As a launch ambassador, you’ll help spread the word about Maya Shankar’s inspiring new book The Other Side of Change, and you'll receive exclusive perks, including the chance to attend an intimate virtual gathering with Maya herself.
Whether you know Maya through her award-winning podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, her Substack Change with Maya, her TED Talk on change, or maybe her appearance as neuroscience expert on National Geographic's Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, you know there’s no one better at blending stories and scientific research to help you navigate moments of major upheaval and to live a happier, more meaningful life.
Now’s your chance to join a passionate movement filled with like-minded people who are eager to share Maya’s message with their communities.
Click here to sign up!
All ambassadors will receive:
• A digital kit with early access to thought-provoking quotes from the book and images to share on social media.
• A welcome video from Maya.
• An invitation to an intimate virtual chat with Maya, exclusively for ambassadors.
• Exclusive access to personalized bookplates.
• And coming later this fall, a digital journal you can download that will help you get the most out of reading The Other Side of Change!
You’ll share quotes from the book, visuals, and personal reflections with your community. This could be through a social media post, a newsletter mention, or a conversation you are already having in your own voice and on your own platform.
Your digital kit will include everything you need to get started: social media-ready graphics, suggested captions, post ideas, and guidance on tagging and linking your posts.
We’ve also provided a suggested posting schedule below to help you plan. You’re welcome to follow it closely or make it your own!
A bookplate is a signed sticker that you can place inside your copy of The Other Side of Change: think of it as a signature that travels. As a thank-you for your support, Maya will be signing personalized bookplates for ambassadors who preorder the book, whether for themselves, for friends, or both.
“The Other Side of Change is a rare combination of beautiful storytelling, cognitive science, and wholehearted wisdom. How lucky are we to have Maya walk with us through the unexpected and often uninvited moments that shape who we are and how we make our way through the world.”
—Brené Brown, Ph.D., bestselling author of Atlas of the Heart and Daring Greatly
"The book we all need when life knocks us sideways. This is your guide to finding strength in the mess, clarity in the chaos, and a version of yourself you never saw coming. Smart, deeply moving, and grounded in science—it will change how you see change."
—Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory
"Maya Shankar has written a moving and powerful book about a challenge that all of us will or have faced. What happens when our carefully laid plans and deeply held expectations go awry? I loved The Other Side of Change.”
—Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Blink and Outliers
“Having faced the bewildering wreckage of an aftermath, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Weaving together accounts of quaking forces cleaving life into before and after with science-backed techniques for rebuilding, Maya has penned a tender, helpful companion for all of us.”
—Suleika Jaouad, bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms and Book of Alchemy
“A wise and poignant read for our turbulent times. With powerful stories and practical science, Maya examines how we find purpose after adversity and possibility under uncertainty.”
—Adam Grant, bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential
We’ve put together a suggested posting calendar to make it easier for you. Please think of this as a menu of ideas rather than a to-do list. You can post as much or as little as you’d like. Maya is so grateful for your time!
October 1-7: Launch Week!
• During launch week, all ambassadors will receive their digital kit via email. This will include graphics, caption suggestions, and guidance on linking and tagging posts on various social media platforms.
• Follow Maya on Instagram at @DrMayaShankar and/or on LinkedIn. Don't forget to tag her in your posts about the book so she can reshare them!
• If you don’t already, subscribe to A Slight Change of Plans wherever you listen to podcasts, and sign up for Maya's free Substack. If you like the show or the newsletter, make sure to share it with the people in your life who you think would love it!
October continued
• Share a quote from the digital kit that resonated with you. Explain why it stayed with you.
• Use the “share your story” graphic to post about a moment of change in your own life, big or small, and how it shifted your perspective.
• Mention the book in your newsletter, podcast, or other creative outlets if you wish.
November
• Use the "tag a friend" or "share your story" graphic to invite others into a conversation about navigating change.
• If you enjoy A Slight Change of Plans, share an episode or idea from the show that stayed with you.
December
• December 13: Start a countdown to publication with a "one month to go" post using the graphics from your kit.
• December 20-31: As the year comes to a close, invite reflection from your friends and followers. What did 2025 teach you about change? What will you carry into the new year?
January 2026
• January 6: One week to go until publication day! Share the "1 week from publication" graphic and ask your followers what kind of change they are navigating right now.
• January 10: Post the "3 days to go" image and share a favorite quote or insight from the excerpt.
• January 11: Share the "2 days from publication" graphic and reflect on something the book or Maya's work is helping you see differently.
• January 12: It's almost here! Use the "1 day to go" graphic and tell your community why this book matters to you.
• January 13: Publication day! If you have your copy, post a photo with the book and encourage others to pick it up at their favorite retailer.
Q: How can I become an ambassador?
A: Simply fill out the sign-up form. Once you do, you are officially on the team. Welcome!
Q: How much time do I need to commit as a launch ambassador?
A: You can commit as little or as much time as you want! Maya appreciates any time you’re able to invest in this. We provide suggested posts, graphics, and a schedule to follow to make things as easy for you as possible. We’re also open to any creative ideas you might have for getting the word out!
Q: Do I need a large following to join?
A: Not at all! Whether you share with five people or five thousand, your voice matters. The ambassador program is open to anyone who is excited about The Other Side of Change.
Q: Can I become an ambassador if I am not in the United States?
A: Yes! Anyone can sign up to receive the digital kit and help spread the word no matter where they are located.
Q: Anything else you want to share with me?
A: As luck would have it, yes! Maya wanted to share that she is full of gratitude for every single person who has followed and supported her work over the years—it has been a huge source of energy and motivation for her. Maya wants to thank you for even considering the ambassador program. She also cannot wait for you to read her book. It’s the thing she’s most proud to have created in her life.
Haven't preordered yet?
The Other Side of Change
Coming January 13, 2026
A revelatory exploration of how we can find meaning in the tumult of change, from a renowned cognitive scientist and host of the critically acclaimed podcast A Slight Change of Plans
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. The result is a rich portrait of our complex reactions to change and a deep well of wisdom we can draw from during these experiences.
Shankar invites us to rethink our relationship with change altogether. 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? What potential could we unlock within ourselves?
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.
Preorder your copy from your favorite retailer!
