Best and Brightest … Genius — Esquire

A once-in-a-lifetime game-changing advance
in our field everyone else will follow
— Marshall Goldsmith

Astrophysicist turned new media whiz — NBC

Passionate … confident … — Forbes

You don't just learn theory from
him, you improve your life.
— Inc.

The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard University, Standford University, Princeton University, MTV, IBM, US Army

My Mission

My mission is to help change American (and global) culture on sustainability and stewardship from expecting deprivation, sacrifice, burden, and chore to expecting rewarding emotions and lifestyles, as I see happen with everyone I lead to act for their intrinsic motivations.

In my case the emotions have been joy, fun, freedom, connection, meaning, and purpose.



Systemic change begins with personal change.

Some of my values. What are yours?
Months living off the grid in Manhattan: 43 (and counting)
Loads of garbage I filled in 2025 so far: 0
Loads filled in 2024: 0
Loads filled in 2023: 0
Loads filled in 2022: 0
Loads filled in 2021: 0
Loads filled in 2020: 0
Loads filled in 2019: 1
Loads filled in 2018: 1
Loads filled in 2017: 1
Days picking up litter: 3,169 and counting
Years not flying: 9 (117 months) and counting
2024-25 grid electric grid use at home: 0 kilowatt-hours
Annual carbon emissions: about 1 ton
Daily burpees: 260,858 and counting
Resting pulse: 38 bpm

LATEST BLOG POSTS

I searched “comprehensive list of environmental solutions.” No wonder everyone feels hopeless and gives up.

on January 16, 2026 in Creativity, HandsOnPracticalExperience, Leadership, Nature

I searched “comprehensive list of environmental solutions.” The results search results showed nothing meaningful or helpful. Before continuing, I should point out what prompted that search was writing my next book, which does present a solution, not only to our environmental problems, but to things that result from it, such as corruption, tyranny, racism, addiction, despair, and more. So I don’t feel despair or anxiety from pointing out that not[…] Keep reading →

My neighbors leave their windows wide open in temperatures below freezing, presumably blasting their heaters

on January 15, 2026 in Stories

Coming home this evening, I noticed a window of the apartment a few floors directly below mine was open, I estimated by 8 to 10 inches. The light was on and someone was home. The temperature outdoors was about 30 F (-1 C). I presume the person wasn’t freezing, which meant they probably blasted the heat. Tomorrow, when it’s brighter, I’ll take and post pictures of how I tape my[…] Keep reading →

What I wonder when people ask how I get by

on January 14, 2026 in Choosing/Decision-Making, Freedom

People ask me all the time things like “how do you get by without flying?”, “How do you get by without a contract with the power company?”, and “how do you get by producing so little trash?” I know they’re thinking about material things and mainstream values of acquiring more stuff even at the expense of relationships so from their perspective I’m depriving myself and sacrificing. From my perspective, I’m[…] Keep reading →

The Atlantic Magazine ads

on January 13, 2026 in Nonjudgment

I read stories on The Atlantic‘s website sometimes, but rarely read the physical magazine. I found a copy in my building’s mailing room’s recycling bin. I guess a neighbor with a subscription didn’t feel like reading this month’s issue. Here’s the issue in particular online. The articles tended to be intellectual, left-leaning or full anti-Trump, but largely portraying either victimhood or implying solidarity with or support for the downtrodden. The[…] Keep reading →

844: Maya Lilly, part 1: Effective Storytelling and Producing The Years Project

on January 12, 2026 in Podcast

Since I’ve seen Maya’s work on the Years Project with people like executive producers James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger, I was worried I might feel starstruck. Oh wait, she also worked with series creators Joel Bach and David Gelber (of 60 Minutes); chief science advisors podcast guest Joseph Romm and Heidi Cullen; and episode hosts including Cameron, Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, Ian Somerhalder, America Ferrera, David Letterman, Gisele Bündchen, Jack Black,[…] Keep reading →

This week’s selected media, January 11, 2026: Common Sense (my first draft), The Female Brain, Wise Guys, Never Split the Difference

on January 11, 2026 in Tips

This week I finished: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended on It, by podcast guest Chris Voss: I read this book before recording the podcast with Chris and liked it, but not enough. This time I loved it. I think last time I compared it with Getting to Yes and thought it didn’t add much knowledge. It mostly promoted the value of practice and tactics beyond[…] Keep reading →

Finished the first draft of my next book

on January 10, 2026 in Creativity

The title slightly overstates my accomplishment, since several sections remain unfinished, but I finished the very hard parts. The remaining parts need writing, but not figuring out composition and how they work. I finished enough to send what I finished to an editor at a publisher. I don’t remember when I started writing it, rather I didn’t start on a particular day, but I think I started getting more serious[…] Keep reading →

Can you help me understand how liberals and progressives view leadership?

on January 9, 2026 in Leadership, Models

I grew up in liberal, progressive households and I don’t remember everything of how I viewed leadership, but I’m pretty sure I viewed it skeptically. Well, when Martin Luther King or Gandhi did it, it seemed inspirational, but when I considered doing it, I shied away. I’m trying to remember how I viewed it because I work with a lot of people who are liberal and progressive and they shy[…] Keep reading →

Some of the most thrilling words I’ve read in literature

on January 8, 2026 in Art, Relationships, Stories

The library near me displays books, changing them every day or week or so. Today they had Roots by Alex Haley. I read the book in college, I think in my first year, which would mean 1988-89. It wasn’t for class and it’s a long book so I don’t know how I found time for it. I don’t remember much of it, but there are a few words in it[…] Keep reading →

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