Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

Dr. Maya Shankar: The Mindset Shift You Need When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned | Human Behavior | YAPClassic

12 snips
Jan 16, 2026
Guest
Maya Shankar
Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and former Senior Advisor who founded the White House Behavioral Science Team, shares her journey from a promising violin career to influential behavioral science. She discusses how her injury reshaped her identity and the importance of mindset shifts in navigating life's unpredictability. Maya reveals insights on cognitive biases, the power of nudging in decision-making, and the challenges of changing minds. Her experience at the White House showcases how small adjustments can lead to significant societal impacts.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Turning Point: Losing The Violin

  • Maya Shankar lost her violin career at 15 due to torn tendons and resisted the diagnosis for months.
  • She eventually surrendered to the injury and had to reimagine her identity and future.
ANECDOTE

Create Your Own Opportunities

  • Maya and her mother walked into Juilliard unannounced and struck up a conversation with a student in an elevator.
  • That spontaneous ask led to an on-the-spot audition and acceptance into a summer program that changed her path.
INSIGHT

Value The Underlying Trait

  • Maya realized she loved the emotional connection with audiences more than the sounds themselves.
  • That trait led her to study the mind and pursue cognitive science instead of music.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app