Rephonic
Artwork for Love Factually
Romantic Relationships
Attachment Theory
Friendship
Relationships
Relationship Science
Brokeback Mountain
Marriage
Romantic Comedies
Love Triangles
Sexuality
Jerry Maguire
Challengers
Ambition
Romantic Films
Michelangelo Phenomenon
Romantic Love
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Her
Compatibility
Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes69Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureRelationshipsSocial SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Love Factually

Latest Episodes

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, Penél... more

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 s... more

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 ins... more

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 Sl... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Hidden Brain
Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
A Slight Change of Plans
A Slight Change of PlansPushkin Industries
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology PodcastDr. Justin Lehmiller

Recent Guests

Benjamin Karney
Professor of Psychology at UCLA, studies intimate relationships
University of California, Los Angeles
Episode: Deep Dive: Romantic AI
Paul Bloom
Professor of Psychology, University of Toronto; emeritus at Yale
University of Toronto, Yale (emeritus)
Episode: Deep Dive: Romantic AI
Yuthika Girme
Associate Professor at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Episode: Sleepless In Seattle (1993) with Yuthika Girme
Laurie Santos
Professor at Yale University; host of Happiness Lab
Yale University
Episode: Casablanca (1942) with Laurie Santos
Paige Harden
Professor at University of Texas; author of The Genetic Lottery and Original Sin
University of Texas
Episode: The Devil Wears Prada (2006) with Paige Harden
Donovan Sherman
Chair of the English department at Seton Hall University
Episode: Romeo + Juliet (1996) with Donovan Sherman
Paul Eastwick
Professor of Psychology at the University of California Davis, runs the Attraction and Relationships Research Lab
University of California Davis
Episode: Bonus Episode: Paul and Eli on the Speaking of Psychology Podcast with Kim Mills
Eli Finkel
Social Psychologist at Northwestern University, author of The All or Nothing Marriage
Northwestern University
Episode: Bonus Episode: Paul and Eli on the Speaking of Psychology Podcast with Kim Mills
Matt Rhodes
Former naval aviator and current American Airlines pilot
American Airlines
Episode: Top Gun (1986) with Matt Rhodes

Hosts

Paul Eastwick
Host of Love Factually; professor of psychology; co‑host who guides the discussion.
Eli Finkel
Co‑host; professor of psychology; researcher on marriage and relationships.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 364 ratings
  • So good!

    I just discovered this podcast and I can’t get enough! As a relationship coach I find it so intriguing and helpful that Paul & Eli bring in science and research. As a human who’s always curious about human behaviour, morality, diversity, and love, their varying takes on aspects of each movie are so interesting and thought provoking. They’re funny, engaging, and I just smile and nod (mostly! lol) as they discourse. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Carla Dawes
    Canada2 months ago
  • Genius format

    Incredibly bingeable listens. I’m a sucker for good rom coms. As a hopeless romantic, it’s grounding to hear an academic perspective on the relationship dynamics in these movies. This is such a genius format because these movies enter the cultural consciousness and have a huge impact on our perspectives, hopes, and fantasies about love and romance, and it’s great to unpack that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MichaelRunjie
    United States6 months ago
  • Geeking out about the science of love

    I love seeing a new episode of Love Factually in my feed. The format is smart, I always learn something new about relationship science, and it’s a fun ride dissecting a favorite movie, or discovering a new one. The best part of this podcast are the hosts, Paul and Eli. You can hear that they’re totally geeking out on the subject matter and it’s a real joy to listen to. Thanks for making one of my favorite podcasts!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FancyWoolCoat
    United States6 months ago
  • So good!

    I’m grateful that someone mentioned this podcast to me, it’s become one of my favorites. I could listen to these two talk about anything, I find them super likable. We are lucky to have them💛

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jode44
    United States6 months ago
  • Always a delight

    Paul and Eli’s genuine enthusiasm for romantic movies, their thoughtful (and entertaining!) analyses, and the fascinating insights they offer into research on the nature of close relationships — all make this show absolute catnip!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Up with the larks
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The format blends movie critique with rigorous relationship science, which keeps episodes insightful and entertaining.
Episodes are praised for offering practical takeaways without sacrificing intellectual depth.
Listeners value the hosts' enthusiasm and clear expertise in psychology and relationships.
Hosts are engaging, scientifically grounded, and funny, making complex research accessible.
Guests and co‑hosts are described as likable, knowledgeable, and well‑prepared to discuss nuanced topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bull Durham (1988) with Dan Pink
Q: Did you notice any misconceptions about relationships in the movie?
Yes, the episode notes that Annie's yearly monogamous cycles and the love-triangle setup are not typically how real relationships work, and the discussion questions the realism of the conflict resolution and the believability of the season-long dating pattern.
Casablanca (1942) with Laurie Santos
Q: Is Rick ultimately romantic, given the ending?
The hosts and Laurie argue that the film's romantic core may lie more in the transformation of Rick's character and the couple's shared growth, rather than a conventional romantic ending.
Casablanca (1942) with Laurie Santos
Q: What does psychology say about Ilsa navigating the love triangle?
Laurie Santos explains hedonic versus eudaimonic happiness and suggests choosing purpose-driven happiness can prevent adaptation and maintain meaning in long-term decisions.
Casablanca (1942) with Laurie Santos
Q: What are we talking about today?
We're analyzing Casablanca through the lens of relationship science, looking at attraction, sacrifice, memory, and identity in the Rick–Ilsa–Laszlo triangle.
Romeo + Juliet (1996) with Donovan Sherman
Q: Donovan, what do you think about the balcony scene?
The balcony scene is transformed into a pool scene in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation, which captures a contemporary essence while giving Juliet agency as opposed to the traditional distance implied in the balcony setting.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Love Factually

What is Love Factually about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two psychology professors break down beloved rom‑coms through the lens of relationship science, pairing movie moments with research on attraction, communication, forgiveness, and social dynamics. Episodes span classic rom‑coms and modern films, often featuring expert guests who illuminate topics like ambition, identity, non‑monogamy, and everyday relationship behavior with rigorous findings presented in accessible, entertaining discussions. A standout angle is the blend of pop culture with academic rigor, keeping conversations both scientifically grounded and highly relatable for listeners who love movies and care about how relationships actually work.

Where can I find podcast stats for Love Factually?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Love Factually. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Love Factually and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Love Factually get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Love Factually, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Love Factually?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Love Factually, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Love Factually have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Love Factually has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Love Factually?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Love Factually:

1. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
2. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
3. Hidden Brain
4. A Slight Change of Plans
5. Sex and Psychology Podcast

How many episodes of Love Factually are there?

Love Factually launched 2 years ago and published 69 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Love Factually?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Love Factually?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Love Factually from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Love Factually?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Love Factually. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Love Factually?

Recent guests on Love Factually include:

1. Benjamin Karney
2. Paul Bloom
3. Yuthika Girme
4. Laurie Santos
5. Paige Harden
6. Donovan Sherman
7. Paul Eastwick
8. Eli Finkel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days