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The Science of Handling Uncertainty | Maya Shankar

Jun 20, 2022

Maya Shankar, a former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House and a leading voice in behavioral economics at Google, explores the nuances of dealing with uncertainty. She discusses why human beings struggle with change and the pitfalls of seeking cognitive closure. Maya emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open mindset and how embracing flexibility can enhance resilience. Personal stories of transformation, including her own journey from musician to scientist, offer insights into navigating life's unpredictable transitions.

59:30

Creator website

Episode guests

Maya Shankar

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

From Music to Mind: A Journey of Transformation

4min

Navigating Decisions: The Power of Behavioral Science

11min

Navigating Identity Through Loss and Change

12min

Navigating Change: Embracing Uncertainty and Identity

5min

Navigating Change with Humility

7min

Embracing Awe for Emotional Resilience

20min

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It seems like a design flaw in our species that we live in a world of constant change yet most of us are not comfortable with uncertainty.

In this episode, we talk to Maya Shankar about how to get better at dealing with change and to stop seeking what scientists call “cognitive closure.”

Shankar is a former 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, and is currently a Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google. She is the host of the Pushkin Industries podcast A Slight Change of Plans, which was named Best Show of the Year in 2021 by Apple.

In this episode we talk about:

Why humans are so uncomfortable with uncertainty and change
What a behavioral scientist actually does in the world
Why even the host of a podcast about change isn’t immune to the uncertainties of life
The benefits of cultivating a more malleable sense of self
Why humans are such bad forecasters
The importance of auditing yourself when you’re undergoing a big change
How to take advantage of big reset moments
The concept of cognitive closure and why encouraging an open mind can make us more resilient

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/maya-shankar-466

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