Stronger Marriage Connection
It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will enhance your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection.
More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder couples sometimes drift apart, growing resentful, lonely, and isolated.
The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!
Stronger Marriage Connection
Is Ai the New Partner? Ai vs Real Romance | Wendy Wang | #166
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We sit down with researcher Wendy Wang to unpack how AI companionship, porn, and endless scrolling are reshaping dating, marriage, and mental health. We share data-backed risks and simple house rules that protect attention, intimacy, and commitment.
• one in four young adults saying AI could replace romance
• how frictionless AI partners create unrealistic expectations
• links between screen time, lower satisfaction, and fewer date nights
• scams targeting loneliness with AI-crafted personas
• class and education divides in openness to AI partners
• why online choice overload delays commitment
• practical phone-free zones and bedroom boundaries
• drawing an emotional line: no AI for comfort or venting
• replacing 50-50 scorekeeping with patience and generosity
• building rituals that strengthen connection and reduce technoference
Visit our site for FREE relationship resources and regular giveaways:
Strongermarriage.org
Podcast.stongermarriage.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrongerMarriageLife
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@strongermarriagelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strongermarriagelife/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strongermarriage/
Facebook Marriage Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/770019130329579
Dr. Dave Schramm:
Dr. Liz Hale:
Meet Wendy Wang & Today’s Focus
SPEAKER_03On today's episode, Liz and I have a great discussion with Wendy Wing, who works as the Director of Research for the Institute for Family Studies. She shares some fascinating insights and research findings related to one of the hottest topics out right now: AI and relationships. We have an insightful discussion about the potential risks and harms of AI-based companionship, as well as the challenges of pornography and technology in relationships. Wendy R. Wang is the director of research at the Institute for Family Studies and an expert on demographic trends, marriage, family, and well-being. Passionate about helping disadvantaged young adults succeed, Dr. Wang's research sheds light on critical social issues. She regularly contributes op-eds and commentary to major media outlets, including the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Deseret News, and the Daily Mail. Her work is frequently cited in national media. Previously, Dr. Wang served as a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, where she led the landmark report, Breadwinter Moms, among other influential Pew Studies. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Maryland. We hope you enjoy the show. Hey there, friends. Welcome to another episode of the Stronger Marriage Connection Podcast. I'm Dr. Dave here at Utah State University. Alongside Dr. Liz Hale, we are bringing you the very best that we have in research and resources, along with a few tips and tools to help you create the marriage of your dreams. All this today at the deep dive. One of the hottest topics around today has to be artificial intelligence or AI. People of all ages are exploring it. They're using it in virtually every aspect of their lives. Our children, our adult children, they don't even Google anymore. Is that crazy? They just go straight to AI with everything, including relationships. So today we're diving into a discussion with Wendy Wing from the Institute for Family Studies. I'm really looking forward to our discussion. Wendy, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_05Thank you so much, David. This is very exciting for me.
One In Four Believe AI Can Replace Romance
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Thrilled to have you on. Wendy, you have written numerous articles about marriage, parenting, family structure, and so much more. I'm anxious to jump right in and ask you about some things and some of your articles, you know, today we'll use as the basis for our discussion. Your November 2024 report entitled AI and Relationships. And it says one in four young adults believe AI partners could replace real life romance. Kate. Yikes, right? Startling, like stunning to me. You found that 25% of young adults believe AI could replace real life relationships. From your view, is that belief more a symptom or a catalyst of deeper shifts in how younger generations think about intimacy and commitment?
SPEAKER_05I know. AI is vague these days. When we did the survey, which was in November 2024, it's you know two years almost two years ago, it was still a new thing. Now, you know, with two years passing, I can see a lot more people probably turning to AI for romantic relationships. Um especially now you hear recently Elon Musk was talking about by the end of this year, AI is gonna be smarter than any human being. So it's it's frightening. Um so back to your question about symptom or catalyst. I think it's both. And you know, because we know that young people have already turned to online for their uh to find a partner. So, you know, like the online dating is uh the default way for young people to find a spouse these days. Multiple surveys have confirmed that. And uh so it's you spend more time online and it's easier, you know, when to turn to an AI because that's just kind of extension of the online relationships. And then the the interesting thing is the more time you spend online, and the more likely uh you will be staying there and avoiding real life relationships because it's you kind of lost the interpersonal relationship skills. And so that's that's why I think these two things are feeding each other.
SPEAKER_03Man, it it again just it startles me so much. I'm curious, what does that what does that say about the durability of marriage norms going forward? What does this look like?
Risks Of AI Partners And Unreal Ideals
SPEAKER_05Well, um, I'm sure you guys probably have heard yeah, stories of people getting married with AI, a couple of stories last year. Um, that was uh interesting to hear. I don't know so far any government has approved like this type of marriage. I think it was just some ceremony that they want to do. Um, but I sure don't hope that become a norm for marriage. And um so that yeah, so I don't think that's a real relationship. That's a real marriage.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, either do I.
SPEAKER_04Let's hope not, right? My goodness. I mean, this is just reminds me just a little bit of um the role that pornography's had, right? Some men and women turning to pornography or that online viewing to kind of fill that romantic or fill that need for connection, quote unquote. Uh I don't know. So it's just it's just a step further down the road, it seems like. But when you're curious, given that some of these adults in this study are open to these AI friends or even romantic partners, even goodness, a marriage. Um, some are already using them, obviously. What kinds of risks or harms do you foresee for those individuals who might turn to the AI-based companionship instead of true human intimacy? Like, for example, we've got emotional disconnection, right? And unrealistic expectations of a partner or decreased willingness to invest in a relationship. It's a lot of work. I don't think you can ever do that with AI.
SPEAKER_05I yeah, I think there's a lot of consequences of this, because we already know from previous studies that uh the this the longer you spend time online, the more likely you will be depressed and then you know anxious and with a host of all these um mental health um indicators. Um, but I think the biggest problem with AI is that uh people are creating this unrealistic expectations, and AI is actually meeting those expectations. It's a perfect partner because you can talk to AI and she or he, whatever you want to call your AI partner, will meet every single desire of yours and will think you're just amazing, you're like the best person in the world, like the perfect partner, you're like just perfect. So that kind of that kind of thing doesn't exist in real life. We know that, and nobody's perfect. But you already create that in your mind, and then AI is reinforcing you with this concept. So I think the biggest risk is really this this making it harder for young people to actually find a real partner in life because there's no one in the world who will be like the AI partner.
SPEAKER_04And it just takes them further and further away from being out socializing, right? Yes. I mean, you can pay someone online to also respond the way you want to, right? It can be another face, but you're paying that person going back to pornography and online connections that again are not real, they're not intimate. Oh gosh, it just it kind of breaks my heart. I know what it's like to be single a long time. And it and it's not easy. And I I remember some of those feelings of desperation, you know, of putting some money down on a dating site that then went out of business. I just uh my heart aches for people. I think loneliness is just so painful.
Scams, Loneliness, And Vulnerability
SPEAKER_05Yeah. You just remind me of something I was watching online on TV, and this this is the documentary about the scammers. So the scammers are using AI to target on these older, this is mostly older women, and then they're like portray them as this perfect partner. So, as you know, this is a scam thing. And those women actually fell for it. And then they thought this is a love my life. They send the money to these people. Um, actually, they call like there's a name there, and then this person actually they use somebody's online pictures to create these um this image of this person uh that they fell in love with. It's crazy. People send millions of dollars. I'm just saying, where since we're talking about this, I do think the scamming is another aspect of this.
SPEAKER_04Yes, because it feeds on that loneliness, that feeling, right? Of so wanting to be connected, that human nature need. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Wendy, I'm curious. Do you do you see the rise of AI companionship um intersecting, I guess, in ways with other existing trends, right? We mentioned pornography, um, social isolation, you know, online dating, which has been a thing for uh yeah, at least a few decades, you know, in ways that could further challenge, I guess, long-term relationships.
SPEAKER_05I do think this AI trend is similar to uh like we're talking already talk about the online dating and also pornography, both. Um, because you know, the online dating exposes people to a wide range of partners. And then it's, you know, it seems to be a great opportunity because all of a sudden you are could be connected to millions of people in the world. You can date anybody, um, but then that creates this thing called information overload selection. You know, it's it's really hard to actually pick the one who uh you may have a connection with. And also once you pick the person, the other person also has uh thousands of options. So they might not connect with you. So this whole thing really makes this dating thing harder and it actually delays this whole process. And so it's harder for you, it's taking a longer time for you to do that. Um, so yeah, that's what I see. Like, you know, this technology, how technology affects our relationships?
Tech Trends That Delay Commitment
SPEAKER_04Oh, goodness. Well, we're grateful for the work that you're doing in this film. It's really helping all of us, you know. Just assuming that AI companionship becomes more socially acceptable or it's going to be more mainstream, regardless of how acceptable it might be. What strategies could couples or therapists, educators, marriage ministries use to protect marital intimacy and commitment from erosion? In other words, how can couples future-proof their relationship in a world where AI is competing for emotional and sexual attention?
SPEAKER_05Um so I think the important thing is to have a house rule about how you want to use these devices at your home. Um, I think you know, a lot of we access AIs route with phones and you know, computers. So I think it's important to create that uh time, say, you know, dinner time, no phone, or you know, like uh every time, you know, every day spend like 30 minutes, two, three hours, whatever time that fits your own household. And we set that time to be phone-free, technology free.
SPEAKER_04Like that. That's good movie. It's always good. Yeah, I love it.
SPEAKER_02We'll be right back after this brief message.
SPEAKER_01And we're back. Let's dive right in.
SPEAKER_03Wendy, from your perspective, as someone who deeply uh you know steeped in this demographic research for years, are there class or socio and economic divides and who's more likely to turn to AI companionship? And if so, could that lead to a widening marriage divide along class lines over time?
Future-Proofing Marriage With Boundaries
SPEAKER_05So we already know that there is a marriage divide along the education and income lines because uh we know the people with you know less education, lower income are less likely to get married today. Um, but you know, 50 years ago, the marriage rate was about the same across uh this you know education and income life. And unfortunately, through our data, we find that the people who have you know lower education, again, you know, uh lower income are actually more likely to be open to AI relationships because in the survey and uh they told us the more of you know uh the people in this group are saying that they're open to having AI as their partner uh compared to people with higher SES. And you know, that you know, when we did the survey, like college-educated folks are most likely to say that they they won't uh want to have AI as a partner, so which is quite interesting because I can see that this adds to the existing difficulties for these um you know the less advantaged group to find a partner and form a relationship.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, wow. That is interesting that that divide still holds true, yeah, with AI. Yeah, so education matters.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it is interesting. I was just talking to a colleague and he was doing a focus group among the men without education, uh without college degree, so working class men. It's surprising to know that a lot of these men have never actually have a date. So that's we're talking about young adult men um in their 20s and 30s. So it is troubling.
SPEAKER_04That would be a very vulnerable group indeed, right? For something like AI relationships. Yeah. So, Wendy, your article, Why Americans Aren't Getting Married and Having Kids and How to Change That, that argues that many single adults delay or forego marriage, not primarily because of money or careers, but because they believe it's hard to find the right person. So, given that AI companions might present low commitment, low risk, emotional alternative, and they're ideal, they're perfect. Do you worry that this could exacerbate the marriage delay culture?
SPEAKER_05Absolutely. Um, like I said, we, you know, the online, the whole online dating already delay young adults to form a marriage relationships. And the the new thing about AI is I worry is actually gonna replace the potential partner they're seeking. Because, you know, when you go online, you still want to find a partner, and now AI is your partner, so and it's a perfect partner, and it can meet all your emotional, uh, emotional desires. So I fear that this will um not only delay marriage, but forego marriage.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I'm afraid so too. I mean, at least with online dating, you you have real people, right? And online dating is is a racket, I'm telling you. I was on it and I would get off, you know, I'd hop back on, and uh and then you just have to take breaks. Most of my friends who are in that, I think would agree. It's it's difficult and you get your heart broken even without meeting someone. And um, it's just uh it's just not not easy in any in any realm. But at least you're dealing with real humans and in AI, it's a whole different ballgame now. Now we're really gonna get stuck on falling in love with someone that's not even truly there.
SPEAKER_05Well, in a sense, you're falling in love with yourself. That's how I see it. Because you're creating this perfect person for yourself, and you can just like, okay, this is all what I want, and give all the lists. A I can create this, and you're like, okay, you can start talking to this person, this is the person, finished, and you don't even need to go dating anymore. That's the easiest thing. Um, so yeah, I think that's that's you know, again, this going back to another thing that we talk about in relationships and like relationship needs work, but people don't want to avoid all these work and they just want to go to the you know, the outcome, escape this all this process of working. So, yeah, that's a problem.
SPEAKER_04If I'm gonna create I'm gonna create someone, Dave and Wendy, I'm gonna tell you it's gonna be a whole heck of a lot better than me. Am I gonna make somebody up? I mean, really. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, man. Wendy, now shifting to another piece. You've written so many uh articles. I want to make sure we get a couple of more of these. I I read it's entitled More Scrolling, More Marital Problems. I love the title, by the way. When people hear stats like, you know, phones are hurting marriages, uh, it can sound abstract almost. But based on the data in this article, what do you see as the actual relational mechanisms at work here? You know, how specifically does smartphone use translate into lower marital satisfaction, less intimacy, greater risk for divorce in everyday married life?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, just like you said, phone is everywhere these days in your household. And this past Christmas holiday, my in-laws are with us, and I just see everyone, you know, have a phone, looking at the phone, and also the TV is on. So it's like nobody is talking. So what we're doing here. Um, so uh it's common, but we were, I was really interested in how common it is, you know, like that's why we did the survey and we asked about 2000 married adults, ages 18 to 55. You know, we the question is like, you know, do you is there a chance time that uh, you know, your your spouse is on always on the phone or a screen when you want to talk or do something together? 37% of the the married adults say yes. So basically, more than a third of the couples have this issue. This is actually a constant issue, um, that they the phone is uh, you know, they always get distracted by the phone. And then, and also when we do the analysis, you find that the people who have this problem are more likely to report lower marital satisfaction, and then they have less sex and less date nights too. So that's all these um related factors.
SPEAKER_04There's many things that can come between us, right? That inadimate object is one of them. And then not to mention what's what's inside the phone or what we're reading and searching and AIing. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02We'll be right back after this brief message.
SPEAKER_01And we're back. Let's dive right in.
SPEAKER_04Um, if a couple is listening right now and they're thinking, oh my gosh, that's us. Our phones are always coming between us, what would you say is the first meaningful change that they could make that would actually begin restoring connection, not just reducing screen time?
Class Divides And The Marriage Gap
SPEAKER_05So um I in that article, we have a few, I wouldn't say guidelines, just suggestions and tips for couples. And uh, you know, I also thought about a few things that actually work for myself. Um, I think it's just uh first of all, you do wanted to create a routine, a phone-free zone. Um, you know, whether, you know, whatever however fits your own household, you know, you can do as little as 30 minutes, just create this time to talk to your spouse and no phone and not allowing the person to uh to be on the phone when you're talking. And you know, this could be uh dinner time or that. So I'm saying have a zone, like a phone-free time zone. And number two, I also think we need to have a digital boundaries set up. And for some couples that just know phone in the bedroom, you don't just uh the you know read um you know on your phone, phone is the last thing you see before you go to bed, the first thing you you connect when you wake up. I mean, that's a a lot of us. And so if you say, okay, I'm not allowing the phone to be in my bedroom, I think that's a win already. And also, um, since we're talking about AI, I think we should set up a rule of saying, okay, we will never use AI for companionship. You don't vent to AI. If you have a marital, you know, I've met at my husband, I don't go go to AI for comfort. So I think that's something we should set up a rule, say don't go there. That's a boundary. And and also I think um we need to be smart in naming our devices. And this is interesting as my daughter's bedroom has a Alexa, because you know, unfortunately, we all have Alexa in every room. And you know, when I talk to her about all these things, and she named her Alexa as computer, so she just intentionally no, you know, separate this with uh, you know, a human being. She said, Oh, this is a computer. So now her Alexa is a computer. Whenever she calls Alexa for like, you know, the weather or whatever, she says, Computer, can you tell me what's the weather today? So, like, oh, this is smart. This is great. So I think we need to be intentionally identifying these devices from the real human being. Because we we already, you know, name the name devices our friends, like best friend's name or whatever name, you know, I think it's easier for us to develop this connection with the AI or the device. Yeah. Computer, I love that.
SPEAKER_03Very wise, why Wendy, um uh about even relationship advice, you know, it what's your take on um asking rather, you know, instead of like maybe going to a therapist or someone, someone just chats in. I'm really struggling with this, this or that. Can you give me some tips on how to better communicate with my husband or save money on, you know, whatever it is? Um, it where's kind of the line? Is that a little fuzzy for you as far as asking for relationship help? Does that make sense?
AI Companions And The Marriage Delay
SPEAKER_05Yes. Um I have to say you guys are relationship experts. I'm the researcher here. So um I do some data analysis, and I, you know, I asked my husband, you know, about this question. It's like, you know, what will help um uh couples? He said that um don't take things too seriously. I thought it was interesting, and when he said that, and then I I was thinking, you know, for me, I want to say just be patient, uh be patient with your spouse. Because that's something I am trying to overcome in my own life because I sometimes I just like I'm short and I'm just not really, I mean, we have we we are working, you know, we uh also have to take care of the kids, and just a lot of things. And so I feel like we tend to be, you know, not that patient towards our spouse. So I think um that's probably uh important area to think about um when it comes to relationships.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you bet.
SPEAKER_04And and there's such good information out there, right? Like the the sources of stronger marriage connection, Utah States. Um, Dave, what what was that called?
SPEAKER_03It's what is the we have strongermarriage.org that has strongermarriage.org, of course. Yeah, healthy relationships Utah is another one. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04So many good places to go to.
SPEAKER_05I want to go back to the AI too, and how this relates to AI. Because I feel like the AI is really few a void. So if we have problems in our relationships, we we tend to go to AI, go to the device, and you know, uh whether it's pornography, video games, or whatever that to fill that void that we use that. Um, so I think if we can strengthen our relationships between husband and wife, you know, family members, and then we just don't give that void. We don't have the void for the AI to take place. I think that's probably the best strategy. Um, so if we can keep our relationship strong, there is no room for AI.
SPEAKER_04That's a great point. Maybe just having that a rule that I'm not going to be turning to AI. It's not going to be my best source, resource of information. Yeah. It's eerily, it's eerily helpful. You know, if you've ever taken an issue to AI, it's a girlfriend of mine was saying that she had a little tiff with her sister, and she goes, it's eerily helpful. It's kind of odd. It kind of sucks you in a little bit. And I thought, oh, that is so true. I think that's just part of the attraction of it.
How Phones Undercut Intimacy
SPEAKER_03So I think the some of the line I is as my mind has been mulling through our discussion today. It feels like Wendy has pointed out almost the line is the emotional, right? The emotional connection with anything that's artificial because you're right, it feeds you whatever you want to hear. Yeah. And it'll support your opinion and your views, and it just backs you up. So that feels like the line is like the emotional. Like, what do I turn to it when I when I need a boost or my confidence or motivation or anything else? It feels like that. That's that emotional connection. What do you what do you two think?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I uh yeah. Um, so I do think the emotional is the biggest part here. Um, because it's it's not physical. I mean, there are there will be robots uh coming up soon, the real human robots. And so, but right now we're staying at Chat GBT and AI, you know, you know what they call the generational, I don't know, generative AI. Um, they call it that. So um before there we get there, it is emotional. I I do think it's you know the emotional connection, it's kind of like porn. Um kind of like porn, yeah, but not there. Yeah. Oh, by the way, we do um, I remember during that um the AI brief you mentioned, we did uh research on uh who are more likely to be to be open to AI. So the young adults who are um you know use pornography more often are more likely to say they are open to AI relationships.
SPEAKER_04It makes perfect sense. They're already doing something like that, artificial, if you will. So it makes perfect sense. Yeah.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, maybe maybe it's even more concerning than pornography. I don't know, pornography is not good. I'm not saying that, but I don't know. I have to think, I'll have to think some more about that. Wendy, you you've written some really impactful articles. Can you share more about where our listeners can learn more about you and your work and read some of these things?
SPEAKER_05Um, so website. Um, the you know SCG Frame Studies website is a great source for all my work. And the website is ifstudies.org. If studies.org. Yeah, ifstudies.org. I'm also on X and former Twitter. So my hando is at WendyR1.
SPEAKER_04Okay, and we'll put those notes on our site. Um, so we're easy for easy viewing at the end of this particular segment.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we'll put those up. We'll be right back after this brief message.
SPEAKER_01And we're back. Let's dive right in.
SPEAKER_03Uh wonderful. Wendy, as we wrap up, we'd like to ask all of our guests uh a couple of questions. The first one in honor of the name of our podcast, Stronger Marriage Connection, is what do you feel? What do you from your research, uh, your experience, what do you feel like is the a key to a stronger marriage connection?
Practical Phone Rules That Reconnect
SPEAKER_05Um I do think uh the for me, the patience part, um, like you know, being a wife, you know, the patience and generosity is the most important element um for uh successful marriage. And I also I wrote an article previously about 50-50 marriage. And uh I think um a lot of modern women today that you know they already have a job and you know they're making money to contribute. So they feel like in a household it needs to be a 50-50 split as well. Um, so in that article, I kind of criticize this approach and I feel like you know you the marriage is not a business transaction. It's not like, okay, you contributed this, I contributed this that. It's it's not that that. So we it's a commitment. Um, so the commitment requires no return. So we should treat the marriage as a you know, it is a commitment. So we should um, you know, serve each other without uh expecting things in return. So that's um that would be something that um I value. And I also try to, you know, talk to anyone who's uh asking me about the secret of a successful marriage. I think that that might be it.
SPEAKER_03I like that very wise word. Yeah, to serve, to love, to help, to lift without expectation of I'm gonna get my 50%. Yeah. Yeah. I like that. Yeah, thanks, Wendy. Um, and then uh the second question is uh simply uh kind of a closeout question from our discussion today. We call it a takeaway of the day. Do you have a take-home message uh that you'd love our listeners to remember from our discussion today?
SPEAKER_05Yeah. So my take home is um we are living in uh an age that technology is developing so fast. There are new things every day. Um it just creates more and more distractions for us and from the real relationships. So I'm hoping that we can focus on the real relationship, the core relationships between husband and the wife, and you know, we can make stronger uh families and stronger families the foundation of a stronger society. So that's that's where um I want us to land.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, love it, absolutely love it. Yeah, Liz, what about you? What's your take-home message?
SPEAKER_04You know, this reminds me of it just reminds me all over again of the need for having really good friends. Friends who will tell me the truth, right? I was thinking of a conversation I had last night with a dear friend from almost 40 years now. And we've been through a lot together. And I was updating her on something, uh, some feedback I got that was just oh kind of painful. And what I loved most about this dear friend is um she she gave me the truth. She gave me the truth. She took my side, and then she also said, I wonder, you might want to think about this. And I loved that. I'm not gonna get that from AI, right? And I think that outside of our marriage, I think we really need good friends, good friends who support us, good friends who stand for our marriage and are going to be honest, unconditionally loving, that they're wise. What about you, Dave? What's your greatest takeaway from our interview today with Wendy Wing?
Drawing The Emotional Line With AI
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you know, my mind my mind's kind of blown with this whole area. It just happened, it feels like it's happening so fast, just like I mean, a couple of years, right? And all this is happening. I can imagine that the the next decade, for example, of what this is going to be like. But Wendy, I think that you mentioned a word early on that I just really resonated, and that was this we have to be intentional. This this idea of kind of waking up, right? We have to be intentional, not just going with the flow of all this, because this mindless just going with it all. It's like nothing matters. But when we intentionally create um boundaries or maybe date nights, right? I'm intentionally putting my phone away or down and connecting, giving my whoever I'm with my all-in attention and not being distracted from the electronics, technoference, or the AI, and not going too far down any any of these rabbit holes intentionally. Uh so that's the word that out to me, Wendy. So thank you for bringing that up. That really resonates.
SPEAKER_05Uh thank you. This is that wonderful conversation.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, that does it for us, friends. We're so grateful that you joined us. Thanks again, Wendy, for coming on and sharing uh the latest and greatest and research. You've done so much good uh there with Institute for Family Studies. So that's it, and we will see you next time on another episode of Stronger Marriage Connection Podcast.
SPEAKER_04And remember, it's the small things that create a stronger marriage connection.
SPEAKER_03Thanks for joining us today. Hey, do us a favor and take a second to subscribe to our podcast and the Utah Marriage Commission YouTube channel at Utah Marriage Commission, where you can watch this and every episode of the show. Be sure to smash the like button, leave a comment, and share this episode with a friend. You can also follow and interact with us on Instagram at StrongerMarriageWife and Facebook at Stronger Marriage. So be sure to share with us which topics you love, which guests we should have on the show next. If you want even more resources to improve your marriage or relationship connection, visit strongermarriage.org where you'll find free workshops, e-courses, in-depth webinars, relationship surveys, and more. Each episode of Stronger Marriage Connection is hosted and sponsored by the Utah Marriage Commission at Utah State University. And finally, a big thanks to our producer, Rex Pilanis, and the team at Utah State University, and you, our audience, you make this show possible. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the Utah Marriage Commission.