In this episode of Everything Is Personal, we explore provocative ideas with Steve Pasin, author of Taming the Fetal Tyrant. From megalomania in the womb to how culture and epigenetics shape our choices, this conversation challenges our view of human nature. Steve argues that every human is born with the instinct to “win, control, dominate, and be right,” and culture simply channels these impulses. Is the difference between Mother Teresa and Hitler really just a matter of circumstance and choice? How do stress, trauma, and genetics turn those drives into compassion—or destruction?
Chapters
00:00 – 02:06 | Megalomania and the psychology of the womb
02:06 – 05:32 | Defining human nature: to win, control, dominate, and be right
05:32 – 09:33 | Childhood, sports, and early science ambitions
09:33 – 13:44 | Epigenetics, biology, and writing the book
13:44 – 20:31 | Mother Teresa vs. Hitler: same nature, different choices
20:31 – 27:56 | Epigenetics, trauma, and stress responses
27:56 – 34:31 | Stress as “social defeat” and its biological cost
34:31 – 40:59 | Free will, choices, and shaping our epigenetics
40:59 – 47:14 | Mindset, thought, and biochemical reality
47:14 – 53:48 | Cultural beliefs, religion, and science as truth
53:48 – 59:11 | Redefining love: oxytocin and “getting what you want”
59:11 – 01:06:57 | Relationships, narcissism, and codependency
01:06:57 – 01:12:01 | Music, memories, and personal stories
01:12:01 – 01:15:49 | Where to find the book & closing reflections