Rephonic
Artwork for A Slight Change of Plans

A Slight Change of Plans

Pushkin Industries
Mental Health
The Other Side Of Change
Change
Cognitive Science
Identity
Psychology
Resilience
Motherhood
Relationships
Parenting
Change Management
Self-Compassion
Empathy
Wealth
Happiness
Addiction
Friendship
Success
Personal Growth
Stress

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 S... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes191Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for A Slight Change of Plans

Latest Episodes

How can we find resilience, growth, and new possibilities within life’s more unpredictable moments? In this special episode from the podcast, TED Talks Daily, Maya joins journalist and author Simone Stolzoff to talk about how they’ve each explored un... more

While deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Air Force in 2014, psychologist Michael Valdovinos had an unexpected emotional breakdown. None of the diagnoses he knew best–like PTSD or depression–fit the crisis of conscience he was experiencing. Then he... more

YouTube

As the great Rocky Balboa once said about life: Iit will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.” But in this week’s episode from our friends at The Story Collider, two storytellers share stories of their strength of will... more

Deepika Chopra, a clinical psychologist, has a problem with the way optimism is often defined. Real optimism, she says, shouldn’t be about always expecting the best, because sometimes the bad thing will happen. Instead, she wants us to expect the bes... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Simone Stolzoff
Journalist and author of How to Not Know
Author, How to Not Know
Episode: Can Uncertainty Be a Gift?
Michael Valdovinos
Air Force psychologist, moral injury expert
United States Air Force
Episode: The Hidden Wounds of Moral Injury
Emily Darling
Director of Coral Reef Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society
Episode: Tenacity: Stories about perseverance | From The Story Collider
James Gordon
International award-winning author and poet, storyteller, and actor
Self/The Story Collider
Episode: Tenacity: Stories about perseverance | From The Story Collider
Deepika Chopra
Clinical psychologist
Episode: A Realist’s Guide to Optimism
Caitlin Meyer
Writer, poet, memorist who lost her inner narrator after a concussion
Writer/poet; author of Wiving, memoir text referenced in show notes
Episode: Caitlin Lost the Voice in Her Head
Greta Morgan
Songwriter, musician, and author who lost her singing voice to spasmodic dysphonia
Musician and memoir author of The Lost Voice
Episode: Caitlin Lost the Voice in Her Head
Catherine Price
Science journalist and author of The Power of Fun (How to Break Up with Your Phone)
Author and Journalist
Episode: The Science of True Fun
Allie Kramer
Mother of Theo, bereaved parent; later described as a therapist and singer
The family of Theo; profession as therapist and singer
Episode: When Grief Remakes You

Host

Maya Shankar
Cognitive scientist, author, and host of A Slight Change of Plans; explores change, identity, and the human side of disruption.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4k ratings
  • Recommend

    Interesting and intelligent interviews

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sheila@theplace
    United Statesa month ago
  • Thank you

    Maya,

    Thank you for including that excerpt from your book, it sounds fabulous. I of course, had no idea of Matt Gutman. However enables Me to have a lot more empathy for him. We are all just human being after all.

    (I think you just accomplished one more sale of your book)

    Alison

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ali Schuback
    United States2 months ago
  • I stopped listening!

    I found the episodes with Amanda Knox pretty disturbing. It felt like Maya positioned herself as a subject matter expert, bringing her back again and again. I have limited time, so I prefer to spend it on content that feels more valuable and insightful. Because of that, I stopped following and listening to the podcast. I hope they become more mindful about what they present, and I also hope listeners don’t just accept everything at face value but take the time to do their own research!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HuriMatt
    United States4 months ago
  • Love this podcast

    This is my favorite podcast. Without fail, these stories will get to me. Even when I couldn't imagine identifying with a particular guest. Maya is a most excellent interviewer, engaging and interesting and drawing out the best in people. Just an absolute delight.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Naomiruth
    United States6 months ago
  • Listening to Maya is like listening to a good friend!

    I get so excited for new episodes to come out every week!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    christinadc4495
    Canada8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics note perceived bias or misalignment with certain guests or topics.
Many say episodes feel personal and transformative, with practical insights.
Guests and topics are described as high-quality and varied, offering real value for growth.
Fans appreciate the mix of science and storytelling and the host's warmth.
Listeners praise empathetic interviewing and thoughtful depth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Uncertainty Be a Gift?
Q: From Anca A., Any specific tools to increase capacity to embrace uncertainty?
Affect labeling to name negative emotions and a short self-affirmation exercise to reinforce multiple, non-threatened identities, helping to maintain psychological balance during change.
Can Uncertainty Be a Gift?
Q: From Kim K., The Chinese symbol for chaos is also the symbol for opportunity—can you elaborate?
Apocalypse means revelation; change can reveal what we are capable of and shed light on aspects of ourselves previously unseen, allowing growth even through upheaval.
Can Uncertainty Be a Gift?
Q: From Michelle M., In a world that demands answers, what's the one question we can ask ourselves in the exact moment we don't know?
Ask what you want, whether you want to want that thing, and what your choice says about who you are; align decisions with your values and identity so you can stand by them even if outcomes aren't ideal.
A Realist’s Guide to Optimism
Q: What are some practical tools listeners can start using to build real optimism in daily life?
Practical tools include rewriting memories to alter reactions, creating a 'to-da' list to celebrate accomplishments, and structured worry time to contain anxiety while still addressing concerns.
When Grief Remakes You
Q: What insights or advice would you offer to listeners who are rebuilding their lives after an unimaginable loss?
The guidance centers on not rushing growth, allowing survival to guide gradual clarity, accepting that life after loss is a transformation, and embracing the present with a mindset of intentionally living—why not today—as a catalyst for starting anew rather than waiting for a future that may never arrive.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About A Slight Change of Plans

What is A Slight Change of Plans about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking, psychology-forward show that centers on change—big life pivots, identity, and resilience—blending personal storytelling with scientific insights. Episodes frequently feature experts in psychology, neuroscience, or related fields, as well as high-profile authors and journalists who illuminate how people adapt when plans derail. Notable strengths include empathetic interviewing, a.focus on lived experience, and practical frameworks for handling upheaval. The format often threads intimate personal narratives with research-backed takeaways, making it appealing to listeners seeking growth, self-understanding, and strategies for navigating life transitions. A standout aspect is the host's ability to connect diverse experience... more

Where can I find podcast stats for A Slight Change of Plans?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for A Slight Change of Plans. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to A Slight Change of Plans and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does A Slight Change of Plans get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for A Slight Change of Plans, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for A Slight Change of Plans?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for A Slight Change of Plans, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does A Slight Change of Plans have?

To see how many followers or subscribers A Slight Change of Plans has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to A Slight Change of Plans?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Slight Change of Plans:

1. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
2. Hidden Brain
3. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
4. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
5. ReThinking

How many episodes of A Slight Change of Plans are there?

A Slight Change of Plans launched 5 years ago and published 191 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact A Slight Change of Plans?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for A Slight Change of Plans?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for A Slight Change of Plans from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for A Slight Change of Plans?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of A Slight Change of Plans. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on A Slight Change of Plans?

Recent guests on A Slight Change of Plans include:

1. Simone Stolzoff
2. Michael Valdovinos
3. Emily Darling
4. James Gordon
5. Deepika Chopra
6. Caitlin Meyer
7. Greta Morgan
8. Catherine Price

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days