Starre Julia Vartan – Science & Environment Writer & Author
Starre Julia Vartan – Science & Environment Writer & Author
Community and Background:
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to the Coledale community? How did you end up here and what attracted you to this community?
I came from the US to take care of my dad during the pandemic when he was ill and I have been visiting him in Coledale each of the last 5 years. I spied WorkLife a couple years ago and even took a picture of the cute graphics in the window. Now I have moved here more permanently, though part of my life and work is still in the US. Just one more move-session to go, but each return it feels more like home. Yes, there have been a lot of trans-Pacific flights recently!
Business and Entrepreneurship:
Tell us about your work. How and when did you decide to start it, and what motivated you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship or remote work?
I’m a freelance science journalist and I’ve been working independently for 15 years now. I didn’t have great experiences with bosses and always felt like they hampered my ambition, so I went out on my own after I finished my masters degree and have never looked back.
What does work-life balance look like for you? How do you manage the demands of work while ensuring time for family and personal life?
I don’t have too much trouble with this. Being childfree helps, and so does having hobbies I’m absolutely in love with which pushes me out the door when needed. Not having kids was a hugely important life choice I made at the age of 29, when I realized I was only considering doing so because I had been told “that’s what you do”—but it wasn’t something I really wanted. That choice is one that I’m thankful for every day, because I love my life and the freedom I have (including the freedom not to be responsible for supporting a growing human which has allowed me to take more financial risks and pursue riskier work projects).
In your industry, what recent disruptions or transitions have had the most significant impact on your business?
The continual defunding and undervaluing of high-quality journalism—so necessary for a free and informed society—feels pretty demoralizing at times. I wish the work that I and other journalists do was valued more. So many great reporters and writers have left the field because they can’t afford to stay. Almost nobody does this job for the paycheck anymore (it used to be a way to a solid living), and the negativity toward journalists can be really depressing because you hear abuse AND you aren’t exactly making the big bucks. Still, I can’t imagine doing any other kind of work; I love what I do.
Personal Life:
Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not focused on business or family?
My non-work life is just as important to me as my work and I love that I have communities where people know me as “Starre the ceramist” or “Dancer Starre” — having my identity attached to various worlds and not just my career feels psychologically safer. If my career crashes and burns, I have other places I matter. Plus, although I truly do love other journalists, I appreciate the different kinds of people I meet in other non-writing communities (and that also makes me a better reporter!). Besides ecstatic dance, I’m also a weightlifter, trail runner, wild swimmer (I’ll swim in any body of water available!) and I make weird ceramic sculptures.
Are there any books or podcasts you’ve found particularly inspiring or informative recently? Any recommendations for the WorkLife community?
I’d have to mention my own book, which debuts in Australia on 28th October: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, which is an in-depth, science- and research-based look at the strengths of the female body that have long been ignored. I also read a lot of novels and recent faves were James by Percival Everett, The Cry of the Owl by Patricia Highsmith, and And Artist in the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. I also read every Jane Harper novel as soon as it comes out – love a good mystery. My fave podcast is Blank Check, about movies—I listen to it because it reminds me of my friends in NYC and the podcasters are extremely well-informed and funny. I love film and film history so that’s the one way I can keep some of that in my life though I don’t have as much time to watch movies as I’d like.
How do you maintain boundaries between work and personal life? Any top tips?
Working in coworking spaces is a big one for me. I was a part of one in Manhattan when I first went freelance and I found that so helpful. Also, when possible, having a dedicated home office. I’ve been an independent worker for so long now that I don’t tend to overwork and if anything am always looking for ways to work less. On the flipside, there are times when I love getting stuck into a project and just working on it nonstop. That can be fun as long as you don’t do it too often.
Design and Lifestyle:
What is your taste like? Do you have a favourite item of furniture or object in your home? Anything that has special significance or tells a story about you?
I’m a maximalist in my clothing, my home design, and my overall design sense. Sometimes people think that means I don’t appreciate good design, but I’ve actually worked at an international design magazine (Metropolis); used to be a style editor in NYC; and wrote a column called Packaging the Future for years where I investigated sustainability claims of various packages (which of course involves how they are designed). Half my family are artists and I grew up in a modernist house my grandmother designed that was extremely unusual—and I was a tour guide at another midcentury modern house in high school. So my maximalism comes from the love of seeing how color, pattern, and shape, play with each other, not just living in isolation. Give me layers of textiles, art, color, and unexpected forms all day every day.
What do you like/appreciate about the design at WorkLife? Any favourite touches or things that make you feel at home when you are at work?
Light is very important to me. I love being at WorkLife after the sun sets and the combination of those heavy gold curtains, kitchen light, and other illuminations feels shockingly cozy to me for what is a public workspace.
If you were to showcase the best of the local lifestyle to visiting friends, where would you take them and why?
I’m a denizen of the Coledale and Austi sea pools so that’s number one on my list. And hikes in Royal National Park of course (obsessed with the Palm Jungle Loop Track in particular!) For food and drink I adore Frank’s Wild Years bar in Thirroul – what a fab spot. I’ve been impressed with Cirello’s pretty authentic pies and Boveda’s high-end take on Mexican food, and Jin’s makes such excellent soups in winter. Of course I’m devoted to Earthwalker and their eponymous bowls. There are some great local ecstatic dances as well (including a women’s only in Woonoona that I’d love to bring a friend to), and the giant fig tree next to the Thirroul library always delights non-Aussie friends.
Productivity and Time Management:
What’s your go-to productivity hack? How do you stay organised and efficient, especially with multiple responsibilities?
I write everything down in Leuchtterm1917 notebooks. I think best on paper, though I do keep a Google calendar. I use Scrivener for my long-form writing projects. That’s about it; I don’t have much trouble with organization and I like to keep it simple.
Benefits of WorkLife Membership:
Lastly, what’s been the most valuable aspect of being a member at WorkLife for you and your work?
Having a dedicate workspace is key—I really plow through the work when I’m at the office. I also like being able to say (to others and myself) “Ok, off to the office!” It helps me take my work seriously. I also appreciate the healthy snacks so I can keep going when I’m on a roll! And the tasty coffee (and conversations about coffee, haha).
If you’d like to know more you can checkout Starre’s website here.
