Hey listeners, if you come to story clutter to hear stories at the intersection of personal experiences and scientific discovery, stories that you can really sit with and learn from.

This episode from our friends at a slight change of plans will instantly feel familiar.

Science writer Florence Williams was blindsided when her marriage of 25 years abruptly ended.

This experience with Heartbreak, which she wrote about in her aptly titled audiobook, Heartbreak, led her to an entirely new range of feelings.

Ever the journalist, Florence set out on a journey to understand the science of heartbreak and heal herself in the process.

She tried novel forms of therapy, immersed herself in nature, and consulted cutting-edge

research on the science of awe. But her greatest discovery came when she tried an alternative

to quote-unquote hacking heartbreak. Like story clutter, the tales on a slight change of plans can be

touching, funny, or sad, but they're always inspiring. At its core, the show is all about our

shared experiences and how those experiences shape us as humans. It's hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar, a

cognitive behavioral scientist and best-selling author who explores who we become

in the face of change, and how we can better navigate moments of upheaval and why change might

just give us an opportunity to unlock great possibilities. Enjoy the episode. If you like what you

hear, find a slight change of plans wherever you get your podcasts.

It was my first day of college. I had just arrived, and he had started this freshman outdoor orientation trip where we were going hiking in the mountains. And he had rock climbing muscles and a bandana

around his head. And I mean, I think instantly there was a little bit of chemistry there.

That's science journalist Florence Williams.

The instant spark she's describing turned into a decades-long marriage.

But that marriage unraveled when Florence was 50.

The breakup cracked her open.

And what followed was an outpouring of new and disorienting

feelings. When the person you consider sort of your safety net, like your primary attachment

...