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
These days, psychiatrist Judith Joseph knows joy. It’s the feeling she has after eating a delicious meal, celebrating the completion of a successful study in her lab, or watching her children play happily together. But just a few years ago, things looked different. Or rather, felt different. On the outside, everything looked as it should, and that was the problem. On today’s episode: the masks we wear to hide how we feel inside. If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, help is a...
Jul 07, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Sahil Bloom spent years working in the financial industry, putting in long hours and cashing big paychecks. But even though he’d found career success, he started to question whether the life he was building was actually what he wanted. On today’s show: hitting pause on the rat race and defining success on your own terms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 23, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Tommy Caldwell’s experience being held captive in Kyrgyzstan unlocks a new state of mind that propels him to become the greatest big wall climber of all time. This conversation first aired in 2021. It is a companion episode to the one we ran last week about Beth Rodden’s experience of the same trip: “ A Climber Loses Her Grip .” Same “Slight Change of Plans”, but wildly different reactions. You can check out Tommy’s memoir here , and Beth’s memoir here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Jun 16, 2025•38 min
As a professional rock climber, Beth Rodden was taught to see pain as weakness. Fear and discomfort—mental and physical—were just things to be tolerated along the path to one record-breaking climbing feat after another. But when Beth was kidnapped on a climbing expedition in Kyrgyzstan, she had to confront the limits of that approach. On today's show: when the mindset that built you, starts to break you. Sign up for my free newsletter here: changewithmaya.com Get early, ad-free access to episode...
Jun 09, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 97
What can we do to cultivate more resilience at work? Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of The Unshakeables podcast, thinks about this question a lot. In today’s mini episode, Ben joins Maya to talk about the unique challenges faced by America’s small business owners—and the insights he shares can help anyone who wants to improve their well-being at work. This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to Ben’s podcast, The Unshakeables , here . See omnystudio.co...
May 26, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 96
For as long as writer Glennon Doyle can remember, she’s felt that something inside her was broken. 'Who am I really? What am I meant to do? And why does it feel so bad to be in this body?' These are the messy questions that Glennon has been grappling with for years. On today’s episode, Glennon, who hosts the wildly popular podcast We Can Do Hard Things , details her perpetual search for belonging, and shares the wisdom she's gained along the way. Glennon’s new book, also called We Can Do Hard Th...
May 12, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 95
If you've ever found yourself bending over backwards to meet other people’s expectations, or trying to control your loved ones’ emotions and behaviors, you are not alone. Bestselling author and podcast host Mel Robbins says the key is to stop micromanaging and start relaxing your grip. This conversation was an unexpected lesson in owning what’s yours and finding peace in ceding the rest. Pre-order The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans at changewithmaya.com/book . Fi...
Apr 28, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 94
I’ve been dying to share this news with you for quite some time, and I'm so happy that today I finally can. Pre-order “The Other Side of Change” now at changewithmaya.com/book . Read more about my journey to writing “The Other Side of Change” in People: https://people.com/maya-shankar-the-other-side-of-change-cover-reveal-exclusive-11716505 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 17, 2025•3 min
Amanda Knox has spent a decade trying to move on after being wrongfully convicted of murder. But over the years, one question lingered - why had the lead prosecutor in her case, Giuliano Mignini, been so determined to vilify her? Recently, she made the bold decision to reach out and ask him herself. On today's show: Amanda tells me about confronting the man who helped put her behind bars. Note: this is part two of a two-episode series we’re running this month about Amanda Knox. It was recorded i...
Apr 14, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 93
Amanda Knox was just 20 years old when she was found guilty of a crime she did not commit — the murder of her roommate. Amanda spent four years in an Italian prison before she was finally exonerated and allowed to return to her life back home in the U.S. But she soon discovered that that life didn’t exist anymore. Note: this is part one of a two-episode series we’re running this month about Amanda Knox. It was recorded in 2021. Sign up for Maya’s new newsletter here . Get early, ad-free access t...
Apr 07, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Science writer Olga Khazan didn’t really like herself. A self-described neurotic, she tended to fixate on the negative. She assumed she’d always be this way, but then she came across research showing that personality is something you can change. In today's episode, Olga chronicles her year-long journey to "fix" her personality, and invites us to consider whether it’s truly possible to change who we are. Try the personality test that Olga talks about here . Sign up for Maya’s new newsletter, wher...
Mar 31, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Have you ever found yourself saying yes to something you really didn’t want to do? Psychologist Sunita Sah is an expert on why it can be so difficult to say no, especially when our relationships or reputations are on the line. But there's good news! Defiance is actually a skill we can build if we understand the science behind it. Sunita shares a framework we can use in those challenging moments when we want to push back, but just aren’t sure how. Sign up for Maya’s new newsletter here . See omny...
Mar 17, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Psychologist Ethan Kross wants us to stop thinking about our emotions as either good or bad. Emotions carry valuable information, he says, and they are signals that can help us change our behavior. As an expert in the science of emotions, Ethan shares strategies we can use to reign in our negative emotions when they become more harmful than helpful. And he debunks a popular myth that the only healthy way to move past your negative emotions is to persistently engage with them. Sign up for Maya’s ...
Mar 03, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 89
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 Milkman is an expert on how we can bridge the important gap between who we are right now and who we want to be. She shares a set of concrete, evidence-based strategies - like the fresh start effect and temptation bundling - that can help you reach your goals and become the best v...
Feb 24, 2025•34 min
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, How To Trust and Be Trusted , is full of insightful lessons, and today, we’re sharing one of our favorites: “How To Be a More Trustworthy Person.” Whether in work, friendships, or love, trust is everything – and Rachel’s wisdom will help you strengthen it. You can find Rachel’s ...
Feb 10, 2025•33 min
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 about how we can rethink our inner voice and the sometimes negative things it tells us. This episode tackles topics like rumination, stress, and self-compassion. We each found this episode to be a helpful resource on a personal level as we navigate hard times and we hope it helps yo...
Jan 27, 2025•35 min
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 deep questions. To learn more, check out Charles' book, “ Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection .” If you enjoyed this episode, you might like our episode with champion debater Bo Seo, " Let's Agree to Disagree More ." Connect with Maya on instagram @...
Dec 16, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 88
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 and social movement. But as Safiya grew older, living under her father’s rules became suffocating. She talks to Maya about how she broke free from her father's influence and charted her own path. Connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar . See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...
Dec 09, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 87
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 decision making. It’s also because they have different goals than adults. David argues that if we can better understand these goals, we can bridge the gap between young people and older people. For more on David, check out his latest book, " 10 to 25: the Science of Motivating Young Peo...
Dec 02, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 86
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 tool. In this episode from the archives, Kristin talks with Maya about how to get past the idea that caring for ourselves is selfish and offers simple practices for being kinder to ourselves. If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: “ The Science of O...
Nov 25, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 85
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 her ambition had turned toxic. Maya and Jennifer discuss the perils of aiming for a one-size-fits-all version of success and the benefits of redefining ambition for yourself. For more about Jennifer, check out her memoir, " Ambition Monster ." You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar ...
Nov 18, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 84
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 like to lose her smile and how her relationship to her face, and with her loved ones, has changed over the years. You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 11, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 83
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 have done on her show. In this episode, Maya asked her producer, Tyler, to interview her about her own “Slight Change of Plans.” You can follow Maya @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 30, 2024•38 min
Tommy Caldwell’s near-death experience unlocks a completely new state of mind that propels him to become a record-setting big wall climber. We'll be back with new episodes in your feed later this fall, but in the meantime, enjoy Maya's conversation with Tommy Caldwell, one of our favorite episodes from the archives. Connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 30, 2024•39 min
Psychologist Jamil Zaki studies the science of human connection and he believes cynicism is holding us back. Cynicism isn't just harmful for our health, he says, it’s also misguided. He talks to Maya about a powerful, alternative mindset that can help: what he calls “hopeful skepticism.” For more on hopeful skepticism, check out Jamil Zaki’s book “ Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness .” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 04, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 82
