Sounds True: Insights At The Edge

Nataly Kogan is a public speaker, author, and the founder of the training organization Happier. With Sounds True, she has published the book Happier Now: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Everyday Moments (Even the Difficult Ones). In this edition of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Nataly about redefining happiness not […]

Dr. Mark Bertin is a pediatrician, mindfulness teacher, and the author of regular articles for Mindful.org, Huffpost, and Psychology Today. With Sounds True, he has published How Children Thrive: The Practical Science of Raising Independent, Resilient, and Happy Kids. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon and Mark discuss his research on executive […]

Rob Bell is a former pastor and the New York Times bestselling author of books including What We Talk About When We Talk About God, What Is the Bible?, and Love Wins. Andrew Morgan is a filmmaker whose works include After the End and The True Cost. In this special episode of Insights at the […]

Tiffany Shlain is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, internet pioneer, and the author of Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks. Her most recent film, 50/50: Rethinking the Past, Present, and Future of Women + Power, debuted at the TEDWomen conference and is the inspiration for 50/50 Day, a global event devoted to bringing about greater gender […]

Aaravindha Himadra is a spiritual teacher and the founder of Sambodha, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the awakening of human consciousness. With Sounds True, he has published the English-language edition of Immortal Self: A Journey to the Himalayan Valley of the Amartya Masters. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks […]

Clemens Arvay is a biologist and nonfiction author who specializes in landscape ecology, applied plant science, and the emerging field of eco-psychosomatic studies. With Sounds True, he has released The Biophilia Effect: A Scientific and Spiritual Exploration of the Healing Bond Between Humans and Nature. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon […]

Latham Thomas is a lifestyle maven who founded Mama Glow and was named one of Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul 100. She is the author of Mama Glow and Own Your Glow. With Sounds True, she has created the audio program Beditations: Guided Meditations and Rituals for Rest and Renewal. In this episode of Insights at the […]

Rolf Gates is a yoga teacher, counselor, and author who cofounded the Yoga, Meditation, and Recovery Conference and currently teaches at Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center. With Sounds True, he has published the audio program Meditations on the Mat: Practices for Living from the Heart and co-wrote the children's book Yoga Friends. In this episode […]

Charles Eisenstein is an author, speaker, and "degrowth activist" whose books include The Ascent of Humanity and Sacred Economics, among others. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Charles and Tami Simon speak on the many crises currently facing the planet, from the increasingly urgent issue of climate change to the loss of meaning […]

James Hollis is a licensed Jungian analyst and the author of many books on personal development and the search for meaning. His works include What Matters Most, Why Good People Do Bad Things, and Through the Dark Wood. With Sounds True, he has published Living an Examined Life: Wisdom for the Second Half of the Journey. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with James about what it means to "grow up" in a contemporary society that infantilizes its citizens. They talk about how to recognize the summons of our deep psyche and the steps we must take in order to answer it. James explains that the greatest obstacles to attaining spiritual maturity are fear and lethargy, and describes the inevitable periods of darkness that we will encounter along the way. Finally, James and Tami discuss why it's important to our development that we choose meaning over happiness. (67 minutes)

Dorothy Hunt is the spiritual director of Moon Mountain Sangha and founder of the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy. Invited to teach the dharma by Adyashanti, Dorothy is the author of Only This! and Leaves from Moon Mountain. With Sounds True, she has published Ending the Search: From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness, a collection of teaching stories, inquiry practices, and original poetry. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Dorothy about the modern search for spiritual awakening and the process of serious self-inquiry. Dorothy leads a guided practice for dropping into heartful awareness in order to clarify who and what we are seeking. Tami and Dorothy also discuss what it means to be both a woman and modern spiritual seeker, and what roles gender plays in nondual thought. Finally, Dorothy shares a heartfelt excerpt from her poem titled "The Invitation." (67 minutes)

Wim Hof is an athlete and extremophile daredevil nicknamed "The Iceman" for his feats of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The holder of more than 20 Guinness World Records, Wim attributes his endurance to specific meditation and breathing techniques. In this intriguing episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Wim about "The Wim Hof Method" of exercises, mindfulness techniques, and cold exposure, and how this regimen can shift our mental perspective as well as physical resilience. Wim describes the ways his practice dovetails with ancient Tibetan Buddhist inner fire meditation and how it alters body chemistry. Finally, Wim describes coldness as a noble force, asserting that by testing our physical limits we also gain a better understanding of the boundless capacities of the human spirit. (72 minutes) For more information about the Wim Hof Method, please visit wimhofmethod.com.

Robert Wright is a scholar, journalist, and the author of books such as Why Buddhism Is True, Nonzero, and The Evolution of God. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Robert and Tami Simon examine meditation from a slightly different perspective, discussing the practice as both a tool of discovery and a kind of rebellion against the hardwired instincts of natural selection. They speak on whether there is a secret order to the universe and what truly fuels moral action. Robert and Tami also talk about different ways to conceive of the arising of thought and of "enlightenment" itself. Finally, Robert comments on how stepping back from our mental processes comprises a "metacognitive revolution" that is key to the survival of the human race. (76 minutes)

Sadhguru is a yogi and mystic who created the Isha Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to exploring the outer limits of human potential. Belonging to no specific tradition, Sadhguru has taught at many international gatherings, including the United Nations and World Economic Forum. With Sounds True, Sadhguru has created an audiobook version of his New York Times bestseller Inner Engineering. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Sadhguru about his teachings, their foundations, and why he considers nonprofit work an expression of his devotion. Sadhguru shares the tale of his awakening experience on the Chamundi Hills outside Mysore, India—specifically of the dimension of memory that opened for him and how this shifted his perspective forever. Finally, Sadhguru and Tami talk about connecting with Adiyogi, the first yogi who is said to have begun the tradition more than 10,000 years ago. (69 minutes)

Gabrielle Bernstein is the New York Times bestselling author of such books as Spirit Junkie, Miracles Now, and May Cause Miracles. Her newest book is Judgment Detox: Release the Beliefs That Hold You Back from Living a Better Life, which details a six-part process for applying spiritual principles to shuck off the toxic ideas holding you back. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Gabrielle on the principles underlying Judgment Detox and what it means to detach from the "judgment cycle." They speak on the difference between judgment and discernment, and how we can walk the fine line between the two in a culturally challenging era. Finally, Gabrielle talks about making feeling good a priority in our life, and how we can approach our core wounds in order to do so. (61 minutes)

Dr. Joel Kahn is a holistic cardiologist, clinical professor of medicine, and author who is known as "America's Healthy Heart Doc." With Sounds True, he has published The Plant-Based Solution: America's Healthy Heart Doc's Plan to Power Your Health. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Joel and Tami Simon discuss why making the switch to a whole-food, vegan diet is the best decision you can make for your long-term heart health—as well as for diabetes prevention, sexual energy, and overall longevity. They compare a plant-based diet to other contemporary methods such as the keto and paleo diets, and Joel explains how to address what's missing in purely vegan foods. Finally, Tami and Joel talk about how the switch to a vegan diet is especially important for contemporary environmental crises and why a plant-based lifestyle will soon be a social standard. (58 minutes)

Margaret Wheatley is a writer and management consultant who draws upon systems analysis, chaos theory, and other diverse fields of study to inform her work. She is the author of Leadership and the New Science and Who Do We Choose to Be?, among others. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks with Margaret about the cycles of life and history, especially as they apply to the chaotic contemporary world. Margaret emphasizes that we need to see our present moment with clear eyes, even if doing so might court despair. Tami and Margaret speak on the need to create "islands of sanity" within our communities and what it means to become a warrior for the human spirit. Finally, they discuss what it means to be such a warrior without engaging in the same fear and anger we are trying to fight. (62 minutes)

Dan Millman is an author and international lecturer who is best known for his semiautobiographical first book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. Almost 40 years and 17 books later, Dan has worked with Sounds True to release the spoken-word audio offering The Complete Peaceful Warrior's Way: A Practical Path to Courage, Compassion, and Personal Mastery. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Dan and Tami Simon speak on the idea that life is a constant learning process—a cosmic school designed to challenge and guide us toward our highest potential. Dan explains the 12 "courses" of life that we are called to master and just what "mastery" actually means. They also discuss what embodied lessons Dan has learned through a lifetime of athletics, as well as the various kenshōs—enlightenment insights—that Dan has experienced. Finally, Tami and Dan talk about why we must know death in order to meditate and what it takes to be a peaceful warrior in the modern world. (72 minutes)

Goldie Hawn is an Academy Award-winning actor, director, producer, and activist best known for her roles in films such as Cactus Flower, Private Benjamin, and Death Becomes Her. She created The Hawn Foundation, the nonprofit organization behind MindUP™, an educational program that is bringing mindfulness practices to millions of children across the world. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Goldie about her longtime interest in meditation and why it's so important to teach brain basics to kids. They discuss the neuroscience that demonstrates the clear benefits of teaching emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and the basics of brain science to children from an early age—as well as why Goldie is teaching these aspects to her own grandchildren. Finally, Tami and Goldie talk about what it means to differentiate one's true self from the projections of others, as well as why love and family remain Goldie's first priorities in life. (67 minutes)

Sister Joan Chittister is a member of Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania; the bestselling author of more than 50 books and hundreds of articles; and one of the most influential contemporary leaders and activists for human rights, women's issues, and church renewal. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Sister Joan about the endless interplay between doubt and faith. They discuss the ways in which God sees all of creation, and what this perspective then asks of us. Tami and Sister Joan talk about the necessity of embracing humility, as well as what it means to know the right questions to ask on one's spiritual journey. Finally, Sister Joan comments on the maturation of faith as one grows older and the "last great adventure" offered by death. (66 minutes) Loading the player...