CURRENT MISSION

Change the world. Inspire the timid. Ignite creativity. Be a catalyst for the transormation I'd like to see in this toxic, beautiful world.

ABOUT ME

Growing up in Southern California I dreamed of traveling to faraway places. But by the time I hit 21 I'd never been east of Las Vegas, north of Sacramento, south of Ensenada or west of Catalina. Then I took a Greyhound bus to New York City. Two years later I drove across America and hitchhiked back home from Boston to LA. Another two years passed before I took my mountain bike from LA to Boston. In the years since, in between stints writing scripts for Hollywood and interviewing some of the most famous people in America for various magazines, I've taken many an odd road trip. Couch surfing my way all over America and seeing the best in what this country has to offer.

PHILOSOPHY

Listen. Learn. Laugh. Love. For years I've been firmly convinced that if every young person spent at least 100 days traveling his or her own country--and the rest of the world--modern civilization as we know it would be transformed for good.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am a veteran couch surfer with a deep well of incredible experiences. When I rode my mountain bike across America I had no less than a dozen total strangers take me into their homes for the night. When I got a book deal from Bantam Books to barhop around America for 100 consecutive days I ended up crashing on the couches and spare bedrooms of numerous friends, friends of friends and total strangers. Invite me over and I'll tell you all about it.

Interests

I'm interested in hearing stories and sharing mine. I'm intrigued with people who recognize the inequities and hypocrisy embedded in our culture and want to do something about it. After years of self-absorption I've come to be fascinated by every single person I encounter.

• culture
• writing
• books
• sprinting
• movies
• traveling
• drawing
• magic
• cycling
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies I love: Rushmore, Almost Famous, The Big Lebowski, Waking Life, Bottle Rocket, Hannah and Her Sisters, Dazed and Confused, Fargo, Amercan Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, Don't Look Back, Pulp Fiction, South Park, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and so many more...
Music I love: Beatles, Ben Harper, Rolling Stones, Jack Johnson, Neil Young, Radiohead, Dylan, Bright Eyes, Ramones, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, White Stripes, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Zeppelin, Nick Drake, Eddie Elliott, Al Green, Colby Logan, Bob Marley, Elvis Costello, Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Joss Stone, R.E.M., John Lennon, Weezer, Sim Flick, Steve Earle, George Harrison, U2, Wilco and so much more...
Books/Authors I love: The Culture of Make Believe by Derrick Jensen, Dharma Bums by Kerouac, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, anything by Bukowski, Chomsky, Rumi, Hunter Thompson, Raymond Carver, Nick Hornby and David Sedaris among many others

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most gratifying thing I've done has been to mentor an abused 9-year-old orphan who's grown into an amazing, talented artist who asked if it'd be okay to take my last name. I suspect nothing I ever do will match the satisfaction I've had watching this tortured kid grow into a healthy, giving adult.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been paid to write screenplays, sitcoms, magazine articles and a book I've yet to finish. I've recently gotten into making short films (on digital video) and posting them on YouTube. And I'm convinced that there is something to learn from every person I encounter. I've also been told repeatedly that my presence, however brief, has inspired more than a few. Here's one of my favorite inspiring quotes, compliments of Goethe:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

What I Can Share with Hosts

My wife and I moved from Austin to Brooklyn a month after we got married in late 2014. At this time, being a relative newcomer to New York City, the best I can share at this time is conversation and a cup of coffee—possibly an inflatable mattress to crash on when the weather gets nice in the sprint and summer.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States

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