Starter Marriage

The Dark History of Marriage

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

We Had A Fight About Navigating Conflict

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 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

Married & Non-Monogamous

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

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

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 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

Some People Aren't Meant To Marry

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 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