Dr. Maya Shankar

Of course, I loved the way the violin sounded, but actually it was my ability to emotionally connect with my audience, to connect with listeners of my music.

Of course, I loved the way the violin sounded, but actually it was my ability to emotionally connect with my audience, to connect with listeners of my music.

And I loved being able to forge that connection from an early age on stage, right?

And I loved being able to forge that connection from an early age on stage, right?

I mean, I'm going out to the stage, I'm in a room with a bunch of strangers, and suddenly we feel connected in this really deep, powerful way.

I mean, I'm going out to the stage, I'm in a room with a bunch of strangers, and suddenly we feel connected in this really deep, powerful way.

And

And

I think what that taught me is that, especially when I lost my ability to play the violin, that there was a feature of my musical life that I could maintain afterwards, which was finding other areas, other passions where I could unlock that same human emotional connection, my same fascination with humans.

I think what that taught me is that, especially when I lost my ability to play the violin, that there was a feature of my musical life that I could maintain afterwards, which was finding other areas, other passions where I could unlock that same human emotional connection, my same fascination with humans.

which is what ultimately drove me to become a cognitive scientist and to study humans as my profession, right?

which is what ultimately drove me to become a cognitive scientist and to study humans as my profession, right?

Like what it is that unlocks our passions, how we make decisions, how we develop our attitudes and beliefs, and certainly has driven me to create my new podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which is all about how people develop

Like what it is that unlocks our passions, how we make decisions, how we develop our attitudes and beliefs, and certainly has driven me to create my new podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which is all about how people develop

navigate extraordinary changes in their lives.

navigate extraordinary changes in their lives.

You know, people like Hillary Clinton and Tiffany Haddish and Kacey Musgraves.

You know, people like Hillary Clinton and Tiffany Haddish and Kacey Musgraves.

And I feel like I'm able to emotionally connect with my guests.

And I feel like I'm able to emotionally connect with my guests.