Episode 558: Jessie McLachlan of Altru on changing the world one person at a time

·52 min·5 clips

Jessie McLachlan accidentally started a charity while being a doctor and musician, serving thousands with a festival that began as a birthday party.

The episode begins with host Fiona Killackey introducing the My Daily Business Podcast and today's guest, Jessie McLachlan, co-founder of Altru. Fiona highlights Jessie's inspiring work and multifaceted background in music, medicine, and philanthropy. Jessie shares her early life, influenced by her grandfather who asked her daily who she helped, shaping her focus on service. She describes her journey from writing music as a child to releasing an album with Island Def Jam and studying medicine. Jessie explains how Altru started accidentally when she organized a birthday party for a girl in a shelter, which grew into an outreach festival serving thousands. The festivals provide medical care, haircuts, food, and gifts, with volunteers including brand executives. Jessie discusses the impact on both guests and volunteers, emphasizing empathy and community. She addresses common barriers to helping, using her own experience with a $586,000 medical bill to illustrate how easily people can face hardship. Jessie outlines her busy schedule, balancing medical studies, patient care, and charity work with disciplined time management. She offers advice on starting collaborations, stressing action over motivation and persistence in outreach. Fiona encourages listeners to volunteer or sponsor Altru's upcoming event in Melbourne in March 2026. Jessie shares resources like the book 'The Algebra of Happiness' and personal mantras. The quickfire round reveals her non-negotiables, such as creativity and early mornings. Fiona concludes by reflecting on key takeaways: the power of small actions and the importance of just starting. She provides links for getting involved with Altru and thanks Jessie for the conversation.

As heard by us

A grounded conversation about privilege, community, and the small acts that turn concern into responsibility.

Doing the right thing comes through as a matter of closeness: Jessie McLachlan links volunteering, family ties, and the sudden circumstances that can leave someone without a stable place to land.

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Why you'd press play

You want a human starting point for doing the right thing when homelessness feels too big to solve alone.

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