Yo-Yo & Friends: In Conversation on Living Creatively

by Yo-Yo Ma, Samin Nosrat (Narrator), Jeremy Dutcher (Narrator)

Yo-Yo Ma was in his late forties when he decided he was truly happy being a musician. It was then he realized that he could use the cello to explore the world, to ask what it means to be human and how we can navigate the future together. Now, he has invited six friends to join him in answering these questions, to explore how they came to understand who they are, how they learned to love what they do in life, and how they would like to live in the world.

Musician Jeremy Dutcher, a tenor, anthropologist, and Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique First Nation in Canada, shares how he listens to the past and sings for the future, carrying cultural wisdom and identity across generations. Chef and author Samin Nosrat discusses finding joy and authenticity in everyday moments and building meaningful community. Designer Jony Ive reflects on how we can bridge the concrete and the abstract, technique and intuition, to create work rooted in care for humanity. Reader and writer Maria Popova talks about the search for meaning, the power of poetry, and the majesty of art and science. Physicist Fabiola Gianotti, the director of CERN, home to the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, discusses how to build trust and collaboration in pursuit of the unknown. Musician Jacob Collier explores how we can transcend technique to create remarkable human connection. Join Yo-Yo in intimate conversation with friends; revel in his boundless curiosity; explore essential questions about purpose, wisdom, and our future in a world full of wonder and trial, terrible destruction and extraordinary creativity. With intellectual depth and emotional resonance, this series offers a rare glimpse into the minds of seven unique thinkers, helping us to imagine better ways of living and working together.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography

Audible Audio

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Yo-Yo Ma (simplified Chinese: 马友友; traditional Chinese: 馬友友; pinyin: Mǎ Yǒuyǒu; born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American cellist, virtuoso, orchestral composer of Chinese descent, and winner of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
He is one of the most famous cellists of the modern age.

Reviews

[Jonathan Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yo-Yo is a really great interviewer. All of the interviews were interesting, but I really enjoyed hearing more about Jacob Collier the most.

[Donna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

a creative approach to happiness in music amongst friends

[Mike Dennisuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a brief and beautiful collection of interviews by Yo-Yo Ma done by a variety of artists about the creative process. Any time I get a chance to interact with the world and work of Yo-Yo Ma I am impressed.

[Antoinette Van Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought-provoking at times, but in other cases it felt like they said nothing (primarily the tech billionaire, jony ive, who almost made me dnf this one).

really, really enjoyed the interviews with maria popova (writer) and fabiola gianotti (lead at cern supercollider). fabiola is an icon fr. she called yo-yo out when he interrupted her (which i noticed him doing so often in every interview, it was starting to bug me) and finished her thought.

one of the only pieces i've listened to at 1x speed due to the music throughout that is so fundamental to the ideas and mood in it all.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know the guests by name and had to look them up. He didn’t really say much about who they are in an intro.

[Juan Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last night I had dinner with friends and was reminded of something simple: there’s a special kind of wealth in light conversation, laughter, and small compliments. Sharing time with friends makes us human; it helps us grow and become better.

That’s exactly the feeling of Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: In Conversation on Living Creatively. Yo-Yo Ma sits down with people from very different worlds—musicians, a chef, a designer, a writer-curator, and a scientist—and the result is warm, intimate, and genuinely nourishing. It feels less like an “interview series” and more like being at the table, listening to thoughtful minds speaking with curiosity and kindness.

The guests include Jeremy Dutcher (Canadian folk singer with Indigenous roots and a stunning voice), Samin Nosrat (chef and author), Jony Ive (the design mind behind many iconic Apple products), Maria Popova (essayist and cultural curator), Fabiola Gianotti (particle physicist and CERN leader), and Jacob Collier (musician and producer).

The conversation that moved me most was with Jeremy Dutcher—what a voice, and what a beautiful reminder that tradition can be a living source of creativity. I also loved how the audiobook expands the idea of creativity beyond the arts: Ive brings it into the discipline of making great products, and Gianotti shows how science depends on imagination—the courage to see the world differently.

A magnificent listen: inspiring, reflective, and comforting in the best way.

[Abbey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know if this would eventually have gotten better, but I got too annoyed to continue with it. Life is too short to listen to privileged people talk about their problems as if they are true hardships, rather than just frustrating or challenging. I empathize that they have difficulties, but it’s as if they have no perspective. As if they don’t see how fortunate they truly are. They have their health and money and talent. I only listen to the first two people to be fair. They were also talking about talent, as if it’s something only some people have, which is ridiculous. We all have talent. In one way or another we are all artists. It’s just a matter of how it manifests. We are all creators of something. These people need to get some perspective. I was really interested in listening to them talk about their craft, but instead it was just a pitty party. A real shame and waste of an opportunity to share with us rather than just complain about things.

[Mboconnor31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Yo-Yo explores the meaning of art and being in one of the most enjoyable listens I have had in a while. I was barely familiar with the six interviewees chosen by Yo-Yo, who are a group of most interesting and diverse creators, i.e., Jonny Ive, Fabiola Gianotti, Jeremy Dutcher, Samin Nosrat, Maria Popova and finally Jacob Collier

Yo-Yo also intersperses the sundry conversations with beautiful music. Dreamy, rhapsodic music. This little treasure was extremely enjoyable, uplifting and even transformative. I consider it a gift. Thank you, Yo-Yo.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing series of conversations with awesome individuals and artists/scientists! In between is brilliant music from Yo-Yo. Absolutely fantastic were: Jeremy Dutcher, Samir Nosrat, Jony Ive, Fabiola Gianotti and Jacob Collier. Unfortunately my least favorite was Maria Popover, I couldn't really understand her and not as profound as the others. Highly, highly recommend.

[Alex Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick listen but I really enjoyed the conversations and perspectives from different artists and scientists. I enjoyed these interviews and hearing different ways these individuals have of looking at the world. And the music at the end of each interview was a nice addition as well. I hadn't listened to much from Yo-Yo Ma before, but I enjoyed this a lot.

[James Livermore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic combination of conversation with incredible artists and music. What an amazing group of individuals. In world of horrendous people it is lovely to hear intelligent and thoughtful ones.

[Amy Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fantastic to hear so many dynamic creatives talk about how inspiration flows to them and through them and how remarkably intelligent and creative minds frame the vastly overwhelming problems we face in our world.

[Karen Berlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recorded conversations between Yo-Yo Ma and guests exploring creativity through a variety of lenses and related concepts, such as culture, language, science, awe, beauty, care, and trust, with each exchange culminating in a related performance.

[Amanda Neely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ Yo-Yo Ma

[Justine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Couldn’t wait for it to be over tbh. Cute messages but not for me.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 A delight. I love hear creatives talking about their work. Also, Yo-Yo asks some very thoughtful questions. Plus, there is music.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am listening to one interview at a time. These are beautiful conversations filled with wisdom and grace by creative geniuses. Very inspiring.

[Dana Zanotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great music too!!!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm interviews from interesting people with cello music between episodes. (I did think the Bach was too fast, but that's personal preference.)

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook, which includes interviews and music, and it was the most soothing thing ever.

[Jeremy Andrasik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and positive. A nice break from the world right now

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious and inspiring. I love Yo-Yo Ma and his mind.

[Lauren H. Bauler · Rating 1 out of 5]

As much as I love Yo-Yo Ma, this was a disappointing read.

[Andrew Stromberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each “chapter” is a separate conversation with one of Yo-Yo’s “friends.” Very enjoyable listen.

[Eduardo Rioseco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entré con desconfianza, pensé que me encontraría con algo pretencioso pero resultó ser ameno y hasta inspirador. Yo-Yo Ma se muestra como un buen anfitrión que logra extraer excelentes reflexiones de sus invitados, todo en un tono de búsqueda sincera y ausencia de certidumbres altisonantes.