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
Mar 24, 2026 • 51min
Some Life Advice from “The Moth”
John Paul Bramer, author, illustrator, and advice columnist, shares a story about closeted love and a risky hike that leads to growth. Stacey Nicholson, a legal assistant turned live storyteller, recounts overcoming social anxiety by finding community through bridge. They discuss seeking and giving advice, the tension between vulnerability and rules, and unexpected lessons from risky moments and new friendships.
8 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 38min
“I Felt Like an Alien Impersonating Myself”
Rachel Gross, a science journalist who covers medicine and biology, recounts her 2024 cerebellar stroke and curious investigation into its effects. She describes strange motor and voice glitches, the dissonance of conscious effort versus automatic action, and the slow relearning of movement and identity. Conversation touches on fatigue, masking normalcy, and unexpected moments of embodied presence.
23 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 45min
The Cost of Being the Strong One
Christy Warren, a former California firefighter and paramedic now writing a memoir, recounts decades of emergency calls and the hidden toll of holding it together. She discusses traumatic incidents that stayed with her, the pressure to always be strong, and the turning point when she sought help and began healing.
93 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 29min
Finding Satisfaction in a World of Endless Choice
Barry Schwartz, social psychologist and emeritus professor known for work on decision-making, shares bite-sized wisdom on choice overload. He explains why more options can leave us drained. He contrasts maximizing with satisficing. He outlines practical shifts toward reasonable choice and habits that improve satisfaction.
65 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 42min
Brené Brown and Maya Talk “Heated Rivalry,” Mental Spirals, and Moral Beauty
Brené Brown, research professor and bestselling author known for work on shame and vulnerability, joins Maya for a lively launch conversation. They riff on uncertainty, why we ruminate after change, and how awe and moral beauty can break obsessive thought loops. Expect quick personal favorites, reflections on identity after loss, and candid surprises about gratitude after upheaval.
12 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 34min
The Invisible Weight of Olympic Gold
Missy Franklin, former competitive swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist, talks about her rise to fame and the pressure that followed. She describes how intense training shaped her life and how mental illness and injury changed her relationship to the sport. She also shares recovery steps, identity rebuilding, and her advocacy for athlete wellbeing.
27 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 41min
How to Accept the Messiness of Love
Stephanie Yates-Añabwile, a licensed marriage and family therapist and relationship educator, discusses why rigid relationship templates can hold people back. She explores performing versus living a relationship, customizing norms to fit partners, and simple experiments (not ultimatums) for navigating big transitions. The conversation keeps things practical and refreshingly human.
70 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 40min
The Life-Changing Impact Of Showing People They Matter
Jennifer Wallace, journalist and bestselling author of Mattering, studies how small actions make people feel valued and purposeful. She explains the SED framework—significance, appreciation, investment. Stories range from teachers and caregivers to firefighters, plus simple practices and rituals that help people feel seen and stay connected.
78 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h
Michael Lewis and Maya Talk “The Other Side of Change”
Michael Lewis, bestselling author and onstage interviewer, sits down with Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist who studies how people navigate major life shifts. They explore identity loss, how diverse changes share common psychological patterns, and stories of transformation from amnesia to locked-in syndrome. The conversation includes audience Q&A about parenting for unpredictable futures.
86 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 38min
How To Be Happier This Year
Laurie Santos, a Yale psychology professor renowned for her research on happiness, joins in an insightful conversation about well-being. They discuss the misconception that future achievements will bring joy and the importance of social connections in enhancing happiness. Laurie explains how happiness can be influenced more by prosocial acts than by selfish pursuits. With tips on mindful phone use and prioritizing time affluence, they explore actionable strategies to boost contentment. Overall, it’s an engaging look at how to cultivate joy in everyday life.
