Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist, writer, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, whose new book The Other Side of Change explores who we become when life takes an unexpected turn. In this rich and intimate conversation, Maya and Amanda dig into moments ranging from Juilliard dreams cut short by injury to miscarriage. They talk about locked-in syndrome, prison poetry, and the surprising psychology of why uncertainty can feel worse than pain. Along the way, Maya shares practical tools offering listeners a hopeful and deeply human guide to navigating change without platitudes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices