How to be an altruist with 'Try This'
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 6 December 2025
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What’s really going on inside the brain of an altruist? Why do altruists care so much more for a stranger who needs help? Why are they so willing to give away a kidney?
In this episode from the Washington Post’s “Try This” podcast, host Cristina Quinn explores what it means to be an altruist with Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University. Together, they break down how altruists view their own actions and how others can become more altruistic too.
Marsh offers insight into what scientists know about altruists and shares surprising findings from her own research. She also tells us how you can build the muscle of giving more in simple steps that fit your lifestyle.
Read more about Marsh’s work on altruism here.
Also, read Washington Post Brain Matters columnist Richard Sima’s story on how doing good is good for you.
To hear more, check out “Try This” wherever you listen to podcasts.
Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey there, it's Colby. |
| 0:06.8 | There's something so special about this time of year, those precious few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when many are at their most generous. |
| 0:16.0 | It's the season of giving after all. |
| 0:18.5 | So in that spirit, we have something special for you today. We're bringing |
| 0:22.5 | you an episode from another Washington Post podcast, Try This. Try This is a series of short audio |
| 0:29.1 | courses hosted by my colleague Christina Quinn. Christina is hilarious, and she also loves helping |
| 0:35.4 | people learn how to improve their lives. |
| 0:42.4 | The latest try this course is all about altruism and the idea of charitable giving. |
| 0:48.8 | On this first episode of the course, Christina talks to a neuroscientist about what it means to be an altruist and how we can build up our altruism like a muscle. |
| 0:52.8 | And after you listen, be sure to follow Try This |
| 0:55.4 | in your podcast app. All right, here's the show. |
| 0:58.1 | Hey, welcome to Try This from The Washington Post. Try This is a series of audio courses to help you take on common challenges and learn something new without having to make a big time commitment. |
| 1:20.6 | I'm Pristina Quinn and I'll be learning with you. |
| 1:24.2 | This time we're giving it all away. Okay, not quite. |
| 1:28.1 | More specifically, we'll be digging deep into altruism and giving. |
| 1:33.3 | And why we're more hardwired to care about strangers than you might think. |
| 1:37.9 | If you're new here, welcome. |
| 1:40.0 | This course will have two classes, aka two episodes. |
| 1:44.2 | First, we'll learn what it means to be altruistic, what that looks like, |
| 1:49.0 | and how you can actually build up your altruism like a muscle. |
| 1:53.7 | Then we'll get into practical ways to give, whatever your budget allows. |
| 1:57.9 | Okay, classes in session. Let's try this. |
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