I was born in the Pacific Northwest and raised in Gresham, Oregon. After graduating from high school, I moved to Southern California to attend university, where I earned a BA in Religious Studies. During my college years, I frequently traveled overseas, spending time living and working in Japan and the Middle East.

After completing my degree, I returned to Japan and lived there until the mid-1990s. I then moved back to the U.S., settling in Spokane, Washington, where I pursued an MA in Philosophy and went on to teach at local colleges and universities.

I’m a three-time testicular cancer survivor —in 2009, 2019, and 2021–22. During my most recent battle, I underwent 40 bags of chemotherapy over 10 weeks and continued to exercise whenever possible.

Outside of my academic pursuits in reading, research, and writing, I’ve maintained a lifelong passion for bodybuilding and fitness—nearly 50 years strong. I actively share this passion in my book, The Fitness Mindset, through social media, and run the YouTube channel @TheFitnessMindset, where I strive to motivate and support others in achieving their health and fitness goals.

In my free time, I enjoy outdoor adventures, including regular spring and summer hikes up Mt. Sentinel in Missoula, Montana.

I've also tandem skydived three times—once in 2019 and twice in 2022.