Dr. Maya Shankar: Transform Your Mindset to Navigate Life's Biggest Changes in 2026

<p>Why does mindset collapse when the life you planned disappears? Dr. Maya Shankar learned this firsthand after two devastating losses. A sudden injury ended her dream of becoming a professional violinist, and years later, repeated miscarriages shattered her vision of motherhood. These moments exposed how easily we attach self-worth to imagined futures. Drawing from cognitive science and human psychology, she learned to redefine her identity beyond self-imposed labels. In this episode, Maya explores the psychology of change, revealing why we experience “identity paralysis” when unexpected changes occur, and how we can use that to our advantage.</p>
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<p><strong>In this episode, Hala and Dr. Maya will discuss:</strong></p>
<p>(00:00) Introduction </p>
<p>(02:59) Understanding Identity Paralysis </p>
<p>(07:21) The Science Behind Change </p>
<p>(17:00) Unlocking Potential Future Selves </p>
<p>(24:09) The Difference Between Resilience and Reinvention </p>
<p>(33:14) How Change Reshapes Values and Beliefs </p>
<p>(36:56) Self-Affirmation Exercises That Boost Positivity</p>
<p>(40:40) The Change Toolkit: Navigating Life Transitions </p>
<p>(57:16) Navigating the Messy Middle of Change </p>
<p>(01:00:34) Mastering Career Pivots and Starting Fresh</p>
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<p><strong>Dr. Maya Shankar</strong> is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast <em>A Slight Change of Plans</em>. She serves as Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google and previously founded the White House Behavioral Science Team under President Obama as a Senior Advisor. A Rhodes Scholar with a Ph.D. from Oxford and a B.A. from Yale, Dr. Maya completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. Her new book, <em>The Other Side of Change</em>, explores the psychology and stories behind life’s most disruptive transitions.</p>
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<p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p>
<p>Dr. Maya's Book, <em>The Other Side of Change</em>: <a href="https://bit.ly/TOSOC"><u>bit.ly/TOSOC</u></a> </p>
<p>Dr. Maya's Podcast, <em>A Slight Change of Plans</em>: <a href="https://bit.ly/ASCOP-apple"><u>bit.ly/ASCOP-apple</u></a> </p>
<p>Dr. Maya’s Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmayashankar/?hl=en"><u>instagram.com/drmayashankar</u></a> </p>
<p>Dr. Maya's Website: <a href="http://mayashankar.com"><u>mayashankar.com</u></a></p>
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<p>Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Habits, Human Nature, Critical Thinking, Robert Greene, Chris Voss, Robert Cialdini </p>