If you're passing through Richmond while I'm in town, get in touch and I may be able to host you. I prefer guests who have some experience here, or who can at least demonstrate that they're here to make connections, not just to find a free place for a day or two.

I'm always interested in meeting new folks with similar interests and experience -- especially those who may be interested in helping me with a project I'm focusing on at the moment and who may offer some insight into the subjects I'm exploring in my research.
I'm collecting stories and interviews for a book I'm working on.

It focuses on the current inflection point we find ourselves in as a species with regard to the big issues: climate, technological development, misinformation, polarization, consumerism. etc., as well as some of the repeating patterns humanity seems to have been stuck in for the majority of our existence. Furthermore, I'm asking questions about humanity's capacity for responsible and ethical decision making, as well as our engagement in addressing these issues. Considering this time in our history is like no other, I'm thinking about how we might come together to spark mainstream conversations and action towards a new spirit of activism and collaboration, with hopes of a more ethical and responsible future.

You can learn more and read some excerpts at:
https://thenewhumanmovement.substack.com/p/introduction-to-hearts-and-minds

If it works out that you can stay, it would be great to spend some time in conversation to learn more about your point of view. (If the subject matter seems a bit too heavy and complex, I don't mind keeping the conversation light either)

I've enjoyed being a member of CS over the years, and I'm always appreciative of the opportunity for cultural exchange. It's been great to be able to continue to meet so many kind and interesting people in the world, whether as a guest or a host.

Get in touch and maybe I'll be able to host you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing has been a wonderful experience which has allowed me to meet many good people--hosts and guests--and continue to stay in touch with them. I believe that most people in the world are good-natured and kind, and so far it's been proven right with CS.

I look forward to having the pleasure of meeting more good people in the world.

So far, I surfed with:

Bordeaux: Claire and Anne-Ce, Judy and Laurent, Phillippe.
Toulouse: Sophie, Michael, Guilhem, Hayate, Kat
Figueres: Esther, Nico, Jan
Barcelona: Nori, Blanca
Moss: Marleen
Skedsmorkoset: Lars, Manuela
Paris: Eléonore and Anthony
Lyon: Aude
Playa Del Carmen: Bernardeth, Julieta
Atlanta: Dena
Vienne: Cyril
Lyon: Ingolf
Surbiton: Jeffrey
Cologne: Gina

So far, I've hosted:

Sally from Massachussetts, USA
Dawn from New York, USA
Eun-Sil from S. Korea and Elton from CA, USA
Jeannie from Bogota, Colombia
Walton from Washington DC, USA
Julie from NYC, USA
Dena from Atlanta, USA
Valery from Lithuania
Aline from France
Bryan from Baltimore, USA
Rudy from France
Paulina from Poland
Monyque from Brazil
Lauren from Connecticut, USA
Hannah from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Kati from Los Angeles, USA
Annesofie from Copenhagen, Denmark

visited 33 states (66%)Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Chinese Radicals

visited 6 states (2.66%)Create your own visited map of The World or Like this? try: CIA Grep in Python

Interests

Music, art, sculpture, literature, food, travel, new people, experiences of all kinds, culture, diversity, the world and beyond!

• arts
• culture
• literature
• architecture
• dining
• breakfast
• coffee
• meditation
• news
• traveling
• magic
• music
• guitar

Music, Movies, and Books

Just a few off the top of my head: Bowie. Iggy Pop. Zeppelin. Queen. AC/DC. Beatles. Fugazi. Fela Kuti. Guided By Voices. Elvis Costello. Velvet Underground. William Onyeabor. Pretty Things. Stevie Wonder. Neil Young. Ravi Shankar. Jethro Tull. QOTSA. Sonic Youth. Tom Waits.
Much much more

Music (career)
30+ years of musical projects and collaborations, too numerous to list here.
I was most recently a member of The Insect Club, and wrestler of homemade instruments in the Harry Partch Appreciation Society - both located in Richmond, Virginia
Projects abroad include, but are not limited to, JADA - an experimental improv project with David Surma, formerly of Belgium's Human Beings.
I have some old songs of my own up on soundcloud.com as well. https://soundcloud.com/jason-snider-1

Movies & TV
Life of Pi, Amelie, Twin Peaks, Jeopardy!, music documentaries, physics and nature documentaries, How To with John Wilson, White Lotus, Survivor.

Books
Think Again - Adam Grant, Sapiens - Yuval Harari, What We Owe The Future - William MacAskill, Nature and the Human Soul - Bill Plotkin, The New Human Rights Movement - Peter Joseph

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I converted a school bus into a greenhouse
https://www.facebook.com/snider.bros/media_set?set=a.179261798785832.41236.100001060398035&type=3
I once carved a 10 foot tall tree trunk into an unfurled fiddlehead fern frond.
I still write and record music from time to time. Happy to share new stuff if you're interested in knowing more (there's an older link above)
I worked in a stained glass studio.
I’ve planted thousands of trees.
I meditated with Thich Nhat Hanh at a buddhist monastery near Bergerac, France where I spent several weeks studying mindfulness meditation.
I visited the UK, but was detained by customs and rejected in 2013--a long story but a good one. It even has a twist ending. 😊
I visited 7 countries in 9 months from August of 2023, wrapping the trip with a writer's residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France in April 2024.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you are able to help me study and practice French, Spanish , or any other language, it would be much appreciated.

I can show you how to play guitar, show you how to use common household items to repair/improve other items that need repair/improving, share some stories, offer suggestions about how to meditate and share the same space in silence.

I love meeting new people and I learn something from everyone. I hope to be a positive influence to someone else as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Housework, cooking, good conversation, stories, experiences, and good company.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Thailand, United States