Love Factually podcast

Love Factually

We're just two professors standing in front of a rom-com, asking it to be the subject of our podcast. Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel explain what your favorite romantic films get right -- and wrong -- about the science of romance. Because it's time for scientists to take Ryan Gosling as seriously as you do.

We're just two professors standing in front of a rom-com, asking it to be the subject of our podcast. Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel explain what your favorite romantic films get right -- and wrong -- about the science of romance. Because it's time for scientists to take Ryan Gosling as seriously as you do.

 

#49

Deep Dive: The Compatibility Puzzle

In this special episode, Eli interviews Paul about his upcoming book, <a href= "https://ww... more

08 Dec 2025

32 MINS

32:46

08 Dec 2025


#48

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Does giving to others makes us happy? Why is expressing vulnerability so powerful? How can... more

01 Dec 2025

54 MINS

54:39

01 Dec 2025


#47

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

How do friend networks facilitate relationship formation? What happens to those networks w... more

24 Nov 2025

50 MINS

50:05

24 Nov 2025


#46

Bonus Episode: Beaches (1988) with Nina Badzin and Rebekah Jacobs

Do opposites attract? When is intimacy scary? Can offering forgiveness inadvertently escal... more

17 Nov 2025

49 MINS

49:53

17 Nov 2025


#45

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

What happens when our self-esteem is tied to our looks? How can significant others make us... more

10 Nov 2025

46 MINS

46:06

10 Nov 2025


#44

The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Are some people just late bloomers? Is asking questions a good dating strategy? What does ... more

27 Oct 2025

52 MINS

52:04

27 Oct 2025


#43

Bonus Episode: Paul and Eli on the Speaking of Psychology Podcast with Kim Mills

In this special crossover episode of the APA <a href= "https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/s... more

20 Oct 2025

37 MINS

37:53

20 Oct 2025


#42

Ghost (1990)

How does it feel to lose a loved-one? Do we benefit from having a partner who speaks our l... more

13 Oct 2025

47 MINS

47:08

13 Oct 2025


#41

Phantom Thread (2017)

How is romantic attachment similar to parent-child attachment? Can the fear of intimacy ma... more

29 Sep 2025

45 MINS

45:48

29 Sep 2025


#40

Bonus Episode: First Anniversary Show!

Year one of Love Factually is in the books! Paul and Eli first review their favorite momen... more

25 Sep 2025

56 MINS

56:45

25 Sep 2025


#39

Top Gun (1986) with Matt Rhodes

What assumptions lurk behind the man-approaches-woman default? Why is double-dating a good... more

15 Sep 2025

46 MINS

46:12

15 Sep 2025


#38

The Lobster (2015) with Yuthika Girme

Is society prejudiced against single people? How does culture control our sexual behavior?... more

01 Sep 2025

55 MINS

55:05

01 Sep 2025


#37

Titanic (1997)

Are secret relationships especially alluring? How can we cultivate intimacy in a new relat... more

18 Aug 2025

54 MINS

54:07

18 Aug 2025


#36

Moonstruck (1987)

Do men chase women because they fear death? Do partners in love drive each other crazy? Ho... more

04 Aug 2025

55 MINS

55:28

04 Aug 2025


#35

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

How does marriage vary across economic systems? Do partners exchange beauty for status? Wh... more

21 Jul 2025

49 MINS

49:18

21 Jul 2025


#34

High Fidelity (2000)

Are mismatched couples doomed? Why is it essential to calibrate our expectations? What hap... more

07 Jul 2025

52 MINS

52:40

07 Jul 2025


#33

Materialists (2025)

What happens when we treat dating like a business proposition? How important is height in ... more

23 Jun 2025

50 MINS

50:08

23 Jun 2025


#32

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Is romantic love like an addiction? What is the nature of anti-gay prejudice? How do peopl... more

09 Jun 2025

54 MINS

54:10

09 Jun 2025


#31

Deep Dive: Grand Romantic Gestures

The first Love Factually Deep Dive! Grand romantic gestures pervade romance films. Are the... more

02 Jun 2025

52 MINS

52:09

02 Jun 2025


#30

27 Dresses (2008)

What are the risks of being a people pleaser? Why do weddings fall apart? Why is it so imp... more

26 May 2025

43 MINS

43:53

26 May 2025


#29

Frozen (2013)

What's special about sibling relationships? How do people with different attachment styles... more

12 May 2025

47 MINS

47:50

12 May 2025


#28

Mailbag: Friends-first, Weddings, & Therapy

The first Love Factually mailbag episode! Eli and Paul answer your questions about friends... more

05 May 2025

33 MINS

33:49

05 May 2025


#27

Marriage Story (2019)

What happens when we view marriage in terms of winning and losing? How does divorce affect... more

28 Apr 2025

52 MINS

52:15

28 Apr 2025


#26

Groundhog Day (1993)

Can interactions with strangers fulfill our need to belong? Does ironic detachment mask at... more

14 Apr 2025

49 MINS

49:48

14 Apr 2025


#25

BONUS episode: Paul and Eli on the Dateable Podcast with Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu

In this special crossover episode of the <a href= "https://www.dateablepodcast.com/podcast... more

07 Apr 2025

47 MINS

47:34

07 Apr 2025


#24

Hitch (2005)

Is striving to avoid mistakes a good romantic strategy? Can couples who are mismatched on ... more

31 Mar 2025

47 MINS

47:34

31 Mar 2025


#23

Before Sunset (2004)

How does it feel to confront hard relationship choices? How can we truly listen to one ano... more

17 Mar 2025

46 MINS

46:21

17 Mar 2025


#22

Barbie (2023)

How can people navigate the "friendzone"? Do men need romantic relationships more than wom... more

03 Mar 2025

48 MINS

48:06

03 Mar 2025


#21

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Why is it so important to be able to celebrate with someone? Is parenting sexy? What are t... more

17 Feb 2025

46 MINS

46:20

17 Feb 2025