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PODCAST

Starter Marriage

Allison Raskin, John Blakeslee, & Studio71

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

society & culture relationships

All Episodes

65:56

The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Looking For A...

Starter Marriage ·

2025/10/27

Professional Matchmaker Maria Avgitidis of Agape Matchmaking joins the show to talk about the biggest dating mistakes people make when looking for a spouse and the surprising advice she gives her clients. Also, John is defiant about not having to wear socks with loafers and tells a Marriage Moment story about panicking after getting out of the shower. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at

en

67:38

Dealing with In-Laws

Starter Marriage ·

2025/10/20

Allison and John unpack meeting their in-laws and what it was like for John to enter the very specific culture of Allison’s family. John shares his last conversation with Allison’s mom before she passed. And Allison admits the awkwardness of being with John’s family and the quiet grief of losing her relationship with her exes’ parents. In Marriage Moments, John has Allison crying with laughter over a strip-mall overreaction.If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future

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67:54

Allison’s “First Husband” Sits Down with her Second

Starter Marriage ·

2025/10/13

Allison’s long-time creative partner Gabe Dunn joins the show to dissect their decade-long collaborations and share candid observations about Allison’s past romantic relationships. Gabe and Allison explore how their creative partnership was an actual "starter marriage” given how entwined they were personally and professionally. John reveals that while he isn't jealous of any of Allison's actual exes, he is jealous of Gabe. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode

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65:47

Our Biggest Disagreement

Starter Marriage ·

2025/10/06

Allison and John discuss compatibility and how to tell if there is too much friction to make a relationship work. The conversation gets heated when Allison shares she only wants to have one kid and John isn’t so sure. During Stay or Leave, the pair decide whether they could get through an organic chemistry courseIf you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. John's Substack :

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78:27

Marrying Your High School Crush with Amanda Montell

Starter Marriage ·

2025/09/29

New York Times Bestselling author and podcaster Amanda Montell is joined on mic by her husband Casey Kolb for the first time! The newlyweds discuss their fairy tale romance, how they came around to joining the institution of marriage, and Amanda’s elaborate proposal to Casey. Meanwhile, Allison roasts John for not understanding the meaning of the word “prenatal.” If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at

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70:15

When Should You Cut Off Your Parents?

Starter Marriage ·

2025/09/22

For the first time on the podcast, John opens up about being on and off estranged from his parents. He and Allison unpack how his parental relationship has strained their marriage and shaped how John thinks and reacts. They also share how they each came to the difficult decision to finally go no contact. John has a new substack! : ⁠⁠⁠https://wrongmanforthejob.substack.com⁠⁠⁠ If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at

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65:59

How (The Hell) Do You Make Friends As An Adult?

Starter Marriage ·

2025/09/15

Wouldn’t life be easier if you could live on a commune with your favorite people? This week John and Allison bring their next door neighbor on the show, Celia Kettering, to talk about found family, making new friendships as adults, and the loss of community. Plus, John recounts Allison’s high-stakes wager over whether they’d eat “slop” for dinner.John has a new substack! : ⁠⁠https://wrongmanforthejob.substack.com⁠⁠ If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode

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51:52

I Love You, But You Are So Annoying

Starter Marriage ·

2025/09/08

Is it normal to piss each other off? Allison and John come prepared this week with a long list of the many ways they annoy each other--from John leaving all of his stuff out around the house to Allison’s penchant for diminishing her accomplishments. And during Marriage Moments, Allison dumps cold water on John's dreams of becoming a "nectarine guy."John has a new substack! : ⁠https://wrongmanforthejob.substack.com⁠ If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode

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69:54

You're A Burden To Me And I'm A Burden To You

Starter Marriage ·

2025/09/01

After a harrowing week without hot water, John emerges as an expert on tankless water heaters, while Allison shares her battle with pregnancy exhaustion. She also takes aim at the corruption behind John’s new cutthroat competition: “Sweetie of the Week.” Writer and disability rights activist Emily Ladau then joins the chat to discuss how the disabled community has been denied marriage equality and how adopting a “curb cut” philosophy could benefit us all. The conversation leads Allison to reveal one

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61:34

Being Married to a Man

Starter Marriage ·

2025/08/25

Gender roles can weigh especially heavy in a marriage. In this episode, John and Allison have a frank conversation about what it's like to be married to a member of the opposite gender, the pressures and expectations that come with it, and how those forces can drive a disconnection.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

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63:18

Trad Wives Are Lying To You

Starter Marriage ·

2025/08/18

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

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63:20

I’m Scared You Won’t Find Me Attractive Anymore

Starter Marriage ·

2025/08/11

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

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70:57

The Dark History of Marriage

Starter Marriage ·

2025/08/04

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

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65:35

We Had A Fight About Navigating Conflict

Starter Marriage ·

2025/07/28

Conflict in relationships is inevitable, especially when you're making a podcast about your marriage. Allison and John dive into how they navigate conflicts in their relationship, including the surprising disagreement that arose while prepping for this very episode. John shares the exact moment he realized he wasn't afraid to have a child with Allison, and during "Stay or Leave," Allison presents John with the most triggering scenario imaginable. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or

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81:18

Married & Non-Monogamous

Starter Marriage ·

2025/07/21

This week’s episode is about sex, jealousy, and whether embellishing a story counts as a lie. Writer and content creator Hayley Folk joins Allison and John to talk about her experience with ethical non-monogamy and what it taught her about herself. Allison imagines what it would be like to have a guilt-free make out, and John wonders what it would be like to go on a sexy date… to the orchestra?If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at

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80:57

I’m Worthless And Don’t Contribute To The Household

Starter Marriage ·

2025/07/14

John and Allison dive into one of the most contentious topics for any couple: money. Joined by Megan Ford from the Love and Money Center, they explore how couples can navigate tough financial conversations without getting stuck in conflict. It's a challenging discussion for John, who wrestles with deeply rooted expectations about being a provider, and unexpectedly emotional for Allison, who comes to realize how her own approach to their finances has impacted John in ways she never anticipated.If

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70:23

Some People Aren't Meant To Marry

Starter Marriage ·

2025/07/07

Being single isn't failure. For some, it's freedom. Social psychologist and author of Single At Heart, Bella DePaulo joins the show to dismantle the myth that marriage is life's ultimate goal, making the case that for many, the single life can be the most authentic path. And yes, couples might have something to learn from that. Then, John faces a tough choice: if Allison runs off to Quebec to chase her dream, does he follow her... or file for divorce? If you would like to submit a “Marriage

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74:58

I'm Worried The Baby Will Ruin What We Have

Starter Marriage ·

2025/06/30

John is concerned that having a baby will totally disrupt their marriage. Thank goodness the co-authors of Baby Bomb: A Relationship Survival Guide For New Parents were available to help Allison and John navigate this new chapter. Therapists Kara Hoppe, MFT and Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, discuss how Allison and John can continue to take good care of each other despite the major changes babies bring. Also, were the Ratliffs happily married before Timothy lost all their money on The White Lotus? A debate

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63:23

Our Imperfect Love Story

Starter Marriage ·

2025/06/23

So many couples focus on the story of how they got together as a testament to whether their marriage was "meant to be." In this episode, Allison and John describe all the ways their early relationship broke the mold of what to look for--from John being worried that Allison was unstable to Allison not wanting to have to get to know someone new after her broken engagement. But despite not having a traditionally romantic journey to the altar, they still found their way there thanks to not having

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79:01

A Reformed Jew And A Lapsed Catholic Get Married

Starter Marriage ·

2025/06/16

Allison is culturally Jewish while John is a lapsed Catholic. What does this mean for the religious future of their child? Couples therapist, Genesis Games joins the show to help the couple navigate having an interfaith marriage. Is it possible to find a middle ground to raise a curious child rather than a religious one? Also, Allison confesses to being weary of Catholicism while John reveals he thinks consciousness is a construct, an idea that infuriates his wife.If you would like to submit a

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43 results

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