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?
Loads of garbage I filled in 2022 so far: 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: 1,850 and counting
Months not flying: 74 and counting
Typical electric bill: $1.70
Annual carbon emissions: about 1 ton
Daily burpees: 190,511 and counting

LATEST BLOG POSTS

One way I admit I’m out of touch: I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t pick up litter all the time.

on May 12, 2022 in Habits, Nature

Okay, I’m speaking a bit tongue-in-cheek because I know most people think what they do doesn’t matter and imagine touching anyone else’s litter risks keeling over and dying, or maybe gangrene and covid-19. People claim to be germaphobes and the like to excuse their inaction. But I know there’s no risk if you just avoid dangerous things, which still leaves an infinite amount to pick up, so I discount their[…] Keep reading →

580: How wrong your beliefs making you fear living sustainably

on May 11, 2022 in Podcast

Aren’t we living in the best time in history? Don’t we have to keep pressing forward to avoid returning to medieval serfdom or the Stone Age and everyone dying young? No. History, anthropology, and archaeology show these beliefs wrong. Humans weren’t living on the verge of starvation or nonstop working all day long. Other cultures than the one we descended from enjoyed more health, longevity, abundance, resilience, and freedom than[…] Keep reading →

Do we live in Babylon?

on May 10, 2022 in Freedom, Nature

This post is me trying to express the sadness I feel seeing litter everywhere, increasing, imagining the beauty Manhattan island once held before we paved it over; seeing how doof covers over beauty of the human body with disease and excess. My sadness runs deeper than that lost beauty. I lament the abdication and capitulation of responsibility. At least half the people I see walking the streets of this city[…] Keep reading →

579: Derek Marshall, part 2: Running for Congress, sharing honest personal experiences

on May 9, 2022 in Podcast

You’ve heard every politician pay lip service on the environment. They talk abstractly about carbon dioxide levels, solutions to spend more money, and something about a future improved by electric cars and solar panels (conveniently missing how these “solutions” pollute). How many share their personal experiences? How many share their vulnerabilities we know they have? Derek shares his personal experience honestly facing environmental challenges himself. What does it feel like[…] Keep reading →

I loathe being interrupted, but here’s when to do it. I’ll thank you for it.

on May 8, 2022 in Nonjudgment

I can’t stand when people interrupt me. I don’t like myself when I do it either. But there is at least one time when I would consider you my friend for interrupting me. More than interruptions, I can’t stand when someone who can do something and believes they should but has filled their head and heart with some cockamamie limiting belief. They say they can’t get in shape, get promoted,[…] Keep reading →

What if you believe life begins at conception? Is that belief part of diversity and inclusion?

on May 7, 2022 in Choosing/Decision-Making, Nonjudgment

Abortion is in the news, which hinges on when a sperm and egg transition to becoming a life protected by the law. My world is filled with people whose beliefs in the supernatural differ from mine and whose conflicts with others’ supernatural beliefs cause suffering and death around the world. Their justification seems to be nothing more than strong feeling that they’re right, yet people they disagree with justify themselves[…] Keep reading →

I finally realized why people don’t criticize litter

on May 6, 2022 in Addiction, Nature

Short answer: because they realize they are complicit and want what plastic provides. Long answer: Picking up litter every day, I find almost not one type of trash comprises things I buy. Nearly all is doof, mostly beverage bottles and can, takeout, chips, coffee cups, wrappers, and such. I buy or consume none of them. There’s plenty of packaging from Amazon, doof purveyors, retail bags, and more things I don’t[…] Keep reading →

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