Off The Data Provided

Dr. Marcus C. Shepard reviews a new multi-country study reported by the Institute for Family Studies showing that couples who met in person report higher relationship satisfaction and stronger experiences of intimacy, passion, and commitment than couples who met online (https://ifstudies.org/blog/couples-around-the-world-who-met-in-real-life-are-happier-than-those-who-met-online).

The episode discusses possible reasons—such as shar...

Dr. Marcus C. Shepard explains how verbal communication creates meaning—covering symbols, arbitrariness, abstraction, ambiguity, brute vs. institutional facts, and how language evaluates and organizes experience.

He outlines communication rules (regulative and constitutive), punctuation, totalizing, loaded language, and offers practical guidelines: use person-centered language, specify levels of abstraction, qualify generalizations...

In this episode Dr. Marcus C. Shepard explores nonverbal communication—what it includes, how it interacts with words, and types like kinesics, haptics, proxemics, paralanguage, and environmental cues—plus practical guidelines for monitoring and interpreting nonverbals to avoid miscommunication.

The episode closes with an Ask Dr. Shepard segment about ghosting, offering a respectful “pre-ghosting” message template and advice on how ...

Dr. Marcus C. Shepard examines the Institute for Family Studies article "The Sex Recession," (https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-sex-recession-the-share-of-americans-having-regular-sex-keeps-dropping) explaining how the share of Americans having regular sex has fallen from 55% in 1990 to 37% in 2024. The  decline is linked to fewer partnered adults, reduced face-to-face time, and shifting socialization driven by smartphones and digital...

Host Dr. Marcus C. Shepard breaks down what emotions are and how framing rules, feeling rules, surface acting, deep acting, emotional intelligence, and emotional competence shape the way we feel and express ourselves. He offers practical guidelines for owning feelings, using specific language, and creating a supportive climate for emotional conversations.

The episode closes with an Ask Dr. Shepard segment on dating fatigue, offerin...

In this episode of Off the Data Provided, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard delves deep into the realm of modern friendships, exploring a compelling CNN article by Christian Rogers titled "Some of You Are Bad Friends, and That's Why You're Lonely" (https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/02/health/signs-you-are-a-bad-friend-wellness)  The discussion touches on the increasing challenges men face in forming friendships, the importance of the friendship form...

Join Dr. Marcus C. Shepard in an insightful episode of "Off the Data Provided" as we delve into the art of creating positive communication climates. Explore essential terms and concepts like confirmation and disconfirmation, defensive and supporting climates, and the role of conflict in communication. Discover valuable guidelines for nurturing healthy communication climates, ensuring your interactions foster understanding and conne...

In this episode of "Off the Data Provided," host Dr. Marcus C. Shepard delves into the complexities of making, building, and maintaining friendships in adulthood. Exploring concepts like the seeds of connection and parasocial relationships, the discussion revisits key elements such as investment, emotional closeness, trust, support, and external pressures affecting modern friendships. With insights backed by studies and expert view...

In this episode of Off the Data Provided, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard dives into the intricate world of Celine Song's new film, "Materialist." Join us as we unravel the complexities of modern relationships through the lens of two love types: Eros and Pragma. Through engaging discussions, we explore the contrasts of romantic passion and the practicality of love.

The conversation highlights how these dynamics play out in the lives of the f...

Welcome to Off the Data Provided, hosted by Dr. Marcus C. Shepard. In this episode, we dive into critical aspects of sexual communication, tackling subjects like consent, self-disclosure, and the stigma surrounding STIs. Dr. Shepard guides us through understanding sexual health and the importance of equitable communication in relationships, stressing the value of verbal and enthusiastic consent at every stage of intimacy.

We explor...

Welcome to Off the Day to Provide, your go-to podcast for exploring the nuances of interpersonal communication. In this episode, hosted by Dr. Marcus C. Shepard, we delve into the depths of understanding the self and the art of impression management. Discover how interactions with others, ranging from family members to social media acquaintances, shape our self-perception through concepts like direct and indirect definitions, refle...

In this episode of Off the Data Provided, host Dr. Marcus C. Shepard delves into a variety of intriguing topics around interpersonal communication and friendships. The conversation kicks off with a recent interview featuring Mark Zuckerberg, exploring the implications of AI companions on the growing loneliness epidemic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXeQbTuVl0). Dr. Shepard offers a critical analysis of AI's potential role in su...

In this thought-provoking episode of Off the Data Provided, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard explores the implications of a recent Harvard Business Review poll (https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025) on the use of generative AI for companionship and relationship advice. As AI technology becomes more integrated into our lives, Dr. Shepard highlights the complexities and nuances of interpersonal communication that A...

In this episode of "Off the Data Provided," we explore the complexities of male loneliness and social relationships. Host Dr. Marcus C. Shepard bridges insights from NPR's "It's Been a Minute" (https://www.npr.org/2025/02/17/1263527043/its-been-a-minute-male-loneliness-epidemic-real) with a fresh look at Pew Research data (https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2025/01/16/men-women-and-social-connections/), focusing on how men a...

On this episode of "Off the Data Provided," dive into the complexities of language and love. Discover how words are symbols, carrying arbitrary, abstract, and ambiguous meanings, and how this affects our communication every day. Explore the intriguing Color Wheel Theory of Love, developed by John Allen Lee, delving into the primary and secondary love styles that shape our relationships.

Further, understand the importance of love la...

Welcome to the latest episode of "Off the Data Provided," where we delve into Steve Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown with host Dr. Marcus C. Shepard. In this episode, Dr. Shepard explores the intricate stages of relationship deterioration, from the intrapsychic to the social phase, and discusses how to navigate these challenging moments.

Dr. Shepard provides insightful commentary on key concepts such as relational diale...

Welcome to the latest episode of Off the Data Provided, hosted by Dr. Marcus C. Shepard, where we delve into the intricate dynamics of dating, relationships, and the influence of social media. Join us as we dissect a thought-provoking Wall Street Journal article, ''Don't Touch, Don't Go Dutch and Other Tips for Dating Success” (https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/dont-touch-dont-go-dutch-and-other-tips-for-dating-success-7d...

In this episode of Off the Data Provided, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard delves into the notion of a "relationship recession" and the evolving concept of love and partnership. Through an engaging discussion, he examines the insights from a Financial Times article (https://www.ft.com/content/43e2b4f6-5ab7-4c47-b9fd-d611c36dad74), Sabrina Strings's book "The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and The Death of Romance," and C. Winter Han's book "Rac...