What you’ll hear in this episode:- Why “I’m so busy” can quietly keep us stuck- How Austin Classical Guitar grew into an organization built on beauty and kindness - Bringing guitar into public schools at scale, and what it unlocked for students - What Matt learned from working with incarcerated youth, and why music breaks through- Why it was never about the guitar — it’s about belonging, confidence, and connection - Where education focuses vs. what actually changes a life- How music expresses the human-divine connection- Breathwork, mantra, journaling, and daily inner training- Why power requires awareness, responsibility, and choosing love over fear- Art, story, and the hero’s journey as tools for meaning and healing - A live performance by Matt

–––About Matt Hinsley:Matt Hinsley is the Executive Director of Austin Classical Guitar, where he’s helped build one of the country’s leading classical guitar nonprofits by raising millions for concert, community, and education programs. ACG’s educational programs have expanded into GuitarCurriculum.com (used by schools worldwide) and LetsPlayGuitar.org, a braille lifelong-learning resource for blind and visually impaired students. Matt is also the author of 7 books, and across his work focuses on how beauty, kindness, and arts education can transform lives at scale — especially for young people who need belonging and possibility the most.Timestamps:0:00:00 — Preview0:00:32 — Intro: Michael Collins’ documentary ‘INTUITION’0:03:14 — Welcome Matt Hinsley0:06:12 — Why Matt founded Austin Classical Guitar0:11:34 — Adult ensembles and the shift from achievement to community0:17:02 — Scaling guitar education through public schools0:22:41 — Beauty, kindness, and why music brings people together0:28:19 — Why Matt wrote Form & Essence0:33:55 — Education, consciousness, and preparing humanity for the Age of Abundance0:39:44 — What makes us human and how music expresses the human-divine connection0:45:12 — How music transforms intention, identity, and even a courtroom0:51:08 — Incarceration, meditation, and leadership0:56:47 — How spiritual practice builds inner stability1:02:31 — Why inspiration matters more than duty in service and leadership1:08:14 — Gratitude, awareness, and reconnecting with the inner self1:13:52 — Using fantasy to explore division, connection, and meaning1:19:38 — Breaking down dogma and reuniting science and spirituality1:25:41 — What music reveals about being human and creating abundance1:33:17 — Matt performs Agustín Barrios’ “Julia Florida”1:39:50 — Closing reflectionsBooks mentioned in this episode:- The Tao of Willie — Turk Pipkin + Willie Nelson- Beauty — John O’Donohue- Form & Essence — Matt Hinsley- Conscious Capitalism — John Mackey + ​​Raj Sisodia- The Secret of Secrets — Dan Brown- Awareness — Anthony de Mello- Proof of Heaven — Eben Alexander- The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings — J.R.R. Tolkien- The Hero’s Journey — Joseph Campbell- Creativity to Community — Matt Hinsley- Classical Guitar for Young People — Matt Hinsley- Tinder & Flint — Matt Hinsley + Billy Garretsen- Rockmoor — Matt Hinsley + Billy Garretsen- Meriden — Matt Hinsley + Billy Garretsen- Dormarion — Matt Hinsley and Billy Garretsen- Castle Hill — Matt Hinsley + Billy Garretsen- How to Surrender to God — David R. Hawkins- Power vs. Force — David R. Hawkins- The Bhagavad Gita — Stephen Mitchell (tr.)Links:GuitarCurriculum.com: https://www.guitarcurriculum.com/John O’Donohue on Krista Tippett's podcast: https://tinyurl.com/ycx4tyehAngela Duckworth’s TED Talk: https://tinyurl.com/3ynxsuc5The Telepathy Tapes: https://tinyurl.com/2khfa57mInner Worlds Outer Worlds: https://tinyurl.com/yd8ae57hQigong meditation: https://tinyurl.com/yc68ans5‘The Fire of Inspiration’ blog post: https://tinyurl.com/yxtfy945Michael Collins’ documentary: https://tinyurl.com/mwhxwhwhThe Nobelity Project: https://www.nobelity.org/