“There was a major shift, and I thought it was my external world. But I realized it was actually me that had changed. I was in a new life.”

For most of his life, Matthew grappled with fear, stress-related illness, and intense feelings of anxiety. He was barely able to travel; afraid of every possible catastrophe. It was listening to Dr Joe’s audiobook “You Are the Placebo” that first opened Matthew’s eyes – and his heart.

Through regular meditation, Matthew learned to reprogram his autonomic nervous system. His body and mind gradually healed. And, a year-and-a-half after beginning the work, he confidently boarded a plane to his first Week Long Advanced Retreat – where he had a vision that would change even more lives.

Back home, Matthew shared his experience with a special group: the student choir he leads. At rehearsals, he encouraged them to connect to their hearts, just as he had – and they began to perform with a newfound joy that moved anyone who listened.

Recorded at the Denver Week Long Advanced Retreat in July 2024