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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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- 6 days ago41 min
The Hidden Wounds of Moral Injury
While deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Air Force in 2014, psychologist Michael Valdovinos had an unexpected emotional breakdown. None of the diagnoses he knew best–like PTSD or depression–fit the crisis of conscience he was experiencing. Then he came across the concept of moral injury. On today’s episode, Michael and Maya explore what happens when our deepest values are violated, the different ways it can occur in everyday life, and how we can start to heal. Check out Michael’s book, “Moral Injuries: When Good Conscience Suffers in a World of Hurt.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Michael and want to hear more from A Slight Change of Plans, we recommend our episode “A Theranos Whistleblower” with Erika Cheung.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago36 min
Tenacity: Stories about perseverance | From The Story Collider
As the great Rocky Balboa once said about life: Iit will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.” But in this week’s episode from our friends at The Story Collider, two storytellers share stories of their strength of will and persistence to keep going despite the scientific challenges. Part 1: Coral reef conservationist Emily Darling is at loss when a journalist asks her if she still has hope for coral reefs. Dr Emily Darling is a coral reef scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto. Her research has won international awards and been featured on National Geographic, Forbes International, CNN, and PBS Nature. She is passionate about the importance of underwater science and works closely with scientists around the world to measure the impact of coral reef conservation. In her spare time, she is (still) learning to sail. Part 2: James Gordon readies himself for another one of his daughter’s heart surgeries. James Gordon is an international award winning author and poet, champion storyteller, and acclaimed actor. James can be seen on Chicago Med as Kent Taylor, Detective Smiley on Amazon's The G, and PA Flanders in Background Extras. Find The Story Collider wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 3 weeks ago33 min
A Realist’s Guide to Optimism
Deepika Chopra, a clinical psychologist, has a problem with the way optimism is often defined. Real optimism, she says, shouldn’t be about always expecting the best, because sometimes the bad thing will happen. Instead, she wants us to expect the best from ourselves. On today’s episode, Deepika joins Maya to talk about the deeply personal experience that changed her understanding of optimism – and how to hold onto hope while staying planted in reality. Check out Deepika’s book, “The Power of Real Optimism: A Practical, Science-Based Guide to Staying Resilient, Curious, and Open Even When Life Is Hard.”If you enjoyed our conversation with Deepika and want to hear more from A Slight Change of Plans, we recommend these episodes: “You Have More Influence Than You Think” with Vanessa Bohns “Why We Avoid Conversations That Would Make Us Happier” with Nick Epley “How to Build Empathy and Avoid Burnout” with Jamil Zaki See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Jun 16, 202617 min
When Panic Takes Over – And How to Break Free
Amazon editors just chose Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” as one of the Best Books of 2026 So Far! To celebrate, we’re sharing a chapter from the audiobook with you today. Journalist Matt Gutman spent years reporting live from high-pressure situations all over the world. Calm and collected on camera, he was privately dealing with panic attacks behind the scenes. Then, after an on-air mistake jeopardized his livelihood, Matt fell into a seemingly endless cycle of negative thoughts. Order “The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans” at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books. If you’ve already read “The Other Side of Change,” leave a quick review here: Check out some of Maya’s favorite episodes of “A Slight Change of Plans” here. A Black Musician Takes on the KKK - Daryl Davis (Spotify) (Apple) Wired for Change - John Elder Robinson (Spotify) (Apple) “Grieving the Man I Thought My Husband Was” - Susan Messing (Spotify) (Apple) A Theranos Whistleblower - Erica Cheung (Spotify) (Apple) The Science of Regret - Daniel Pink (Spotify) (Apple) The Science of Making (and Keeping) Friends - Marisa Franco (Spotify) (Apple) How Awe Transforms Us - Dacher Keltner (Spotify) (Apple) Brené Brown on Our Flawed, Imperfect Selves - Brené Brown (Spotify) (Apple) Looking for more? Explore six years of inspiring stories of change and science-backed insights for a happier, healthier life here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Jun 9, 20261h 3m
Caitlin Lost the Voice in Her Head
Today we’re bringing you an episode from Proxy, a show built around a simple idea: Whatever you might be going through — no matter how specific or hard to explain – you’re not alone. There is someone else out there, somewhere, who truly gets it – and they might have just the advice you need to hear. In this episode, a writer who loses her inner narrator grapples with what happens when you can’t do the thing you love the most anymore — the thing you’ve built your whole life and identity around — and gets help from another artist who’s gone through something similar. You can find more episodes of Proxy at https://www.proxypodcast.com/, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Jun 3, 202644 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.
- May 28, 20261h 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.
- May 19, 202619 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.
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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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