ABOUT ME
I’ve always believed that curiosity is one of life’s greatest teachers. It’s led me across continents, through creative pursuits and service work, and into some of the hardest and most meaningful spaces I’ve ever known.
​I’m a U.S. Air Force veteran, author, and nonprofit director living in East Tennessee. I’m part of a team of people building a retreat in the Smoky Mountains where veterans can heal through equine experiences, canine companionship, camaraderie, and the grounding peace of nature. The mission is simple: to create a space where courage and calm can coexist, where those who’ve carried heavy burdens can rediscover what it means to rest, rebuild, and rise.​​​​​​
My work often lives at the intersection of faith, struggle, and resilience. I’m the author of You Are Here: A Christian Devotional and the forthcoming Comfort Triggers: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Familiar Pain and Maladaptive Coping, which explores how the brain can find comfort in what’s familiar, even when that familiarity causes harm. I've written songs and I've written poems.
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Before founding Beloved Roots Ranch, I worked in sports broadcasting and the craft beer industry. I hosted a craft beer radio show, the national travel series Destination Beer and was an actor in one of the goofiest movies I've ever seen. ​​
I am a theology scholar, have taught and shared my story in six countries, and once cooked an American Thanksgiving meal for 100+ people in Northern Italy. I’ve been a public speaker, an emcee, a successful salesperson in a variety of industries, and guided rescue efforts after Hurricane Harvey in Houston. I’ve also served as a hospital chaplain for cancer patients, which was one of the most humbling and encouraging experiences of my life.
​Outside of work, I’m a beach bum and surfer at heart, an avid hiker and 14er climber, a cyclist who’s completed the MS150 four times, and a chef who’s always exploring new flavors and looking for people to feed. I was even once dissed by Gordon Ramsay as a contestant on MasterChef. I can often be found dinking, driving, and dropping on the pickleball courts in Knoxville.​
​​​Whether I’m catching a wave, hiking a ridge, or watching the sky shift colors at dusk, I’m at peace when surrounded by nature, the place where curiosity meets calm. Some of my favorite moments have been with the top down on my Jeep in the beauty of Creation.
I've had a lot of really hard days, too. I was diagnosed with Depression while in the Air Force and later with ADHD, a trying combo, to be sure. Having faced my own mental health struggles, I understand how important it is to replace silence with understanding, and isolation with community. I firmly believe in speaking up for others, defending the defenseless, serving those on the sidelines, and striving to follow the examples that Jesus gave us in the Bible.
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I don't do it all right but I've long believed that most of the things we do are less about perfection and more about intention. Love as He loved is a good place to start.
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This site is less about me and more about what I've learned and how I can help others. I'm an idea guy and a squirrel chaser, and my curiosity and sense of adventure have led me to be a part of some pretty cool achievements. If I can be a part of encouraging you or people you know, then message me.
If you need a teacher, a speaker or a podcast participant, let's talk. I'm good at that!
