In this episode of The Morse Code Podcast, Korby Lenker sits down with Ron Pope for a wide-ranging conversation about longevity, independence, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable creative life.

Ron reflects on his early success releasing music online, the lessons learned from major-label detours, and how he and his wife Blair ultimately rebuilt their career on their own terms. The conversation explores the less glamorous but essential parts of being an artist: discipline, embarrassment, learning the business, and staying in the work long after the spotlight shifts.

They also talk about writing through grief, how parenthood has reshaped Ron’s relationship to touring and ambition, and why showing up consistently matters more than chasing moments. Toward the end of the episode, Ron performs a live acoustic version of “The Life in Your Years,” accompanied by Korby on baritone ukulele.

Topics include:

Building a long-term career outside the traditional music industry

The role of embarrassment, discipline, and resilience in creative work

Writing honestly through grief and loss

Balancing art, family, and sustainability

A live performance of “The Life in Your Years”

Get full access to Morse Code with Korby Lenker at korby.substack.com/subscribe