• E188: The Illusion of Self—Breaking Free from Ego

    Michael Singer — June 8, 2026

    Ego is the false self, created from past experiences, that constantly judges, fears, and tries to control life to feel okay. Suffering comes from identifying with these inner...

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  • Insights At The Edge

    Tami Simon’s in-depth audio podcast interviews with leading spiritual teachers and luminaries. Listen in as they explore their latest challenges and breakthroughs - the leading edge of their work.

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Join the New York Times bestselling author of The Untethered Soul, The Surrender Experiment, and Living Untethered for this free series of curated teaching sessions, recorded at his Temple of the Universe yoga and meditation center.

Meet Your Host Michael Singer

Michael A. Singer is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Untethered Soul, The Surrender Experiment, Living Untethered, and several popular Sounds True programs, including the Living from a Place of Surrender online course. In 1971, while pursuing his doctoral work in economics, he experienced a deep inner awakening and went into seclusion to focus on yoga and meditation. In 1975, he founded Temple of the Universe, a yoga and meditation center where people of any religion or set of beliefs can come together to experience inner peace. Through the years, he has made major contributions in the areas of business, the arts, education, health care, and environmental protection. Author photo © Timothy Davis

Most Recent

Richard Rudd: The Soft Journey to the Future Human

 

What if the challenges we face—both personal and collective—are signs of humanity crawling up the reed, preparing for a metamorphosis as dramatic as a dragonfly’s transformation?

This week on Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Richard Rudd—a teacher, mystic, award-winning poet, and founder of the Gene Keys. Richard shares the story of his remarkable three-day awakening at age 29, when he experienced what he now understands as glimpses through “the future human”—a state of pure light, intelligence, and complete absence of fear. This experience led him to develop the Gene Keys, a synthesis of ancient wisdom traditions with modern understanding that helps people transform shadow patterns into creative gifts.

Join Tami and Richard to explore:

  • Richard’s extraordinary awakening and memories of both past and future consciousness
  • The dragonfly as an allegory for humanity’s evolutionary metamorphosis
  • Why 2026-2027 may mark a critical turning point—”the year of the closing door”
  • The Gene Keys system: transforming 64 shadow patterns into gifts and divine attributes
  • The art of contemplation as gentle, patient transformation
  • Why fear increases as old paradigms decline—and what’s emerging beneath the surface
  • Strange attractors and signs that systems are preparing for quantum leaps • Heart intelligence versus AI and the resistance of remembering what’s real
  • How doubt, corruption, conflict, and other shadows contain hidden gifts of inquiry, equilibrium, and peace

If you’re sensing both the collapse of old structures and the emergence of something new, this conversation offers poetic wisdom for navigating the threshold between worlds.

Listen now to discover the contemplative path through transformation.

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.

E144: Spirituality Beyond Rules—Transmuting Passion ...

[UPDATED EPISODE] Please note, this episode was originally released with a teaching from another recording. If you would like to ensure you’ve heard “E144: Spirituality Beyond Rules—Transmuting Passion into Divine Flow,” please delete any existing downloads of this episode and re-download. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Spirituality is not about rules or suppression but about releasing the inner blockages (samskaras) that obstruct the natural flow of divine Shakti energy. Passion, anger, jealousy, and other intense experiences arise from blocked energy trying to express itself, and the spiritual path involves learning to relax, release, and transmute that energy rather than suppress it or act it out. True freedom comes from inner purification, where unconditional passion for life arises through consciously letting go into the divine energy flow.

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

E143: Becoming Empty—The True Path of Spirituality

True spirituality is not about gaining or achieving, but about becoming empty—free from the personal mind, inner impressions, and resistance that cloud the flow of divine energy. As we let go of our attachments and become okay with reality as it is, Shakti (Spirit) naturally fills the inner space we create. In this emptiness, life unfolds through us without tension or anxiety, and we become instruments of healing, clarity, and peace.

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

Customer Favorites

Rainn Wilson: Standing for a Spiritual Revolution

How do we reimagine society and build it anew upon a foundation of love, unity, and compassion? This is the central question Rainn Wilson explores in his new book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution. In this podcast, Tami Simon sits down with the actor and comedian to learn, in Rainn’s words, “Why the hell is the actor who played Dwight in The Office writing a book about spirituality?”

Enjoy this inspiring conversation that is at once funny, clever, and sincere, as Tami and Rainn discuss the cultural critique of people on a spiritual path; connecting with others from both our brokenness and wholeness; God, higher powers, and belief in a great mystery; the radiant word “devotion”; finding your authentic voice; the need for a spiritual revolution in our times; creating a new mythology; the potential pitfall in being “spiritual but not religious”; the Latin word “religio”—to bind together; the Baha’i faith; Rainn’s advice to don’t just protest—build something; the maturation of humanity; keeping hope alive and fighting for joy; 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

Rupert Spira: The Quiet Joy of Being

What is the treasure that we all seek? What is it that we are looking for above all else? Contemporary spiritual teacher and author Rupert Spira believes that it’s the feeling of sufficiency, of ease, of peace—or the realization of our innermost nature as being. In this podcast that is at once expansive and experiential, Tami Simon speaks with Rupert about his book You Are the Happiness You Seek and the insights he has gleaned through a lifetime of spiritual exploration and practice. 

Tune in for a liberating conversation covering the practice of pausing or “going back to being”; letting go of resistance and turning toward our unhappiness; bringing a complete “yes” to your current experience; the inquiry, who is the one that’s experiencing?; the pure “I Am”; the original ADD: Awareness Deficit Disorder; the problem with the word “enlightenment”; recognizing the gaps between our thoughts and feelings; why what happens to the body doesn’t happen to our being; the absolute level and the relative level; the practical implications of deepening our recognition of being; love: the felt sense of our shared being; freedom from “the tyranny of ego”; 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.

Sex That Changes the World

Kimberly Ann Johnson is a sexological bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing® practitioner, yoga teacher, postpartum advocate, and single mom. She helps women heal from birth injuries, gynecological surgeries, and sexual boundary violations. She is the author of the book Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It for Good, as well as the early-mothering classic The Fourth Trimester

Kimberly Ann Johnson joins Sounds True founder Tami Simon to speak about her new audio learning program, Reclaiming the Feminine: Embodied Sexuality as Spiritual Practice—and the journey many of us need to make to work through shame, heal from patriarchal oppression, and begin to prioritize ourselves and our need for pleasure. Kimberly and Tami discuss the code of ethics of the sexological bodyworker; the shroud of shame that surrounds sexuality in many cultures, and the vital task of “unshaming” work; dealing with the pressure to “want to want to have more sex”; determining and expressing your genuine wants and needs; the concept of feminist sex; the social nervous system—the first branch of determining safety and how we relate with others; building your arousal capacity; “jaguar work” and healthy aggression; a self-care lovingkindness practice; and much more.

Timeless Classics

Most Recent

E50: From Personal to Universal: Transcending the Ego&...

Life’s events are not personal; they are shaped by the force of cause and effect. Countless past causes are resulting in the moments that are unfolding in front of you. You take it personally because you are looking at life through the limited veil of your ego-mind. The personal mind was formed from the past experiences that made the strongest impressions on you. This distorts your perception of reality to your own limited frame of reference, creating unnecessary fear, anxiety, and suffering. By recognizing this truth, you can transcend your self-concept and align with the broader universe, unlocking profound love, peace, and self-awareness.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E49: Breaking Barriers: Finding Joy Within

There are two very different approaches to achieving a beautiful, love-filled life. The first is externally focused—seeking joy, love, and peace through outside circumstances, people, or actions. The second is inward, asking why these very natural states are blocked internally and taking responsibility for removing those blockages. Love and joy are inherent to everyone but are obscured by stored emotional pain, fears, and responses conditioned by past experiences. By letting go of these internal blockages and facing life’s challenges with openness rather than resistance, you can cultivate love and inner freedom as your unconditional state of being.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

 

E48: Spiritual Awakening: Transcending Lower Self

Spiritual growth involves realizing that our lower self is the ego-driven construct that arises from past experiences, emotional reactions, and stored mental patterns. Most people live disconnected from their true self and are constantly entangled in their thoughts, emotions, and external perceptions. True spirituality is the realization that one’s higher self is the consciousness observing these transient experiences, not the experiences themselves. This leads to liberation from identification with the ego. The ultimate goal is to return to the seat of consciousness and achieve a state of peace, love, and unity while engaging with life as a fully conscious, nonreactive being.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E47: Unraveling the Ego: Returning to Pure Awareness

Consciousness is the fundamental essence of your being, distinct from the physical and psychological objects it is conscious of. But your conscious awareness gets so distracted by external objects, thoughts, and emotions, that it becomes identified with them. This identification forms the ego, the false sense of “I.” The spiritual path involves letting go of distractions and false identifications in order to remain in the true “seat of self,” a state of pure awareness and joy. The ultimate realization is reconnecting with the source of consciousness, leading to unity with the divine and a life of peace and ecstasy.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E46: From Attachment to Liberation: Redefining Life...

Society is focused on setting external goals for career, relationships, and wealth, but this does not always lead to satisfaction. True well-being arises from working through internal disturbances rather than avoiding them through external compensation. This is achieved by letting go of past emotional blockages and being open to the richness of life’s experiences, both positive and challenging. Ultimately, this path leads to a deeper state of consciousness and liberation, fostering joy and harmony both within yourself and in your relationships with others.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E45: Learning to Channel Lower Energies

All of life’s experiences are manifestations of energy at one level or another. By viewing challenges as energy, you can learn to channel them in a constructive manner. To do this, you must practice allowing uncomfortable energies to flow instead of suppressing or resisting them. Through methods like mindfulness, meditation, and conscious self-reflection, you can release past energy blockages and stop creating new ones. Ultimately, this process leads to spiritual growth, inner peace, and the ability to live passionately and positively in the present moment.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

 

Listener Favorites

E149: Following the Spiritual Path of Nonresistance

True spirituality is not about getting what you want or fixing the outside world, but learning to be okay inside by letting go of preferences, stored pain, and inner resistance. Reality unfolds through universal causes, not personal desires, and suffering comes from pitting yourself against what is. Enlightenment comes from witnessing your inner experiences without suppression, honoring all emotions, and living in harmony with, and selflessly serving, whatever life presents to  you.

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

E50: From Personal to Universal: Transcending the Ego&...

Life’s events are not personal; they are shaped by the force of cause and effect. Countless past causes are resulting in the moments that are unfolding in front of you. You take it personally because you are looking at life through the limited veil of your ego-mind. The personal mind was formed from the past experiences that made the strongest impressions on you. This distorts your perception of reality to your own limited frame of reference, creating unnecessary fear, anxiety, and suffering. By recognizing this truth, you can transcend your self-concept and align with the broader universe, unlocking profound love, peace, and self-awareness.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E120: From Ego to Eternity: Living Without Preference

Spiritual freedom is not freedom for yourself, but freedom from yourself.  As you gradually cease to strive to get what you want and avoid what you don’t want, life transforms into a harmonious unfolding of the Tao, where peace and joy arise naturally from being in alignment with reality. As you cease to be bound by the personal, —you come to realize the true beauty of who you really are.

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

E75: Returning to the Seat of Consciousness

Spiritual liberation comes not from striving to attain joy or love, but from letting go of the inner anchor—your preferences, stored traumas, and self-concepts. The “fall from the garden” refers to the moment consciousness focused more on what it was conscious of than on consciousness itself. The path to awakening is learning to stop being distracted by thoughts and emotions, relax into the present moment, and experience life as it unfolds—allowing you to be fully present and free.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E150: Why You Do What You Do—The True Path to Inner ...

Spirituality is not about what you do, but why you do it—and most of our actions stem from a place of inner discomfort, driven by clung-to past experiences. This inner resistance distorts our perception and leads us to believe we must manipulate life to feel okay. A much clearer state of being is realizing that we are divine consciousness experiencing God’s creation. The path to liberation is learning to relax and honor our experiences in life so we can act from a place of unconditional wellbeing, love, and inspiration.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

E69: Above the Line: The Path to True Awareness and Fr...

There is a line—below this line you are being pulled down into your psyche and above it you are pulled up into the source of Self. You generally live below this line and identify with your thoughts and emotions. This leads to suffering and an ego-driven existence. True awakening comes from recognizing that you are not your body, thoughts, or past experiences but the consciousness that is aware of them. By letting go of ego-based attachments and conditioned responses, you can transcend suffering and experience inner peace, love, and true spiritual awakening.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

Timeless Classics

E54: The Sacred Time Between Birth and Death

Your life is the fleeting moments between your birth and death. During this time, true fulfillment does not come from external achievements but from an internal state of unconditional joy and love. Because we condition our happiness on outside circumstances, it often leads to suffering, attachment, and endless striving for some satisfaction. By letting go of stored past disturbances that have blocked your natural well-being, you can unlock a state of unconditional happiness and appreciate each moment as it unfolds.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E55: From Psychology to Spirituality: Transcending the...

Psychology focuses on understanding and managing the mind’s learned patterns, emotional struggles, and conditioned behaviors. Spirituality is about transcending these mental and emotional constructs to center on the consciousness which is aware of them. From this seat of witness consciousness, you can actually watch the mind create a false concept of self that is based on your past experiences. This false self leads to suffering unless the world matches how you think it should be. True spirituality involves realizing yourself as the conscious observer and learning to embrace life’s experiences as a gift from Creation. You can learn to free yourself from suffering and achieve a state of peace, love, and self-realization.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E56: From Distraction to Enlightenment: The Path of Aw...

Consciousness is eternal, infinite, and the fundamental essence of life. You become lost by focusing your awareness on your thoughts, emotions, and outside experiences. This distracts you from your true nature. In the end, true spirituality lies in recognizing that you are not the sum of your experiences; you are the indwelling consciousness that had the experiences. By letting go of the false identification with your ego, you can reconnect with the universal consciousness and experience true freedom.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E57: Love Is Not Found, It’s Freed

Love is not something found outside but an internal energy that flows through your heart when you are open and unblocked. Your past personal experiences and emotional defenses create barriers that prevent you from feeling love continuously. The key to unconditional love is letting go of these blockages, embracing openness, and allowing life’s experiences—both positive and negative—to flow through without resistance. If you learn to do this, you will find that true love is not based on the conditions of people, events, or circumstances—it is about removing the blockages you have put in love’s way.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E58: Beyond the Illusion: Awakening to True Consciousn...

The findings of modern science and the deep spiritual teachings are moving closer and closer together. Our entire outside world is composed of tiny atoms that our senses blend together to create what we call reality. Advanced physics has found that these atoms emanate from wavelets in the omnipresent Quantum Field. Spirituality has always taught that reality is an illusion, a dance of Light.

Every day, your senses take in this illusion, and you build a false sense of self based on the experiences you’ve had. This is your ego, and it is the cause of all personal suffering. Behind it is the real you, the consciousness that is aware of your thoughts, emotions, and the outside world. The meaning of life is to transcend the illusion and return to the source of consciousness. This is Enlightenment.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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

E59: From Focus to Freedom: How Awareness Shapes Reali...

Deep spiritual states transcend the mind, but the mind can be a useful tool for spiritual growth. You know your consciousness can concentrate on a single object or expand to include everything in front of you. Likewise, your concept of self can be narrowly focused on your ego-mind, or it can expand to include thoughts of this vast universe. You suffer when your mind’s perception of reality does not align with its personal desires and fears. Spiritual growth involves letting go of this ego-mind and honoring all of life as your participation in the Divine Creation. True freedom is found in ceasing to contract awareness, which allows its natural expansion beyond the personal self.

For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.

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