A Slight Change of Plans
You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.
Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year 2021 Editor's Note: Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. Maya is no stranger to change. “My whole childhood revolved around the violin, but that changed in a moment when I injured my hand playing a single note,” says Shankar, who was studying under Itzhak Perlman at the Juilliard School at the time. “I was forced to try and figure out who I was, and who I could be, without the violin." Maya soon discovered a new path in the field of cognitive science, where she earned her PhD as a Rhodes Scholar studying how and why we change. Her insights into human behavior ultimately led her to create A Slight Change of Plans—Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year in 2021. You’ll hear intimate conversations with people like Tiffany Haddish, Kacey Musgraves, and Riz Ahmed, as well as real-life inspirations, like John Elder Robison, who undergoes experimental brain stimulation to deepen his emotional intelligence, Daryl Davis, a Black jazz musician who inspires hundreds of KKK members to leave the Klan, and Shankar herself, who had her own “slight change of plans” earlier this year. The show also explores the science of change with experts like Adam Grant and Angela Duckworth. "What I love most about this show is that the content is evergreen," says Shankar. "You can listen to episodes in any order and at any time."
Latest episodes
Nov 29, 2021 • 44min
Amanda Knox Wants Us to Move On
Amanda Knox 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.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 snips
Nov 22, 2021 • 33min
The Science of Grit
What makes a ballerina, a world-class chef, or a civic activist great? Psychologist Angela Duckworth says the answer is GRIT — a power combo of passion and perseverance. Angela teaches us how to become the grittiest versions of ourselves, and gives us valuable advice on when to quit and when to grit.You can follow the show @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 17, 2021 • 23min
BONUS: Eric Vetro Helps Maya Find Her Voice
Eric Vetro is the vocal coach to stars like Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, and John Legend. He’s also the host of the exciting new Pushkin show, Backstage Pass. Maya and Eric talk about the show’s genesis and their shared appreciation of the human voice. And Eric gives Maya a quick tease of his coaching skills -- to help her recover from some vocal pain she’s been experiencing in her role as podcast host! You can hear more episodes of Backstage Pass at http://podcasts.pushkin.fm/scpbackstagepass.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 15, 2021 • 34min
BONUS: Olympian Gabby Thomas Sets Her Own Pace
Gabby Thomas became the second-fastest woman ever when she ran the 200m in 21.61 seconds at the 2021 US Olympic Team Trials. She then won two medals at the Tokyo Olympics. But her relationship with running isn't as straightforward as you might think, and competing interests have continually led Gabby to question whether running is the path she should be on.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 8, 2021 • 34min
Wired for Change
John Elder Robison 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.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 snips
Nov 1, 2021 • 34min
The Science of Quitting
Annie Duke believes we should be quitting things more often, a skill she honed during her lucrative years as a professional poker player on the world stage. Annie talks about the science of quitting, and shows us how to get out of our own way and learn to quit when we should.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 snips
Oct 25, 2021 • 34min
Riz Ahmed Plays Himself
Oscar-Nominated actor Riz Ahmed shares how the roles he’s played have changed not only how he sees the world, but also how he sees himself.You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 18, 2021 • 38min
Maya's Slight Change of Plans
Host Maya Shankar recently experienced a heartbreaking change in her personal life, while on her way to becoming a mom. Two days after it happened, she felt the need to process it out loud, like so many of her guests have done on her show. In this episode, Maya asked her producer, Tyler, to interview her about her own “Slight Change of Plans.”You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 snips
Oct 11, 2021 • 40min
“Grieving the Man I Thought My Husband Was”
Susan Messing and Michael McCarthy were a beloved couple in the Chicago comedy scene. Michael passed away from cancer in 2020. As part of Susan’s grieving process, she began to sift through the 50 or so boxes of his writing that he had left behind for her. What followed was a complicated grief.
You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 4, 2021 • 2min
TEASER: New Slight Change Episodes!
Hey Slight Changers - y'all good with this nickname? We’ve been working hard on fresh episodes for you and put together this teaser to give you a sneak peek of what we’ve been cooking up in the Slight Change kitchen...You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
