A Slight Change of Plans

The Winter Olympics are in full swing, and for the athletes competing, the Games are as much a mental challenge as they are a physical one. Not long ago, Maya sat down with five-time Olympic gold medalist, swimmer Missy Franklin, who competed in both the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. When Missy returned for her second Olympics, things felt markedly different. In today’s episode, Missy speaks candidly and bravely about how her mental health impacted her performance–with the world watching. For more Olympics content from A Slight Change of Plans, check out the episodes below: “A Syrian Refugee Fights for Olympic Dreams” “Olympian Gabby Thomas Sets Her Own Pace” “Surrender is not in my DNA” 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.

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.

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.

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/2186/9780593713686See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.