Starter Marriage

Starter Marriage is an intimate and candid exploration of modern partnership, hosted by New York Times best-selling author and relationship coach Allison Raskin and her husband, former CIA officer John Blakeslee. The podcast bridges the gap between professional relationship expertise and the messy, lived reality of marriage. Through a blend of expert interviews, personal anecdotes, and recurring segments like 'Marriage Moments,' the hosts dissect the societal pressures, communication hurdles, and emotional labor inherent in contemporary relationships. With a tone that is both vulnerable and humorous, the show appeals to listeners navigating their own commitments, offering a relatable look at how two very different personalities—one a public mental health influencer and the other a private, analytical thinker—negotiate their life together.