In the Vox podcast In a Nutshell, hosts Jara Majerus and Antonia Leise take a deep dive into the university's most interesting, strange, and exciting research. Every two weeks, they invite Radboud researchers to talk about their favourite topics – explained in bite-sized episodes. In today's episode, Jara talks with Johan Karremans about romantic relationships.

What makes and breaks a good romantic relationship? Why can’t our relationships be perfect? And how can mindfulness help us make better connections?

Ah, romantic relationships. They make us see the world through rose-coloured glasses and let us feel thousands of butterflies in our tummies, don’t they? Yet, many people would likely agree that having a romantic relationship can be quite a challenge. So, how to do them right?

In this episode of In a Nutshell, Jara explores the science behind romantic relationships. Her guest, Johan Karremans, offers intriguing insights into the world of interpersonal connections and explains how mindfulness can help us in our relationships with others.

Karremans is a Professor at the Behavioural Science Institute. In his research, he investigates what determines the failure and success of social relationships and what role mindfulness can play in our relationships.

Do you want to know more about mindfulness and social relationships? Follow Johan’s tip and read Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson. And for those who want to start practicing mindfulness themselves, Johan suggests the meditation app InsightTimer.