Playlist

If you liked Amy Webb, you’ll love…

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For the past week, Amy Webb has been inspiring people to calculate their own algorithm for love. Her laugh-out-loud TED Talk, about reverse engineering her online dating profile and, essentially, data-ing her way into her perfect relationship has gotten a lot of attention, including on The Frisky and Pop Sugar. As Webb’s talk continues to take off online, here is what to watch next if her talk intrigued you and left you wanting more.

Helen Fisher: The brain in love Helen Fisher: The brain in love
Helen Fisher: The brain on love
Love: it makes the world go ‘round, and has been found in 170 societies. But why? In this talk, Helen Fisher shares how she and her team put new couples, longterm couples and those who’ve just been dumped in MRIs, and what they’ve learned about our need for love based on this brain activity.
Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world
Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world
Algorithms are, basically, the mathematic programs computers use to make decisions. They guide our Netflix recommendations, book prices, the stock market, architecture optimization, and so much more. And yet, algorithms interfere and lock into each other in loops, creating bizarre behaviors. Slavin asks: Could entrenching these systems in our lives, even in the earth, have implications we don’t yet realize?
Esther Perel: The secret to desire in a long-term relationship Esther Perel: The secret to desire in a long-term relationship
Esther Perel: The secret to desire in a long-term relationship
Deeper intimacy leads to better sex, or so the story goes. But Esther Perel wonders if this is actually true. In her TED Talk, given in our office just like Webb’s, Perel looks at the problem of sustaining desire in a long-term relationship and how it relates to two needs often at odds: our need for security and our need for adventure. So what is the answer to this riddle? Well, you’ll have to watch.
David McCandless: The beauty of data visualization David McCandless: The beauty of data visualization
David McCandless: the beauty of data visualization
The name of Amy Webb’s book is Data, A Love Story. So we bet she would adore David McCandless’ talk about his work as a “data detective.” McCandless gives new understanding to statistics and other assorted data by rendering it visible in charts and graphs — which also happen to be beautiful works of art. Bonus: get to know much more on the thriving field of data visualization with these talks from data artists.
Jenna McCarthy: What you don't know about marriage Jenna McCarthy: What you don't know about marriage
Jenna McCarthy: What you don’t know about marriage
Marriage. Why would anyone permanently tie themselves to another human being who likely snores, won’t do their dishes, and will gain an estimated 50 pounds over the course of their lifetime? In this humorous talk, writer Jenna McCarthy looks at the data surrounding marriage and realizes … wait, maybe that’s not so bad after all. I mean, the health benefits alone…

Bonus: Christian Rubber’s TED-Ed lesson “The math of online dating,” in which he shares how exactly OKCupid, of which he is a founder, predicts whether a pair should go out on a date.

And to add a bonus on that bonus: here are 7 things we learned from Christian Rudder about online dating. An example: that the length of the message doesn’t matter.