Post Reports: How to Be an Altruist with 'Try This'
Published: December 6, 2025 | Hosted by Christina Quinn | Guest: Dr. Abigail Marsh

Episode Overview

This episode is a crossover from the Washington Post’s “Try This” podcast, with host Christina Quinn exploring the science and practice of altruism. The episode centers on how everyday people can cultivate greater generosity, the psychological and neurological underpinnings of altruism, and practical steps to give more—even if you aren’t ready to donate a kidney. Christina speaks with Dr. Abigail Marsh, a psychologist and neuroscientist at Georgetown University, whose personal brush with altruism shaped her research into why people help strangers and how anyone can strengthen their altruistic “muscle.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story That Sparked a Career in Altruism Research

• Abigail Marsh’s life-changing encounter
  At 19, Abigail was stranded in a dangerous situation on a freeway. A stranger risked his safety to pull her car to safety and disappeared into the night, leaving a deep impression on her.

  "I think I would have died if it hadn’t been for the actions of this stranger who made a split second decision to try to save my life."
  — Abigail Marsh (02:30)

• This event inspired her to devote her career to understanding altruism—why people help others, especially strangers.

2. Defining Altruism & Studying the “Super Altruists”

• Altruism in psychology:
  Behavior intended to help someone else, not for personal benefit.

  "You help somebody specifically because you wanted to help them, not for some underlying reason."
  — Abigail Marsh (05:53)

• Dr. Marsh’s research focuses on “extreme” altruists—especially people who donate kidneys to strangers.

  "You're certainly making a known sacrifice of one of your own healthy organs forever to help save a stranger's life."
  — Abigail Marsh (06:36)

3. Brain Science: Altruism vs. Psychopathy

• Dr. Marsh’s lab found altruistic kidney donors often have a larger amygdala—a brain region crucial to processing fear and empathy. Conversely, psychopaths have smaller amygdalas.

  "They were more reactive than typical people to the sight of other people in distress...they were relatively better at recognizing other people's fear as well."
  — Abigail Marsh (07:46)

4. The Traits of Altruistic People

• Less selfish & more humble:
  Contrary to the assumption that altruists are “morally puffed up,” Marsh found they’re exceptionally humble and don’t see themselves as special.

  "If you think that you’re the most special person around…why would you want to help less special people?"
  — Abigail Marsh (09:02)

• Intuitive generosity:
  For extreme altruists, donating a kidney feels obvious and natural—not extraordinary.

  "It almost seems like not donating is the choice that needs an explanation. Donating seems like the most obvious choice in the world."
  — Abigail Marsh (09:15)

• Consistency across participants:
  Christina reacts to how many altruists use the same language—as if helping is a “no-brainer.”

  "It's not about me. It felt like a no-brainer."
  — Abigail Marsh (10:31)

• Human, not saintly:
  Altruists remain regular people, imperfect like anyone else.

  "They're very human. They're not perfect, they're not saints…I've had people, when I've asked questions along these lines, be like, no, I flipped somebody off in traffic on my way here."
  — Abigail Marsh (10:43)

5. How to Build Your Altruism “Muscle”

Start Small & Find What’s Enjoyable (13:05–16:10)

• Begin with easy, intuitive acts:
  Pick up trash, donate blood, give change. Start with what feels natural and attainable.

  "Start with something that seems easy for you, that does seem intuitive..."
  — Abigail Marsh (13:05)

• Match helping to your interests:
  Like exercise, choose types of giving you enjoy and will stick with—help locally, volunteer socially, support causes that move you, etc.

  "It's just like exercise, right?...Whatever way that you find help intrinsically makes you feel gratified and reinforced, that's what you should do."
  — Abigail Marsh (13:26)

• Helping should be joyful, not martyrdom:
  Suffering isn't required for virtuous acts—the more joy you find helping, the more likely you’ll continue.

  "Taking joy in helping people and finding it intrinsically enjoyable does not mean that it's less good. I would argue it's more good because there's more joy in the world and you're more likely to keep doing it."
  — Abigail Marsh (15:28)

• Motivation matters:
  Intrinsic motivation leads to greater, lasting fulfillment.

  "If you're only giving because you feel pressured by other people...you're not gonna feel as good after helping as if you're helping because you really wanna help."
  — Abigail Marsh (16:15)

Make a Plan—“Implementation Intentions” (17:04)

• Getting specific about when, where, and how you’ll give greatly increases follow-through.

  "If you want to do something that's consistent with your values, the more precisely you can sort of plot out the where, when, why, how, the more likely you are to actually act in a way that you want to act."
  — Abigail Marsh (17:04)

6. Small Gestures with Big Ripples (18:25–19:41)

• Even brief, positive interactions—eye contact, smiles, small assistance—strengthen social trust and can have lasting community impacts.

  "Even just like putting your phone away and being fully engaged in the world around you…these are all little things that are so easy for all of us to do. But...will change the opinion of each person that you interact with just a little bit."
  — Abigail Marsh (18:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the humility of altruists:
  "Genuinely altruistic people are very humble. And it turns out that humility and being unselfish go hand in hand."
  — Abigail Marsh (09:02)

• On making giving sustainable:
  "Helping is most effective and sustainable when it's internally motivated and aligned with your values."
  — Christina Quinn (19:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Abigail Marsh’s life-changing encounter — 02:30
• What is altruism in psychology? — 05:53
• Insights from kidney donor research — 06:36
• Altruism vs. psychopathy: the amygdala — 07:15
• Humility & motivations — 09:02
• How to start being more altruistic — 13:05
• Find the joy, not martyrdom — 15:28
• Make a giving plan (“implementation intentions”) — 17:04
• Power of small daily acts — 18:25

Recap & Practical Takeaways (19:41)

• Extreme altruists see helping as intuitive, not extraordinary.
• Altruism can be grown, like a muscle—start with small acts.
• Align giving with your personality and find what is naturally rewarding.
• Intrinsic motivation and concrete plans increase follow-through.
• Even minor positive interactions can build social trust and lead to lasting change.

Final Thought:
Spread those good vibes, my friend. (19:41)

Next episode:
Actionable, practical tips on giving—even for those on a tight budget.

For more, follow the “Try This” podcast and share how you practice everyday altruism at trythis@washpost.com.