Effective Altruism for Christians with JD Bauman

Are all global justice issues created equal or are certain causes worth more of our attention and funding? Is it possible to get more bang for our buck by prioritizing certain geographic areas when it comes to missions and economic development? Joining the show today is JD Bauman of Christians for Impact. He is the co-author of the new book “All the Lives You Can Change” which explores how Christian principles intersect with the modern movement of effective altruism and global impact. In this episode, JD shares insights on prioritizing charitable efforts, the importance of data-driven giving, and pursuing a life of maximum global impact.

Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

  • (01:22) – JD’s background and the role of faith in his work
  • (02:38) – Effective altruism and evidence-based good deeds
  • (03:23) – JD’s missions family and background
  • (04:36) – Connecting faith, service, and career impact
  • (08:11) – Insights into Christian impact and career advising
  • (11:51) – Funding effective global health interventions
  • (18:03) – Examples of cost-effectiveness in charitable work
  • (23:52) – Reframing local giving and global giving
  • (28:43) – Using the ITN framework for impactful careers
  • (48:07) – Top global causes to prioritize through effective altruism
  • (50:45) – The connection between creation care, a plant-based diet and animal welfare
  • (52:21) – AI risks and opportunities for advocacy
  • (56:29) – The radical opportunity when Christians donate 10%

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Resources and Links from the

All the Lives You Can Change by Bauman, Roser and Zhang (Amazon)

Christians for Impact Online

GiveWell

The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer

80,000 Hours ITN Framework

Jump into more conversations around child protection, global health, and ethical mission on the Optimistic Voices Podcast – Link

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Published by Brandon Stiver

Follower of Christ. Husband to Melissa. Father to Moses, Promise, Shepherd and Bishop. Passionately pursuing progress, justice and peace in the nations. Principal at Canopy International. Podcaster at Think Global, Do Justice. Based in Tacoma, WA with roots in Southern California and Northern Tanzania.