Effecting Our Altruism

India has a lot of call centers. Who are they calling? Mostly clients in other countries. But what if the efficiency, professionalism, and empathy practiced in those centers were onshored to those closest to the Indian people, perhaps those at most at risk for depression…instead of impatient customers on the other side of the planet? Kaya Guides is a digital mental health startup and one of Ambitious Impact's newest high-impact charity ventures. In our chat, Rachel lays out how a service like Kaya Guides can provide a new chapter in mental health for *hundreds of millions*. Rachel's team is looking to replicate the kind of jaw-dropping results observed in RCTs that have convinced the Lebanese government to adopt Smart Start. Rachel has been in the social impact space for over eight years, and is now clearly thriving as a founder. I was honoured to sit with her after EAG Boston and learn not only the story of Kaya Guides, but also the vibrant human who is walking her values. How to reach Rachel or Kaya Guides: hello@kayaguides.com Best ways to Reach Elliot: Linkedin or the EA Anywhere Slack Kaya Guides https://www.kayaguides.com/ For more on Effective Altruism Global conferences: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global For more about from Rachel and my other guests, check out the EOA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@-effectingouraltruism Listen to the full audio podcast: https://pod.link/1754081644 For more on Elliot's coaching: www.elliotbillingsley.com  

How can education transform lives in underserved regions like Eastern Uganda?  Education is a fundamental right, yet millions are denied access to quality learning. Learning Alliance recognizes that just throwing textbooks at children doesn't make learning happen. In addition to high-quality, localized materials, Learning Alliance is adding teacher training and ongoing coaching to ensure long-term impact. Robust evidence coming out of RCTs in Kenya has inspired this model, which is set to launch in Eastern Uganda in 2025. When I interviewed Learning Alliance Co-founder Ilana Kessler for my podcast, I learned how the project synthesizes her teaching background with extensive experience in scaling development work in East Africa. She isn't just someone flying into the region blind, she has worked in Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania and thinks deeply about what her work means to East African people.  Her scientific mindset, evidenced by the way she speaks about research and data, makes me bullish about how well the evidence elsewhere in East Africa might transfer to the Learning Alliance. I'm thrilled to see work that both honours the dignity of Ugandan people and stands to help millions. If Learning Alliance even partially realizes the promise that structured pedagogy holds, this could enable a better way of life for society in that region. Support Learning Alliance to help scale impactful solutions in Uganda. Learning Alliance https://www.learningalliance.net/ Best ways to Reach Elliot Linkedin or the EA Anywhere Slack Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@-effectingouraltruism Listen to the full audio podcast: https://pod.link/1754081644 Evidence Review https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PfET3a2QvJvLydB2t43dpf_r9hE7Bdhm/edit#heading=h.kxl0nqdr8gbi #LearningAlliance #EducationInEastAfrica #EffectiveAltruism #TeacherTraining #ImpactInvestment #Podcast #CharityEntrepreneurship  

This is what EAs talk about at afterparties. Or rather, afterparties of afterparties. Tax deductibility is not the sexiest topic I could find an interviewee for, but if you want to take a stand for your favourite effective charities, why would you be a sucker and pay as much taxes as the one who did their due diligence? SK is one of those soft-spoken and impossibly practical people you may never get the chance to meet. I learn a lot. Most importantly, how to hack the buffet line when it's-all-you-can-eat. The key message I want people to come away with after listening to this episode is the importance of due diligence, and also that EA Global events are dope. Enjoyed it? We recorded 2 fresh episodes at EAG Boston and they'll be out this month. All mistakes in this are mine. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you'd like me to make any corrections. Volunteer with RC Forward: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9FYiCu6ietnvKeIrgtKmn3hAARPcxGtT5uYYRQu9ZU-ELkQ/viewform RC Forward https://givingwhatwecan.org/ Center For Social Innovation https://socialinnovation.org/ Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@-effectingouraltruism Listen to the full audio podcast: https://pod.link/1754081644 Shoutout to Dina from Animal Justice for the production support! https://animaljustice.ca/  

I loved hearing how James's experience in the aid sector has influenced his views on effectiveness and optimization. Having worked with refugees, aid organizations, and advocates for children, James brings valuable field experience into his advocacy work. After seeing how major aid organizations operate, now, for him, “Okay is not good enough.” This is the 2nd in a set of 3 episodes focused on effective giving, and the 1st of two recorded at the EA Canada Retreat at the Center for Social Innovation in Toronto. Next week, we'll hear from SK OwYong from RC Forward. This episode is meaningful to me personally because in recording it, I literally make the 10% pledge live. I'd had it in mind to make the pledge for years but it was something about the moment that got me to finally do it. I'm planning to make my charitable donations near the end of the year. Thanks so much, James, for speaking with me! If you are thinking of join the growing ranks of 10% Pledgers, check out Giving What We Can. Giving What We Can https://givingwhatwecan.org/ Center For Social Innovation https://socialinnovation.org/ Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@-effectingouraltruism Listen to the full audio podcast: https://pod.link/1754081644 Anthony Kalulu, “Dear EA, please be the reason people like me will actually see a better world. Help me make some small stride on extreme poverty where I live -- by the end of 2024.” https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/zHEkcP3KLvu7yfz8s/dear-ea-please-be-the-reason-people-like-me-will-actually https://www.ugandafarm.org/ Shoutout to Dina from Animal Justice for the production support! https://animaljustice.ca/ https://animaljustice.ca/issues/ag-gag-laws Ali Abdal https://www.youtube.com/@aliabdaal  

If you donate some of your money to charity, you're doing something good, right? Odds are, you could be doing better. Welcome to the conversation about effective giving. Aman is a financial advisor who has been doing more good for humanity through donating money than most people typically accomplish in their whole lives. That's because he, along with others in the effective giving community, hold their donation dollars to the highest standard they can find. Aman is a Canada-based financial advisor. I know him as a specialist in effective giving. Aman began his career in financial services in 2021 when he decided to pursue his lifelong passion for personal finance. He left a career in retail management, completed his securities license, and started as an independent advisor with Canada Life. Following exponential growth in his client base, he opened Village Financial in 2024 with the goal of reaching more people in his own way. Note: We recorded this ahead of EAGxToronto 2024, which occurred in August. Thanks to my amazing producer Chad Clarke for being essential in putting this show together. All mistakes are mine. Village Financial https://villagefinancialtoronto.ca/ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@-effectingouraltruism Listen to the full podcast: https://pod.link/1754081644 1Daysooner's Hep C campaign https://www.1daysooner.org/hepatitis-c/ Michael Lenczner's Firm https://wearedaro.com/about Kurzgesagt: This Disease is Deadlier Than The Plague https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLb5h2O2Ww  

I was pretty inspired to hear Allison's story of walking her beliefs for so many years, and what she's learned. Everyone you have ever met touches the food system, in which Allison's centered her advocacy efforts. Protecting human health, preventing climate change, preserving habitats, effecting farmed animal welfare, and improving the economy. While Alison's work has focused on the Canadian system, I suspect that similar changes can apply to many places. Allison Penner is the Executive Director of Reimagine Agriculture (ReAg), which is helping to create a sustainable, resilient, and compassionate food system. She fights food waste and loss, educates the public, and advocates for policy to enable meat alternatives. She studied Environmental Governance and Political Science at Guelph, and was named a Clean50 Emerging Leader of 2023. Thanks to my amazing producer Chad Clarke for being essential in putting this show together. All mistakes are mine. Reimagine Agriculture https://www.reimagineagriculture.org/ Donate to ReAg here https://reimagineagriculture.nationbuilder.com/donatereag Share your story to get featured on ReAg! https://www.reimagineagriculture.org/share-your-story & EAGxToronto applications are open until 31 July at 11:59 pm Eastern–apply now! https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global/events/eagxtoronto-2024 Also! We're a PFG! Profit4good.org

We had the pleasure of speaking with Mario Gibney, who decided years ago that he couldn't just wait for someone else to take action on AI safety. In 2022, Mario co-founded AI Governance and Safety (AIGS) Canada to push the national conversation forward. Through movement and policy advocacy, AIGS is helping Canada become a leader in AI governance and safety. I recommend reading their concise white papers to get a summary of the issues. We learn how Mario got into this line of work, what Canadians think about the state of AI Safety these days, and things to get excited about in the Toronto scene. I leave you with a message about how to deal with the emotional toll of AI doomerism. Thanks to my amazing producer Chad Clarke for being essential in putting this show together. All mistakes are mine. Artificial Intelligence Governance & Safety Canada aigs.ca   LessWrong https://www.lesswrong.com/   Slate Star Codex https://slatestarcodex.com/   Astral Codex Ten https://www.astralcodexten.com/   80,000 Hours https://80000hours.org/   Center for AI Safety https://www.safe.ai/   Future of Life Institute https://futureoflife.org/   EAGxToronto applications are open until 31 July at 11:59 pm Eastern–apply now! https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ea-global/events/eagxtoronto-2024   We're a PFG! Profit4good.org  

Philanthropy operates on a slower gear than the private sector. It is constrained by systems and culture that block its potential to effect massive positive social uplift. It doesn't have to be this way. The Profit For Good Initiative advocates for charities to drive profit-seeking businesses. If the 'for purpose' sector were in charge--and if effective charities in particular held majority positions--the trillions of dollars in the consumer economy could go towards visions for a better world. My conversation with Brad came at an exciting time. The Commissions for a Cause project will soon put to test the theory that underpins the Profit For Good Initiative, that is, that consumers would rather do good than not, when given a choice. The concept is simple enough, and after talking about it more, I became convinced that the idea needs to be heard by more people. Please enjoy. Donate to Profit For Good here: https://profit4good.org/donation-elliot-billingsley/   Brad's EA Forum Profile: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/users/brad-west   The Against Malaria Foundation's current cost of saving a life: https://www.againstmalaria.com/   The 10% Pledge: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/   Natalie Cargill's TED Talk, “How to Solve the World's Biggest Problems” :  https://www.ted.com/talks/natalie_cargill_how_to_solve_the_world_s_biggest_problems?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare   Explore coaching with elliot: https://elliotbillingsley.com/coaching/

The Effecting Our Altruism Podcast is a portal into the lived experience of people committed to doing their best to serve others. Whether inspired by effective altruism or not, our guests confront immense problems with an effectiveness mindset.  The core question of effective altruism isn't owned by anyone. It's an ongoing conversation that may last lifetimes. And the answers do not lie with one person; I believe they will come from collective experiences. My hope is that listeners from all backgrounds can feel like they are a part of the solution. Please rate and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!