Why Evil Seems To Win (& What To Do About It) | (#062) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
It’s easy to look at some of the biggest villains in history (both real and fictional) and assume that they were evil incarnate. It’s easy because it frees you from the burden that you could become just like them.
But pure evil doesn’t exist. In fact, so much of the evil you see in the world is just pain that’s been unexamined and unhealed, and then unleashed on others. That’s why history is riddled with the oppressed overcoming the oppressors and then doing the exact things the oppressors did to them to others.
This doesn’t only happen in politics or wars. It happens in your personal and professional life too. Wounded parts left unintegrated dish out the same wounds to others that caused them.
The solution isn’t blind kindness nor hardened cynicism. The only solution is to integrate them, and let each sword sharper the other. Or, as I like to call it, learning how to become a Hawkish Dove.
Why Sexual Freedom Isn’t Immorality — It’s Integrity | (#061) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
Most people say they support sexual freedom. But when a woman—or man—actually lives it… they turn on them. Judgment. Outrage. Moral panic.
So here’s the real question: “Can you be sexually free and morally good?” And if you can, why does it trigger so much shame in others?
The Truth About Connection: Why Success Feels Empty Without It | (#060) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
Smart, driven people often fall into a trap: You’ve learned from a young age that achievement means love, and so, you chase achievement and other external markers of success only to realize the gnawing void is still there.
Most think their childhood patterns will get dissolved by father time. But the truth is, these patterns adapt to your knowledge, and become masters of disguising themselves.Take, for example, the seductive idea of independence. For ambitious men, independence is really isolation in disguise, which leads to deep loneliness (even if you have an attractive wife, thousands of followers, or are the most popular person in any room).
And no amount of external success can save you from this trap. But connection can.
Why Manipulation Always Backfires—Even When It Works
Manipulation promises control. It gets the short-term result, the approval, the “yes.” But the moment you win through deception, you lose something far more important: your own respect. Authenticity might cost you a few easy wins, but it’s the only way to build lasting trust, in love or leadership.
Why Being Yourself Feels Unsafe (But Why It’s Necessary for Happiness) | (#059) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
There is a seductive and destructive lie many people fall for: Learn the best tricks and gimmicks and you can have complete control over your relationships – romantic and business.
It’s so seductive because it promises control and success, but it’s even more destructive because it delivers fear instead of control and breeds insecurity instead of success.
Worst part?
These tricks and tactics work in the short-term, but they come with a mighty hidden cost: You slowly erode your self-confidence and self-respect – two necessary ingredients for happiness and fulfillment.
But there’s a better way, and that’s what I share with you in today’s show. The solution is simple, but not easy.
The Myth of “Shit Tests”: Why Men and Women Keep Misunderstanding Each Other
For years, men have been told women throw “tests” or hide behind “shields.” The truth? Those ideas were never real. Women aren’t playing games—they’re protecting themselves. Men aren’t villains—they’re confused and ashamed. Dropping these myths isn’t about being woke. It’s about truth, respect, and creating real connection.
Why Manipulation Always Backfires (& Authenticity Wins In The End) | (#058) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
There is a seductive and destructive lie many people fall for: Learn the best tricks and gimmicks and you can have complete control over your relationships – romantic and business.
It’s so seductive because it promises control and success, but it’s even more destructive because it delivers fear instead of control and breeds insecurity instead of success.
Worst part?
These tricks and tactics work in the short-term, but they come with a mighty hidden cost: You slowly erode your self-confidence and self-respect – two necessary ingredients for happiness and fulfillment.
But there’s a better way, and that’s what I share with you in today’s show. The solution is simple, but not easy.
How Deep-Rooted Sexual Shame Cripples Connection & Creates Conflict | (#057) Beyond Success: Psychology & Philosophy for Achievers, with David Tian, Ph.D.
In pickup artist culture, men see women’s natural defenses as tests and shields: Pass these “shit tests” and break through her “bitch shields,” and you win her love and affection.
But women aren’t sitting around scheming elaborate tests or plotting shields. They’re responding to lived experiences, not imagined battle plans. That’s why these pickup artist tricks, while they can work in the short-term, never result in lasting love and connection.
They’re based on lies, drenched in sexual shame, and actively work against your goals of lasting connection.
The solution is much harder – it means reframing her defenses as your projections. It means taking ownership of how shame makes you react. And it’s about seeing her defenses as invitations for patience, curiosity, and compassion.
This path is much harder. But it’s the only path towards real connection.
Why Radical Transparency Is the Most Attractive (and Ethical) Approach in Dating and in Leadership
Most men are taught to hide what they want—whether in dating or in leadership. The result? Disappointment, resentment, and mistrust. Radical transparency isn’t only more attractive; it’s also the foundation of real integrity. Here’s why.
Your Dark Side Isn’t the Problem—It’s the Answer
Most professionals try to bury the parts of themselves they’re ashamed of—envy, anger, desire, even pettiness. But repression doesn’t erase them. It makes them stronger. The path to fulfillment isn’t in hiding your dark side, but in integrating it. Here’s how facing what you fear most inside yourself can unlock the trust, intimacy, and leadership you’ve been searching for.