A Slight Change of Plans

A Slight Change of Plans

Author: Pushkin Industries Language: English Episodes: 100
Life has a way of rewriting our scripts, often when we least expect it. A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries, sits with that universal truth through conversations that feel both intimate and expansive. Hosted by cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar, the podcast is shaped by her own pivotal shift-a violin career ended by injury, which led her to professionally examine how we process transformation. Each episode moves beyond theory, featuring deeply personal stories from a wide range of guests who share their own encounters with upheaval. What you’ll hear isn’t just about resilience, but the nuanced science and practical strategies that can help anyone navigate a redirected path. It’s this thoughtful blend of human experience and grounded research that earned the series Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year. Listening feels like gaining a wiser friend, one who helps you reframe life’s unexpected turns not as disasters, but as complex chapters in a continuing story. The podcast ultimately explores how our identities adapt, how we find meaning, and how even the most disruptive changes can lead to growth we never planned for.
Episodes
How to Feel More Loved [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:11
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,…
What If Closure Never Comes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
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 conf…
Michael Pollan Changes His Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
Last week, Maya talked to author Michael Pollan about his newest book, “A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness.” He says that the seeds for this book were planted by his exploration of psychedelics – a topic that…
Michael Pollan on the Mind-Blowing Idea of Consciousness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:02
Bestselling author and journalist Michael Pollan has reshaped our understanding of everything from food to psychedelics. Now, he’s taking on a subject that has stumped thinkers for thousands of years: consciousness. This…
Some Life Advice from “The Moth” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:24
What do telenovelas, situationships, and card games have in common? All can be sources of unexpected life lessons. This week, we’re sharing an episode of the podcast “The Moth” that’s all about advice—seeking wise counse…
“I Felt Like an Alien Impersonating Myself” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
In 2024, science journalist Rachel E. Gross had a stroke. Her recovery mostly followed the path doctors predicted, but there were also some strange, ongoing glitches that she couldn’t explain. So Rachel did the one thing…
The Cost of Being the Strong One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:42
In honor of International Women’s Month, Maya is revisiting a conversation with Christy Warren—a former firefighter and paramedic who spent decades showing up for people on some of the worst days of their lives. Christy…
Finding Satisfaction in a World of Endless Choice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Social Psychologist Barry Schwartz is an expert on decision making. His new book, (00:01:48) “Choose Wisely,” explores how the very tools we rely on to make “good” decisions can steer us wrong — and why endless options m…
The Invisible Weight of Olympic Gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:12
The Winter Olympics are in full swing, and for the athletes competing, the Games are as much a mental challenge as they are a physical one. Not long ago, Maya sat down with five-time Olympic gold medalist, swimmer Missy…