Podcast
A Slight Change of Plans
Hosted by Pushkin Industries · EN
What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this award-winning podcast, cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar explores how we experience change and strategies we can use to better navigate moments of upheaval.
Maya’s life took a dramatic turn when an injury ended her career as a violinist and inspired her to study the science of change.
Named Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year, A Slight Change of Plans features deeply personal stories and scientific insights about who we are and who we become in the face of a big change.
Past guests include Kacey Musgraves, Brené Brown, Ruby Bridges, Amanda Knox, Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth and more.
Whether it’s a sudden pivot or a slow transformation, each episode reveals how change can give us an opportunity to reimagine who we are and unlock greater possibility.
You can follow Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar and read her free newsletter at changewithmaya.com.
Get early, ad-free access to episodes of A Slight Change of Plans by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows.
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32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Maya’s Advice to New Grads
4d ago00:19:29Tap to summarizeA few years ago, Maya gave a commencement address to graduates of the Juilliard School of Music’s pre-college program. In honor of commencement season, with students around the world embarking on the next chapter of their lives, we’re sharing it again. In it, Maya gives lessons she’s learned about embracing life’s unexpected changes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why We Avoid Conversations That Would Make Us Happier
2w ago00:45:47Tap to summarizeWe often avoid social interactions out of fear that others don’t want to engage with us. But social psychologist Nick Epley says that fear is misplaced. Today, Nick joins Maya to talk about why we’re missing out on positive connections that could enrich our lives, and how we can fix this. Check out Nick’s new book, “A Little More Social.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Nick, check out our episode with Vanessa Bohns, “You Have More Influence Than You Think.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →BONUS: How Small Businesses Endure for Generations
2w ago00:14:36Tap to summarizeHow do some small businesses stand the test of time? In today’s mini episode, Maya talks with Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of “The Unshakeables” podcast, about what helps businesses endure across generations – from adaptability and grit to a deep connection with their communities. This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to “The Unshakeables” here. Listen to our previous conversation with Ben, “Boost Your Resilience At Work.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Rainn Wilson and Maya on Navigating Change and Identity
4w ago01:08:21Tap to summarizeEarlier this year, Maya did a bunch of interviews for the launch of her book, “The Other Side of Change.” Today, we’re sharing one of those conversations, from the podcast “Soul Boom,” with the actor and comedian Rainn Wilson — best known as Dwight from “The Office.” Rainn and Maya talked about the science of language development, her experience creating a job in the Obama White House, Rainn’s personal reflections on faith and meditation, and what led Maya to choose the stories that appeared in her book. You can listen to the first chapter of “The Other Side of Change” in our episode, "A Sneak Preview of Maya’s New Book".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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How to Feel More Loved
Apr 2100:32:11Tap to summarizeTo feel more loved in our relationships, we often think we need to change ourselves or wait for others to change. But happiness scientist Sonja Lyubomirsky shares a better approach in her book, How to Feel Loved. Today, Sonja joins Maya to talk about how even small shifts in the way two people approach a conversation can have a transformative impact on how loved they each feel over time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What If Closure Never Comes?
Apr 1400:46:15Tap to summarizeHelena de Groot spent the majority of her life assuming she would never have kids. But as she got older, people's criticism of that choice started to intensify. Then, a few years into her marriage, she was forced to confront it in an unexpected way. This week, she talks to Maya about what happened, how she questioned and re-questioned her decisions, and how she found peace within uncertainty. To hear more about Helena’s experiences, you can listen to her podcast “Creation Myth.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Michael Pollan Changes His Mind
Apr 700:38:17Tap to summarizeLast week, Maya talked to author Michael Pollan about his newest book, “A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness.” He says that the seeds for this book were planted by his exploration of psychedelics – a topic that he and Maya covered last time he was on the show. So we wanted to replay that episode, in which Maya and Michael discuss the science of psychedelics, and how they can help us see the world in new ways. And if you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Kacey Musgraves, where she talks about how a psychedelic trip inspired one of her albums.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Michael Pollan on the Mind-Blowing Idea of Consciousness
Mar 3100:49:02Tap to summarizeBestselling author and journalist Michael Pollan has reshaped our understanding of everything from food to psychedelics. Now, he’s taking on a subject that has stumped thinkers for thousands of years: consciousness. This week, Michael joins Maya for a live conversation celebrating his new book, “A World Appears.” They talk about why it’s such a marvel that we even have consciousness in the first place, how researchers have explored consciousness in the past, and how Michael’s own perceptions and awareness of his inner life have changed. You can also check out Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change,” on Goodreads, and leave a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Some Life Advice from “The Moth”
Mar 2400:51:24Tap to summarizeWhat do telenovelas, situationships, and card games have in common? All can be sources of unexpected life lessons. This week, we’re sharing an episode of the podcast “The Moth” that’s all about advice—seeking wise counsel, following your gut, and learning how to practice what you preach. For more episodes of “The Moth” click here, or search for “The Moth” wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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“I Felt Like an Alien Impersonating Myself”
Mar 1700:37:32Tap to summarizeIn 2024, science journalist Rachel E. Gross had a stroke. Her recovery mostly followed the path doctors predicted, but there were also some strange, ongoing glitches that she couldn’t explain. So Rachel did the one thing she knew to do in situations like these: she started asking questions. On today’s episode: the curious work of figuring out what makes you, you. We first heard Rachel’s story on a Radiolab episode she reported called “Song of the Cerebellum.” In case you missed it—Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” is officially a bestseller! Order your copy at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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