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.
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!
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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