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A Slight Change of Plans: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Pushkin Industries
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.
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- Today17 min
When Panic Takes Over – And How to Break Free
Amazon editors just chose Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” as one of the Best Books of 2026 So Far! To celebrate, we’re sharing a chapter from the audiobook with you today. Journalist Matt Gutman spent years reporting live from high-pressure situations all over the world. Calm and collected on camera, he was privately dealing with panic attacks behind the scenes. Then, after an on-air mistake jeopardized his livelihood, Matt fell into a seemingly endless cycle of negative thoughts. Order “The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans” at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books. If you’ve already read “The Other Side of Change,” leave a quick review here: Check out some of Maya’s favorite episodes of “A Slight Change of Plans” here. A Black Musician Takes on the KKK - Daryl Davis (Spotify) (Apple) Wired for Change - John Elder Robinson (Spotify) (Apple) “Grieving the Man I Thought My Husband Was” - Susan Messing (Spotify) (Apple) A Theranos Whistleblower - Erica Cheung (Spotify) (Apple) The Science of Regret - Daniel Pink (Spotify) (Apple) The Science of Making (and Keeping) Friends - Marisa Franco (Spotify) (Apple) How Awe Transforms Us - Dacher Keltner (Spotify) (Apple) Brené Brown on Our Flawed, Imperfect Selves - Brené Brown (Spotify) (Apple) Looking for more? Explore six years of inspiring stories of change and science-backed insights for a happier, healthier life here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago1h 3m
Caitlin Lost the Voice in Her Head
Today we’re bringing you an episode from Proxy, a show built around a simple idea: Whatever you might be going through — no matter how specific or hard to explain – you’re not alone. There is someone else out there, somewhere, who truly gets it – and they might have just the advice you need to hear. In this episode, a writer who loses her inner narrator grapples with what happens when you can’t do the thing you love the most anymore — the thing you’ve built your whole life and identity around — and gets help from another artist who’s gone through something similar. You can find more episodes of Proxy at https://www.proxypodcast.com/, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago44 min
True Fun in a Fake Fun World
As adults, it’s easy to think of fun as a luxury – something we’ll get around to after everything else is done. But science journalist Catherine Price says fun is essential to our wellbeing. On today’s episode, Catherine joins Maya to talk about the difference between true fun and fake fun, and how making space for the real thing can leave us feeling more energized and restored. Check out Catherine’s book, “The Power of Fun: How To Feel Alive Again.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Catherine, we recommend our episode with Priya Parker, “The Art and Science of Gathering.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago1h 0m
When Grief Remakes You
In 2023, Allie Kramer’s three-year-old son Theo was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In the months and years that followed Theo’s diagnosis, Allie tried to keep a steel grip on her “old” life. Until she realized that that life didn’t exist anymore. This week, Allie joins Maya to talk about what it means to survive something that changes you so completely, you cannot go back to who you were. For more on the topic of grief, we recommend this one from our archive: “Lessons from A Grief Therapist.” Find Allie’s podcast, “Worst Club Ever” wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 4 weeks ago19 min
Maya’s Advice to New Grads
A 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.
- May 12, 202645 min
Why We Avoid Conversations That Would Make Us Happier
We 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.
- May 5, 202614 min
BONUS: How Small Businesses Endure for Generations
How 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.
- Apr 28, 20261h 8m
Rainn Wilson and Maya on Navigating Change and Identity
Earlier 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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About A Slight Change of Plans
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.
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