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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
  • You’re Difficult To Be Around

    You’re Difficult To Be Around
    Jun 9 2025
    How do you navigate your partner’s mental health without losing yourself in the process? In this episode, Allison and John interview Sheva Rejaee, founder and director of The Center for Anxiety and OCD in Southern California. Sheva offers expert guidance on how couples can strike a balance between helping their partners and maintaining healthy boundaries. Allison talks candidly about her OCD’s impact on their marriage, and John opens up about finally trying antidepressants after being resistant to the idea. (Spoiler: it was a great decision.) 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. Follow Sheeva Rejaee on Instagram and buy her book: Relationship OCD: A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • A Newlywed Nightmare

    A Newlywed Nightmare
    Jun 2 2025
    Rain on your wedding day is supposed to mean good luck, but for Allison and John, it meant they were about to have the worst year of their lives. From John experiencing a life-changing set-back in his career, to Allison losing her beloved mother to a rare neurological disease, their time as newlyweds was anything but peaceful. But in the inaugural episode of the podcast, John and Allison dissect how this rough patch ultimately strengthened their commitment to an institution that many feel is no longer necessary. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Introducing Starter Marriage

    Introducing Starter Marriage
    May 19 2025
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 min
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