Episode 20: A Little Less Noise, A Little More Daydreaming

Episode 23: The One Where Ben Rage Baits Me

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] This episode starts off with some lighter reflections on Galentine’s Day and the beautiful depth of female friendships. But things take a turn when we start unpacking the differences between how men and women bond, and the elusive magic of finding a solid “dad group.” We also dive into: The Gender Divide in Friendships: Why do men default to side-by-side recreation (like golf or basketball) while women bond face-to-face? Also, it can be hard to make parent friends you actually want to hang out with when the kids aren’t around. The “Masculinity” Debate: This is where things get spicy—we get into a fierce debate about domestic inequality and Ben shares some thoughts on how the push for household equality (yes, even just doing the dishes) clashes with “natural manliness.” I push back—hard—against this “internet bro” narrative, because being an equal partner in your own home does not emasculate you. (Do we need to cancel Ben now? Yikes.) Rethinking “Date Night”: We talk about the absolute logistical nightmare that is the traditional evening date night—finding a sitter, the exhaustion, the expense—and share our new favorite strategy for staying connected: the Friday daytime lunch date. This episode is a little bit of everything—including a reminder that if you’re currently navigating the messy, out-of-whack scales of household labor inequality, you are in very good company.

Episode 22: There Is Something Living In Our Ceiling

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In this episode, Ben and I sit down for a conversation that is—thankfully—much more relaxed than our last one. We start with a post-mortem on the “Great Christmas Gift Wrapping Experiment.” If you were hoping for a success story about a perfectly equitable domestic shift, well, there’s always next year… We also dive into: The Creator’s Dilemma: How do you keep making “silly little comics” about motherhood when the world feels like it’s on fire? I talk about the tension of being an artist in a heavy political climate and the fine line between staying informed and finding a necessary reprieve. The Things That Go Bump in the Night: We are currently being held hostage by a mysterious creature living in our ceiling. We discuss the fear of living with unidentified nocturnal “skittering,” Ben’s refusal to call the exterminator, and the very real possibility that our house is actually Noah’s Ark for local rodents. Humans or Dollar Signs?: A deep dive into the weird ethics of the service industry. Whether it’s teaching yoga or coaching basketball, we discuss what it feels like when your paycheck is tied to the number of bodies in the room and the mental shift from “government salary” to “self-employed hustle.” Biological Debates: Is an owl a mammal? Ben has some thoughts. (Spoiler: He is very, very wrong.)

Episode 21: I Am DONE Doing Everything for Christmas.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] *Content alert for anyone listening with kids around: we discuss the Santa!!! So you might want to pop on some headphones. In this month’s very December episode, we delve into Christmas prep—the lists, the logistics, the late-night wrapping, the last-minute gift panic—and of course, the invisible labor that goes into creating the holiday magic that our kids enjoy every year. (As you might have guessed, this is not Ben’s favorite topic, but we go there anyway.) To kick-off the conversation, Mary Catherine shares the reality that most moms know too well: the feeling of being the [overwhelmed and unacknowledged] project manager of the entire season. In response, Ben admits he hasn’t exactly been leading the charge, and then commits (on the record!) to step it up this year. What follows is a real, honest conversation about the mental load, gender roles, and what it actually takes to make the holidays happen.

Episode 20: A Little Less Noise, A Little More Daydreaming

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Ben and I dive into why no one seems to daydream anymore—and how constant scrolling, earbuds, and nonstop stimulation might be stealing our creativity. We talk modern distractions, the chaos of tech-filled days, and why a little intentional boredom might be exactly what we all need.

Episode 19: What In The Ever-Loving, Patriarchal Hell is Happening With Kids' Halloween Costumes?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] It’s spooky season, so we’re talking all things Halloween nostalgia — from homemade Ninja Turtle and witch costumes to today’s mass-produced “instant” versions made by Big Costume. Mary Catherine has some thoughts about (and beef with) the messages these costumes send to girls — hello, patriarchy 👋 — while Ben learns how that same system has messed with his feelings about…his shoulders. And of course, because this is This Is Personal, the conversation somehow ends up back at sports. To hear the full episode, subscribe to This Is Personal on Substack at marycatherinestarr.substack.com [https://marycatherinestarr.substack.com/]