The Intersection of Music and Creative Thinking w/ Dr. Indre Viskontas

March 23, 2026
Learn Speak Teach, Real Business Connections

Real Business Connections

w/ Ben Albert

Learn Speak Teach Episode #149 with Dr. Indre Viskontas.

Watch the full episode on Youtube:

We are all musical creatures, and musical elements exist in everything we participate in. Just as music shapes our experiences, it also influences creativity, guiding how we think, problem-solve, and bring ideas to life.

Joining us on the show is Dr. Indre Viskontas, a cognitive neuroscientist, creativity expert, Opera Singer, and science communicator. She’s also the host of Inquiring Minds podcast and author of How Music Can Make You Better.

In this episode, Dr. Indre Viskontas explores whether creating music is instinctive or something we learn. Moreover, she discusses the impact of AI and digital tools on music-making and the reasons why people are drawn to create music.

Dr. Indre Viskontas also discusses the importance of embracing the struggle, showing how it applies not just to music but to entrepreneurship and life in general. Listeners will also discover the common traits of creative people and the factors that influence creativity.

Finally, Dr. Indre Viskontas shares details about her LinkedIn Learning course, Building Creative Thinking from the Brain Up, which provides practical strategies to strengthen your own creative potential.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer
[06:35] Creating Music
[13:39] AI & Digital Tools
[18:35] Why Make Music
[29:51] Embrace the Struggle
[34:49] Creativity
[42:24] LinkedIn Learning Course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/building-creative-thinking-from-the-brain-up
[47:12] Website: https://www.tsfnc.org/
[56:28] Connect with Dr. Indre Viskontas

Website: https://www.indreviskontas.com/
Podcast: https://inquiring.show/

Key Takeaways:

Children born in resource-poor environments tend to have higher cortisol levels for the rest of their lives because they are conditioned to see life as stressful and to react constantly. ~Dr. Indre Viskontas [07:40]
“Music is our first language.” ~Dr. Indre Viskontas [12:39]
The difference between amateur creatives and executors is the ability to stay comfortable in the struggle. ~Dr. Indre Viskontas [29:51]
Creative people are open to new experiences. ~Dr. Indre Viskontas [35:00]
External motivators kill creativity. ~Dr. Indre Viskontas [40:03]