Hello! My name is Austin and I am a freelance documentary filmmaker and photographer. I have been fortunate enough to work with organizations such as National Geographic, the New York Times, and Al Jazeera.. organizations which value in depth stories from around the world and have given me the opportunity to really immerse myself in different cultures and learn the stories of the people who call it home. For me, there is no better way to experience the world than through storytelling.

I love storytelling, and enjoy telling stories not just with my camera, but also through photography, writing, audio, music, and pretty much any form. Outside of filmmaking I am a big trail runner. I run ultramarathons and love to discover new places by going straight to the local trails or running routes. I also love to play football (soccer) and enjoy connecting with people through that. I do improv theater, play mandolin, I'm vegan, and I love meeting new, positive, creative people! Let's hang out!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on couch surfing because my profession takes me to a lot of different states and countries. And when I arrive in those countries, I find that the best way to learn about them are by meeting the people who call it home. I am looking forward to couch surfing as a way to help me access the local culture, meet new/lasting friends, and lead to serendipitous experiences I never would have had if I were alone in an AirBnB or hotel. I am also excited to meet travelers in my hometown of Oakland/Berkeley and to show people around!

Interests

• vegan
• running
• soccer
• filmmaking
• storytelling
• veganism
• trailrunning
• jamming
• mandolin
• ultra running
• ultrarunning

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Lizzy McAlpine, Watchhouse, Punch Brothers (folk music)
Movies: Documentaries! A few of my recent favorites: Minding the Gap, Free Solo, and The Rescue
Books: Eat and Run, Eating Animals, How Not To Die

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would love to share my skills as filmmaker or a photographer with hosts. If you want photos of yourself, your family, your business, or anything like that, I would love to thank hosts by sharing that with them!

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, China, England, France, India, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, United States, Viet Nam, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Zambia