Have you ever thought about - or fought about - how our phones, screens, and even artificial intelligence impact our most important relationships? Have you ever been guilty of avoiding a conversation with your spouse by hiding on your phone? Maybe tuning out of a story about their day to scroll?

I know the answer is yes because we are all guilty of it. So what can we do to stay connected to our partners in a world designed to distract us?

Let’s start with the data. Research indicates that the average American checks their phone 205 times a day, or almost once every five minutes while awake.

Another study found that 46% of participants experienced "phubbing"—being snubbed by a partner in favor of a phone—and 23% reported it as a problem in their relationship.

With the rise of AI companionship, like virtual girlfriends and boyfriends, we’re facing a whole new frontier in the world of modern love. So let’s talk about it.

Colette Jane Fehr is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Relationship Expert, and co-host of the popular podcast Insights from the Couch. She is also a TEDx speaker and the author of the book The Cost of Quiet: Why Avoiding Conflict Harms Our Relationships and How Speaking Up Can Save Them, coming soon from Penguin Random House.

Resources:

• Colette Fehr's Website: https://www.colettejanefehr.com/
• Colette Fehr on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colettejanefehr
• Colette Fehr’s Substack - colettejanefehr.substack.com

From mental health and managing relationships to raising changemakers and advocating for support, freemom is a podcast dedicated to ensuring that every mom feels heard. You can find us on the gram at @freemomcast or on the web at www.freemomcast.com. You can also support the show and help fund production with a sweet little five-dollar donation right here. Thanks for listening!