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Who are you?

We are two sisters in Portland, Oregon who want to have fun, build community, and be part of creating a better world. Our humanities education, background in STEM fields, and experience as neurodivergent women has culminated in this curious concoction of humor, history, and science. Learn more about us (and see a 90s-era photo of us in matching vests).

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Where did the idea for Mate come from?

It all started in 2020 when we came upon an image of a whale threesome. Read the full story of how a random photo evolved into The Party Game for Feral Naturalists.

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Wtf is a feral naturalist?

A feral naturalist is someone who exists within the natural world with curiosity and imagination. Rather than trying to categorize and control, they experience joy and community by reveling in the feral wildness. Humans have lived—and still do—in this way since the beginning of time. Anyone can become a feral naturalist—it might just take some un/learning, and that’s exactly what Mate is here for!

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What does a game about animal mating have to do with creating a better world?

The world we know today is shaped by the findings of a bunch of white bros from 200-400 years ago, who were—like we are now—steeped in oppressive views on race, gender, ability, and sexuality. Their interpretations still fuel modern structures and biases. Moving forward means becoming curious about these influences and questioning inherited rules and binaries. 

By connecting with the natural world, we can see how many of these constraints and categories are pure fiction, freeing us to celebrate nature’s full, feral range—including our own. And forget the myth of militant feminists who want to abolish fun; we know this is a joyful and hilariously eye-opening adventure—and best of all, shared in community.