Starfish Diaries

Liz McKean
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

The Starfish Diaries is a podcast hosted by Liz McKean; coach, consultant, yoga teacher, recovery & mental health advocate, and lover of metaphors. Inspired by "The Starfish Story," you can expect to hear personal stories, insightful reflections, and gentle reminders that you are not doing it wrong. Your joy, your work, your healing, and your desire for something more matters.  This is an invitation to make your life a place you want to be. Tools to envision what that even looks like. And permission to want it!  A better world begins with people who believe it's possible. And I promise, my sweet Starfish, that it IS possible.

  1. 12/31/2025

    New Year.... True You

    It’s the obligatory New Year episode of Starfish Diaries! Dropping this one early in case you want to hang out with me in your ears before the ball drops. Or after. Or anytime! But we don't do the "new year, new you" nonsense up in here. We lean in to reflection, grace, and permission to be human. ...All of which are counterintuitive to my natural brain chemistry, which is why a discussion is warranted. In this episode, we talk about these nuggets and more: What old journals/checklists/photos (including screenshots) can teach us about how far we’ve comeWhy we’re so hard on past versions of ourselves (and how I am working to soften that, cringe-worthy moments and all)How “shoulds” are weighing us down.... and a practice I found that is grounded in I can and I AM instead of I shouldA few things I hope you take from this convo: We’re just so eternally, embarrassingly, and yet perfectly human. We all do the best we can with what we have. You, me, everybody.Everything is made up. All of it. So might as well be you, do you, love you.Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    30 min

  2. 12/26/2025

    Un-learning the rules on how to feel better

    In this episode of Starfish Diaries, I’m talking about uniqueness; how deeply individual our bodies, minds, needs, and paths to feeling better actually are… and why honoring that matters so much. In this episode, we'll explore: Why we all experience anxiety, addiction, and healing incredibly differentlyWhat happens when our true need are overridden by societal expectationsHow addiction (of any kind) can quietly shrink where joy is allowed to liveWhy “feeling better” doesn’t have a universal formulaThe role of yoga and hypnosis in reconnecting with your body and inner wisdom What it looks like to choose your path instead of forcing yourself into someone else’sWhy self-acceptance often requires unlearning what we’ve been taughtReminders I want you to hear clearly: Your body is for youYou are incredibly uniqueYou get to decideYou deserve to feel betterThis episode is an invitation to stop comparing, stop overriding yourself, and start honoring the truth that your body and your life belong to you. Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    41 min

  3. 12/19/2025

    I'm fine, you’re fine, we're fine: Compassion for bathrobe Mondays

    In this episode of Starfish Diaries, I’m getting honest about anxiety, ADHD, and the particular heaviness that tends to show up in a big way on Sundays and Mondays. Even in seasons of my life when I haven’t worked a traditional Monday through Friday schedule, those days have always carried extra weight for me, and I wanted to talk about why. From my kitchen. In my bathrobe. At 1pm on a Monday! I share what it’s been like learning to trust myself more, soften self-judgment, and approach these not-as-expected days with compassion instead of pressure.  I talk through the tools I actually use when anxiety tightens like a vise, why showing up imperfectly still matters, and how powerful it’s been for me to remember that I have choice in how I respond to what I’m feeling. If you hear yourself saying/thinking, “I didn’t do enough,” with some frequency, or start many-a-week already overwhelmed, I hope this episode feels like a reminder that we are doing the best we can and it IS enough. In this episode, I chat about: Why Mondays can feel emotionally charged for me (regardless of whether or not I have a traditional schedule)What it’s looked like to trust myself to get things done (eventually) without shame or panicHow self-compassion has become one of my most important mental health toolsLetting go of perfection and honoring effort, flow, and the unique way my brain worksAs always, this episode is offered with all my love and some self-reassurance that I hope helps you as well! And if you'd like to try out the tools I mention on the show, let's do a holiday hypnosis sesh! Deep discount until end of year. Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    29 min

  4. 12/12/2025

    Hypnosis and Anxiety: rewiring old patterns to feel better, faster

    Holiday Hypnosis sessions are deeply discounted until December 31st! Grab one here while they last. In today’s episode, I’m talking honestly about my experience with anxiety and panic- how it shows up in my body, and how it can make even the smallest moments feel impossible. But not only do I share what anxiety feels like for me, and why it sometimes spirals so quickly, I'm sharing the tools I use to interrupt the cycle before it carries me away. I'll chat about the difference between knowing what helps and actually being able to access it when we’re overwhelmedthe role self-hypnosis has played in rewiring my brain to respond differently, and what that process entailsthe power of taking even the smallest action (like a walk or a deep breath) as a way to break out of a spiralhow hypnosis If anxiety is something you live with, or something you’re trying to understand and navigate with more self-compassion, I hope you take a listen. Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    31 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    Lessons from my dog: Unshame Your Coping

    Quick announcement! Holiday Hypnosis sessions are suuuuper discounted when purchased between now and December 31, 2025. They will never be this price again so grab a little slice of peace for yourself while the deal is hot! Info here. In this episode of Starfish Diaries, we talk about what it really means to cope. Not in the moralized, shame-filled way we’re taught to think about coping, but with acknowledgement of the part of us that just wants to feel safe. I share a story about my dog, Griffin, and how instinctively animals move energy through their bodies, reminding us that coping is not a character flaw. It’s a built-in wisdom we’ve forgotten how to trust. We explore the power of something as simple as a deep breath, why self-judgment keeps us stuck, and how to gently build new tools for emotional regulation without abandoning the old ones that got us this far. This conversation is your reminder that your feelings always make sense, that shame is never required, and that you deserve support as you learn new ways to take care of yourself. If you’re navigating big emotions, old habits, or the discomfort of growth, you’re not alone. There are resources, tools, and people who want to walk with you - myself included!  **One more announcement- Bryce The Third and I are back on the mic, having a grand old time on our new podcast, The Friend Lab. I hope you check us out! Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    26 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    Crowd out the misery, not the joy.

    In this episode of Starfish Diaries, I’m talking about something I think we all feel but rarely name out loud: the hard-to-ignore dread that creeps in when something in our life is out of alignment. It feels heavy in your chest, steals your joy, and makes your nervous system feel like it’s bracing even when nothing is technically wrong. If, like me, you’ve spent years chasing gold stars, external validation, or the version of your life you thought you were supposed to have, I hope this conversation is a glimmer of truthful hope.  Take a listen for a sneaky announcement about a second pod launching soon, some thoughts about imperfect beginnings (a more recent discovery for me, too), and how choosing what feels honest is the most generous thing you can offer yourself. For me, this one is an exhale. A loving reminder that you get to create a life you want to be in- one intentional choice, one honest breath, one little step at a time. Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    26 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    Your inner button-pusher is not the enemy!

    In this episode, I dive into one of my favorite topics: coping mechanisms. These are the things we do, in spite of efforts to stop, to get through the hard parts of being human. We talk about the shame that gets layered on top of our coping, why it feels so heavy, and why the shame makes it so much harder to make changes. I share some of my own patterns, the things I’ve reached for over the years, and why I’ve stopped moralizing them altogether. At the core of every coping behavior is a wise, albeit under-resourced, part that’s just trying to help us feel safe, soothed, and okay. When we look at our coping through that lens, so much softens. Judgment cracks open into compassion. And suddenly, coping becomes less about failure and more about resilience. The truth is: everyone copes. You cope. I cope. And those instincts are signs of creativity, resourcefulness, and survival, not weakness. At the end of today's chat I share news I’m so excited about- my new website is officially live! Please check it out using the link below. Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    31 min

  8. 11/07/2025

    Choices, Safety, and Access

    I have a website at last, and one you can use to learn more about how to work with me! Check it out at LizMcKean.com Today I am talking about my three non-negotiable values: choice, safety, and access to resources. In my not-so-humble opinion, these are the conditions a joyful life actually requires. I fiercely protect them for myself, and I am dedicated to creating them for others. In this episode I dig deeper than even I'd expected! We explore how authenticity is both a personal liberation and a collective responsibility, because when we live our most genuine version of free on both the inside and the outside, we can fight for that same privilege for everyone.  Learn more at LizMcKean.com. Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest here! You can also connect with me on Instagram @starfishyoga, or send me an email at Liz@LizMckean.com. I'd love to hear from you! All my love and gratitude for this podcast's beautiful cover design, created by the very best & most magical Mo Houston of JoyScout Studio And podcast production/editing masterfully done by Sean Gritters. You can reach Sean by emailing seangritters@gmail.com

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Starfish Diaries is a podcast hosted by Liz McKean; coach, consultant, yoga teacher, recovery & mental health advocate, and lover of metaphors. Inspired by "The Starfish Story," you can expect to hear personal stories, insightful reflections, and gentle reminders that you are not doing it wrong. Your joy, your work, your healing, and your desire for something more matters.  This is an invitation to make your life a place you want to be. Tools to envision what that even looks like. And permission to want it!  A better world begins with people who believe it's possible. And I promise, my sweet Starfish, that it IS possible.

Information

  • Creator
    Liz McKean
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Starfish Diaries
  • Show Website
    Starfish Diaries