Buddhism, Altruism, and Effective Giving

Peter Singer, one of the most influential philosophers alive today, joins us to discuss how his views have evolved during the past 50 years of his career. We explore his changing perspectives on the value of sharing controversial views, the effectiveness of rational versus emotional appeals, whether its possible to transform our relationship with charity for the better, and his recent engagement with Buddhist philosophy. Singer offers rare insights into the mind of someone who has spent decades refining his thinking on how we can live more ethical lives.

Want more Peter Singer?

• Check out the Lives Well Lived podcast, which Peter co-hosts
• His latest book, Consider the Turkey, is a short but powerful read
• But it's hard to beat his 'greatest hits': Animal Liberation (first published in 1975 but updated in 2023), and his 1972 article Famine, Affluence and Morality

About the hosts:

Thom and Aidan left boring, stable careers in law and tech to found FarmKind, a donation platform that helps people be a part of the solution to factory farming — regardless of their diet. While the podcast isn’t about animal welfare, it’s inspired by their daily experience grappling with a fundamental question: Why do people so rarely change their minds, even when confronted with compelling evidence? This curiosity drives their exploration of intellectual humility and the complex factors that enable (or prevent) meaningful belief change.

Thoughts? Feedback? Guest recommendations? Email us at hello@changedmymindpod.com