We often avoid social interactions out of fear that others don’t want to engage with us. But social psychologist Nick Epley says that fear is misplaced. Today, Nick joins Maya to talk about why we’re missing out on positive connections that could enrich our lives, and how we can fix this. Check out Nick’s new book, “A Little More Social.” If you enjoyed our conversation with Nick, check out our episode with Vanessa Bohns, “You Have More Influence Than You Think.” See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
May 12, 2026•46 min•Season 1Ep. 124
How do some small businesses stand the test of time? In today’s mini episode, Maya talks with Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of “The Unshakeables” podcast, about what helps businesses endure across generations – from adaptability and grit to a deep connection with their communities. This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to “The Unshakeables” here . Listen to our previous conversation with Ben, “Boost Your Resilience At Work.” See omnystudio.com/list...
May 05, 2026•15 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Earlier this year, Maya did a bunch of interviews for the launch of her book, “The Other Side of Change.” Today, we’re sharing one of those conversations, from the podcast “Soul Boom,” with the actor and comedian Rainn Wilson — best known as Dwight from “The Office.” Rainn and Maya talked about the science of language development, her experience creating a job in the Obama White House, Rainn’s personal reflections on faith and meditation, and what led Maya to choose the stories that appeared in ...
Apr 28, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 122
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, Sonja joins Maya to talk about how even small shifts in the way two people approach a conversation can have a transformative impact on how loved they each feel over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 21, 2026•32 min•Season 1Ep. 121
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 confront it in an unexpected way. This week, she talks to Maya about what happened, how she questioned and re-questioned her decisions, and how she found peace within uncertainty. To hear more about Helena’s experiences, you can listen to her podcast “Creation Myth.” See omnystudio.c...
Apr 14, 2026•46 min•Season 1Ep. 120
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 he and Maya covered last time he was on the show. So we wanted to replay that episode, in which Maya and Michael discuss the science of psychedelics, and how they can help us see the world in new ways. And if you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Kacey Musgraves...
Apr 07, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 119
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...
Mar 31, 2026•49 min•Season 1Ep. 118
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....
Mar 24, 2026•51 min•Season 1Ep. 117
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 b...
Mar 17, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 116
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 changewithmay...
Mar 10, 2026•45 min•Season 1Ep. 115
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 may be making us less satisfied, not more. In today’s episode, Maya sits down with Barry to unpack why choosing can feel so exhausting, the hidden costs of always trying to find the “best,” and what the rest of us can learn from people who are content with “good enough.” And in ...
Mar 03, 2026•29 min•Season 1Ep. 114
For years, Brené Brown’s research has shaped how millions of us understand concepts like shame, vulnerability, and resilience. So, as Maya prepared to launch her new book, The Other Side of Change, there was one person she knew she had to talk to. In this special conversation with early readers of the book, Brené and Maya explore why uncertainty rattles us, how it reshapes us, and what it reveals about who we are—and even take a quick detour to gush over the hottest show on TV. If you enjoyed th...
Feb 25, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 113
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 Franklin, who competed in both the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. When Missy returned for her second Olympics, things felt markedly different. In today’s episode, Missy speaks candidly and bravely about how her mental health impacted her performance–with the world watching. For m...
Feb 17, 2026•34 min•Season 1Ep. 112
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 which host and comedian Chris Duffy speaks with family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile about why rigid relationship “templates” can hold us back, how to live a relationship rather than perform one, and how to navigate big life changes with our partners. In case you missed it—May...
Feb 10, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 111
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 Deep Connection and Purpose .” In today’s episode, she reveals why even those in high-stakes professions might not realize they matter, and what that gap can teach us about how to make others feel truly seen. In case you missed it—Maya’s new book, “The Other Side of Change,” is of...
Feb 03, 2026•40 min•Season 1Ep. 110
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, loss, and what happens when the thing that once defined you falls away. Did you hear? “The Other Side of Change” was an instant New York Times bestseller! Order your copy at changewithmaya.com/book , or wherever you like to buy books. New to A Slight Change of Plans? Start HER...
Jan 27, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 109
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 studies the science of happiness. Together, they explore why the things we chase often don’t bring the joy we expect - and why sometimes it's the most unexpected things that do. Order “The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans” at changewithmaya.com/boo...
Jan 20, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 108
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 Lewis. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 13, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 107
Booklist awarded Maya’s upcoming book, The Other Side of Change , one of its coveted starred reviews, saying “It’s impossible not to be moved.” The Other Side of Change hits shelves on January 13th and is filled with a rare combination of scientific wisdom and powerful stories (not featured on this podcast!) that will help you enter 2026 with greater strength and optimism about the road ahead. ORDER The Other Side of Change TODAY for you or someone you love at the links below. Amazon : https://a...
Jan 01, 2026•2 min
Therapist Meg Josephson learned early on to put others’ needs before her own. It was a way for her to stay safe in a home that didn’t feel emotionally stable. But over time, she saw that her people-pleasing habits were eroding her sense of self, and straining the very relationships she was trying to protect. On today’s show, we explore how we can stop asking ourselves if other people are mad at us. Who can we become when we stop trying to please everyone else? If you liked this episode, you’ll w...
Dec 08, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 105
After a turbulent adolescence and decades of reinvention, Zarna Garg found her voice somewhere she never expected: stand-up comedy. On today’s episode, she tells Maya why she believes courage is a skill you can learn, and how failure has been a key to her success on stage and off. Register for Maya’s virtual book event with Brene Brown at changewithmaya.com/launch . Spots are limited, and the deadline to sign up is December 14th. Don’t forget to pre-order Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change,”...
Dec 01, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 106
The world feels especially heavy these days, and it’s easy to feel cynical. So today, Maya is revisiting her conversation with psychologist Jamil Zaki, who offers an alternative to cynicism: a mindset he calls “hopeful skepticism.” Jamil explains why hopeful people are more resilient, more successful in accomplishing goals, and more willing to tackle societal problems head on. For even more from Jamil, check out our other episode with him: “ How to Build Empathy and Avoid Burnout .” Don’t forget...
Nov 03, 2025•39 min
It’s been more than a decade since Malala Yousafzai, then a 15-year-old student and advocate for girls education, survived an assassination attempt. Malala is 28 now, and she’s written an intimate new memoir called “Finding My Way,” revealing sides of her the world has never seen before. In today’s episode, Maya sits down with Malala to explore the tension that exists between the different versions of ourselves that we carry — who the world expects us to be, who our families raised us to be, and...
Oct 20, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 104
When Dr. Vivek Murthy first appeared on the show a few years back, he and Maya discussed the science of loneliness and its impact on our long term health. Now, the former U.S. Surgeon General is back to share simple, practical steps we can take to nurture more meaningful relationships—and why making even small changes can help us feel more connected. To hear Maya’s first conversation with Vivek Murthy, go to www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plans/the-science-of-loneliness . To watch th...
Oct 06, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 103
In the run up to the release of her book, The Other Side of Change , Maya is starting an Ambassadors Program! Ambassadors will get access to all sorts of exclusive content – like a companion journal, an invitation to an intimate conversation with Maya, sneak peaks of the book, and more. Join a community of people who are passionate about change and want to help bring the book's message into the world. Sign up to be a Launch Ambassador at changewithmaya.com/join . Pre-order The Other Side of Chan...
Oct 01, 2025•2 min
Felicia Hsu grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor. Years of relentless dedication brought that dream within reach, but the toll it took left her wondering whether it was finally time to let it go. Have you had a slight change of plans you think we should know about? Send us a voice memo or an email at slightchange@pushkin.fm . Sign up for Maya's free newsletter here: changewithmaya.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 22, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Anna Sale is what you might call a professional “haver of hard conversations”. As the creator of the podcast “Death, Sex, & Money,” she’s spent years exploring the big questions and taboo topics people tend to shy away from. In this episode, Anna reflects on what she’s learned from all of those conversations – what’s helped, what hasn’t, and what she’s still figuring out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 08, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 101
It’s not every day that Maya gets to coach a literal superhero…but tomorrow is that day! Tune in Friday, August 15, to see Maya featured as a neuroscience expert on Chris Hemsworth’s TV show, “Limitless: Live Better Now”. The series streams on Disney+ and Hulu. Curious to hear what it was like to film with Chris? Want to hear more about brain-boosting techniques? Join Maya for a behind-the-scenes Q&A on Instagram, this Friday, August 15 at 10:30am PST / 1:30 pm ET: www.instagram.com/drmayash...
Aug 14, 2025•2 min
Jessica Slice spent years working towards the day when she might actually like herself. If she just tried a little harder, achieved a little more, ate a little healthier, she thought she could earn her own self-respect. But after experiencing a sudden health crisis, Jessica was forced to put all that work on indefinite pause, and to remake her relationship with herself. On today’s show: who we can become when we let go of society’s standards of goodness. If you’re interested in learning more abo...
Aug 04, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 100
A few weeks ago, Maya joined former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for a deeply reflective, intimate conversation in front of a live audience in San Francisco. The event was hosted by City Arts & Lectures, which hosts longform conversations with everyone from Bruce Springsteen, to Yuval Noah Harari —— onstage, and on their podcast. For more on City Arts & Lectures in person programming, visit www.cityarts.net . For more episodes of the City Arts & Lectures podcast, visit w...
Jul 21, 2025•1 hr
