791: Math or Magic?

This American Life - A podcast by This American Life - Mondays

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When it comes to finding love, there seems to be two schools of thought on the best way to go about it. One says, wait for that lightning-strike magic. The other says, make a calculation and choose the best option available. Who has it right? Prologue: When guest host Tobin Low was looking for a husband, he got opposing advice from two of the most important people in his life, his mom and his best friend. (8 minutes) Act One: Zarna Garg had a clear plan for how she was going to find a husband. Things did not go as she expected.  (17 minutes) Act Two: People who fall in love at first sight often describe it as a kind of magic. One of our producers, Aviva DeKornfeld,  is skeptical of these sorts of claims. And also a little envious. (10 minutes) Act Three: Calvin is an 11 year old who is learning what love is all about, the hard way. (7 minutes) Act Four: Writer Marie Phillips believes that magic is not just reserved for the beginning of a relationship. In fact, she says the real magic can be found  in the end, once you decide to finally leave. (8 minutes) Coda: Tobin Low tells us which camp he falls in — math or magic. (2 minutes)