The Gift of Generosity

About this episode

This episode explores the biological importance of generosity and its roots in stress-reducing emotions through the lens of gift-sharing.

What can we learn from "the giving of gifts" that might help us understand the REAL meaning – and perhaps the biological importance – of generosity? This episode explores how gift-sharing seems to have its roots in stress-reducing, even survival-serving emotions (ones that may date back millions of years!) rather than the fraught and often unsatisfying transactions we enact today. You'll learn about healthy neurochemicals and brain patterns associated with altruistic generosity and thos...

People in this episode

Host: Ellen Petry Leanse

Topics covered

• generosity
• gift-sharing
• neurochemicals
• altruism
• emotions
• survival

Keywords

• generosity
• gift-sharing
• neurochemicals
• altruism
• emotions
• survival
• brain patterns

More episodes of The Brain and Beyond Podcast

• Getting Unstuck · November 29, 2025 · 17 min
• More Than Skin Deep with Grace Gold · March 29, 2025 · 50 min
• The BITCH is Back with Zoologist and Bestselling Author Lucy Cooke · February 25, 2025 · 51 min
• Welcome to Season Two of The Brain and Beyond Podcast! · February 25, 2025 · 3 min
• Inner Work, Outer Impact with Dr. Susanne von der Becke · November 5, 2023 · 1h 5m
• Breath and Presence with Zee Clarke, Author, Mindfulness Guide, Breath Expert · September 3, 2023 · 57 min