The French Philosopher

How Far Will You Speak Up? Integrity is more than a virtue; it is the foundation of our identity. It represents the alignment of our actions, values, and commitments into a coherent whole, forming the essence of who we are. To abandon these commitments is to lose touch with the very core of our being.

History is full of moments when individuals chose not to stay silent, even when the odds seemed insurmountable. Václav Havel, a playwright turned dissident and later president, is one such figure. But his story isn't about grand gestures or dramatic heroics. It's about the quiet, steady courage of living in alignment with one's values, even when doing so carried immense personal risk.

Havel didn't set out to lead a revolution. He simply refused to accept lies as truth or to conform to a system that demanded silence. Through his plays, essays, and actions, he challenged the oppressive structures around him, not with force, but with integrity. And though his path led to imprisonment and hardship, it also helped spark a peaceful revolution that changed history.

Not everyone is called to, or capable of, Havel's level of sacrifice. But his life invites us to reflect: where could our own integrity lead us? What courage might it give us in moments that matter? Integrity doesn't always demand dramatic acts of defiance; sometimes it's found in the quiet choices we make every day, choices that ripple outward in ways we may never fully see. Integrity is how we stay true to ourselves every day, not just in big moments. Our values shape who we are, defining our identity through consistent choices and actions.

Here’s a powerful inspiration extracted from my latest book (beautifully translated by Carol Volk):

When the Berlin Wall fell, "poets, philosophers, and singers became members of Parliament, government ministers or even presidents." Those who refused to "be reasonable" and "went on thinking about how to make the world a better place" rewrote history. Based on his successful experience, despite what initially seemed like impossible odds, Havel has a message of encouragement to share that is all the more convincing as it is anchored not in "reasonable" or even "idealistic" beliefs but in reality.
"Many people said it couldn't be done, and that I had gone mad," he recalls. "And look: it can be done, and we are all sitting here together." Hope is not unreasonable in the end but "the victory of reason over the political stereotypes to which inertia tries to fetter us." That is why he concludes that "it is never pointless to think about alternatives that may at the moment seem improbable, impossible, or simply fantastic. [...] Rather it appears that there are moments in history when dreaming on principle may in fact come in handy."

The Marshmallow Test: Trust Issues Start Young

What if I told you some kids fail the Marshmallow Test not because they lack self-control, but because they’ve already figured out adults are about as trustworthy as a raccoon guarding an open bag of chips? Why wait for a second marshmallow when the adult in charge looks like they’re about to eat it themselves? These kids aren’t impulsive—they’re just realists in a world where promises vanish faster than campaign slogans after election day.

Promises, Patience, and Sweet Lies

For those who missed the memo, the Marshmallow Test is a famous psychological experiment where kids are given a choice: eat one marshmallow now or wait 15 minutes and get two. It’s often seen as a predictor of future success, and every parent secretly hopes their child will resist that marshmallow, picturing it as the golden ticket to Ivy League diplomas, corner offices, and a perfectly polished future. But here’s the kicker: kids don’t wait because they’re born with superhuman willpower; they wait because they trust that the second marshmallow will actually show up.

Trump and the Case of the Vanishing Marshmallows

And that brings us to Trump. His presidency was like throwing kids into a Marshmallow Test with an adult who keeps saying, “Just wait a little longer,” while sneakily scarfing down all the marshmallows behind their back, and after you waited and there’s no marshmallow left, they’d declare, “The deal’s off.” Whether it was pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, reversing healthcare protections, or rolling back rights for marginalized groups, his policies created an environment where no one could trust what tomorrow might bring.

Short-Term Thinking: The Ultimate Buzzkill

This isn’t just bad governance; it’s psychological sabotage. When people lose faith in the future, they stop investing in it. Businesses delay innovation—why take risks when regulations flip-flop every four years? Families postpone major life decisions—just look at how birth rates dropped during COVID-19 as financial and health uncertainties skyrocketed. Society becomes stuck in short-term thinking, grabbing at immediate gains instead of planning for long-term success.

Macron, Sarkozy, and Europe’s Trust Meltdown

And let’s not pretend this is just an American issue—Europe has its own cautionary tales we’d be wise to avoid. Remember Macron dissolving France’s National Assembly after his party lost its majority? He promised voters their voices would shape governance but then failed to appoint a government reflecting their choices. Or Sarkozy, who pushed France into joining a European treaty despite voters rejecting it in a referendum? These moves didn’t just undermine democracy—they shattered public trust in institutions and leadership itself.

Kierkegaard Was Right (But Marshmallows Prove It)

Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Trust is what allows us to live forwards—to make sacrifices today because we believe they’ll pay off tomorrow. When leaders like Trump (or Macron or Sarkozy) undermine that trust, they don’t just disrupt progress; they erode our collective ability to plan for a better future.

The Real Lesson of the Marshmallow Test: Snack Now or Later?

Isn’t the real lesson of the Marshmallow Test less about patience and more about trust? I mean, who’s going to wait for a second marshmallow if you’re not even sure it’s coming—are we optimists for holding out, or just realists who know when to grab the first snack and run?

Yesterday, DeepSeek just wiped $1tn off the US stock market——should we embrace its groundbreaking AI despite concerns over censorship, data security, and ethical implications?

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿?
This Chinese AI model is flipping the script in a big way. Training DeepSeek to become “smart” costs 20 times less in processors compared to its American competitors. Naturally, Nvidia—the go-to supplier of those pricey processors, one of America’s top AI giants—took a massive hit, with its stock plummeting and dragging along that jaw-dropping $600 billion loss. Ouch.

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤?
Now, beyond the jaw-dropping numbers, here’s the million-dollar question: should we even use DeepSeek? Technology isn’t some neutral tool—it comes baked with the values and intentions of its creators. Jumping on the DeepSeek bandwagon without thinking critically is like ignoring the moral and political baggage it might carry. Sure, it’s cheaper and crazy powerful, but it appears to censor answers to sensitive questions about China and its government. I strongly encourage you to read its answers when The Guardian asked questions about Tiananmen Square and Taiwan (click on the image below to see a video comparing its answers with ChatGTP's). And what about data security? And are we okay with potentially handing over our information to a state whose track record on human rights and surveillance raises more than a few eyebrows?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮: 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘃𝘀. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀
Here’s where philosophy swoops in to save the day (thanks, Hans Jonas!). His “principle of responsibility” urges us to think ahead about how our tech choices might impact humanity and the planet. So, let’s ask ourselves:

• Are we willing to sacrifice our values for efficiency?
• Should we draw clear ethical lines when it comes to innovations like this?

Food for thought, right? I’d love to hear where you stand on this tricky balancing act!

It’s Blue Monday—the so-called “most depressing day of the year.” So I want to share a philosopher’s perspective on despair. Nietzsche knew a thing or two about enduring hardship. Nietzsche reminds us that even in despair, we always have the choice to interpret our lives as we see fit.

Listen to the episode to get the juicy details 🎧

Elon Musk is channeling serious Machiavelli vibes—warning us about AI doom one minute, backing deregulation the next (as part of Trump's first day moves). Is he a bold visionary rewriting the rules to shape the future, or a tech power player playing both sides? Love him or hate him, Musk is proving that great leaders don’t follow the rules—they make their own.

Listen to the episode for the juicy details.🎧