Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Mark Hyman, a leading authority on the integration of conventional and alternative medicine. Dr. Hyman is the medical editor at The Huffington Post, serves on the advisory board of The Dr. Oz Show, and is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, including The UltraMind Solution. With Sounds True, he has created The Detox Box and the audio program UltraCalm. In this episode, Tami speaks with Mark about why so many people are discovering that they are allergic to gluten and dairy, how we can make healthy choices so our home and workplace can be “safe zones,” and why we must seek collective solutions and social support for the changes we need to make in our lives. (55 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Richard Bartlett. Dr. Bartlett, who holds a doctorate in chiropractic and naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University, is the creator of a paradigm-challenging technology of consciousness he calls Matrix Energetics. He is the author of several books, and with Sounds True he has created the home study course The Matrix Energetics Experience. In this episode, Tami speaks with Richard about the role of intention, the relationship between torsion field physics and the field of the heart, and how it is through play that we eventually discover our unlimited potential. He also shares an example of the Two-Point practice, a foundational tool in Matrix Energetics. (66 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Mirabai Starr, author of God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the inspiring translation of Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross. With Sounds True, she has created a series of books highlighting many famous mystical figures including Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Teresa of Avila. In this episode, Tami speaks with Mirabai about interspirituality (practicing within many faith traditions simultaneously), the connection between grief and longing, the dark night of the soul in the modern world, and the experience of “being naked with the beloved, unknowing.” (61 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Andrew Harvey, a poet, writer, teacher, and mystic. Andrew is the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, and is the author and editor of many books, including The Direct Path and Son of Man. He has created several audio programs with Sounds True, including the 13-part audio series with Caroline Myss called Divine Rebels: Saints, Mystics, Holy Change Agents—and You. In this episode, Tami speaks with Andrew about why we need both the fire of devotional practices as well as the coolness of contemplation, how there are actually two dark nights of the soul on the spiritual journey, the importance of shadow work, and what is “the whole mystical truth.” (72 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Judith Blackstone, an innovative teacher in the fields of psychotherapy and contemporary spirituality. With Sounds True, Judith has created the audio course The Realization Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening and has authored the books The Intimate Life: Awakening to the Spiritual Essence in Yourself and Others and Belonging Here: A Guide for the Spiritually Sensitive Person. In this episode, Tami speaks with Judith about the gifts and challenges of spiritual sensitivity, what it means to be transparent to life, how getting in touch with the internal space of the body connects us to the outer world, and what a definition of spiritual maturity might be. (63 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Raphael Cushnir, a leading voice on emotional connection and present moment awareness. He is a faculty member of the Esalen Institute, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. His books include Setting Your Heart on Fire, and with Sounds True he has created an audio based on his book The One Thing Holding You Back. In this episode, Tami speaks with Raphael about the nature of emotional connection, what he calls “emotional surfing,” and a way that two people can intimately collaborate through a method that he calls communing. Raphael also shares a practice to deepen the emotional connection process. (69 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Andrea Polard, a clinical psychologist and the founder of the Los Angeles Center for Zen Psychology. Andrea has an extensive background in psychodynamic therapies, meditation, and mind-body work. With Sounds True, she has authored the book A Unified Theory of Happiness: An East-Meets-West Approach to Fully Loving Your Life. In this episode, Tami speaks with Andrea about the two “wings of happiness”—what she calls the active Basic Mode and the receptive Supreme Mode. Andrea also talks about the role of relationships in happiness, how ambition can either uplift or burden us, and why happiness is actually a commitment. (59 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist, award-winning lecturer at Stanford University, and leading expert on the mind-body relationship. Dr. McGonigal is the author of The Willpower Instinct and Yoga for Pain Relief, and with Sounds True she has created an audio learning program called The Neuroscience of Change. In this episode, Tami speaks with Dr. McGonigal about how we can consciously change the “default settings” of our brain, what we can do to tune into ourselves at a physiological level during difficult emotional situations, and how self-criticism can hinder our attempts to change our behavior. Dr. McGonigal also shares a practice of cultivating self-compassion. (57 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Gabrielle Roth, a movement innovator, theater director, workshop teacher, and the bestselling author of Sweat Your Prayers and Maps to Ecstasy. With Sounds True she has created three DVD programs of movement meditations for the body and soul: The Wave, The Inner Wave, and The Power Wave. In this episode, Tami speaks with Gabrielle about the five universal rhythms that she uses in her work and why she believes they have the capacity to teach, catalyze, and heal. She talks about how these five rhythms have helped people in hospitals accelerate their healing, and her own experience in using them as she has gone through childbirth and a cancer diagnosis. (55 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Peter Levine and Dr. Maggie Phillips. Dr. Phillips is the director of the California Institute of Clinical Hypnosis and is author of Finding the Energy to Heal and Reversing Chronic Pain. Dr. Levine is the developer of the groundbreaking Somatic Experiencing® approach to healing trauma. With Sounds True, they have coauthored a book and accompanying CD called Freedom from Pain. In this episode, Tami speaks with Maggie and Peter about the prevalence of chronic pain today, how physical pain may relate to past trauma, and the stages that pain sufferers commonly experience. They also offer inspiring real-world examples and insights about the keys for solving “the puzzle of pain.” (59 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with David Morehouse, a former officer in the US Army who was trained in a method called Remote Viewing—a psychic technique for gathering information across time and space. Now dedicated to using his training to promote spiritual growth, David is the author of the international bestseller Psychic Warrior, and has created several titles with Sounds True, including The Remote Viewing Online Training Course. In this episode, Tami speaks with David about the original CIA “psychic spy” program, how and why this method is still valued by the military, whether Remote Viewing can show us the future, and how Remote Viewing transforms the human heart. (64 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Ram Dass, whose name means “servant of God.” Ram Dass is a respected spokesman on the integration of Western culture and Eastern philosophy. He is author of the classic book Be Here Now, and the landmark books Grist for the Mill and How Can I Help? With Sounds True, he has created several audio programs, including Experiments in Truth and Love, Service, Devotion, and the Ultimate Surrender. In this episode, Tami speaks with Ram Dass about his understanding of the “I” or the self, his experience of his guru Maharaj-ji living inside of him as a sense of presence, the individual soul, and the atman, which Ram Dass calls the “mega soul.” (64 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, the founder and resident teacher of Ligmincha Institute in Virginia and one of the first lamas to bring Tibetan Bön dzogchen teachings to the West. He is the author of several books, including Healing with Form, Energy, and Light, and with Sounds True he has created an integrated book-and-CD learning program called Tibetan Sound Healing. In this episode, Tami speaks with Tenzin Rinpoche about what he calls the “three doors to practice”: body, mind, and speech. He also talks about his experiences with preserving the essence of traditional teachings while needing to innovate new ways to make them accessible and relevant to students in the West. (44 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Neil Douglas-Klotz, a world-renowned scholar in religious studies, spirituality, and psychology. Neil directs the Edinburgh Institute for Advanced Learning in Scotland, and is the author of The Hidden Gospel and The Sufi Book of Life. With Sounds True, he has published the book Blessings of the Cosmos and three audio learning courses, including I Am: The Secret Teachings of the Aramaic Jesus. In this episode, Tami speaks with Neil about how to appreciate multiple interpretations of scriptural text, and what the “I Am” sayings of Jesus were meant to communicate to his disciples. He also offers a body prayer meant to give us a somatic experience of the teachings of Jesus. (57 minutes)

Tami Simon speaks with Chloë Goodchild. Chloë is a teacher, composer, performer, and the founder of the Naked Voice foundation, a charitable trust devoted to healing suffering and resolving conflict through sound. With Sound True, she has created the three-CD program Your Naked Voice, and the audio learning course Awakening Through Sound: The Naked Voice Program to Access Your Deepest Wisdom. In this episode, Tami speaks with Chloë about what she calls “the sound before sound” and what the sound of the ether might be like. Chloë also leads us through a Naked Voice exercise for tuning into the sound of your own voice called One Breath, One Voice. (61 minutes)