Maya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pushkin community. It's 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.

About The Other Side of Change:
Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re confronting the end of a relationship, an unexpected diagnosis, the loss of a job, or some other twist of fate. In these moments, it can feel like we’re free-falling into the unknown.

As a cognitive scientist, Maya Shankar has spent decades studying the human mind. When an unwanted change in her own life left her reeling, she sought out people who had navigated major disruptions. In "The Other Side of Change", Shankar tells their riveting, singular stories and weaves in scientific insights to illuminate universal lessons hidden within them.

When a big change happens to us, it can lead to profound change within us. The unique stresses and demands of being thrust into a new reality can lead us to uncover new abilities, perspectives, and values, transforming us in extraordinary ways. What if we saw moments of upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine who we can be, rather than as something to just endure? Whether you’re processing a past change, grappling with a present one, or bracing for a future one, this book is a wise and thought-provoking companion to help you discover who you can become on the other side of change.

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Here's a preview of another podcast you might like: Travel That Matters. This episode features an interview with Marcus Samuelsson, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, philanthropist and food activist.

Marcus shares with us what he eats at ballpark stadiums, where he goes to buy his spices and sauces in LA, and the differences in food and culinary scenes across the continent of Africa. Marcus also shares why food lovers should consider Sweden as a top destination.

Marcus goes on to recount some wonderful stories from his experience in filming with Anthony Bourdain, as well as how filming No Passport Required (PBS) really exposed him to the bounty of food cultures across the U.S. (and what his favorite food cities are now.)

Finally, Marcus talks about the impact one of the country’s most cherished food writers, Jonathon Gold, had on the food scene in Los Angeles and beyond.

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We're a few months into the new year. Maybe you're a freshly minted, idealized version of yourself. Or maybe your new year's resolutions are as distant as the icebergs of Antarctica. But no matter what your life looks like, there's one thing you can count on: travel.

Today, we’re sharing a special episode from Unpacked by AFAR. Unpacked by AFAR is back for a new season which unpacks the most captivating and challenging topics in the travel industry. Like this episode, where AFAR editors Sarika Bansal, Tim Chester, and Billie Cohen join host Aislyn Greene to unpack AFAR’s annual "Where to Go" list and discuss how and why they chose the places on the list, which ones they have personally visited, and their predictions for the year ahead.

Listen to more episodes of Unpacked by AFAR and follow the podcast.

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