Emotion science has a lot to say about love. In this week's episode, we discuss chocolate, psychedelics, prairie voles, oxytocin, and the Greek phrase "fasolaki mou" ("my little green bean").

Join our recurring hosts Dr. Alan Cowen, Dr. Dacher Keltner, Danielle Krettek-Cobb, and Matt Forte as they welcome special guest, actor Melina Kanakaredes ("CSI: NY" and "The Resident.“)

In this clip, actor Melina Kanakaredes explains how the Greek language and culture embrace the emotion of love. There are no fewer than 8 different Greek words for different types of love, including Melina's favorite, "filia" - the lifting up of others.

Later, Dr. Dacher Keltner explains how the emotion of love drives us away from the pursuit of self-interest and self-gratification toward selflessness and caring for others. When we feel love, studies show that the amygdala, involved in self-protection, actually shuts down.

Dr. Dacher Keltner and Danielle Krettek-Cobb also discuss the exciting development of medical uses of psychedelics, reflecting on their role in strengthening our love of life. Danielle details the expansive journey of psychologist and famed spiritual leader Ram Dass through his explorations in using psychedelics to induce awe and unconditional love. 

Lastly, Dr. Alan Cowen explains the science behind why we can't always choose who we love. Hint: The emotion of love is deeply rooted in human evolutionary biology.

All this and more can be found in our full episode, available on Apple and Spotify

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