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

Musician, Producerrob morganJune 26, 2017The Happy Gnome

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

Fantasy Novel Enthusiast, Musicianrob morganJune 19, 2017Victor's 1959 Cafe

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

Musicianrob morganMay 29, 2017Indeed Brewing Co.

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

Musician, Influencerrob morganMay 22, 2017

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

Drummer, Musicianrob morganMay 3, 2017town hall brewery

Question 2 // Can You Retrain Your Brain? (feat. Joel Bowers)

Joel Bowers is only a couple of years older than me but I view him as a mentor. As a multi instrumentalist, he’s been around the block a few times when it comes to gigging. As a man with dual citizenship and someone who needed to replace his passport twice before college, he’s been around the world a few times. Joel’s seen more out of life than some people could see in two lifetimes and is one of the first people I go to when I need advice.

In our conversation, we talk about practical tools he’s found to retrain his brain to lean into gratitude and he opens up about the death of his mother just months ago.

I don’t take conversations and openness like this lightly. This conversation is a gift from Joel to me, to share with you.

Recording Location: The Freehouse, THE NORTH FREAKIN LOOP, MPLS, MN

Food: Breakfast bowls, 'brew bread’ and coffee

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

Musicianrob morganMay 3, 2017the freehouse

Question 1 // How The Hell Did We End Up Here? (feat. DawnL Ojeda)

DawnL Ojeda is more than an amazing vocalist. I knew from the moment I heard a portion of her life's story, while in a green room at a gig no less, that I had to hear ALL of it one on one for myself. It’s a story of a talented young girl surrounded by people who want her to live her life by THEIR ideas of success and how she grows up learning how to use what she’s been given to make other people’s lives better.

It’s a story of finding yourself, a story of strength, and defining what success means for YOU!

I’m so inspired by DawnL and have a feeling you will be too.

Recording Location: Mancini’s, St. Paul, MN

Drinks: Dirty Martinis

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

Musicianrob morganMay 2, 2017mancini's

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