DiscoverThe ExcerptWhat drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers?
What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers?

What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers?

Update: 2025-11-13
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In honor of World Kindness Day — we’ve partnered with the Humankind team at USA TODAY for a deeper exploration on the topic of compassion. What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers and how can we actively cultivate this selflessness as a society? Abigail Marsh, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Georgetown University, joins The Excerpt to talk about empathy and altruism — why we help, even when it costs us. 

Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com.  

Episode transcript available here

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What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers?

What drives us to carry out acts of kindness for total strangers?