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The Science of Fading Love: Why Relationships Die and Revive

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What makes love fade and passion disappear? Drawing from Helen Fisher's brain chemistry research, the Gottmans' relationship science, and Esther Perel's work on desire, this episode reveals the biological and psychological patterns behind relationship decay-and the evidence-based practices to rekindle connection.

The Science of Fading Love: Why Relationships Die and Revive
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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.

Modern Wisdom
link
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-modern-wisdom-30936734/episode/817-dr-anna-machin--199725441/
Vasopressin and Pair-Bond Formation: Genes to Brain to Behavior
link
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physiol.00049.2005
The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work
link
https://www.goodreads.com/pt/book/show/34001660-the-all-or-nothing-marriage
Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/eight-dates-by-john-gottman
Marriage & Couples Research Overview
link
https://www.gottman.com/about/research/
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9618721-attached
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
Why women cheat: testing evolutionary hypotheses for female infidelity in a multinational sample
link
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513824000710
WorkLife with Adam Grant
link
https://adamgrant.net/podcast/the-science-of-healthy-relationships-with-john-and-julie-gottman/
GSS 1972–2024 Cumulative Datafile (variable: evstray)
link
https://sda.berkeley.edu/sdaweb/docs/gss24rel1/DOC/hcbk0152.htm
Huberman Lab (Guest Series)
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/guest-series-dr-paul-conti-how-to-build-and-maintain-healthy-relationships
The mate switching hypothesis
link
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886916308534
The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36326439-the-state-of-affairs
Mating in Captivity
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/mating-in-captivity-by-esther-perel
Commitment and its theorized determinants: A meta-analysis of the Investment Model
link
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227615395_Commitment_and_Its_Theorized_Determinants_A_Meta-analysis_of_the_Investment_Model
Huberman Lab
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/the-science-of-love-desire-and-attachment
Couples' shared participation in novel and arousing activities and experienced relationship quality
link
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/understanding-marriage/shared-participation-in-selfexpanding-activities-positive-effects-on-experienced-marital-quality/0E8C0FAB040ACDF3896F7E92A79A4DCC
Daily technology interruptions and emotional and relational well-being
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32831467/
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
link
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798
Oxytocin amplifies sex differences in human mate choice
link
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453019305578
The mathematics of love
link
https://www.ted.com/read/ted-books/ted-books-library/the-mathematics-of-love
Helen Fisher at TED
link
https://www.ted.com/speakers/helen_fisher
The Magic Relationship Ratio, According to Science
link
https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/
Oxytocin, vasopressin and pair bonding: implications for autism
link
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2006.1939
What Makes Love Last?: How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15947410-what-makes-love-last
Self-expansion is associated with greater relationship and sexual well-being for couples coping with low sexual desire
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/IZTM3GG6FF6DXRZPITPN/full
The neurobiology of attachment
link
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286631241_The_neurobiology_of_attachment
The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-evolution-of-desire-by-david-m-buss
“Technoference”: The Interference of Technology in Couple Relationships
link
https://www.ovid.com/journals/ppmc/fulltext/10.1037/ppm0000065~technoference-the-interference-of-technology-in-couple
Helen Fisher: How Does Love Affect The Brain? (TED Radio Hour)
link
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/22/780960553/helen-fisher-how-does-love-affect-the-brain
What Predicts Change in Marital Interaction Over Time?
link
https://pericles.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1999.00143.x
The interplay of attachment styles and marital infidelity: A systematic review and meta-analysis
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10754894/
The Love Prescription
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-love-prescription-by-john-gottman
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Input question

Why do relationships lose their passion and how can we bring it back?

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

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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."

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@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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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
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comments12
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
starstarstarstarstar

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

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments201
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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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comments37
likes483

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

@Cashflowbubu
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