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The Chemistry of Connection: How Human Bonds Shape Our Health

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Discover how our closest relationships physically rewire our brains and bodies. Drawing from Harvard's 80-year study, Helen Fisher's brain imaging research, and Robin Dunbar's social network theory, learn why the Surgeon General calls connection as vital as quitting smoking-and the practical steps to strengthen your bonds.

The Chemistry of Connection: How Human Bonds Shape Our Health
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

The Village Effect
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465586-the-village-effect
Modern Wisdom #986
link
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-modern-wisdom-30936734/episode/986-esther-perel-how-291022777/
The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167297234003
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/together-by-vivek-h-murthy
The Magic Relationship Ratio, According to Science
link
https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/
Modern Wisdom #520
link
https://www.audible.com/podcast/520-Robin-Dunbar-The-Evolutionary-Psychology-Of-Love/B0BC6B53KM
Social effects of oxytocin in humans: Context and person matter
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21696997/
Attached
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/attached-by-amir-levine
Laughter and its role in the evolution of human social bonding
link
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0176
How bad is the mere presence of a phone? A replication and extension
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34106931/
Serve and Return (key concept)
link
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/serve-and-return/social-media/
The Good Life
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-good-life-by-robert-waldinger
Ventral striatopallidal oxytocin and vasopressin V1a receptors in the monogamous prairie vole
link
https://ohsu.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/ventral-striatopallidal-oxytocin-and-vasopressin-v1a-receptors-in
Can you connect with me now? Presence of mobile phones and conversation quality
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407512453827
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
link
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html
The secret to living longer may be your social life
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_pinker_the_secret_to_living_longer_may_be_your_social_life
Mating in Captivity
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/mating-in-captivity-by-esther-perel
Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review
link
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7516/
Capitalizing on Everyday Positive Events Predicts Intimacy and Well-Being
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5407905/
A gender-specific mechanism for pair bonding: oxytocin and partner preference formation in monogamous voles
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7576222/
Vasopressin-dependent neural circuits underlying pair bond formation in the monogamous prairie vole
link
https://ohsu.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/vasopressin-dependent-neural-circuits-underlying-pair-bond-format
The brain in love
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_the_brain_in_love
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1960612.Loneliness
The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/the-science-of-love-desire-and-attachment
Come As You Are
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/come-as-you-are-by-emily-nagoski
The Art of Gathering
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-art-of-gathering-by-priya-parker
Guest Series | Dr. Paul Conti: How to Build and Maintain Healthy Relationships
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/guest-series-dr-paul-conti-how-to-build-and-maintain-healthy-relationships
Myeloid differentiation architecture of leukocyte transcriptome dynamics in perceived social isolation
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1514249112
What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness
Reward, Motivation, and Emotion Systems Associated with Early-Stage Intense Romantic Love
link
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00838.2004
Hold Me Tight
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21539.Hold_Me_Tight
Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/social-why-our-brains-are-wired-to-connect-by-matthew-d-lieberman
Intranasal oxytocin increases positive communication and reduces cortisol levels during couple conflict
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19027101/
Rethinking infidelity ... a talk for anyone who has ever loved
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/esther_perel_rethinking_infidelity_a_talk_for_anyone_who_has_ever_loved
Modern Wisdom #604
link
https://dexa.ai/modernwisdom/d/75d8377a-6992-11ee-b575-b7932ad70957
Romantic love: an fMRI study of a neural mechanism for mate choice
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16255001/
Social laughter triggers endogenous opioid release in humans
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28536272/
Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review
link
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7519/
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Input question

How do our relationships with others impact our physical and mental health?

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments12
likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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