Get Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Get Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Author: Pushkin Industries December 4, 2023 Duration: 30:28
A Slight Change of Plans
SocietySociety & CultureCulture

Gretchen Rubin is an author and podcaster with a passion for helping people become happier. One of the biggest lessons she's learned in her decades-long study of the subject is that there's no one-size-fits-all hack to finding happiness. Gretchen talks with Maya about how important it is to tailor our approach based on what she calls the "four tendencies," or personality types.

If you enjoyed this episode, try this one from the archive: “The Science of Our Inner Voice”

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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A Slight Change of Plans
Podcast Episodes
New Year, Old You? We Got You. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
It’s February – AKA the month when, research shows, we start slipping on our New Year’s resolutions. And so, I’m re-sharing one of my favorite science episodes to help us all get back on track. Behavioral scientist Katy…
How To Be A More Trustworthy Person [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:10
Trust is the glue that holds human connection together – but how do we earn it? Rachel Botsman, an expert on trust and human behavior, explores the subtle and powerful signals we send in relationships. Her new audiobook,…
BONUS: Make Your Inner Voice Work For You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
Welcome back, Slight Changers! 2025 has already been quite the year. Whew. Because so many of us are feeling overwhelmed, we in the Slight Change family produced a compilation episode with wisdom from our past guests abo…
The Secret to a Good Conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:43
Charles Duhigg is a journalist who is interested in what makes for a good conversation. He talks to Maya about some science-backed techniques we can try to improve our conversational skills, including the art of asking d…
Breaking Free From Family Beliefs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:01
Writer Safiya Sinclair grew up on the north coast of Jamaica in a Rastafari family. Her father was the head of the household and he made Safiya and her siblings follow a strict interpretation of Rastafari, a religious an…
What We Get Wrong About The Teen Brain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:30
We have a lot of misconceptions about young people and their developing brains, says psychologist David Yeager. It’s true that young people’s brains are underdeveloped, but that’s not the only factor behind their decisio…
Why It's So Tough To Be Kind To Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:23
Kristin Neff is a psychologist and the author of "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself." Her pioneering research busts cultural myths about self-compassion and shows it’s an effective motivational…
Rethinking Ambition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:34
For many years, writer Jennifer Romolini prided herself on her work ethic. She climbed to the top of every corporate ladder and worked 60 hours or more every week. But after an unexpected health crisis, Jennifer realized…
The Story of a Smile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
Soon after giving birth, writer Sarah Ruhl developed a severe case of facial paralysis. The left side of her face drooped, she couldn’t blink or raise her eyebrows, and she could no longer smile. Sarah shares what it was…
Maya’s Slight Change of Plans, Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:24
A few years ago, Maya experienced a heartbreaking change in her personal life, while on her way to trying to become a mom. Two days after it happened, she felt the need to process it out loud, like so many of her guests…

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