Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

Stephen Cope, a scholar emeritus at Kripalu and author of The Great Work of Your Life, discusses the concept of dharma—your true calling—drawing wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita. He shares practical clues for discovering your unique path, including what inspires you and your inherent duties. The conversation also touches on the significance of precision in pursuing your goals and the importance of letting go of distractions. Stephen emphasizes ordinary people living their dharma and what it means to embody modern warriorship in today's world.

Gary Gach is a writer, meditator, and mystic who draws on his diverse life experiences to inform his nonfiction and poetry offerings. He is the author of What Book!? and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism. With Sounds True, he has most recently published Pause, Breathe, Smile: Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation Is Not Enough. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Gary about the titular process of pausing, breathing, and smiling—how it can center you immediately, plant seeds of awakening, and help light the way on the path to peace. They talk about the "mouth yoga" of the half-smile and why meditation is only "part of the menu" of daily mindfulness practice. Gary and Tami also discuss what it means to exist in three kinds of awakening reality: the spaces of impermanence, interbeing, and selflessness. Finally, Gary shares his love of reading and writing haiku, offering a spontaneous haiku poem that arises in the course of the interview. (59 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés is an award-winning poet, senior Jungian psychoanalyst, and cantadora (keeper of old stories in the Latina tradition). Dr. Estés is the author of the bestseller Women Who Run With the Wolves, along with over a dozen audio programs from Sounds True. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks with Dr. Estés about the themes and stories in her book Untie the Strong Woman: Blessed Mother's Immaculate Love for the Wild Soul. They speak on the different manifestations of the Holy Mother figure in many cultures, how our relationship with our own biological mother affects how we relate to the archetype of the great mother force, and what it means to live with "an unruined heart." (65 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rick Doblin, PhD, is a Harvard-trained researcher and the founder of MAPS—the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Rick and MAPS work to develop a legal framework for the application of psychedelic drugs both as medication and for personal psychological growth. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Rick about the current clinical research surrounding the use of MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as many other possibilities for other psychedelic-assisted therapies. They talk about the current "psychedelic renaissance" in therapeutic treatment, reflecting on some of the risks of such drug-assisted regimens and the need for careful integration of psychedelic experiences. With this in mind, Tami and Rick discuss his relationship with the Zendo Project, a department of MAPS devoted to helping individuals who are having emotionally challenging psychedelic experiences at festivals and events. Finally, Rick explains his own lifelong relationship with psychedelic drugs, including his hopes for future treatments and a national "coming out party" of prominent individuals who can attest to the difference psychedelics have made in their lives. (73 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, discusses transformative compassion in the fight against gang violence. He shares his journey from Bolivia to Los Angeles, highlighting how love can foster healing. The conversation delves into the importance of embracing empathy over judgment, addressing trauma, and creating nurturing communities. Boyle also touches on the challenges of funding nonprofits dedicated to social reintegration and the power of blessings to uplift marginalized individuals.

Dr. Richard Schwartz discusses the concept of internal parts within oneself and how trauma can freeze development. They talk about the transformative power of self-compassion and inner child work in therapy. The emergence of the true self through internal dialogues is explored. Internal conflicts and self-worth issues are also discussed. The podcast delves into the dynamics of Internal Family Systems therapy and the importance of self-leadership in personal growth.

Sarah Seidelmann is a former physician who decided to "right-size" her life, devoting her career to the path of personal transformation. With Sounds True, she has published The Book of Beasties: Your A-to-Z Guide to the Illuminating Wisdom of Spirit Animals. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks with Sarah about animal spirits and totems—how they show up in our lives, the meaning they carry, and how they can reveal our true paths to us. They discuss midlife career changes and the dark night of the soul that led Sarah to embrace a different sort of calling (including a fateful encounter with a walrus). Sarah and Tami also speak on the nature of synchronicity and recognizing when signs are pointing us in a particular direction. Finally, Sarah considers how we can actively create our best possible lives. (56 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk and the author of several books including Altruism, The Monk and the Philosopher, and The Quantum and the Lotus. Sounds True has recently published the English-language edition of In Search of Wisdom, a bestselling French book Matthieu co-wrote with Christophe André and Alexandre Jollien. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Matthieu about practicing altruism and the attempt to create caring, more equitable economic systems. They discuss the difference between compassion and empathy—specifically how empathic responses in the brain can be overwhelming while compassion inspires resilience. Tami and Matthieu also talk about reforming education with an eye toward cooperation rather than competition. Finally, Matthieu considers what it means to live with no regrets, practicing strengths in conjunction with our most deeply held values. (63 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly Boys is a teacher and author who directed the launch of the renowned Search Inside Yourself training program, based on the emotional intelligence and mindfulness program developed at Google. With Sounds True, she has published The Blind Spot Effect: How to Stop Missing What's Right in Front of You. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Kelly speaks with Tami Simon on the different kinds of blind spots, how we develop them, and how to finally see through those blockages. Kelly describes what drew her to the subject and also leads the audience in a guided practice for homing in on their own blind spots. Tami and Kelly talk about "the endowment effect"—a psychological need to grasp onto what is familiar even if it no longer serves our best interests. Finally, they discuss the greatest (and most common) blind spot of all: the feeling that we are separate from the rest of humanity. (62 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 30 years ago, Elizabeth Lesser helped cofound Omega Institute, now one of the world's premiere centers for the exploration of the spiritual journey. These days, Elizabeth is known as the bestselling author of The Seeker's Guide and Broken Open, as well as a frequent collaborator with Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey. In this episode, Elizabeth and Tami converse on the role of spiritual teachers, the power of prayer, and the inevitable price of wisdom. They also talk about fear and fearlessness, as well as the strength one can find in solitude. Finally, Tami and Elizabeth discuss psychotherapy as a modern sacred practice and how it might one day become a widely accepted form of spiritual seeking. (66 minutes) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.