Change Doesn’t Have to Suck with Dr. Maya Shankar

This week, Liat and her sister Talia sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, former Senior Advisor and founder of the White House Behavioral Science Team, Head of Behavioral Economics at Google, host of A Slight Change of Plans, and author of The Other Side of Change. Maya shares how she landed in rooms that didn’t even have a role for her yet (BCBAs, take notes), and opens up about losing the identity she built as a Juilliard-trained violinist after a career-ending injury. We unpack why change is so threatening to our sense of self, why our brains hate uncertainty, and how to build a “soft landing” when life makes other plans. Liat also shares her own story of navigating serious health struggles and letting go of what she thought her career was going to look like. We talk identity, loss, growth, Love Is Blind takes, and why you are so much more than what you do. Maya’s new book, The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, is out now - click the link below to get your copy! Behavior Concepts Covered: Pairing Reinforcement Antecedent Consequence Contingency Variable ratio schedule High response effort Connect with Dr. Maya: Order Maya’s book and join our book club on Mar 10th! Listen to a Slight Change of Plans Instagram Youtube X Substack MayaShankar.com Connect with Behavior Bitches Insta: @behaviorbitchespodcast Facebook: Behavior Bitches Podcast Website: BehaviorBitches.com Contact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at behaviorbitches@studynotesaba.com Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy! Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs? • Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs • Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com • CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com • PairABA: PairABA.com

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Change Doesn’t Have to Suck with Dr. Maya Shankar is an episode from Behavior Bitches by Study Notes ABA, LLC.

This episode is 01:23:58 long.

This episode was published on Jan 19, 2026.

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