I'm a native of Kentucky and I grew up in a modest town just outside of Louisville and just recently got my undergrad in Poly Sci. Most of the time I'm working in the restaurant service industry or at my local climbing gym but the job I'm most proud of is my role on staff at the Swannanoa Gathering. It is a 5 week long serious of traditional music education summer camps run at Warren Wilson College in the beautiful Swannanoa Valley. Its a place where dreams are made for those who want to learn and celebrate beautiful music with some of the world's best teachers and performers. I'm not a teacher at the camp, I just organize the volunteers and do some office work but I love getting to contribute to something that brings true joy to lives of many people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing because, from my personal experience, the best part of traveling is getting to form genuine connections with really cool people. I love swapping stories, sharing inspirations, and just having a bit of craic with new friends. Its rad to take pictures of that building or statue but what I'm gonna cherish the most are all the cool things I learned and did and the connections that often follow.
I have had the good fortune to meet many wonderful people in this world and I'm always amazed by their courage to chase after their own hearts. Learning from those people gives me more confidence and fuel to get after it in my own way.
If I'm traveling internationally, chances are, I budgeted for accomodation. So its not a necessity for me to couch surf. The way I see it, It is a priveledge to be taken into a person's home and given a glimpse of their life as close to home as a visitor can be... on their couch.

Interests

Chief among my passions is a love for traditional music. I'm not a great performer myself but I've written a couple of tunes and I adore playing with friends and practicing the craft. The traditions I know the most about are Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian Old-Time fiddle music but I'm always down to learn new styles and tunes. There are few things in this world that make me feel the ecstasy of being alive as intensely as music does.
I'm also mega into rock climbing. I currently live, and grew up, near the Red River Gorge in KY so I have done an absurd amount of sport climbing in my days. I also really enjoy bouldering and trad. I love whatever climbing gets me outside really, even some good ole mountaineering.

• writing
• books
• poetry
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• comics
• traveling
• bouldering
• backpacking
• rock climbing
• food
• meeting people
• bluegrass music
• irish music
• celtic music
• scottish music
• munro bagging

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: MARTIN HAYES, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Lúnasa, Dervish, Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, and Jeremy Kittel. You'll also find me listening to the odd hip hop track, all kinds of jazz, Scandinavian Metal, classical music and plenty of other stuff. All music is brilliant in its own way.

MOVIES: My favorite movies include Spirited Away, Throne of Blood, Ghost in the Shell, The Princess Bride, Drunken Master, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

BOOKS: Some of my favorite books are The Martian by Andy Weir, Snow Falling on Cedars by David Gutterson, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, Maus by Art Spiegelman, Blankets by Craig Thompson, Black Hole by Charles Burns, and Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples.

PODCASTS: The Daily, The Moth, Reply All, Invisibilia, The Pope's Long Con, Levar Burton Reads, FiveThirtyEight, Enormocast... the list could go on for awhile.

I like recommendations for all kinds of media. I am what I consume.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

On a "viking challenge," I swam naked across an alpine snow melt lake in Tuolumne Meadows. It was v cold.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach hosts trad tunes, some climbing knowledge, and also the secret to restraunt style curries. You want to know how to make some bomb ass chana massala or saag paneer? I'm your guy.
In regards to what I like to learn from hosts, if you have something you're passionate about, I'd love to be an open ear. I'm always by fascinated by fellow obsessed people no matter what the fixation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a prolific cook so should I be given the opportunity to stay with a given host, I will almost defintely bake them a loaf of handmade bread or make a special meal, and better still, I love cleaning dishes!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland, United States