The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: "It's a Beautiful World | In Paradise" (1KHO 604)
Host: Jenny Urton
Band Guests: Jess Cates, Ethan Hulse, Jordan Wlowski (In Paradise)
Release Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This milestone episode celebrates 600 podcast episodes by debuting "Beautiful World," a new song from In Paradise, featuring Jenny’s daughters, Vivian and Brooklyn. The conversation explores the profound influence of music on childhood development, creative careers, and community building, while offering encouragement for parents to prioritize outside play and creativity over screen time. The band shares their personal journeys, the rewards and challenges of professional songwriting, the communal nature of music, and reflects on the opportunities and perils of technology—especially Artificial Intelligence—in the creative process.

Key Discussion Points

1. Music, Childhood, and Creativity

• Transformative Power of Music:
  Each band member traces their musical path back to pivotal childhood moments—some sparked by adversity, others by musical family traditions.
• Outside Play vs. Screen Time:
  Jenny emphasizes the importance of reclaiming childhood from screens: "Childhood is finite at just shy of 9.5 million minutes. We only get one shot at it." (00:00)
• Parental Encouragement:
  The conversation highlights how parents can nurture creativity and resilience by supporting children through life’s setbacks and encouraging non-digital hobbies.

2. Band Member Backstories

• Jordan Wlowski:
  A baseball injury shifted his focus from sports to music, leading to an early start as a songwriter and producer.

  “I was bitten by the bug early...I could not wait to get home every day and just get in my little room and record songs.” (04:20)

• Ethan Hulse:
  Overcame extreme shyness through discovering the guitar; music became both his passion and his confidence.

  “Music just became my thing...It was like this superpower…gave me all this confidence.” (10:15)

  • Ethan’s route included bluegrass roots, church performances, and a leap of faith moving to Nashville.

• Jess Cates:
  Raised in Nashville by musical parents, Jess started writing songs after a heartbreak in high school, eventually signing a publishing deal at 19.

  “We would sing the blessing when we sat down to eat...I wrote my first song at 15 after a heartbreak.” (12:00)

3. Music as a Community Builder

• Communal Roots:
  Ethan: “Bluegrass music and church music…were all about everybody joining in together, like a big campfire.” (21:26)

• Songwriting Collaboration:
  The trio describes the songwriting process as powered by deep relationships, support, and camaraderie.

  Jess: “It’s really more about the relationships…a song comes out of the overflow of just relationships.” (23:40)

• Mentorship & Generational Connections:
  Jenny shares how her daughters, through their musical pursuits, are mentored by the band, showing music’s impact across generations.

4. Navigating the Modern Music Landscape

• Nontraditional Pathways:
  The band chooses not to tour in the traditional sense, balancing songwriting, production, family life, and consistent releases:

  “We love putting out these songs…writing positive, uplifting songs and putting them out into the world.” – Ethan (30:00)

• Industry Diversity:
  Discussion about the wide range of musical careers—from performing to writing for TV, games, and commercials.

5. Technology, AI, and the Creative Process

• Benefits and Hazards of Technology:
  While tools like Pro Tools are invaluable for songwriting and recording, the band warns against overreliance on AI for creativity.

  Jess: “It’s a scary thing…the fast track to a product, but you’re bypassing the thing that brought us so much life…the hours to get great at something.” (33:49) Ethan: “So much of learning to write songs and play guitar came from just being bored and messing around with things…” (35:01)

• Expertise and Human Touch:
  AI is seen as a threat to developing true expertise, and may lead to a decline in creative depth and originality:

  “Sometimes it’s the left turn you didn’t expect that unlocks a song. That’ll always be different than AI.” – Jordan (36:21)

• Advice for Young Musicians:
  Learn your instrument and digital tools deeply, use tech as a tool—not a shortcut.

  “Your growth in your writing will exponentially go up from being able to listen back and critique yourself.” – Jordan (53:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting Through Setbacks:

  “A lot of kids have sports injuries…Had that not happened, do you think your life might have gone a different direction?” – Jenny (05:02)

• On Overcoming Shyness Via Music:

  “It was like a superpower…gave me all this confidence.” – Ethan (10:15)

• Screen Time vs. Real Life:

  “Ain’t nothing on a screen ever gonna beat this view.” – Ethan (43:18)

• Creativity, AI, and Mistakes:

  “Experts make good left turns.” – Jenny paraphrasing Dr. Dan Willingham (36:48)

• Community, Mentorship, and Legacy:

  “Relationships…can pass through generations…and it’s just been such an absolute blessing.” – Jenny (26:00)

Important Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Episode/Opener & Song Introduction | 00:00 - 01:26 | | Band Member Introductions / Early Inspirations | 01:26 - 15:26 | | Music as Community and Mentorship | 19:19 - 26:40 | | Band Formation Story | 26:40 - 29:57 | | Music Industry Choices (Touring, Sync, etc.) | 29:57 - 33:03 | | Discussion of AI’s Impact on Creativity | 33:03 - 41:27 | | Parenting, Childhood, and Outdoor Memories | 44:09 - 46:14 | | Songwriting Process (“Beautiful World” etc.) | 43:00 - 48:47 | | Career & Technology Advice to Young Musicians | 53:03 - 55:47 | | Premiere of “Beautiful World” | 57:07 - 60:15 | | Closing Childhood Outdoor Memories | 60:15 - 62:03 |

Song Highlight: “Beautiful World” (Premiere)

Theme: Encourages listeners to get outside, appreciate the world beyond screens, and cherish real moments and relationships.

Chorus Lyrics (57:57):
“Ain’t nothing on the screen that’s ever gonna beat this view…
It’s a beautiful world, and I just want to share it with you…”

—

Favorite Outdoor Childhood Memories (60:15)

• Ethan: Surfing every Saturday with his dad (60:26)
• Jess: Building ramps and biking/skateboarding with his brother (60:43)
• Jordan: Playing catch with his father after work (61:11)

Takeaways for Listeners & Parents

• Encourage Creativity: Allow space for children to discover and pursue non-digital hobbies, especially music and outdoor play.
• Value Community: Music is a powerful connector—fostering friendships, mentorships, and generational bonds.
• Balance Technology: Use digital tools thoughtfully, but don’t trade process or expertise for quick outcomes. Beware of the "peril" of AI diminishing deep skill-building and creativity.
• Cherish Real-Life Moments: The memories that last are made together—outside, in community, and through hands-on experiences.

Closing Sentiments

"Music, like outdoor memories, lasts a lifetime. It builds community, creates joy, and gives kids a chance to shine beyond the pull of screens. Give your kids time, patience, opportunity—and watch what grows."
— Jenny Urton, near closing (62:08)

Listen to "Beautiful World" by In Paradise—featuring Vivian and Brooklyn—now available on all streaming platforms.