Appearing on FOX News with Greta Van Susteren.

Giving a TEDx talk at the University of Nevada-Reno (2018).
Photo Credit: TEDxUniversityofNevada

As a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest daily newspaper, covering the arrival of U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to Vegas. 

Interviewing Dr. David Watson for an exclusive video interview (and long-form feature story) that ran on the front-page of USAToday.com.

Demonstrating a wrestling drill to dozens of top amateur fighters and coaches in Beijing, China. 

Lecture at Brigham Young University’s School of Communications.

MSNBC appearance with host Dan Abrams.

Covering the 2002 Olympic Games (luge, bobsled and anti-terrorism preparations) for The Salt Lake Tribune.

ROOKIE YEAR writing for the University of Maryland’s daily student newspaper. Oddly enough, I failed high school journalism and decided to never again take a journalism class in my life. During my college days, never took a single journalism class. Yet I fell in love with newspaper reporting, and worked hard at it. Sprinkle in some good luck and I managed to earn top honors in the university’s most prestigious writing competition.

NEVADA PRESS ASSOCIATION — 3rd Place Investigative Reporting. Our team conducted a year-round investigation of a suspicious land deal valued at up to $55 million. I was fortunate to conduct an hour-long interview, entirely on-the-record, with the city official at the center of the investigation. It was a front-page exclusive: the embattled city official declined to interview with any other reporter.

Speaking at TEDxUNLV alongside teenage phenom Analynn Molina and UFC champion Miesha Tate.

Inside the FOX5-News Las Vegas newsroom with the (then) tallest (known) man in the world.

One of life’s greatest joys: Interviewing someone, gaining a window into their thoughts, seeing life through their eyes. Conservative estimate, I’ve conducted more than 20,000+ professional interviews. 

Two of my favorite rabbit holes: nutrition and longevity. With each passing year I aim to age spectacularly and grow mentally, physically and spiritually. 

INTERVIEWING former Cirque du Soleil performer Alvin Tam about how he survived a roughly 25-foot fall on his head but fought through it and later returned to acrobats and performing.

Corporate speech in Las Vegas.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, China.

PREPARATION: Training hard and losing weight for the prestigious IBJJF Pan Games in California (2012).

INSTAGRAM post: 9 and 1/2 years later, earning my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, at the time one of less than 3,000 (legitimate) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts on earth. Caused me to be momentarily speechless; Buried my head and cried for 15-20 minutes.

POST WORKOUT: How much did you want it, how hard did you work? The amount of sweat is a pretty good measure.

NEWS never stops.

AGE DEFY: 40 years old winning the Expert Adult Division at NAGA in Las Vegas.

Featured in a Las Vegas magazine, spreading the word about “Building a Better World With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.”

As a competitor in an extremely grueling sport, ranked No. 1 in the world among Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in the featherweight class, age 36+ (2013).