5 Things podcast: Yo-Yo Ma shares what he's learned from Native peoples, national parks

Yo-Yo Ma has been spending a lot of time playing outdoors.

He recently performed inside Mammoth Cave with the Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Chamber Choir. His latest project, Our Common Nature, has taken him to national parks like Acadia and Great Smoky Mountains, where he's gotten to play and connect with others who care deeply about the land, including Native peoples whose ancestors first stewarded those spaces.

"When I went to the Grand Canyon, they said, 'Don't play music for us. Play for Mother Canyon.' Wow. What a concept, right?" Ma told USA TODAY Consumer Travel Reporter Eve Chen. "It expands your consciousness."

He shared what it's like and what he's learned in a candid conversation for 5 Things, where he also looked back on memorable moments from his storied career.

Music and nature lovers can see Yo-Yo Ma live in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 26 as he presents Our Common Nature: An Appalachian Celebration.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yo-Yo Ma ponders life and nature on 5 Things podcast