I Don't Know You

DescriptionThis is a Q&A session following the main conversation with Hyatt and Anne Moore. The group asks questions about marriage, art, finding God in everyday life, managing creative pursuits alongside other responsibilities, and Anne’s role as a creative partner. Hyatt shares stories about God’s creativity and provision, including the miraculous job offer at Surfer Magazine that came on the same day he was fasting and praying about money. Anne opens up about adaptability as her core strength and her role in supporting Hyatt’s work while pursuing her own art.Questions Asked and Summary of Responses1. Tell us about marriage. (1:11)Hyatt shares that he got married on four days’ notice and it’s been 60 years—”the best thing I ever did” except for accepting the Lord. A job offer came across the country, and he had to decide immediately. He and Anne were best friends and lovers but hadn’t been talking about marriage. When he realized he was leaving, they decided to get married that week, and the next day they moved to Georgia. “Five children, great life. It’s not been all great for her, but it’s been all great for me.”2. Can you identify one piece of art in this room that means something special to you and share about it? (2:58)Hyatt says there isn’t one piece that stands out over others—”They’re like my children.” He mentions a few he likes: a wide painting of Africans being baptized going to Ethiopia for missions, and a worshiper on the wall that was a commission. His art shows diverse interests—dancers (because he likes figures in motion), flowers (because they’re “God’s color”), and abstract mixed with realism. He gave up trying to be “the artist of such and such” and just explores what interests him.3. What’s the most interesting thing that the Lord has done with you or that you’ve learned about God? (5:04)Hyatt shares the story of fasting and praying about money when he and Anne were barely making it financially. He went to the hills, got rained out, ended up at the old Surfer Magazine office, and was unexpectedly offered his old art director job back—part-time hours for a full-time salary. The publisher said, “What have you been asking for?” Hyatt said he was asking for money but not a job. God responded, “Well, how do you get money? Usually that’s where it comes from.” The lesson: “God became more open-minded and more creative than I was giving him credit for. I had him in my little religious [box]... God’s bigger than all that. And let him be that way in your life.”4. How do you practically seek the Lord—like deciding to take a whole week to walk with God? (9:56)Hyatt reflects that while he’s had powerful experiences, he wonders why he doesn’t have them every day—he gets busy with normal life. He thinks “the Lord enjoys what we would call normal life. We want the miracle; he says, you know, the miracles—your body, for example, it’s all working.” He compares it to Jesus healing the maimed—when they’re healed, they’re back to normal, which everyone else has been experiencing all along without thinking about it. “I think normal is pretty special. We just don’t remember it.”As for finding God in special moments: “All of a sudden, we’ve got some stress. That’s when we’ll think, okay, I got it. Then we do it. We start zeroing in on them, and we find the answers one way or another.” He asks for wisdom constantly—even mid-sentence when writing or painting. “Creativity I’ve decided is nothing but problem solving.” Wisdom is promised, so when he asks and God says go ahead, it comes. “When he says seek God and you find it, he never says how to seek God. It’s more of an attitude.”5. What do you think about pursuing creative endeavors when you don’t have time, when you’re bogged down with other things but have something on your heart you wish you had more time to be creative with? (14:25)Anne responds: She gives herself permission for creative blocks of time only when everything else is taken care of. She tries to set things on a calendar—”OK, I can’t do it today, but if I can put it on a calendar, I’m going to do these days.” She encourages people to take a class where they’re forced to commit. She was impressed by a couple going into missions who determined each would have a hobby and permission to spend time developing it. “I struggle with that all the time. I try to get a block of art ready for a show and it’s hard to give myself permission to do it.”Hyatt adds that twice a year they go away for at least two weeks to an uninterrupted art-making retreat—they drive, bring easels, paints, supplies, a press. “Absolutely love it.” But he acknowledges you can’t always do that in earlier life stages.6. Anne, how do you manage someone like Hyatt who has such rampant creativity? How do you focus that energy, or work through all his different vast interests and projects? Are you collaborating or a sounding board? (17:28)Anne shares that her main strength (from Clifton StrengthsFinder) is adaptability. “I can change my plans, so that’s a big part of it.” She’s always felt her role was to support Hyatt. Having her own art is harder for her to put at an equal level—not that their art is equal, but giving it equal value in her life. “Keeping things in order so he can work is a big part of my life, which I’m happy [about]—I am a servant. I love that, and he has given me an interesting life for sure.” She feels blessed with kids, grandkids, and all those things. “Art is one area for me, but it’s not my whole life.”Hyatt adds: “It’s easier being a man. You women know what I’m talking about.”Bonus mention: Hyatt shares he’s currently writing a book called Snippets: How to Get Anything Done—one-page pieces of wit and advice about the mind, where “the clutter is and the opposition is.” He writes a little bit every day, whatever comes to mind. It’ll end up being about 31 ways or something similar. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

DescriptionHyatt Moore is an artist, former missions leader, and art director navigating the mystery of what it means to be faithful to your gifts. He's been married to Anne for over five decades and has lived three distinct careers—each one marked by surrender.We begin with Hyatt's conversion in a cheap hotel room in Mexico, the moment he decided to become "a man of God" without knowing what that meant, and the terrifying week of walking in empty fields wrestling with what it would cost to dedicate his life to God. Hyatt shares the story of giving it all up—the Porsche, the sailboat, the creative career—to serve in missions in Guatemala, and how sitting in the print shop doing menial work became the test he had to pass.We discuss the difference between chasing opportunities and following a calling, why your gifts are seeds that must be cultivated, and his conviction that "being faithful to your gift" is being faithful to God. We also explore his transition to becoming a painter and the moment God told him "I thought that was one of the good ones" when Hyatt said "it's only art." And Hyatt leaves us with the question he's wrestling with at 77: How do you build a big mansion in heaven?I hope this conversation challenges you to die to your claim on an interesting life, run with the gifts you've been given without demeaning them, and trust that God gives back a hundredfold what you surrender to Him.Links- https://www.hyattmoore.com- https://www.barnabasgroupoc.org- https://mattheisler.substack.comTimestamps(00:01:03) - Welcome and introduction of Hyatt Moore(00:03:05) - Opening question about bringing Anne to the Surfer Magazine interview(00:05:08) - "You hire a whole person, not just capabilities"(00:06:17) - The story begins: Hyatt's path from technical illustrator to art director(00:11:51) - Taking the risk to join Surfer Magazine(00:14:12) - Transition to Mexico and the search for meaning(00:15:24) - The emptiness despite having everything—Porsche, sailboat, great job(00:16:56) - "Life's not as fun as it's supposed to be. How come?"(00:18:27) - The book from his dad about prophecy(00:19:26) - Reading in Mexico: "I wasn't happy-able"(00:20:40) - Taking the invitation on the last page(00:21:41) - The walk in Mazatlan: "This is the first right thing I've done in 10 years"(00:23:13) - Deciding to become "a man of God" without knowing what it meant(00:24:59) - The desire to serve God with his life(00:25:32) - The terrifying week of walking in empty fields(00:26:34) - "I'm afraid of what it'll cost me"(00:27:10) - Giving up the claim to an interesting life(00:28:07) - Saying yes with resolution, not joy(00:28:48) - The missionary slides and discovering Wycliffe(00:30:25) - Moving to Guatemala: the Porsche, boat, house went; the wife stayed(00:31:07) - Menial work in the print shop: "I wonder if this is a test"(00:31:50) - "My life in terms of interest is going like this"(00:32:32) - The difference between chasing opportunities and following a calling(00:34:09) - Being transferred back to the home office(00:35:36) - What Hyatt wishes someone had named for him at our age(00:35:49) - "Give yourself to God and then do what you want"(00:37:22) - Gifts are seeds—water them, sun them, nurture them(00:38:12) - The particular mix of talents makes you unique(00:38:32) - "Don't overstress it too much"(00:39:21) - "Just run with your talent. But do run with your talent."(00:39:38) - Becoming a painter: wrestling with "it's only art"(00:40:35) - God's response: "I thought that was one of the good ones"(00:41:17) - "Don't demean it. Run with it."(00:42:00) - Being faithful to your gift is being faithful to God(00:42:28) - Matt's closing question: What question do you have for us?(00:43:19) - The podcast about getting old at 77(00:44:36) - What the podcast missed: what's next after this life(00:45:33) - Degrees in heaven and less time to augment as you age(00:46:40) - Hyatt's question: "How do you build a big mansion?" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

DescriptionJon Wells is a writer and filmmaker following Jesus. From church tech volunteer to filmmaker, shaped by watching over 100 films with a mentor: We talk about his daily writing practice, the challenge of showing up when the work feels mediocre, and his philosophy that guardrails only matter if they get you to "do the dance."Jon shares about his current season of creative pruning—where outcomes disappoint but showing up brings unexpected peace. He opens up about how God provided before revealing the pregnancy, preparing him to trust through uncertainty. We explore the entrepreneurial tension between ambition and presence as a father, why mysteries are fun rather than threatening, and his powerful insight about letting dreams die so they can be resurrected into something bigger.Timestamps(00:00:04) - Podcast introduction(00:01:07) - Opening banter about nonprofits and bivocational pastors(00:03:06) - Why Jon and Matt's conversations always go longer than planned(00:05:52) - Jon's origin story: from tech team volunteer to filmmaker(00:14:49) - Watching 100+ movies during COVID with a mentor(00:16:48) - How movies make the intangible tangible(00:19:17) - The decision to become a writer-director, not just a director(00:22:36) - Jon's daily writing practice: six days a week, staying in the gym(00:26:32) - Guardrails only work if they get you to do the dance(00:28:19) - Creative decisions that surprised him: pruning season(00:32:29) - "I am not enough alone"—learning reliance through exhaustion(00:36:17) - What fills Jon up during seasons of pruning(00:37:23) - The three-day fast that began a new season(00:39:01) - God's provision before the pregnancy announcement(00:42:59) - The open-handed life: giving up to gain more(00:44:34) - Matt's season of transition and budget discipline(00:48:05) - The hazy window: mysteries are fun and force you to live present(00:49:37) - Movies about fatherhood: The Iron Claw and wrestling with provision vs. presence(00:52:35) - The entrepreneurial bent and the struggle to be present(00:54:44) - Ambition vs. contentment: the lifelong tension(00:58:54) - Making friends with the questions you can't answer(01:01:41) - Question from last guest Jordan: What belief did you hold confidently but now think is wrong?(01:02:37) - Jon's answer: Religion doesn't have to be so structured; God is radically interested in humanity(01:05:25) - Jon's question for the next guest: What would come from letting your dream completely die?(01:06:42) - Resurrection vs. resuscitation: death that leads to new life This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

DescriptionJordan Avni is a husband, father, and one of the sharpest product minds I know. We worked together for years, and I watched him navigate complexity with clarity, discipline, and a thoughtful approach to technology and leadership. This is a conversation about being present in a busy season, finding fundamentals in the noise, and building an identity rather than chasing goals.TimestampsWhy this busy season is one men wish they could return to (3:06)Choosing identity-driven living over goal-driven achievement (5:19)The analytical framework for de-risking ideas (13:09)Bad ideas you talked yourself into (17:06)Productive vs. unproductive rumination (28:02)Building boundaries between work and home (25:35)The fight to be present when you're home (25:08)Searching for fundamentals in the noise (22:48)Differentiating signal from noise (23:15)The video games that shaped a product mind (38:05) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

Today, I'm joined by my friend Seth Kayser. He is a husband, father, music educator, and entrepreneur who runs Kayser Arts and Global Creation Foundation—bringing music education to places like Uganda and Nepal. We dive into deep capacity, intentional relationships, and the creative stirrings that keep pulling us forward.We discuss:- Why juggling is actually a form of entertainment (5:22)- The procrastination-productivity paradox of entrepreneurship (6:34)- Being married to another entrepreneur and protecting each other's dreams (30:07)- How answering "yes" too many times becomes a lifestyle (4:35)- The non-urgent important things we keep pushing off (7:25)- Consistency over time and small, well-placed chops (1:20:18)- The creative wrestling of wanting to write a book someday (1:19:19)- What we freely created as children and why we should return there (1:22:09) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

Kyle Rutkin is a writer, marketer, husband, and father who takes creativity seriously—not just as output, but as a responsibility. In this conversation, we explore the tension between creative ambition and everyday life, the patience required to build something meaningful, and why the people who outlast the dip are the ones who would be doing the work anyway.We discuss:- Why journaling for hundreds of hours reveals patterns you can't see otherwise- The difference between creating for an audience and creating because you can't help it- Navigating the dip: why most creative endeavors fail before the breakthrough- Being faithful with small things when no one is watching- Wrestling with the timeline of success while raising kids- Why the people who make it are the ones who'd do it anyway- How to hold your creative work lightly while taking it seriously- The graveyard of people who tried to do it fast versus those who outlasted themTimestamps:(0:00) - Opening: Journaling, Time Capsules, and Reflection(8:00) - Creative Cohorts, Parenting, and Finding Your People(19:00) - The Dip and Creative Persistence (32:00) - Being Faithful with Small Things (45:00) - Wrestling with Timelines and Success (58:00) - The Long Game: Outlasting the Quitters (1:03:00) - The CEO Who'd Do It All Again Tomorrow (1:05:00) - Doing the Work When No One's Watching (1:06:00) - Closing Question: Creative Wrestling You Haven't AnsweredKey Moments:On the patience game: "The people that are really in it for the right reasons outlast all the people that are in it for the 'I thought if I did this consistently, I'd get a million followers.' No, the people doing it consistently have been doing it for 10+ years and they're just starting to get some success."On creative persistence: "I would be doing this anyway. If you find it painful and most people find it painful, but you're like 'I would do this anyway even though it's painful'—you have something."On the long game: "It's a very frustrating thing for me to hear all the time that you have to be faithful with the small things. But that's exactly what my dad is saying. That's not the answer I want, but that's the answer."On doing the work: "Would you still be doing all the same things you're doing creatively even if no one was watching? The answer is yes. That's the thing about writing—for a year I'm doing it when zero people are reading."Detailed DescriptionKyle Rutkin (X, Website) is a writer and marketer navigating the intersection of creative ambition and fatherhood. He's part of a creative cohort where people wrestle with the questions that matter: How do you build something meaningful while raising kids? How do you stay faithful to the work when the timeline is unclear? How do you resist the quick-fix promises of the internet and commit to the long game?We begin with Kyle's journaling practice—hundreds of hours captured in time capsules that reveal patterns and growth he couldn't see in the moment. We talk about the difference between documenting life and living it, and why reflection has become his unlock for staying grounded while pursuing creative work.The conversation turns to the dip—that valley every creative person enters where doubt creeps in and most people quit. Kyle shares his wrestling with the timeline of success, the frustration of being told to "be faithful with small things," and why the CEO who sold 20% of his company for $250 million said he'd do it all again the next day anyway. We explore why the reward comes to those with the patience and persistence to outlast the quitters.We also discuss the tension of being a Christian creative in the 21st century—how to pursue excellence and ambition without losing sight of what matters most. Kyle reflects on learning from his dad's wisdom (even when it's not the answer he wants), holding his work lightly while taking it seriously, and the freedom that comes from doing it whether anyone's watching or not.I hope this conversation reminds you that the work is worth doing for its own sake, that the dip is where most people quit but where the real work begins, and that showing up faithfully—even when no one's watching—is how you build something that lasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed our conversation, please rate and review the podcast on the platform of your choosing.DescriptionIn this episode, Brenden and Matt delve into the importance of starting despite imperfection, cultivating curiosity, balancing work and family, and leveraging tools like AI to enhance creativity and productivity. They explore how consistent effort, intentional planning, showing your work, and asking the right questions can lead to meaningful progress and personal fulfillment.Segments00:00 - The challenge of starting and embracing imperfection in content creation02:23 - The mindset of “start terrible, improve daily” for growth04:12 - Prioritizing family, faith, and life adjustments over time05:27 - Balancing content goals: follower growth, relatable content, and personal happiness06:17 - Analyzing the virality of videos and the importance of shareability08:51 - How platforms optimize for time spent and their implications for creators09:57 - The significance of watch time and engagement metrics in content success10:30 - Friendship and respect rooted in entrepreneurship and discipline11:22 - Managing work, curiosity, and building legacy as a full-stack developer and content creator12:05 - Cultivating curiosity through childhood influences and deliberate skill-building13:35 - The importance of humility, conversations with kids, and modeling behaviors16:22 - Teaching and simplifying complex ideas through engagement with children16:49 - Reflecting on legacy, purpose, and leaving an investment in your family17:14 - The value of embracing failure and learning in electronics projects and content creation18:34 - The relationship between teaching and mastery, and the meta level of teaching others to teach19:13 - The inspiration behind the “I don’t know you” podcast concept and self-discovery20:19 - Overcoming perfectionism: starting with basic setup, tinkering, and iteration22:31 - Creating ambiance with DIY lighting and tech hacks for better content25:01 - The current season of life’s uphill climb and the importance of perseverance26:45 - Investment in family and discipline as a long-term orchestration27:53 - Managing responsibilities and optimizing life with dependency mapping and planning30:28 - The paradox of responsibility versus freedom in life choices33:39 - The long race: pacing, endurance, and the importance of pushing through discomfort37:23 - The role of AI in brainstorming, note-taking, and expanding creative capacity40:50 - The leverage and risks of powerful tools like AI and power tools42:31 - The urgency of understanding and testing AI responsibly amid societal pressures44:52 - Practical systems for balancing marriage, family, and entrepreneurial pursuits45:13 - The power of dependency mapping and disciplined planning47:21 - Setting input and output goals to measure progress effectively48:09 - Anticipating the arrival of new family members and managing the ebbs and flows of family life49:45 - The long-term perspective on providing, sacrifice, and legacy building51:33 - The impact of AI-driven economic shifts and the importance of responsible development54:11 - The motivation for content creation: trust, transparency, and future-proofing skills56:07 - Increasing creative “temperature” to unlock new opportunities and networks58:17 - Reflecting on continual growth, curiosity, and evolving priorities in life and work59:36 - The likelihood of future collaborations driven by shared values and ambitions64:19 - The challenge of aligning actions with core values and doing what feels meaningful66:47 - The power of discipline: doing what you dread and managing sacrifice for long-term goals67:47 - Final thoughts: gratitude, friendship, and the lifelong journey of growth This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

In this episode of I Don’t Know You, Matt sits down with filmmaker, father, and longtime friend David Orgill (Story11.tv) in Dana Point, California.Together, they explore what it means to wrestle with identity, faith, and vocation in a world full of distraction. David reflects on fatherhood, creativity, and how his understanding of God’s will has shifted—from looking for a single “correct” path to embracing freedom, responsibility, and presence.They also unpack the difference between consuming “candy” content versus sitting down for a slow, nourishing, home-cooked meal—and what that metaphor reveals about art, media, and the lives we’re shaping.This conversation isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about learning how to live well while still asking the questions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com

In this conversation, Matt and Alvin explore the intricacies of parenting, cultural influences, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of intentional parenting, the impact of cultural backgrounds on family values, and the balance between ambition and a quiet life. The dialogue also touches on the significance of gratitude, the challenges of modern life, and the desire to create meaningful connections. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattheisler.substack.com