Relationship Playbook

Relationship Playbook

Ever wondered what it takes to build a relationship that actually lasts through recovery, stress, and everyday life? Relationship Playbook from Addict II Athlete gives you just that: a relaxed but deep conversation about how love really works when the honeymoon phase wears off. Coach Blu Robinson and co-host Marissa Robinson share a previously Patreon-only "three stages of love" session, originally recorded in 2021.

Aimed at people in recovery, their partners, and families, the episode looks at how romantic and family relationships shift over time – especially when addiction, trauma, or shaky childhood attachments are part of the story.

They walk through the three stages: "falling in love" with all its hormones and masks; "falling out of love" when the masks come off and real conflict shows up; and the mature stage of "learning how to love and learning how to be loved." As Blu puts it, stage three is where you practise showing love in ways that actually land with the other person, and let yourself be loved despite your history and fears.

You’ll hear them bring in John Gottman’s research, Eric Erickson’s stages of development, and the popular five love languages, all tied to real-life examples from their marriage, parenting, and work with people in recovery. They share how early trust or mistrust in childhood affects adult intimacy, why some people get stuck chasing the high of stage one, and how small habits like honest apologies, comfortable silence, and balanced power can keep a relationship steady.

Light humour, honest personal stories, and practical tools make this a helpful listen whether you’re newly sober and dating, years into a partnership, or trying to show up better for a struggling child. Which stage do you think your key relationships are in right now?