC Vive, along with my PC rig. But I had just never realized the vastness of the furry side of VR. Especially being I didn’t play that much VRchat. I would love to get back into it and finally experience more of VRchat, but just recently in a move, I had my PC and both VR headsets stolen from a PODs container, amongst other things. I am a bit struck for money at moment so I haven’t really had a chance to get some stuff back. But I do have Discord and I'm quite active on the Instagram and Barq side of the fandom. I just really wish I could get more involved socially into the fandom instead of being limited to things like Discord. I'm sure you know how my family's perspective on the community is right now. And being that Im at a stage in life where travel is not in my favor, my family would certainly have to know where I'd be going if I were to go to a con, meet, etc.

But if you happen to know any good Discord servers it would be greatly appreciated! I do plan on getting a computer soon so that will make life a whole lot easier in regards to VR, etc. maybe I'll be able to make it to Furality! 

Thanks again!

Pi

* * *

Then I would recommend you learn about getting into furry worlds on VRChat. This is definitely where a TON of young furries hang out, so there is no end of socializing. As for Discord, you're writing to an old greymuzzle who mostly uses Facebook because I'm an antique LOL, so I really don't hang much in Discord servers, but I'm sure you can ask around on other media sites and there will be furries who know more.

As for your parents, like many parents, they just get caught up in the BS that media sites and misinformed people tell them, which is all the bad stuff and none of the good stuff.

If you're interested in getting DEEP into research on what furries REALLY are, and sharing that with your parents, download this FREE book here New Furbook available for download, and it's free! - Furscience

I am also working on a book about the fandom that I hope to finish the end of the year. It won't be free, but it will be more relevant to all audiences and not just furries or serious researchers like the above link. Go to www.unclebearpublishing.com for updates on that.

Write again if you have more questions!

Stay Furry,
Papabear

* * *

Thank you so much for your advice! I'm definitely going to look into VR more. I'm also quite interested in that book you’re writing. Would love to check it out when it’s finished. Knowing my family, I think I might just keep it from them until another time, if ever lol. As many say, it is just a hobby after all. Pretty soon I won't have to worry about their views as much, being that soon I’ll be a legal adult. But I’ll definitely be checking out those links for some friends that I have. And if it ever comes to it, I’ll have some backup solutions for my parents. xD 

Stay safe in these crazy times! communities including this fandom need more people like you!

Best,

Pi ​

Dear Readers:

​It's true that things are bad right now. There is a noticeable difference between these times and the rise of Nazi Germany and Italy, however. Back in the 1930s, you would not have seen the huge protests against Hitler and Mussolini that you do against Trump and his cronies today, nor would there have been all the satire and outright hate posted publicly for the world to see. This gives me some hope that, while destructive, we will get through this.

America will not be the same, but maybe that is a good thing. The curtain has been pulled aside to reveal not a kindly old man from Kansas but a putrid, hateful, moronic, despicable man AND an entire corrupt white supremacist government that has ALWAYS been there; it's just that now it no longer pretends it is a just and free democracy.

Whatever comes after this, I think this has been a necessary step. Sort of like when a person vomits violently after eating rotten food. It's sickening and painful while you're heaving, but when it's done and you've flushed all the foul goop down the toilet, you feel so much better.

Courage, my friends. Trump is old, sick, senile and mental. Yes, once he is gone, people like Vance will try to continue Project 2025, but they will no longer have a cult following. By then, 80% or more of Americans will be against them as will the entire world with the exception of Russia, and Putin is about to fall, too, so they won't be able to continue their campaign to ruin our country from the outside.

Everything will be okay in the end, and if it's not okay, then it is not the end. Until then, keep the faith.

Blessed Be,
Papabear

TigerTails Radio Season 16 Episode 27 Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf Join the Telegram Chat: https://t.me/+yold2C77m0I1MmM0 Visit the website at http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of any song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. Credits: Opening music: Magic by Hedge Haiden (Double Hedge Studios) Character art: Fitzroy Fox - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/lunara-toons / https://bsky.app/profile/fitzroyfox.bsky.social Background art: Charleston Rat - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/charlestonrat / https://bsky.app/profile/charlestonrat.bsky.social If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

It’s that time again fellow trainers! A new Pokémon Presents premiered on July 22nd. While on the shorter side, it did showcase a few cool projects in the works and even revealed bits of new info for upcoming games. Let’s take a look at some highlights!

In 2019 The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy garnered numerous awards and nominations as an illustrated book — and it did so again in 2022 when it was made into a 2D animated short film. Now the author is bringing us a sequel — with the rather long title of Always Remember: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, The Horse, and The Storm. “Charlie Mackesy’s four unlikely friends are wandering through the wilds again. They’re not sure what they are looking for. They do know that life can be difficult, but that they love each other, and cake is often the answer. When the dark clouds come, can the boy remember what he needs to get through the storm?” This new hardcover is due in October.

image c. 2025 Penguin Publishing Group

MoonSpice Games, the creators of the upcoming collectathon Dillo’s Dilemma, featuring an innovative and inventive armadillo, gave us the opportunity to ask some questions about the new game to their Project Lead, Zakhar Sheyko, and their team. We “rolled” our way through the areas presented in the demo, enjoying Dillo’s fun game design and creative puzzle solving challenges, and are excited to learn more about what went into designing this indie adventure!

Back in my high school years, me and my friends, whenever we were on the computers, always played whatever game we found on Shockwave or that someone had downloaded and passed around to us, with the biggest being the original Halo: Combat Evolved. But, one we sank the most hours in was a small title called Pocket Tanks, where the objective was to get more points by hitting the opponents tank with whatever weapon you have, be it explosives or other wild weaponry. Why do I bring up Pocket Tanks? Well, at the time, I had no idea it was inspired by an older game called Scorched Earth, which in turn inspired another game and the subject of today’s review: Worms, in particular Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition and, I’m not going to lie, if you were a fan of the original, then this game’s for you. But for newcomers, not so much.

TigerTails Radio Season 16 Episode 26 Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf Join the Telegram Chat: https://t.me/+yold2C77m0I1MmM0 Visit the website at http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of any song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. Credits: Opening music: Magic by Hedge Haiden (Double Hedge Studios) Character art: Fitzroy Fox - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/lunara-toons / https://bsky.app/profile/fitzroyfox.bsky.social Background art: Charleston Rat - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/charlestonrat / https://bsky.app/profile/charlestonrat.bsky.social If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.

[And now a special guest column by none other than the Ask Papabear guy himself, Grubbs Grizzly.] Mom’s Cat is an intense, yet quiet, short film by Hungarian writer/director Annabella Schnabel, who produced it for her diploma project at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest. It has already garnered several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 29th Chicago Underground Film Festival, First Prize at the 19th Pannonfíling Film Festival, Best Short Film at the 8th Nefiltravane Kino Film Festival, and Best Young Director at the 13th Short to the Point International Film Festival. I had the opportunity to watch this 18-minute film, and I can say the plaudits are deserved. What impressed me most about this film is how Schnabel packs so much emotion into just a few minutes and with minimal dialog. Every word uttered, every movement the actors make bears weight. Without giving anything away, the story is basically this: 30-something Felix (Attila Fritz) lives in squalid conditions with his mother, who barely tolerates her son and clearly despises him for not being “normal.” One day, Felix gets exciting news that a company wants to hire him to be a kind of mascot-for-hire, which means he can get paid and wear his fursuit! Felix is immensely proud of his fursuit, which he made himself. So, off he goes to his new job, where he meets coworkers who seem shy but admire his fursuit, which is a kind of winged cat. What follows are some ups and downs in his job that adeptly capture the sensitivities of the kind and sweet Felix, who only wants to be happy, and a mother and society that despise him for being abnormal. The conclusion is tragic, sad, disturbing, and oddly sweet. If I could encapsulate all the worst experiences and angst I have encountered in my 13 years as a furry advice columnist into one character, Felix would be that character. Similarly, every scene, every word of dialog, every gesture, and every movement of the well-directed camera compresses a world of misunderstood love like a telegraphed message in which each dot and short dash has a significance. A rose, a hesitant touch, a half-eaten chicken foot, and many other images add to the painting like dots on a pointillist painter’s masterpiece. When Felix explains to his coworkers why his fursuit has wings and why there are stripe marks on the head, for example, Schnabel reveals in a few seconds how a fursuit can contain deep personal meaning for its wearer. It is just one of many poignant scenes here. To be clear, Mom’s Cat is not about the average furry experience, but it is about a side of the fandom that is very true indeed and to which many furries will relate. I would give it two thumbs up, but I’m a bear and don’t have thumbs, so I will give it a big Awoo! instead.

You can read an interview with Schnabel by going here and hitting Translate. There is a link to the movie at the bottom. It’s $5 to watch. [Thank you, Grubbs!]

image c. 2025 by Annabella Schnabel

Papabear,

I am someone who has been dealing with mental health for years. Something I have discovered since last year is I'm still hurting from trauma, narcissistic parents, and unresolved feelings from thing I thought I resolved. Yes, I am currently seeking help in those areas for therapy, but I have to wait till I can see doctors. Writing has been my escape when I just want to be alone and deal with these feelings. I have been working on stories as of recent to tackle some of these things, as well as a VRChat shorts series being scripted.

I set all this exposition up to ask this one major question: How do I just open the flood gates completely, face the demons, and battle them in writing and prose? Something in me is afraid to confront these demons, even when I truly think I am doing so. I know this is such a weird question, but it baffles me that I am ready to go to battle yet one foot is still on the porch telling me to stay where I am.... So, I guess, in my own way, I do while the demons sit there drinking lemonade with me like this is usual. I guess, too, I know the only way to battle these demons is to be able to talk freely and bluntly. Hence, my writing. I think part is the fear of others judging me.

Again, I know this seems like a strange letter, but I deal with things by talking or writing, and I need to stop being so hesitant to confront things. Any advice helps.

Thank you.

Otto Otsky

* * *

Dear Otto,

Writing is an outstanding way of dealing with one's emotions, so kudos to you that you are doing so to help cope with your struggles.

There are two types of writing that are great for this: 1) journaling, and 2) fiction writing. Journaling should not be confused with writing a diary, although they do have some commonalities. Diary writing is basically keeping a record of your day-to-day experiences. Typically, you record events that happen to you, describe scenery perhaps, and you may also not your reactions and feelings about events. Diary writing is fairly structured, therefore. Journal writing includes traditional journaling, bullet journaling, and expressive writing, and it is much more free-form, stream-of-consciousness writing.

Traditional journaling is the type we are most familiar with in which you discuss what has happened to you and talk about your reactions to these events. This serves as a terrific emotional outlet. Bullet journaling is, as you might imagine, more clipped. You put down things in short lists, abbreviated sentences, even incomplete thoughts. Just bam bam bam, a bunch of bullet points or even symbols and drawings expressing yourself in a kind of shorthand way. Expressive writing, however, is rather the opposite of bullet journaling. You write down events and feelings in much more detail and with much more self-reflection.

Dr. James Pennebaker researched expressive writing in the 1980s, discovering that his patients who used this practice required fewer therapy sessions to achieve the same results as patients who did not journal. There are three types of expressive writing:
 

1. Standard Expressive Writing: Writing about your personal experiences
2. Exposure Writing: Writing down your thoughts and feelings
3. Cognitive Processing: Reasoning out the consequences of your experiences and feelings to derive insights about them.

A mix of all three is probably the best strategy. It is rather like having a therapy session in which you also take on the role of therapist. Granted, it's not a complete substitution for having a therapist, but as Pennebaker found out, it helps tremendously.

Fiction writing is also useful. Unlike journaling, which is more of a reaction to real-life events, with fiction writing you are in control of what happens and what the reactions to events are. Many great authors have confessed that their novels and short stories were their way of dealing with emotions of all sorts. Some of these notable names include Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, Franz Kafka, C. S. Lewis, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Sinclair Lewis, Anne Sexton, Leo Tolstoy, and many more.

These authors and others would take their own emotional and mental struggles and transfer them onto a fictional character, then write about how they would cope (or not cope) with their problems. By putting a protective mask between you, the author, and the fictional character, it makes the pain easier to deal with because the author feels less exposed to outside criticism (i.e., e.g., "It's not me dealing with schizophrenia or the death of my wife or the pain of extreme poverty or unrequited love, it's my character doing it). In a way, there are parallels here between what authors do and what furries do. Furries can become more themselves and more open about their emotions through their fursonas just as authors can do so through fictional characters. 

In addition to forming this protective barrier of judgment that allows you to more honestly express your feelings, story writing has the advantage of being able to control situations that, in real life, you cannot command. You get to create the situations to be overcome; you get to add helpers (minor characters) to aid in the main protagonist's quest; and you get to write a conclusion and have closure to the story. So, you see, you can take the material from real life that feels chaotic and beyond your control and impose an order upon it in order to make it manageable and more comprehensible. Pennebaker also wrote about this, saying that writing brings coherence to your emotional crisis as well as perspective. You write the plot, and, as narrator outside the story, you gain a new perspective upon it.

(Quick dig at AI: Here is a great argument against AI writing stories. You don't benefit from writing something from the heart if a machine is doing all the work.)

Your question does not strike me as weird at all. In fact, I congratulate you on discovering for yourself a great way of managing your mental distress. As for others judging you, well, first of all, just because you write a story doesn't mean you have to publish it. Second of all, this isn't about having an audience; this is about you. You know, if everyone worried about people judging them for every action they performed, nobody would do anything in this world and life would be a waste.

Therefore, write your heart out. Write for yourself. And continue talking to other people. Bottling things up never helped anyone. And, once you let yourself go, you'll see that you are not different from anyone else. You'll see that many people have had experiences comparable to your own and have the same feelings you do. Sharing that with others is immensely therapeutic.

Good job!

Hugs,
Papabear

You don’t often expect the level of world-building and story-crafting woven into games like Back to the Dawn, a gritty, engrossing, and multi-layered RPG game by Metal Head Games that just released out of Early Access. But I found myself locked inside the prison escape narrative just like its protagonists. Featuring fantastic game design and narrative pacing with just the right amount of quirkiness, Back to the Dawn can go lots of ways in its main campaigns, and it's hard not to wonder if you’re making the right move as your fate becomes more and more unpredictable.

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As we get into our 6th season groove we try out a few new things. Let us know if you liked the new segments.  Taebyn takes a long look back at their notes from seasons gone by, TickTock brings us furry news, Cheetaro reviews another furryesque movie, and Bearly tries to keep the train on the rails!  We tell jokes and puns and generally confuse everyone. So tune in for another confusing episode of BFFT. Moobarkfluff everyfur!

This podcast contains adult language and adult topics. It is rated M for Mature. Listener discretion is advised.

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Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting S6E2 - It’s “Pun”ishment