In this episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we revisit the world of pickup artist culture and the ideas that shaped it - from confidence tactics and attraction techniques to so-called "mating strategies." We explore why these approaches appealed to men struggling on the dating scene and how they promised a formula for confidence and connection.

We also examine how some of these same dynamics continue to appear in modern dating culture, often in new forms - including the growing role of AI in helping people navigate conversations and capture attention in digital spaces.

Sources:

Buss, David M. The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating. Basic Books, 2016.

The Pickup Artist, 3Ball Productions, August 6, 2007 – November 30, 2008

“Michael Pollan Says Humanity Is About to Undergo a Revolutionary Change”, The Interview 7 February 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/magazine/michael-pollan-interview.html

"‘I realised I’d been ChatGPT-ed into bed’: how ‘Chatfishing’ made finding love on dating apps even weirder"

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps