Jeff Karp, PhD

Jeff Karp, PhD, is an acclaimed mentor and biomedical engineering professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT, a Distinguished Chair at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He has dedicated his research to bioinspired medical problem-solving, and his lab’s technologies have led to the formation of Thirteen companies. His technologies include a tissue glue that can seal holes inside a beating heart (inspired by snails and sandcastle worms); targeted therapy for osteoarthritis, Crohn’s disease, and brain disorders; “smart needles” that automatically stop when they reach their target; a nasal spray that neutralizes pathogens; and immunotherapy approaches to annihilate cancer. Dr. Karp lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife, children, and two Cavalier King Charle’s spaniels.

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Jeff Karp, PhD: LIT: Resensitizing Our Aliveness

The natural world has provided inspiration to poets, artists, and creatives of every ilk. And that includes inventors and innovators like Dr. Jeff Karp. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with the renowned biomedical engineer and founder of The Karp Lab about his new book, LIT (Life Ignition Tools): Use Nature’s Playbook to Energize Your Brain, Spark Ideas, and Ignite Action, and how you yourself can turn to the natural world as an ally for problem-solving, unexpected insight, and profound transformation on a daily basis.

Enjoy this incredibly inspiring conversation exploring: The work of the “bioinspirationalist”; how sandcastle worms inspired a new approach to vascular reconstruction in humans; the LIT state and how we can open ourselves up to limitless possibilities in any situation; the pendulum swing between “dull moments” and the times we are totally lit up; the life force within everything; the importance of changing up our routines; LEB (low energy brain); the “press pause” tool of LIT; working with intention; elevating your baseline feeling of wellness and fulfillment; viewing the world through the lens of energy transfer; how we are all contributing to evolution; the practice of cycling through your senses; appreciating our interconnectedness; creating space; aligning your thoughts and actions with your core values; turning negatives into positives; finding rituals and practices to enter into the LIT state; mining the treasures of neurodiversity; 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 with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.

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David Brooks: Perception Is an Act of Creation

What does it mean to truly see another person—not just their surface, but their soul, their yearning, their infinite dignity?

This week, Tami speaks with David Brooks—acclaimed New York Times columnist, author, and PBS NewsHour commentator—about his remarkable journey from emotional guardedness to what he calls “heart vision.” In this profound interview on Insights at the Edge, David shares the mystical experiences that transformed his understanding of human connection, including a pivotal moment in a New York subway when he suddenly perceived everyone around him as souls in motion.

Join Tami and David to explore:

  • David’s emotional awakening and the journey from cerebral detachment to human vulnerability
  • The distinction between diminishers and illuminators—and how we see others
  • Why attention is the ultimate form of generosity and morality
  • The difference between heart intelligence and mental intelligence
  • How perception itself is an act of creation, not passive observation
  • Practical skills for seeing others deeply: the on/off switch of attention, being a loud listener, and avoiding the topper trap
  • Why he identifies as a religious rather than a spiritual person
  • The moral order of the universe and how our yearnings reflect something woven into reality itself
  • How rupture and repair shape us—and why staying in pain can be necessary for growth

David’s wisdom reminds us that in a world increasingly dominated by data and algorithms, the art of truly seeing another human being remains our most sacred—and most practical—capacity.

Listen now to discover how cultivating the illuminator’s gaze can transform every relationship in your 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.

E142: The Illusion of Problems and the Return to the G...

Problems occur when consciousness becomes identified with external objects and forgets its own nature as pure, eternal witnessing presence. Ego emerges when we build a self-concept based on our past experiences, which leads to suffering whenever reality doesn’t align with internal expectations. The path to liberation begins by accepting what is and allowing our past stored blockages to be transmuted through spiritual practice and clarity. The true self is the unchanging observer, resting in pure consciousness beyond the personal mind, where the divine experiences creation.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

E141: The Logic of Letting Go—Will, Mind, and the Pa...

The use of logic, reason, and will is integral to spiritual growth. The body, heart, and mind are divine gifts meant to help consciousness experience life, but suffering arises when the mind becomes identified with its past experiences. Spiritual liberation involves recognizing our free will, practicing letting go in daily life, and gradually purifying the stored emotional residue that shapes our personal preferences and suffering. Through this process, consciousness begins to rise, ultimately merging with the divine, leading to complete oneness and inner transformation.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

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