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Bret Weinstein

Bret Weinstein is an American evolutionary biologist, author, and podcaster.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Bret Weinstein is an American evolutionary biologist, author, and podcaster. He taught biology at The Evergreen State College from 2002 to 2017 and later became widely known for his role in the 2017 campus controversy there. He co-hosts The DarkHorse Podcast with his wife, Heather Heying.

Early life and education

Bret Weinstein was born in 1969 and studied biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz before earning a PhD in biology from the University of Michigan. His academic training was in evolutionary biology.

Academic career

Weinstein taught at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, from 2002 until 2017. His work has been described as focusing on evolutionary trade-offs, adaptive patterns, and related questions in evolutionary theory.

Evergreen State College controversy

Weinstein became widely known after protests at Evergreen State College in 2017 led to his resignation. The events brought him significant national media attention.

Writing and media work

Weinstein is an author and podcast host. He co-hosts The DarkHorse Podcast with Heather Heying and co-wrote A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century.

Key facts

  • Weinstein earned a PhD in biology from the University of Michigan.
  • He taught evolutionary biology at The Evergreen State College for 14 years.
  • He became a public figure during the 2017 Evergreen State College protests.
  • He co-hosts The DarkHorse Podcast with Heather Heying.
  • He and Heying co-authored A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bret Weinstein?
Bret Weinstein is an American evolutionary biologist, author, and podcaster known for his academic work and for becoming a public figure after the Evergreen State College controversy.
What is Bret Weinstein known for in biology?
He is known for work in evolutionary biology, especially topics such as adaptive trade-offs and other patterns in complex biological systems.
Where did Bret Weinstein teach?
He taught at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, from 2002 to 2017.
What is The DarkHorse Podcast?
The DarkHorse Podcast is a show co-hosted by Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying.
Did Bret Weinstein write a book?
Yes. He co-authored A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century with Heather Heying.
What is his connection to Canada?
There is no strong direct Canada-specific connection in the available sources.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_Weinstein
    Supports: Birth date, occupation, Evergreen State College tenure, public attention from 2017 controversy.
  2. Edge.org — https://www.edge.org/memberbio/bret-weinstein
    Supports: Describes him as a theoretical evolutionary biologist and states he taught at Evergreen State College for 14 years.
  3. BretWeinstein.net — https://www.bretweinstein.net/about-bret-weinstein
    Supports: Education, PhD, research focus, teaching history, podcast and book.