Rob Morgan Is A Curious Person

INTERLUDE: "The Girl Who Married Two Brothers"

A Seanchaí is a traditional Gaelic storyteller/historian. In Scotland, they were called seanchaidh. I believe that there are Seanchaí hidden all around us in our everyday lives if we’re willing to cultivate a genuine sense of curiosity about other people and are willing to stop and listen.

What would happen if we saw people we come in contact with for what they really are, hidden Seanchaí, secret storytellers walking among us. 

Thank you to Ray, possibly one of the most interesting and humble people I’ve ever met, for sharing this week’s story with us.  

Question 11 // What’s the difference between familiarity and a loss of passion? (feat. Ben Gowell)

Ben Gowell (@bengowell for all you fellow Instagram junkies) is not only one of the most professional guitarist/producer/mix-engineer/songwriters that I know but he’s also one of the wisest people I’ve ever spent time with. I’ve looked up to Ben for years and because of that, this conversation goes all over the map and deep pretty quick. This one’s for those of you out there in need of life advice from a wise older brother who’s really been there (no pun intended)… so grab a Scotch, throw on some quality headphones, and feel free to share a booth with us.    In this episode we talk about: - Realizing that nobody you look up to ever feels like they have ‘arrived’ - EVERYONE had to work hard to be good, no exceptions. Everyone you look up to had to put in time and work in that you didn’t see. -Take chances and live an adventure. Don’t be paralyzed by future planning -The need for healthy confidence -Family: Thankfulness for strong supportive wives, dealing with being GONE on the road while in a relationship and learning to be a parent while being a musician. - “GET ADDICTED TO THE PROCESS!” - battling entitlement or expectation -"The human problem with familiarity": How Ben actively reminds himself to take stock in what he’s grateful for and his thoughts on confusing familiarity with a loss of passion -Welcoming different seasons of life: 'always be open to new seasons of joy'  - “You can’t know things you don't know”  - not wasting any energy or time on regrets - The importance of keeping your word - Practicing awkward confrontations: it doesn’t come easy to anyone Quotes Worth Tattooing from Ben: "You can’t know things you don't know” "GET ADDICTED TO THE PROCESS!” "Always Be Open To New Seasons Of Joy" “Don’t confuse familiarity with a loss of passion"    If you’d like to contact Ben, you can find him on social media here:  Instagram: @bengowell Facebook: Ben.gowell   Recording Location: The Happy Gnome, St. Paul MN Drink: Laphroaig 10yr Scotch For Links, Guest’s Info and Show Notes VISIT: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 10 // How did Fantasy Novels and Renaissance Festivals teach a touring drummer to embrace his inner nerd? (feat. Nate Babbs)

Nate Babbs (@soundslikenate) is a good friend of mine that I’m excited to welcome  to the podcast for a special NERD EDITION! Sure, Nate graduated from one of the best music schools in the country (Berklee College of Music)… Sure, Nate’s an experienced session and touring drummer (sharing the bill with the likes of Counting Crows) but I don’t give a single crap about any of that. We sat down for breakfast and bloody marys at Victor’s Cafe in South Minneapolis to dive into some of Nate’s nerdier endeavors and as usual the convo took a turn for some things deeper. In this episode we talk about: -Learning not to be ashamed of your passions (no matter how nerdy they are) and realizing that it’s only by embracing yourself that you can open up doors to connect with others -Dungeons and Dragons, Fantasy Novels, The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings, The Red Wall Book Series. "Giving your adult self permission to imagine.’   -Why Sake Bloody Mary are big in Minneapolis -Our human need to define EVERYTHING -The negative side of escapism -Renaissance Festivals -The importance of imagination as an adult: “Adults don’t feel like they can play anymore.”  -Deciding to be inclusive instead of exclusive -Quit constantly comparing yourself to other people  Recording Location: Victor’s 1959 Cafe, South Minneapolis Drinks: Sake Bloody Marys  For Links, Guest’s Info, Show Notes and pictures of Nate on tour and in his full RenFest attire VISIT: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 9 // When are you too old to make a career change? (feat. Luke Meek)

Luke Meek is an internationally touring production manager for the likes of: Lissie, NEEDTOBREATH, Owl City, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Tyrone Wells, Stephen Kellogg, The Nadas and the list goes on… Luke became a good friend of mine from our time working together and traveling the world with Owl City as soon as I heard about what’s been happening with him lately, I knew we had to sit down and talk the next time we were in the same city together.   Maybe you’re someone who feels unsettled in their career and is looking for a change, Maybe you’re a music lover/concert goer and curious about what a production manager’s role is, Maybe you’re a musician who's on tour or hopes to one day tour looking for some advice, Maybe you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur looking for tips on how to live a sustainable balanced life… We talk about all of it. Enjoy.    In this episode we talk about: - Balancing “Fake it till yo make it” and authenticly knowing when to ask for advice - Believing that you’re never too old to change in life whether it’s personally or professionally.  - ‘Time is Currency’ Finding your own work/life balance - How music has taken an Iowa boy all over the world - Maintaining a healthy relationship with your significant other while on the road: Advice and Stories - Understanding the ‘bell curve' of career/finances/personal time and learing to live in the middle instead of the extremes: ‘Keeping your life overhead low'  - The unglamorous side of touring: it’s still work -  Advice/Tips for musicians and crew while on the road with music   - Embracing “It’s not about me!”: Just because you’re on stage, doesn’t mean you can be a diva - The importance of cultivating a good work ethic - Realizing your attitude, good or bad, has influence on everyone around you - Figuring out your professional career identity and realizing that’s different than your personal identity: Your work doesn’t define you. - Understanding that life’s doors don’t alway open clearly, sometimes you need to take a calculated risk before you find the clear answers.   Thanks to our special guests (both of our wives) that drank and hung with us during our convo.    Recording Location: Volstead’s Emporium Speakeasy, Secret Location Somewhere In Minneapolis Drinks: Deliciously Crafted Whisky Cocktails and Wine For Links, Guest’s Info, Show Notes and pictures of Luke and us guys devouring noodles in South Korea Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 8 // How does a cup of coffee have the power to change the world? (feat. Caleb Garn)

Take a moment and think of how much in your life that has taken place in a coffee shop… My first hang-out with my now wife Sarah was at a coffee shop. I’ve been kicked out of bands, asked to be IN bands, early mornings, late nights… and the list goes on. Caleb Garn is a founder of one of the greatest coffee shops west of the Mississippi: Five Watt Coffee in Minneapolis, MN. Sit down with Caleb and one thing is clear, this musician/entrepreneur has a passion for the american coffee shop and even more so for the people in them. Don’t be mistaken, this conversation isn’t just for people who love coffee and music… (if you don’t… maybe I’m not the podcast for you BTW) we dive into what it means to be a human and what Caleb calls “Movie Moments" that could change the way you look at the world. Just your everyday conversation over coffee.. In this episode we talk about: -Coffee (the history of 3rd wave coffee and the magic of coffee shops) -How Caleb’s first real recording session in Minneapolis ended up being with the boys from Dr. Mambo’s Combo and Mick Sterling (MPLS Music Legends) -Us both moving here and experiencing Minneapolis for the first time -Music School -Defining Success (“Knowing where you want to go and getting there”)  -"Movie Moments" -Caleb’s obsessively inspiring coffee shop notebook taking   -The 3 ‘Waves’ of coffee -Deciding to be Inclusive instead of Exclusive. -How the world is “Inside Out” not “Outside In"  -Caleb’s personal deffinition of success Quotes from Caleb that stuck out to me: “Treat every customer like you’re meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time” "Always find a way to say ‘YES’." "A cup of coffee has the power to change the world and the only thing that connects people as much as coffee is music.” "Anything is obtainable. The price is how hard you want to work for it.”   Recording Location: Five Watt Coffee, South Minneapolis Drink: Five Watt Cold Press (@ 9pm… what was I thinking?) For Links, Guest’s Info And Show Notes Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 7 // Did a Backstreet Boy really get you that tattoo at 2am… in a hotel... in Japan? (feat. Tyler Burkum)

Tyler Burkum (@tylerburkum) is an internationally touring and studio guitarist (Mat Kearney, Leagues, The Cactus Blossoms, Ingrid Michaelson... just to name a few) He’s a brilliant composer/songwriter too… but I didn’t interview him because of all that nonsense. I played with Tyler a few months back and as soon as we got to talking, I knew that I needed to sit down one-on-one over beers and chat. The way this guy approaches life and thinks about things will inspire you to want to be more open to what life has to offer even if you’re not a musician.    In this episode we talk about: -Being cool with not being the right person for every gig -Realizing that being present in the moment is more important than anything else -Tyler’s experience being picked up at 17 to go on a rock tour   -Overseas tattoo stories -The enjoyment of traveling with music and the education of traveling the world. How it changes the way you view life and culture    -Deciding to be someone who says yes -Letting your mind remind your heart to ease it’s insecurities. -the pointlessness of being competitive in music -Producing yourself: The need to accept who you are and who you’re not. The importance of knowing what you’re NOT good at. -What ’success’ means to Tyler -Using social media as a musician -Advice Tyler would give to his past self that may just change your life. (don’t compete with other people)   Recording Location: Indeed Brewery Tap Room, Minneapolis Beer: Day Tripper IPA   I’m so thankful that I don’t have to deal with sponsors.  Otherwise, I would have to tell you to visit Guinness’ website HERE  Otherwise, I’d be inclined to tell you that Guinness Draft (with it’s distinctive dark amber body and rich creamy head) is possibly God’s greatest gift to mankind and is the sole reason I’m thankful for being alive after it’s birth in 1759. I’d also have to recommend that you to hire Narrate Films for your next video/film/music-video/photo booth/wedding photography/any photography needs and to visit their website HERE.  Whew… so thankful I don’t need to deal with that crap. I’d feel so dirty having to tell you that this episode was sponsored by Bittercube Bitters NO WAY IN HELL am I going to tell you that Bittercube has been featured in Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food, Playboy, Imbibe Magazine, Timeout, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, GO – AirTran Inflight Magazine, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, NPR, and Daily Candy, among other publications.   For Links, Guest’s Info And Show Notes Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 6 // What makes someone an "influencer"? (feat. Ian Allison)

Ian Allison (@ianmartinallison) is known to most as a studio and touring bassist for the likes of Eric Hutchinson, Jeremy Messersmith and many many more but to me, he’s a mentor. I first met Ian in 2004, studying my undergrad in music performance in Minneapolis under his bass tutelage. For a few years following, I learned far more than music from Ian and he became one of the most influential people of my adult life thus far. Sit down with Ian in any scenario and the convo is going to end up going deeper than you expected and this was no exception.. Years ago, He actually introduced me to the Minneapolis staple of a breakfast spot known as The Bad Waitress so it felt only fitting that I met up with him on a Tuesday morning for some coffee and conversation.   In this episode we talk about: -What makes someone an Influencer? -Shortchanging your creative voice -the lowdown and proper mindset of approaching music gear and art: “Kurt Cobain and the Fender jaguar guitar” -Why asking someone what gear they used on a session is the wrong question. (and what you should be asking) -Ian’s story about taking a lesson as a teen with Brian Bromberg -The need to embrace your past. (Everyone you think is ’cool’ now, was once a Weird Al fan) -The need to not feel embarrassed about your enthusiasm and being true to yourself -Why, if he could eat sushi professionally, Ian would never touch a bass again (maybe) -Playing what what gets you pumped, in music, but making sure it isn’t coming from a place of boredom and is serving the song -Embracing the right music for the right context // looking past yourself and your own esthetic likes and dislikes. -Ian’s last min ‘dan wilson’ story. “NEVER SAY NO AGAIN!!!” For Links, Guest’s Info And Show Notes Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 5 // What is a 'Cocktail Consultant'? (feat. Nick Kosevich)

Nick Kosevich (@nickkosevich) is an international 'Cocktail Consultant', a world class bartender and the co-founder of Bittercube Bitters. Even though Bittercube can be found at every bar I’ve been to in the Twin Cities, I took notice when I met a bartender in Louisiana raving about them years ago while on the road with music. I decided to sit down with Nick to find out how his journey took him from wanting to be an actor/stand-up comedian to being a successful entrepreneur and international cocktail judge and to figure out what I can learn from his career in cocktails and apply it to mine in the world of music.    In this episode: -Our good friends Jorge and Janelle Figueroa join Sarah and I at the dining room table for cocktails, wine, beer and end up talking about the importance of 'Staying Curious' as we get older. -I give a call to this week's Guinness Giveaway winner (Clark Strasburg) at the end of the episode -I end up making the best 'Sour' Cocktail of my life thanks to Bittercube's help.  In my interview with Nick we talk about: - Why Nick prefers not to be called a mixologist - What is a Cocktail Consultant? - Balancing being a good parent and being on the road for work - How is bartending alot like being a musician? - How to stay humble while still having confidence (“bartender bravado”) - The misconceptions of ‘pre-mixed’ cocktails - The awesomeness of the hit tv show 'Cheers' - Not trying to be a ‘Trend Setter’ but focusing on constantly being 'Forward Thinking' - The importance of confidence - How Bittercube Bitters got started - Even though it looks like people are successful overnight... that’s not how it works - Not worring about the competition, follow your own goals, run your own race

Question 4 // What Can You Learn From An International Lego Building Champion? (feat. Alex Grahmann)

Alex Grahmann (@agrahmann) is a master story teller, an international Lego® building champion and one of the best public speakers I’ve ever heard. In this episode, we talk about: -Green Legos® (you never had them) -National/International Lego® competitions (and him crushing the competition)  -Cyber bullying, Jealousy, and battling a scarcity mindset -Finding your self worth -Social media forcing us to try to look like life is effortless for you -How to be a “Dreamer Who Does Things” -Figuring out if you’re a dreamer and realizing that it's ok if you aren't -A test to find out if you are creative even if you think you aren't -How to use lists to maximize creativity to come up with/keep track of new ideas, and just be a better human -Building Star Wars cereal dioramas -Realizing what matters most in life.  Recording Location: Anelace Coffee, Northeast Minneapolis Drinks: GoldenEye Coffee For More Info And Show Notes Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com

Question 3 // What Aren't We Talking About? (feat. Steve Goold)

Steve Goold is known to the public as an internationally touring, session drummer for the likes of: Sara Bareilles, Ben Rector, Paul Baloche, Sara Groves, Owl City (before my time with them) Mat Kearney, Joel Hanson, The Honeydogs, Go Fish, The Blenders and the list goes on….  To me, Steve is known as a friend of wisdom and depth. I feel like we could start talking about fart densities and somehow he could tie it in to your purpose in life.  In our conversation we talk about the things that you don’t get to see on social media. The real reason he was in town last month, the death of his father this year, the eventual death of YOUR father someday, why musicians that play together form a bond like no other vocation, and how his project Masss came to be.  Stick around to the end of the episode and hear Masss’ newest single IN FULL.  Recording Location: Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN Drinks: A flight of Barrel Aged Belgian Beers (one of them, I spilt on my pants during our convo)   I’m so thankful that I don’t have to deal with sponsors.  Otherwise, I would have to tell you to visit Guinness’ website HERE and ask you to hire Narrate Films for your next video/film/music-video/wedding photography/any photography needs and to visit their website HERE. Whew… so thankful I don’t need to deal with that crap.   For More Info Visit: www.thecuriouspod.com