Midwest USA · Worldwide
Community Organizer · Philosopher · Edgewalker
About
A former firefighter and EMT whose reality was blown apart when he confronted how broken the world truly was.
Driven by the legacy of his grandfather — a preacher who gave everything to his people — he spent over a decade scouring the earth for answers: visiting a quarter of the world's countries, living inside movements, cultures, and radical communities, looking for what actually works.
Life & Experience
The Formation
Became a firefighter, EMT, and banker at 16. Then walked away from all of it when the world stopped making sense — and committed to figuring out what does.
The Search
Found himself through yoga and meditation in India, then put it to the test when he sailed across the Pacific Ocean. Learned to live with almost nothing — spending most of his 20s without a phone and almost no money, dumpster diving, hitchhiking, and busking to get by.
The Organizing
Learned the power of people to self-organize in the General Assemblies as a dedicated organizer of Occupy Chicago, as well as Occupy Wall Street, DC, and Baltimore. Learned the possibilities of community while helping organize month-long World Rainbow Gatherings off-grid in the remote jungles of Indonesia, Taiwan, and Colombia.
Direct Action
Became a public speaker in Australia, championing volunteer projects in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America to thousands of students daily on college campuses. Taught mushroom foraging at Fungi Academy in Guatemala. Led yoga at a retreat in Koh Phangan, Thailand. In 2017 became US President of the first Bitcoin-powered direct democracy party when his political experiment merged with the Flux Party.
The Intellectual Work
Won the Hannah Arendt Foundation Writing Competition. Participant in the inaugural Platform Cooperative Consortium at The New School. Completed the AI Without Bosses certificate (2025). Delivered talks internationally on philosophy, religion, and political action. Fluent Spanish speaker.
The Building
Founded and grew a successful small business. Helped produce music festivals as transformative community spaces. Co-founded a Men's group, created a regular ecstatic dance community, and initiated volunteer projects locally.
Life Outside the Mission
An avid student of history, politics, and philosophy, with a sustained practice in conflict resolution and peace studies. Multi-instrumentalist and lifelong musician. Self-taught jack of all trades — mechanic, carpenter, and electrician. Fire performer and movement artist: juggling, poi, rope dart, handstands, and acroyoga.
What I'm Working On
Memoir
A life written from the edge — of institutions, of certainty, of the known world. Edgewalker traces one man's search for meaning across continents, movements, and philosophies, woven together with an unforgettable love story.
ForthcomingPhilosophy Project
A decade-long philosophical framework synthesizing Philip Zimbardo's temporal psychology with the work of Roberto Mangabeira Unger and Lee Smolin — opening a new conversation about time, human agency, and civilizational possibility.
Visit theoryoftime.orgPodcast · Forthcoming
A forthcoming conversation series with painter Luke Schroeder — tracing the hidden connections between ideas, movements, and the people who refuse to live inside the lines.
Coming SoonGet in Touch
If you're a collaborator, journalist, fellow philosopher, or someone who simply wants to connect — the door is open.
connect@alixtate.com