The Psychology of Asking and Giving explores the psychology of generosity, persuasion, and human connection—especially in the nonprofit sector. Hosted by Katrina VanHuss, a longtime fundraising strategist, and Otis Fulton, a social psychologist, this episode explores why people find asking others for money so difficult and how people decide to give. Whether you work in philanthropy or just care about making change, this show digs into the deeper psychology behind asking—and why people say yes.

What happens when traditional advocacy doesn’t cut it anymore?

In a raw and timely conversation, I sat down with Courtney Bugler, CEO of ZERO Prostate Cancer, to talk about the shift from “little a” advocacy to “Big A” activism—and what it means for nonprofit leaders navigating fear, risk, and rising misinformation.

Courtney doesn’t flinch when the stakes are high. She names what’s broken, leads with values, and challenges the rest of us to get louder.

Her message? Chaos is the point. So, we better show up loud enough to break through it.

In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of peer-to-peer fundraising and ask some provocative questions: Should we still organize fundraising efforts around traditional formats like walks, runs, and rides? Why do those formats often make sense to nonprofit staff but fall flat with volunteers? We’ll unpack the behavioral trends of different generations, explore whether DIY fundraising is the real solution, and ask the question no one seems to be asking: Why aren’t we talking more about gaming and streaming?

Joining us for this conversation are three fundraising powerhouses: Aimee Simpson, Chief Development Officer at the Immune Deficiency Foundation; Michael Wasserman, CEO and Co-Founder of Tiltify; and Katrina VanHuss, Founder of Turnkey For Good.