I have a background in nutrition science. I earned a PhD and had been a university professor in the field for about three years. I now work for myself making videos, podcasts, and other educational resources about health and nutrition. I am allied with various overlapping communities such as Paleo, Primal, Ancestral Health, and Weston A. Price, although I'm not firmly in any camp or wedded to any ideology. Right now my main hobby is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which I picked up very recently, and I'm intensively studying Greek in hopes of being conversationally competent when I travel to Greece this August. Spiritually I am an Orthodox Christian, politically I am libertarian, but I enjoy befriending and learning about people who come from different backgrounds than me or who think or feel differently than me as much as I enjoy spending time with those who are similar to me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I learned about this site from Rolf Potts, author of Vagabonding. I am interested in traveling and in doing so to gain authentic, exploratory, and enriching experiences of the places I visit. I believe I can best do this by staying with locals rather than by sticking to the typical tourist approaches.

Interests

I love snowboarding in the winter. I've never learned to surf, but I'd love to learn.

I am hoping to visit places where I can learn the local language and use it for a more immersive experience.

• writing
• books
• dancing
• ballroom dancing
• fitness
• politics
• guitar
• surfing
• snowboarding
• economics
• teaching
• medicine
• language exchange
• nutrition
• brazilian jiu jitsu
• weight lifting
• orthodox christianity
• voluntaryism

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm currently reading War and Peace.

My favorite novel that I've read recently was 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. My favorite works of fiction from the past have been Atlas Shrugged, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Lord of the Rings.

The non-fiction book that has had the biggest impact on my life is The Four-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.

The book that got me interested in traveling is Vagabonding by Rolf Potts.

My music is all over the place. It shifts year by year. I'd be more interested in picking up new music from the places I travel to than digging into my collection from the past.

The Bourne Trilogy is among my favorite movies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I quit my job as a university professor in December of 2016 with no business plan, and my business turned out to be successful to support myself and a few others who work for me, opening up time for me to travel and have some hobbies.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can offer advice about nutrition, fitness, or building a business. I'm a thinker, so I'm good for deep conversations about almost anything.

Countries I’ve Visited

Barbados, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Mexico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States