Podcast Summary: takin' a walk – Classic Replay with The Iconic Carlos Santana

Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Carlos Santana
Date: September 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and deeply philosophical episode of takin' a walk, Buzz Knight welcomes legendary guitarist Carlos Santana for a conversation that blends music history, personal philosophy, and reflections on a lifetime of creative achievement. Santana discusses his ongoing projects, his spiritual journey, transformative experiences on and off stage, and his enduring mission to inspire upliftment through music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Source of Santana’s Sound and Longevity

• Santana’s Philosophy on Music and Sound
  • Santana dismisses the idea that his iconic tone comes from guitars or amplifiers. “The amplifier or the guitar is me. I'm the sound. You know, I'm an accumulation of a lot of things that I think and feel.” (01:29)
  • He attributes his journey to the encouragement and belief of figures like Bill Graham, Clive Davis, Mimi King, and Tito Puente, emphasizing the value of mentorship and support in his development.

2. Collaboration and Creativity

• New Work: “Let the Guitar Play” with Darrell “Run DMC” McDaniels
  • Santana discusses the spiritual and collaborative nature of his latest project:
    • “Someone is orchestrating behind the scene for each individual to have a glorious existence... where I am today is still an extension of what I learned from Bill Graham and Clyde Davis. Just show up and compliment whatever gets the product.” (02:32)

3. Touring and Rejecting the “Rock Star” Stereotype

• On His Approach to Touring with the Counting Crows

  • Santana reflects on the negative aspects of “rock star mentality” and explains his conscious decision to follow a different path:
    • “I made a decision in 1972 not to be a victim mentality rock star... I want to do something different... visit my light, my own divinity away from religion and I'm going to do something different.” (03:38)
    • He emphasizes discipline and self-respect as the core of his approach to music and life.

• Spiritual Growth & Influences

  • Santana notes the impact of spiritual teachers, John McLaughlin, and his desire to frame music as a gift, not a job:
    • “It's not a job, it's a gift. It's not work, it's wonderment. That's why I change words. And it stimulates me. I have more energy than what I eat. I have more inspiration than money in the bank.” (04:38)

4. Music’s Purpose: Healing and Upliftment

• Music as a Language of Light
  • Santana positions music as a force for global unity, healing, and elevation:
    • “Santana is a language of light, enjoy and love. And, you know, there's not that many bands that can go to Ireland or Africa or Japan and still be like this with the family, you know?” (08:58)
  • Idea for a “global Woodstock”:
    • “I want to create a global Woodstock... Unity, harmony, oneness with selective artists. Selected songs since China, Russia and Korea... talking about nuclear war... people try to sell you fear, which is what the media does. Fear, fear, fear... I get excited more with the positive possibilities of knowing that I can make a difference.” (06:47)

5. Overcoming Fear and Promoting Compassion

• Early Experiences in New York

  • Santana recounts his earliest days playing in Central Park and the importance of self-assurance and body language:
    • “I remember constantly winning a battle over fear... if I just walk like I own the place... then now I'm one of them, you know, because people can read body language.” (10:16)

• The Need for Emotional and Spiritual Education

  • Santana advocates for schools to teach compassion, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness:
    • “Teach people compassion, kindness, mercy, forgiveness. Just like you teach history or 1, 2, 3, or ABC... Those are the main ingredients, elements, nutrients for world peace.” (11:14)

6. Spirituality over Dogma

• Rejecting Fear-Based Religion
  • Santana describes a personal form of spirituality based in unconditional love, rather than adherence to dogmatic or fear-based religious teaching:
    • “God is unconditional love. I follow that. That is Jesus. Unconditional love, forgiveness... I’m a spiritual adult. You don't need to scare me to heaven.” (12:11)

7. Music’s Transformative Power

• Describing the On-Stage Experience
  • Santana likens playing live to a “spiritual orgasm”:
    • “When you have a spiritual orgasm, it's more than emotion... For me, I'm looking at the people, as I always see people who are... crying and laughing and dancing at the same time. It's like the Holy Ghost took over in their bodies.” (14:58)
    • “Music supposed to uplift you to a place. I call it Supreme Wonderland.” (15:46)

8. Influential Albums and the Purpose of Music

• Santana’s Key Influences

  • “A Love Supreme, John Coltrane; Sketches of Spain; the first three albums from Jimi Hendrix; probably all the albums by Bob Dylan... everything by Motown, Marvin Gaye...” (16:13)
  • He gravitates to music that celebrates love and resilience, citing songs like “What a Wonderful World,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Don’t Worry About a Thing,” and connecting them with everyday upliftment and even suicide prevention.

• Music as Healing & Celebration

  • “Music will pull you out of the misery ditch. And so that's what I focus every day.” (17:51)
  • “When we show up in London or we show up wherever we show up, people are like, damn, Santana's got something different, man. He got everybody elated... We celebrate our light and we celebrate our spirit and our divinity. That's what we celebrate.” (18:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Identity and Sound:
  • “I'm the cell, you know, I'm an accumulation of a lot of things that I think and feel.” (03:10, Carlos Santana)
• On Mentorship:
  • “Where I am today is still an extension of what I learned from Bill Graham and Clyde Davis. Just show up and compliment whatever gets the product.” (02:58, Carlos Santana)
• On Choosing His Own Path:
  • “I made a conscious decision to become a significant musician person than a rock star.” (04:34, Carlos Santana)
• On Living with Purpose:
  • “I found that there's another form of energy I can bring out of myself. I have more inspiration than money in the bank.” (04:55, Carlos Santana)
• On Making a Difference:
  • “One positive thought creates billions of positive vibrations. That was John Coltrane who said that.” (14:11, Carlos Santana)
• On Playing Live:
  • “When you have a spiritual orgasm, it's more than emotion... music supposed to uplift you to a place. I call it Supreme Wonderland.” (15:37, Carlos Santana)
• On Music’s Mission:
  • “Music will pull you out of the misery ditch.” (17:51, Carlos Santana)
• On Self-Worth:
  • “After all these years, I learned that I am significant, meaningful, precious, and priceless... This is my soul affirming that if God created the constellations, the universe, the galaxy, the Milky Way... we must be pretty good, you know, because God don't create garbage.” (08:58, Carlos Santana)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Santana on his sound & gear: (01:29 – 01:41)
• Buzz introduces Santana and current projects: (01:42 – 02:18)
• Collaboration with Run DMC: (02:18 – 03:29)
• Reflections on rock stardom & discipline: (03:29 – 06:47)
• Vision for a global Woodstock & media culture of fear: (06:47 – 09:54)
• Central Park 1969 memories & learning confidence: (09:54 – 11:14)
• Advocacy for emotional/spiritual education and self-worth: (11:14 – 14:41)
• The on-stage experience described: (14:41 – 16:04)
• Albums/songs that shaped Santana: (16:04 – 18:44)
• Closing words & gratitude: (18:44 – 18:54)

Tone and Language

Santana’s language is philosophical, spiritual, and often poetic. The episode flows with a deep sense of gratitude, self-awareness, and a calling to serve others through music. Buzz Knight supports the conversation with enthusiasm and reverence, allowing Santana's passionate storytelling and wisdom to shine.

For Listeners

This episode is a masterclass not only in music history but in living with intention, compassion, and creativity. Santana goes far beyond “behind-the-scenes” stories to offer listeners a holistic and uplifting philosophy on art, life, and the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment through the universal language of music.