We are not a monogamous species.

In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with evolutionary anthropologist and Oxford researcher Dr. Anna Machin to explore the science of love — from why fathers are biologically vital to their children’s development to how brain chemistry explains connection, heartbreak, and even parasocial love. Discover what really bonds us, how “maternal gatekeeping” can harm relationships, and the surprising chemical that actually powers lifelong love.

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Chapters:
01:00 – Meet Dr. Anna Machin: Oxford’s Love Scientist
03:34 – The “Deadbeat Dad” Myth
05:11 – How Fatherhood Shaped Human Evolution
10:24 – Three Things Every Great Dad Does
15:15 – Is It Ever Too Late to Repair Father–Child Bonds?
20:08 – Breaking Generational Patterns: Becoming the Father You Needed
23:47 – The Birth Story That Changed Her Career
31:12 – Maternal Gatekeeping: When Moms Don’t Let Dads Parent
35:41 – The Opioid Theory of Love
43:12 – Why Dancing & Singing Makes Us Feel Alive
54:25 – The Dark Side of Love
56:04 – Love Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Biological Need
58:12 – What Happens in the Brain When We Lose Love
01:00:47 – Loneliness: The Modern World’s Silent Killer
01:04:26 – Online Love & Parasocial Bonds Explained
01:15:00 – Love Is the Most Human Thing We Do

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“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET.
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#scienceoflove #fatherhood #neuroscience

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