Show overview
A Slight Change of Plans has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 189 episodes, alongside 51 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 32 min and 42 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Society & Culture show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 weeks ago, with 29 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Pushkin Industries.
From the publisher
What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this award-winning podcast, cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar explores how we experience change and strategies we can use to better navigate moments of upheaval. Maya’s life took a dramatic turn when an injury ended her career as a violinist and inspired her to study the science of change. Named Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year, A Slight Change of Plans features deeply personal stories and scientific insights about who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. Past guests include Kacey Musgraves, Brené Brown, Ruby Bridges, Amanda Knox, Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth and more. Whether it’s a sudden pivot or a slow transformation, each episode reveals how change can give us an opportunity to reimagine who we are and unlock greater possibility. You can follow Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar and read her free newsletter at changewithmaya.com. Get early, ad-free access to episodes of A Slight Change of Plans by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus
Latest Episodes
View all 189 episodes“I Have One Goal: Keep You Alive”
Can Uncertainty Be a Gift?
The Hidden Wounds of Moral Injury
Tenacity: Stories about perseverance | From The Story Collider
A Realist’s Guide to Optimism
When Panic Takes Over – And How to Break Free
Caitlin Lost the Voice in Her Head
True Fun in a Fake Fun World
When Grief Remakes You
Maya’s Advice to New Grads
Why We Avoid Conversations That Would Make Us Happier
BONUS: How Small Businesses Endure for Generations
Rainn Wilson and Maya on Navigating Change and Identity
How to Feel More Loved
What If Closure Never Comes?
Michael Pollan Changes His Mind
S1 Ep 118Michael Pollan on the Mind-Blowing Idea of Consciousness
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 week, Michael joins Maya for a live conversation celebrating his new book, “A World Appears.” They talk about why it’s such a marvel that we even have consciousness in the first place, how researchers have explored consciousness in the past, and how Michael’s own perceptions and awareness of his inner life have changed. You can also check out Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change,” on Goodreads, and leave a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 Ep 117Some Life Advice from “The Moth”
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 counsel, following your gut, and learning how to practice what you preach. For more episodes of “The Moth” click here, or search for “The Moth” wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 Ep 116“I Felt Like an Alien Impersonating Myself”
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 she knew to do in situations like these: she started asking questions. On today’s episode: the curious work of figuring out what makes you, you. We first heard Rachel’s story on a Radiolab episode she reported called “Song of the Cerebellum.” In case you missed it—Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” is officially a bestseller! Order your copy at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 Ep 115The Cost of Being the Strong One
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 and Maya talk about the hidden burdens of putting on a strong face, ingrained stigmas around mental health, and how to have the courage to ask for help. In case you missed it—Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” is officially a bestseller! Order your copy at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.