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The Chemistry of Love: Science Behind Choosing Your Person

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What makes hearts race on first dates vs. years later? Drawing from David Buss's cross-cultural research, John Gottman's predictive relationship science, and Esther Perel's groundbreaking work on desire, discover the biological systems that drive our romantic choices-and how to harness them for lasting love.

The Chemistry of Love: Science Behind Choosing Your Person
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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.

TED Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness
The Good Life
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-good-life-by-robert-waldinger
The Tim Ferriss Show
link
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/584-the-tim-ferriss-show-28292125/episode/463-esther-perel-the-relationship-71398808/
The All-or-Nothing Marriage
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34001660-the-all-or-nothing-marriage
Research FAQ
link
https://www.gottman.com/about/research/faq/
Online Dating: A Critical Analysis From the Perspective of Psychological Science
link
https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/research/detail/2012/online-dating-a-critical-analysis-from-the-perspective-of/
TED Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/esther_perel_the_secret_to_desire_in_a_long_term_relationship
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
link
https://podfollow.com/the-knowledge-project-with-shane-parrish/episode/fc253366d5ca65b8f1993cfb04967877c84c4ccf/view
Mating in Captivity
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/mating-in-captivity-by-esther-perel
The Dark Triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1002/per.698
From Dating to Mating and Relating
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1002/per.768
TED Talk
link
https://www.english-video.net/v/en/2252
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19714497-hold-me-tight
Lex Fridman Podcast
link
https://lexfridman.com/david-buss/
The Love Prescription
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-love-prescription-by-john-gottman
Modern Wisdom
link
https://www.audible.com/podcast/319-David-Buss-The-Hidden-Psychology-Of-Sexual-Conflict/B094J2BV78
Attached
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/attached-by-amir-levine
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/the-science-of-love-desire-and-attachment
How to Not Die Alone
link
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54304221
The Evolution of Desire
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-evolution-of-desire-by-david-m-buss
Sex differences in human mate preferences
link
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/sex-differences-in-human-mate-preferences-evolutionary-hypotheses-tested-in-37-cultures/0E112ACEB2E7BC877805E3AC11ABC889
TED Talks (Speaker page)
link
https://www.ted.com/speakers/helen_fisher
Dataclysm
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21536593-dataclysm
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXzTbCEqCJc
Eight Dates
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/eight-dates-by-john-gottman
Modern Wisdom
link
https://www.audible.com/podcast/432-Geoffrey-Miller-An-Evolutionary-Psychologists-Dating-Advice/B09RWLCMSJ
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3549332-seven-principles-for-making-marriage-work
Is actual similarity necessary for attraction? A meta-analysis
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265407508096700
Key findings about online dating in the U.S.
link
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/esther-perel-how-to-find-build-maintain-healthy-romantic-relationships
The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167297234003
Marital processes predictive of later dissolution
link
https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/rebound-from-marital-conflict-and-divorce-prediction-S4rXfseJjE
Match Makers and Deal Breakers: Analyses of Assortative Mating in Newlywed Couples
link
https://colab.ws/articles/10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00289.x
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Input question

What makes us fall in love with certain people and not others?

Podcast Style
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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
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likes117

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

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

@Matt, YC alum
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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
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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comments96
likes4.5K

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

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

@Moemenn
platform
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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
starstarstarstarstar

"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
platform
starstarstarstarstar

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

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments201
thumbsUp16

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

@OojasSalunke
platform
starstarstarstarstar

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

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

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

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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