A Slight Change of Plans

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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."

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Recent Reviews

Gwenb3

Really appreciate this show!!!

Well thought out topics that both encourage and motivate. I love that the episodes create a sense of connection to the topic. It’s as though I’m sitting in a small group listening to a worthwhile conversation. Thank you for the blend of personal experiences with science determined data. I really needed this recent compilation of three shows and will be going back to hear the full episodes soon.
sam48m

Excellent is an understatement!

I’m grateful for this show, life can be really hard. In the face of that, too often there is pessimism, anger, or toxic positivity. Dr Maya Shankar’s depth of compassion, curiosity, empathy, and optimism are so needed in this world right now. Thank you for sharing your story and other’s stories of how they face seemingly impossible changes of plans.
veteran podcast listener

Insightful

Every parent should listen to the episode Empty Nesting with Kelly Corrigan
AnnieDNoahP

Outstanding in every way!

Have listened to this wonderful podcast from its inception. It’s supported me through Covid losses, the loss of my son, lost homes, lost identities. You’ve validated my grief through all these transitions, helped me feel not so alone. Just listened to parts 1 & 2 of A Million Little Losses, re a woman caregiving her ALS husband, and was reminded of Pauline Boss. Pauline wrote and developed the concept of “ambiguous loss.” It’s a state of loss and grief occurring when we grieve loved ones whose bodies are missing ?as in wars or 9/11), or when your loved one is disappearing before your eyes (physically present but mentally gone), as in Alzheimer's. It’s a special kind of excruciating grief. I highly recommend reading Boss’s books for caregivers, to go along with A Slight Change In Plans. Wonderful, supportive stuff meeting a silent need for so many people. Thank you so very much…
Queenie101954

An excellent podcast

Always an intelligent, honest discussion. Maya treats her guests with respect and empathy. I highly recommend this podcast.
HuriMatt

Inspirational ❤️🙏

By chance, I came across Maya’s work thanks to Adam Grant and am so grateful for her beautiful and inspirational content. I just listened to her podcast, ‘Maya's Slight Change in Perspective’ It's truly touching and brought me to tears. Despite having a long day ahead, I can't wait to listen to another episode.
DAS66!!

Informative, relatable podcast

Super informative podcast about managing life’s ups and downs. Maya is a calming and unbelievably knowledgeable host who seamlessly leads discussions on a wide range of topics. Highly recommend.
Pd Mutti

A lifetime of secrets

This show is always awesome, but I just finished Apr 1 2024 Freedom after a lifetime of secrets. As a hmmm not so much a reluctant parent but one whose heart is not fulfilled by being a parent, it was so good to hear the commentary on “wanting to want to do stuff with the kids” and that that is just an incredibly impossible standard that we imagine is the rule. Thank you. I try hard to be the “good” parent but it does not come naturally as it does to my ex. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Poisonsqorpio1134

A Transformative Listening Experience

“A Slight Change of Plans" by Maya Shankar is my absolute favorite podcast. Maya is an exceptional host, possibly the most empathetic person on earth. She interviews individuals with the most incredible life stories, and each episode challenges me to think deeply and offers profound insights into human behavior, identity, change, and growth. So many times, this show has expanded my horizons in ways I could never have imagined. It makes me laugh, often brings me to tears, and, overall, helps me become a better human being. I'm a huge fan and have recommended this show to many people. I can only imagine that Maya's work makes a significant impact not only on my life but on the lives of many.
BobbieB12

Narcissistic drivel

Avoid this circle jerk of a podcast. I was actually hoping to learn something, not listen to the host and guest break their arms patting themselves on the back. So many other podcasts that cover the same ground so much better.
ciodz

Violín

Episode October 29 2023 I would love to know where can we download the piece at the end and more of her originals It’s the most moving , beautiful music I ever heard ! Thank you for sharing your story!
BFerrulli

Thank-you

After every episode, I say, this is the one I can’t move forward without a review. I start the review and feel it’s not perfect enough to post, to share how I think, to explain the life-changing experience. So with that, no excuses, and thank you. Thank you to Adam Grant for introducing me to your work at a time when I was looking for women's voices.
Letty Anderson

Love this program

A Slight Change of Plans is always right on point. I love listening to Maya. She is a wonderful interviewer.
RO’C

10/10 would recommend

I could not love this show more! Maya Shankar is thoughtful, empathetic, and all around wonderful podcast host. She holds your attention, and draws you into a space of reflection. I am always excited to see that a new episode has been released….may there be many, many more!
Smart Guy's Mom

“I Gave Up Asking ‘Why me?’l - I did, too.

Such a beautiful conversation! As the proud mom of an adult son on the spectrum, of course I knew what diagnosis was coming when Banafsheh started to describe Saba’s early development, but the way she describes her look at life now for her as a mother to a special needs child, and their life as a family, was refreshing and offers comfort to families just starting the journey. And, of course, Maya wonderfully brought all of Banafsheh’s early dreams for Saba back around to show that there was a slight change of plans and it took a different route for Saba to get there, but she found joy in enjoying music in the car. So lovely. Thank you.
Petunia903

…after a lifetime of secrets

Really enjoyed listening to this episode. In addition to hearing about someone overcoming addiction we also heard a Black woman talk about issues and vulnerabilities that many of us face and live with. I enjoyed the episode so much that I purchased Laura Cathcart's book.
makeupmyname

Let the interviewee and listener be.

Just tell the story. We don’t need to stop with every other response to emphasize how amazing the interviewee is! The listener is surely astute enough to understand that on her own. Simply too touchy-feely for my taste. I prefer more journalism and less editorializing.
Er redddy

Best commnication

Maya is very knowledgeable in various subjects and good listener great communicator and interviewer.
Steph Bachi

You must interview Tommy Rivs

Wonderful podcast- i would love to see you interviewing Tommy Rivs Puzey
Hope.from.wyoming

“Slight” change

I quit my doctor job and plummeted into identity paralysis. Your podcast is helping me find my way forward, with a community of guests experimenting with life and thinking and all of it. Thank you. I know the other listeners are in this too and the solidarity helps me find my own path.
Buj08

Recommendation

You should interview Zarna Garg, home maker “Indian”mom of three kids who became a now popular comedian and has one in a billion on Prime
'berta

I’m going to be a regular listener

I just listened to the episode where Maya give a commencement address and speaks so beautifully about “imaginative courage“. In this episode she talks about her own life and the moving way she’s examined her own life brought tears to my eyes at least three times. In some way this podcast, the stories, makes me feel strong. Like I can really appreciate the hardships in my life and know that I continue to grow stronger, and hopefully wiser. Thank you Maya!
b-normal

Engaging conversations

Love this podcast. Maya gets to the heart of the changes her guests experienced. Especially love the music.
Ddmergens

Engaging and compelling

These episodes are not just interesting but informative and engaging. It’s hard to listen to just one! Her TED talk is great as well.
Curious-learner

Amazing !

We just love your podcast - just in awe of everything I get to understand listening to you. Also your voice is lovely - my 10 yr old daughter wanted me to say that.
tdluna

Uplifting and educational

I love the blend of story and science — and Maya’s voice is lovely.
marlenescrivani

Takes me away from loneliness

Dear Maya You have no idea how wonderful it is to listen to your podcast. I live alone and the only responses I get are from google and Alexa Loneliness is an epidemic amongst many and I feel woman far outnumber men in this arena Maybe one day you can do a podcast on this topic A slight change of plans Boy how I love that to be my story one day Great Job You are amazing, honest and brilliant Sincerely Marlene Scrivani
Shelly Knick

More self compassion

Whoa.. this hit me hard and I’m not sorry. This area I have been trying to cultivate more and this was so inspiring and helpful. Thank you so much 😊
CML99

Amazing!!!

This is one of my favorite podcasts. Every timeI listen I am encouraged and inspired and challenged to look at my life and see how I could make positive changes. I appreciate Maya's, vulnerability, and the vulnerability og the guests sharing their struggles and how they have overcome need to press forward. I am inspired by everyone. Thank you Maya so much and keep up the great work.
Ira Grin

A bunch of commercials with a great podcast

It has so many commercials that it is hard to follow the story. It’s like one continuous commercial with a great podcast mixed in. It’s sad because the message is so beautiful- but it’s being lost in a barrage of repeating information about some mattress etc. I understand that this is the way to make money, but I wonder if there is a way to have a guest story a center stage and not the mattress.
Cornelius Matteo

No story telling … must be marketing cause not good.

Dr. Shankar cant get out of her own way and let the story unfold, talks too much and not story telling …as part of Pushkin, at least listen to Gladwell and learn basics of story telling. She is addicted to happy talk and can not see the underlying patterns that life wants to unfold.
Suzluv

Maya is brilliant and a great interviewer

I have to say that Susan Messer who shared her story in October 2021 is my new super hero. What a strong beautiful kind soul.
Kwats85

Meditation episode

I’ve truly enjoyed this podcast, but the recent episode on meditation with Dr. Davidson has been my favorite so far! Thank you for doing this episode!
CrazyKat55

Maya is an amazing interviewer!

This is the best podcast! Maya asks the best questions! She has a lovely voice and has a way to get really in depth with the person she is speaking with. A++++
dougitect

Interesting life stories

I’m always curious to hear the way different people find ways to make life work for them. And I love Maya’s voice!
B. Birdell

Great host!

Loved the Florence Williams episode. Episode 51 with Kelly Corrigan is so 'right where i am.' Thank you for helping me start to let go of my adult children and to recognize heartache os built into the goal. And we get through it. This episode is a fave❤️
Chindian mom

Relevant and thoughtful

I just started listening and every single topic feels so very relevant to me as a mom of young kids in her late 30s wrestling with existential questions. I’ve thought about many of these issues in an informal fashion and I appreciate listening to expert voices that are guided in an accessible and thoughtful way by Maya.
qwertyuuipasfhk

Politics

You had me until you had to comment on the elections. I am so sick and tired of everything in the USA comes back to who you voted for. Your podcast theme was that there is commonality of people, how we as humans are alike and how we can navigate this life together. I don’t involve who you voted for, right or left, in my relationships. I may continue to listen but since I made a vow to eliminate the division of politics in anything I consume, I am probably out.
SadieKen

Ugh

Can I have any place to go where someone doesn’t sneak in a political opinion that no one asked for? Yes, Trump was a President. Yes, Biden is now a president. Just stop please.
Mememe Ususus

Maya is the perfect host

Such brilliant stories. I love how Maya looks at the inflection points in peoples’ lives, and shared the science around how we react to (or create) change. She is smart and endearing. I love hearing these stories.
maestrareg

Nora McInery

Wow. I have been following Nora for several years and I watched her evolve. This was a beautiful and vulnerable episode. Nora captured grief in a way so few speak of and I am ever so grateful. Maya your work is fantastic. I have lots of incidents on my life where there have been a slight change of plans. It’s so wonderful to be validated with others’ stories too.
maybe.babe

Why do I have to subscribe to Pushkin to listen to this podcast?

I absolutely love the podcast. I este the podcast a 5 stars. I rate the subscription requirement a one star. I have to pay a yearly subscription to Pushkin Media to listen? Not sure what changed between seasons 1 and 2, but the subscription is just one more thing to have to subscribe to that adds up and becomes very expensive.
jvl1010

Pretty good

I think it’s pretty good!
eagle4139

I tried …

If you like moral preening and self-congratulatory babble, this is the podcast for you. In the episode with Adam Grant, one focus is on being aware of and questioning one’s biases, and then host goes on to say that it’s good to feel like an imposter, white men. And then just merrily goes along without even pausing on her own stereotype. I guess there are no introspective white men or white men who can understand where they lack skills or knowledge. The host and her guest then go on to talk about ways to change people’s minds. Notice that the person whose mind needs changing is always someone with a ‘conservative’ position. Never the other way around, because those people are always wrong. They just don’t know it yet. The host and her guest go to express concern about the young people whose parents always told them they were right. Look in the mirror. It then ends as you might predict, with them congratulating each other for their brilliance.
User3789

Please stop moaning while people are speaking

I like the Podcast and I can see that Maya is trying to acknowledge the people she is listening to with her little moans but it is so distracting. She is trying to show her empathy but instead it sounds a little like she is moaning with pleasure. Please trust your listeners.
kaaaaaaaarriiiiii

Privilege

I tried to give her chance… As an immigrant myself, I thought she would bring something else to the podcast world since she said that her parents immigrated to the USA; I was mistaken. Her whole personality screams sheltered and privileged. Plus the whole podcast is one big 0bama-is-the-greatest promotion tour. Shallow.
sydwms

Listening to when surviving is enough ep

I love this podcast so much and this episode is the first one that made me angry. Nora is describing a parent’s worst nightmare and describing how matthew looked at her like an enemy. Matthew had responsibility to make sure their child-any of their children- were made safe. It will never be ok for something like that in that specific situation to have been only nora’s responsibility. Ever.
dosesandmimoses33

The first responder episode

Really resonated with me.. as I, too, have PTSD, and identified with her story. Gratitude for the conversation.. I don’t know if many people understand that a trigger can just crush the central nervous system .. as much as I do to mitigate the symptoms, it is difficult to admit my fragility and/or be understood by those closest to us (especially since I don’t want to burden or perceive that I’m burdening another person with the ongoing processing of the traumatic response.)
ZACB

Cliché

This podcast is cliché, boring, and shallow. It’s actually painful to listen to the host who mistakes cleverness for authenticity and depth. It’s attempting to be profound and is just superficial and boring. The questions are flat. The guests are uninspiring because the host is too limited in her lived experience to ask meaningful questions. I keep trying to give this show a chance but she’s someone who has read books and led a privileged sheltered life making her profoundly boring and uninteresting. It’s like reading a pop psych book. Cringe!
KarynClay

Better for having listened

This podcast always leaves me feeling better for having listened to it. The ultimate interview was the one with Ruby Bridges. I’m still weeping, it was so touching. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing stories!

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