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A Slight Change of Plans: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
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- 2 days ago44 min
True Fun in a Fake Fun World
As adults, it’s easy to think of fun as a luxury – something we’ll get around to after everything else is done. But science journalist Catherine Price says fun is essential to our wellbeing. On today’s episode, Catherine joins Maya to talk about the difference between true fun and fake fun, and how making space for the real thing can leave us feeling more energized and restored. Check out Catherine’s book, “The Power of Fun: How To Feel Alive Again.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Catherine, we recommend our episode with Priya Parker, “The Art and Science of Gathering.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago1h 0m
When Grief Remakes You
In 2023, Allie Kramer’s three-year-old son Theo was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In the months and years that followed Theo’s diagnosis, Allie tried to keep a steel grip on her “old” life. Until she realized that that life didn’t exist anymore. This week, Allie joins Maya to talk about what it means to survive something that changes you so completely, you cannot go back to who you were. For more on the topic of grief, we recommend this one from our archive: “Lessons from A Grief Therapist.” Find Allie’s podcast, “Worst Club Ever” wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago19 min
Maya’s Advice to New Grads
A few years ago, Maya gave a commencement address to graduates of the Juilliard School of Music’s pre-college program. In honor of commencement season, with students around the world embarking on the next chapter of their lives, we’re sharing it again. In it, Maya gives lessons she’s learned about embracing life’s unexpected changes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 3 weeks ago45 min
Why We Avoid Conversations That Would Make Us Happier
We often avoid social interactions out of fear that others don’t want to engage with us. But social psychologist Nick Epley says that fear is misplaced. Today, Nick joins Maya to talk about why we’re missing out on positive connections that could enrich our lives, and how we can fix this. Check out Nick’s new book, “A Little More Social.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Nick, check out our episode with Vanessa Bohns, “You Have More Influence Than You Think.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- May 5, 202614 min
BONUS: How Small Businesses Endure for Generations
How do some small businesses stand the test of time? In today’s mini episode, Maya talks with Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of “The Unshakeables” podcast, about what helps businesses endure across generations – from adaptability and grit to a deep connection with their communities. This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to “The Unshakeables” here. Listen to our previous conversation with Ben, “Boost Your Resilience At Work.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Apr 28, 20261h 8m
Rainn Wilson and Maya on Navigating Change and Identity
Earlier this year, Maya did a bunch of interviews for the launch of her book, “The Other Side of Change.” Today, we’re sharing one of those conversations, from the podcast “Soul Boom,” with the actor and comedian Rainn Wilson — best known as Dwight from “The Office.” Rainn and Maya talked about the science of language development, her experience creating a job in the Obama White House, Rainn’s personal reflections on faith and meditation, and what led Maya to choose the stories that appeared in her book. You can listen to the first chapter of “The Other Side of Change” in our episode, "A Sneak Preview of Maya’s New Book".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Apr 21, 202632 min
How to Feel More Loved
To feel more loved in our relationships, we often think we need to change ourselves or wait for others to change. But happiness scientist Sonja Lyubomirsky shares a better approach in her book, How to Feel Loved. Today, Sonja joins Maya to talk about how even small shifts in the way two people approach a conversation can have a transformative impact on how loved they each feel over time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Apr 14, 202646 min
What If Closure Never Comes?
Helena de Groot spent the majority of her life assuming she would never have kids. But as she got older, people's criticism of that choice started to intensify. Then, a few years into her marriage, she was forced to confront it in an unexpected way. This week, she talks to Maya about what happened, how she questioned and re-questioned her decisions, and how she found peace within uncertainty. To hear more about Helena’s experiences, you can listen to her podcast “Creation Myth.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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About A Slight Change of Plans
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.
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