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Starr Struck Radio

A podcast about living a creative, inspired life. Hosted by Mary Catherine Starr of StarrStruckBlog.com. In the current season Mary Catherine is joined by her friend Sara Meeks to discuss topics related to motherhood. Past seasons were focused on a variety of lifestyle topics and were co-hosted by her husband, Ben Vaneria.
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Now displaying: 2015
Nov 24, 2015

Trainer Bobby Scott returns to Starr Struck Radio as our final guest of 2015! 

In the first half of the episode, we finally hash out the blog back-and-forth that Bobby and Mary Catherine have been having over the question, "When it comes to fitness, is yoga enough?" Both Bobby and Mary Catherine explain their thoughts on the subject and as usual, Ben isn't shy about his opinions, either.  

In the second half of the show, we introduce a new strength training program that Bobby will be creating for Mary Catherine in 2016, explain how listeners can follow along and join in the program, and Bobby breaks down what he observed in Mary Catherine's body when he did his initial physical evaluation with her (hint: her strengths + weaknesses matched up pretty closely with a "typical female yogi body"). 

As we mention in the show, this is the last episode of 2016 because we'll be taking a break from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Thanks SO much for listening to our very first year of podcasting! You can learn more + follow-along with Mary Catherine's new strength training program on the blog {StarrStruckBlog.com} starting Monday, January 11th. 

You can view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com and we'll be back with a new episode on Tuesday, January 5th, 2016. 

Happy Holidays!

 

Nov 17, 2015

Oh my, this is a doozy of a subject. Why do we women feel guilty so often and in so many areas of our lives?

In this week's episode, my good friend (and Starr Struck team member!) Sara and I discuss our issues with guilt, what we feel guilty about, why we think women have so much more guilt than men, and how we try to deal with our negative feelings around the subject. 

You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com.

Thanks for listening!

Nov 10, 2015

Lets talk about one of the topics that comes up in almost every single Starr Struck Radio episode: therapy. As many of you know, I’m a huge proponent of therapy. My dad is a therapist, my late stepmom was a therapist, I’ve spent many hours of my life in therapist’s offices, and I think therapy is an amazing and underused tool that can be life-changing.

But, that’s not how everyone feels about it. In fact, for most, going to therapy is a taboo subject; often people are secretive about the fact that they have a therapist and act like it means that something is wrong with them. But it doesn’t!

So, in today’s episode, I pick psychologist Erica Merson’s brain about this topic. My hope is that this episode becomes a resource for those interested in learning about how to find a good therapist, what therapy is like, how it can help, and how to decide if therapy is the right fit. 

You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for listening!

Nov 3, 2015

We've got lots to talk about in this week's episode! First, we tackle some listener comments, feedback, and follow-up from our last two episodes covering Morning Routines and Impostor Syndrome.

Then, in the second half of the show, we discuss the idea of “finding your passion” or “living your passion,” which we believe is a big theme for our generation. We get into some of the conversations and controversies that have been popping up online (and in our daily lives) around this concept, and share our thoughts re: how passion relates to the work that we do and the lives that we create.

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for listening!

 

Oct 27, 2015

Do you ever feel like a fraud? Do you struggle with chronic self-doubt or low levels of confidence, especially when it comes to your intellectual abilities? If so, you may have experienced a bit of impostor syndrome, which is what we talk about in this week's episode. 

We start by defining impostor syndrome and what it feels like, and then go on to explain how it has shown up (or not shown up) in our lives [Hint: Mary Catherine has experienced it, Ben, not so much.]

We also discuss whether or not it affects the sexes differently, how impostor syndrome, confidence, and humility are related, and we close with some tips on dealing with this issue if you, too, are plagued by it. 

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for listening!

 

Oct 20, 2015

It’s time to revisit our most popular podcast topic ever and the focus of our very first Starr Struck Radio episode [ever]--morning routines!

In this week’s episode we discuss how our morning routines have shifted in the 9 months since we recorded episode #1, we respond to some listener feedback about maximizing your morning hours, and we share a few new insights into morning routines that we think are worth pondering.

As usual, the show starts with our #firstworldproblems and we discuss something that Ben has been working through as of late. Plus, we laugh a lot ;)  


Thanks for listening! You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Enjoy!

Oct 13, 2015

This week, we're talking relationships. More specifically, long-distance relationships, living together, and marriage. In response to a listener question from last season (It's taken us way too long to answer, we know!) and in celebration of our 3-year wedding anniversary--which we celebrated last week--we're getting into it.

In the first half of the episode, we share a bit of our history as a couple and our experience moving in together (in 2009) after dating long-distance for 4 years. In the second half of the episode, we discuss how we feel marriage has changed our relationship, how we’ve each changed since getting married, and why we made the decision to get married in the first place.

Thanks for listening! You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com.

Oct 6, 2015

Ben's dream has finally come true--a whole episode about CrossFit! You had to know it was coming, right!?!

As many of you know, Ben was an early adopter of CrossFit and has spent way too many hours of his life doing it, researching it, watching it, dreaming about it...thus, recording today's episode gave him the chance to put all of his "hard work" to use and share some of his CrossFit knowledge and experience with you.

In the first half of the episode, Ben shares the basics of CrossFit and we both share our experiences with it. In the second half of the episode, we discuss the pluses + minuses of CrossFit and answer the question, "Should you do CrossFit?" 

Even if you don't do CrossFit or have never heard of it, I think you'll find this episode interesting because we discuss how CrossFit is changing the fitness landscape in the US and how it's giving us a new way to think about "working out." 

You can learn more about Starr Struck Radio + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for listening! 

Sep 29, 2015

Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or a little lost? Might be time to outsource or hire some help! In this week’s episode, we discuss the ways in which we’ve both (individually and as a couple) recently asked for help and gotten it--and how this help has changed our lives for the better. We cover some of the factors to consider when deciding whether or not to outsource tasks or projects in your life, and as is to be expected, we go off on a few rants about household projects.

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for listening!

Sep 22, 2015

Ben takes the lead! And thus, in this week's episode, we tackle two of his recent obsessions. In the first half of the show, we talk spirit animals and Ben shares his recent "connection" with a wild animal in our yard. In the second half of the show, we discuss why laundry has become one of Ben's main life activities, what he can do about it, and some of the lessons that laundry (and other household chores) have to teach us. 

You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. As always, thanks for listening!

Sep 15, 2015

In this week's episode, we welcome back last week's guest, Brian, for a second go-round during his second week in town.

We start the episode with a discussion of Tapas (the cuisine, not the sanskrit word) and then jump into a discussion of willpower--and more specifically, why we're motivated in some areas of our lives and super lazy in others.

The show ends with a segment all about engagement rings, getting engaged, and Brian's recent engagement experience. It's a fun one! 

You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. 

As always, thanks for listening! 

Sep 8, 2015

In this week’s episode, we’re revisiting a topic that we covered last season: guys + yoga--and specifically the question, why don’t more guys do yoga? Today, we take this conversation a bit further by chatting with our friend Brian about his recent foray into the world of yoga.

Brian is a big, athletic guy who, until shortly after hearing episode #8, had never done yoga before. Thus, he was the perfect person to interview about his yoga experience and was able to shed some serious light on this topic.

In the first half of the episode, Brian shares his preconceptions about yoga, his experience taking his first class, + what makes him feel awkward about being one of the only guys in class.

In the second half of the episode, we continue our discussion of why more guys don't do yoga, we discuss how teachers and studios can attract more guys, + Ben gets REAL (as usual). 

You can learn more + view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com. Thanks for tuning in! 

Sep 1, 2015

We're baaaaaackkkkkk! In our Season #2 premiere we discuss the summer, share a special #firstworldproblems segment (inspired by my trip to Peru), chat about the show's format, and discuss a topic that Ben has been obsessed with over the past few months: sun exposure. 

You can view the shownotes for this episode and learn more at StarrStruckRadio.com.

Thanks for listening! Enjoy ;) 

May 26, 2015

Listener episode + Season 1 finale extravaganza!!

If you've been a hardcore, devoted Starr Struck Radio listener this season, this episode is for you. We spend time discussing #firstworldproblems, chatting about what we learned from recording our first 20 episodes, revisiting some of Ben's most controversial claims, answering listener questions (thanks to all who sent them in!), and we finish with a final round of rapidfire questions. 

A *HUGE* thank you to everyone who supported us + listened this season! We'll be back with Season 2 on September 1st. You can view the shownotes for this episode and learn more at StarrStruckRadio.com.

We'll miss you over the summer! 

May 19, 2015

Your body has a lot to say, but do you listen? That's what we discuss in this week's episode--what "listening to your body" means, how to do it, and how to apply this concept to your life in order to be happier and healthier.

In the first half of the show, we discuss what we mean when we say “listen to your body” and how to use this idea in yoga and in daily life off of the mat.

In the second half of the show, we discuss how this concept relates to exercise and working out, sleep, illness, nutrition, and making big life decisions. We laugh, we make fun of each other, and of course, we talk #firstworldproblems. 

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckRadio.com.

If you have any questions that you want us to answer in Episode #20, the last episode of Season #1 (!), tweet your question to @starrstruckblog OR email marycatherine@starrstruckblog.com.

Thanks for listening!   

May 12, 2015

This episode is for anyone and everyone who might be thinking about making a scary job transition, attempting a big career change, or leaving a full-time job to pursue a passion or start a business.

Both Ben and I have made somewhat drastic career changes in the past 5 years or so--Ben within his same field and mine in a totally different field--so in the first half of the episode, we share those stories and experiences with you.

In the second half of the episode, we discuss what we learned from these big transitions and we each share 3 tips for those who might want to make a similar transition or shift gears in some way.

You can learn more and view the shownotes on StarrStruckBlog.com. If you have any questions that you want us to answer in Episode #20, the last episode of Season #1, tweet your question to @starrstruckblog OR email marycatherine@starrstruckblog.com
.

Thanks for listening!   

May 5, 2015

It's time--we made it through 16 episodes before talking about it, but we can't hold off any longer--today we're discussing our generation's relationship with/addiction to technology.

In the first half of the episode, we share our personal experiences with technology and all of the problems, pressures, and issues that can arise from living in a world so dominated by smart devices.

In the second half of the episode, we discuss the science behind technology addiction, mindfulness + how to be more mindful when it comes to how you interact with your technology, and we share some quick tips for how to start breaking the addictive patterns in your daily life. 

To learn more and view the shownotes, visit StarrStruckBlog.com.

Thanks for listening!

Apr 28, 2015

The second episode in a two-part miniseries exploring modern-day motherhood! In this short series, I’m talking with two different guests in two separate interviews about what it’s like to be a new (or new-ish) mother trying to find balance while exploring parental lifestyle + scheduling options.

In this second interview, my dear friend, Erica, shares her experience becoming a full-time, working mom after giving birth to her first child 9 months ago. We discuss why it wasn't difficult for her to make the decision to keep working post-baby, how her life has changed since having a child, and her advice for other modern-day mothers (or future mothers) trying to figure out how to make it all work and find balance in their lives.

Learn more, view the full shownotes, and comment at StarrStruckBlog.com

Thanks for listening!

Apr 21, 2015

The first part of a two-part miniseries exploring modern-day motherhood! In this series, I’m talking with two different guests in two separate interviews about what it’s like to be a new (or new-ish) mother trying to find balance while exploring parental lifestyle + scheduling options.

In this first interview, my good friend, Sara, shares her experience becoming a stay-at-home mom after giving birth to her first child. We discuss why she made the choice to leave the workforce and become a stay-at-home mom (for now), how her life has changed since making this choice, and her advice for other modern-day mothers (or future mothers) trying to figure out how to make it all work and find balance in their lives.

You can learn more and find the shownotes at StarrStruckBlog.com

Thanks for listening! 

Apr 14, 2015

Our second guest! This week, we chat with our good friend Bobby Scott, a talented Cape Cod-based personal trainer, about setting and meeting fitness goals.

In the first half of the episode, we discuss common training goals and mistakes that people often make when trying to reach these goals. In the second half of the show, we share tips and tools for meeting your fitness goals and we close with a fun rapid fire segment.  

Thanks for listening! You can learn more about Starr Struck Radio and view the full shownotes at StarrStruckBlog.com. 

Learn more about Bobby at BobbyScottPerformance.com

Apr 7, 2015

Saying no can be really hard for some. For others, it's a piece of cake. Many things determine whether or not saying "no" comes easily to you, including your personality and your personal history with setting boundaries. In this week's episode, we delve into this and more, discussing the art of saying no and how to master it. 

In the first half of the episode, we each share our experiences with saying no (which are quite different!) and we touch on why it’s important to learn how to say no. In the second half of the episode, we discuss where and when you should say no, and we offer tips on how to say no with more confidence and ease. 

You can learn more and view the shownotes on StarrStruckBlog.com.

As always, thanks for listening! 

 

Mar 31, 2015

In this week's episode, we indulge our mushy, lovey-dovey sides and talk about one of our favorite subjects (our very favorite subject?), our rescue dog, Sayde. This little dog-child has changed our lives in so many ways that we felt we had to spend some time talking about her on the show. 

During the first half of the episode, we tell our Sayde adoption story and discuss the process of adopting a pet from halfway across the country. In the second half of the episode, we share some of the challenges that we’ve experienced with Sayde, how she has changed our lives, what we've learned from her, and some tips for those who might want to rescue a dog themselves. 

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckBlog.com.

As always, thanks for listening!

Mar 24, 2015

Do you make to-do lists on a regular basis? If so, are they effective? Do they help you to use your time in a more productive and purposeful way? In today's episode, we discuss to-do lists, productivity, and how to manage lots of tasks without losing your mind.

In the first half of the episode, we discuss our own experiences with to-do lists and share some of the science and psychology behind to-do lists. In the second half of the episode, we share tips for how to make more effective to-do lists and how to increase your productivity through list-making.

You can learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckBlog.

Thanks for listening!

Mar 17, 2015

In this episode, we chat about a subject that normally wouldn’t enter into the Starr Struck lexicon--cars. But, we talk about cars as they relate to some bigger picture life issues and topics, such as materialism, values, self-image, and finances.

In the first half of the episode, we each share our car history and tell a few ridiculous car stories (they are really ridiculous and we laugh a lot). In the second half of the episode, we talk about the car issues that we’re facing right now, and how these issues are inspiring us to take a look at our values, our relationship, and our attachment issues.

Learn more and view the shownotes on StarrStruckBlog.com

Thanks SO much for listening!

Mar 10, 2015

What motivates you? Do you know why you do what you do? 

In this week's episode, we discuss the dangers of relying on negative sources of motivation in order to make things happen or achieve goals in your life. There's a big difference between motivation that comes from a place of fear, anger, or comparison, as opposed to motivation caused by passion, excitement, or fulfillment, and we want you to understand that difference. 

In the first half of the episode, we break down the various types of negative motivation that we’ve each experienced and give examples of situations in which we’ve relied on these types of motivation.

In the second half, we discuss the dangers of these types of motivation and offer some ways to flip your perspective and find more positive sources of inspiration. 

Learn more and view the shownotes at StarrStruckBlog.com. Thanks for listening!

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