Connor O'Donoghue is 21 years old, a computer science student on his way to UCLA, a competitive rock climber, and the father of a 130-pound pig named Wilbur. He also has opinions that most men twice his age are still too afraid to say out loud. In this episode, Connor sits down with Elena Sophia Ruiz for a conversation that covers everything: why he refuses to date until he is financially ready, why he thinks dating apps have commercialized love, what his generation actually believes about masculinity, and why he found Nietzsche before he found a therapist. He is sharp, self-aware, a little provocative, and surprisingly honest about what he does not yet know. He's a young man thinking in real time, and that's what makes it worth listening to. In this episode: Why he is not dating: Connor's case for dating to marry, and why he will not start until he is readyThe commercialization of love: What dating apps actually do to how a generation thinks about relationshipsMasculinity and the economy: Why young men are shifting right, and why Connor says it has nothing to do with group thinkSex vs. love: What most men his age get wrong, and where society taught it to themReligion and the problem of evil: Why Connor read the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah, and still came out agnosticMental health his way: Nietzsche, philosophy, and why he would not recommend his own methodThe rapid fire round: Monogamy, pornography, happiness, and one answer about polygamy that surprises everyoneThe Intimate Conversations with Men is hosted by Elena Sophia Ruiz, a communication expert and human behavior specialist with 37 years of experience studying how people think, connect, and grow. This podcast creates the space where men actually go there: relationships, health, emotional intimacy, fear, purpose, and the real talk that almost never happens anywhere else. New episodes drop every Thursday at 6am PST. Subscribe so you never miss one. Listen and subscribe:Apple Podcast: Intimate Conversations with MenSpotify: Intimate Conversations with MenFollow Elena Sophia Ruiz:Podcast Website: https://www.intimateconversationswithmen.com/Elena's Website: https://elenasophialifebalance.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenasophiasdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElenaRuizSDTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elenasophiasd Leave a review. If this podcast has meant something to you, a review takes two minutes and helps more men find these conversations. Thank you. Intimate Conversations with Men | Hosted by Elena Sophia Ruiz © 2026 Elena Sophia Ruiz. All rights reserved. (00:46) - Welcome to Intimate Conversations With Men (01:06) - Meet Connor O'Donoghue: rock climber, CS student, pig dad (04:06) - Why a pig instead of a dog (05:22) - Manhood: what does it mean to a 21-year-old? (06:05) - The feminization of men and the devaluing of the protector (08:29) - Female classmates, unhappy careers, and the cost of living (11:06) - Politics, libertarianism, and why young men shifted right (14:03) - The commercialization of dating and the illusion of choice (15:17) - Women as gatekeepers: what the media told them (17:35) - Dating to marry: his actual philosophy (22:18) - Vulnerability, suicide rates, and the cost of staying closed (23:47) - Conflating love with sex: the media's role (24:38) - Valentine's Day and the commercialization of love (25:32) - Reading the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah (26:17) - The problem of evil and why Connor can't believe (30:57) - Mental health: Nietzsche, philosophy, and finding meaning (32:02) - His advice for young men in a depressive state (33:02) - Rapid fire round (36:04) - Closing: be the action, not the angry tweet (38:05) - Elena's farewell and final words