Below the Surface

Dive 115: What successful people know about “doing the right thing”

3 simple leadership principles that transform teams, relationships, and society itself. Learn why doing the right thing when it's hard sets leaders…

Sep 23 • 

Alvin

Dive 114: Why you need to avoid the AI companionship trap

Are AI chatbots true friends or just persuasive tools? Discover why risk-free companionship weakens us. Learn to use AI without losing yourself.

Sep 9 • 

Alvin

2

4

August 2025

Dive 113: Why Critical Thinking takes Courage

Learn how 3 simple critical thinking techniques expose the flaws in “safe” solutions like speed cameras. And why critical thinking takes guts.

Aug 26 • 

Alvin

2

Dive 112: What people get wrong about healing

Explore why escapism isn't healing, and how real self-care means building a life you don’t want to escape through meaning, service, and struggle.

Aug 12 • 

Alvin

3

July 2025

Dive 111: How Platforms Shape People

How digital platforms like Substack shape our behavior. And what it means for building strong, lasting connections and thriving communities.

Jul 29 • 

Alvin

3

4

Dive 110: The key to Gratitude? Restraint.

Discover why practicing restraint can make your emotions, words, and pleasures more powerful and meaningful.

Jul 15 • 

Alvin

1

June 2025

Dive 109: When Activism Becomes a Grift

Modern activism promises change but profits few. Learn about the Activism Industrial Complex and what genuine advocacy looks like. Learn to protect your…

Jun 17 • 

Alvin

1

2

Dive 108: How to end envy the healthy way

How do you not covet what others have? Build a Personal Lighthouse. More than a north star, it's a detailed vision of what you value most. Here's how it…

Jun 3 • 

Alvin

2

May 2025

Dive 107: How Thoughtful Developers are really using AI

Is AI the end of software developers or just the beginning of better software? Here's how the best devs use it.

May 20 • 

Alvin

1

Dive 106: Should you Hunt or Gather?

Two distinct strategies to get what you want: hunt or gather. Success depends on the tactic you choose. Here's what they are, why it matters, and how to…

May 6 • 

Alvin

2

April 2025

Dive 105: The Greatest Leaders are Critical Readers

The greatest leaders have goals greater than what's directly in front of them day-to-day. They have a passion for life, the world, and people in it…

Apr 22 • 

Alvin

Dive 104: A good mentor is not a chauffeur

The best mentors let you drive. They let you take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. For the student, it means taking responsibility for freedom…

Apr 8 • 

Alvin

3

3