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Check latest episodes from A Slight Change of Plans podcast

The Life-Changing Impact Of Showing People They Matter

2026/02/03

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 officially a bestseller! Order your copy at changewithmaya.com/book, or wherever you like to buy books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Lewis and Maya Talk “The Other Side of Change”

2026/01/27

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 HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How To Be Happier This Year

2026/01/20

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/book, or wherever you like to buy books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Sneak Preview Of Maya’s New Book

2026/01/13

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.

Kicking Off the New Year Right

2026/01/01

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.co/d/2o1QEM4 Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2186/9780593713686 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The People-Pleaser’s Recovery Guide

2025/12/08

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 want to check out our episode with Sunita Sah, called, “How To Say No.” Don’t forget to pre-order Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change,” at changewithmaya.com/book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It’s Never Too Late To Bet On Yourself

2025/12/01

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,” at changewithmaya.com/book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Stay Hopeful (When It Feels Impossible)

2025/11/03

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 to pre-order Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change,” at changewithmaya.com/book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malala, On Losing Herself

2025/10/20

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 who we’re still in the process of becoming. Watch the full video version of this interview here: https://youtu.be/q3y_-BP2Rmk?si=gVYmk-eTIOMzLP-L Don’t forget to pre-order Maya’s book, “The Other Side of Change” at changewithmaya.com/book. “Finding My Way: A Memoir” is out now. You can find it wherever you buy books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What If Finding Community Wasn't So Hard?

2025/10/06

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 the full video version of this interview, go to www.pushkin.fm/slightchange. For more from Vivek on how to create meaningful relationships in our lives, check out bit.ly/recipes4connection. Sign up for Maya's free newsletter here: changewithmaya.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maya’s Launching Something New This Fall!

2025/10/01

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 Change at changewithmaya.com/book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dream, Revisited

2025/09/22

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 [email protected]. Sign up for Maya's free newsletter here: changewithmaya.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How To Talk About Hard Things

2025/09/08

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.

Maya Is Chris Hemsworth’s Brain Coach!

2025/08/14

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/drmayashankar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I Feel So Wildly Lucky To Like Myself”

2025/08/04

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 about the books that shaped Jessica’s thinking on difference, disability and mental health, check out the list below: “The Minority Body: A Theory of Disability” by Elizabeth Barnes “Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure” by Eli Clare “Exile and Pride” by Eli Clare “Feminist, Queer, Crip” by Alison Kafer “The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability” by Nancy Eiesland “Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick” Maya Dusenbery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read A Slight Change of Plans podcast reviews

4.7 out of 5

1944 reviews

GriefRabbit 2025/12/07

Wonderful Insights

Zamil was a great guest and I loved your conversation. Her story teaches all of us so many lessons but her advice and insights are the icing on the ca...

Ali Schuback 2025/12/03

Thank you

Maya, I really love your guest, I think her name was Zarns. She is from India and she is a comedian.. I’ve seen her comedies special before she is hi...

BrittBC05 2025/11/07

This podcast saved me

This podcast came to me JUST when I needed it. 2025 has been one of the most difficult years of my life with some of the scariest lows I’ve ever felt....

napsforever 2025/08/18

Maya for President 2026

Maya is the perfect blend of logic and heart. I’m obsessed with her interviews, her point of the view, and the way she brings such intelligence and li...

bgyvju7osdn5cqz1wp4k6xt80f3i2a 2025/08/19

Murderer Amanda Knox?

Excuse me? Come again? Amanda Knox? The murderer? What is actually going on at your pathetic podcast? We demand ANSWERS N * O * W * ! * ! * !

dianni faith 2025/05/21

Amazing

I don’t leave reviews often but I just listened my first episode and wow. Truly beautifully done and the conversation are everything that’s missing fr...

M-Beautyinthebreakdown 2025/05/20

Genuine connectedness

This podcast is absolutely one of my favorites. It helps me recenter and focus. Each episode offers a new way to understand myself but also how I see ...

Gwenb3 2025/02/08

Really appreciate this show!!!

Well thought out topics that both encourage and motivate. I love that the episodes create a sense of connection to the topic. It’s as though I’m sitt...

Ziggy2025! 2025/04/14

Need TW for pregnancy loss

I generally love this show, but it would’ve been smart to have a trigger warning at the beginning of this episode for pregnancy loss. Thanks!

sam48m 2024/11/07

Excellent is an understatement!

I’m grateful for this show, life can be really hard. In the face of that, too often there is pessimism, anger, or toxic positivity. Dr Maya Shankar’s ...

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