Love Factually
by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel
Latest episode
Les Misérables (2012) with Vanessa Bohns
Les Misérables (2012) with Vanessa Bohns
About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 78 episodes
- Les Misérables (2012) with Vanessa Bohns · 1 h 8 minHow do people manage their belief that the world is just? Is true love effortless? Are we sometimes willing to make a sacrifice for our partner even if it pushes them away?…
- Obsession (2026) · 58 minWhat's the best way to navigate the friendzone? Why do people gossip? What kind of love is this anyway? Paul and Eli take a terrifying journey through love's disturbing recesses…
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) · 47 minDoes 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…
- Bonus Episode: Second Anniversary Show! · 1 h 21 minPaul 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…
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) · 54 minDo women want intimacy more than men? How does commitment inspire sacrifice? Does this movie offer good advice for losing a guy in 10 days? Paul and Eli don their Knicks jerseys…
- The Kids Are All Right (2010) with Lisa Diamond · 1 h 5 minWhen 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? Lisa…
- Crazy Stupid Love (2011) · 57 minIs 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? Paul and Eli…
- The Drama (2026) · 52 minDoes 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? Paul…
- Legally Blonde (2001) with Katy Milkman · 1 h 7 minWhy 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? Dr. Katy…
- The Invite (2026) · 59 minAre some relationships beyond repair? What makes a couple miserable? Can the right sex party can heal your marriage? Paul and Eli pop some bubbly and sample the charcuterie in…
- Bull Durham (1988) with Dan Pink · 56 minIs romance seasonal? What does romantic competition look like? How does thinking too much undermine performance? Paul, Eli, and special guest Dan Pink revisit their Gen-X youth…
- Deep Dive: Romantic AI · 1 h 2 minWhy 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…
- Sleepless In Seattle (1993) with Yuthika Girme · 56 minHow 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?…
- Call Me By Your Name (2017) · 54 minWhy 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? Paul and Eli herald…
- Casablanca (1942) with Laurie Santos · 59 minWhen 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? To…
- Before Midnight (2013) · 55 minHow do fights get out of hand? What does intractable conflict look like? Why are truth and harmony sometimes at odds? Alarmed and distressed, Paul and Eli spend one last day with…
- Mailbag: Matchmaking, Mate Value, and Marital Pessimism · 39 minPaul 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…
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) with Paige Harden · 56 minHow do relationships adapt when one partner changes? Are women penalized for being demanding leaders? When are we at risk for losing our moral compass? Paige Harden joins Paul…
- Bonus Episode: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) with the Multiamory Podcast · 1 h 26 minWhat 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? In this…
- The Wedding Singer (1998) with Vanessa Bohns · 56 minWhat 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? Paul and Eli invite social…
