The Morse Code with Korby Lenker
Morse Code Podcast with Korby Lenker
Randa Takes Over. A Morse Code Podcast Valentine's Special | MCP #217
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Randa Takes Over. A Morse Code Podcast Valentine's Special | MCP #217

Randa interviews Korby and then they sing together
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It was Randa’s idea.

“I want to sit in the host seat,” she said, “and interview you.”

“Okay,” I said, “What if you learn things about me you don’t like?”

“Then I’ll add them to the things I already know.”

“Wait. What don’t you like about me?”

“It takes you forever to make scrambled eggs, for one.”

I looked down at what I was doing, which was making scrambled eggs for the two of us. A thin yellow film was gelling in the pan.

It was morning and we were standing in the kitchen, Randa leaning against the counter holding a sleeping Zuzu on her hip. The cat was sprawled on the table where he wasn’t allowed, watching.

“No see, you have to cook em real slow, on low heat, so we don’t get the egg leather.”

“You can avoid the leather just fine by being attentive to the task at hand.”

“I am being attentive,” I said, “these eggs are gonna be amazing.”

“Yeah for lunch, the way things are going,” she said.

I pushed the eggs gently with a rubber spatula. They folded like a baby blanket. Beautiful.

“The other thing,” she said, “is I want to sit on the host side.”

“But that side is my good side,” I said. “Can’t you just interview me from the guest side?”

“No. That side is for guests. You are the guest. So you have to sit on that side.”

This conversation continued for the rest of breakfast. It got leathery. In the end she got what she wanted. Delicious eggs and a turn as host of the Morse Code Podcast.

One of the thing about intimate relationships is that its hard not to fall into facsimiles of yourselves. You know each other as daily travelers, as the guy who cooks your eggs, the girl who folds your socks. The sheen can wear off if you’re not careful.

So one of the personal joys of this conversation was what it’s formality introduced: we talked as colleagues as well as intimates, and under Randa’s pointed questions, I found myself sharing what I might call my origin story, the reason why I chose all those years ago to set sail in an uncertain sea. We laughed, cried a little (her mostly but not only) and we sang together a song I wrote.

We thought it might be nice to share a little of our lives with you - our working relationship and our professional and family goals. She learned a few things about me she didn’t know. As to whether she doesn’t like them she hasn’t yet said. Keeping me on the back foot is one of her power moves.

Below is a list of the chapters for our conversation. If you live in Nashville, come join me (and Randa and Zuzu) for my full band show this

Saturday Feb 15 at the Five Spot at 6pm.

Buy Tickets

My friends (and MCP alums) Abby Jane and Carl Anderson are opening, Ryan Rado is doing some live immersive painting out in the audience, and then we’re going to screen the music video for my new song “Meet Me at the End of the World”, (out March 18th — we’ve got some special stuff planned!) 50 people worked on this video and it is pure cinema. Last night we had band rehearsal and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be playing these songs with this caliber of musician(s). Live music is the antidote to cynicism!

Sharing one more pic from the podcast because Randa looks super hot when she sings. Enjoy this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify and Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Morse Code with Korby Lenker is a reader-supported publication. Support my music, writing and the Morse Code Podcast by becoming a free or paid subscriber.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:00 Why Randa likes Korby

00:04:06 Korby's start in music

00:06:09 Did Korby always know he was "good at music"?

00:09:21 Korby is exposed to tasteful things and topless ladies

00:11:23 Korby talks about when he wrote his first song

00:12:30 Korby starts a band

00:17:25 Korby gets sandwiched by the Rice twins

00:19:30 Korby moves to Bellingham

00:25:20 Korby goes to West Virginia

00:27:40 How the Barbed Wire Cutters got their name

00:34:14 Korby sets up April May

00:34:54 Korby and Randa perform April May (musical performance)

00:37:50 Randa and Korby like each other

00:39:44 How Korby prioritizes creativity

00:44:40 Randa and Korby talk marriage and priorities

00:46:17 Korby and Randa talk childhood memories

00:49:29 Korby talks parenthood and creativity

00:52:33 Korby reflects on his adventurous past

00:56:36 Randa and Korby talk plans for 2025

01:02:05 Superstars are over

01:05:43 IVF and Meet Me at the End of the World

01:13:01 Korby leads heart-forward

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