Naturally it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve last seen you. What’s the biggest difference in your life now vs then. What’s stayed surprisingly consistent?
10 years!? Ten YEARS!?!!1! 😩
Well…10 years ago I was living in New York, working at a startup doing web design/dev, about to get married, and spending most of my time seeing theater and exploring the outer boroughs for some good food. Now I’m on my own outside Denver, working on my own little business, and trying to get out into nature as much as possible. I’d say that’s pretty different.
But the biggest change is probably just growth. I feel a lot more confident in who I am and what I actually want. The last few years have felt like a pretty major shift in the best way.
Surprisingly consistent? Honestly, despite the past decade throwing a lot of stress, burnout, and “what am I doing” moments my way, that creative spark is still very much there. I still like building, tinkering, playing around. I’ve been trying to take more of that offline lately. Earlier this year I got into pottery (wheel throwing!) and I’ve been making quilts for friends and family.
I love the Instaboxd app you made. It reminds me of the good internet, similar to the time we first met (2009). Is there a similar project you wish someone else would make?
Ugh. The good internet. Remember when people were just…making stuff?
Instaboxd started from a pretty small moment. Friends were posting their Letterboxd diaries every month and it always felt a little hacked together. I thought, “I wonder if I could make this better?” I love those kinds of niche solves. Your PROOOF app is a perfect example. Super simple and just really well done. It feels like pulling a bit of that old Flickr energy back into Instagram. I wish more people made small, specific tools instead of trying to build platforms.
One idea I’ve had forever but never built is a social photo app where the first person to take a photo in a location kind of “claims” that exact shot—the framing, angle, everything—and then other people can go find that spot and recreate it over time. Same place, same composition, different moments. It always felt like it could be an interesting mix of art experiment + real-world exploration.
What are you most proud of that has nothing to do with achievement or accomplishment?
Not to be too eye-rolly, but I think I’m most proud of how comfortable I’ve gotten doing things on my own. Not in a lone-wolf way, but more like not needing a ton of external validation to keep moving. I’ve always kind of been wired this way, but actually feeling comfortable and leaning in to it took a while.
I realized I like figuring things out in my own little world. Building something random, making crafty things on the side, just following whatever feels interesting at the time. Things tend to work out better when I lean into that instead of trying to do things the “right” way.
What’s a hill you’re willing to die on that makes no sense to anyone else?
There’s this idea that “starting is better than waiting.” Just go to the gym/meeting/thing, build the habit, and don’t rely on motivation. Which, yeah true. But I think when you start matters just as much.
This applies to everything for me: relationships, creative projects, even watching a new movie. If your head’s not in the right place, it doesn’t land the same. Starting something at the wrong time can kind of ruin it.
Let’s say I’m visiting you for like 24 hours. Where are we going, what are we doing?
Oh man. I’m still pretty new to Denver, so I don’t have any go-to spots yet, but I think the itinerary would be simple: find some really good food (I’m still looking for the perfect place for pad thai if you’re down!), go for a hike, and catch up. Maybe all three at once?! A little hike / catch up / picnic situation?
Where he lives
Denver, Colorado
Passion
Film!
Cold drink
Oat milk latte
Third space
The gym / pool – love disconnecting and just letting my mind wander
