Pond’s journey at CooperRiis, a mental health facility in Asheville, has evolved over the course of more than 16 years. “During my first few months, I did recovery coaching and some residential support,” he said. After a hot summer on the maintenance crew at the Polk County Healing Farm campus, a shift to the Asheville campus allowed him to step into a new role. “The need for a driver became clear. I happily took the position and I’m still here today.”

He now juggles a variety of responsibilities, from transporting residents to appointments and classes to teaching CPR and leading trainings in Nonviolent Communication (NVC). “Balancing the driving schedule and facilitating these trainings would be a challenge, but I have had the support of office managers and other administrators who help me manage my schedule.”

Working in mental health can be demanding, but Pond said the CooperRiis team has always encouraged emotional well-being. “I also have worked with my own therapist outside of work,” he says, “which is probably the best strategy for me in managing my own well-being.” NVC plays a powerful role in his life as well. “I really think it has saved my hide and made my life more wonderful.”

But perhaps his most enduring tool for resilience is music. “Playing the music has always been a magical practice for me, emotionally and spiritually connecting my mind and body, bringing me into the flow state and helping me move any stuck energy or emotion.”

Pond has played guitar, bass, and sung for decades—often with family. “My brother Andy and I learned to play our instruments and sing, at home and together,” he said. Music not only helps him stay grounded but offers perspective. “Playing guitar, bass and singing for the past 40 years has made all of the challenges of my life worth it.”

Pond’s musical outlet found form in Snake Oil Medicine Show, a performance art-driven band he helped to start in 1992. “At first it was purely a creative outlet for myself and my weirdo musical friends,” he said. This includes his brother Andy and Caroline Pond, a musical partner to whom Pond was married from 1994 to 2005. Over the years, the project evolved into a touring act that traveled the U.S., England, Holland, and Jamaica, collaborating with groups like The Overtakers. “Sometimes it seems like a dream, the years of touring and running the family band business,” said Pond.

The balance between his performance schedule and his responsibilities at CooperRiis feel like an easy flow for Pond. “My commitment to my work at Cooper Riis feels natural and easy to manage, as they have always been very supportive of my musical life,” he said. “We have managed to find ways for me to honor my work commitments and also satisfy my commitments to my band and my musical life.”

Still, he admits it’s not always seamless. “Sometimes I find time for myself to recharge, and sometimes I wind up depleted and exhausted.” Meditation, trusted friendships, and honest self-assessment help him restore balance. 

His commute between Hendersonville and Asheville also offers a helpful transition. “Sometimes I listen to music, or audiobooks,” he said. “Sometimes I do a driving meditation. I am usually ready to fully engage in my personal life the moment I arrive in my driveway!”

Pond's concept of work/life balance has shifted naturally with the seasons of his life. “I never thought I would be a full-time professional musician, until it happened naturally,” he said. “I also never wanted a ‘straight job’ until it was offered to me.” The births of his sons brought new priorities and further cemented his weekday routine. “There was a natural reinforcement of the healthy routine and my desire to be available, present and in top form,” he said. 

For others trying to find time for creative passions, Pond offered this guidance: “Just notice what you love and let that idea inform your choices all the time.” He believes that the act of reframing work is key: “Reframe your perspective around ‘I have to go to work’ into ‘I choose to go do this activity because it satisfies my needs.’”

And for Pond, those two worlds—work and music—don’t just coexist, they elevate one another. “My ‘straight job’ and my creative life overlap and inform each other,” he said. “They complement each other. I am so very grateful.”