Enough is Enough. Put a Stop to Gun Violence.

By Emily Laptad and Kelcie McKenney

Yesterday’s gun violence at the Chiefs Super Bowl Victory Celebration absolutely shattered our hearts here at Catcall. Most of our staff is based in the Kansas City metro, and today we find ourselves so incredibly sad, angry, and helpless. When will enough be enough? 

The worst part of all of this is we shouldn’t have to imagine a mass shooting happening on the streets we walk on. How many times have you prepared to go to a big event and wondered if this might be the day you experience gun violence up close and personal?

On days like these, it’s easy to feel powerless. To think, why should I even raise my voice when politicians only send their “thoughts and prayers,” only to take no action and send their “thoughts and prayers” yet again when the next shooting happens in the United States—because it will.

But here at Catcall, we refuse to be silent. We will scream until our throats are raw. We will continue the fight for common sense gun laws, no matter how long it takes. Because there will be a next time. 

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Books for your 2024 reading list

By Sophia-Joelle McDowell
Art by Kelcie McKenney

This past year was full of Taylor Swift references and great movies like Barbie. 2023 also brought plenty of new and enjoyable reads. Whether you’re a lover of romance, thrillers, smut, nonfiction, or really any other genre, we’ve got you covered! 

We know, we know…your TBR is already packed full, but there’s always room for one or five more, right? Here are some new releases hitting bookstore and library shelves near you in 2024!

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Why is Taylor Swift so popular? The karmic genius that led to her success.

Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,”  announcement at the 2024 Grammy Awards is cosmic-level for this Swiftie.

By Emily Laptad

CW: Mention of domestic abuse/violence, complex trauma, and childhood trauma.

On October 22, 2022, I woke up to listen to the bonus tracks on Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights (3am Edition). It was a spiritual experience that nudged my personal life story in a direction I never saw coming when the lyrics, “Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first,” crooned through my earbuds as I listened to “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” for the first time.

So, it’s fitting that it’s 3 a.m. now as I try to weave together the words to illustrate just how much the historical popstar, musical mastermind, and 14-time Grammy Award Winner means to me—and so many other Swifties too. This particular editorial has been in the making for over a year now, and after tossing and turning over the shear dismay that Taylor blindsided the Swifties with a brand new album, The Tortured Poets Department, that’s coming out on April 19 (we all thought we were getting reputation (Taylor’s Version) instead) now felt like a better time than ever.

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Let’s Take a Look Back at Catcall’s 2023

By The Catcall Team

As we set our hopes and goals for a new year, looking back at how far we came over the last year is a must. At Catcall, we took a walk down memory lane and picked out our favorite stories from 2023. This year, we catcalled systemic issues, elevated diverse creators and entrepreneurs, hosted our first public event, and shared all of our best tips for taking care of your mental health and fostering a healthy—and pleasurable—sex life. Take a look!

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Navigating the Complexity of Guilty Grief in The First Year

By Bella Rainey

Writing about your own book is always a humbling experience, and it is also required when you write a book. 

Hey friends, my name is Bella Rainey. You may recognize me from KCtoday, but if not, it’s so nice to meet you. Outside of writing for KCtoday (or here for Catcall), I have a tendency to basically never stop writing. Whether it is a notes app entry or a full novel, I seem to never run out of words to say. 

That brings me to the aforementioned novel. Let’s rewind the tapes. 

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