CURRENT MISSION

To help kids of all ages discover the self-love and confidence they need to unlock their innately creative selves.

ABOUT ME

I'm a outgoing, friendly guy with a goofy sense of humor. During the summers, I get to tour the country playing music for kids at libraries. I try to couch surf as much as possible when I travel because I love meeting new people and making friends in new places.

In May 2021, I graduated from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT with my M.Div. (theology/religion) and now I’m working as a full-time musician. Before moving up to CT, I lived in Texas and worked as a high school theatre teacher.

This last year, I actually blew up on TikTok where I’m know as “Folk Punk Dad.” I’ve got over 160k followers now, and I make wholesome videos often about things like mental health and recovery. One day, I would love to create a children’s TV show in the spirit of Mr. Rogers.

I’ve also been sober since 2012, but being around alcohol doesn’t bother me at all, and I’m very comfortable being in environments where other folks are drinking. So if you want a glass of wine with dinner or anything, don’t refrain on account of me.

PHILOSOPHY

“If we want some real change we need to make it with our friends.” - Ceschi Ramos

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love couchsurfing while touring, and my wife, Cecelia, and I also host through couchsurfing. We love opening our home to people when we can.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I’m been couch surfing during the summers since 2017, and I’ve loved being able to make new connections in the many places I’ve traveled.

In the last year, we’ve hosted a few people through Couchsurfing and a ton of touring bands who come thru town.

Interests

music, songwriting, theatre, reading, coffee, film, spirituality, improvisation, education, recovery, social justice

• poetry
• education
• coffee
• meditation
• reading
• music
• teaching
• travel
• tea
• spirituality
• social justice
• theatre
• improvisation
• improv
• mental health
• songwriting

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: The Mountain Goats, Bob Dylan, Kimya Dawson, Days N Daze, The Beatles, Courtney Barnett, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sufjan Stevens, Matisyahu, The Shins, Talking Heads, They Might Be Giants, Sledding with Tigers, Broken Bells, Kishi Bashi, The Oh Hello's, The Weakerthans, The Front Bottoms, Wilco, Neko Case, WHY?, Ceschi, Doom Scroll, The Go! Team, Ramshackle Glory, Pigeon Pit, Apes of the State, and a bunch of bands from the Elephant 6 Collective out of Athen, GA.

Film directors: Taika Waititi, Wes Anderson, Greta Gerwig, The Coen Brothers, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorsese, Jason Reitman

Books: A Confederacy of Dunces, Bird by Bird, Night, The Little Prince, Wolf in White Van, Invisible Man, Bound for Glory, Angela's Ashes, Man's Search for Meaning, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, The Water Dancer, Everything Belongs

Playwrights: Will Kern, Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare, Jules Feiffer, Tracy Letts

Poets: Naomi Shihan Nye, Mary Oliver, Christian Wiman, Rilke, Wendell Berry, Scott Cairns, Tracy K. Smith, Natalie Diaz

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In grad school, I took a class called Performance Behind Bars. We read Dante’s Inferno with a group of guys who were in a maximum security prison, and we collaborated with them to put on an original play/production in which they got to tell/perform their own personal stories, using the text as a spring board for their creativity. It was one of my favorite experiences of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love improvising with people. One of my favorite things is making up songs in a circle. No previous musical experience required. I also love to jam and I’m happy to share original songs too.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’m always happy to play some original songs or jam together if hosts like to play music too. I also usually travel with merch and I love hooking up hosts with free stickers, t-shirts, etc. 🤘 I also love conversations about spirituality, mental health, creativity, recovery, healing, music, social justice, and improvisation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Canada, China, South Africa, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States