426. Twins, Clones, and The Bond We All Crave: My Dad’s Dream Meets Netflix's Dr. Nancy L. Segal

Apr 28, 2025

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If you’ve ever been curious about twins, nature vs. nurture, or how our closest relationships shape who we are, you’ll want to dive straight into our latest conversation with Dr. Nancy Segal.

From nature versus nurture debates to the unique bonds that connect twins, Dr. Segal shares her groundbreaking research and personal stories that reveal just how much twins can teach us about human behavior, relationships, and even ourselves.

You’ll hear incredible insights into the genetics of twinning, the emotional intensity of twin loss, and the surprising science behind topics like IVF, surrogacy, and even doppelgängers.

Get ready for heartwarming stories, real-life drama including a remarkable court case about citizenship and twin brothers born through surrogacy to gay fathers—and plenty of wisdom from both Dr. Segal and Grandpa Wayne.

Whether you’re a parent of twins, know a set of twins, or have ever wondered what life would be like with a carbon copy of yourself, this episode is packed with unforgettable tales, expert advice, and thought-provoking discussions you won’t want to miss.

Stay tuned—these are stories you truly have to hear to believe!

Nancy L. Segal is a distinguished researcher whose work explores the unique bonds between twins. In her studies, she discovered that twins whether identical or fraternal tend to grieve the loss of their twin sibling even more deeply than the loss of a parent. This remarkable finding highlights the profound kinship twins share.

Segal's curiosity extends to the complex web of genetics and relationships, noting that identical twins share all their genes, which might, in theory, make their grief even more intense compared to losing a child, with whom they share only half their genes.

While she has yet to study how the loss of a child compares to the loss of a twin, Segal continues to ask thought-provoking questions about family, genetics, and the human experience of loss.

Dr. Nancy Segal is a distinguished professor of psychology, developmental psychologist, director of the Twin Studies Center, and published author.

Dr. Nancy Segal is an American evolutionary psychologist and behavioral geneticist, specializing in the study of twins. She is the Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Twin Studies Center, at California State University, Fullerton.

Dr. Segal has studdied twin relationships for her entire career and continues to the is day, whe has developed facsinating takes on the topic of twin relationships. Dr. nancy Segal was a recipient of the 2005 James Shields Award for Lifetime Contributions to Twin Research from the Behavior Genetics Association and International Society for Twin Studies.

Dr. Nancy Segal has published nine books on twins, with the latest book detailing a high-profile lawsuit against the US State Department that almost reached the US Supreme Court, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and countless others, and is a twin herself. Dr. Nancy Segal is a board certified expert in her field.

Studying the unique twinship helps shape our understanding of genetics, our own relationships with ourselves and others, and the nature of genetic predisposition. Join us as we dive into the inner thoughts of Dr. Nancy Segal and the attributes she has given on this subject.

(00:00) Twin Grief vs. Parental Grief

(07:45) Twins in Schools: Separation Myth

(11:43) Girls Mature Faster Than Boys

(18:08) Immigration Lawsuit Victory

(25:21) "Record-Breaking Twin Separation Surgery"

(30:54) Twin Studies: Genes vs. Environment

(36:35) Twins' Cheating Case Victory

(37:25) Public Policy and Genetic Testing

(42:52) Holocaust Twins Reunion Journey

(50:26) "Influences in Partner Attractions"

(53:54) Oldest Holocaust Twin Survivor's Memoir

(58:33) Exploring Doppelganger Similarities