# Inside the Genius of Joshua Smith

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546/inside-the-genius-of-joshua-smith
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546/inside-the-genius-of-joshua-smith.md
Podcast: [MindfulOpus](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546)
Published: 2025-11-18T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://9656012c-dddd-431b-80b7-a729bb8584a3.libsyn.com/inside-the-genius-of-joshua-smith
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/9656012c-dddd-431b-80b7-a729bb8584a3/5_Inside_the_Genius_of_Joshua_Smith.mp3?dest-id=5166550
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mindfulopus-7516546/episodes/inside-the-genius-of-joshua-smith
Duration seconds: 3775

## Resource

S1 Ep #5: A conversation around vulnerability, long-haul artistry, and the case for communication over perfection—through the lens of a 35-year run in one of the most high-pressure chairs in the orchestral world. In this episode, I sit down with my friend and musical hero, Joshua Smith—Grammy-nominated Principal Flute of The Cleveland Orchestra. We trace his early musical journey (yes, it all started with a cool flute case), how showtunes and theatre taught him phrasing and stage presence, and why he's not interested in perfection as a goal. Josh shares how curiosity helps him meet the pressures of a 35-year career, why he resists having a rigid "formula," and how meditation, yoga, and his recent sabbatical re-anchored him into his "beginner's mind". We also talk about his new audition books, The Audition Method and how his core artistic value – communication – has guided him all these years. Favorite quote: "You can't really have freedom and safety at the same time". Who this is for If you're in a high-pressure performing environment and want to know how to cultivate a healthy long-term approach to high-standards and limitless curiosity and freedom in the process, this one's for you. Timestamps (03:10) Early days in music (acting, musicals, phrasing, communication) (12:10) Life is the high-pressure chair (pressure, curiosity, authenticity, perfection, inner-critic, shame, vulnerability, freedom) (36:50) Yoga, meditation, sabbatical, hobbies + creativity, audition book (58:25) Rapid fires Mentioned Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Brené Brown on perfectionism & vulnerability Tara Brach (talks), Yoga Nidra Slow Horses (series) The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny (novel) New York Times Book Review (podcast) Guest Joshua Smith — Principal…

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## Transcript

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