STEM Romance and the Chaos of Academia | Love and Other Brain Experiments byHannah Brohm

from What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a neuroscientist writes a romance set in academia? In this episode, I’m chatting with debut author Hannah Brohm about Love and Other Brain Experiments—a workplace romance inspired by the chaotic world of research labs, anonymous peer reviews, and the surprising ways love can show up when you least expect it.We talk about Hannah’s journey from cognitive neuroscience to romance writing, how academia shaped the story, and why romance became a comforting escape during grad school and the pandemic. Plus, we dive into her reading life—from workplace romcoms to cozy mysteries—and she shares a few book recommendations that belong on your TBR.If you love smart romcoms, STEM heroines, and enemies-to-lovers tension, this conversation is for you.📚 Books MentionedLove and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm — Contemporary Romance | STEM RomanceAll in Your Head by Sabina Norquist — Contemporary Romance | Fake Dating | Disability RepAnd Then There Was the One by Martha Waters — Cozy Mystery Rom-Com | HistoricalThe Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone — Romantic Comedy | Friends to Lovers | LondonThe Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon — Workplace Romance | MediaThe Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas — Fake Dating RomanceAnna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins — YA RomanceThe Hating Game by Sally Thorne — Enemies to Lovers | Workplace Romance⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to Hannah Brohm and her debut romance[01:00] What cognitive neuroscience is and how it inspired the book[03:00] The realities of working in academia and postdoc life[05:00] The premise of Love and Other Brain Experiments[06:00] Hannah’s romance reading journey and early influences[07:00] Discovering adult romance during grad school and COVID[09:00] How peer review inspired the book’s enemies-to-lovers setup[10:00] Balancing academia, writing, and reading[12:00] Why writing romance can be cathartic[14:00] Hannah’s reading tastes and current reads[15:00] Fake dating romance recommendation: All in Your Head[16:00] Cozy mystery rom-com recommendation[17:00] Romcom set in London recommendation[20:00] Writing New York as a setting and personal connections to the city[21:00] Where to find Hannah onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

NOW PLAYING

0:00 21:42

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Shadowwork and The Divine Union Within

Dec 5, 2025 ·50m

You gotta RELEASE to RECIEVE Babes 💁🏽‍♀️

Oct 9, 2025 ·33m

The Manifestation Matrix 👁️

Oct 3, 2025 ·40m

Reclaiming the Divine Feminine Throne as The Crone 👑🖤🌙

Sep 11, 2025 ·31m

Why destiny swap when you can just do this?

Aug 27, 2025 ·39m

One thing is for sure, two are for certain…

Aug 18, 2025 ·54m

Similar Podcasts

Big Old Life: Heather Blackbird interviews people on planet earth. Heather Blackbird loves asking questions. This podcast is a learning experience. Join me, Heather Blackbird, as I talk to people about their lives. Frequency of new episodes is a little all over the place and I'm learning as I go. Big Old Life is a small way of talking about the vastness of life, one person at a time. If you are reading this or found this podcast it's probably because someone you know gave you a link to it. :) Explicit Tales Of A Superstar DJ The Insomniac Spun seemingly out of nowhere from her complacent life in the corporate world, turned seemingly overnight from 16-Hour shift work and into the life of a literally starving artist and working musician, The Protagonist navigates her supposed rise to fame and superstardom on a journey through spiritual awakening, coming-of-age, and intimate self-realization--guided by an omnipresent force and equipped with the power of love, magic, and music. {Enter The Multiverse.} [The Festival Project] The Festival Project, Inc.™ is a multidimensional multimedia platform which encompasses exploratory and artistic social personifications and expressions on cosmic theory, spirituality, growth, health & wellness, philosophy and theoretic dynamics in entertainment such as music, design, film, television, radio, dance and festival culture, art, fashion, literature, and science. The Festival Project™ and its subsidiary Non-Profit, The Collective Complex © aims to challenge modern artistic and philosop Explicit Bitcoin Is Dead Trey Carson Welcome to Bitcoin is Dead, the ultimate Bitcoin variety show where host Trey takes you on a journey through the ever-evolving world of Bitcoin. Each episode brings new personalities, fascinating locations, and insightful conversations with politicians, educators, and innovators shaping the future of Bitcoin. Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting your journey, tune in for thought-provoking discussions, unique perspectives, and a deep dive into the ideas and people driving the Bitcoin revolution. Explicit The Sacred +Profane Podcast nephtaragrace The Sacred + Profane Podcast is a provocative conversation dedicated to cementing a better future for all. We specialize in unpacking the nuances of what is considered sacred and profane, particularly focusing on sex, death, and all that pertains to the circle of life. Our aim in focusing on such ”taboo” subject matter is to demystify what is unconscious, bring to light what has been known for centuries as ”the occult,” and empower the rapid transformation that is occurring on the Planet. Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show?

This episode is 21 minutes long.

When was this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode published?

This episode was published on March 13, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!