Sep 4, 2026 · 1h 42m
Steinem’s legacy tests feminism against biology and merit
Where Feminism Went Wrong: The 342nd Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
The episode asks whether feminism can pursue reproductive autonomy and equal opportunity without abandoning biological reality or consistent standards.
- 1Steinem’s early journalism and Ms. Magazine are presented as powerful challenges to editorial and social constraints.
- 2The hosts argue that institutions need shared standards, especially when evaluating scientific achievement and competition.
- 3An evolutionary discussion of love, dogs, and cats reframes the episode’s broader concern with precise definitions and human behavior.
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Heather Heying contrasts the empowering early years of Ms. Magazine with later claims she considers biologically and scientifically misguided.
The brief
Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying begin with the death of their dog Maddie, using dogs and cats to introduce questions about companionship, love, and emotional language.
Their main historical subject is Gloria Steinem: undercover journalism, the founding of Ms. Magazine, and the struggle to protect editorial independence from advertisers.
The hosts distinguish reproductive autonomy from later feminist claims they view as biologically reductive, then connect ecofeminism and postmodern politics to attempts to make reality fit ideals.
Drawing on their scientific training, they defend meritocracy, direct criticism, and common standards while debating sex differences in competition and the rules institutions require.
The episode closes by returning to love’s evolutionary meanings, contrasting parental attachment and human-dog companionship with the more independent relationship often associated with cats.
Featuring
Bret Weinstein
Heather Heying
Gloria Steinem
Nickel and DimedBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.