E66: The Dark Side of Philanthropy - w/ Dr. Amy Schiller

Why modern philanthropy reinforces inequality—and how to fix it. Author and former fundraising consultant Dr. Amy Schiller joins the show to discuss her new book The Price of Humanity, examining how elite-driven giving has lost its moral purpose and how we might restore a more democratic, dignifying vision of philanthropy.

👤 Guest
Dr. Amy Schiller – Author, political theorist, and former philanthropic strategist; author of The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong and How to Fix It (2023).

🧠 Topics Discussed

• The commodification of giving and rise of “donor ego”
• Tax loopholes, donor-advised funds, and LLC "charities"
• Effective altruism, longtermism, and the Sam Bankman-Fried saga
• Philanthropy as power vs. philanthropy as public good
• Reform ideas: giving wage, payout rules, and rebuilding legitimacy
• Why LeBron James—not Bill Gates—is the ideal modern philanthropist

💬 Top 3 Quotes

“What makes something a gift is giving it without the expectation of something in return.”
“Existing humans are depreciating assets—at least to effective altruists.”
“Philanthropy literally means love of humanity. Let’s do it in a way that actually validates the fullest definition of humanity.”

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
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