Starr Struck Radio

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 ;) 

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! 

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!   

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!   

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!

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!

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! 

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. 

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!   

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!

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!

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!

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!

Why don't more guys do yoga? In this week's episode, we tackle this subject and more (because really, where are all the dudes?).  In the first half of the show, Ben shares what it's like to practice yoga as one of the few men in class, and we discuss some of our theories about why more guys don’t do yoga in the western world. In the second half of the episode, we discuss why more guys should do yoga and how a guy can feel more comfortable going to his first yoga class. Near the end of the show we share some do’s + dont’s for women who want to bring a beginner male companion to class with them.  Learn more and view the full shownotes on StarrStruckBlog.com.

What happens when all of your colleagues are eating pizza for lunch and you decide to pass? Do they make you feel guilty for deciding to go the healthier route? It can be really hard to make healthy choices when you feel social pressure to indulge, so in this week's episode, we discuss all of the challenges that can come up when trying to eat healthy in social situations, in the workplace, and beyond.  In the first half of our discussion, we’ll delve into some examples of times, places, and situations where it can be very hard to stay true to your nutritional principles due to peer pressure, social expectations, and good manners. In the second half, we’ll offer some thoughts on why groups often shame the healthy eater on the bunch, and we'll share some tips and tricks for how to stay true to your health goals without stepping on any toes or upsetting anyone. We hope this episode empowers you to stay strong in your nutritional choices, whatever they may be! You can learn more on StarrStruckBlog.com.  

This week, we’re once again delving into a somewhat more personal topic about our relationship--specifically, why we've been feeling like “two ships passing in the night," and what we can do about it.  In the first half of the episode, we’ll share some background on our relationship and the scheduling challenges that we’re currently experiencing. In the second half of the episode, we’ll discuss some ideas that we’ve come up with (and not shared with each other prior to this recording) in order to remedy this situation and spend more quality time together.  Lastly, we want advice from our listeners! How do you make time to nurture your relationship? We'd love to hear! Email marycatherine@starrstruckblog.com or share your advice via social media.  Learn more about the podcast and your hosts on StarrStruckBlog.com. Thanks for listening!

Our first guest! In this week’s episode, we welcome our good friend, Brian, to the show to discuss a subject that both Ben and Brian know a lot about--what to do with your money. In the first half of the episode, we’re going to discuss what we mean by "investing," why you should be interested in investing (even if you're not!), why our generation is so scared of investing, and Ben and Brian will each share their advice for someone who is intimidated by financial management in general. In the second half of the episode, we’re going to discuss the importance of saving for your future, why investing is important for individuals, why it’s important for society as a whole, and then Ben and Brian will answer some rapid fire questions to close out the show. Learn more on the blog, Starr Struck.  Thanks for listening!

In this week’s episode, we delve into a rather personal subject and discuss some of the issues that we're facing in making the decision when to have kids (or, when to begin exploring this process).  We decided to let our listeners in on this intimate conversation in order to share what it’s like to be a couple in the child-bearing/child-rearing age group--who knows that they want to have kids--but who still isn't sure when they want to start down this road.  Our hope is that this episode sheds some light on some of the issues that can come up for individual couples when making this BIG life decision, and how careers, age, finances, and time management/scheduling can come into play when pondering this topic. Learn more on the blog, Starr Struck. Thanks for listening!

Whether you work in a traditional office or online, whether you're a solopreneur or an employee of a big corporation, there's something that you need to master--how to walk the fine line between promoting yourself [your work, your accomplishments, and/or your business] and being annoying, braggy, or downright narcissistic. In this week's episode, Ben and Mary Catherine take on this topic in two parts: In the first half of the episode, Ben talks about this subject as it relates to promoting yourself and getting noticed in a traditional workplace. In the second half of the episode, Mary Catherine discusses this subject as it pertains to promoting yourself, your products, your services, and/or your business online.  This episode is full of tips on how to stand up for yourself, how to promote your work, and how to market yourself without being that person.  You can view more about the show on the blog, Starr Struck. 

We bought a house! After closing on our very first home last week, we're using this week's episode to share our experience with the home-buying process and share the challenges that we encountered.  In the first half of the episode, we discuss our initial decision to start this process and the issues that came up during the house search. In the second half, we share how we found our new house and the challenges of actually buying that house and securing a mortgage. Near the end of the episode we delve into the challenges we’re facing now that we own our very first home and some of our tips for those who might be starting the home-buying process (or going through it right now). You can view a few pictures of our new house on the blog, Starr Struck. Thanks for listening!