Matthew Hahn
@matthewhahn
Former prisoner. Dharma student. Union tradesman. Dharma leader at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Center, & San Jose Insight. Sober since 2005. Hobbyist photographer. San Jose, CA. Kicked a divot out of Stalin’s grave.
Seventeen years ago today, I was in prison and in Santa Barbara, battling the Jesusita Fire as an incarcerated wildland firefighter. Pictured is myself, an unknown free firefighter, and my sawyer (Mando Perez, who is a firefighter today, as a free man).
She's been there for the good times, and stayed there for the bad times. Happy Mother's Day to the woman who's always had my back. Pictured: Folsom State Prison, 2007.
Career opportunity! The apprenticeship application window for inside wiremen (general electrician) in San Mateo County’s IBEW 617 opens on June 1st. First year apprentices start at $30.10/hr & scale up to journeyman wage ($88/hr) over the course of the 5-year apprenticeship.
Now, visiting the high school is one of my favorite days of the year. I continue to be inspired by their curiosity, their kindness, and their willingness to change their minds. As always, I walk away with gratitude.
I started sharing my story with high school students less than two months after coming home from prison. It was terrifying for me. I had yet to work through my prison-trauma and the intense fear of vulnerability with people. This chair was my friend.
IBEW Local 617 Airtrain workers are striking at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Please support our efforts in protesting unfair labor practices and negotiating a fair contract.
Kaiser healthcare workers are striking. 31,000 people strong. #kaiser #healthcare #strike #unionstrong #patients
Ichi-go ichi-e. This particular constellation of delightful people had its moment yesterday, never to gather in this particular way ever again. I really love my people. Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders, January 2026.
It seems that I'd passed the letter on to one of the group's volunteers. Here it is:
Admiring the Clark-Hahn-Jerez Family Christmas Tree while wishing a Merry Christmas from our home to yours. In this turbulent world, there is still much to be grateful for and many of you are part of that.
Nothing quite like having vertigo but still going to the holiday party because I’m Santa.
A full circle moment for me. I first learned about the IBEW while incarcerated. It was surreal to share the same message that was shared with me more than 20 years ago: “We don’t care what your past is so long as it stays there.”
I was fortunate enough to represent IBEW Local 617 at Defy Ventures’ Deep Dive Business Coaching Day in CTF Soledad this month. Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
A misty evening at San Quentin, where the Buddhadharma Sangha held its celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment. We honored transformed lives, community, and liberation.
At the union hall phone banking for Yes on Prop 50. First time for everything.
Otherwise occupation, subjugation, police brutality, dispossession, surveillance, and 'extrajudicial executions,' would be excusable or even necessary." - Mohammed el-Kurd, in Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal
On this week’s episode of Flightless Bird with @davidfarrier.bsky.social we talk about fighting fires in prison, where rehabilitation happens behind the walls, and some of my story. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.
I don’t know what’s more wild: - getting propaganda emails from the Social Security Administration, or - having to block the U.S. Department of Justice on Facebook
“I’m not having sex with a couch, I’m having sex with its cushions” - JD Vance, probably
A photo from Inauguration Day, 2017. Journalists curating the spectacle of a protest. When I see images of Los Angeles, I try to remember that none of the uninteresting stuff is being shown to me.
It brings me great joy to mentor apprentices and then watch them become journeymen. This man is something special. The future is in good hands.
You are not winning when your entire account and every comment you make is labeled “intolerant”.
Official pride and trans flags, coming to a government building near you. . Thank you, Salt Lake City and Boise.
Our suffering is a feature, not a failure. . The full talk “Our Pain Is Sacred” is available on Youtube and my website. See link in bio.
Coming to terms with the truth of suffering early in my last prison term. . The full talk “Our Pain Is Sacred” is available on Youtube and my website. See the link in bio.
