Love Factually

What are the joys and miseries of singlehood? Is "playing hard to get" an effective dating strategy? Why does it feel so good to be adored "just as we are"? Paul and Eli revisit "Bridget Jones's Diary," the 2001 rom-com starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth—which Vanity Fair recently ranked as the fourth best romantic comedy of all time. 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

How does family disapproval affect the course of love? Can volatile relationships flourish? Does love cure dementia? Paul and Eli consider these questions, and more, in their analysis of "The Notebook," the 2004 romantic melodrama starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling—and the winner of the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss. 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

Paul Eastwick and Eli Finkel are two professors who use psychological science to explain what your favorite romantic films get right -- and wrong -- about attraction and relationships.

What does it mean to share your life with someone? How does sexual compatibility work? Can new relationships help us get over old ones? Paul and Eli consider these questions, and more, in their analysis of "Her," Spike Jonze's 2013 boy-meets-operating-system romance starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. 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

What are the consequences of believing in the idea of a soulmate? How do relationships develop from the first day to the last? How well does the reality in our heads match the reality in the world? Paul and Eli consider these questions, and more, in their analysis of (500) Days of Summer, the 2009 romantic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. 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

How does passionate love feel? What does it mean to pay attention to each other? Are there distinctive characteristics in the emergence of same-sex attraction? Paul and Eli consider these questions, and more, in their analysis of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, the gorgeous period drama depicting forbidden love in late-eighteenth-century France. 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

Are some people un-date-able? What does attachment avoidance look like? How should we think about grand romantic gestures? Paul and Eli dissect 10 Things I Hate about You, the 90s attempt to modernize Shakespeare's eternally controversial "The Taming of the Shrew." 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

Explore the worst ways to handle relationship conflict and how memory distortion impacts love. Discover the emotional journey of characters erasing each other from their minds yet inevitably reconnecting. Delve into the 'four horsemen' of negative communication and the dangers of escalating anger in relationships. Reflect on how memory shapes intimacy, identity, and future choices. Finally, evaluate the film's emotional depth and darker themes while considering the importance of shared experiences in love.

The hosts dive into the romantic dynamics of 'Before Sunrise,' exploring how attachment bonds quickly form. They discuss how self-disclosure and deeper conversations foster intimacy between Jesse and Céline. High neuroticism is examined in relation to relationship satisfaction, revealing its emotional impact. The importance of emotional bids and playful banter in deepening connections is highlighted. Additionally, intersections of feminism and romantic expectations are analyzed, showcasing the complexities of love, vulnerability, and honesty.

How do people compete to win someone's affections? What are the less obvious reasons that people have sex? How do relationships and power intersect? Luca Guadagnino's Challengers provides ample opportunity for Paul and Eli to examine these and other sexy topics. 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