Category: Health & Healing

Maggie Jackson: Being Uncertain as a Form of Wakefulne...

In this thought-provoking episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon sits down with Maggie Jackson, acclaimed journalist and author of “Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure.” Together, they delve into the emerging science of uncertainty, discussing how our discomfort with not knowing can actually be a source of growth, creativity, and resilience. Maggie shares practical strategies for cultivating a healthy tolerance for uncertainty, explains the difference between fear and uncertainty, and highlights the power of curiosity, mindfulness, and adaptive expertise in navigating today’s unpredictable world. Whether you struggle with anxiety about the unknown or want to harness uncertainty as a tool for personal and professional development, this conversation offers wisdom and actionable insights for embracing life’s many mysteries.

Note: This interview 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. 

Andrea Gibson: Facing Mortality and Being Adored and C...

Andrea Gibson, a beloved poet and artist, recently passed away. We are honored to share this special encore episode of their conversation with Tami Simon that originally aired in 2023.

Great poets expand our view—of ourselves, of each other, and of the entire universe. Andrea Gibson was named Colorado’s 2023–25 Poet Laureate for their celebrated verses on love, LGBTQ issues, spirituality, mental health, social justice, and more. Tami Simon speaks with Andrea about their approach to work and how their journey through cancer radically changed that approach.

This poignant conversation featuring Andrea’s reading of their poem, “Acceptance Speech After Setting the World Record in Goosebumps” and exploring spiritual surrender, finding joy in every instant, facing challenges, moving through grief, the life force of the universe within us, self-love and loving the whole world, trying softer (not harder), the power of relaxation, identifying the keys that open your heart, staying with our fear, activism and loosening our attachment to desired outcomes, being yourself fully, the gift of mortality, giving the present moment the cold shoulder, why authenticity is the most important thing when it comes to writing, the pull of creativity, and more.

Sheryl Lisa Finn: “Connection Is More Powerful Than ...

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.

Paul Hawken: A Love Letter to the Flow of Life

The realities of human-driven climate change are only just starting to hit home for many of us. Meanwhile, activists like Paul Hawken—along with the people who have endured the devastating impacts of environmental degradation in the places they call home—continue to raise the alarm for a planet in peril. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with the renowned environmentalist and entrepreneur about his latest work, Carbon: The Book of Life, an awe-inspiring read that Tami dubs “a love letter to the flow of life.”

Give a listen to their conversation on: why the climate is never really in crisis (and who is); the narratives of disconnection that perpetuate a sense of separation from life; why “the only way forward is regeneration”; how humanity’s “othering” in order to get ahead just puts us all behind; the concept of flow in the natural world; the extraordinary complexity of life and the trillions of creatures communicating with each other every day; tapping into the power of curiosity and wonder; overcoming the overwhelming inertia of the existing capitalist system; why our grief is a measure of our love; embodying the timeless qualities of compassion, cooperation, and respect; the connection between the loss of Indigenous languages and species loss; apocalypse—the revelation of that which is hidden; how the discovery of fire impacted human evolution; mystical experiences in nature; leadership—listening to all the voices; 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.

Jeffrey Rutstein, PsyD: You Can Shift the State of You...

Our understanding of the human nervous system has grown exponentially in recent years, thanks to astounding discoveries from neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, trauma research, Attachment Theory, and other emerging fields. No longer do we see the functioning of the nervous system as an unconscious process outside of our control. Today, we know that you can actually befriend and work with your nervous system to self-regulate in the face of emotionally triggering situations, release unresolved trauma from the “stuck places” inside, and reclaim a life of integration and wholeness. Sounds True’s annual training, The Healing Trauma Program, was designed expressly for these purposes. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with psychotherapist and lead teacher of the program Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein. 

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on: the connection between unhealed trauma and nervous system dysregulation; raising self-awareness around your personal triggers and conditioned responses; shifting from defensiveness to feelings of safety and belonging; chronic dysregulation; accurately discerning when you’re in danger; the vagus nerve, the ventral vagal response, and the “tend and befriend” zone where we can be fully present; the interplay of genetics and your upbringing in the formation of your “go-to nervous system states”; a nervous system approach to transforming self-blame and shame into self-compassion and worthiness; three pools of energy—hyperarousal, hypoarousal, and the Window of Tolerance; the empowering firsthand experience of changing your nervous system states; why there are no “bad” nervous system states; why being in a regulated state is so critical to healthy relationships; neuroception; simple, on-the-spot techniques (or “nervous system hacks”) you can use to self-regulate, from breathwork to gentle stretching and more; the shortcomings of talk therapy; co-regulation and the social engagement zone; the four key questions of the aspiring nervous system co-regulator; severe trauma and how “the state drives the story”; meditation practice, the true self, and the inner “hijacker”; 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

Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD: The Ayurvedic Longevity Prescr...

The term Ayurveda is traditionally defined as “the science of life.” Physician and leading Ayurvedic teacher Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh has another definition: she calls it “the knowledge of longevity.” In this podcast, join Tami Simon in conversation with Dr. Kumar-Singh about her new book, The Longevity Formula. Take a listen as they discuss the many ways that Ayurveda can support high-quality living, especially in your later years, by increasing cellular repair, decreasing inflammation, and keeping you connected with “your people and your purpose.”

Learn more about integrating Ayurvedic principles into Western medicine; lifespan versus health span; vitality, enthusiasm, and joy; forging stronger ties with your community and purpose; the causes and effects of cellular damage; the nine mechanisms of aging; bringing prana, or life-force energy, directly into your body through your natural surroundings and your diet; how all health and illness begins with the energetic body; what nourishment means in the Ayurvedic perspective; the Ayurvedic understanding of body tissues; good inflammation (yes, that’s a thing!); five Ayurvedic lifestyle interventions you can explore today; breathwork and the adage, “the inhale excites you and the exhale relaxes you”; giving and receiving love; the five doshas, or elements; 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.

>