Podcasts · DarkHorse Podcast

Just Asking Questions: The 343rd Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying

16 Sep 2026 · 1 h 30 min

On this, our 343rd Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss logic and scientific thinking, as it is done on politically hot topics (e.g. 9/11, Charlie Kirk), and on calmer topics like whether retrievers like to fetch (or just think that we like them to fetch), and whether domestic cats see people as big, clumsy cats. Putting all the hypotheses on the table, working hard to falsify even—especially—your favorite ones—and ending up with one left standing, is the scientific way, and how we arrive at answers that are most likely to be true. ***** Our sponsors: Ridge: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% off @Ridge with code DARKHORSE at https://www.Ridge.com/darkhorse #Ridgepod Dose for your Liver: Tasty drink with milk thistle, ginger, dandelion & turmeric to support liver health. Get 35% off your first subscription at http://dosedaily.co/DarkHorse. Puori: Clean and safe supplements, lab tested and guaranteed. Go to http://Puori.com/DarkHorse for 32% off grass-fed whey protein with a subscription. DarkHorse code works on all products! ***** Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned) Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org Music: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net Free License to use this track in your video can be downloaded at www.wintergatan.net Thumbnail Courtesy Getty Images News: Jeremy Weine / Stringer ***** Mentioned in this episode: Bret’s talk in NYC, 9-10-26, at Turning the Tide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9tol-sQZAM&t=4s Shermer tweet: https://x.com/michaelshermer/status/2099207300695429427 Dog fetch: https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/2079691639153664273 Neighborhood punk cat: https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/2093574318181474321 ***** Timestamps:

00:00:00 Why 343 Beats 243

00:01:12 Unbelievably Stupid, Apparently

00:04:36 Sponsor: Ridge

00:08:29 Sponsor: Dose

00:10:53 Sponsor: Puori

00:12:43 When Logic Gets Suspended

00:17:05 Reading Shermer's Tweet Aloud

00:22:25 Just Asking Questions is Normal

00:28:17 Hypotheses on the Table

00:33:41 Is This the Right Moment?

00:41:38 Do Dogs Really Like to Fetch?

00:46:56 Testing Fetch with a Machine

00:52:49 Are Cats Just Big Clumsy Cats?

01:01:18 Cats Talk to You, Not to Cats

01:05:10 Fairfax's Nightly Gifts

01:19:37 Chimeric Testes

01:29:40 That Was 343

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