Love Factually
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.
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
Aug 10
52 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
Jul 27
1 hr 7 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
Jul 13
58 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
Jun 29
55 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
Jun 22
1 hr 2 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
Jun 15
56 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
Jun 1
53 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 18
58 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
May 4
55 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? 
Apr 27
38 min
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