1.        Where were you born & raised? 
I was born in Mason City, IA and spent my time growing up throughout the rural areas of Iowa, Georgia, and Bavaria, Germany.  
 

2.        Do you own a pet?  

We have a dog that loves outdoor adventures and playing with other dogs. 
 

3.        Favorite food? 

If I had to pick one thing, I’d go with a torta ahogada and wash it down with some cold tepache. It’s an absolute must while in Guadalajara!  

4.        List some favorite books/movies? 
Some favorite books of mine include Trainspotting, The Borstal Boy, and Small Things Like These. Some of my favorite movies are Strange Brew, Russian Ark, and the Three Colors trilogy. 
 

5.        Favorite bands/music style? 

I used to help college roommate curate their radio show. It was the only hour-long broadcast of math rock, our favorite genre, in the world at the time. We had folks streaming from all over the world. Bands that are in constant rotation include This Town Needs Guns, Hella, Enemies, The Cast of Cheers, and LITE. 
 

6.        Favorite Season? 
Winter. I absolutely love winter cycling, skiing (both kinds), and curling. 
 

7.        Something you really dislike? 
Boxed/dehydrated mashed potato. 
 

8.        Fun fact about you? 

I play hurling (with an h) on the weekends. It’s a crazy, fast-paced Irish sport that I stumbled across a few years ago in Kansas City. It’s like a combination of lacrosse, baseball, soccer, rugby, and hockey.

9.        What are some other things people may not know about you? 

I’ve spent the bulk of my working life before this in Italian cuisine, both as a chef and sommelier. I’ve also had some funny encounters with musicians which include Wanda Jackson giving me a ride home in her mini-van, going on The Zombies tour bus, lending Cardi B my phone charger, and walking around a co-op with Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel (everyone was talking about his show, but didn’t recognize him).