1) If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose would they be? Why?
Oprah. A talented journalist, a philanthropist, a strong Black woman. As a human, she's worked so hard to become the person/professional that she is today, and has managed to stay humble, relevant and kind. Would be an honor to walk in her shoes.
2) What's one thing your mother/father taught you that completely changed your life?
What it means to be a 'stand-up guy.' Someone who is reliable, kind but not a pushover, who speaks up for themselves/others in the face of adversity. Both are those kind of people and it had a tremendous impact on me.
3) What songs have you completely memorized?
"Rock Lobster" -B52s, pretty much every Smiths/Morrissey song, the entire "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
4) What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
A musician. I still have a tremendous love of music, the hand/eye coordination just never cut it from a production standpoint.
5) What’s the last text you sent?
"Watching a movie. Everything okay?"
6) What's one of your favorite memories?
My partner Matt and I took a trip to the Bay Area. A dream of mine was always to ride the PCH. Having the ability to stop and look out off of the cliffs of Monterey was powerful. Champagne from a split into paper cups, sandwiches packed, wind in our hair. It was the most beautiful, serene moment and all at once I felt a certain level of inner peace that I don't think I had ever experienced before.
7) What's one thing about you that surprises people?
That I'm a quarter Japanese. But it's always like an 'ah-ha' moment when someone finds out, and I hear something like, "I knew there was something..." I like that. It's nice to maintain some level of ambiguity. That's mine I suppose.
8) Who, or what, was your biggest teacher?
This thing called life! But every person/path crossed provides some sort of knowledge, doesn't it? I will say, I had a middle school teacher who equal parts scared me/lit a fire inside, and that was Ms. Bruns, whose favorite saying was "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." She was the first of many throughout my scholastic career who reinforced the power of language.
9) What was something you've done that made you feel extreme happiness?
I recently worked on a story that involved lip-syncing law enforcement, which after a bit of convincing, spread like wildfire nationally. I can't take credit for the start of it, but I will take credit for seeing it through. It brought me happiness to see men and women of the law shed their serious exteriors in an effort to show the world, "Hey, we're people too." In an otherwise tumultuous time, any time we can see/experience silliness, is an accomplishment.
10) Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Don't turn your nose up at community college. You hated/paid twice as much for your preqs at your four-year university, you dummy. Don't waste time on people who can't/won't love you back.
11) If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Botany.
12) What does success mean to you?
Success is a an attitude and state of mind where I feel the exhilaration of knowing that I made a difference for many, and did so doing what I love.
13) What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve?
To learn how to cross-stitch. To write a book.
14) Where is your happy place?
Marfa, Texas. It's definitely a 'you have to be there' kind of place, and the trick is, you have to be there with the right people. The kind that make you feel safe and warm and like you could do anything since you have each other in that moment.
15) If you could invite 3 people, dead or alive, to a dinner party, who would they be, and why?
Charles Bukowski, Prince, Joan Didion.
16) What energizes you and brings you excitement?
Discovering a new musician/artist that I really connect with. Meeting up with friends from faraway places. Plants, especially if they're becoming my own.
17) What qualities do you value in the people with whom you spend time?
Candidness. Sarcasm. Someone who will call me out if I need to be called out and wants me to do the same. My closest friends are the kind of people you can call drunk, sad, sappy at 3 a.m. just to talk to or for help with a flat tire or dead car battery or death in the family.
18) For what would you be famous?
I really want to own a 24-hour laundry mat/rollerskating rink/pie shop. If I could be the mogul who lifted 3-6 of those babies off the ground and launched them into success, that would be ideal and how I'd want to be famous. I also wouldn't mind being on the NYT bestseller list or one of Oprah's Book Club selections.
19) What does your dream day look like?
It starts with a tiny cup of espresso, a sparkling Topo Chico (with a lime wedge) and a plethora of pastries. The air is a crisp, cool 60 degrees out. I grab whatever book I'm reading and bicycle down a tree-lined, relatively flat road to a haven of some sort and catch filtered rays and breeze while taking in some words. Matt picks me up for a motorcycle ride with our dogs (in the sidecar that we do not yet own IRL) and we spend the rest of the afternoon crate-digging, looking at vintage furniture and buying new plant babies. We go somewhere for a cocktail and eat a cheese/meat board, calling it a night.
20) If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Tenacious, passionate, sincere.
Oprah. A talented journalist, a philanthropist, a strong Black woman. As a human, she's worked so hard to become the person/professional that she is today, and has managed to stay humble, relevant and kind. Would be an honor to walk in her shoes.
2) What's one thing your mother/father taught you that completely changed your life?
What it means to be a 'stand-up guy.' Someone who is reliable, kind but not a pushover, who speaks up for themselves/others in the face of adversity. Both are those kind of people and it had a tremendous impact on me.
3) What songs have you completely memorized?
"Rock Lobster" -B52s, pretty much every Smiths/Morrissey song, the entire "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
4) What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
A musician. I still have a tremendous love of music, the hand/eye coordination just never cut it from a production standpoint.
5) What’s the last text you sent?
"Watching a movie. Everything okay?"
6) What's one of your favorite memories?
My partner Matt and I took a trip to the Bay Area. A dream of mine was always to ride the PCH. Having the ability to stop and look out off of the cliffs of Monterey was powerful. Champagne from a split into paper cups, sandwiches packed, wind in our hair. It was the most beautiful, serene moment and all at once I felt a certain level of inner peace that I don't think I had ever experienced before.
7) What's one thing about you that surprises people?
That I'm a quarter Japanese. But it's always like an 'ah-ha' moment when someone finds out, and I hear something like, "I knew there was something..." I like that. It's nice to maintain some level of ambiguity. That's mine I suppose.
8) Who, or what, was your biggest teacher?
This thing called life! But every person/path crossed provides some sort of knowledge, doesn't it? I will say, I had a middle school teacher who equal parts scared me/lit a fire inside, and that was Ms. Bruns, whose favorite saying was "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." She was the first of many throughout my scholastic career who reinforced the power of language.
9) What was something you've done that made you feel extreme happiness?
I recently worked on a story that involved lip-syncing law enforcement, which after a bit of convincing, spread like wildfire nationally. I can't take credit for the start of it, but I will take credit for seeing it through. It brought me happiness to see men and women of the law shed their serious exteriors in an effort to show the world, "Hey, we're people too." In an otherwise tumultuous time, any time we can see/experience silliness, is an accomplishment.
10) Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Don't turn your nose up at community college. You hated/paid twice as much for your preqs at your four-year university, you dummy. Don't waste time on people who can't/won't love you back.
11) If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Botany.
12) What does success mean to you?
Success is a an attitude and state of mind where I feel the exhilaration of knowing that I made a difference for many, and did so doing what I love.
13) What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve?
To learn how to cross-stitch. To write a book.
14) Where is your happy place?
Marfa, Texas. It's definitely a 'you have to be there' kind of place, and the trick is, you have to be there with the right people. The kind that make you feel safe and warm and like you could do anything since you have each other in that moment.
15) If you could invite 3 people, dead or alive, to a dinner party, who would they be, and why?
Charles Bukowski, Prince, Joan Didion.
16) What energizes you and brings you excitement?
Discovering a new musician/artist that I really connect with. Meeting up with friends from faraway places. Plants, especially if they're becoming my own.
17) What qualities do you value in the people with whom you spend time?
Candidness. Sarcasm. Someone who will call me out if I need to be called out and wants me to do the same. My closest friends are the kind of people you can call drunk, sad, sappy at 3 a.m. just to talk to or for help with a flat tire or dead car battery or death in the family.
18) For what would you be famous?
I really want to own a 24-hour laundry mat/rollerskating rink/pie shop. If I could be the mogul who lifted 3-6 of those babies off the ground and launched them into success, that would be ideal and how I'd want to be famous. I also wouldn't mind being on the NYT bestseller list or one of Oprah's Book Club selections.
19) What does your dream day look like?
It starts with a tiny cup of espresso, a sparkling Topo Chico (with a lime wedge) and a plethora of pastries. The air is a crisp, cool 60 degrees out. I grab whatever book I'm reading and bicycle down a tree-lined, relatively flat road to a haven of some sort and catch filtered rays and breeze while taking in some words. Matt picks me up for a motorcycle ride with our dogs (in the sidecar that we do not yet own IRL) and we spend the rest of the afternoon crate-digging, looking at vintage furniture and buying new plant babies. We go somewhere for a cocktail and eat a cheese/meat board, calling it a night.
20) If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Tenacious, passionate, sincere.