Morse Code Podcast with Korby Lenker

Cody Duncum is a director and cinematographer working out of Nashville. His latest effort, a short film called Where the Bullets Go, has been busy on the film festival circuit, with official selections at the The Appalachian Film Festival, Filmfort, the Oxford Film Festival, IFF Boston, and more. An in-demand cinematographer, he’s worked behind the camera with countless artists including Mumford and Sons, Miranda Lamb...

I speak with singer-songwriter Abigail Rose on the heels of her widely acclaimed debut EP Surprise Valley, about why she had to leave the comfort of her hometown in order to discover her artistic identity. We compare notes:  I experienced a similar freedom of reinvention when I moved to Nashville almost twenty years ago. We discuss the perils and rewards of doing creative work with a life partner, and how making stuff...

I speak with singer-songwriter and mixed media artist Andrew Combs on the eve of his first solo gallery show (at Julia Martin Gallery in Nashville) about what it means to him in the context of a career spent largely in song and on stage. From touring with Kacey Musgraves to performing a set on perhaps the greatest taste-making venue ever — Tiny Desk on NPR — Andrew’s decision to step back from the heavy touring that marked his twen...

A great listen for anyone interested in the publishing game in its current iteration. I speak with the Editorial Director of Lake Union, an imprint of Amazon that publishes more than 80 titles a year, generating more than $40 million in yearly revenue. In her influential capacity, Danielle as been responsible for some of the biggest success stories at her firm. We discuss the evolution of book publishing, expectation ...

I talk with three-time grammy winner, multi-instrumental singer songwriter, winner of numerous Native American Music Awards, and acclaimed painter, Bill Miller. Born on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in northern Wisconsin, his big break came when Tori Amos discovered his music and invited him to open her tour for the Under the Pink album. They toured together for over a year. After that it was the same thing with ...

I talk with Grammy award-winning guitarist and singer Chris “Critter” Eldridge. A regular collaborator of Julian Lage’s, Critter has lent his talents to Paul Simon, Justin Timberlake, T-Bone Burnett, Fiona Apple, The War and Treaty and more. We discuss the necessity of discomfort as a prerequisite for growth, and how raising a daughter has opened up new insights about failure and its role in personal development. We a...

I talk with grammy and Emmy-award winning songwriter Drew Ramsey about the challenges and rewards of co-writing songs, which occasionally become hit songs. In this, Drew has decades of experience — his countless collaborations include India.Arie, John Legend, Jonny Lang, and Marc Broussard  — and in his capacity as a songwriting professor at Belmont University in Nashville he’s championed and incubated the next genera...

I speak with singer songwriter Robby Hecht about all things indie-folksinger. He's been making and releasing music since before Spotify was a thing, and in addition to being a multi-award-winning songwriter, his songs have been recorded by more than 60 artists. Robby is currently in the process of releasing his latest album “Not a Number” and he just showcased at SXSW. He's got some hard-earned perspective on what’s c...

I speak with hit songwriter and producer Barry Dean, who, with four #1 hits, many singles, and countless cuts, somehow manages to act like an earnest kid grateful for the chance to take his shot. His songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Alison Krauss, Jon Pardi, Ingrid Michaelson, Brothers Osbourne, and many, many others. In one of the podcast’s most illuminating guests to date, Barry d...

I speak with Alex Berger, Founder and Creative Director of Nashville-based creative agency Weird Candy. He's shepherded the visual translation of artists like The Critical and Yot Club as well as tastemaker labels like War Buddha and 3 Sirens. We kick off this conversation with Alex offering a impromptu brand appraisal of... me. And with that we jump into a discussion of why artists have such a hard time tackling the ...

Korby speaks with producer, songwriter and artist Lamont Coleman about his evolution from being an in-demand beatmaker and producer in the NYC hip hop scene to writing with country artists on music row. Lamont was an instrumental collaborator on the hit “Sweetest Girl Dollar Bill” feat Wyclef Jean, Akon, Lil Wayne, but traded the hip hop lifestyle to be “more intentional” with his musical gifts. Lamont’s self-describe...

Korby speaks with artist, songwriter and guitar player Boo Ray about the realities of maintaining a heavy tour schedule in a post-covid landscape, and how ‘the polaroid of the thing is sometimes more interesting than the thing itself.” A much-loved figure of the East Nashville Scene, Boo’s band gets out and plays often. We talk about the spiritual analogue of the artist’s life, how Boo sees it more as a calling than a...

Korby speaks with Todd Sherwood, owner and talent booker of The 5 Spot, about the glory and heartache of running a Nashville institution for nearly twenty years. Since taking over in 2007 in his mid twenties, Sherwood has hosted more than 50,000 shows. In this insightful and often hilarious conversation, he talks about the history of the 5 Spot, some highlight moments (with photos), the picturesque reality of running ...

It’s a Valentines Day special y’all. Korby speaks with Nashville actor, producer, casting director and life partner Randa Newman. In addition to her appearances on TV shows like NBC’s 'Young Rock' and The CW’s 'Walker', Randa also produced our Morse Code TV pilot, for which this podcast is named. We talk about the weird joy it is to work and live together, as well as our evolving effort to be both challenging and supp...

Korby speaks with East Nashville based singer-songwriter Lauren Morrow about the roller coaster reality of making a life in music, one song at a time. Lauren is the former lead singer of Atlanta’s Whiskey Gentry and now the solo artist of 2023’s EP People Talk. They talk about the fraught waters of self-promotion in a landscape dominated by social media, her formative experience as a young singer performing for 50k pe...

Korby speaks with collaborative writer and editor Shannon Lee Miller, whose numerous projects have gone on to become national bestsellers and garnered praise from celebrated authors including Elizabeth Gilbert, Glennon Doyle, and Cheryl Strayed. Korby met Shannon ten years ago as a Nashville singer-songwriter. They talk about her pivot from music to writing and how she’s blossomed in this second chapter.

Korby met singer songwriter Abigayle Kompst when they both competed at a song contest at the Wildflower Music Festival in Texas in Spring 2023. A compelling performer and collaboratively-minded writer, Abigayle provides a valuable glimpse into the world of a young singer songwriter negotiating life and creativity in a landscape crowded with content. Plus she plays three originals live in studio, Korby joining on two.

Korby speaks with actor and spoken word artist James Kyson. Best known for his role in  NBC’s Heroes, James has more than 100 appearances in TV and film. Here he shares the many aspects of maintaining a successful acting career across decades, including auditioning for new roles, playing to camera in various situations, the value of a positive attitude, and loads more!

Korby speaks with bassist and friend Anton Nesbitt about his evolving path through music and life, how, in spite of demand, he chose against a career outside that of a full time session player, how marriage and starting a family changed relationship to his career, and how he is instilling in his kids the values he holds most dear. “As a man thinketh, so he is.” Finally, he joins Korby on a special cover..