A Slight Change of Plans
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.
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.
Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus
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.
Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 28, 2023 • 37min
Best Of: A Blind Cook Becomes a Master Chef
Renowned chef Christina Ha, legally blind by age 24, shares her inspiring story of overcoming blindness and becoming a world-renowned chef. She discusses her experience as a visually impaired contestant on MasterChef and emphasizes the importance of focusing on her own strengths. The episode also touches on grief, social isolation, and reflections on identity.
14 snips
Sep 21, 2023 • 19min
The Power of Imaginative Courage, our “Why”, and Awe
Maya shares three pieces of wisdom in her commencement address at Juilliard School. Topics include imaginative courage, pursuing passion, loss of identity and finding purpose, power of emotional connection and awe, and seeking awe and concert tour advertisement.
6 snips
Aug 15, 2023 • 34min
Best Of: Wired for Change
The story of John Elder Robison is one of Maya’s favorite episodes and it’s also a top choice in our listener favorites series. John is a gifted sound engineer whose rare ability to understand machines propelled him to work with the likes of Kiss and Diana Ross. But the one thing he always felt was lacking was his ability to understand people emotionally. In an effort to see if he could change that, he volunteered to participate in an experimental brain study. If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “Life After Escaping Captivity” We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 snips
Aug 8, 2023 • 44min
Best Of: Amanda Knox Wants Us to Move On
For our listener favorites series, many of you mentioned Amanda Knox’s story. She was just 20 years old when she was found guilty of a crime she did not commit — the murder of her roommate. Amanda spent four years in an Italian prison before she was finally exonerated and allowed to return to her life back home in the U.S. But she soon discovered that that life didn’t exist anymore. If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “The Woman Who Changed Warlord Joseph Kony’s Mind” We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 snips
Aug 1, 2023 • 43min
Best Of: The Science of Regret
Next in our listeners’ favorite series: Author Daniel Pink teaches us how to transform our relationship with regret so that we can live happier, more fulfilling lives. If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “Grieving the Man I Thought My Husband Was” We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4 snips
Jul 25, 2023 • 36min
Best Of: A Black Musician Takes on the KKK
We’re revisiting some of our listeners’ favorite episodes this summer. We kick off the series with our first ever episode: A conversation with the Black jazz musician Daryl Davis. During a performance, a member of the KKK approached him at a bar and his life took an unexpected turn. He ended up inspiring hundreds of people to leave white supremacist groups. If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “Leaving a Religious Cult” We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 25, 2023 • 1min
Maya's TED Talk is Out Today!
Maya was invited to speak at TED's annual conference in Vancouver this year - and her talk is available to watch today! It's called "Why Change is So Scary---and How You Can Unlock its Potential" and you can check it out at go.ted.com/mayashankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 snips
Jul 10, 2023 • 33min
A Neuroscientist’s Curious Approach to Dying
At age 59, neuroscientist David Linden received a startling diagnosis of heart cancer. Even in the face of a terminal illness, David is continuing to think like a scientist. He shares what he's learned from watching his mind grapple with his own mortality, and how the diagnosis has changed his experience of time. Maya and David also discuss the power of curiosity and how it can aid us in moments of profound suffering. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out this episode from the archive: “The Life-Changing Diagnosis.” For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 5, 2023 • 33min
For the Love of Pizza
Long before Scott Wiener was the founder of a popular pizza tour company, he was just a guy who really loved to eat pizza. He talks with Maya about how he turned his unabashed enthusiasm into a mini empire. P.S. Stick around for a fun trivia game at the end, featuring the one and only Jimmy Li. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy Maya's conversation with chef Christine Ha, who goes by the nickname "The Blind Cook." For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
89 snips
Jun 26, 2023 • 39min
The Science of Self-Compassion
Self-compassion isn't selfish, says psychologist Kristin Neff, a pioneer in research on the topic. Kristin busts cultural myths about self-compassion, such as the idea that it makes us lazy or self-indulgent, and explains why it’s actually a more effective motivational tool than self-criticism. She also breaks down why fostering more self-compassion is a better strategy than trying to boost self-esteem and offers some simple practices for being kinder to ourselves. If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: “The Science of Our Inner Voice.” For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
