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Love Factually

Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel

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.

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23 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 56 min
English

Episodes 23

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Monday · 54 min
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
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? Paul and Eli don their Knicks jerseys and descend into the madness that is "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," featuring the legendary trio Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, and their dog, Krull. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
September 7 · 1 hr 5 min
The Kids Are All Right (2010) 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? Lisa Diamond joins Paul and Eli to ponder the value of extremely dated pornography by revisiting "The Kids Are All Right," Lisa Cholodenko's influential lesbian love story. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
August 24 · 57 min
Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
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? Paul and Eli elevate their wardrobes and learn to pronounce Lindhagen while revisiting Crazy Stupid Love, the glossy 2011 rom-com that boasts an all-star cast and an unhinged "C Plot." For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
August 10 · 52 min
The Drama (2026)
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? Paul and Eli rehearse dance moves and draft wedding toasts for Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama, the twisted 2026 rom-com starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
July 27 · 1 hr 7 min
Legally Blonde (2001) 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? Dr. Katy Milkman teams up with Paul and Eli to soak up the wisdom and legal jargon of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, the 2001 megahit. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
July 13 · 58 min
The Invite (2026)
Are 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 Olivia Wilde's The Invite, her 2026 masterpiece starring Seth Rogan, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, and Wilde herself. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
June 29 · 55 min
Bull Durham (1988) with Dan Pink
Is 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 with a rewatch of Bull Durham (1988), the minor league baseball classic starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
June 22 · 1 hr 2 min
Deep Dive: 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? Seeking insights, Paul and Eli invite two experts at the human/AI interface—Paul Bloom and Benjamin Karney—for a wide-ranging, fast-paced, and enlightening discussion. Hosted and produced by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel Edited by Stefan Louw Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
June 15 · 56 min
Sleepless In Seattle (1993) 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? Paul, Eli, and special guest Dr. Yuthika Girme are in on the joke that is Sleepless in Seattle, the film that—for better or worse—has become Nora Ephron's enduring meta-statement on romantic movies. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
June 1 · 53 min
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
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? Paul and Eli herald the arrival of summer with Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name, one of the most powerful coming-of-age films of the twenty-first century. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons
May 18 · 58 min
Casablanca (1942) 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? To answer these questions, Paul and Eli invite Happiness Lab host Dr. Laurie Santos with them to visit Casablanca, the 1942 classic honored by the American Film Institute as the single greatest love story in American cinema. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
May 4 · 55 min
Before Midnight (2013)
How 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 Jesse and Céline in Before Midnight, the third and final installment of Richard Linklater's unflinching and unparalleled "Before Trilogy." For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
April 27 · 38 min
Mailbag: 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? Did Richard Reeves channel Paul correctly on Modern Wisdom, or not?
April 20 · 55 min
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 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? Paige Harden joins Paul and Eli as they upgrade their wardrobes in honor of The Devil Wears Prada, the 2006 showcase for a magnificently icy Meryl Streep. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
April 13 · 1 hr 26 min
Bonus Episode: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) 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? In this special crossover episode of the Multiamory podcast, Paul and Eli team up with Emily Matlack, Dedeker Winston, and Jase Lindgren to chat about Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the 2008 polyamory-adjacent (?) film starring the Oscar-winning Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, and the mighty oak himself, Javier Bardem.
April 6 · 56 min
The Wedding Singer (1998) 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? Paul and Eli invite social psychologist Vanessa Bohns to bask in the 1985 aesthetic of The Wedding Singer and achieve new insights into the psychology of breaking off a wedding. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
March 23 · 55 min
Ex Machina (2015)
Is trusting others dangerous? How do we decide who warrants our moral concern? When do we feel drawn to others who need our help? Paul and Eli sign nondisclosure agreements before immersing themselves in Ex Machina, Alex Garland's cerebral and electrifying AI dystopia from 2015. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
March 9 · 55 min
People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Why do people with opposite personalities often get along? How do vacations affect us? Is it problematic to sacrifice for our partner? Paul and Eli debate the ethics of road-trip burritos and fictitious honeymoons while reviewing People We Meet on Vacation, the Netflix adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling novel. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
February 23 · 1 hr 1 min
Fatal Attraction (1987) 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? In pursuit of answers, Paul and Eli invite clinical psychologist and behavioral geneticist Paige Harden to revisit Fatal Attraction with them, garnering disturbing insights at the intersection of love and violence. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil
February 9 · 55 min
Romeo + Juliet (1996) 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? Paul and Eli—joined by Shakespearian scholar Donovan Sherman—take a psychedelic and operatic mystery tour through Romeo + Juliet, Baz Luhrmann's utterly gonzo adaptation of the timeless classic. For show notes, click here. Hosted, produced, and edited by Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel. Music by Andrew Fraker and Sons Artwork by Katie Keil

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