Rob Morgan Is A Curious Person

Recorded in November 2017.

I sat down with my close friend and songwriter André Rodriguez at Canteen Coffee in Minneapolis to talk about his album "Who We Are", politics, art, disagreement, and what happens when we start deciding which relationships are worth keeping based on who agrees with us.

Nine years later, I thought this conversation was worth putting back into circulation.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ALBUM "WHO WE ARE" ON SPOTIFY

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ALBUM "WHO WE ARE" ON APPLE MUSIC

Originally released as Q...

In this episode, I talk about the balancing act of creativity with making a living. Money and music. Rent and riffs. I share ideas I’ve collected over the years from musicians, writers, and artists I respect - people who’ve figured out how to keep the lights on and make work worth making.

You don’t buy a motorcycle just so you can buy gas. You didn’t start creating just because the money it could make you. The goal isn’t just to survive - it’s to make something great, and making enough money to keep goin...

What’s the difference between being an enthusiast and a critic? Can you love something - really love it - without being pretentious about it?

In this episode, Sarah and I head to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Chicago to wrestle with a question that’s been nagging me for weeks: what’s the fine line between appreciation and snobbery?

Along the way, I talk with Dylan Quinn and Jeremy Schultz from the Guinness team about beer, comparison, and the myth of the “expert.”

This one’s about more than beer. It’s about passio...

In Bozeman, Montana, my buddy Aaron Johnson and I stumbled into an art exhibit that caught us off guard in the best way. On the surface, it was just holes drilled into a roof. But the meaning behind it? That’s what stopped us in our tracks.

In this episode, we talk about what turns a simple act into something sacred. About how intention, not just action, is what makes something art. We also dig into the idea of art as a gift, something freely offered, not just sold, and how that mindset is often lost in th...

In this episode, I talk about the myth of balance, the reality of sacrifice, and what it actually looks like to build a life around what matters most to you - even if it means leaving money on the table.

If you’re a freelancer, an artist, a creative trying to make it work—this one’s for you.

📍 Minneapolis, MN

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/notatonce

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Ever feel anxious that your creative dreams are taking too long to come true? You’re not alone. In this episode, I dive into a piece of advice from actress Tilda Swinton that changed how I view my creative journey. She famously said, “Keep your dreams soft, malleable, flexible, porous – and fun. Don’t make your dreams breakable.”

Join me for a convo about letting go of the rush and loving the ride. If you’ve ever felt impatient or discouraged with your progress, this episode will inspire you to enjoy the journey and make the process part of your...

For the longest time, I used the phrase “I’m just wired this way” as an excuse for my lack of intentionality and organizational skills. I thought being creative meant I couldn’t also be focused. Turns out… that was bullshit.

In this episode, I talk about “task saturation,” and how the CIA trains its operatives to handle overwhelming pressure. No surprise - it also applies to artists.

The truth is, you don’t rise to the level of your inspiration. You fall to the level of your habits.

And I’m trying to build better on...

In fashion, there’s this idea called "The Wrong Shoe Theory" and somehow, that choice shows confidence. Intention. Personality.

In music, and really any creative field, we’re taught the rules, but no one reminds us to break them. And without breaking the rules, you’ll never find your voice. You’ll just be a well-behaved echo.

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about fashion, creativity, confidence, and what it means to actually own your weird. Because the wrong shoe might be the right move.

📍 Town Hall Tap, Minneapolis MN

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When you're first starting out as a creative, everyone tells you to say yes. Yes to every gig, every project, every maybe-this-will-lead-to-something opportunity. But no one really teaches you when it’s time to start saying no.

In this episode, I talk about how saying yes got me started… but saying no is what’s helping me stay focused. At some point, your time, your energy, and your creative sanity depend on it.

📍 Minneapolis, MN

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/focusandno

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There’s a lot going on in the world right now. Chaos, burnout, doomscrolling, and all the rest. But here’s your friendly, ridiculous reminder: everyone’s dealing with something. Everyone’s in pain in some way. And yes, everyone’s getting up to go pee pee at 3AM.

This episode is a goofy reminder to have some damn patience with other people, and with yourself. You’re not alone. You’re just human. Probably a little tired. Probably a little full-bladdered.

📍Minneapolis, MN

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Yeah, the world is saturated. Everyone’s making something.

But that doesn’t make your voice any less necessary.

Your perspective—how you see, process, frame, and express—is the one thing no algorithm, AI, or influencer can duplicate.

That’s the work. That’s the value.

This episode is a reminder not to disappear into the noise… just because there’s a lot of it.

📍 Minneapolis, MN

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/yourperspective

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Last week, mid-show in Milwaukee, my mic stand took a nosedive. (Fine, maybe I kicked it during André’s filthy solo. The man shreds—what do you want from me?)

But here’s the thing—I didn’t stop. Michael Caine once gave acting advice: “Use the difficulty.” So that's what I did. I didn’t fix it. I used it. Because that’s the difference between a recital and a show. One chases perfection. The other turns chaos into gold. Live performance is alchemy.

In this episode, I share one of my most embarrassing live music stories...

There’s this quote from Donald Glover that’s been rattling around in my head. It sounds simple, but it cuts deep, especially for anyone trying to make art in a world obsessed with control and validation.

In this episode, I talk about what it means to stop chasing approval and start creating from a place that’s actually honest. Not engineered for the algorithm. Not pre-digested for the audience. Just real. Because the truth is: the minute you start shaping your work around what you think people want, you lose the thing that made it worth doing...

Every musician wants to be heard. But what if you’re the reason no one’s listening?

In today’s podcast episode, “Cooking for Ghosts” I talk about a tour-van convo with my buddy Matt Patrick, who dropped a line that punched me in the gut: Making music but avoiding self-promotion is like cooking all day at home, then whining about why you don’t have a restaurant yet.”

We talk about the myth of “getting discovered,” the real war between art and exposure, and why it’s not about selling out - it’s about putting the damn...

Jackie Chan says “Ding Ding” on set to remind his crew: stay sharp, keep moving, no dead time. I’ve been thinking… maybe life needs more of that energy too. Less waiting, more intention. Urgency, not the panic kind, but the alive kind. The kind that reminds you you’re here to do something. Ding ding, let’s go.

📍Minneapolis, MN

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Listen to Dan Rodriguez' new album Wander on iTunes or Spotify

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My buddy recently dropped this phrase on me: “cosplaying confidence.” It’s been rattling around in my head ever since. Sometimes you’ve got to show up like you’ve already arrived. Not in some fake-it-till-you-make-it hustle bro bullshit way… But in that quiet, stubborn refusal to let your current circumstances define your future trajectory.

📍Minneapolis, MN

👉🏻 www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/cosplayingconfidence

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Craig is a writer, a photographer, and a thinker who’s been living in Japan for nearly two decades. His work explores how we move through physical spaces, how technology shapes our lives, and how the small rituals of daily living can add up to something beautiful. He's written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Eater. He's published books like Koya Bound and his new book he’s just written, Things Become Other Things.

Craig's New Book: amzn.to/3RIys2s

Craig's Podcast w/ Tim Ferriss: tim.blog/2025/03/28/craig-mod-returns

Craig's Website: crai...

Giving someone a bottle of whisky isn’t just a drink, it’s gifting the gift of gifting. Strangely, whisky also changed the paradigm of my art. In this episode, we talk about generosity, craft, and why the best things—whether a bottle, a poem, a photograph or a song—are never really ours to keep.

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/whiskygift

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In this episode, we dive into the wisdom of Alan Watts and why young creatives need to master the art of letting go. We talk about my illusion of control, my fear of failure, and how gripping too tightly to an outcome can kill the very thing you're trying to create.

📍 Frasier, Colorado

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They’ve got one in Honolulu, they’ve got one in Moscow too. They’ve got four of them in Sydney, and a couple in Katmandu… 

Tokyo, Munich, Indonesia, Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing… Why is it, Wherever I go around the world, I find an Irish pub?

What is it that makes them so special? Where do all these Pubs source their bar counters and authentic Irish brick-a-brack?

Pull up a barstool and join me in Mexico as I hunt down a pint of proper and tap into these questions and more.

📍 Pu...

Touring with everyone from the Martha Graham Ballet and the New York City Opera, to Cher, Barry Manilow, Aerosmith, Miley Cyrus, Foreigner, Steve Miller, Jennifer Lopez, and more… Garland Purdy has “been involved in the entertainment industry since before there was an entertainment industry.” Join us as we sit down, over coffee… pretty much just as an excuse for me to get to know him more.

📍 Fargo, North Dakota (In the lobby of Garland’s Hotel)

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If everything goes exactly as planned, you’re not really traveling—you’re just moving through a postcard. The magic happens in the discomfort: the missed train, the questionable street food, the conversation in broken language—because that’s where the real stories live.

📍 Madrid, Spain - 11pm

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/travelfriction

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I just heard David Lynch passed away. Here are some thoughts of his that have helped me along my journey.

📍Madrid, Spain

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I haven’t been excited about this trip to Spain… It's not that I've been dreading it or not looking forward to it... But it feels like there’s been a limiter put on my soul's curiosity this past month.

I call it “The Curse Of The Freelancer” and it took a poem sent to me by my friend Summer Lee Carlson to break me from it.

📍Recorded somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean

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Join Sarah and me for an extremely personal conversation about a topic I’ve been tormented by this entire past year.

📍Minneapolis, MN

CLICK HERE TO SEE TWO PHOTOS OF MISTY BOYCE: ONE FILM, ONE DIGITAL, TO SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: 

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/youcantloseyourself

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A conversation with one of my favorite tattoo artists, Jack Hilton, while finishing my back piece today made me rethink the importance of the types of tools and gear I use to create, and it's possible impact on my creative journey.

📍Minneaplis, MN

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/fullymanual

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Join Sarah and myself at our table to revisit yesterday's New Year's Resolution thought.

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/uncertaintyforbreakfast

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2025... You look happy to greet me.

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/edelweissenergy

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Search Tags: Happy New Year, years, resolutions, resolution, mindset, outlook, begin again. 

“[Art] is performing an act of self-exploration on behalf of an audience.” - Chiwetel Ejiofor to Jason Siegel

📍Fargo, ND

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/spiritualdisciplineofease

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I'm high and alone in my hotel room in Iowa. Perfect time to talk about religion.

📍 Mason City, Iowa

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/toohightorecordapodcast

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On the true purpose of practice and the importance of the gear and tools we use.

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/beyondpractice

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I'm once again reminded: if it exists... you win. 

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Here's the clip referenced in today's ep: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_-JqS89tSQ

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"I don't know where I'm going, but I know how I'm getting there." 

https://www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/howvswhere

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You have 1 missed call!

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/voicemail-politics-religion

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You have 1 missed call!

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/specialist-vs-generalist

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On, what happens when dark days turn into a dark month, and why you haven’t heard from me in a while.

📍 Nüremberg, Germany

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/exorbitantconvalescing

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We're all familiar with a job being called a "Trade" right? Well, I heard it said differently this morning that made me think of that term all day. 

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/whatareyoutrading

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In my journey, perfectionism has always paralyzed me. It was when I embraced my "Dogma of Good Enough" that led to more movement and opportunities in my creative journey than I could have ever imagined. 

👉🏻 www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/thedogmaofgoodenough

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The funny thing is... the older I got, the better I got at taking a compliment, but the worse I got at going to concerts. Here's how they're connected. 

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/complimentsandconcerts

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Search Tags: keane, hopes and fears #hopesandfears20 , how to take a compliment, how to receive a...

In 1505, when Michelangelo said yes to a gig from Pope Julius II that fell outside Michelangelo’s focused skillset, he famously said, “Non è La Mia Arte” - “Not My Art!”

I’m about the same age he was at that time, just 5 centuries later, and I find his story strangely relevant to modern-day gig-culture.

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/notmyart

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