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Starter Marriage

Starter Marriage

By: Allison Raskin John Blakeslee & Studio71
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About this listen

 New York Times best-selling author and relationship coach, Allison Raskin, has spent the last few years researching what it really means to get married in today’s society. And now she is expanding her investigation with hands on experience as she navigates her first (and hopefully last) marriage with her husband and co-host, John Blakeslee. Pulling from the latest research, other couples and various experts, the duo will examine modern marriage from every angle including how it impacts the world on a societal level (think trad wives) and on the most personal (like losing a parent). Allison, a well-known mental health influencer, is used to sharing her life online, so opening up about the intimate details of her marriage to help others understand their own felt like a no-brainer. John, a former undercover CIA officer, who isn’t used to sharing his life so publicly, needed a little more convincing. But, hey, isn’t marriage all about compromise? For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20PolicyAllison Raskin, John Blakeslee, & Studio71 Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Trad Wives Are Lying To You

    Trad Wives Are Lying To You
    Aug 18 2025
    It may be 2025 but the hottest trend on the internet is women pretending like it’s 1950. Trad Wives, short for “Traditional Wives,” boast millions of followers as they pretend to live the pastoral life of a submissive homemaker. But that image couldn’t be further from the truth. Journalist and novelist Jo Piazza joins the podcast to discuss this phenomenon and why she thinks Harry Burns and Sally Albright from When Harry Met Sally should have never gotten together. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the possibilities of modern marriage with a copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I DO (I THINK): Conversations About Modern Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase Allison’s new romcom novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Save The Date.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/StarterMarriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • I’m Scared You Won’t Find Me Attractive Anymore

    I’m Scared You Won’t Find Me Attractive Anymore
    Aug 11 2025
    Most couples assume attraction fades over time, but does it have to? In this episode, Allison shares a fear that’s been on her mind during pregnancy: what if her body changes and John stops desiring her? The two talk about how attraction isn’t automatic. It’s something both partners have to nurture. John also reveals his harrowing appendicitis story. And Allison admits there’s one thing she always finds herself drawn to, no matter the circumstance: corn. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the possibilities of modern marriage with a copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I DO (I THINK): Conversations About Modern Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase Allison’s new romcom novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Save The Date.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/StarterMarriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The Dark History of Marriage

    The Dark History of Marriage
    Aug 4 2025
    John and Allison are thrilled to welcome author and historian Stephanie Coontz to the podcast for a deep dive into the complicated history of marriage. How did what started as a strategic partnership between families evolve into the over-idealized 1950s model of gender roles? Allison also unveils her nighttime alter-ego, “the Ali-Baba." John chooses a marriage moment that, curiously, doesn’t involve Allison at all; and Stephanie tells us what happened when she forced herself to read 50 Shades of Grey. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the possibilities of modern marriage with a copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I DO (I THINK): Conversations About Modern Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase Allison’s new romcom novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Save The Date.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/StarterMarriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
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