“If war is holy and sex is obscene We’ve got it twisted in this lucid dream” -Alicia Keys on “Holy War” – 1 – It’s easy to be compassionate when a loved one is going through a tough time. Without thinking, you offer warmth, empathy, patience, and playfulness. You encourage her to take a bitRead More

May, 2004: I’ve just stepped off stage from my last magic show ever. It feels… anticlimactic. I imagined that I’d be emotional, but I’m not. It’s as though today’s show held little significance. I didn’t even tell the audience that it was my last show. Though I admit I feel a little guilty. Over theRead More

2016:  C*, my first therapist, and I are on the phone when she says, “I’ll send over a draft of the article I’ve been working on. Your job is to edit it, put it in your voice, and then post it on your site. You’re getting a lot of traffic and interesting clients these days,Read More

When I turned 30, I decided to focus on my mental health, which included spending six months in therapy. For a while I didn’t tell anyone, not even my inner circle. When I did start telling people I noticed that the men in my life had two types of reactions. While many were supportive, aRead More

A note to the reader: this is an updated version of an article I wrote in 2014. It’s an ode to the artists, entrepreneurs, activists, athletes, entertainers, and rebels who fight against the status quo. More so now than ever, we need you. Godspeed. *** “Dude, you can’t expect your life to look like otherRead More

Autumn, 2014: It should be impossible to feel like shit right now, and yet, somehow, I do… On paper, my life is beyond perfect. My speaking tour sold out a month ago, and I’m getting standing ovations at most talks. I’m dating a model who has an advanced degree from one of the best universitiesRead More

Someone once asked the Dalai Lama what surprised him most about humanity. He replied, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present, the result being that he doesRead More

A confession: I am a recovering people-pleaser. In no particular order, I’ve: Stayed in friendships, business partnerships, and romantic relationships wayyy longer than I should have, resulting in uninspired, sluggish, and deadening relationships Diluted myself in order to be a false peer to people I didn’t even like or respect Offered thousands of dollars inRead More