What happens when a volcanologist and geochemist applies rigorous scientific standards to feminist theory and evolutionary psychology? You get one of the most intellectually honest conversations about gender differences, attraction, and modern dating politics you'll ever hear.

Marc Defant, Professor at the University of South Florida, didn't start out studying human mating behavior—he studied volcanoes. But after discovering evolutionary psychology in the 1990s through Robert Wright's "The Moral Animal," he became fascinated by the collision between scientific evidence and social ideology. What he found shocked him: Feminist academia's critique of evolutionary psychology was based on political positioning rather than empirical rigor.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Damien and Marc explore the uncomfortable truths about biological differences between men and women, the myth of the "blank slate," why women are underrepresented in STEM fields (and why that might not be oppression), parental investment theory, the wage gap reality, and how social construction theory fails under scientific scrutiny.

This isn't about attacking anyone—it's about honest inquiry. Marc brings the dispassionate lens of a scientist to questions that are typically dominated by ideology, examining everything from mate selection to career choices through an evidence-based framework. Whether you agree or disagree, you'll appreciate the intellectual honesty.

For academic papers and more information, visit Marc's website: marcdefant.com

Tim Wienecke returns to the School of Attraction podcast for a fascinating deep-dive into red pill philosophy and manosphere ideas. Rather than dismissing or blindly accepting these concepts, Damien and Tim (host of the American Masculinity podcast) take a thoughtful, nuanced approach to examining core beliefs about hypergamy, the dating marketplace, male and female attraction, and relationship dynamics.

This conversation explores the grey areas that most people avoid—challenging ideas about women's attraction to resources, the 80/20 rule in dating, whether men and women can truly be friends, polyamory versus monogamy, and the evolution of desire in long-term relationships. With intelligent devil's advocacy and real-world perspectives from two dating coaches working across different continents, they dissect what's valuable in red pill thinking and where it misses the mark.

If you're tired of echo chambers and want a balanced, honest discussion about modern dating and masculinity that respects your intelligence, this episode delivers. Check out Tim's podcast American Masculinity for more thoughtful conversations on these topics.

In this episode of the School of Attraction podcast, Damien reconnects with Chris Manak, a long-time dating coach and friend, to explore the evolving landscape of dating. They dive deep into what it’s really like dating in Southeast Asia, why many men mistakenly think moving overseas makes romance easier, and how cultural differences shape attraction.

The conversation also unpacks how apps have reshaped modern dating, the rise of apathy in relationships, and whether men and women are drifting so far apart that AI and digital partners may become the norm. Damien and Chris bring candid insights, real-world stories, and hard-hitting truths about what it takes to succeed in today’s dating world.

Whether you’re tired of swiping, curious about dating abroad, or wondering how masculinity and connection are changing in our times, this episode offers a refreshing and thought-provoking take on love, sex, and attraction.