Becoming a Cultural Cornerstone

Toby Morse: Six Years In, A Podcast Forged

In the often-fragmented landscape of modern discourse, the word "culture" can feel like a Rorschach test – open to a thousand interpretations, yet rarely fully defined. But for Toby Morse, the dynamic frontman of hardcore stalwarts H2O, "culture" isn't an abstract concept; it's a living, breathing entity he's been meticulously nurturing and openly sharing on his deeply personal and increasingly influential podcast.

For over half a year now, Morse has been peeling back the layers of what truly moves and inspires him, bringing listeners into intimate conversations with an eclectic roster of guests. Forget genre limitations or typical industry boxes; Morse's curiosity spans the worlds of music, wellness, skateboarding, and far beyond, creating a mosaic of human experience that resonates with authenticity.

From the insightful musings of Andrew Huberman to the profound wisdom of Rich Roll, the candid reflections of Mark Hoppus, and the enigmatic artistry of Chino Moreno, the guest list reads like a dream rolodex of individuals who have not only achieved success in their respective fields but have also cultivated a distinct cultural footprint. These aren't just interviews; they're genuine dialogues, often delving into the personal philosophies and journeys that have shaped these influential figures.

As the podcast recently celebrated its six-year milestone, we had the opportunity to catch up with Toby Morse. A moment to not only reminisce on the ground covered but also to peek behind the curtain and discover what's next for a platform that has quickly become a vital conduit for shared passion, hard-earned wisdom, and, yes, an undeniable sense of culture.

Hi Toby, thanks for doing this. So, six years of the 'One Life, One Chance' Podcast. That's huge. Congrats!

Thank you! You were one of my first friends who was pushing me to start a podcast, so thank you!!

What's been your biggest takeaway after all of those conversations?

To be a good listener. Don’t cut guests off from talking. It’s about their story, not mine.

You started during Covid...how different are the in-person interviews versus the calls you were doing at the beginning?

Started in 2019, and I had a bunch banked, thankfully. I don’t enjoy phone calls at all, but it was hard to get people to come in person during the pandemic. I had some people on the pod wearing masks sometimes. And I’ve had most of those phone call guests actually come back on the pod in real life after. Now, in-person is the only way I do them, and I will wait years for the guests if I have to, lol.

I know you can't pick a favorite, but have there been any episodes that really stood out as being special or surprising even?

Fat Mike was one of my favorites, sober, face-to-face, real convo. I definitely didn’t expect it to go the way it did, and I learned not to even have any expectations of any of my guests, especially ones that I think I know. And I love being surprised now.

There was a moment when Andrew Huberman was on and he mentioned he did testing on animals—he's a scientist. I thought it was a great moment because I know how against that you are, and he was aware of that. But he had his reasons, angles, or whatever you want to call them, for doing it. As a singer in a band, you've been singing and shouting your thoughts and beliefs for many years; as a podcast host, have you had to learn to listen, take things, and let them marinate for a bit before commenting?

100 and I’ve always been an open-minded, non-judgmental vegan. I love hearing both sides of things I’m passionate about because I don’t know everything and love still learning. So yes, it’s definitely opened my mind having these conversations with people I respect and hearing their thoughts and beliefs. Not all my friends are vegan straightedge.

Do you have any dream podcast guests?

Q-Tip, KRS-One, Chuck D, DJ Premier, De La Soul, Chris Martin, Billie Eilish, Hayley Williams, etc.

What's been the biggest inspiration for you lately?

Listening to new music—pop, hip hop, hardcore. I love seeing my peers still playing music and touring, man. 7 Seconds, AF, Circle Jerks, etc. So many of my guests, we are always talking about the “spirit of youth,” man. Doing what you love keeps you young! My whole thing is, I don’t want to live forever, but I want to do what I love as long as I can on this earth and be healthy and happy doing it.

What's been the best or most surprising thing that's happened since starting the podcast?

People not knowing I’m in H2O and only knowing me from the podcast. Then they discover my band and come see us play for the first time. It’s wild!

Since the podcast has become so popular, are people surprised to learn the podcast host has a band?

Yes, completely, and every week publicists, labels, and managers pitch their artists to me. It’s so cool, sometimes bands I’m friends with.

Do you think we'll ever see a video version of the pod?

No, haha.

Have you had an "it happened for a reason" moment in the recent past? Something you weren't happy about at the time but turned out to be a good thing?

Talked about a couple things with guests that I wanted to get off my chest or thought we had a misunderstanding or something to talk about from the past, and it felt great as grown adults talking about something over 20 years ago and laughing at how dumb they were.

How would you define success for the podcast?

Great question, man. It’s very real, honest conversations, not a standard question-and-answer platform. My dog farts on guests. My son comes in and chimes in. It’s just audio. People don’t like lights and cameras, and I get a better convo out of them because of that. And most guests come back a couple times. It’s the vibe. The kitchen, the home feel. I think people can hear and sense that through the conversations. I’m very proud of it and what I’ve done in six years. I’m happy that people feel so comfortable with me to be so open and honest. It’s been very therapeutic for me doing this podcast as well. Happy people love it and support it so much.

Amen. Thanks for your time, Toby!

Thank you for believing in me, man. Xo

Follow Toby Morse & One Life One Chance Podcast @tobymorse @onelifeonechancepodcast