Shows
Baldwin & Co. Ideas ExploredWhy Smart People Are Quitting The News - Maya Shankar & Evan SmithIn this gripping exchange, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar and journalist Evan Smith confront a disturbing reality: we are drowning in information—and it’s breaking us. From the psychological toll of nonstop news to the quiet collapse of civic participation, they unpack how doomscrolling, distrust in media, and algorithm-driven outrage are reshaping our minds and our democracy. But beneath the chaos lies something even more unsettling—people aren’t disengaging because they don’t care… they’re disengaging because they’re overwhelmed. And that may be the most dangerous shift of all. This conversation doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it exposes...
2026-04-2342 min
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan ChatterjeeHow to Handle Life When It Falls Apart: Rewire Your Beliefs, Calm Your Mind, Stop Ruminating & Move Forward With Confidence: Dr Maya Shankar #635Most of us are quite comfortable with change when we’ve chosen it: a new job, new home or new relationship. It’s the unwanted, unexpected changes that tend to floor us - like an illness, loss or breakup - that leave us wondering who we are and how on earth we’re meant to go on.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist and author ofThe Other Side of Change. Maya has spent years studying how our minds respond to change, and she’s also gone through some profound changes of her own –...
2026-03-111h 53
All the Hacks: Money, Points & LifeWhy Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty.Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team.Link to Full Show...
2026-02-1848 min
All the Hacks: Money, Points & LifeWhy Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty.
Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team.
Link to Full Show...
2026-02-1845 min
Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri MillerCognitive scientist Maya Shankar on 'The Other Side of Change'Change is inevitable. But that doesn’t stop us from fearing it. We fear the uncertainty. We fear the pain. We fear who we might become. But cognitive scientist Maya Shankar says — while understandable — that’s the wrong posture. In her new book, “The Other Side of Change,” Shankar invites us to shift how we view life’s curve balls. What if curiosity was stronger than fear? What if we saw upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine ourselves? On this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas...
2026-02-1348 min
On Purpose with Jay ShettyDr. Maya Shankar: Does Change Make You Feel Lost Or Uncertain? (Use THIS Framework To Find Direction Again and Use Change to Upgrade Your LiWe often think change will make sense once we get to the other side, but what if the real work of change is learning how to stay present in the uncertainty itself? Today, Jay sits down with cognitive scientist and author Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why unexpected change feels so threatening, and why losing what we thought our life would look like can feel like losing ourselves. From a career-ending injury early in her life to deeply personal losses later on, Maya reflects on how life’s unexpected turns can quietly reshape how we see ourselves, our worth, and ou...
2026-02-1148 min
On Purpose with Jay ShettyDr. Maya Shankar: Does Change Make You Feel Lost Or Uncertain? (Use THIS Framework To Find Direction Again and Use Change to Upgrade Your Life!)We often think change will make sense once we get to the other side, but what if the real work of change is learning how to stay present in the uncertainty itself? Today, Jay sits down with cognitive scientist and author Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why unexpected change feels so threatening, and why losing what we thought our life would look like can feel like losing ourselves. From a career-ending injury early in her life to deeply personal losses later on, Maya reflects on how life’s unexpected turns can quietly reshape how we see ourselves, ou...
2026-02-1148 minOn Purpose with Jay ShettyDr. Maya Shankar: Does Change Make You Feel Lost Or Uncertain? (Use THIS Framework To Find Direction Again and Use Change to Upgrade Your Life!)We often think change will make sense once we get to the other side, but what if the real work of change is learning how to stay present in the uncertainty itself? Today, Jay sits down with cognitive scientist and author Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why unexpected change feels so threatening, and why losing what we thought our life would look like can feel like losing ourselves. From a career-ending injury early in her life to deeply personal losses later on, Maya reflects on how life’s unexpected turns can quietly reshape how we see ourselves, ou...
2026-02-1148 min
10% Happier with Dan HarrisHow to Regulate Your Emotions and Mental Chatter When Bad Things Happen | Maya ShankarPractical techniques for dealing with all of life's curveballs. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and creator of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, previously named "Best Show of the Year" by Apple. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House and was also appointed as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. She is the author of The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans. In this episode we talk about: The two major life e...
2026-01-281h 06
Hard Knox with Amanda KnoxWhy Adaptation Is a Human Superpower (Maya Shankar)Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist, writer, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, whose new book The Other Side of Change explores who we become when life takes an unexpected turn. In this rich and intimate conversation, Maya and Amanda dig into moments ranging from Juilliard dreams cut short by injury to miscarriage. They talk about locked-in syndrome, prison poetry, and the surprising psychology of why uncertainty can feel worse than pain. Along the way, Maya shares practical tools offering listeners a hopeful and deeply human guide to navigating change without platitudes.
2026-01-2756 min
How She Does ItResponding To Change: Maya Shankar On Finding Your “Why” When Facing An Unexpected DetourWe’re all likely to encounter some change in life that’s unwelcome: a scary health diagnosis, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or the end of a dream. Maya Shankar, PhD, deeply understands the concept of change and offers a roadmap for navigating it.
She is a cognitive scientist and Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google. But she is perhaps best known for her side gig: being the creator and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. Her fascination with how we navigate change started when she was a teen, and...
2026-01-2743 min
Masters of ScaleHow to make smarter changes, with cognitive scientist Maya ShankarCognitive scientist Maya Shankar has made a career of cleverly using insights from behavioral economics to fuel her work in the Obama White House and in Silicon Valley. She talks with host Jeff Berman about the tools everyone can use to be more resilient in the face of change. You can find Maya's book The Other Side of Change here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729180/the-other-side-of-change-by-maya-shankar/Check out Maya’s podcast A Slight Change of Plans here: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plansSubscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com...
2026-01-2234 min
The Podcast BrowserHow to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar) Podcast: The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos (LS 78 · TOP 0.01% what is this?)Episode: How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar)Pub date: 2026-01-12Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationLife has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses — these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes next.Dr. Laurie speaks with her dear friend and former student, Dr. Maya Shankar, author of The Other Side of...
2026-01-2139 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsEXPERT: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans with Dr. Maya ShankarHi Bravies! Today Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell are talking to another expert on a topic deeply relevant to you, the caregiving parent. In this expert episode, number 239, they sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and host of the acclaimed podcast ‘A Slight Change of Plans.’ Maya shares her profound insights on navigating life's unexpected turns and the transformative power of change. Through her personal stories and expert knowledge, she reveals how embracing change can lead to self-discovery and growth. Join us as we explore the revel...
2026-01-2051 min
Ced With IntentionHow to Handle Change Without Spiraling - Dr. Maya ShankarChange is unavoidable, but the way we respond to it often makes it harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Cedric sits down with cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why change feels so destabilizing, how uncertainty affects our nervous system, and what actually helps when your mind starts to spiral. They talk about identity beyond titles, why fresh starts are usually internal, and how small shifts in perspective can make change more manageable without forcing optimism. Maya also shares some really practical insights from her new book, The Other Side of Change: Who We Become...
2026-01-1954 min
Behavior BitchesChange Doesn’t Have to Suck with Dr. Maya ShankarThis week, Liat and her sister Talia sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, former Senior Advisor and founder of the White House Behavioral Science Team, Head of Behavioral Economics at Google, host of A Slight Change of Plans, and author of The Other Side of Change.Maya shares how she landed in rooms that didn’t even have a role for her yet (BCBAs, take notes), and opens up about losing the identity she built as a Juilliard-trained violinist after a career-ending injury. We unpack why change is so threatening to our sense of self, wh...
2026-01-191h 23
The mindbodygreen PodcastThe psychology of uncertainty, growth & hope | Maya Shankar, Ph.D.“We are constantly a work in progress,” explains Maya Shankar, Ph.D.
Shankar, a cognitive scientist, creator and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans, and author, joins us today to explore what science and lived experience reveal about navigating life's most difficult transitions, and how unexpected change can become a powerful form of revelation.
- Change can be revelatory (~1:20)
- Confronting all aspects of who you are (~3:15)
- The illusion of control (~6:30)
- How to navigate change (~9:30)
- Cult...
2026-01-1843 min
Young and Profiting with Hala TahaDr. Maya Shankar: The Mindset Shift You Need When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned | Human Behavior | YAPClassicOne mindset shift changed everything for Dr. Maya Shankar. After suffering a devastating hand injury at 15 that abruptly ended her promising violin career, her sense of identity was shattered. Forced to reimagine a future beyond music, she turned to cognitive and behavioral science to understand how humans navigate unexpected change. That path led her to President Obama’s White House, where she applied human behavior insights to influence policy and improve decision-making at scale. In this episode, Dr. Maya reveals the power of human psychology and how small mindset shifts can help us make better decisions when life doesn’t go...
2026-01-161h 00
HEAL with KellyThe Science of Handling Life’s Unexpected Changes Gracefully with Maya ShankarHave you ever felt terrified of change… not just because life is shifting, but because you feel like you’re shifting with it? I know that feeling well — and this week’s conversation opened my heart and mind in such a profound way.
In this week’s episode of HEAL with Kelly, I sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a renowned cognitive scientist whose work sits at the intersection of identity, behavior, and human transformation. Maya is the Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google, the creator and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans, and...
2026-01-151h 04
The Rich Roll PodcastCognitive Scientist Maya Shankar On Navigating Unexpected Life Changes, The Neuroscience Of Identity, & How To Unlock Your Next SelfDr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist, host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” and author of “The Other Side of Change.”
This conversation explores the challenge of navigating involuntary change, whether it's injury, loss, or a future that suddenly collapses. We discuss identity and attachment, the illusion of control, why our brains resist uncertainty, the end of history illusion, rumination, and practical tools to help us see change not as a burden—but as a revelation.
Maya also opens up about her own identity crises, a career-ending injury at 15, and later pregnancy losses tha...
2026-01-152h 06
Business Minds Coffee ChatDr. Maya Shankar | Who We Become on the Other Side of ChangeDr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, and author of The Other Side of Change, joins me on this episode. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg's debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from...
2026-01-1557 min
This Is the AuthorS11 E2: Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, Cory Ruth, and Maya ShankarIn this episode, meet gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, dietitian and women’s health expert Cory Ruth, and cognitive scientist and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, Maya Shankar. Tune in to hear Dr. Will Bulsiewicz on what he’s most excited for listeners to hear (and learn the scientific name for a growling stomach), Cory Ruth on what she would bring into the studio with her next time, and Maya Shankar on what inspired her to write her audiobook.
Plant Powered Plus by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676469/plant-powered-plus-by-will-bulsiewicz-md/9798217345724/
PCOS Is My Power by Cory...
2026-01-1318 min
The Last ArchiveSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
Brave New PlanetSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
SolvableSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
Not LostSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
Story of the Week with Joel SteinSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
Deep Background with Noah FeldmanSneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia Lewis. 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. About The Other Side of Change: Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re...
2026-01-1341 min
Evolving with Gratitude#146 - Maya Shankar on The Other Side of ChangeWhat if change isn’t something to fear but something that can reveal who we really are? Cognitive scientist and podcast host Dr. Maya Shankar shares how to navigate uncertainty, redefine identity, and uncover growth on the other side of change. We talk about finding purpose when life takes an unexpected turn, why “possible selves” matter, and the surprising role distraction and gratitude play in resilience.Maya's Book:The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other PlansThrive Global Article:Maya Shankar on The Other Side of Change...
2026-01-1343 min
Live GreatlySupporting Your Brain Amid Change with Cognitive Scientist, Dr. Maya ShankarOn this Live Greatly podcast episode, Kristel Bauer sits down with cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to discuss her new book, The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans. Maya is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She appeared on National Geographic's Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and she was a former Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House. Kristel and Maya discuss tips to build resilience and thrive amid tough changes and lots more. Tune in now! Key Takeaways From This Episode: Why...
2026-01-1327 min
A Really Good CryGrieving the Future You Imagined with Dr. Maya ShankarWho are you when the thing that defined you is taken away? What happens when the life you planned no longer exists? How do you grieve a future that never happened? Can uncertainty become a place of growth instead of fear? In this deeply moving episode of A Really Good Cry, Radhi sits down with cognitive scientist and author Dr. Maya Shankar for an honest conversation about identity, loss, and navigating life’s most unexpected transitions. Dr. Maya is the author of The Other Side of Change: Who We Bec...
2026-01-131h 31
The Kevin Miller PodcastHow To Better Navigate Unexpected & Undesired Change w/ Cognitive Scientist Maya ShankarI experience our culture growing more and more fearful of unexpected and undesired change. If you were to look back on your life and make a list of all the unexpected and undesired changes you have experienced in your life, I bet it’s fairly long. I would ask you to consider why you think many more unexpected and undesired changes aren’t ahead of you. But what I see is that when you have anxiety about the possible, and I’d say probable changes ahead of you, you are taking away from your ability to have joy and fulfil...
2026-01-1257 min
The Kevin Miller PodcastHow To Better Navigate Unexpected & Undesired Change w/ Cognitive Scientist Maya ShankarI experience our culture growing more and more fearful of unexpected and undesired change. If you were to look back on your life and make a list of all the unexpected and undesired changes you have experienced in your life, I bet it’s fairly long. I would ask you to consider why you think many more unexpected and undesired changes aren’t ahead of you. But what I see is that when you have anxiety about the possible, and I’d say probable changes ahead of you, you are taking away from your ability to have joy and fulfil...
2026-01-1257 minThe Kevin Miller PodcastHow To Better Navigate Unexpected & Undesired Change w/ Cognitive Scientist Maya ShankarI experience our culture growing more and more fearful of unexpected and undesired change. If you were to look back on your life and make a list of all the unexpected and undesired changes you have experienced in your life, I bet it’s fairly long. I would ask you to consider why you think many more unexpected and undesired changes aren’t ahead of you. But what I see is that when you have anxiety about the possible, and I’d say probable changes ahead of you, you are taking away from your ability to have joy and fulfil...
2026-01-1257 min
Meikles & Dimes239: Losing and Finding Our Identity | Cognitive Scientist Maya ShankarMaya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which Apple awarded as the Best Show of the Year in 2021. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run.
Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. in...
2026-01-1213 min
Young and Profiting with Hala TahaDr. Maya Shankar: Transform Your Mindset to Navigate Life’s Biggest Changes in 2026 | Human Behavior | E381Why does mindset collapse when the life you planned disappears? Dr. Maya Shankar learned this firsthand after two devastating losses. A sudden injury ended her dream of becoming a professional violinist, and years later, repeated miscarriages shattered her vision of motherhood. These moments exposed how easily we attach self-worth to imagined futures. Drawing from cognitive science and human psychology, she learned to redefine her identity beyond self-imposed labels. In this episode, Maya explores the psychology of change, revealing why we experience “identity paralysis” when unexpected changes occur, and how we can use that to our advantage.
2026-01-121h 12
The Dad Edge PodcastThe Psychology of Change What It Takes to Rebuild After Loss featuring Dr. Maya ShankarWhat do you do when life changes in ways you didn't choose—and didn't see coming? In this deeply emotional and intellectually grounding conversation, I sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, former White House advisor, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, to talk about change, identity, grief, and uncertainty. Maya shares her powerful personal story of being accepted into Juilliard at a young age, only to have her violin career abruptly end due to a devastating injury. From there, we explore how unexpected change threatens our identity, why the hu...
2025-12-291h 01
Everyday Better with Leah SmartMaya Shankar: How to Navigate Life’s Biggest TransitionsIn honor of Back-to-School season, throughout September, Everyday Better is sharing conversations inspired by the essential life skills we didn’t learn in school, but should have. This week on the show, cognitive scientist and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, Maya Shankar, reveals what happens to us when we encounter unexpected and unwanted changes in our lives.
Finding a way to deal with disappointment, shock and unwanted change is one of the most quintessential skills of adulthood. So why do so few of us know how to do it? Even Maya—who studies chang...
2025-09-0930 min
Women of ImpactWhat to Do When Everything Falls Apart—How to Move Forward & Rebuild | Dr. Maya Shankar (Fan Fav)Fan Favorite: This episode originally aired on: June 22, 2022. What up, homies! It's your girl Lisa Bilyeu, and welcome back to the Women of Impact podcast, where we dive deep and come out stronger. Today, I'm thrilled to bring you an episode with the incredible Dr. Maya Shankar!Have you ever felt like your whole identity is wrapped up in a label, a job, or a way you define yourself? You're not alone. Dr. Maya Shankar, renowned behavioral and cognitive scientist, joins us to unpack the layers of identity and change, and why those little...
2025-05-1447 min
Women of ImpactWhat to Do When Everything Falls Apart—How to Move Forward & Rebuild | Dr. Maya Shankar (Fan Fav)Fan Favorite: This episode originally aired on: June 22, 2022. What up, homies! It's your girl Lisa Bilyeu, and welcome back to the Women of Impact podcast, where we dive deep and come out stronger. Today, I'm thrilled to bring you an episode with the incredible Dr. Maya Shankar!Have you ever felt like your whole identity is wrapped up in a label, a job, or a way you define yourself? You're not alone. Dr. Maya Shankar, renowned behavioral and cognitive scientist, joins us to unpack the layers of identity and change, and why those little...
2025-05-1451 min
Meditative StoryThe joy of being an unwilling traveler through life, by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar is a cognitive neuroscientist and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. As a girl, she struggles with taking things too seriously: herself, the sufferings of others, the hypothetical misfortunes she imagines for the future. She turns to her father for perspective — and he takes her on a memorable walk, one that helps her understand her place in the universe (spoiler: it’s not not at the center of it). When her adult life brings a new and unexpected kind of sorrow, she turns to these lessons from her father again, to find a bala...
2025-05-1330 min
The Brian Buffini ShowQuick Cut: S2E291 A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya ShankarClick here to listen to the full episodeWe all encounter a change of plan at some point in our lives. In this episode, Brian interviews cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to understand who we are and who we become when faced with change. Topics discussed include: How change profoundly impacted Maya’s life, why humility is so important and how being more openminded can help build resilience. YOU WILL LEARN:· Common psychological strategies for navigating change. · Why people really dislike uncertainty.· How to cultivate a mindset to thrive in chan...
2025-05-0110 minThe Brian Buffini ShowQuick Cut: S2E291 A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya ShankarClick here to listen to the full episodeWe all encounter a change of plan at some point in our lives. In this episode, Brian interviews cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to understand who we are and who we become when faced with change. Topics discussed include: How change profoundly impacted Maya’s life, why humility is so important and how being more openminded can help build resilience. YOU WILL LEARN:· Common psychological strategies for navigating change. · Why people really dislike uncertainty.· How to cultivate a mindset to thrive in chan...
2025-05-0110 min
WHOOP PodcastGoal Setting, Life Transitions, and Decision Making with Neuroscientist Dr. Maya ShankarWith summer ending, back to school routines happening at home, and the need to get back to healthy habits, we wanted to bring back a fantastic conversation between WHOOP Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Scientist Kristen Holmes and cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Maya Shankar. Maya is also a former White House Senior Advisor, and creator of the top podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. Kristen and Maya discuss studying violin under Itzhak Perlman (2:22), how a hand injury spurred what Maya calls identity foreclosure (5:21), transitioning to a career in neuroscience (8:48), the endowment effect (16:43), the benefits of the fresh start effect (19:15...
2024-09-1139 min
10% Happier with Dan HarrisThe Science of Handling Uncertainty | Maya ShankarNew episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar talks about how to get comfortable with uncertainty in an ever-changing world. It seems like a design flaw in our species that we live in a world of constant change yet most of us are not comfortable with uncertainty. In this episode, we talk to Maya Shankar about how to get better at dealing with change and to stop seeking what scientists call "cognitive closure." Shankar is...
2024-08-2659 min
Kelly Corrigan WondersGoing Deep with Maya Shankar on Empty Nesting
Sometimes, even when things go precisely as you hoped they would, change hurts. Kelly was a guest on a podcast called A Slight Change of Plans, hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar, who was curious to know how empty nesting was going. The conversation was so rich that it felt worth sharing here. This one is for every parent you know. Pass it on. (Previously aired).You can find Kelly's PBS Tell Me More interview with Maya Shankar HERE.
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2024-08-2053 min
The Knowledge ProjectMaya Shankar: The Toolkit to Accomplish Your Hardest GoalsShane Parrish and Maya Shankar dive into the complexities of identity and personal transformation. They explore how significant life changes can reshape one's sense of self and explain how to navigate these transitions. Maya shares her personal stories and tips on making proactive choices and keeping a flexible, layered sense of self. They also discuss the psychological and philosophical aspects of identity, offering practical advice on goal-setting and personal growth.Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. Shankar w...
2024-07-0950 min
The Kevin Miller PodcastWhat Drives Cognitive Scientist & Renowned Podcast Host Maya ShankarIn this episode, I bring you a special What Drives You episode with Maya Shankar. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator, host, and executive producer of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, made in collaboration with Malcolm Gladwell's production company, Pushkin Industries. A Slight Change of Plans was named the Apple Podcast of the Year in 2021. Maya actually founded the Behavioral Science Team at the White House, called “the Nudge Unit, which used insights from behavioral economics to write better public policy. Maya’s focus is around what happens to and in us, when change happens. Chan...
2024-01-041h 03The Kevin Miller PodcastWhat Drives Cognitive Scientist & Renowned Podcast Host Maya ShankarIn this episode, I bring you a special What Drives You episode with Maya Shankar. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator, host, and executive producer of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, made in collaboration with Malcolm Gladwell's production company, Pushkin Industries. A Slight Change of Plans was named the Apple Podcast of the Year in 2021. Maya actually founded the Behavioral Science Team at the White House, called “the Nudge Unit, which used insights from behavioral economics to write better public policy. Maya’s focus is around what happens to and in us, when change happens. Chan...
2024-01-041h 03The Kevin Miller PodcastWhat Drives Cognitive Scientist & Renowned Podcast Host Maya ShankarIn this episode, I bring you a special What Drives You episode with Maya Shankar. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator, host, and executive producer of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, made in collaboration with Malcolm Gladwell's production company, Pushkin Industries. A Slight Change of Plans was named the Apple Podcast of the Year in 2021. Maya actually founded the Behavioral Science Team at the White House, called “the Nudge Unit, which used insights from behavioral economics to write better public policy. Maya’s focus is around what happens to and in us, when change happens. Chan...
2024-01-041h 07
The Psychology PodcastFind the Potential in Change || Maya ShankarToday we welcome Maya Shankar to the podcast. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans”. It was awarded as the Best Show of 2021 by Apple and received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.In this episode, I talk to Maya Shankar about change. Humans have a desire to a...
2023-08-3150 min
The Psychology PodcastFind the Potential in Change || Maya ShankarToday we welcome Maya Shankar to the podcast. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans”. It was awarded as the Best Show of 2021 by Apple and received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.In this episode, I talk to Maya Shankar about change. Humans have...
2023-08-3150 min
Huberman LabHow to Shape Your Identity & Goals | Dr. Maya ShankarIn this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr. Shankar...
2023-07-242h 30
Huberman LabsHow to Shape Your Identity & Goals | Dr. Maya ShankarIn this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr. Shankar...
2023-07-242h 30
Huberman LabHow to Shape Your Identity & Goals | Dr. Maya ShankarIn this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr...
2023-07-242h 31
Wrong Turns with Jameela JamilMaya ShankarCognitive scientist and host of the podcast 'A Slight Change of Plans' Maya Shankar joins Jameela this week to discuss what we attach to our identity, how there is a competitive advantage to being great listeners, what could be the antidote to loneliness and we find out the three types of empathy and discover maybe Jameela does have empathy after all. Check out Maya's podcast - A Slight Change of Plans - wherever you listen - and look out for her TED Talk (available from July 25th, 2023):Who are you, and how do you tran...
2023-07-141h 06
Young and Profiting with Hala TahaYAPClassic: Dr. Maya Shankar on Influence and The Science of Decision-Making | Human BehaviorAs a child, Dr. Maya Shankar was on track to become a violin prodigy. She studied under one of the world's top violinists. However, her dreams were shattered when she tore several tendons in her hand at 15 years old. She was told she'd never be able to play the violin ever again, so she was forced to learn who she is beyond her identity as a musician. A few years later, she stumbled across a book on human behavior, which sparked a lifelong interest in the human mind. After college, she went on to build a behavioral science team...
2023-05-261h 00
How To! with Mike PescaThe Upside of Stress: A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya ShankarThis week we present a special episode from A Slight Change of Plans hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist who studies human behavior and was our featured expert on How To Stick To Your New Year's Resolutions. Maya's podcast examines who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. In this episode, Maya looks at a feeling most of us are familiar with: stress. We're all familiar with the ways stress can make us feel bad, but can we use it as a helpful resource? Maya's joined by Columbia professor...
2023-03-2133 minHow To! with Mike PescaThe Upside of Stress: A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya ShankarThis week we present a special episode from A Slight Change of Plans hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist who studies human behavior and was our featured expert on How To Stick To Your New Year's Resolutions. Maya's podcast examines who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. In this episode, Maya looks at a feeling most of us are familiar with: stress. We're all familiar with the ways stress can make us feel bad, but can we use it as a helpful resource? Maya's joined by Columbia professor...
2023-03-2136 min
Therapy WorksMaya Shankar on her heartbreaking fertility challenges and the importance of kindnessThis beautiful, moving and revelatory conversation is about loss and also of course, about love. Dr Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist as well as the host of the extraordinary podcast A Slight Change of Plans which was Apple’s Best Show of 2022. In this episode we discuss:
How to navigate a life full of unexpected challenges, particularly around fertility.
We discuss surrogacy, a subject that is new and still relatively unknown to most and particularly the physical challenges of gestational surrogacy.
How surrogacy involves creating a personal and intimate rela...
2023-03-151h 06
House Calls with Dr. Vivek MurthyMaya Shankar: Why is Change So Hard?We all experience change. Sometimes we plan a change, sometimes we’re thrown a curveball. It’s just part of life. But why do some changes feel harder to manage than others? And why does change seem easier for some people than others? Guest Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” where she weaves people’s personal stories of change with the science of human behavior. As we kick off a new year, Maya and the Surgeon General talk about the nature of change and how to handle it, with the intent...
2023-01-1046 min
The Viall FilesGoing Deeper with Dr. Maya Shankar - Keeping New Year’s Resolutions With ScienceWelcome back to another episode of The Viall Files, Going Deeper Edition! Today we are joined by cognitive scientist and creator of A Slight Change In Plans, Dr. Maya Shankar. Before getting into the interview, we first get a quick update on GMA’s TJ and Amy’s relationship status, the recent info released about the Idaho murders, Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper getting banned from drinking on New Year’s Eve, and speculate on what they hope to learn from Anderson Cooper’s upcoming interview with Prince Harry. We then dig deep with Dr. Maya Shankar, talking about the best...
2023-01-051h 33
Stay Tuned with PreetHow We Decide (with Maya Shankar)Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. She also served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team. Preet speaks with Shankar about how our brains work — how we make decisions, relate to one another’s beliefs, and handle big changes in our lives. Plus, Preet’s thoughts on the new special counsel tasked with overseeing DOJ’s investigations into Donald Trump’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection and the unauthorized removal of classified...
2022-11-231h 06
CAFE InsiderStay Tuned Bonus 11/23: Maya ShankarIn this bonus from Stay Tuned, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar and Preet discuss the moment in Shankar’s childhood that changed the path of her life. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail.Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
2022-11-2306 minCAFE InsiderStay Tuned Bonus 11/23: Maya ShankarIn this bonus from Stay Tuned, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar and Preet discuss the moment in Shankar’s childhood that changed the path of her life. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at letters@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail.Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
2022-11-2306 min
Better Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Maya Shankar: Cognitive Scientist and Host of A Slight Change of PlansI am back with a brand new episode featuring a fascinating interview with cognitive scientist and host of A Slight Change of Plans, Dr. Maya Shankar. I loved this conversation, as we started the talk about Maya’s being accepted to Juilliard as a 9 year-old violinist and how and injury changed her life forever. We talked about what it’s like to be a UTTL (Unwilling traveler through life) as well as challenges Maya had to overcome that led to her launching her successful podcast, which blends storytelling with with neuroscience, to help us understand who we are and who we...
2022-10-1135 min
WHOOP PodcastWhat Motivates Us: Cognitive Scientist Dr. Maya Shankar on the Power of Change, Habit Formation, And Behavioral ScienceOn this week’s episode, Dr. Maya Shankar – a cognitive neuroscientist and creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans – sits down with VP of Performance Kristen to how to change our patterns of behavior when it comes to our health. Maya shares the secrets of staying motivated, what the fresh start effect is, and how we can handle setbacks when we're not making the progress we want towards our goals. Maya shares her story of studying violin under Itzhak Perlman (2:22), how a hand injury spurred what she calls identity foreclosure (5:41), her transition to neuroscience (8:48), how she ch...
2022-10-0539 min
The Jordan Harbinger Show733: Maya Shankar | Adapting to a Slight Change of PlansMaya Shankar (@slightchangepod) is a cognitive scientist who once aspired to become a career violinist, and is the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans.
What We Discuss with Maya Shankar:
How Maya's love for the violin and sense of playfulness — not flawless technique or prodigious talent — gave her the opportunity to learn from Itzhak Perlman at Juilliard School of Music when she was just nine years old.
The unfortunate mishap that derailed Maya's aspirations to become a career violinist and forced her to experience what psychologists call identity foreclosure — during...
2022-10-041h 31Meditative StoryThe joy of being an unwilling traveler through life, by Maya ShankarMaya Shankar is a cognitive neuroscientist and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. As a girl, she struggles with taking things too seriously: herself, the sufferings of others, the hypothetical misfortunes she imagines for the future. She turns to her father for perspective — and he takes her on a memorable walk, one that helps her understand her place in the universe (spoiler: it’s not not at the center of it). When her adult life brings a new and unexpected kind of sorrow, she turns to these lessons from her father again, to find a bala...
2022-07-1430 min
10% Happier with Dan HarrisThe Science of Handling Uncertainty | Maya ShankarNew episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- It seems like a design flaw in our species that we live in a world of constant change yet most of us are not comfortable with uncertainty. In this episode, we talk to Maya Shankar about how to get better at dealing with change and to stop seeking what scientists call "cognitive closure." Shankar is a former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she f...
2022-06-2059 min
A Life of GreatnessMaya Shankar: The Power Of ChangeWill sharing your inner struggles hinder you, or have the power to set you free? Joining Sarah Grynberg is cognitive scientist, award-winning podcast host of ‘A Slight Change of Plans', and former senior advisor and founder of the Obama White House Behavioural Science Team, Dr. Maya Shankar. In this profound conversation, Sarah and Maya talk about why change can be so painful; how she rebuilt her life after her early career as a violinist was taken away; the importance of sharing hardships with those around you in your community; and making meaning out of the darkness. If you are lo...
2022-06-131h 06
The Brian Buffini ShowS2E45 A Slight Change of Plans - an Interview with Dr. Maya ShankarWe all encounter a change of plan at some point in our lives. In this episode, Brian interviews cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to understand who we are and who we become when faced with change. Topics discussed include: How change profoundly impacted Maya’s life, why humility is so important and how being more openminded can help build resilience. YOU WILL LEARN:· Common psychological strategies for navigating change. · Why people really dislike uncertainty.· How to cultivate a mindset to thrive in change. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:https...
2022-06-0736 minThe Brian Buffini ShowS2E45 A Slight Change of Plans - an Interview with Dr. Maya ShankarWe all encounter a change of plan at some point in our lives. In this episode, Brian interviews cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to understand who we are and who we become when faced with change. Topics discussed include: How change profoundly impacted Maya’s life, why humility is so important and how being more openminded can help build resilience. YOU WILL LEARN:· Common psychological strategies for navigating change. · Why people really dislike uncertainty.· How to cultivate a mindset to thrive in change. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:https...
2022-06-0736 min
The Rich Roll PodcastMaya Shankar: The Power Of Slight Changes (And Why We Do What We Do)In today’s episode, cognitive neuroscientist & former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, Dr. Maya Shankar joins Rich to talk about the science behind growth & transformation.This is a conversation about navigating change, igniting professional growth, and managing grief through the behavioral science lens of Maya’s personal experience and expertise.Maya shares the therapeutic benefits and empowerment from sharing hardships, grief and shame with those around you, and how to make meaning out of hardships and struggles.The visually inclined can watch the...
2022-04-182h 28
LongformEpisode 482: Maya ShankarMaya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the host of A Slight Change of Plans.”I am a type A person through and through. I love having the five-year plan and the ten-year plan, and mapping it all out. By nature, that's what I'm like. And I think the series of pivots that my life has naturally taken, or I've had to take, has kind of soured me on that whole way of thinking. […] Maybe it's also that I'm a more grateful person than I used to be. Like, I feel more gratitude, and so part of my or...
2022-03-3056 min
No Harm In AskingA Slight Change of Plans with Maya ShankarIn this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "A Slight Change of Plans" hosted by Maya Shankar. Conceived in 2021, it was selected as Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year and is now in its second season. In this podcast, Maya leverages her background in social and behavioural science alongside personal teenage tragedy into beautifully composed stories of resilience in the face of change. What unique combination of attributes might you possess that can be combined into a killer podcast? Is being nice under any and all circumstances a winning podcast strategy? Should you stick with your theme 100% of...
2022-03-2324 min
The Adversity Advantage with Doug BopstMaya Shankar On Habit Change, Decision Making, Letting Go Of The Past & Science Backed Tools to Remain Optimistic During AdversityToday’s guest is Maya Shankar. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator, Executive Producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which Apple recently awarded as the Best Show of the Year 2021. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. We talk about the cognitive science behind how we adapt to cha...
2022-03-0350 min
Hard Knox with Amanda Knox#43 - A Slight Change of Plans (Maya Shankar)As a young teen, Maya Shankar was on a path to becoming a professional, world-class violinist, until an accident changed the course of her life, leading her to become a behavioral scientist. Amanda, Chris, and Maya nerd out about cognitive biases and how they affected Amanda's wrongful conviction, what shapes our behaviors and identities, and why it's so hard to change minds. Check out Maya Shankar's podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. Read Amanda's essay about the cognitive biases that affected her wrongful conviction.Get early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more...
2022-02-2851 min
The Conscious Artist®: Mental Health Conversations with Pallavi MahidharaDr. Maya Shankar: Dealing with ChangeCognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar shares her personal experiences dealing with big life changes, and how to find deeper meaning with the things we do in our lives to connect us more to our purpose. Discover more about Dr. Shankar: https://mayashankar.com/bioA Slight Change of Plans (Podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/a-slight-change-of-plans/id1561860622Follow us on Instagram: @consciousartistpodcastSupport The Conscious Artist Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1881074/supportSupport the show This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss t...
2022-02-2855 min
Mayim Bialik's BreakdownDr. Maya Shankar: Find the Asset in your DefectDr. Maya Shankar (cognitive scientist, Senior Advisor to Obama administration, host of Slight Change of Plans podcast) breaks down the role of language in cognition and why understanding human behavior makes a huge difference in informing government policy. She discusses her pivot from Juilliard violinist into neuroscience after suffering a permanent hand injury as a teenager, and how she created her own role in the White House. Mayim and Maya explain why "I" statements are the best way to communicate difficult emotions, the benefits of speaking to yourself in third person, and achieving positive lifestyle changes through a technique...
2022-02-151h 12