On The Cusp - Off The Cuff

Great conversation with my friend Eric Hofmanis about his show called "A Man Named Cash" which has been selling out shows across the country! COMING TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE on November 21st and 23rd! Check out their full schedule and info at - www.amannamedcash.com

Episode: On the Cusp and Off the Cuff  Guest: Sean Darby  Host: Adam Pope  Location: Choteau, Montana  Date: July 23, 2025## 🔨 What We Talked About:- The story behind Music Ranch Cabins and how it all started with Frank Smith- Sean Darby's journey from contractor to cabin builder- The genius behind the cabins' steel base foundation and modular design- What makes these cabins strong, mobile, and versatile- The unexpected connection between music and log cabins- Adam & Amy Pope’s vision of using cabins as performance spaces at festivals- Plans for the first cabin/music booth combo at the Threshing Bee in Choteau (Sept 20–22, 2025)## 🪵 Key Quote:> "These cabins aren’t for everybody—but they’re for anybody." — Sean Darby## 📍 Mentioned in the Episode:- Choteau, Montana (C-H-O-T-E-A-U)- Music Ranch Cabins- Frank & Karen Smith- John Long, Mark Crawford, Ryan & Sonny Keplin- Homestead Festival (Columbia, TN)- The Threshing Bee (Sept 20–22, 2025)## 🔗 Stay Connected:- Learn more about Music Ranch Cabins (Website coming soon)- Follow Adam & Amy Pope on social media- Subscribe for future episodes and festival appearances!Thanks for tuning in to *On the Cusp and Off the Cuff*. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and leave us a review!

After 6 months away from the podcast, I give an update on our year so far, look back on the "Mountain Mission", discuss current projects, upcoming shows, and my attempt at starting a side-business. Still on the cusp with nowhere to go but up!

On the road in the mountains trying to help people help people.

From business failures to blessings seemingly out of nowhere. God blew my mind in November and December of 2024. It's good to be alive in 2025!

The story of going to Asheville, NC to perform "Five Hundred Year Flood' plus details on our upcoming Gallatin, TN show!

Background on writing "Five Hundred Year Flood" and the story of being invited to Asheville, NC to sing the song at a "Candlelight Vigil."

This a fun conversation with the very passionate and entertaining songwriter and entrepreneur- Richard Trest.  We discuss Richard's upcoming "Middle TN Highland Games" festival in Hendersonville, TN, the lost sheep, memories of "Richard's Cafe," playing shows at Bluebird Cafe, stories of partying with Kid Rock, Big & Rich, and much more! 

Part 2 of the conversation with my friend Ron. In this episode he continues to prove that he's a not-so-common-man living in a common van.

I met Ron in Nashville, TN almost a decade ago. We were both "golf cart" tour guides. We hit it off and he has become one of my closes friends. I hope this episode reveals why I love him to everyone who listens!

Update - July 2024. A special moment in Nashville, plus upcoming dates!

In this episode I had an in depth and reflective conversation with Ralph Bristol. We reminisced about how we met, discussed the 5 biggest influences on his career path, how he met his beautiful and brilliant wife, Marianna, and Ralph expresses his biggest regret he has as he now (in retirement), reflects back on his career in conservative talk radio.

Meet Elton Lammie... an incredibly versatile artist who has made a living as an entertainer for decades. From Canada, Elton has created multiple successful shows, re-invented himself many times, and has inspired people with his voice and performances all over the world! Here is his website... https://www.eltonlammietributes.com/

Hanging with my good buddy and fellow bandmate Luke Parrish.

Post-show report literally moments after leaving the stage in West Plains, MO and getting back in my Corolla.

Me blabbing while driving in the Corolla to play a bar in West Plains, MO with one of my best music friends, Luke, plus 2 hit songwriters in the show featuring 4 of us dudes performing originals and covers.

In my most random and deep episode yet, I go from a quick road update for 5-6 minutes, then I get into remembering my 16-year-old brother Gideon, who passed away in January, 2023. The episode ends with my describing why I don't like being a worship pastor, the mystery of "ushering in the Holy Spirit," and struggling with doing what I think God might want me to do versus what I know I really like to do.

Reflections on 18 years ago today when I moved to Nashville... from my dressing room in Rochester, MN before the show with "Johnny Cash - The Official Concert Experience." Plus a song work tape from my phone called "Picture of a Boy."

Walking the streets of Wichita... we couldn't do it without our amazing tour bus driver, Dan. No margin of error on this tour! Random thoughts and stories from the road.  For upcoming tour dates and more info visit - https://www.johnnycashconcertexperience.com/

Two episodes in one... starting with an update from the streets of Spokane, WA (as I travel with "Johnny Cash - The Official Concert Experience"). Then I tell the story of how I crashed the 2015 CMA Awards backstage and dressing room area with a gas powered golf cart... details involve Reba McEntire.

My 2nd week of touring and performing with "Johnny Cash - The Official Concert Experience." Topics- Playing for over 2k people in Costa Mesa, CA, a day off walking around in San Fransisco, not stepping in poop, supporting Chinatown, a late night city bus tour, an interview with the Rotary Club of Yakima, WA, and dang automatic toilets. For upcoming tour dates and more info visit - https://www.johnnycashconcertexperience.com/

I recap my 1st week of touring and performing with "Johnny Cash The Official Concert Experience." From the flight out, falling flat on my face during rehearsals, the awkward Alterations place, the first show in Medford, OR, the overnight bus ride, to the latest show in Folsom, CA! For upcoming tour dates and more info visit- https://www.johnnycashconcertexperience.com

Time to change the name! Check out mine and my wife's music at www.adamandamypope.com

This episode I tell the story of how I ended up signing autographs to unsuspecting people who thought I was famous because I was sitting on a tour bus I'd never been inside until that night. Then we rode in it to Alabama and did a show with a Hollywood actor turned Country musician. If you want to hear the music I make with my wife, check out www.adamandamypope.com Here's another website if you're bored - www.adampopemusic.com

I break down the pros and cons (in my mind) of the upcoming 10 week tour I'm honored to be a part of! I'll be singing some Johnny Cash songs and playing guitar in the band, traveling from coast to coast, with the "Man In Black" on the big screen every night, singing with that amazing, booming voice. For more info on the show and tickets, click on the link below- https://www.johnnycashconcertexperience.com/

One last thing... again and again. Topics include Parker being a drummer, our first Battle of the Bands, Church camp memories, our wives, the CRAZY story of how we are cousins and now potential "love" is brewing between our families, what's wrong with men, realizing we may be in a mid-life crisis, Parker's speech that changed my life, we are basically farmers, reading of Psalms 119, staying the course, and redefining "home," and our first picture from 1985.

Part 1- A conversation with my childhood and lifelong best friend, Pastor Parker Manuel. We reconnected randomly in our hometown for the holidays, at a gas station. Topics include being stolen from, aliens, movies, airline pilots, performing at Wendy's and Gospel Light Baptist Church, religious deconstruction, riding down the James River on an air mattress, changing the name of the podcast, first song and first date fails, and "Who's on First?" Check out my music with my beautiful wife- www.adamandamypope.com Here's my silly website also- www.adampopemusic.com

Recorded on Christmas Eve, 2023. Shoutouts to listeners, pulling an all-nighter between gigs, experiencing 2 different families cultures on Christmas visits, trying to become a cheerful giver, learning to say "no," and discovering boundaries. Follow our music at www.adamandamypope.com and www.adampopemusic.com

Working at a job I hated, getting a boat for a dollar, my first fight with Amy, and finishing my album.

How Thanksgiving turned into an interview, then an audition at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center the next day, then one of the coolest opportunities I've had in a while. On the cusp of... JOHNNY CASH. 2024. www.adampopemusic.com www.adamandamypope.com

How I went from playing regular gigs to wearing a gold jacket and being in a theater show called "Branson On The Road" ... then how I went from singing "Frosty the Snowman" in Effingham on a Saturday night to singing "In The Ghetto" at the Country Music Hall of Fame the next day at 1pm as we were invited to play with our friend Kenzie Wetz on her "Musicians Spotlight" show.

I dive into all of our latest travels, how we ended up singing the national anthem at the Arcadia Rodeo, and I tell the story I’ve been promising… The story on “Bull-Sheet.”

THIS EPISODE WAS REDONE SO IF YOU CAUGHT THE 1ST VERSION, IT SUCKED AND THIS ONE IS BETTER (because I wasn’t tired and hopefully this one isn’t as boring!) -Topics Upcoming shows at the Arcadia Rodeo. (0:10) Florida shows last weekend and how they came about. (1:15) How I booked a rodeo from my COVID bed. (3:20) Me trying to be a cowboy but the dog ruined it. (4:55) On the cusp… of a Grammy nomination?? (10:50) Fake Instagram followers and how Sushil Yadiv sold me. (15:50)

A brief reflection of Hal “Allen’s Dairy Treats” restaurant in Winston-Salem, NC which closed after 25 years this past weekend. I have many good memories there, especially of Hal Allen, the laughter, and the great food.

Part 2 concludes with how we got outta New Jersey, our final day in Manhattan visiting the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Musuem, and the gospel tract that put everything back in perspective.

PART 1- On the cusp of going home, we got stuck in New Jersey. So I take the chance to describe our NYC trip so far, navigating the subway system, experiencing the Tunnel to Towers 5k, and fighting for a burger.

Ride in the car with me and Ben Peeples as we discuss our friendship, failed music endeavors, dumb school zones, coffee, church, having kids, and as we find ourselves being offensive regularly throughout the conversation.

I must apologize for redundancy, telling the same stories, and I announce an upcoming guest!

How meeting 9/11 NYC Firemen at a gig in a bar on Broadway in Nashville led to me signing up to run a patriotic 5K in New York City.

The story of how I went from sleeping in a tent with the band while traveling in a 99 Nissan quest… to an old tour bus where I pretended to play drums for a band and they served breakfast in the bathroom… to cross-country touring in a Corolla with my wife and our two babies and my two guitars in the trunk… to a sponsored nice truck/RV and eventually hearing my song played on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

This episode I dive into a few stories about people who helped me go from “on the cusp“ to finally where I was supposed to be.

On the cusp of Nashville - From CMA Fest in 2005 to moving to Nashville on Valentines Day, 2006.

PART 1- On the cusp of Nashville, I first went from North Carolina to Orlando, Florida before I eventually found my way to Tennessee.

In episode one, while driving, I dive in to stories about performing at Elvis Week in Memphis, playing a show at an old church in Texas, how I ended up getting booked to play the Broadway bars in downtown Nashville, going to an Alan Jackson concert in 2021, eventually meeting music artist James Carothers, and more. If you wanna hear our music, go to www.adamandamypope.com