The Happiness Lab podcast’s Dr. Laurie Santos has announced today the launch of “Pods Fight Poverty,” a groundbreaking campaign to lift three villages in Rwanda out of extreme poverty. In collaboration with dozens of other podcast hosts and platforms, the Pods Fight Poverty campaign will use its reach and influence with listeners to raise funds for hundreds of families in need. The campaign will kick off December 2, timed for Giving Tuesday, which is a global holiday aimed at encouraging everyone to support their favorite charities and non-profits.

Santos is partnering with GiveDirectly, a non-profit aimed at fighting poverty through direct cash transfers. Give Directly will donate the funds donated as part of the #PodsFightPoverty campaign directly to families facing extreme poverty in Rwanda, allowing them to spend money on what matters most to them, like food, safe housing, education, and medical care.

The Happiness Lab has continuously used its reach to help those in extreme poverty. Over the past two years, The Happiness Lab in collaboration with Give Directly have raised significant funds for people in need:

• In 2023, The Happiness Lab listeners raised $106,000 for families in Kibobo, Rwanda.

• Last December, listeners donated $100,000 to those facing extreme poverty in Taba, Rwanda.

• This past April, in partnership with author and podcaster John Green, The Happiness Lab raised $135,000 (and counting) to fight tuberculosis in Malawi.

“There’s so much evidence that doing kind things for others makes us feel happier” said Dr. Santos. “These campaigns are a perfect fit with the mission of our show: to give listeners the chance to make themselves and the world a happier place.”

The “Pods Fight Poverty” campaign is the next step in Santos’ mission to donate and uplift those most in need. And now, with the help of podcasts like On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Hidden Brain, 10% Happier with Dan Harris, Freakonomics, You Are Not So Smart, TED’s How to be a Better Human as well as the Pushkin Industries network of shows, the campaign aims to raise $1 million to lift three villages in Rwanda out of poverty.

Those interested in donating can visit GiveDirectly.org/happinesslab to provide support directly to those who need it most.