Tough Girl Podcast Starre Vartan: The Stronger Sex — Women's Bodies, Endurance, and the Science We've Been Missing
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Starre Vartan — science and environment writer, author, and lifelong question-asker whose work sits at the powerful intersection of the human body and the natural world.
With a background in geology and biology, Starre began her career as an environmental geologist before pivoting into journalism to tell the stories behind the science. Over the past 15+ years, she's written for publications including National Geographic, Scientific American, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and New Scientist, becoming known for her ability to make science both rigorous and deeply human — especially when it comes to women's bodies.
We dive into Starre's latest book, The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, a myth-busting, research-driven celebration of women's endurance, longevity, adaptability, and strength. From the messages girls receive about their bodies at a young age, to puberty, bone density, menopause, and why women often excel in endurance sports, Starre unpacks the science that has been overlooked — and what it means for women's health, sport, and everyday life.
We also talk about Starre's upbringing between Australia and the U.S., the influence of her formidable grandmother, growing up active and outdoors, and how reconnecting with strength training later in life has left her feeling more powerful than ever. This conversation is about listening to your body, trusting its wisdom, and reclaiming strength — physically, mentally, and scientifically.
If you've ever been told women are the weaker sex, this episode will change how you think about the female body forever.
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Show notes
- Who is Starre
- Working as a scientist journalist focusing on women's health recently
- Being based in a beach town south of Sydney, Australia
- Growing up in NYC
- Being a dual citizen with Australia and America
- Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body
- The dedication to her grandmother -the strongest women's she's ever known
- Growing up with her grandmother
- Doing her age appropriate chores; stacking wood, working in the garden, being involved and active in the running of the house
- The messages that young girls receive about their bodies from a young age
- Heading off into the woods to go on adventures
- The lessons learned from her grandmother
- Muscles and bone density for women and why puberty is such an important age for girls
- Puberty in girls and athletics
- The knowledge gap for women in sports
- Women, endurance and the longer races
- Differences between all human beings
- The science and muscle and getting surprising results
- Women's body fat and location
- Visiting Japan to research longevity
- How women's body handle diseases
- The risks that men take
- Finding purpose in life and figuring out your life goal
- Making changes in her own life
- Starting to weigh lift 3 years ago
- Can you grown bone once you are at the stage where you have more extreme bone loss
- Bone loss in women during menopause
- Prof Belinda Beck
- Feeling empowered by lifting heavy weights
- Becoming a stronger runner and dancer
- Starre's ultimate life goal and purpose
- Using AI in scientific ways
- Wanting to be as strong as her grandmother
- How to connect with Starre online
- Starting a new newsletter—Palimpsest of Flesh
- Vodcast
- Words of advice and wisdom for the stronger sex
- Reflecting back on life in her 20s
- Listen to your body and the wisdom it holds
Social Media
Website: starrevartan.com
Instagram: @starrevartan
Bluesky: @starrevartan.bsky.social
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/starrevartan/membership