We all experience change. Sometimes we plan a change, sometimes we’re thrown a curveball. It’s just part of life. But why do some changes feel harder to manage than others? And why does change seem easier for some people than others? Guest Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” where she weaves people’s personal stories of change with the science of human behavior. As we kick off a new year, Maya and the Surgeon General talk about the nature of change and how to handle it, with the intention to help all of us navigate life’s curveballs, in whatever form they arrive. And if you’re thinking about making a change, tune into this episode for strategies about how to plan and stick to it.

(04:28)  What are the kinds of change that humans experience?
(07:11)  How far will a human go to avoid uncertainty?
(09:14)  Is this era a time of unprecedented change?
(11:47)  The story of Maya’s unexpected life change.
(14:30)  How can we manage our identity through change?
(18:57)  How can we deal with pain caused by change?
(21:14)  How can we help people during change?
(24:57)  How can we prevent loneliness during change?
(30:03)  How to make the changes we want to make.
(32:46)  Tips for setting goals, including managing the “messy middle.”
(37:25)  What’s a commitment device and how can we use it?
(42:46)  Why does Maya find hope in human connection?

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Maya Shankar, Cognitive Scientist & Podcast Host

Twitter: @MayaUmaShankar

Instagram: @drmayashankar

Facebook: @drmayashankar

About Maya Shankar

Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans,” which Apple awarded "Best Show of the Year" for 2021. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. She's been profiled by The New Yorker and been the featured guest on NPR's “All Things Considered,” “Freakonomics,” and “Hidden Brain.” Maya's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.