Born 1973, in Chicago, Illinois. (51 years old in 2024, 52 in 2025)
Family:
Son – Kai
Twin Identical Daughters – Blaize and Pepper
Ma and Pops – Dave and Mar
Sister – Bree
Friends that feel like family too.
School
1st few years of life were near the corner of Foster and Broadway Ave in Chicago.
Attended Queen of All Saints 1st and 2nd grade.
Attended Lincoln Hall Middle School. Graduated in 1987
Attended Loyola Academy High School. Graduated in 1991
Attended Northern Illinois University. Graduated in 1995 with a degree in General Studies
1 of the 4 years I spent in college, I enrolled at University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia which was a catalyst for…
World School
I travelled around the world in 1996 and 1997 on $6000 and went overland from UK to India.
Since then, I have travelled around the world a few more times.
My Current Understand of the World/Earth/Humans
I don’t see most things and events as Black/White or Good/Bad – after studying Ancient Wisdom and reading 1000s of books on philosophy, self improvement, frameworks etc – I look for truths that have been for 100s or 1000s of year, and will continue to be – One thing I currently believe is that there is a light side and dark side to everything.
Some teachers growing up said to my parents, “Sean is awesome at A, B, and C” and many of them were correct. What the did not share or maybe even realize is there is a dark side of each of those.
Sean has a lot of Energy (Light Side)
This energy can be a lot to take in for some people and can steamroll others (Dark side)
With this in mind the past 15 or so years in my life, I’m reconsidering “What is true” and how can I be most intentional with my time while considering the yin/yong (light/dark) of everything including me?
Professional
Historically, I co-found companies and enterprises, invest in companies that align with my core values, and contribute a lot of my resources and time to philanthropic endeavors.
Starting in 2025, I’m focusing my energies less on being in companies and enterprises, and more as a mentor, investor and walk and talk colleague. (Best way to meet with me is on a walk and talk)
I am a Co-Founder of the BootsnAll Travel Network. In 1999 a few friends and I started building the travel community called “BootsnAll” that focused on travel, learning and leaning into the uncomfortable. After lots of ups and downs in building a self-funded and sustainable publishing business, we refocused on Long-Term/Indie Travel in 2011 and and acquiring AirTreks in late 2013.
A lot has changed an evolved over the years, especially in context of Covid and AirTreks/BootsnAll in that we were 50 colleagues before the pandemic, and now we are 7 and a tidy little efficient complex travel making ship. (Light and dark sides as shared above)
Some other highlights I remember
In December of 2015 I co-founded the Travel Access Project with Jenn Miller. We have giving grants for GAP year experiences to students around the globe. See here, here, and here as some examples.
I facilitate and lead strategic planning sessions and meetings for a variety of companies and non-profits over the years and remain open to this. I often do the 1st few for free, if I like what your enterprise is doing and decide if it is a win-win to continue
Other Highlights (Light Side)
Indie Travel Manifesto (written in 2010 and a bit behind the scenes of why)
Travel Access Project (founded in 2015)
Indie – The World’s 1st RTW Airfare Engine (founded in 2013)
BootsnAll – Long-Term Traveler Guide (founded 1998)
Built WorldCupBlog and TheOffside. It was ranked as 1 of the 50 most powerful blogs in the world by the Guardian. (link) (Sold to SBNation, now Vox Media in 2011)
In December of 2013, BootsnAll Acquired AirTreks
In January of 2021, I co-founded Carbon Farm
Some Lowlights (Dark Side)
In 2015 I became heavily involved at helping the Wayfinding Academy get going. I finished my board service including board chair in July of 2020. Wayfinding went out of business/failed in 2022/23.
Random About Me
– Played competitive ice hockey from age 6 to age 12.
– I believe that long-term travel is perhaps, one of the best ways to get a boots on the ground education
– Ran 3 marathons
– Delivered Newspapers on a Bicycle Paper Route for almost 3 years in my late 20s.
– Traveled around the world a few times
– I’ve lived on $500/month USD in the USA for 3 years in my 20s as BootsnAll was getting going.
– Frequently searching for the “why” of things, people, and myself
– Went to World Cup 2006 and produced WorldCupBlog.org while there for 7 weeks.
– Co-Produced a Son in 2010.
– Co-Produced identical daughters in 2012
– I’ve spent large parts of the North America Winter in 2011 and 2012 in Ohope, New Zealand (Living and Working)
– EO Portland member since 2006
– YPO Member from 2014 to 2019
– regenerative farming since 2005
– Co-Founded a Quarterly Meeting Group of CEO leaders in 2015
– 8 and under assistant to the assistant to the assistant coach at Bowerman Track Club starting in 2022
I live in Snowden, Washington (since 2010)
Some OLD Videos and Podcasts that I am in when I was much younger
Rolf Potts and I discuss how travel has changed over the past 2 decades
Zero to Travel Podcast
Trekking in Nepal (2008)
BootsnAll B-sides
BootsnAll YouTube Account