As much as we'd like to think our romantic relationships exist apart from our friendships, the research says otherwise. Your friends' opinions can determine whether a couple stays together, influence the values they hold in the relationship, and even shape the kinds of arguments they have. And that influence starts long before a woman is partnered; it starts while she's still dating.

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick, co-hosts of the Dateable podcast and authors of How to Be Dateable, to explore how your friends can be your greatest asset on your dating journey, or your biggest unintentional roadblock. They break down five dating archetypes, what each one looks like in action, and how to give the right kind of support to the right kind of dater; because the advice that helps one friend can sabotage another.

🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.

This week's bonus content for Office Hours members includes an exclusive video from Danielle breaking down four surprising research-based ways your friends can impact your romantic relationships, plus a bonus segment of this interview you won't hear in the free episode.

Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.

TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:

• The three ways your friends' opinions shape your romantic relationships (even before you're in one)
• Five dating archetypes that change the kind of support your friend actually needs
• The "supportive" response most friends default to that backfires every time
• What friends keep asking Achievers that makes the problem worse
• The one piece of advice that saved a Thinker's relationship… and would've ruined a Dreamer's
• A better question to ask a dating friend than "when's the next date?"

ABOUT YUE XU & JULIE KRAFCHICK

Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick are the co-hosts and creators of the Dateable podcast, one of the longest-running dating podcasts and named a top show by the New York Times, HuffPost, and Oprah Daily. They're also the co-authors of How to Be Dateable: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Person and Falling in Love and the executive producers of the dating experiment show Exit Interview. After a decade of interviewing thousands of daters and world-renowned experts, they bring a research-backed, compassionate approach to modern dating and relationships.

CONNECT WITH YUE & JULIE:

• Book, How to Be Dateable + Dating Archetypes Quiz: https://howtobedateable.com
• Podcast, Dateable: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dateable-your-insiders-look-into-modern-dating-and/id1084105171
• Website: https://www.dateablepodcast.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dateablepodcast/

📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:

• Julie Krafchick & Yue Xu, How to Be Dateable: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Person and Falling in Love: https://howtobedateable.com

🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCAST

Have a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.

WORK WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:

• Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours
• Join the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlist
• Check out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resources
• Become a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-institute

FOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:

• Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/book
• Follow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagram
• Follow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktok
• Learn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website

🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAK

Looking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to info@tellpublicrelations.com.