When Panic Takes Over – And How to Break Free

When Panic Takes Over – And How to Break Free

Author: Pushkin Industries June 16, 2026 Duration: 17:57

Amazon editors just chose Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” as one of the Best Books of 2026 So Far! To celebrate, we’re sharing a chapter from the audiobook with you today. 

Journalist Matt Gutman spent years reporting live from high-pressure situations all over the world. Calm and collected on camera, he was privately dealing with panic attacks behind the scenes. Then, after an on-air mistake jeopardized his livelihood, Matt fell into a seemingly endless cycle of negative thoughts. 

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. If you’ve already read “The Other Side of Change,” leave a quick review here: 

Check out some of Maya’s favorite episodes of “A Slight Change of Plans” here. 

  1. A Black Musician Takes on the KKK - Daryl Davis (Spotify) (Apple)
  2. Wired for Change - John Elder Robinson (Spotify) (Apple)
  3. “Grieving the Man I Thought My Husband Was” - Susan Messing (Spotify) (Apple)
  4. A Theranos Whistleblower - Erica Cheung (Spotify) (Apple)
  5. The Science of Regret - Daniel Pink (Spotify) (Apple)
  6. The Science of Making (and Keeping) Friends - Marisa Franco  (Spotify) (Apple)
  7. How Awe Transforms Us - Dacher Keltner (Spotify) (Apple)
  8. Brené Brown on Our Flawed, Imperfect Selves - Brené Brown (Spotify) (Apple)

Looking for more? Explore six years of inspiring stories of change and science-backed insights for a happier, healthier life here.

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: 50

A Slight Change of Plans
Podcast Episodes
“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…
How to Accept the Messiness of Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:42
Valentine’s Day is about expressing love in all its forms—but it can also be a chance to sit with some of love’s stickier realities. Today, we’re sharing an episode from the TED podcast “How To Be a Better Human,” in whi…
The Life-Changing Impact Of Showing People They Matter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:33
Journalist Jennifer Wallace believes we can make the world a better place through small actions that help people feel like they matter. She’s written a book about this idea, called “Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Dee…
Michael Lewis and Maya Talk “The Other Side of Change” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:17
In today’s episode, “Moneyball” author Michael Lewis (and Maya’s friend) flips the script and interviews her—in front of a live audience in San Francisco. They discuss her new book in a candid conversation about identity…
How To Be Happier This Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
2026 is off to a hectic start for Maya as she tours the country promoting her book, “The Other Side of Change.” To recenter, she’s revisiting a conversation with her friend and mentor, Yale Professor Laurie Santos, who s…
A Sneak Preview Of Maya’s New Book [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:49
Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change”, is officially out! To celebrate, we’re sharing an exclusive excerpt with our community – about what first sparked Maya’s interest in change, and the story of a woman named Olivia…