That Cat gets compulsive in an out-there episode with multi-award-winning author and associate professor, the incontestable Helen Marshall. While Kaaron investigates an autograph book and Joseph discovers a horror show in the guinea pig hutch, Aaron goes fungal and transforms into the Moth Boy. Helen works through her fixation with children and death. The dark and light sides of creative obsession are discussed, as are curiosity, boredom, and fandom – toxic and otherwise. The impact of parenthood on maintaining an obsession. Obsession as fuel to complete a project – and the importance of its ending. Also obsession as possession, romanticising obsession, and obsessive coincidence. Not forgetting mortality dump reads and struggling with smalltalk. Kaaron reveals what really happened to her ducks. Joseph bemoans the dearth of peppered mackerel. Aaron keeps a secret to seem more interesting. Helen invites everyone to visit her toilet.

Paint-pots and palette-knives alluded to in this episode include:

• Emile Zola’s The Masterpiece
• JG Ballard’s Complete short stories
• Joyce Carol Oates’s Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars.
• John Goodwin’s The Cocoon
• CH Pearce’s Jimmy Flip Brings His Little One to Work, and It Comes My Turn to Hold It

Check out the episode page for more pics and bits.