The Science of Love (Episode 1)

The Science of Love (Episode 1)

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center February 5, 2026 Duration: 25:16
The Science of Happiness
ScienceSocial
In a culture that often reduces love to romance, Geena Davis helps us explore the science of love across the lifespan—revealing how our bonds with parents, friends, partners, and communities shape our health, happiness, and survival. Summary: Love is commonly understood as a feeling, yet scientific research increasingly points to its role as a core biological drive. In this episode of The Science of Love, we explore how love is expressed through caregiving, friendship, romantic attachment, and shared experience, and how these connections leave measurable effects on the brain, body, and even the microbiome.  Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Related The Science of Happiness episodes:   The Science of Love Series: https://bit.ly/TheScienceofLove 36 Questions to Spark Love and Connection: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78u How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr Today’s Guests: ANN DRUYAN is an author, activist, and documentary producer. Learn more about Ann Druyan’s work here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8crkev DANIEL LEVITIN is a neuroscientist, musician, and bestselling author. Follow Daniel Levitin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniellevitinofficial JESSICA EISE is a social and environmental scientist and is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health with Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. Learn more about Jessica Eise here: https://jessicaeise.com/ ANNA MACHIN is an evolutionary anthropologist who studies the evolution of love. Learn more about Anna Machin here: https://annamachin.com/ FRANCESCO BEGHINI is a computational biologist at Yale University. Learn more about Francesco Beghini here: https://tinyurl.com/knm4du4m ILANA BRITO is a biomedical engineering professor at Cornell University. Learn more about Ilana Brito here: https://tinyurl.com/mtnhw3yd CONSTANCE BAINBRIDGE is a Communication PhD student at UCLA. Learn more about Constance Bainbridge here: http://constancebainbridge.com/ SANDRA LANGESLAG is a cognitive and biological psychologist who studies romantic love. Learn more about Sandra Langeslag here: https://tinyurl.com/523wc9wx Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Funding for this special was provided by the John Templeton Foundation, as part of the Greater Good Science Center's Spreading Love Through the Media initiative. Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/bfave5wd

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
instagramyoutubelinkedin
The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
Across school campuses and communities, students and educators are discovering how listening, curiosity, and everyday conversations can open pathways across differences and help restore a sense of shared humanity. Summar…
Happiness Break: A Walking Meditation With Dan Harris of 10% Happier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:00
Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris. How To Do This Practice: Start walking at a comfortable pace in a place where you can move wit…
How To Step Away from Anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
Do you have a hard time calming your nerves? Author Raina Telgemeier tries a practice to get out of her head, one step at a time. Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, bestselling graphic novelist Raina T…
Happiness Break: The Unexpected Joy of Slow Looking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:37
What happens when you linger and look closely at a piece of art? Nathalie Ryan, an educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., guides us through a slow looking practice shown to help deepen your sense o…
Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:40
Description: Sharing a new podcast called Stories from a Stranger, which features portraits of strangers connected by themes of love, loss, regret, inspiration, illness, family connections, and more. In each episode of S…
The Art of Slowing Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
What happens when we slow down enough to really experience art? We visit a museum to discover how slow looking at art can cultivate awe, empathy, and a greater sense of connection in a distracted world. Summary: Art has…
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:40
Take a few minutes to reflect on someone who inspires you, and how you can embody the values you admire in them. How To Do This Practice: Arrive and Settle: Find a quiet place to sit or stand. Gently close your eyes or s…
An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:59
Noticing the history and beauty around us can shift how we see ourselves—and our communities. An awe walk through Harlem reveals how the stories embedded in public spaces can spark connection, perspective, and a sense of…
Happiness Break: A Loving-Kindness Practice for Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:09
In this gentle practice, psychologist Kristin Neff helps us extend loving kindness inward, offering ourselves the same care and goodwill we naturally give to others. How To Do This Practice: Settle into your body: Sit co…
How Cities Can Make Space for Awe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:22
A simple experiment turning a parking space into a parklet reveals how small changes to public spaces can spark connection, belonging, and awe. Summary: What if even the smallest changes to our cities could transform how…

12345...10»