In the latest episode, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard reviews an Institute for Family Studies article about five traits marriage-minded people should look for in a partner and expands the advice to apply to all daters. Dr. Shepard outlines the five traits: clear intentions, feeling protected, faithfulness online and offline, encouragement and shared values, and believing marriage is for life; and explains how each trait supports long-term relationship satisfaction.

Dr. Shepard stresses the importance of defining terms (e.g., what counts as consistent communication or cheating), having early conversations about boundaries and digital behavior, and aligning on core values and non-negotiables. He also discusses attraction, conflict as a chance to grow, and why commitment requires ongoing action and communication rather than just feelings. Listeners will gain practical guidance for evaluating partners, setting expectations, and building stronger foundations for lasting relationships.

In this week's episode, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard breaks down recent data on online dating and shares practical advice for using dating apps more effectively. Drawing on reports from Match Group, Bumble, The Knot, Pew Research, SwipeStats and academic studies, he outlines who is using apps, how matches and messages break down by gender and age, and how many relationships those apps actually create.

Key findings include market size (well over $12.5 billion in 2026), match-rate differences (men average ~5.3% matches, women ~44%), Tinder’s large male skew (≈67% men), and that roughly 27% of married couples and more than half of engaged couples in 2025 met on apps. A PubMed study also found slightly lower divorce rates for couples who met online.

Behavioral patterns show men swipe and check apps far more and get fewer matches, while women receive and send many more messages. Features like “super likes” have low return on investment, and racial and height biases persist in matching behavior.

Practical profile tips: refresh photos every ~6 months, lead with a clear headshot plus full-body and mid-length images, include at least one photo that shows a personal interest, and write a concise bio (about two short paragraphs of 3–5 sentences each) that signals your intentions and personality.

Interaction rules to try: use a 72-hour rule (unmatch if someone doesn’t reply within three days), cap active conversations (under 10, ideally 7 or fewer), move off the app within about three weeks by exchanging numbers or setting a public first meet, and be intentionally focused rather than maintaining large rosters.

Bottom line: dating apps do produce real relationships, but success depends on intentionality, good photos and bios, clear boundaries, and realistic expectations. For questions or Ask Dr. Shepard submissions, email offthedataprovided@gmail.com.

In this latest episode, Dr. Marcus C. Shepard revisits cuffing season and walks listeners through the key growth phases of committed romantic relationships. He frames cuffing season as a process (pre-cuffing (scouting), drafting, and tryouts) and explains how people use this time to test compatibility.

The episode breaks the growth phase into six steps: individuality (know your needs and non-negotiables), invitational communication (show interest clearly), explorational communication (discuss goals and dealbreakers), intensifying communication (build shared rules and relationship culture), revising communication (air grievances and evaluate fit), and commitment (decide and invest).

Dr. Shepard also explains important communication rules—regulative (when and where to talk), constitutive (what counts as affection or flirting), and shall-not rules (things you won’t tolerate)—and urges partners to define meanings rather than assume them.

Towards the end of the episode, he touching on later stages, he sketches navigation (working through problems) and deterioration (when patterns break down, leading to social fallout, grave-dressing, and eventual moving on).

Takeaways: know who you are, set and keep your non-negotiables, be explicit and ethical in communication, and don’t skip the conversations that build a solid foundation. To submit an Ask Dr. Shepard question, email offthedataprovided@gmail.com.