Steve Poltz is a… a.. what is he? In the man’s own words, “I’m just a weirdo, a freak, a bon vivant, a rounder, a rabble rouser, a workaholic, a people pleaser, an idiot and a grateful kid who ran away and joined the circus.”

Most of us know Poltz as one of the most charismatic live folksingers working today. Whether he’s playing little club in Halifax, or trading verses with Jewel (whose hit song “You Were Made for Me” he co-wrote), or serenading Cayamo, Poltz is Poltz, full on and no exceptions. Hence the the superlative, announced each night, by the man himself:

“This is the Greatest Show of My Life!”

I shared a show with him once. Unsurprisingly, it was the same night I met Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. We became friends. Weird things happen when Poltz is around.

Besides Jewel, the East Nashville-based folksinger has cuts with dozens of artists — Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Deer Tick, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm among them — as well as a collaboration with the Wood Brothers on his critically-acclaimed record Stardust and Satellites.

We talk about early years in the California folk rock scene. Hilarity ensues. Steve recounts what a typical show at the Belly Up was like during the Rugburns’ heyday. Destroying stuff, making memories for everyone in the house except himself, since he was wasted.

But we also explored more sensitive territory. Steve got clean more than fifteen years ago, after suffering a stroke onstage. We talk alot about that time, the before and after. I asked him how his motivations changed when he got clean. His answer is worth the listen alone.

One thing about Steve Poltz is that he is better than just about anybody I know at making a person feel like he’s the center of the world. Time and again in this interview a few minutes would pass before I’d realize he was interviewing me.

Somewhere in there we played a song together, Steve’s song Conveyor Belt. Steve played and sang and I did a harmony and even finagled a little solo into the deal. A sweet moment captured in the studio.

This interview was the most fun I’ve had on the Morse Code Podcast so far. I hope you enjoy it. Please subscribe on whatever you’re listening to (or watching) and help us grow this spot. Or consider joining as a paid subscriber. Either way, thank you for being part of this community.

This episode sponsored by Writerfest, a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters in. Attendees enjoy keynote talks by the best book, song, and screenplay writers in the business as well as in-depth break-out sessions with professional editors, literary agents, filmmakers, and music industry insiders. Writerfest is happening Nov 22 and 23. Find out more information on writerfestnashville.com

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Mila Vilaplana is a film director, producer, and founder of Dipsomania, a production house focused on the creation of visually arresting psychologically-driven narratives. Originally from Cuba, Mila's work has received critical acclaim and film fest buzz for its bold Giallo-inspired imagery and unconventional approach to cinematic storytelling.

Zach Williams is the founding member and frontman for The Lone Bellow, an Americana Folk featuring Zach, Kanene Donehey Pipkin and Brian Elmquist. Best known for their powerhouse vocals and emotive blend of folk, country, and soul, the storied trio exploded onto the scene in 2014 with their self-titled debut, which made a bunch of end-of-year lists and garnered praise from respected outlets like People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and NPR, who lovingly dubbed them an ‘earnest and magnetic folk-pop [trio] built to shake the rafters.’

Zach got into songwriting after a personal tragedy—his wife, who was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident, inspired him to channel his grief into music. He’d been writing songs for a few years but the accident pushed him into bolder creative spaces and out into the NYC folk scene. Rockwood Music Hall, a mainstay of many an indie folk musician, played a key early role in Williams’ success.

Initially performing as a solo artist, Williams eventually brought in Pipkin and Elmquist, both of whom shared a similar passion for Americana music and storytelling. The trio quickly became a tight-knit unit, blending their diverse influences into a distinctive sound that continues to turn heads a decade later.

The Bellow moved to Nashville in 2016, made a bunch more records, and shortly after this taping, performed a live concert with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

Zach and I sat down to talk about the evolution of his music and career, now in its second decade. Among the things I wanted to know was what he —at the outset of his creative journey — imagined a successful career to look like, versus what it eventually became. We touched on those early days, how the music scene has changed with the domination of Spotify and its ilk. He also played one live in the studio.

If you’re feeling what we do, take a second to like and subscribe. It helps a lot. Thanks for listening!

This episode of the Morse Code Podcast is sponsored by Writerfest, a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters in Nashville. Attendees enjoy keynote talks by the best book, song, and screenplay writers in the business as well as in-depth break-out sessions with professional editors, literary agents, filmmakers, and music industry insiders. Writerfest is happening Nov 22 and 23. Find out more information on writerfestnashville.com