A Slight Change of Plans

Lucy Kalanithi is a doctor, a mom, and the widow of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of the bestselling memoir, “When Breath Becomes Air.” Lucy was at Paul's side through his final days, both at home and at the hospital. In this conversation, she reflects on how his death transformed her relationship to time, and how we make meaning in the world. If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: "Losing Dixie” For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World champion debater Bo Seo knows how to win an argument. He’s made it his mission to teach everyone to disagree better. Bo walks us through how to apply the most effective strategies from competitive debate to improve our disagreements at the dinner table. Bo and Maya also discuss how to determine whether an argument is worth having in the first place. For more on Bo’s work, check out his book, “Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard.” If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: "A Black Musician Takes on the KKK." For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Slight Change of Plans is back on June 5! Maya talks with experts about meditation, self-compassion, the power of debate, and more. Plus, we explore personal stories of change, including what happens when you follow your passion, and that passion is … pizza. For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting some of the most meaningful conversations we’ve had with scientists about navigating our mental health. Julia Samuel is one of the world’s leading grief therapists. She joins Maya to talk about why it’s important to engage with our grief, and offers strategies to help with the grieving process. They also discuss how losing someone can affect our sense of self, and the need to grieve the loss of identity that often accompanies big life changes. Our new season starts June 5. In the meantime, connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations with scientists about how to live healthier, happier lives. Psychology professor Ethan Kross is an expert on the science of introspection and the role our inner voice plays in shaping our decisions and sense of well-being. While our inner voice has a lot of benefits, it can sometimes turn negative and lead to what Ethan calls “mental chatter.” In this episode, we discuss science-based strategies for how to rein in our mental chatter, including an exercise in mental time travel. Our new season starts June 5. In the meantime, connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations with scientists about how to live healthier, happier lives. Psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Chibanda has been on a mission for years to help people gain access to mental healthcare in his community. In Zimbabwe, there is only one psychiatrist for every 1.5 million people. To bridge the gap and provide folks with the help they so desperately need, Dixon turned to a rather unorthodox group for help: grandmothers. This episode includes mentions of depression and suicide. If you need additional support, you can call 988 to talk to a trained listener. You can also text with a trained helper by texting “SAVE” to 741741. Our next season starts June 5. In the meantime, connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a mistake to prioritize romantic and familial relationships over friendship, argues psychologist Dr. Marisa Franco. Strong, supportive friendships expand our sense of self, she says, and are associated with greater well-being and health. Marisa offers research-based strategies to make new friends and deepen our existing friendships, including helpful concepts like mutuality and the mere-exposure effect. Marisa and Maya also discuss how to stay friends through big life changes, why fighting could make your friendship stronger, and how to break up with a friend with clarity and kindness. For more on Marisa's work, check out her book, “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Kelly Corrigan always wanted a family. She craved the closeness and familiarity of a strong parent-child relationship. When her daughters were little, she relished knowing everything about their lives. But as her daughters grew older, the physical and emotional distance between Kelly and her daughters grew, too. While Kelly knew to expect this transition, it still broke her heart. In this conversation, Maya and Kelly reckon with the question of what parents and children owe each other. For more on Kelly, check out her podcast, "Kelly Corrigan Wonders" and her PBS show, "Tell Me More." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a long time, scientists believed our capacity for empathy remains more or less fixed throughout our lives. But research by Jamil Zaki, a psychology professor at Stanford, shows that empathy is actually a skill we can cultivate. Jamil explains that there are different types of empathy — three, to be exact! — and we can learn to be more discerning about when we apply them. Maya and Jamil also discuss the dangers of caring too much, and how we can show compassion for others while avoiding burnout. For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science writer Florence Williams felt blindsided when her twenty-five-year marriage unexpectedly fell apart. The heartbreak opened her up to a whole range of new and intense feelings, but it also made her sick. Trained as a journalist, Florence set out on an expedition to understand the science of heartbreak and game her way back to health. She tried novel forms of therapy, immersed herself in nature, and consulted cutting-edge research on the science of awe. But her greatest discovery came when she tried an alternative to “hacking” heartbreak. If you’re interested in hearing more of Florence’s story, listen to “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey,” a uniquely immersive audiobook, narrated by the author and accompanied by in-the-moment diary recordings and interviews. For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's only March and we're already starting to veer off track with our resolutions for the year. Don't worry! 90% of people fail to reach their goals each year, which means there's got to be a better way. On this episode of How To!, a listener named Emily is feeling discouraged by her eating habits and lack of exercise. Maya, a behavioral scientist, helps Emily (and the rest of us!) form better habits so we can set ourselves up for success. Hear more episodes of How To! wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Influence is often seen as a skill we have to cultivate, a charismatic quality leveraged by select leaders, business people, and successful social media accounts. But in her new book, “You Have More Influence Than You Think,” social psychologist Vanessa Bohns demonstrates that we all have influence through our words, choices, and even just our presence. Maya and Vanessa discuss how we can become more aware of our power to persuade, and learn to wield it wisely. For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately, comedian Hasan Minhaj is taking a second look at his motives for performing. Hasan was initially drawn to comedy because it allowed him to hold people in power accountable. In shows like “Patriot Act" and "The Daily Show," he often took on controversial topics and challenged world leaders. But after some of his provocative commentary went viral, he realized his motives were less pure than he thought. In this conversation, Hasan reveals how that realization is making him reconsider his career altogether. For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re all familiar with the ways that stress can make us feel bad. But professor and stress expert Modupe Akinola argues that a simple change in our mindset can turn short-term stress into a helpful resource. Modupe walks us through some strategies for how to better tolerate and understand our stress, and gives us tools for coping when a small “mindset shift” isn’t enough. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Slight Change of Plans returns February 20, with new personal stories of change, including an interview with comedian Hasan Minhaj about the pitfalls of his career path. Maya also talks with scientific experts about new ways of looking at heartbreak, empathy, stress, and other life-changing topics. Here’s a sneak peek at the season ahead! For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to reaching our big goals, focusing too much on natural ability can be counterproductive because it’s something we can’t change. Instead, psychologist Angela Duckworth wants us to focus on cultivating grit. For our final episode of this special New Years miniseries, Maya selected this interview from the archives about grit, which Angela defines as a “power combination of passion and perseverance.” Plus, Angela offers four key strategies we can use to more easily resist temptations and stay the course. As always, we’d love to hear which insights resonate most with you. You can connect with Maya on Instagram at @drmayashankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One thing that can hold us back from becoming better versions of ourselves is when we stubbornly cling to old beliefs and ways of thinking. So, for the second installment of our New Year’s guide to the science of change, Maya handpicks an interview from the archives with Adam Grant, psychologist and author of the book “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.” Adam gives us strategies for cultivating a more open mind. Plus, Maya and Adam debate the merits of imposter syndrome and the importance of revisiting our fundamental beliefs about the world, not just our opinions. As always, we’d love to hear which insights resonate most with you. You can connect with Maya on Instagram at @drmayashankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maya wants to help you achieve your goals for the new year, so she's sharing some of her favorite interviews about the science of change from the archives, starting with her friend and fellow cognitive scientist, Dr. Katy Milkman. Dr. Milkman shares evidence-based strategies we can use to change our behavior, including leveraging identity shifts and making habits more pleasurable, through techniques such as the fresh start effect and temptation bundling. Also, she argues for the power of a “commitment device” which locks you into a plan to reach your long-term goals. We'd love to hear about which insights resonate most with you and which ones you’re planning to try out! You can connect with Maya on Instagram at @drmayashankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At age nine, Javier Zamora embarked on a harrowing, 3000-mile immigration journey from El Salvador to the United States. More than twenty years later, he’s finally ready to revisit that period of life and what it took for him to survive such treacherous circumstances. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re on break for the holiday this week, and Maya wanted to share a quick note with listeners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Slight Changers — this past Friday, Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and CEO of the fraudulent biotech company Theranos was sentenced to 11.25 years in a Federal prison. I wanted to reshare my interview with Erika Cheung today. She had the courage to stand up for what was right and blow the whistle, even when her personal safety was at risk. Erika was instrumental in bringing Holmes to justice. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is an expert on the science of loneliness. He offers advice for how we can build stronger, more meaningful social connections. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Nora McInerny’s husband died of cancer in his thirties, Nora became well known for writing about the messiness of grief. She also led grief groups, launched a podcast about grief, and started a non-profit. Nothing Nora did ever felt like enough, until a terrifying moment made her slow down and take a hard look at her own grieving process. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Isbell is a singer-songwriter and four-time Grammy winner. After wrestling with addiction, he re-examines aspects of his personality that he once saw as his greatest weaknesses. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annie Duke believes we should be quitting things more often, a skill she honed during her lucrative years as a professional poker player on the world stage. Annie talks about the science of quitting, and shows us how to get out of our own way and learn to quit when we should. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Priya Parker is an expert in group dialogue and conflict resolution, and she uses her unique background to rethink how we come together. Priya teaches us how to turn our gatherings into opportunities for more meaningful connection with others. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a firefighter, Christy Warren made rescuing people her life's work. Her toughness earned her praise from her peers. But after decades of rescuing others, suddenly Christy became the one who needed saving. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges is our guest today. She shares what it was like to be the first African-American student to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960. Ruby was just six years old at the time, and it would be years before she fully appreciated her role in advancing civil rights in America. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Daniel Pink teaches us how to transform our relationship with regret so that we can live happier, more fulfilling lives. You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Slight Changers! (drumroll please…) We’re back with Season 5 of A Slight Change of Plans next Monday! Each week, we’ll hear stories of change from remarkable people and learn more about the science of change so we can live happier, healthier lives. Here’s a sneak peek. You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Slight Changers — I recently recorded a deeply personal essay with my friends at Meditative Story. It's about my philosophy on life and existence. This essay took months to pull together because it required revisiting my childhood, as well some challenging years I had in early adulthood. But it was so worth it — this episode is so close to my heart and I hope you enjoy listening to it. As always, reach out to me with any reflections or thoughts at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. For more episodes like this one, check out the Meditative Story podcast feed at: listen.meditativestory.com/MayaShankar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can follow the show on Instagram @DrMayaShankar. Erika Cheung’s first job out of college was as a scientist at the now infamous biotech company, Theranos. Erika realized early on that the company’s proprietary technology was not delivering accurate blood results to patients. And even though she had so much to lose by speaking out, she saw no other option. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Dr. Ayelet Fishbach is a professor of psychology, and an expert on the science of motivation. She'll teach us how to set smarter goals, and give us science-based strategies to help us reach them. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Edith Eger was just 16 years old when the Nazis forced her and her Jewish family onto a cattle car to the Auschwitz concentation camp. Today, Edith is 94 years old, and a psychologist who specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder. She shares how learning to control her own mind helped her to survive the Holocaust. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. Scott Menke never thought he had a particularly compelling personality, but he did feel he stood out in at least one way: he had a natural ability to learn and remember interesting facts. He put that knowledge to the ultimate test as a contestant on the TV trivia game show Jeopardy! Scott was surprised when viewers responded not just to his performance but to who he was as a person. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychology professor Ethan Kross is an expert on the science of introspection, and the role our inner voice plays in shaping our sense of well-being. While our inner voice has a lot of benefits, it can sometimes turn negative and lead to what Ethan calls “mental chatter.” In this episode, we discuss science-based strategies for how to rein in our mental chatter so we can live happier, healthier lives.  You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Bowler certainly thought so, until her entire belief system was thrown into question when she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35. You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jodie Patterson’s son came out as transgender when he was just shy of three years old. Jodie knew her son would face many changes ahead, but what she didn’t anticipate was how much she would change too.  You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Slight Changers — I’m guest-hosting the Radio Headspace Podcast all week! It was a really special collaboration and I wanted to share the first episode of the series with you. To check out the rest of the episodes this week, you can head to headspace.com/podcast. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Slight Change of Plans returns next week with guests who will help us think differently about change so we can live happier, more fulfilling lives. Here's a sneak peek of the upcoming season! You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Slight Changers! We’re back at the end of this month with Season 4 of A Slight Change of Plans! In the meantime, we wanted to share a very special conversation Maya had with Max Linsky for his podcast, Longform. Maya talks to Max about her life story and her inspiration for A Slight Change of Plans. We hope you enjoy it! If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Richard "Harry" Harris is an anesthesiologist and expert cave diver who was tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: to rescue a boys' soccer team trapped 2.5 miles deep within a flooded cave in Thailand. He talks with Maya about his decision to heed the call.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Samuel is one of the world’s leading grief therapists. She joins Maya to talk about why it’s important to engage with our grief, and offers strategies for how to do that.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quinn Lewis’ sister Dixie was 19 years old when she tragically died in a car accident. In the months that followed Dixie’s death, Quinn was left to grieve the loss of her little sister and the future relationship she had envisioned for them.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist in Zimbabwe, has been on a mission for years to help people gain access to mental healthcare in his community, where there's only one psychiatrist for every 1.5 million people. To bridge the gap and provide people with the help they need, Dixon turned to a rather unorthodox group for help: grandmothers.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Korean-American journalist Euna Lee was captured by North Korean soldiers in 2009, and forced into captivity for 140 days. While Euna’s time in North Korea was harrowing, there was one aspect of her experience that surprised her and challenged some long-held beliefs she had about 'the enemy.'You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Michael Pollan chats with Maya about the science of psychedelics — what’s going on in our brains that give rise to the extraordinary experiences people describe. Michael also gives us a glimpse into his personal experience with psychedelic trips.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we first talked to Scott (E10 “The Life-Changing Diagnosis”), he was in the midst of treatment for stage four bone cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Since then, he has successfully completed his treatment and shares what it’s like to adjust to life back home. You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharing a sneak preview of Pushkin's new show, Well-Read Black Girl. Glory Edim started the Well-Read Black Girl book club in 2015, and since then it's exploded into a passionate, worldwide reading community. She aims to amplify the voices of BIPOC writers and celebrate their literary achievements, using the power of conversation to help members connect and grow. On the Well-Read Black Girl podcast, Glory has deep, honest conversations with authors of color about the art, craft and power of the written word. You'll hear from luminaries like Tarana Burke, Gabrielle Union, Anita Hill, and more, about how they found their voices, honed their craft and navigated the world of publishing.Listen to more episodes of Well-Read Black Girl at https://link.chtbl.com/slightchangewellread Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christine Ha fell in love with cooking in college when she tried to recreate the Vietnamese dishes her mother had cooked for her as a child. But when a rare neurological condition left Christine legally blind by age 24, she worried she might never be able to cook again.You can follow the show at @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.