Obsession
What's the best way to navigate the friendzone? Why do people gossip? What kind of love is this anyway?
· 58 min
The archive
Episodes
Every episode, newest first — 75 so far.
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75 episodes
Sense and Sensibility
Does infatuation bring out the attachment anxiety in all of us? Will marrying a man of ill-repute will make you miserable? How did Jane Austen so spectacularly capture her cultural moment?
· 47 min
Second Anniversary Show!
with Laurie Santos, Justin Lehmiller + 5 more
Paul and Eli host a party for the second anniversary of Love Factually. Seven friends of the podcast hop on to chat with us about movies we missed and takes we fumbled from the past year. Then, Paul and Eli count down their top five movies of Year 2—the movies that best aligned with the scientific evidence base.
· 81 min
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Do women want intimacy more than men? How does commitment inspire sacrifice? Does this movie offer good advice for losing a guy in 10 days?
· 54 min
The Kids Are All Right
with Lisa Diamond
When is it especially hard to get over an affair? It is unusual for a gay woman to be attracted to a man? How do role arrangements differ between straight and gay couples?
· 65 min
Crazy Stupid Love
Is it wise to turn to pickup-artistry after a breakup? How can people fall in love in one night? When do people leave a relationship instead of fighting for it?
· 57 min
The Drama
Does being ostracized make people aggressive? How does distrust warp perception and memory? What are the risks of seeking other people's validation for your relationship?
· 52 min
Legally Blonde
with Katy Milkman
Why does the perfect guy sometimes lose his luster? Do we copy other people's opinions about who's hot? How can women manage the double-bind in masculine settings?
· 67 min
The Invite
Are some relationships beyond repair? What makes a couple miserable? Can the right sex party can heal your marriage?
· 59 min
Bull Durham
with Dan Pink
Is romance seasonal? What does romantic competition look like? How does thinking too much undermine performance?
· 56 min
Romantic AI
Why do people choose to "date" AI chatbots? Will chatbots undermine or enhance the social skills required for connecting with other humans? How do the underlying corporate interests influence the likelihood that they will help or harm us?
· 63 min
Sleepless In Seattle
with Yuthika Girme
How does singlehood differ for men and women? When are romantic beliefs healthy rather than unhealthy? Is it typical for young children to play matchmaker for their parents?
· 56 min
Call Me By Your Name
Why do our first sexual experiences tend to be complicated? When is relationship initiation a slow and careful process? Do love and desire change as we age?
· 54 min
Casablanca
with Laurie Santos
When are people inspired to make life-altering sacrifices? How can romantic partners bring out the best in each other? Why is choosing between two partners overwhelming?
· 59 min
Before Midnight
How do fights get out of hand? What does intractable conflict look like? Why are truth and harmony sometimes at odds?
· 55 min
Matchmaking, Mate Value, and Marital Pessimism
Paul and Eli dip into the mailbag once more to answer your questions! Is it possible to build an effective matchmaking algorithm? Why might 12th grade girls have soured on marriage since the 90s?
· 39 min
The Devil Wears Prada
with Paige Harden
How do relationships adapt when one partner changes? Are women penalized for being demanding leaders? When are we at risk for losing our moral compass?
· 56 min
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
with the Multiamory Podcast
What is the most common type of nonmonogamous relationship? Do women face a choice between passionate men and dull men? Does "The Coolidge Effect" apply to humans?
· 86 min
The Wedding Singer
with Vanessa Bohns
What do people do when they get cold feet? How do people handle the emotional carnage of breakup? Who's more eager to get married: men or women?
· 56 min
Ex Machina
Is trusting others dangerous? How do we decide who warrants our moral concern? When do we feel drawn to others who need our help?
· 55 min
People We Meet on Vacation
Why do people with opposite personalities often get along? How do vacations affect us? Is it problematic to sacrifice for our partner?
· 56 min
Fatal Attraction
with Paige Harden
When do we want to see people punished? How do people feel about their own wrongdoing? What does stalking actually look like?
· 61 min
Romeo + Juliet
with Donovan Sherman
Should we wear rose-colored glasses? What happens when we feel like we're being pressured to marry someone? Why are words sometimes not enough?
· 56 min
Love & Basketball
Why is it important to understand a loved-one's identity? Which sorts of people are likely to hold grudges? Is having a "jacked-up" attitude worse if you're a woman?
· 53 min
Evolutionary Mythbusting
Eli and Paul dial up the controversy as they discuss Paul's upcoming book, Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection. They pick apart two central concepts in evolutionary psychology: gender differences and mate value. Paul and Eli discuss how men and women don't actually differ in what they want in a partner, where gender differences in the sex drive appear larger vs.
· 50 min
A Star Is Born
Why is it so important to feel needed? Do men struggle when their partner outshines them? How can personal growth destabilize a relationship?
· 45 min
My Best Friend's Wedding
What happens when a narcissist decides she wants something? Why is it complicated when your best friend is also your ex? Why is it so important to keep alternatives at bay?
· 53 min
The Holiday
Can a change of scenery help people find a partner? What is the nature of unrequited love? How do people react to sexual overtures from strangers?
· 54 min
The Compatibility Puzzle
In this special episode, Eli interviews Paul about his upcoming book, Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection. Part 1 of this series is devoted to complexities of romantic compatibility. They discuss how they began studying attraction in the first place, why online dating failed to live up to its potential, and why a relationship is what you make it.
· 33 min
It's a Wonderful Life
Does giving to others makes us happy? Why is expressing vulnerability so powerful? How can we feel grateful for what we already have?
· 55 min
Four Weddings and a Funeral
How do friend networks facilitate relationship formation? What happens to those networks when people fall in love? Are wedding guests just looking to hook up?
· 50 min
Beaches
with Nina Badzin and Rebekah Jacobs
Do opposites attract? When is intimacy scary? Can offering forgiveness inadvertently escalate conflict?
· 50 min
Howl's Moving Castle
What happens when our self-esteem is tied to our looks? How can significant others make us feel confident? What is the nature of found families?
· 46 min
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Are some people just late bloomers? Is asking questions a good dating strategy? What does it mean to be a good lover, anyway?
· 52 min
Paul and Eli on the Speaking of Psychology Podcast
with Kim Mills
In this special crossover episode of the APA Speaking of Psychology podcast, Paul and Eli chat with Kim Mills about the helpful and harmful lessons we absorb from romantic films.
· 38 min
Ghost
How does it feel to lose a loved-one? Do we benefit from having a partner who speaks our love language? What's so sexy about creativity?
· 47 min
Phantom Thread
How is romantic attachment similar to parent-child attachment? Can the fear of intimacy make someone controlling? What's the connection between relationships and food?
· 46 min
First Anniversary Show!
Year one of Love Factually is in the books! Paul and Eli first review their favorite moments from the first year of the show, and then (at 42:20) they count down the Top Five most accurate movies they've covered to date.
· 57 min
Top Gun
with Matt Rhodes
What assumptions lurk behind the man-approaches-woman default? Why is double-dating a good idea? Does the military take grief seriously?
· 46 min
The Lobster
with Yuthika Girme
Is society prejudiced against single people? How does culture control our sexual behavior? Do we need to find a partner who shares a hyper-specific similarity?
· 55 min
Titanic
Are secret relationships especially alluring? How can we cultivate intimacy in a new relationship? What is the nature of heroism for men and women?
· 54 min
Moonstruck
Do men chase women because they fear death? Do partners in love drive each other crazy? How do people navigate breakups?
· 55 min
Pride and Prejudice
How does marriage vary across economic systems? Do partners exchange beauty for status? Why do perceptions of a potential partner change over time?
· 49 min
High Fidelity
Are mismatched couples doomed? Why is it essential to calibrate our expectations? What happens when we seek closure on past relationships?
· 53 min
Materialists
What happens when we treat dating like a business proposition? How important is height in determining a man's desirability? If love isn't "the math," then what is it?
· 50 min
Brokeback Mountain
Is romantic love like an addiction? What is the nature of anti-gay prejudice? How do people come to understand their own sexual identity?
· 54 min
Grand Romantic Gestures
The first Love Factually Deep Dive! Grand romantic gestures pervade romance films. Are they effective?
· 52 min
27 Dresses
What are the risks of being a people pleaser? Why do weddings fall apart? Why is it so important to be authentic in relationships?
· 44 min
Frozen
What's special about sibling relationships? How do people with different attachment styles cope with stress? Why is it risky to get engaged to somebody you met that day?
· 48 min
Friends-first, Weddings, & Therapy
The first Love Factually mailbag episode! Eli and Paul answer your questions about friends-first relationships, wedding stress, and memory erasure. Plus, we reopen the debate: When do relationships benefit from therapy, and why?
· 34 min
Marriage Story
What happens when we view marriage in terms of winning and losing? How does divorce affect children? What are the consequences of taking a relationship for granted?
· 52 min
Groundhog Day
Can interactions with strangers fulfill our need to belong? Does ironic detachment mask attachment insecurity? Should we try to change ourselves into somebody else's ideal partner?
· 50 min
Paul and Eli on the Dateable Podcast
with Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu
In this special crossover episode of the Dateable podcast, Paul and Eli chat with hosts Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu about how people should - and shouldn't - apply lessons from the movies to their dating lives.
· 48 min
Hitch
Is striving to avoid mistakes a good romantic strategy? Can couples who are mismatched on hotness get together? Does relationship success require that you be a desirable person?
· 48 min
Before Sunset
How does it feel to confront hard relationship choices? How can we truly listen to one another? What counts as infidelity?
· 46 min
Barbie
How can people navigate the "friendzone"? Do men need romantic relationships more than women do? Does confusion about one's identity undermine relationships?
· 48 min
Jerry Maguire
Why is it so important to be able to celebrate with someone? Is parenting sexy? What are the challenges of being in a relationship when you don't know who you are?
· 46 min
Paul and Eli on The Happiness Lab Podcast
with Laurie Santos
In this special crossover episode of The Happiness Lab podcast, Paul and Eli chat with Laurie Santos about lessons learned from fact-checking rom-coms.
· 46 min
Say Anything
with Laurie Santos
What are the benefits of optimism? How do people transfer attachments from parents to romantic partners? What exactly counts as stalking?
· 59 min
Pretty Woman
with Katy Milkman
How does a transactional mindset undermine relationship well-being? What's the nature of stereotypes? How can we tie our hands to achieve our goals?
· 56 min
Paul and Eli on the Sex and Psychology Podcast
with Justin Lehmiller
In this special crossover episode of the Sex and Psychology podcast, Paul and Eli chat with Justin Lehmiller about how sex and relationships are depicted in movies.
· 41 min
Easy A
with Justin Lehmiller
Does the double standard linger for men and women? What exactly is sex positivity? Do people make unfounded assumptions about self-esteem and casual sex?
· 53 min
Eyes Wide Shut
with Peter Sagal
What does jealousy do to a person? How are relationships interwoven with identity? What are the many forms of sex and sexual desire?
· 56 min
Bridget Jones's Diary
What are the joys and miseries of singlehood? Is "playing hard to get" an effective dating strategy? Why does it feel so good to be adored "just as we are"?
· 46 min
The Notebook
How does family disapproval affect the course of love? Can volatile relationships flourish? Does love cure dementia?
· 50 min
Her
What does it mean to share your life with someone? How does sexual compatibility work? Can new relationships help us get over old ones?
· 53 min
(500) Days of Summer
What are the consequences of believing in the idea of a soulmate? How do relationships develop from the first day to the last? How well does the reality in our heads match the reality in the world?
· 52 min
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
How does passionate love feel? What does it mean to pay attention to each other? Are there distinctive characteristics in the emergence of same-sex attraction?
· 52 min
10 Things I Hate about You
Are some people un-date-able? What does attachment avoidance look like? How should we think about grand romantic gestures?
· 48 min
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
What is the absolute worst way to handle relationship conflict? Do we distort our own memories to make us feel better about our relationship? Are the reasons we're attracted to someone similar to the reasons we're attracted to someone else?
· 46 min
Before Sunrise
How quickly do attachment bonds start to form? What are the relationship consequences of believing that men and women are fundamentally different? How does self-disclosure cultivate feelings of intimacy?
· 48 min
Challengers
How do people compete to win someone's affections? What are the less obvious reasons that people have sex? How do relationships and power intersect?
· 51 min
Clueless
Do people agree about who is attractive? What does it take to be a good matchmaker? Does similarity predict attraction?
· 51 min
La La Land
How much insight do people have about their romantic preferences? What does effective support look like? Does career devotion require tradeoffs in our relationships?
· 47 min
When Harry Met Sally
How does the trajectory of a relationship unfold over time? What does a good apology look like? Can men and women actually be friends?
· 45 min
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