Over the past year I've been self-producing a documentary about a Rwandan coffee cooperative that's achieving gender equity. I've never taken on a project quite like this...it's pretty amazing what can happen when you disregard the "I can't" self-talk and continue to pursue a dream despite a lack of belief/support from others.

The documentary is set to premier in Denver, CO this February and I couldn't be more stoked about the project, the women it's benefiting in Rwanda, and the amazing team of friends I've been lucky to collaborate with. For me, work and passion should always be connected (it really doesn't feel like work haha).

Pursing this independent project has allowed me to become engaged with the international coffee community in ways could never have dreamed of. What I love the most about the world of coffee are the genuine people I'm able to collaborate with and learn from.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My best travel experiences have been filled with making new friends and immersing myself in the lifestyle of the culture I'm visiting. This has meant sitting around a dinner table with people I've never met, picking my host family's children up from the airpot, and even attending traditional marriage ceremonies (complete with a parade and lavish feast)! Couchsurfing is the perfect way to facilitate this type of travel.

Interests

• photography
• concerts
• cooking
• coffee
• live music
• cycling
• hiking
• skiing
• outdoors

Music, Movies, and Books

Music...let's listen to it. There's so much out there I have a hard time putting it into words. I love going to local record shops, digging for treasures, and discovering culture through this medium.
1970s American Rock, South East Asia Jam, African Funk, Electro-Soul, 1930s Club

--- Books ---
The Tipping Poin, by Malcom Gladwell; Quiet by Susan Cain; M Train by Patti Smith; Essentialism, the Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown; Why We Fight edited by Simon Van Booy; The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; The Giver by Lois Lowry; Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankel

--- Movies ---
Goodwill Hunting, The Imitation Game, Moonrise Kingdom, Pulp Fiction, Y Tu Mamá También, Dallas Buyers Club, The Stanford Prison Experiment, We're The Millers

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Malaysia, Peru, Rwanda, Scotland, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States