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What happens when a man runs out of purpose—and doesn't collapse? Tami Simon speaks with wisdom teacher and bestselling author David Deida about his new book, The Man of Zero: A Guide to Primal Power, Boundless Sex, and the Freedom Beyond Ambition—exploring the phase beyond drive, ambition, and meaning-making, and what becomes possible when a man learns to live from the depths of pure presence.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In a recent conversation on Tami Simon's podcast Insights at the Edge, Tara and Tami reflected on themes from The Courageous Heart Workbook: Choosing to Love in Perilous Times. As many know, Tami is an exceptional interviewer, and the dialogue opened into questions that feel deeply relevant for these times. What does it mean to be bodhisattvas—to be awakening beings and caring beings—in a world marked by uncertainty and division? What is being asked of us now? The conversation touched on the deeper meaning of courage, the relationship between spiritual practice and engagement with the world, and the ways spirituality can sometimes become a means of avoiding what most needs our attention and care. It also explored how we can actively choose love, recognize our shared basic goodness, and shift from the busyness of the mind into a more awake and connected heart. It was a rich and heartfelt exploration, offering reflections and practices to support a more open, courageous, and engaged way of being in our world. Pick up your copy of The Courageous Heart Workbook at your favorite bookseller, or order online here. Listen to more from Insights at the Edge with Tami Simon Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music
What if the greatest preparation for the changes ahead isn't physical, but spiritual? Tami Simon speaks with Jasper Young Bear, wisdom keeper and member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, about the Indigenous prophecies pointing to this moment in time, the sacred knowledge held within oral traditions, and how returning to the Creator—and to each other—is the only path through.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the most transformative practice available to us requires nothing but complete darkness? Tami Simon speaks with interdisciplinary scholar and Tibetan Buddhist practitioner Andrew Holecek—author of Total Eclipse of the Mind—about the ancient practice of dark retreat: what happens to the mind when all light is removed, why it's been called "meditation times a thousand," and how to bring its power into everyday life.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.This episode is sponsored by Omega Institute, a global gathering hub for lifelong learning and spiritual exploration. Located in upstate New York's beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega offers weekend workshops, special events, rest and rejuvenation retreats, professional trainings, online learning, and more. Discover what calls to you at eomega.org/true.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What does a lasting spiritual partnership actually look like—behind closed doors? Tami Simon speaks with nico and devon hase—married Buddhist teachers and co-authors of the new Sounds True book This Messy, Gorgeous Love: A Buddhist Guide to Lasting Partnership—about why real intimacy requires the willingness to be a little volcanic, a lot forgiving, and always, beautifully finding your balance rather than holding it.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.This episode is sponsored by Omega Institute, a global gathering hub for lifelong learning and spiritual exploration. Located in upstate New York's beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega offers weekend workshops, special events, rest and rejuvenation retreats, professional trainings, online learning, and more. Discover what calls to you at eomega.org/true.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After decades of therapy, retreats, and every healing modality available, Geneen Roth discovered that her fraught relationship with her 97-year-old mother wasn't actually about her mother. Tami Simon speaks with the bestselling author of Women, Food, and God about her new book Love Finally—and the six-step process that transformed her most painful wound into her most unexpected liberation.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Your body has been sending the signals. You've just been too busy to listen. Tami Simon speaks with Zabie Yamasaki—founder of Transcending Trauma through Yoga and author of Protect Your Energy—about nervous system regulation, somatic boundaries, and why the most powerful act of resistance in troubled times isn't pushing harder. It's learning, finally, how to rest.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the answer to every question life throws at you comes down to a single practice? Tami Simon speaks with Michael Singer—beloved author of The Untethered Soul—alongside Tony and Sage Robbins to celebrate the release of Wisdom Untethered: The Time for Questions. Together they explore letting go, the nature of intuition, the highest form of prayer, and how to honor the irreplaceable miracle of this moment.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if flourishing isn't something you have to achieve, but something you were born to do? Tami Simon speaks with neuroscientist Richard Davidson and contemplative scientist Cortland Dahl, authors of Born to Flourish: How New Science and Ancient Wisdom Reveal a Simple Path to Thriving, about four trainable skills—awareness, connection, insight, and purpose—that can transform your wellbeing in as little as five minutes a day.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the pain you've carried your whole life didn't begin with you? Tami Simon speaks with Richard Schwartz—founder of Internal Family Systems—and psychotherapist and IFS lead trainer Tamala Floyd, author of Listening: When Parts Speak, about the intersection of IFS and ancestral wisdom, and how healing legacy burdens can liberate not only ourselves, but the generations that come after us.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What does it mean to be fully here and fully surrendered at the same time? Tami Simon speaks with Banafsheh Sayyad—master Iranian sacred dancer, choreographer, transformational teacher, and founder of Dance of Oneness—about whirling as a spiritual practice, the marriage of discipline and surrender, embodied healing through movement, and how presence itself can become a form of devotion and resistance.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Are the patterns you formed surviving a chaotic childhood still running your life today? Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Tian Dayton—trauma expert, psychodramatist, and author of Growing Up with Addiction—about how addiction doesn't just happen to one person, it happens to the whole family, and why healing the wounds it leaves behind requires more than insight. It requires discipline.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The world is accelerating faster than the human mind was built to handle. So what do we do with that? Tami Simon speaks with Peter Russell—physicist, consciousness pioneer, and author of How to Meditate Without Even Trying, featuring a foreword by Eckhart Tolle. Together, they discuss navigating exponential change, the stresses of an AI-driven world, the possibility of our species' extinction, and why effortless stillness may be the most essential skill of our time.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What happens to your creativity when your attention is fractured—and what becomes possible when you reclaim it? Tami Simon speaks with writer, artist, and movement practitioner Cody Cook-Parrott about their new Sounds True book, The Practice of Attention: Cultivating Presence in a Distracted World—exploring social media addiction, the art of the attention audit, soft structures for creative practice, and why attention itself is a form of prayer.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the natural world isn't a warehouse of resources—but a landscape of gifts? Tami Simon speaks with Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, about living in reciprocal relationship with the earth, overcoming brain chauvinism, and why the most radical act in a time of climate crisis may be remembering who we truly are.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if the secret to better writing isn't more technique—but more truth? Tami Simon speaks with beloved author Anne Lamott and her husband Neal Allen—writer, spiritual coach, and author of Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences—about the craft of finding your voice, writing toward compassion and truth, and why the most powerful sentences come not from the polished mind but from the really real.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What does it take to truly master yourself—not just your body, but your mind, your roles, and your relationship to suffering? Tami Simon speaks with Shi Heng Yi, a 35th generation Shaolin master and author of Shaolin Spirit, about the ancient warrior path to inner freedom. Together they explore self-mastery, the illusion of identity, elevation beyond suffering, and the surprising yin within one of the world's most demanding traditions. (Don't miss the video for Master Shi Heng Yi's movement demonstration!)This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
An encore presentation in honor of Coleman Barks, who passed away on February 23, 2026. Tami Simon speaks with Coleman, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th-century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman's work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers' Language of Life series with PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning, Rumi: The Voice of Longing, and his new three-CD collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher, Shams Tabriz, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special two-part 100th episode, you'll hear something a little different—the everyday, deeply human stories of the people closest to me.From navigating the loss of a husband to the tender uncertainty of leaving home for college. From launching a business to discovering a passion for a sport you never imagined trying at 50. From the journey of growing from boy to man, to finding resilience after heartbreak, to the quiet but powerful work of building strong friendships.These are not famous voices or household names—and that is exactly the point.Because cracking open doesn't belong to the extraordinary few.It belongs to all of us.My hope is that somewhere in these conversations, you hear yourself. You hear your own story. And maybe, just maybe, you feel a little less alone in yours.But to understand why this episode means so much to me, you have to know a little about the journey that brought us here.One Hundred EpisodesOne hundred episodes.I still have to pinch myself writing those words.When I started this podcast, I had one question I couldn't stop thinking about:What is your cracking open moment—and how did it change you forever?I had no idea that question would lead me to 99 of the most extraordinary people I've ever had the privilege of sitting with.From Jodie Patterson and David Nichtern, who said yes when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing… to Fr. Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, Mary Pipher, Shaka Senghor, Elizabeth Lesser, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Dan Siegel, Terry Real, Dr. Lisa Miller, Tami Simon, Dr. Ellen Langer, Cory Richards, Suneel Gupta, and so many more whose wisdom has changed me forever.Guests who overcame heroin addiction, grief, incarceration, and unimaginable loss. Guests who returned a second time because one conversation wasn't enough. Guests who became dear friends.Every one of those 99 guests trusted me with their cracking open stories—with their vulnerability, wisdom, and kindness—and they will forever be woven into the fabric of this podcast.And for that, I am deeply grateful.Because here's the truth:I'm not Joe Rogan.I'm not Mel Robbins.I'm not a celebrity who decided to start a podcast.So every single time someone said yes to me—trusted me with their time and their story—I jumped up in pure joy.Coming HomeFor episode 100, I wanted to do something that felt true to why I started this podcast in the first place.So I turned to the people who know me best—and asked them the same question I've asked every guest:What was your cracking open moment?You'll hear from my husband of 22 years, Adam Carroll, my son Tommy Carroll, my daughter Cora Carroll, and my brother Leo Rowen.You'll also hear from the friends who have held me together for decades.Charlotte Hardwick, René Mitchell, Lisa Bermudez, Noelle Teuber, and Bowen Teuber.My TeamAnd none of this would exist without my team.Natalie, Kevin, and Chloe: this is yours too.Ninety-nine episodes of strangers who became teachers, teachers who became friends, and stories that cracked me wide open in ways I never expected.And now episode 100—coming home to the people who have been cracking me open my entire life without even knowing it.It feels exactly right.If this episode moves you, please share it with someone you love.And if you haven't yet, subscribe so you never miss a Cracking Open moment.We're just getting started.
“Let people love you.” Death doula Darnell Lamont Walker finds himself saying this phrase again and again at bedsides —to those afraid of being “seen” in their final days, to those who've built walls around receiving care. In this moving conversation with Tami Simon, the Emmy-nominated writer shares what decades of accompanying the dying have taught him about love, grief, and letting ourselves be held.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with poet-philosopher Mark Nepo about his latest book that explores aging as a transformative passage. They delve into the flexible heart, entering time rather than moving through it, breaking through to joy amid loss, and the idea that—like meteors burning brighter as they fall—maybe we too can become more luminous as our outer casing falls away.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In honor of All In This Together, Jack, Anne Lamott, and Tami Simon continue their heart-opening conversation on story, tenderness, and remembering who you areJack's new book is out now!: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our WorldToday's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Jack, Anne, and Tami mindfully explore:Anne Lamott's 12-Step cruise ship seminar wisdomHow to tell or write a heart-opening storyGetting to the emotional center of it allRemembering who you really areIlluminating our common humanityLaughter as carbonated holiness and sacred groundWhat's between the telling and the listeningHow to trade our exhaustion for peace and restMicro-dosing love and understandingThe healing power of true romantic, soul-mate loveBeing loved just as you areStories on hopeOperating from the heart caveJack's recent visit with His Holiness the Dalai LamaStories of conflict resolutionThis conversation originally took place in Nov 2025 for Sounds True's celebration of Jack's All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.About Anne Lamott:Anne Lamott is the New York Times best-selling author of many books, including collections of essays, novels, and long-form non-fiction, including the classic writing manual Bird by Bird and child-rearing memoir Operating Instructions. In addition to being a novelist and nonfiction writer, Lamott is also a progressive political activist, public speaker, and writing teacher. Keep up with Anne on Instagram.“Laughter is carbonated holiness, and when we're laughing together we're on sacred ground.” –Anne LamottAbout Tami Simon:Tami Simon is the founder of Sounds True, a multimedia company that has produced over 3,000 titles and been nominated twice for the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing companies. Tami also hosts the popular Sounds True podcast, Insights at the Edge, with more than 15 million downloads. Tami has been instrumental in the creation of the Inner MBA Program: a nine-month interactive program featuring esteemed CEOs and conscious business and mindfulness leaders created by Sounds True, LinkedIn and Wisdom 2.0.About Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.“I want to tell stories that soften your heart, make you weep or laugh, help you remember who you are, and illuminate our common humanity.” –Jack KornfieldStay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with renowned literary channeler Paul Selig about his extraordinary journey from skeptical atheist to one of the foremost contributors to channeled literature. They explore the “upper room”—a state of consciousness beyond fear and separation—and how we can access divine union while still in human form, even amidst the challenges of our time.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with renowned energy intuitive and channeler Lee Harris about connecting with higher guidance, cultivating heart intelligence, and preparing for humanity's next evolutionary leap. Lee shares practical wisdom on accessing intuition, understanding interdimensional communication, and why love—not fear—is the frequency that will shape our collective future.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon revisits her powerful conversation with Sister Joan Chittister at Mount St. Benedict's Monastery—exploring enlightenment in Christian tradition, the sacrament of the present moment, and what it means to see the world through God's eyes.This is a conversation about what a lifetime of monastic practice reveals, the electricity of divine presence, and how struggle itself becomes the crucible for transformation.Want to go deeper? Listen to the complete seven-hour conversation in the audio series Catching Fire at soundstrue.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with bestselling author Michael Singer about his transformative book Living Untethered. They explore the seat of awareness, the three-ring circus of consciousness, and how blocked energy patterns (samskaras) keep us trapped in suffering. Michael offers practical guidance on witnessing consciousness, transmuting emotions, and piercing through to the spiritual heart—where unconditional love flows freely.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with Richard Rudd—mystic, poet, and founder of the Gene Keys—about his profound awakening at 29, the transformative system he developed, and the evolutionary shift humanity is experiencing. They explore shadow patterns, the art of contemplation, gentle transformation, and why the next few years may mark a critical turning point in human consciousness.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with Richard Rudd—mystic, poet, and founder of the Gene Keys—about his profound awakening at 29, the transformative system he developed, and the evolutionary shift humanity is experiencing. They explore shadow patterns, the art of contemplation, gentle transformation, and why the next few years may mark a critical turning point in human consciousness.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with celebrated New York Times columnist David Brooks about his transformative journey from cerebral detachment to emotional awakening. They explore how a mystical subway experience forever altered his vision, the difference between diminishers and illuminators, and why perceiving souls—not just molecules—is essential to truly knowing another person.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In a moment when the world feels uncertain, Jack sits down with Anne Lamott and Tami Simon for an intimate, deeply human conversation about stories of the heart—how they soften us, unite us, and remind us of our own beauty.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.Jack's new book is out now!: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World“What makes me happy in working with people is to be able to remind them of how beautiful they are.” –Jack Kornfield.In this episode, Jack, Anne, and Tami mindfully explore:Writing tips, wild stories, and inspiration between Jack, Anne, and TamiThe power of taking ‘writers walks'Protest, aging, Jesus, Buddha, and vulnerable storiesAnne Lamott's fan-girl letter to Jack from years agoReminding you of your own beautyJack's story of having to bow his ego at the monasteryHow to hold a generous vision in dark timesUncovering the story of the heartRam Dass and learning to love everyoneDoing the work and prayer to become one of ‘all in this together'Living from the heart caveThis conversation originally took place in Nov 2025 for SoundsTrue's celebration of Jack's All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here. “The time is so ripe for us to look out with a new pair of glasses from the heart instead of from our fear, to go into what Ram Dass called the heart cave.” –Anne LamottAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.“Right now we need stories that ask, even though we are going through divisiveness, climate change and A.I.—what's the story of the heart, what's the story of human beings going through times of tremendous change and then remembering what really matters?” –Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special episode, Tami Simon brings together two visionary teachers for a rare conversation exploring awakening's multiple dimensions. Join Tami and her guests A.H. Almaas—founder of the Diamond Approach—and Zen teacher Henry Shukman for an extraordinary exploration of awakening's multiple dimensions. Discover why spiritual realization isn't one destination but an ongoing revelation of reality's many faces, from blazing emptiness to infinite love.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with life coach and author Andrea Owen about her audio immersion workshop with Sounds True, Live Like You Give a Damn. Together, they explore what it means to trust yourself deeply, rush the net even when you're afraid, and show up with “big prize energy.” Andrea shares hard-won wisdom about self-abandonment, resilience, and learning to parent yourself when life hands you a “sh*t sandwich.”Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at http://www.join.soundstrue.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How do you stay committed to staying sober when life brings its inevitable challenges? Tami Simon speaks with Steven Washington—a former professional Broadway dancer and author of Recovering You: Soul Care and Mindful Movement for Overcoming Addiction—about transforming addiction through embodied practice, moving through shame with self-compassion, and discovering that sensitivity can be a superpower rather than a burden.Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at http://www.join.soundstrue.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon speaks with Leah Lamb, founder of the School for Sacred Storytelling, about how storytelling serves as guidance through crisis and transformation. They explore the original role of storytellers as healers and guides, the power of language to shape reality, and how stories can help us navigate grief, heartbreak, and collective challenges with courage and hope.Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at http://www.join.soundstrue.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION** Richard “Dick” Schwartz earned his PhD in marriage and family therapy from Purdue University. He coauthored the most widely used family therapy text in the United States, Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, and is the creator of the Internal Family Systems Model, which he developed in response to clients' descriptions of various “parts” within themselves. With Sounds True, Dick has written a new book titled No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks to Dick about the transformation that occurs when we welcome every part of who we are. He explains that even our most destructive parts have protective intentions, put in place to shield us from unprocessed pain, and details his method for accessing and mending these inner wounds. They also discuss the myth of the “mono mind,” and why the mind is naturally multiple; how “exiled” trauma can manifest as bodily pain; connecting with our core Self and letting it lead us in our healing; and how the language of “parts” can be useful in our relationship dynamics. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION** Richard “Dick” Schwartz earned his PhD in marriage and family therapy from Purdue University. He coauthored the most widely used family therapy text in the United States, Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, and is the creator of the Internal Family Systems Model, which he developed in response to clients' descriptions of various “parts” within themselves. With Sounds True, Dick has written a new book titled No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks to Dick about the transformation that occurs when we welcome every part of who we are. He explains that even our most destructive parts have protective intentions, put in place to shield us from unprocessed pain, and details his method for accessing and mending these inner wounds. They also discuss the myth of the “mono mind,” and why the mind is naturally multiple; how “exiled” trauma can manifest as bodily pain; connecting with our core Self and letting it lead us in our healing; and how the language of “parts” can be useful in our relationship dynamics. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION** Current statistics tell us that 20% of the US population has some form of chronic pain, defined as severe discomfort that has continued for six months or more. That's more than 50 million people. Jon Kabat-Zinn has received international acclaim for his leading work in bringing the life-changing practices of meditation and mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. In this inspiring podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Jon about his empowering new book, Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief, and how we can greatly improve our lives (and our entire world) by reframing the way we relate to our thoughts, our minds, and the sensations of our bodies. Listen in as they discuss the epidemic of chronic pain and the power of mindfulness to ease suffering of all kinds, the myth of the “good meditator,” the body as the starting point for practice, exploring your “emotionally freighted thoughts,” our longing to be who we really are, working with the mind and learning to inhabit a space of embodied awareness, the refuge that is meditation practice, letting go of our stories, befriending the sensory field of what we call pain, the miracle of life on Earth, the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness as the direct path to liberation, surfing the waves of your own experience, unity within diversity and the arising of compassion, focusing on what's right instead of what's wrong, how we are all on a growth curve on life's journey, and more. Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION** Current statistics tell us that 20% of the US population has some form of chronic pain, defined as severe discomfort that has continued for six months or more. That's more than 50 million people. Jon Kabat-Zinn has received international acclaim for his leading work in bringing the life-changing practices of meditation and mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. In this inspiring podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Jon about his empowering new book, Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief, and how we can greatly improve our lives (and our entire world) by reframing the way we relate to our thoughts, our minds, and the sensations of our bodies. Listen in as they discuss the epidemic of chronic pain and the power of mindfulness to ease suffering of all kinds, the myth of the “good meditator,” the body as the starting point for practice, exploring your “emotionally freighted thoughts,” our longing to be who we really are, working with the mind and learning to inhabit a space of embodied awareness, the refuge that is meditation practice, letting go of our stories, befriending the sensory field of what we call pain, the miracle of life on Earth, the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness as the direct path to liberation, surfing the waves of your own experience, unity within diversity and the arising of compassion, focusing on what's right instead of what's wrong, how we are all on a growth curve on life's journey, and more. Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue
What if the voice telling you to be practical is actually blocking you from your greatest life? Tami Simon speaks with Tama Kieves, who walked away from Harvard Law School success to follow an inner calling she couldn't ignore. Together they explore why self-doubt can fuel spiritual seeking, how kindness unlocks genius, and what happened when Tama chose to be “the one who loves” with her difficult parents. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
What if the voice telling you to be practical is actually blocking you from your greatest life? Tami Simon speaks with Tama Kieves, who walked away from Harvard Law School success to follow an inner calling she couldn't ignore. Together they explore why self-doubt can fuel spiritual seeking, how kindness unlocks genius, and what happened when Tama chose to be “the one who loves” with her difficult parents. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What is the role of spirituality in mental therapy? And what roles do therapy and mental health play in spiritual growth? What's the overlap, where are they distinct, and how can both work together to help us face the challenges of this world? In this special episode honoring World Mental Health Day in October, Tami Simon and Tara Brach sit down for a wonderfully open-hearted discussion at the intersection of spirituality and mental health. As a clinical psychologist and renowned meditation teacher, Tara Brach brings forward what it takes to truly meet someone in pain, the spontaneous nature of loving awareness, and the power of imagining connection. And together, Tami and Tara delve into how we handle overwhelm, the importance of integrating spirituality into daily life, and working through grief with a psycho-spiritual approach. In essence, how we show up for each other. Whether that's spiritual, psychological, emotional, or an interweaving of all those aspects of support. **This episode was originally featured on the Insights at the Edge podcast with host, Tami Simon.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION IN SUPPORT OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY** Anne Lamott is the celebrated author of many books of fiction, essays, and memoirs. Her works include Bird by Bird, Hallelujah Anyway, and Crooked Little Heart. In this special edition of Insights at the Edge originally recorded for The Self-Acceptance Summit, Tami Simon speaks with Anne about acts of “radical self-care” and how they are essential for anyone's well-being. Anne talks about self-acceptance as an inherently feminist concept, especially around issues of body image and self-esteem. Finally, Anne and Tami discuss how it is necessary to fully accept oneself before being able to show up for others, and why modern society often argues the opposite. Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION IN SUPPORT OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY** Anne Lamott is the celebrated author of many books of fiction, essays, and memoirs. Her works include Bird by Bird, Hallelujah Anyway, and Crooked Little Heart. In this special edition of Insights at the Edge originally recorded for The Self-Acceptance Summit, Tami Simon speaks with Anne about acts of “radical self-care” and how they are essential for anyone's well-being. Anne talks about self-acceptance as an inherently feminist concept, especially around issues of body image and self-esteem. Finally, Anne and Tami discuss how it is necessary to fully accept oneself before being able to show up for others, and why modern society often argues the opposite. Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon and renowned spiritual teacher Shai Tubali explore the intriguing concept of the flexible heart and delve into how emotional flexibility can be pivotal for trauma healing and personal evolution in today's changing and challenging world. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tami Simon and renowned spiritual teacher Shai Tubali explore the intriguing concept of the flexible heart and delve into how emotional flexibility can be pivotal for trauma healing and personal evolution in today's changing and challenging world. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
Join Tami Simon and renowned meditation teacher and clinical psychologist Tara Brach for this special episode of Insights At The Edge as they explore the intersection of spirituality and therapeutic practices and thank the many therapists of the world who accompany us on these deeply meaningful journeys within. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue
Join Tami Simon and renowned meditation teacher and clinical psychologist Tara Brach for this special episode of Insights At The Edge as they explore the intersection of spirituality and therapeutic practices and thank the many therapists of the world who accompany us on these deeply meaningful journeys within. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Learn how to move beyond trivial, distracting goals and tap into your hidden (and most fulfilling) motivations and latent "genius gifts," with clinical psychologist Diana Hill's research-backed "Wise Effort Method." Have you ever felt on a gut level that you've been distracting yourself with "surface-level" goals—rather than being passionately pulled toward what truly fulfills you? In this episode of Insights At The Edge, Tami Simon joins Diana Hill, PhD, a leading psychologist and the author of Wise Effort. With them, you'll learn and practice some of Diana's most effective, research-backed exercises for discovering your heart's deepest hidden motivations—and your overlooked "genius gifts" for empowering those desires. Don't miss this exceptionally practice-rich episode to explore: The difference between surface goals and deep motivation. "Deep Motivation" – Why willpower and discipline never win long-term, and how to let your true North Star values pull you passionately into your days. 3 questions for getting unstuck from unhealthy relationships, work situations, and addictive behaviors. How to identify your "genius qualities" (yes, you have plenty of them!) An incredibly effective one-minute exercise: "To reveal your deepest values, just follow your pain." "Choice Points" – Tuning in to the daily crucial moments where our values and actions accrue a life of either joy or regret. How to gain "psychological flexibility," the one science-backed strength crucial to positive emotional wellness, and more. Intrigued? Tune in now! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
Learn how to move beyond trivial, distracting goals and tap into your hidden (and most fulfilling) motivations and latent “genius gifts,” with clinical psychologist Diana Hill's research-backed “Wise Effort Method.” Have you ever felt on a gut level that you've been distracting yourself with “surface-level” goals—rather than being passionately pulled toward what truly fulfills you? In this episode of Insights At The Edge, Tami Simon joins Diana Hill, PhD, a leading psychologist and the author of Wise Effort. With them, you'll learn and practice some of Diana's most effective, research-backed exercises for discovering your heart's deepest hidden motivations—and your overlooked “genius gifts” for empowering those desires. Don't miss this exceptionally practice-rich episode to explore: The difference between surface goals and deep motivation. “Deep Motivation” – Why willpower and discipline never win long-term, and how to let your true North Star values pull you passionately into your days. 3 questions for getting unstuck from unhealthy relationships, work situations, and addictive behaviors. How to identify your “genius qualities” (yes, you have plenty of them!) An incredibly effective one-minute exercise: “To reveal your deepest values, just follow your pain.” “Choice Points” – Tuning in to the daily crucial moments where our values and actions accrue a life of either joy or regret. How to gain “psychological flexibility,” the one science-backed strength crucial to positive emotional wellness, and more. Intrigued? Tune in now! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue. Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
**SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION IN SUPPORT OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY THIS OCTOBER** Dr. James Hollis is a Jungian analyst, a former director of the Jung Society of Washington, DC, and a professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston. He is the author of The Middle Passage, Living an Examined Life, Through the Dark Wood, and Living Between Worlds, among many others. With Sounds True, he's released the expansive audio program A Life of Meaning: Exploring Our Deepest Questions and Motivations. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with James about the journey for personal fulfillment—how it starts, what it demands, and how it changes your life. James explains what it really means to take responsibility for your life's path, as well as how you can rediscover and reclaim your innate authority. Tami and James discuss how childhood experiences shape our present behavior and what it takes to live fearlessly. Finally, they talk about overcoming lethargy and the joy of becoming comfortable with mysteries. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.