Sonia Vallabh had just lost her mother to a rapid, mysterious brain disease. And then, she found out that the disease was genetic. Doctors told her there was a 50-50 chance she had inherited the same rare genetic mutation that killed her mom. Sonia tells Maya how she managed a torturous state of limbo, and how what followed led her to the cutting edge of science.

Get involved at https://www.prionalliance.org/

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For an extra dose of awe, we're revisiting our conversation with author Michael Pollan. He chats with Maya about the fascinating science of psychedelics and how plants have the power to change our minds. Michael also gives us a glimpse into his personal experience with psychedelic trips and tries to convince scaredy-cat Maya to give them a try.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. 

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Dr. Shira Gabriel is a psychologist who studies the science of human connection. In recent years she’s turned her attention to collective effervescence, a feeling we get when we experience something transcendent with other people. If you've ever been to a concert or a political rally, you've probably felt this type of awe. Shira explains the many mental health benefits of collective effervescence and why it's easier to seek out than you might think (spoiler alert: you can still experience it even if you don't like big crowds!)

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like our recent interviews with Dacher Keltner and Min Kym.

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When world-renowned musician Min Kym first picked up a violin, she knew immediately that it would define her. And it did…until one day, in a London train station, everything changed. 

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Psychologist Dacher Keltner shares the science behind the mysterious, powerful emotion of awe. He and Maya discuss where we can find awe in our everyday lives, including one common but surprising source. Dacher also explains how awe can boost our well-being and potentially influence psychological traits such as openness and resilience.

This is the start of our three-part series on Awe. To learn more about Dacher's work on awe, check out his book "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." And If you enjoyed this episode, try this one from the archive: “How Psychedelics Can Change Our Minds”

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. 

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We’re back with a new batch of episodes starting October 23. To kick things off, Maya does a deep dive into the emotion of awe. She talks to experts about where to find it, why it matters, and the powerful effects of experiencing it with other people. And, as always, you’ll hear stories about navigating the uncertainty that comes along with change. Maya talks to people fighting insurmountable odds, including a woman forced to grapple with the news that she has a 50-50 chance of carrying a deadly genetic mutation.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram. 

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While we prepare new episodes to share with you in October, Maya wants to highlight a conversation from the archives with rock climber Tommy Caldwell. Tommy talks to Maya about how a near-death experience unlocked a completely new state of mind. His new mindset propelled him to become one of the greatest rock climbers of all time.

If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “The Thai Cave Rescue”. To get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the show, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar.

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New episodes are coming your way in October, but in the meantime Maya wanted to share her conversation with renowned chef Christine Ha. When a rare neurological condition left Christine legally blind by age 24, she worried she might never be able to cook again. Her story shows the power of imaginative courage in the face of change.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can watch Maya’s TED talk here, which also features Christine’s story. You might also like the episode “The Science of Motivation”.

In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on Instagram @DrMayaShankar.

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Maya was honored to deliver a commencement address at the Juilliard School earlier this year. As an alumna of the school’s pre-college division, Maya shared three pieces of wisdom with new graduates that she wished she’d known at the time. She thought you might like to hear them too!

We’ll be back with new episodes later this October! In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar.

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The story of John Elder Robison is one of Maya’s favorite episodes and it’s also a top choice in our listener favorites series. John is a gifted sound engineer whose rare ability to understand machines propelled him to work with the likes of Kiss and Diana Ross. But the one thing he always felt was lacking was his ability to understand people emotionally. In an effort to see if he could change that, he volunteered to participate in an experimental brain study. 

If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “Life After Escaping Captivity”

We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.