• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Farnam Street Logo

Farnam Street

Mastering the best of what other people have already figured out

  • Newsletter
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Log In
  • Become a Member
TweetEmailLinkedInPrint

The Knowledge Project Podcast

The Science of Doing Good: William MacAskill [The Knowledge Project Ep. #36]

Philosopher William MacAskill helped launch the effective altruism movement. In this episode, he makes the case for long-termism, explains why doing good isn’t always intuitive, and shows how small actions today can shape the future of civilization. It’s philosophical, practical, and quietly urgent.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

MacAskill is the co-founder and President of the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) and an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Oxford University. He is also the founder and president of 80,000 Hours, the co-founder and vice-president of Giving What We Can, and the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference.

William’s work is primarily focused on encouraging people to use reason and evidence to find the best possible ways to use their resources to make the biggest possible impact on the world.

Listen and Learn.

Transcript

Get transcripts, early access, ad-free episodes, and so much more. Learn more or sign up now.

Already a member? Head over to the Members Only area to access transcripts and other Member Only content.

Become a Member

More Episodes

James Clear: How to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits, a global bestseller that has shaped how millions of people think about habits, consistency, and …

Listen NowJames Clear: How to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Pierre Poilievre on the Role of Government, Freedom, and Affordability

We released a special episode of TKP this week with Pierre Poilievre. While we don’t often tackle politics on the show, we are trying …

Listen NowPierre Poilievre on the Role of Government, Freedom, and Affordability

The Outlier Playbook: The Patterns Behind Enduring Success

What do some of the greatest outliers in business history have in common? For the past year, I’ve been sharing the stories of …

Listen NowThe Outlier Playbook: The Patterns Behind Enduring Success
The Knowledge Project Podcast with Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project

A podcast about mastering the best of what other people have already figured out. The Knowledge Project focuses on insights and lessons that never expire. You’ll walk away from every episode with actionable insights that help you get better results and live a more meaningful life.

Listen now onApple Podcasts
More Options
  • Spotify
  • Overcast
  • g id="Pocket-Casts-Roundel---Red">Pocket Casts
  • RSS

Never miss an episode

A podcast about mastering the best of what other people have already figured out.

Articles

  • Mental Models
  • Decision Making
  • Learning
  • Book Recommendations
  • All Articles

Podcast

  • Latest Episodes
  • Organized by Theme
  • ChatBot

Books

  • Clear Thinking
  • The Great Mental Models
  • All Books

Newsletter

  • Archive
  • Sign Up

About

  • About Shane
  • Speaking
  • Inquire about Sponsorship

Farnam Street Logo

© 2026 Farnam Street Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly powered by WordPress. Hosted by Pressable. See our Privacy Policy.

We’re Syrus Partners.
We buy amazing businesses.


Farnam Street participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising commissions by linking to Amazon.