Sounds True: Producer's Pick

“We often find ourselves in an internal debate at Sounds True,” says producer Matt Licata, “about whether diet-oriented programs really fit with our core mission. Fortunately, a teacher like Dr. Steven Gurgevich offers an approach that we can truly stand behind.” Dr. Gurgevich is a key member of Dr. Andrew Weil’s physician training program and has brought hypnosis to the forefront of modern medicine. With The Self-Hypnosis Diet, he offers a refreshing approach to sustained weight reduction and healthier living that starts with the mind. In this selection, he explains how anyone can use the power of the mind-body connection to achieve long-term success in creating a joyful and healthy new relationship with food.

Pema Chödrön teaches that the awakened life begins and ends with wonder—the thrill of letting go and thoroughly enjoying the ride. What prevents us from making this leap? Our ego’s survival instincts. In the audio program The Three Commitments, Pema teaches about Tibetan Buddhism’s essential life instructions for letting go of confusion and fear so we may take the next step towards true liberation and joy. Sounds True producer Randy Roark chose this week’s selection as an example of how Pema artfully turns our fears into an opening for transformation—describing how accepting the underlying groundlessness of human life can give us a new understanding of personal freedom.

Sounds True producer Randy Roark has recorded many authors who teach breathwork practices, from medical doctors to meditation and qigong masters. But recording Freeing the Breath with Leslie Kaminoff, a teacher of breath-centered yoga and the founder of New York City’s Breathing Project, was a singular experience. As Randy says, “I have never met anyone who knows more about the breath than Leslie Kaminoff. I came away from this recording amazed by just how much there is to learn.” In this excerpt, Leslie acts as our breathing coach in a simple demonstration of the power of prana, and then goes on to reveal how breathing is a process that begins on a cellular level.

The popularity of shamanism has increased dramatically over the last few decades, but there is still much confusion about just what shamanism is and how it might be relevant to those in the modern world. Sandra Ingerman has emerged as a teacher with a special gift for demystifying shamanism and helping us experience the world of the shaman directly. As Sounds True producer Matt Licata says, “Sandra helps us understand that we all have the ability to enter non-ordinary reality to receive guidance and healing for ourselves or others.” In this excerpt from The Beginner’s Guide to Shamanic Journeying, Sandra illuminates the central technique of shamanic practice—the shamanic journey—and its usefulness for those seeking inner transformation and healing.

No modern teacher is more passionate about the mystical experience than Andrew Harvey. As Sounds True producer Mitchell Clute puts it, “Andrew always delivers his message in the most ecstatic terms, and nowhere is he more compelling than when discussing the Sufi poet Jalal Rumi.” Rumi is what Andrew Harvey calls a “divine rebel”—a person whose direct connection to God transformed the world. In this excerpt from the audio program Divine Rebels, recorded by Andrew Harvey and Caroline Myss, Andrew examines the mystical love between Rumi and Shams-e-Tabriz, and shares his translation of one of Rumi’s greatest poems.

Why are we in the midst of a “Mindfulness Revolution?” It’s because neuroscientists have found conclusive evidence that traditional mindfulness meditation practices can have a powerful, positive effect on the biology of the human brain. As Dr. Tara Brach teaches, “Mindfulness helps us increase our calmness and clarity, access our creativity, and become more open-hearted.” Sounds True producer Randy Roark, who recorded the audio program Mindfulness Meditation with Tara, chose this selection as a simple and transformative practice that anyone can do at any time to return to a natural, centered state of mind.

Dr. Kelly McGongial stands out as a teacher whose scientific knowledge brings a new clarity to our understanding of the spiritual journey. As Sounds True producer Stephen Lessard notes, “Kelly’s research-based insights reinforced truths that I’d glimpsed in my own meditation practice. After recording her program, I was inspired to reevaluate ways that I approach my own goals.” In this excerpt from the audio learning program The Neuroscience of Change, Kelly illuminates the fact that many of the challenges we struggle with in our lives arise from our own misguided attempts to make ourselves feel better—and reveals how an approach based on self-awareness and kindness can help bring our behavior into alignment with our aspirations and values.

Whether he’s speaking to beginners, advanced students, or anyone else interested in the spiritual journey, Jack Kornfield’s favorite way of transmitting insight is through stories. As Sounds True producer Randy Roark observes, Jack’s heartfelt stories may be funny, surprising, or poignant—and are always rich with wisdom. In Jack’s new program, Awakening Is Real: A Guide to the Deeper Dimensions of the Inner Journey, he talks about the spiritual journey, from the moment we first become aware of a longing for something more to the final steps we take as we approach our death. “For this episode,” Randy says, “I selected one story from these talks that moved me most. It’s the story of an aging Tibetan monk who has just been given a cancer diagnosis.” See Jack Kornfield live in August. Visit WakeUpFestival.com for more information.

Philosopher Ken Wilber is renowned for creating his astonishingly comprehensive integral “theory of everything,” a framework that helps us bring new depths of understanding to any facet of human knowledge and experience. But how does he choose what to incorporate into such an ambitious model? Sounds True producer Matt Licata chose this week’s selection from the audio learning program Kosmic Consciousness because: “Ken gives us a rare glimpse into his very personal thoughts and reflections about creating his integral theory. It’s inspiring to hear how he seeks out each piece of the cosmic puzzle from science, philosophy, psychology, and religion. I feel this audio allows us to connect with Ken on a more personal level than usually comes through in his books.”

What is the relationship between sexuality and spiritual awakening? How do these two seemingly different streams of life experience come together and show us the true nature of what it means to be a human being? For this week’s podcast, Sounds True producer Matt Licata offers this selection from Enlightened Sex, where David Deida helps us to discern the key differences among three dimensions of enlightened sexual intimacy: universal love, romantic attraction, and sexual polarity.

This week’s episode, “The Resonance Theory,” comes from David Ison’s audio program Chakra Illumination. As a classically trained musician, Sounds True producer Steve Lessard appreciated working with Ison on a program that intends to unlock the healing and transformative powers of music. Our chakras, each of which represent a rung on what Ison calls the “ladder of consciousness,” resonate with particular frequencies. Ison describes how music that resonates with the key signatures of each chakra can open these energy centers, revealing the “essences” that lie veiled beneath many layers of emotion, trauma, and attachment. Discover the wisdom hidden inside your energy anatomy through the resonant power of music.

Joseph M. Marshall is a Lakota elder who believes that the wisdom and stories of his people are the greatest gift that he can share with the wider world. In recording Joseph’s audio program Living the Lakota Way, Sounds True producer Randy Roark was deeply moved by just how relevant and needed these teachings are today. As Randy says, “It’s clear to me when working with authors such as Joseph that sanity is contagious… and simplicity is profound.” In this audio excerpt, Joseph teaches us how to build an altar in our homes, and how the existence of this altar will become a physical reminder and symbol of our relationship to others and our planet.

In his teachings, Eckhart Tolle often talks about the “pain-body,” which is how he refers to part of our subtle energetic field that actually feeds on toxic thoughts and emotions. He teaches that we all have a pain-body that can keep us from experiencing the fullness of this moment—so what do we do about it? Kim Eng, Eckhart’s teaching partner, has created a series of practices to help us dissolve the pain-body. As Sounds True editorial director Nancy Smith says, “It’s always a special experience to go into the studio with Kim. She has a rare gift for teaching us how to become fully present in any situation, no matter how difficult.” In this audio excerpt from Resist Nothing: Guided Meditations to Heal the Pain-Body, Kim shares a daily practice for reconnecting with our basic sense of presence.

If you can understand the language spoken by a great spiritual master, does that master’s wisdom take on a new level of depth and meaning for you? Neil Douglas-Klotz believes that it does, which is why he has dedicated himself to studying Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus. As Sounds True producer Mitchell Clute puts it, “Neil’s unique perspective shows us the life and teachings of Jesus in a way that is simultaneously more cosmic and more intimate than anything I’ve ever heard before.” In this excerpt from Neil’s audio learning program I Am: The Secret Teachings of the Aramaic Jesus, Neil offers fresh examination of the words Jesus shared with his disciples at the Last Supper.

Many traditions tell us that there is “someone watching over us”—that we receive invisible help from beings that are identified as guardian angels, ancestors, or spirit guides. Is it possible to make contact with these forces and deepen our relationship with them? Intuitive Marie Manuchehri believes so—and also believes that it is often everyday stress and anxiety that keeps us from perceiving our unseen allies. As Sounds True producer Randy Roark said, “Marie uses guided meditations and practices to help us enter a state of joyful aliveness. This is a healing experience in and of itself, but she reveals that it also allows us to become more open to the presence of spirit guides and helpers.” In this excerpt from How to Communicate with Your Spirit Guides, Marie guides us toward an open and loving state that harmonizes us with the vibrational level of the spirit world.