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.
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
Spiritual growth is not about reaching for higher states; it’s about releasing the ego that keeps pulling you down. The mind and heart are conditioned by past experiences, and reacting to them creates endless suffering. By observing and letting go instead of resisting or controlling, you naturally rise into peace and alignment with something greater.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
Can the body become a doorway to the divine—not by transcending it, but by fully inhabiting it?
This week, Tami Simon speaks with Banafsheh Sayyad—master Iranian sacred dancer, choreographer, transformational teacher, and founder of Dance of Oneness—about her new Sounds True book, Dance of Oneness: Embody Love and Luminosity to Transform Your Life. A trailblazing innovator of Sufi dance forms previously performed only by men, Banafsheh draws from flamenco, Persian dance, Tai Chi, Sufi whirling, and her background in Chinese medicine to guide practitioners into deeper embodiment, healing, and spiritual presence.
Join Tami and Banafsheh to explore:
Whether you’re a seasoned movement practitioner or have never considered dance as a spiritual path, this interview is an invitation to come home to the body—and discover what can move through you when you do.
Listen now and begin dancing toward oneness. →
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.
The world around us unfolds in accordance with the vast universal forces of cause and effect, which have been going on throughout time. In contrast, our inner world is created by the tiny sum of our individual experiences. Human beings create suffering by filling the space between themselves and reality with their likes and dislikes. By practicing acceptance, surrender, and non-resistance, one can live freely, engage fully with life, and act from a place of openness rather than personal preference. True peace arises when one stops resisting reality and instead honors and participates in it fully.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
With so many valid concerns stoking fear in today’s world, it’s no wonder that more and more of us are living in a state of chronic anxiety that seems irreversible. If you’re feeling at a loss about how to reclaim your peace of mind, body, and spirit, Sheryl Lisa Finn has a life-changing suggestion: Don’t underestimate the power of connection. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with the author of The Healing Anxiety Workbook to share actionable insights and approaches for dissolving anxiety on the spot and experiencing inner safety and serenity (without “bypassing” the realities of our times).
Enjoy this conversation on: anxiety in a nutshell—sensing a lack of safety; reverse engineering anxiety; working with trauma at the root; when anxiety seeps back in; finding a source of goodness bigger than yourself; grief; building a foundation of connectivity that we can source into in challenging times; creativity and working with our hands; receiving support from the “wise self” within; Jungian psychology, archetypes, and dreamwork; fighting the spiritual fight in the face of systemic problems; anxiety’s hidden agenda—to serve our evolution; a practice to release the anxiety-producing stories we tell ourselves; the power of ritual and the importance of getting out of our rational minds; the practice of asking your ancestors to take your worry from you; anxiety in relationships, and how connection becomes a remedy; panic attacks; anxiety as a friend in disguise; 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.
As a new generation joins the search for understanding and meaning in our ambiguous and uncertain world, there’s a growing resurgence of interest in the Shadow—Carl Jung’s famous term for the aspects of ourselves that hide in our unconscious yet often drive behaviors we’d rather not repeat. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with acclaimed Jungian therapist and author Dr. Connie Zweig about her life’s mission to help us grow in self-awareness and move toward personal and collective healing by learning how to work with the Shadow.
This aha-moment-filled conversation explores: meeting the Shadow on the spiritual path; ego formation during childhood; the concept of repression and the problem with the closet metaphor; why the Shadow hides—and when it erupts; “romancing the Shadow”; three cues to explore with respect to compulsive behaviors; “Shadow characters” and the practice of personifying aspects of the Shadow; the intergenerational aspect; engaging Shadow work at midlife; the superego; projection in relationships; sharing our secrets; money, sex, and power; shifting from a persona marriage to a Shadow marriage; the Vedanta tradition and the teaching on leshavidya, “the remains of ignorance”; the moral development missing in many spiritually advanced practitioners; illusions, idealizations, and archetypal projections; why the first reaction to meeting the Shadow is denial; Shadow projection in the politics of our times; step one: self-examination; bridging inner work and outer work wisely; how to practice “holding the tension of opposites”; cultivating nonduality in your own psychology; the “third thing” and the transcendent function; 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.
He’s the son of Timothy Leary and one of today’s leading voices in the psychedelic renaissance of the 21st century. But Zach Leary’s journey hardly unfolded in the way you might expect. In this deeply informative and myth-busting podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Zach about his new book with Sounds True, Your Extraordinary Mind.
With a “friend to friend” approach to discussing the amazing potential for the safe use of psychedelics, Tami and Zach converse about: carrying forward the legacy of the front-runners of psychedelic exploration, including icons like Terence McKenna, Humphry Osmond, Dr. John C. Lilly, and of course, Zach’s father Timothy and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass); acknowledging the mistakes of the past and dispelling the myths and misconceptions about psychedelics; bringing legitimacy to the use of psychedelics for healing and insight; a review of the major compounds and their sources (natural and manmade), such as MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, LSD, and ketamine; the importance of the 3 S’s: set, setting, and sustainability; turning insights into action; challenging experiences (instead of “bad trips”); Carl Jung and shadow work; using psychedelics to overcome our fear of death; Zach’s personal battle with addiction and how psychedelics supported his recovery; the nature of consciousness; psychedelics as humanity’s evolutionary partner; 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.
Dr. Edward Tick is the founding director of Soldier’s Heart veterans’ Safe Return Programs. A psychotherapist and a tireless advocate for war healing and peacemaking, Dr. Tick is the author of the award-winning book War and the Soul, and with Sounds True he has published a new book called Warrior’s Return: Restoring the Soul After War. In this episode, Ed speaks with Tami about how we can heal the broken social contract between warriors and civilians in the United States, the universal warrior archetype, what it means to mature into a spiritual warrior, and his advice for speaking to returning veterans in a way that supports and honors their service. (77 minutes)
Tami Simon speaks with Donna Eden, a renowned energy medicine expert who has taught throughout the US, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and South America. Along with her partner David Feinstein, Donna is author of the books Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women. With Sounds True she has produced the multimedia program The Energy Medicine Kit. In this episode, Tami speaks with Donna about her experiences as someone who both sees energy and has healed herself from serious medical challenges. Donna also shares two energy practices: a technique to evolve our fight-flight-or-freeze response, and another for opening with total trust to the energy of the heavens. (64 minutes)
Tami Simon speaks with Coleman Barks, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman’s work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers’ Language of Life series with PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning, Rumi: Voice of Longing, and his new three-CD collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher Shams Tabriz, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here. (63 minutes)
[UPDATED EPISODE] Please note, this episode was originally released with a teaching from another recording. If you would like to ensure you’ve heard “E145: From Personal Preference to Universal Harmony,” please delete any existing downloads of this episode and re-download. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
The essence of spirituality is recognizing that you are not your body or mind, but pure consciousness capable of experiencing the body, mind, and all of creation. By resisting certain life experiences and clinging to others, you create inner blockages that form the false concept of self and become the root of suffering. The key to liberation is learning to fully experience each moment without resistance or clinging, letting every experience pass through to touch the depth of your being. This unfiltered experiencing is what is meant by living in alignment with creation, with God, and with your true Self.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
Human suffering arises from resisting experiences and holding onto preferences shaped by past events. Liberation is achieved by letting go of attachments and embracing the present moment with openness and acceptance. Through consistent practice and self-awareness, you can transcend psychological pain, rediscover inner peace, and experience a life filled with joy and equanimity. Once you reach this state, you are ready to selflessly serve others.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
The mind, like the ocean, can be calm or disturbed, but the same consciousness is observing both states. Rather than trying to fix or overreact to a disturbed mind, one can learn to step back and observe the disturbance without feeding it. Ultimately, ceasing to thrash around in the disturbed mind allows the mental energies to settle down naturally. This process of letting go of the impulse to struggle leads to greater inner peace and spiritual growth over time.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
Understanding your mind is a lifelong journey where you learn that thoughts are just like waves in the ocean that come and go. This involves recognizing that thoughts and feelings, whether positive or negative, arise from deeper patterns formed by past experiences. By aligning more closely with our true spiritual nature, we can experience a deeper sense of peace, free from the ups and downs of life.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
Everyone is naturally filled with love and ecstasy, but this is obscured by the baggage we carry inside. You are blocked from realizing your divine state by the stored emotions and mental constructs from your past. The spiritual path is not about acquiring something new; it’s about letting go of the barriers that prevent you from experiencing the greatness that has always been within you.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
True spiritual maturity is not about seeking momentary highs but about dealing with the lows that inhibit one’s spiritual ascent. The real obstacles to spiritual fulfillment come in the form of emotional blockages and self-imposed personal limitations. By focusing on letting go of these internal tethers, we can naturally rise to higher states of consciousness without forcing the process.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
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.
Reality is simply the unfolding of countless causes across time, and our problems arise when we resist what is, rather than accept it. Our minds become disturbed due to personalization, judgment, and the suppression of experiences we can’t handle, which results in inner energy blockages (samskaras).
Spiritual liberation means learning to handle reality exactly as it is, letting go of suppression and control, and allowing the natural energy of life to flow through us without obstruction. This leaves us in a state of clarity from which we can make decisions that are in harmony with life, rather than fighting with it.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
Inner suffering is not caused by what happens, but by our preferences about what should or shouldn’t have happened—the gap between reality and what we want it to be. Our entire preference system is built from the sum of our learned experiences, which compared to all else going on, is statistically insignificant. But we worship what we have experienced as “truth,” to be defended and fought for. When we stop fighting, we come to understand that everyone is driven by their own conditioned experiences and inner pain—so we stop judging and start asking, “How can I help?” We act from a place of clarity and compassion, not to get our way, but to raise the energy of whatever passes in front of us.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
A disturbed mind is really a problem of the heart: disturbed emotional energy from suppressed experiences rises up, hits the mental plane, and turns into the mental stories, worries, and reactions we call the personal mind. The real spiritual work is to stop pushing uncomfortable experiences down—thus creating blockages—and instead let both new and old energy pass through, so the heart and mind can return to their natural state of peace. One method of doing this is the practice of gratitude. Use your intellect to contemplate the overwhelming miracle of your body, all of nature, and the entire universe. Your focus will then shift from personal preferences to awe and appreciation, allowing Shakti to flow freely and drawing you toward the very source of spiritual energy.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
In this talk, Michael explains that the mind need not be an obstacle to spiritual growth but can actually be a great tool when used properly. This involves realizing you are not your thoughts, any of your thoughts—rather, you are the awareness observing them. By remaining centered in this awareness, free from the pull of personal thoughts and emotions, one can experience great states of natural joy, love, and divinity.
For more information, go to michaelsingerpodcast.com.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2024 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
The essence of spirituality is recognizing that you are not your body or mind, but pure consciousness capable of experiencing the body, mind, and all of creation. By resisting certain life experiences and clinging to others, you create inner blockages that form the false concept of self and become the root of suffering. The key to liberation is learning to fully experience each moment without resistance or clinging, letting every experience pass through to touch the depth of your being. This unfiltered experiencing is what is meant by living in alignment with creation, with God, and with your true Self.
© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2025 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.
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.
Discover Michael Singer’s collection of work.
