Self-Helpless

The Science of Generosity: How Giving Rewires Your Brain and Impacts Health & Behavior (+ What We Get Wrong About Human Nature) with Cherian Koshy

Self-Helpless

Show Notes

Delanie Fischer chats with Cherian Koshy, author of Neurogiving and a leading researcher on generosity, about the science of giving—and why it’s not just nice, it’s powerful. They discuss the research-backed benefits of giving for mental, emotional, and physical health, and how we can leverage generosity not only to help others, but also to improve our lives, work, and relationships.

Episode Highlights:

The $5 Happiness Experiment

The Baby Study: Are We Wired for Generosity or Selfishness?

4 Unconscious Biases That Drive Buying Behavior

Giving’s Health Benefits: Stress, Anxiety, Blood Pressure & Loneliness

The Power of (Individual) Storytelling: Rebecca the Chicken!

Tips for Nonprofit Workers Who Want to Increase Donation Efficacy

The Power of Identity, Belonging, Framing, and Cognitive Dissonance

____

A quick 5-star rating means a ton! ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-helpless/id1251196416⁠

Get a bunch of free Self-Helpless goodies: ⁠https://www.selfhelplesspodcast.com/⁠

Ad-free episodes (audio & video) now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/selfhelpless⁠

Your Host, Delanie Fischer:⁠ https://www.delaniefischer.com⁠

____

Related Episodes:

10 Fascinating Tricks For More Wins And Improved Well-Being with Janice Kaplan: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/23c60009/10-fascinating-tricks-for-more-wins-and-improved-well-being-with-janice-kaplan

It’s Not a Mental Health Crisis: Human Reactions to a Loneliness Epidemic with Dr. Jody Carrington: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/2d626d7b/its-not-a-mental-health-crisis-human-reactions-to-a-loneliness-epidemic-with-dr-jody-carrington

Stop Asking Yourself the Wrong Questions: How to Unlock Deeper Fulfillment with Elliott Connie: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/365204fb/stop-asking-yourself-the-wrong-questions-how-to-unlock-deeper-fulfillment-with-elliott-connie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from Self-Helpless

Sep 18, 2026

Delanie Fischer chats with Timothy Burki about the near-death experience that changed his life. Ten years ago, Timothy was involved in a motorcycle accident that led to an out-of-body experience. He shares what he witnessed and came to understand about life and death—and how it's impacted his beliefs, desires, and goals.

Aug 28, 2026

Delanie Fischer chats with Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers and systems specialist—with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University—to discuss the basic principles of Hinduism, how to understand and implement our unique purpose, and our duties as a caretaker species. Dr. Rao also shares how his faith has shaped his life, work, and health.

Aug 21, 2026

Delanie Fischer and subscriber and guest co-host, Madelyn, chat about creating opportunities personally and professionally that result in more connection, fun, and meaning. They share personal experiences around leveraging their strengths, interests, and values for exploring their career, building relationships, focusing on health, and prioritizing creativity. If you're feeling the pressure of the status quo, tune in for a reminder to embrace your unique qualities and enjoy what makes you, you.

Jul 24, 2026

This is one of the most unconventional episodes of Self-Helpless yet, while still grounded in curiosity and respectful skepticism. Delanie Fischer chats with Elizabeth April—author and spiritual influencer—to explore her claims of extrasensory abilities, alien abduction, and ongoing ET contact. They discuss Elizabeth’s beliefs about past life regression, remote viewing, consciousness, the nature of reality, various species of extraterrestrial beings, hybridization, and the Galactic Federation of Light. No matter your beliefs, we hope this episode encourages exploration of mysticism across religious and cultural traditions through a fresh lens.

Jul 10, 2026

Delanie Fischer chats with Dr. Anna Herby—registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine—about disease prevention and remission. They discuss lifestyle-related conditions, strategies for improving and reversing symptoms, common nutrition myths, and the exercise vs. diet debate—what matters most for longevity based on scientific evidence.

See all episodes →