We're about 45 minutes south of the city. Everything was up north. There wasn't anything in our community.

So with some friends, we put one on ourselves.

The space

A friend had recently renovated a space in a nearby town. We worked hard through one nonprofit, volunteers and through partners to make it accessible for everybody in the community.

We called it Daughters Dance, intentionally. So that any girl could bring whatever adult they wanted to spend time with. We wanted to ensure no one was excluded.

The night

The girls had such a great time. People in the community who didn't normally cross paths got to meet. My daughter, who's 14 now, got to dance with girls she's known since they were little.

I have pictures of her at these dances going back to 2018. Watching some of those same little girls in our community grow up alongside her was really moving.

After

Afterwards, the daughters were already asking their dads when it was happening again.

That was the magic.

The fathers were grateful, and most of them said the same thing we hear at every cityHUNT:

"I didn't know how good this was going to be."

There's something special about a father, or whoever that adult is, focused for a few hours in a really fun space with a child, dressing up, doing the whole experience together.

The work

It was hard to pull off. People are busy and don't immediately get it. It took real work through the nonprofit and partners to fill the room.

But I had read that sometimes people give gifts instead of getting gifts for their birthday. The same logic applies here. You build the thing you wish to exist, and you give it to the community.

I'm hoping to do it annually now. My role as a father keeps shifting, and showing up like this is part of how I want to keep showing up. It also reminded me why shared experiences matter so much; they're what people actually remember.

If you want to see what happens when the focus is just connection and play, that's what we do at cityHUNT too. That's always been the point.

We tested their Harry Potter wand experience. It's a scavenger hunt, but with a wand connected to an app on your phone. Across three different Harry Potter worlds, you find a spot on the ground, see a symbol for the spell you need to cast, and when you cast it correctly the wand vibrates, lights up, and something happens. A window display changes. Things appear in an alleyway. The phone unlocks the next stop.

What stayed with me wasn't the technology itself. It was what the technology made room for.

The real thing

What was inspirational wasn't the wand. It was watching parents and kids working on something together at each stop, figuring out the clue side by side.

We did rides too, which is fine. But on a ride you're just experiencing something together. With this, you were collaborating. You had to read the symbol, try the spell, and figure out what you'd missed if nothing happened.

And when we got stuck, older kids or more experienced players would sometimes step in and help us through. That's the thing about shared experiences, they create the conditions for the kind of small, spontaneous collaboration you can't manufacture in a meeting room.

Off the screen

My whole thing is, can we use technology so that people don't look at their devices?

That's what the wand does. The phone is in the background, doing the work of tracking where you are and what you've unlocked. The wand is in your hand, but your eyes are on the window, the alleyway, the kid next to you trying to figure out what spell comes next. You don't have to look at the device. The device is doing it the whole time without you.

It's the same instinct behind how I learned to use technology to take care of my body without letting it take over, the tech earns its place by getting out of the way.

That's what I keep coming back to at cityHUNT, the idea that the best experiences pull people toward each other and the world around them. The piece that excited me at Universal was the three-part interaction: the wand in your hand, the city or display reacting around you, and the phone holding it all together in the background. Three things talking to each other so you don't have to stare at a screen. It's also why AI won't replace what cityHUNT does, the value is in the people next to you, not the tool in your hand.

What I'm taking home

The trip was a fun working trip. We have clients who run events at Universal Walk, so I was there to write clues and collect material. My daughter helped me pick out things to photograph across the three Harry Potter worlds and the Super Mario worlds. A mood board, basically. Stories told in pictures, which is how I like to work.

I don't know exactly how something like the wand fits into what we do yet. But I saw enough to know there's a future where 3D objects in the world interact with phones to deepen real-world connection, not replace it. Parents and kids are collaborating at a marked spot on the ground. Older kids stepping in when someone gets stuck. There'll be some ways we might be able to bring that into our experiences down the line.

If your team is overdue for a real connection, one that doesn't involve a conference room or a video call, come find us at cityHUNT. We'll take you outside.

The idea

Nashville is one of our favorite places to do events. We do them all over the world, mostly North America, but Nashville has been really fun, and it's a great city, especially East Nashville.

One of my close friends owns a bunch of restaurants there. He's basically my next-door neighbor, across the street. We've helped him on projects before, and it was their 10-year anniversary at the same time we hit 25. One of his restaurants is Butcher & Bee.

So we decided to do it together and focus it on the people in the service industry.

The game

We built a complementary game for the service personnel who make Nashville awesome. A bunch of restaurants came with teams. We put together $1,000 in cash and prizes for the winning team. Players went out all through East Nashville, solving clues, taking photos, making videos, and just having a really fun day.

It was an unusual format for us. We usually run one company at a time. This one had a bunch of different organizations playing against each other.

Butcher & Bee brought in the teams and had amazing food. The players were so gracious and kind afterwards. A real big win for cityHUNT, for Nashville, for Butcher & Bee, and for the players.

The crew

We had a full documentary crew there. This was a deliberate 25-year time capsule, not just a production detail. Two film crews and a GoPro crew followed the game, and an interview room was set up for in-depth interviews with different people about cityHUNT's 25 years, Nashville, and this experience. We’re turning it into a short narrative film and a series of clips for social and future cityHUNT marketing.

I got to follow one of the film crews out on the game, which is rare for me. I'm more in a coaching role now for the people running the business, so I don't get to play games much anymore.

25 years

Watching the evolution of it into this, impacting over a million people so far through these experiences, is something I sit with.

We were just about to bring on our first hire.. September 11th was the next day. We were in New York.

Then the business has shifted greatly since COVID. We rethought everything during COVID and rebuilt the whole company during that period.

Now I'm more in the founder role than running the company day to day, supporting amazing people who are doing amazing things all over the country.

Gratitude

It's gratitude. I'm so grateful for this experience and the impact cityHUNT has had on my life.

The reason we do this is that I have seen suffering in the world, especially at work. A lot of companies only have two hours a year for connection. Through a lot of positive psychology and gamification, I realized early on that there's a lot of stress in our society, but there can also be a lot of joy.

Thank You Nashville, was the version of that lesson I most wanted to live this year. Give the gift back. Watch what happens.

That's what 25 years has taught me. Build the game. Watch what happens.

Canoes tipped. Food ran out. It rained for days. I got seriously sick on one of the trips and made it through anyway.

I did that program twice as a kid, at twelve and again around thirteen or fourteen. Then I worked at the camp as a counselor through college. Then in my early twenties I ran those programs myself. I took kids out into the woods and onto rivers and watched them figure out, the same way I had, what they were actually made of.

I never connected any of this to cityHUNT until recently.

A Different Kind of School

There is a lot of conversation now about grit. What it is, whether you can teach it, whether people have enough of it.

I do not know the whole answer. But I know what those two summers did to me. When you go days without working technology, when you have to solve food and weather and navigation as a team, when things go wrong in the middle of nowhere and quitting is not actually an option, something gets built in you. Not just toughness. More like trust in the process, even when the process is cold and wet and nobody is sure where the campsite is.

In the woods with Otto

A writer I have been reading lately, Pixie Light Horse, said something that stayed with me: leaning into comfort sometimes happens at the expense of being present. I keep coming back to that. In a world that works hard to smooth everything out, presence is what gets traded away. And presence is the only thing that actually connects people.

The Tipped Canoe

Being an entrepreneur is uncomfortable at a lot of moments. There have been stretches in cityHUNT's 25-year history, after 9/11, during the 2008 crash, through COVID, where I did not know if we were going to make it.

Looking back, I think the reason I could stay steady enough to work through those periods is that I had already, at age twelve, learned what it felt like to be cold and tired and lost and still keep moving. The woods did not teach me that everything would be fine. They taught me I would figure it out either way.

That is a different thing. It turns out it matters a lot. It shows up in the same way dyslexia shaped my thinking. Both built a kind of resourcefulness that does not show up on a resume but does show up under pressure.

Me and Otto in the woods

A Program in Disguise

I started cityHUNT in my NYU dorm room in 2001. A scavenger hunt pub crawl using Polaroid cameras. For 25 years I have been building it into something that now operates in 250+ cities, pulling teams out of conference rooms and into the streets together.

I always understood the mission from the inside. Get people into a shared challenge. Something real. Watch what happens between them.

What I had not traced until this year was where that instinct came from.

I can trace it to specific moments now. Canoes tipping in bad weather and nobody walking away. Kids showing up terrified on day one and leaving knowing they could handle something genuinely hard. All those times a group of strangers in an uncomfortable situation chose to help each other instead of checking out.

cityHUNT was always a leadership training program in disguise. It just took me 25 years to realize I had been running the same program since I was twelve.

Conclusion

It was never about making things easy. We were building something that had to actually mean something.

Twenty-five years later, that is still the test. If an experience does not require something of you, it probably will not give you anything back.

A few months ago I started asking a different question. Not where I should work, but what kind of environment actually makes me feel good while I work.

The answer was obvious once I sat with it.

The Bench

I live in a 2,000-acre nature focused community outside Atlanta. There are twenty miles of hiking trails here that almost nobody uses. Benches tucked into hilltops. A blue pyramid sculpture near the top of one of them.

That bench became my office.

The setup is simpler than it sounds. I use my phone as a 5G hotspot. Never dropped a call up there. I carry a portable battery for longer days. That is really all it takes. I have run full client sessions, team calls, and real writing sessions from that bench. When I rediscovered this spot, the bench was broken. I put in a ticket with the HOA and had it fixed. I am so grateful for this spot.

The Shift

I cannot tell you I am more productive out there. I do not track it that way. What I know is that at the end of a day on that hill, time had some weight to it. Like I was actually somewhere, not just moving through hours in a room.

Between calls I meditate. Sometimes I just breathe and watch the view open out below me. The expansiveness matters. It is harder to feel stuck when you are looking at something that goes on a long way. Inside, even in a good office, the day just passes.

I also have a spot by the river. More enclosed, trees at eye level, a different kind of quiet. But I keep coming back to the hill. The walk up earns it.

What the Research Says

I figured there would be something on this, and there is.

Researchers Rachel and Stephen Kaplan developed what they called Attention Restoration Theory after decades of studying how natural environments affect the mind. Their core finding: nature lets you pay attention more broadly and with less effort. Your nervous system stops having to work so hard. That explains something I already felt but could not name. Why an hour outside leaves me sharper than an hour at a desk (actually I don’t have a desk).

A study of nearly 20,000 adults found that two hours in green space per week was the threshold for measurable improvements in health and well-being. Two hours. Spread across the week however you want.

I am getting that and then some. And honestly, I was doing it anyway before I ever looked it up.

Where It Comes From

I spent summers working at sleep-away camps from my teens into my mid-twenties. Backpacking trips, canoe expeditions, weeks at a time without phones or internet. Being outside has never been a lifestyle upgrade for me. It is where I come from.

The outdoor office is just going back to that. The pull toward nature, but close to home, the reset that does not require a plane ticket, has always been part of how I am wired.

On Remote Work

When the commute disappears, so does the transition. That moment when your body shifts from one mode to another. A lot of people working from home lose that buffer and cannot quite name what is gone.

The outdoor office is a reset. A way to remind yourself that work does not have to happen inside a box.

I wonder how many of us are one bench away from feeling a little better about our days. The trail is usually less crowded than you think.

Morning Practice

I start most mornings with at least 30 minutes of Kundalini yoga and breathwork.

Here's where I go:

• Life Force Academy with Jai Dev Singh: I met Jai Dev in Costa Rica in 2019 and he genuinely changed my life. I had never done Kundalini before meeting him. He's one of the most skilled teachers I've come across and his online platform, Life Force Academy, is where I do my daily morning practice. He has some free content, but his subscription is worth it.
• Breathe With Sandy: This one surprised me. I'll be honest, he didn't look like someone I'd click with at first. But he puts out an enormous amount of high-quality breathwork content for free on YouTube and he's the real deal. If you want to get into breathwork without spending money, start here.
• Travis Elliot: Another free yoga resource on YouTube. I've been doing his classes for a long time. Consistent, quality instruction with no fluff.

In-Person Yoga

When I can get to a live class, I go to Highland Yoga. My friend Elsie runs it and she's an incredible entrepreneur and teacher. It's a hot flow class, challenging and beautiful, and it's become a bit of a joke in Atlanta that it's yoga for Type A personalities. She has multiple studios now.

If you're in Atlanta and want a real yoga experience, Highland Yoga is it.

Movement and Play

My preference is always to move with other people rather than work out alone.

That means:

• Pickleball (singles and doubles, a few times a week)
• Soccer (Sunday mornings when I can)
• Hiking (daily, often while taking calls)
• Walking cities when traveling
• Riding my bike (on gravel roads just like this one)

I'd rather play a sport or take a class with someone than go to a gym. The social element keeps me coming back.

Ecstatic Dance

This is the one I can't recommend enough. Ecstatic Dance is exactly what it sounds like: dancing, fully, without drugs or alcohol. It usually happens during the day. There's live music, DJs, sound baths, yoga, and stretching, all woven into a single four-hour experience. It's genuinely one of the best things I do for my body and my spirit.

In Atlanta, the organization doing this right is Sol Dance. I'm personally involved in helping them build something sustainable here. The events happen around once a month, in spaces that feel right for the experience, old churches, converted factories, outdoor venues as the weather gets warmer. If you've never been to an Ecstatic Dance event, look up Sol Dance or search Ecstatic Dance in your city. The videos will tell you everything you need to know.

Credits to the original owner from Sol Dance.

Conclusion

Wellness doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Most of what works for me is either free or low-cost, and a lot of it is about consistency more than intensity. Whether it's a 30-minute Kundalini practice in the morning, a hike with a friend, or an afternoon of Ecstatic Dance, the through-line is always the same: move your body, connect with other people, and do it regularly.

These are the resources I trust. I hope some of them are useful to you too.

If you want to explore more about how I approach wellness and daily life, take a look around the site or reach out through cityHUNT.

Then I lost my Apple Watch in the ocean in Costa Rica while surfing, and I took it as a sign from the universe to stop.

What followed was a long stretch of deliberately avoiding tech altogether. Now, I'm finding a middle ground, and it's made all the difference.

Biohacking Burnout

I got into fitness trackers early, back when the Fitbit first came out, before any of this was mainstream. I was using heart rate monitors to play squash. I had meditation headsets, sleep headsets, the works. I was deep into biohacking before most people knew what the word meant.

But I burned out on it. I got tired of being tethered to data. I wanted to just live, move, and not have to check a screen to know how I felt.

The breaking point came when I was surfing in Costa Rica in 2020 and my Apple Watch slipped off my wrist into the ocean. I could have been upset. Instead, I felt relieved. Why was I wearing a smartwatch in the ocean just to monitor my workout? That was the moment I said enough.

A Clean Break

After that, I went as low-tech as possible. I stopped wearing devices. I stopped tracking. I tried to keep my phone out of reach as much as I could, and I focused on just being present in my body.

For a while, that worked. But I started noticing something was off. I was getting indigestion before workouts, something I'd never really dealt with before. My steps on my iPhone were wildly inaccurate because I rarely had my phone on me. I knew I was active, but I had no real sense of what my body was actually doing.

I started to think: what if there's a way to get the data I actually need, without all the noise?

Finding the Right Tool

I didn't want a ring with sensors in it. I didn't want a subscription service. I didn't want notifications, screens, or anything that would pull my attention. I just wanted to know my steps, my heart rate, my heart rate variability, and my sleep quality.

I used AI to help me figure out what to look for, and it pointed me toward the Polar Loop. I already trusted Polar from years back, when I used their heart rate monitors for squash. The Loop is about as simple as a tracker can get: no screen, no buttons, just the band. It connects to a free app when your phone is nearby. That's it.

At around $200, it was a fraction of what the Whoop costs, and there's no subscription fee. I'm tired of everything being subscription-based. For what I need, the Polar Loop is exactly right.

This was the midway point of a legit hike and in Arizona with my son. The Loop captured everything.

AI as a Wellness Partner

The other piece that's changed things is how I'm using AI, specifically Gemini, which is connected to my Google Calendar.

I was having indigestion before workouts and couldn't figure out why. I started asking Gemini to help me think through my meals and my schedule together. I'd tell it what food I had in the house, share my workout plan, and it would map out when I should eat, what to eat before exercise, and what to avoid. Turns out eating broccoli and certain vegetables right before a workout wasn't helping. Eating fish and sweet potatoes before activity works a lot better for me.

Now in the mornings I wake up, check my calendar, and have a clear plan: when to eat, what to eat, when to work out, all built around my actual schedule. Gemini can even put the meal plan directly into my calendar. It sounds simple, but it's been a real shift.

I also realized I was protein-deficient. I don't eat much meat, mostly fish, and I wasn't eating enough overall. Having the data from the Polar Loop alongside conversations with AI has helped me actually address that, instead of just guessing.

Building Around the Body

A lot of my daily activity was invisible before. I don't bring my phone on hikes. I take my morning team calls while hiking. I'm always moving, but my iPhone step count would show 6,000 or 8,000 steps because the phone was sitting at home. With the Polar Loop, I'm seeing 17,000 to 20,000 steps on those days. That was a revelation.

Now I'm building my schedule around my body, not the other way around. Morning Kundalini and breathwork. Workouts scheduled around meals. Pickleball, soccer, golf, yoga, hiking all tracked so I actually know what my body is doing.

I've been doing a 40-day prosperity challenge with daily Kundalini and meditation since the start of the year. I'm on day 63. I do breathwork with my son, and we're on day 18 of that together. These aren't new habits for me, I've always done morning practices, but having the consistency and the data to back it up has helped me commit in a different way.

Coming Full Circle

I started using fitness trackers to gather data about cityHUNT experiences years ago. I wanted to show people how many steps they were getting, how many calories they were burning, just by playing the game. And then I went overboard, tracked everything, and had to walk away entirely.

Coming back to this now, I'm in a different place. The technology is less obtrusive. The AI tools are genuinely useful. And I'm clear on what I actually need the data for: to take care of my body so I can take care of everything else.

That's the real shift. Body first. Everything else follows.

Conclusion

Here's what I've learned from going all the way into biohacking, walking away from it completely, and finding my way back to something sustainable:

• You don't need the most expensive device. You need the right one for you.
• AI can be a genuinely useful wellness partner if you give it the right context.
• Tracking is only valuable when it's in service of how you live, not the other way around.
• Building your day around your body, starting with movement and food, changes everything.

Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury. It's the foundation. I spent a lot of years taking care of other people first. Now I know that if I want to keep doing that, I have to start with myself.

If any of this resonates, I'd love to hear how you're thinking about your own wellness routine. Feel free to reach out or explore what we're building at cityHUNT.

I've been in the live events and team-building business for 25 years. I watched COVID gut the industry. I've seen what happens when people are isolated from each other for too long. And now, watching AI move as fast as it is, I genuinely believe we're at a turning point, but not the scary kind. At least, not if we do this right.

What COVID Took

COVID didn't just slow cityHUNT down. It took away the thing that made the work matter. You can't replicate a real game in a real city over a screen. I tried specific virtual formats, only the ones I truly believed in, but I wasn't going to put out a mediocre product just to keep revenue moving. I was waiting until we could get outside again.

That cost us. Other companies pushed more volume through virtual events. But I wasn't willing to go all in on this unless it genuinely connected people. That's always been the point.

Cost of Isolation

What I saw post-COVID, and what I'm still seeing now, is how disconnected people are at work. Companies are getting back to the office and realizing their teams don't actually know each other anymore. The relationships aren't there. The trust isn't built. People are sitting in the same room and still feeling like strangers.

That's not a small problem. Connection is the foundation of how teams actually function, and it can't be built over Slack or a Zoom all-hands.

Where AI Comes In

Here's where I think people get the AI story wrong. The conversation is always framed as: AI takes jobs, AI replaces people, AI makes things colder and more transactional. Maybe in some places, sure. But that's not what I'm seeing.

What I'm seeing is AI taking away the busy work, the tasks that slow people down and don't require a human to do them, and freeing up time for the things that actually matter. At cityHUNT, we're not cutting people. We're cutting the friction. We're spending more time on the creative work, the game design, the client relationships, the special stuff.

My hope for AI is that it does the same thing for people everywhere. Less admin. More presence. More time to actually show up for each other.

The Live Experience Boom

I'm part of an AI community here in Nashville, and I'm learning something new every week from some genuinely brilliant people. But the more I learn, the more convinced I am that AI is going to push people OFF their screens, not further onto them.

When you free up time and mental bandwidth, people don't just sit there. They go out. They travel. They look for experiences. They want to feel something that doesn't come through a device. No glass between you and the moment.

I took my daughter to see Cirque du Soleil recently. It completely blew my mind. The set, the performance, the way everyone in that room was fully present and having a shared experience together. That's not something AI can replicate. And I think as AI grows, people are going to want MORE of that, not less.

Why This Is Good for cityHUNT

We're growing right now, faster than we've grown in years. Companies are investing in their people again. They're realizing that the antidote to isolation isn't another team meeting or a digital tool. It's actually getting outside, playing a game, laughing together, and doing something that has nothing to do with a screen.

cityHUNT has always been built on the idea that the best human connections happen in real life, in cities, with no script and no glass between you. We call it the antidote to isolation. That was always our mission. Right now, it feels more relevant than ever.

Conclusion

AI is not the villain in this story. Neither is technology. The problem has always been isolation, and the solution has always been genuine human connection.

My hope, and what I'm starting to see play out in our business, is that AI takes the tasks off our plates so we can spend more time on the things that actually make us human. More live events. More travel. More creativity. More showing up for each other in real life.

That's the future I'm building toward with cityHUNT. If your team is overdue for a real connection, one that doesn't involve a conference room or a video call, come find us. We'll take you outside.

My Happy Place

This year alone I've already been to New York and Miami, and I'm just getting started. Every time I land somewhere, something shifts in me. I start noticing things, a piece of street art, the way a neighborhood has changed, the energy of a new hotel lobby or a hostel common room. My brain turns on in a different way.

That's not an accident. That's why I do it.

Both Worlds

Here's something people don't expect me to say: I love staying in high-end places AND I love staying in hostels. There's beauty in both. Sometimes a client puts me up somewhere incredible, and that's its own kind of inspiration. Other times, I want the backpacker vibe, the energy of a hostel, the mix of people from everywhere.

Ramit Sethi, who's actually been a cityHUNT client, once talked about how he spends a lot on clothes but drives a Honda Civic because that's what brings him joy. That hit me. I started asking myself: what do I spend my resources on that truly brings me joy? The answer, every time, is travel and experience.

Street Art to Storefronts

When I'm walking around a city, I'm always working, even when I'm not "working." I'm taking pictures of street art. I'm clocking a cool alley or a weird storefront. I'm thinking, that would be a great clue. That corner would be perfect for a challenge.

My trip to New York this January, even though we got snowed in, was still amazing. I've been going in and out of New York since I was 18. Watching those neighborhoods transform over decades, that's a living classroom for what I do.

When You're Stuck

There's a specific feeling I get sometimes as an entrepreneur. A low hum of self-doubt. Does this still work? Are we still relevant? Is the game still good?

Every time I travel, that feeling goes away. I go to Miami, I watch a team from a San Francisco tech company playing cityHUNT on South Beach, people laughing and competing and being creative, and I think: yeah. Still works. After 25 years. Still works.

Getting out of the office, getting on the ground, seeing how people are living and what they're building in cities, that's what breaks through the noise for me when I'm stuck.

Freedom and Exploration

I know not everyone is like this. A lot of people in America never leave their county, let alone their state. I get that. But for me, freedom and exploration are core values. They're not hobbies. They're who I am.

What's wild is that I built an entire company around those values without fully realizing it at the time. I loved exploring cities, I loved connecting with people in cool spaces, and somehow I turned that into a business that does exactly that for thousands of people every year.

Travel doesn't just inspire me. It reminds me why I started.

Conclusion

If you're an entrepreneur feeling stuck, burnt out, or like the spark has gone a little quiet, here's what I'd say: get out. Go somewhere. It doesn't have to be far or expensive. Stay in a hostel. Eat the quality inexpensive local food AND the nice dinner. Look at the street art. Watch how people move through a city.

You'll come back with more than photos. You'll come back with ideas.

That's what travel does for me, and it's what cityHUNT was built on. If you want to experience that energy firsthand, explore what we do at cityHUNT and see what happens when a whole city becomes your playground.

• Change the environment. A fresh setting breaks stale patterns faster than another agenda ever will.
  
• Give your people a shared challenge that pulls them out of routine and into real collaboration.
  
• Build in moments of laughter and discovery so everyone feels part of the win, not just the work.
  
• Choose an experience that’s intentional, structured, and built for genuine connection.

When teams step into something new together, you watch communication open up, energy rise, and trust rebuild in real time. That’s the difference between another team activity and a moment that actually shifts culture.

If your group is ready for that kind of reset, let’s talk about creating an experience that brings your people back together.

To recap, if your team is feeling disconnected, change the environment, give them a shared challenge, build in laughter and discovery, and choose an intentional experience.

When teams engage in something new together, communication opens up, energy rises, and trust rebuilds in real time, shifting the company culture in a positive way. This is much more impactful than another team activity.

If your team needs a reset, let's discuss creating a Cityhunt transformative experiences to bring your people back together.

Not another meeting

The fix isn’t another meeting. It’s giving your team a shared experience that pulls them out of routine and back into genuine connection. That’s where our immersive scavenger hunts transform the game. Teams laugh, solve challenges, and rediscover how to work together with trust and enthusiasm.

Team Alignment

If you’re starting to see that slow disconnect, let’s talk about designing an experience that gets your team aligned again.

• Creating Transformative Experiences with cityHunt

  Apr 24, 2025

  When I started cityHUNT over 20 years ago, I was obsessed with a question: How…

. In summary, team momentum suffers when connections fade. Shared experiences are the key to reigniting collaboration and enthusiasm. Rediscovering how to work together builds trust. If you sense a disconnect within your team, remember the power of shared experiences to rebuild those crucial connections. It’s about more than just meetings; it’s about fostering genuine engagement. Let’s talk about designing an experience that gets your team aligned again.

While the world seems to be leaning more into AI, our goal is to use that technology to bring people back to the real world and to each other.

My Philosophy on AI

My philosophy for using AI is simple: It should be used to get rid of busy work and cognitive weight.

I have been carrying a lot of mental weight recently, and I realize how much we all hold on to. If we use AI to handle the tasks that do not require a human soul, we free ourselves up for what really matters.

Real Connection Matters

The virtual world never quite worked for me. COVID took away our ability to have in-person experiences, and it hurt the way we relate to one another.

Now that people can be outside again, they are looking for real-life experiences. With cityHUNT, we use data and metrics to give us more face-time with our clients so we can get creative and support them as humans.

Our New Technology

We are about to launch a new app that we have been working on for years. It is a very cool platform that a friend of mine built, and we will be licensing it.

This tech stack is designed to foster the one thing AI can never do on its own, which is fostering real human connections.

I am excited to see how this new tech helps our clients get out from behind their screens. More updates soon!

Conclusion

As we approach our 25th anniversary of cityHUNT, our mission remains the same: We exist to help people connect with one another, the world around them, and themselves.

AI is a tool that helps us get there by removing the distractions of daily work. This year is all about being present and leaning into the power of connection.

Join us this year as we launch our new tech and celebrate 25 years of bringing people together.

While this is a season of profound grief, I am overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude for the life he lived and the peace he eventually found. I miss him deeply, but I am forever changed by the years we shared.

This is a tribute to Otto—my companion, my teacher, and my soulmate. It is a reflection on the lessons he taught me about what it means to be human, the love he gave without reservation, and the incredible impact one soul can have on an entire community.

A Masterclass in Love

Otto was the living embodiment of unconditional love. To me, he was like a Bodhisattva—someone who stayed on this planet simply to love and care for the people around him. I learned more from his example than from any book or lecture. He supported dozens of people throughout his life, offering his presence and his heart without ever asking for a single thing in return. He taught me that the highest form of "being" is simply showing up for others.

A Pillar of the Community

Otto was easily the most popular figure in our neighborhood. In his final days, a steady stream of friends and neighbors came to the house just to sit with him and honor his impact. He was a staple in my men’s group circles; even when I couldn't make it, Otto was there. He possessed a grounding, calming energy that helped people navigate their own grief and struggles. He didn't need words to heal; he just needed to be there.

The Final Ceremony

When the time came to say goodbye, we held a beautiful ceremony at home, surrounded by family and our close friend who had looked after his health for years. We wrapped him in a sacred shroud I had brought back from the Himalayas in India.

We laid him to rest on a stunning piece of protected land (where my son and Otto spent a night at this specific spot with Otto, during his first solo overnight). It was exactly the way I would want to go: surrounded by the people I love, tucked into the heart of nature, and draped in peace.

A Legacy of Joy

Losing someone this close is never easy, but seeing the peace on Otto's face at the end was a gift. He is no longer suffering, and I no longer have to carry the heavy weight of worry for his health. His passing reminded me that life is fleeting, and the only thing that truly stays behind is the impact we have on others.

The power of community and connection has shaped my entire journey. I explore this further in Team Building & cityHUNT.

Even in his final days, Otto kept his mischievous spirit. He actually managed to sneak out of the house for one last solo walk around the block, living life on his own terms until the very last moment.

Take a moment today to appreciate the companions in your life who offer you love without conditions. Whether they walk on two legs or four, their time with us is a miracle.

Rest in peace, Otto. Run free, my sweet boy. I’ll see you at the Rainbow Bridge.

That is not a coincidence.

It is the outcome of trust, collaboration, and connection done right.

The Difference

When teams feel seen, energized, and aligned, performance follows.

This is not about surface-level activities or checking boxes.

It is about creating experiences that genuinely connect people.

Beyond Entertainment

That is why cityHUNT designs experiences that go beyond entertainment.

We create engagement that sticks and drives results.

The impact shows up in how teams communicate, how they solve problems, and how they show up for each other.

Moving Forward

Want to explore what that could look like for your team?

Let's talk.

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No one ever used the word “dyslexia.” It was just assumed I wasn’t as academically inclined as some of my peers.

It wasn’t until my freshman writing class in college that a graduate student pulled me aside. “Are you getting support for your dyslexia?” she asked. “It’s pretty clear from your writing.” It was the first time anyone had ever named it. I was floored. No one had ever diagnosed me, but her question unlocked a lifetime of struggles and coping mechanisms I had built without even knowing why.

I've written more about this in Team Disconnected? Try This.

The Shame and the Struggle

The core feeling I associate with dyslexia from my childhood is embarrassment and shame. I remember being in third grade and crying during spelling tests because it was just so hard for me. The words wouldn’t stick. I never received any formal support; I just learned to “white-knuckle” my way through it.

That experience taught me to find workarounds. To survive, I had to figure out how to hack the system. I’ve always been good at games, so I started treating school like one. I got good at guessing what would be on tests, figuring out the minimum I needed to study to pass. I taught myself to speed-read, not by reading every word, but by absorbing the core ideas and concepts behind them. In theatre, I couldn’t memorize lines by reading them over and over, so I recorded other people saying their lines and listened to the tapes to learn my own.

These were all survival tactics born out of necessity. They helped me get through school and even gain admission to NYU, but the underlying feeling of being “less than” or “not smart enough” was always present.

Turning Weakness into Strength

The irony is that the very thing that made school so difficult is what has made me successful in my career. Being dyslexic-ish forced me to develop a different kind of intelligence.

The workarounds I created became my superpowers:

• Gamifying Everything: Because I couldn’t rely on rote memorization, I had to understand the systems behind things. I learned to see patterns, understand mechanics, and figure out how to leverage them. This is the core of gamification, and it became the foundation for my work with cityHUNT and everything I’ve done since.
• Visual and Spatial Skills: While the written word was a challenge, I’ve always had a strong sense of direction and been good with landmarks. It’s no accident that I run a scavenger hunt company. My brain is wired to think spatially, a skill that is incredibly valuable in designing real-world experiences.
• Creative Problem-Solving: I learned to adapt. I taught myself to practice, to find unconventional solutions, and to not be defined by what I couldn’t do. I decided I was going to get good at reading and writing, not by being perfect, but by putting in the time and finding my own methods.

Leveraging Modern Tools

Today, the shame is gone, replaced by an understanding of how my brain works. The world has also caught up. We now have incredible tools that can help level the playing field for people with dyslexia:

• Speechify: This app has been a game-changer. It reads my own writing back to me in my own AI-cloned voice. It’s a little weird, but incredibly effective. I can hear the skipped words or confusing sentences that my brain visually skips over.
• Grammarly and AI: Tools like Grammarly and built-in AI have become my safety net. They clean up my emails and texts, catching the spelling errors that still pop up. It removes the embarrassment and allows me to communicate quickly and professionally.
• Audio Learning: I’ve always learned better by listening. With podcasts, audiobooks, and tools that read text aloud, I can absorb information and learn at a pace that works for me.

Conclusion

If you’re dealing with dyslexia or suspect your child might be, my advice is this:

Don’t let it define you, but don’t ignore it either. The shame I felt came from a lack of understanding. Acknowledging that you learn differently is the first step toward finding your unique strengths.

For parents, if you see the signs, get support for your children. The resources available today are incredible and can make all the difference. My own kids have had learning differences, and we’ve been able to get them the help they need, something I wish I’d had.

Embrace the tools that are available. Technology is a powerful equalizer. Use it to work around your challenges so you can focus on your talents.

Most importantly, recognize that learning differently isn’t a deficit; it’s a different way of processing the world. And in that difference lies your unique superpower. For me, it was the ability to see systems, to think spatially, and to solve problems creatively. I didn’t get here in spite of my dyslexia; in many ways, I got here because of it.

It does not.

The Reality

Without intentional connection, most teams drift because there is no shared experience pulling them together outside Mr. Johnson's Monday Management bagel routine.

Casual chats and weekly standups are not enough.

What Actually Works

High-performing teams are built through trust, play, and meaningful interaction.

The kind that does not happen by accident.

Taking Action

Want to create that shift for your team?

Let's talk.

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As a parent, you prepare for this moment for years, but the adjustment is still profound. He's navigating new classes, managing his grades, and building his own life.

For me, the biggest challenge hasn't been missing him. It's been learning to stop trying to fix everything for him.

The Instinct

As parents, we have this deep-seated instinct to solve our kids' problems. When he calls and tells me about a bump in the road, whether it's a tough class or a logistical challenge, my first thought is always to jump in and give him the answer. I catch myself wanting to fix it, to smooth the path for him like I've always done.

But he's an adult now. My job isn't to solve his problems anymore. It's something different, and it has been my own personal work to figure out what that new role actually is.

Safe Space

I've learned that my role now is to create a space where he can talk through things. It's about listening, not directing. I have to let him figure it out on his own while also letting him know that he is loved and supported no matter what.

This shift is about giving him the tools and the confidence to become an adult, then trusting that he can. I have to remind myself that the things that feel so big and overwhelming to him right now are temporary. He will work through them, and he'll be stronger for it. Our relationship is evolving, and my parenting has to evolve with it.

New Kind of Connection

This new chapter brings its own excitement. He's about to get on a plane by himself and fly up to New York to meet me for his birthday. It's a small thing, but it feels like a milestone. He's taking charge of his own journey, making his own decisions, and growing into the person he's meant to be.

My adjustment has been about letting him be the one to figure things out. It's a process of letting go, but in doing so, you build a new kind of connection. One based on mutual respect and trust rather than dependence.

Conclusion

Seeing your child transition into adulthood is one of the most significant adjustments a parent makes. The hardest part for me has been fighting the urge to solve his problems and instead learning to be a sounding board. It's about empowering him to find his own solutions while knowing he has a safety net if he needs it.

It's not always easy to step back, but it's the only way for him to truly discover the world on his own. In letting go, I'm not losing a son. I'm gaining a relationship with a capable and independent adult, and that's an incredible thing to watch.

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  Over the years, I’ve been building cityHUNT while learning how to be the kind of…

That’s exactly what happened with a recent fundraiser, and watching my team tackle it taught me more about passion and purpose than any typical workday ever could.

Unique Request

It started with a client we’d been talking to for years. They wanted to organize a big team-building event that also served as a fundraiser for a nonprofit close to their hearts: the Boys & Girls Club. For years, they’d considered a scavenger hunt, but logistical challenges always got in the way.

Then they came to us with a completely new idea: a Battle Bots competition.

Employees would form teams, build robots, and compete, all while raising money to donate the robots to kids afterward. This was something we had never done before. It was a huge undertaking with countless moving pieces, and the timeline was tight.

Embracing the Challenge

Normally, we might decline something so complex with such little runway. But my team was inspired. They saw the client’s genuine passion for helping the Boys & Girls Club and decided we would do whatever it took to make it happen.

Suddenly, the mission became bigger than any business strategy. It wasn’t about whether this was a profitable or scalable new product for us. It was about believing in what the client wanted to achieve. My team went into overdrive, sourcing Battle Bots parts from all over the country to meet our deadline, designing a completely new event format from scratch, and coordinating logistics that were unfamiliar territory for all of us.

Watching them work filled me with an incredible sense of joy and pride. They weren’t doing it because I, as the CEO, was pushing them. They were doing it because they were mission-driven. People who weren’t even planning to attend the event changed their schedules at the last minute because they wanted to be there, to support the client and see it through.

I explore this further in Rebuild Momentum Through Connection.

Outcome

The event exceeded every expectation. The adults had a blast building and competing with their robots, fully embracing the competitive spirit. Then came the most moving moment of all: the presentation of a huge check to the Boys & Girls Club, followed by the donation of all the battle bots to the kids.

It was one of those rare times when you feel genuinely proud of everyone involved. Your team, the corporation you’re partnering with, the nonprofit doing meaningful work in the community. It all came together in a way that was bigger than any one of us.

Conclusion

This project became a powerful reminder that the best work happens when a team is united by a shared purpose. It wasn’t about the money or creating a new strategic offering. It was about stepping up for a cause we believed in, and it showed me what happens when you empower your team to follow a mission they care about.

The experience solidified my belief in trusting my team to rise to the occasion. When the “why” is strong enough, people will move mountains to make things happen. It’s not me who makes cityHUNT great. It’s the team and their unwavering passion for creating amazing experiences.

How can you empower your team to connect with a larger mission?

What I didn’t realize when I founded cityHUNT was that in the process of helping others find clues and cross finish lines, I’d end up discovering a few fundamental truths about what it means to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Here are ten of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way.

This connects to ideas I shared in Rebuild Momentum Through Connection.

1. Treat Connection Like Natural Medicine

In a world struggling with record levels of burnout, I’ve come to believe that connection is a form of medicine.

I often say that a shared experience can be “the new medicine that doesn’t come from a pharmacy.” I’ve seen firsthand how a few hours of collaborative play can completely transform a team’s dynamic. It’s a prescription for loneliness and disengagement, reminding us that we are better when we are together, working towards a common, joyful goal.

2. Redefined “Winning” to Find More Joy

Early on, I became fascinated by the psychology of happiness, especially the famous study about Olympic athletes.

The fact that bronze medalists are consistently happier than silver medalists struck a deep chord with me. The silver medalist often focuses on almost winning gold, while the bronze medalist is thrilled just to be on the podium. It taught me to measure my own success not by how close I came to someone else’s ideal, but by the tangible achievement of my own goals.

This shift in perspective is a powerful tool for finding genuine satisfaction in your own accomplishments.

3. Disconnect to Gain Clarity

My trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon wasn’t just a vacation; it was a reset button.

In a place with no cell service and no distractions, I was forced to be present, and it was there that my core beliefs about human connection were solidified.

I’ve learned that you can’t find true clarity amidst constant noise. Whether it’s a trip to a remote jungle or simply turning off my phone for an evening, I now make it a practice to intentionally disconnect. It’s in those quiet moments that the most important insights emerge.

4. Finding Adventure in My Own Environment

While I love a grand adventure, I’ve learned that you don’t need a plane ticket to find one.

Some of the most memorable experiences can be found right in your own backyard. This is the magic behind cityHUNT—turning a familiar neighborhood into a landscape of mystery and discovery.

It has taught me to look closer at the world around me and to appreciate that novelty and excitement are often just a matter of perspective.

5. Seek Unfamiliar Settings to Understand Core Truths

There is a unique power in stepping completely out of your element. Being in a place like the Amazon, where the culture and environment are entirely different, strips away the non-essentials and reveals the fundamentals of human nature.

It was an experience that reinforced what I already believed in my work: that at our core, we all crave connection, community, and a shared sense of purpose.

6. Sharing My Story to Build Deeper Connections

For a long time, I focused on telling the stories of the teams and companies I worked with. But as I shared my own journey, particularly in interviews, I discovered a different kind of connection.

Being open about my own path, my “why,” and the values that drive me has allowed for a much deeper level of trust and rapport. I’ve learned that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a bridge.

7. Making Fun a Cornerstone of Teamwork

In the corporate world, “fun” can often feel like a forced agenda item. I decided early on that for my work to be meaningful, the fun had to be genuine. I built my entire company on the belief that joy and play are not distractions from the work; they are essential for effective teamwork.

When people are laughing and enjoying themselves, communication flows, hierarchies dissolve, and real bonds are formed.

8. Harnessing the Power of Place

I’ve learned that a location is never just a backdrop; it’s an active participant in the experience.

The energy of a historic neighborhood, the layout of a city park, the buzz of a market—all of these elements shape the way we interact and feel. By carefully choosing our environments, we can create experiences that are not only memorable but also deeply tied to the unique character of the place itself.

9. Blending Mindfulness with My Business Strategy

My interest in positive psychology and mindfulness isn’t just a personal hobby; it’s a core part of my business strategy.

I’ve found that applying these principles—focusing on strengths, fostering positive emotions, and encouraging presence—doesn’t just make for a happier team, it makes for a more successful and resilient one.

It’s about creating an environment where people can thrive, not just perform.

10. Building a Business Around My Core Beliefs

The most rewarding lesson has been realizing that my business is a direct extension of my deepest values. I didn’t chase a market trend; I built a company around the things I believe in most: adventure, connection, and the power of play.

Aligning my work with my personal “why” has not only given me a fulfilling career but has also served as my north star through every challenge and decision along the way.

Conclusion

In the end, all of these lessons circle back to one central idea: life is richer when we actively seek out connection, joy, and meaning. It’s about more than just achieving goals or checking boxes; it’s about the quality of our experiences and the strength of our relationships.

You don’t need to run a scavenger hunt company to apply these ideas. You only need to ask yourself: Where can I find a small adventure today? How can I redefine winning to appreciate what I have? When will I next disconnect to truly hear myself think? The clues are all around you, and your own greatest adventure is waiting to be discovered.

But here is the problem: most companies try to fix culture with one-off meetings or top-down initiatives that never reach the heart of the team.

Different Path

At cityHUNT, we take a different path.

We create shared experiences that feel like play but operate like trust accelerators.

Every clue solved, every laugh exchanged, every challenge met as a unit.

How It Works

And it is pretty amazing to see how it rewires how teams connect and communicate.

That is why our clients do not just walk away with great memories.

They walk away performing better, together.

Let's Talk

If your team's culture feels flat or siloed, let us talk.

We will help you design something that brings people together and keeps them working that way.

Conclusion

Strong informal bonds make teams 3x more committed under pressure, but traditional culture fixes miss the mark.

Shared experiences that feel like play can rewire how your team connects and performs together.

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more.

Not underpaid.

Not overwhelmed.

Just disconnected.

The Real Problem

That is a silent culture killer, and one that cannot be fixed by more meetings or another employee engagement survey.

At cityHUNT, I have spent decades turning disconnection into real human connection.

And the results speak for themselves: companies get better ideas, faster collaboration, and teams that actually like working together.

Our Approach

I do not do forced fun.

I craft fully customized experiences that bring people together through challenge, laughter, and shared discovery.

That is how you get colleagues who feel seen.

Culture that is felt, not just framed on a wall.

Conclusion

Disconnection is quietly killing workplace culture, but it does not have to.

Real connection happens through shared experiences that make people feel seen and valued, not through surveys or mandatory meetings.

If your team is missing that spark, we can help you bring it back.

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more content like this.

For years, I believed that to really unplug, you had to venture somewhere remote and exotic. But lately, I've discovered something that's been a complete game changer: the power of finding pristine nature right in your own backyard.

The Mobile Office

It all started with our Sprinter van. Last year, my partner and I drove it cross-country. It's a small RV that doubles as her mobile office. That trip was phenomenal, giving us the chance to see so much of the country while learning the art of finding places to camp.

What struck us most was the dramatic shift we noticed at the Mississippi River. West of the Mississippi, camping felt nature-centric and spacious. But as we traveled east, we found campsites that were often more expensive, more crowded, and less carefully maintained. The experience seemed to reinforce a common belief: that you had to go "out west" to find real, untouched nature.

Or so I thought.

An Unexpected Discovery

Recently, we stumbled upon a national forest in Alabama, just an hour and forty minutes from our home in Georgia. This incredible 400,000-acre expanse of protected land completely changed my perspective. Even exploring just a 300-acre section left us absolutely blown away.

The place was beautiful and pristine. There were no telephone wires, no electric cables, just pure, protected wilderness. It didn't feel like Alabama, or even America. It felt like we'd stepped into another country entirely. The experience was so transformative that we returned two weekends in a row, unable to stay away.

Simply Disconnecting

That discovery became deeply inspiring. We found a primitive area where we could park our van right near a spring-fed pond, and we embraced the simplest form of escape: we turned off our phones, went hiking and swimming, and spent quiet time together.

I even picked up a mandala coloring book and spent hours just coloring. It was something I'd never done as an adult. The simple act was surprisingly meditative and relaxing.

Being there, so close to home yet so completely removed from the noise of daily life, felt profound. It became a lesson in refocusing, a reminder that you don't have to book a flight to Ecuador to find solitude and reconnect with what truly matters.

Conclusion

That local trip did more for my mental health and my relationship than some of my more ambitious travels. It gave me a fresh perspective on my work, my life, and what it truly means to get away. The truth is, you don't always need a grand, expensive journey to reset. Sometimes, the most powerful and restorative experiences are waiting for you just a short drive away.

This rediscovery of the local escape has brought a new kind of energy and inspiration back into my life. It's proof that adventure isn't about distance. It's about perspective.

What hidden gems are waiting to be discovered just a short drive from where you live?

These vibrant pockets of cities share something special: DIY spirit, diverse communities, independent businesses, and that hard-to-define sense of “nowness.”

Sound familiar? These are exactly the neighborhoods where cityHUNTs come alive.

For over 24 years, we’ve been designing scavenger hunts that help teams discover the soul of cities through their coolest neighborhoods.

While tourists flock to famous landmarks, we send teams into the creative districts, multicultural enclaves, and revitalized industrial areas where the real magic happens.

What Makes Cool

According to Time Out’s research, the coolest neighborhoods share key characteristics: street life, community spirit, cultural diversity, independent businesses, and that intangible quality called “nowness.”

These aren’t the sanitized tourist districts. They’re places where Turkish grocers rub shoulders with vegan coffee bars, where old-school bookshops sit next to avant-garde art spaces, where you can find authentic street food on one corner and natural wine bars on another.

What makes these neighborhoods cool is the same thing that makes them perfect for a cityHUNT: they’re designed for exploration and discovery. You can’t experience these places from a tour bus. You have to walk the streets, talk to locals, and stumble upon hidden gems.

That’s exactly what our hunts are built for.

Perfect Hunting Grounds

cityHUNTs thrive in neighborhoods with character. We specifically design hunts that take teams off the beaten path and into the areas where locals actually hang out.

Why? Because the best team building happens when people engage authentically with their surroundings. When teams have to ask a shop owner for help, find a hidden mural, or discover a neighborhood legend, they’re not just completing challenges. They’re connecting with the community.

A young couple rests on the graffiti-decorated stairs of the Cours Julien, a lively neighborhood in central Marseille, near the Vieux Port.

Take a neighborhood like Borgerhout in Antwerp (number 2 on Time Out’s list). Its DIY spirit, multicultural mix, and artist-run galleries create the perfect backdrop for cityHUNT challenges. Teams might need to find street art, interact with local business owners, photograph architectural details, or discover community stories.

These interactions transform a scavenger hunt into something deeper: a genuine neighborhood experience that builds empathy, curiosity, and connection.

Urban Discovery

One reason we’ve focused on urban scavenger hunts for 24 years is simple: cities are endlessly fascinating when you know where to look.

The coolest neighborhoods offer layers of discovery. There’s the obvious stuff (cool cafes, street art, parks), the hidden stuff (speakeasy bars behind rolling shutters, vintage shops in old warehouses), and the human stuff (community gardens, local characters, neighborhood traditions).

Our hunts are designed to peel back these layers. We don’t just send teams to see things. We send them to experience neighborhoods the way locals do: by exploring backstreets, chatting with residents, and discovering spots you’d never find on a map.

This is why cityHUNT feels so different from traditional team building. We’re not taking you to conference rooms or ropes courses. We’re dropping you into the beating heart of cool neighborhoods and letting you discover them through play.

Community Connection

Time Out’s coolest neighborhoods all champion diversity and community spirit. These are places where different cultures, generations, and backgrounds mix and create something special.

cityHUNT challenges naturally encourage this kind of community interaction.

Teams might need to:

• Learn a phrase in another language from a local shop owner
• Find someone who’s lived in the neighborhood for 30+ years and hear their story
• Help someone carry groceries or hold a door
• Share a dance or song with a stranger
• Discover what makes the neighborhood special to people who live there

These interactions do something magical: they transform coworkers into teammates and strangers into temporary friends. Teams bond through shared experiences of awkwardness, laughter, and genuine human connection.

This aligns perfectly with our three pillars philosophy of playfulness, connection, and flow. Cool neighborhoods naturally support all three.

Local Business Love

One thing that makes neighborhoods cool is their independent business scene. Time Out specifically looks for areas where small businesses thrive alongside (or instead of) chain stores.

cityHUNTs support this ecosystem. When teams need to find clues, they’re visiting local cafes, independent bookstores, family-run restaurants, and neighborhood institutions. They’re spending time (and often money) in businesses that give neighborhoods their character.

We’ve designed thousands of cityHUNTs across cities worldwide, and we always prioritize routing teams through areas with strong local business presence. Not only does this create better challenges, it also introduces participants to spots they might return to later.

Many teams tell us they discovered their new favorite lunch spot or coffee shop during a cityHUNT. That’s exactly what we want: lasting connections between people and places.

Street Life

Time Out judges neighborhoods partly on “street life” – that buzzing energy of people out and about, using public spaces, creating spontaneous interactions.

cityHUNTs amplify street life. When you’ve got teams of 4-6 people exploring a neighborhood, laughing, taking photos, and engaging with locals, you’re adding to that energy. You become part of what makes the neighborhood vibrant.

We’ve run events where teams number in the hundreds or even thousands. Imagine that many people are flooding a cool neighborhood, spreading positive energy, supporting local businesses, and creating memorable moments. It’s like a flash mob of team building.

This is why cities often welcome our events. We’re not disrupting neighborhoods. We’re celebrating them and helping more people discover what makes them special.

Exploration Design

Creating cityHUNTs in cool neighborhoods requires careful design. We can’t just throw random challenges at teams and hope for the best.

We spend time understanding each neighborhood’s character: What makes it unique? What are the hidden gems? Where do locals gather? What stories define the community? What challenges would feel authentic to this place?

Young girl at Placa de Catalunya jumping happily among the pigeons

Then we design routes that are neither too compact (teams literally bumping into each other) nor too sprawling (physically exhausting). We hit that sweet spot where teams feel like they’re discovering a neighborhood while still having structure and support.

This routing expertise is one reason we can scale to very large groups without losing the intimate neighborhood exploration experience. Each team gets their own journey through the same cool area.

Any City Works

The beauty of cityHUNT’s model is that we can create custom hunts anywhere. Whether you’re in Tokyo’s bookstore district, London’s food paradise, or your own city’s up-and-coming creative quarter, we can design an adventure.

We’ve done cityHUNTs in:

• Historic districts being revitalized by artists
• Multicultural neighborhoods with incredible food scenes
• Former industrial areas transformed into creative spaces
• Residential enclaves with village-like community spirit
• Downtown areas mixing old architecture with new energy

The common thread? Neighborhoods with character, community, and that ineffable coolness that makes people want to explore.

Time Out’s list confirms what we’ve always known: the coolest parts of cities are where real connection happens. That’s where we want to send teams.

Beyond Tourism

Traditional team building often feels divorced from place. You could do the same activity in a hotel ballroom anywhere in the world.

cityHUNT is the opposite. Our experiences are deeply rooted in specific neighborhoods and cities. The challenges only make sense in that particular place. The experiences you have can only happen there.

This creates much richer memories. Teams don’t just remember “that team building thing.” They remember “that time we sang to a stranger in Camberwell” or “when we found that hidden speakeasy in Ménilmontant.”

Place matters. Neighborhood matters. Cool neighborhoods offer something special: a sense of discovery, community, and aliveness that amplifies everything else about the experience.

Future Exploration

As cities continue evolving and new neighborhoods emerge as cool destinations, cityHUNT evolves with them. We’re constantly updating our hunts to reflect changing neighborhoods and new discoveries.

This keeps our experiences fresh. Even if you’ve done a cityHUNT in the same city before, returning a year later might reveal new businesses, new street art, new community stories – because cool neighborhoods are living, breathing places that never stay static.

That’s part of the magic. You’re not exploring a museum or monument that stays frozen in time. You’re exploring a neighborhood that’s constantly reinventing itself while maintaining its essential character.

Conclusion

Time Out’s list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods reads like a cityHUNT bucket list. These vibrant, diverse, creative pockets of cities embody everything we love about urban exploration: DIY spirit, community connection, and that sense of discovery around every corner.

For 24 years, we’ve been designing adventures that help teams experience neighborhoods the way they’re meant to be experienced: on foot, with curiosity, engaging with locals, and discovering hidden gems. Cool neighborhoods aren’t just backdrops for our hunts. They’re essential ingredients that transform team building into genuine urban adventure.

Ready to explore your city’s coolest neighborhoods through a cityHUNT?

Let’s design a custom hunt that takes your team off the beaten path and into the heart of what makes your city special.

Multiple studies over thirty years have proven that coming in third feels better than coming in second, even though second place is objectively better.

At cityHUNT, we've known this instinctively for over 24 years. That's why we don't just celebrate first place. We celebrate last place too. And the science behind Olympic medal satisfaction explains exactly why this approach creates better team building experiences.

Medals given out by cityHUNT

The Research

The original study examined winners from the 1992 Olympics and found that silver medalists were less satisfied than bronze medalists, despite their objectively better finish.

A follow-up study twenty years later confirmed these results and dug deeper into why. Silver medalists tend to have higher expectations, which amplifies disappointment when they don't get gold. They're thinking "I almost won!" Bronze medalists have lower expectations or different comparisons, so they feel like "At least I got a medal!"

Even a 2021 study using AI to analyze facial expressions of athletes on the podium found the same pattern. Bronze medalists displayed more genuine happiness than silver medalists.

The takeaway? It all comes down to expectations and perspective. How you frame an outcome matters more than the objective result.

Expectations Matter

This bronze medal effect reveals something crucial about human psychology: our happiness depends less on what happens and more on what we expected to happen.

When something goes really well, we should remind ourselves that the outcome wasn't guaranteed. Much of success comes down to chance and circumstance, not just effort.

You can (and should) celebrate when things go well. Life is hard, so take joy in the good things. But holding wins loosely helps you feel less crushed when something goes wrong. Those things could have gone another way too.

The problem comes when we EXPECT things. We expect to win. We expect to be treated a certain way. We expect recognition. When reality doesn't match expectations, disappointment hits hard.

Solution? Lower your expectations or change your comparison point. Be happy with any positive outcome at all.

Winning

cityHUNT Approach

At cityHUNT, we've built our prizing strategy around this psychology, even before we knew the research existed.

We celebrate first place, of course. Winning feels great, and teams that crush the competition deserve recognition. But we also make a big deal about last place.

Why? Because when you prize last place, you completely reframe the experience:

• No fear of failure - Teams can take risks, be silly, and focus on fun instead of stressing about performance
• Everyone wins something - Whether you finish first or last, you get celebrated, which keeps energy high throughout the event
• Laughter over pressure - Last place becomes a badge of honor rather than shame, creating inside jokes and team bonding
• Focus on experience - When winning isn't the only goal, teams pay more attention to connection and enjoyment

This approach aligns perfectly with our three pillars: playfulness, connection, and flow. When you remove the pressure of needing to win, teams can actually play.

Winners

Psychology Works

The bronze medal effect teaches us that comparison is the thief of joy. Silver medalists are miserable because they're comparing themselves to gold. Bronze medalists are happy because they're comparing themselves to fourth place (no medal at all).

At cityHUNT events, we eliminate toxic comparison by celebrating multiple outcomes. First place gets the glory. Last place gets the laughs. Everyone in between had an adventure.

This creates what psychologists call "positive framing." Instead of thinking "We didn't win," teams think "We had the most fun" or "We made the funniest video" or "We're legends for coming in last."

The lasting memory isn't about winning or losing. It's about the experience itself - the challenges you conquered, the strangers you sang to, the moments your team couldn't stop laughing.

Team Building

Traditional team building often creates unnecessary pressure. When there's only one winner, most participants leave feeling like they lost. That's terrible psychology for building workplace culture.

cityHUNT's approach recognizes that the goal isn't to crown champions. The goal is to create shared experiences that bond teams together. And you know what bonds people? Shared laughter, especially when things go hilariously wrong.

Our team building experiences are designed so that "losing" can be just as memorable as winning. Sometimes the teams that come in last have the best stories to tell back at the office.

We've seen it hundreds of times: the team that placed last becomes office legends because of their ridiculous photo submissions or their willingness to fully commit to silly challenges. That's worth more than a trophy.

Flow State

When you remove the pressure to win, something magical happens - teams enter flow state more easily.

Flow occurs when people engage in activities that are challenging enough to be interesting but not so stressful that they become frustrating. Fear of losing creates stress that blocks flow.

By celebrating last place, we signal to participants: "The outcome doesn't really matter. The experience is what counts." This permission to not take things seriously actually helps teams perform better and enjoy themselves more.

It's the same principle as the bronze medal effect. When your expectations shift from "We must win" to "Let's have fun," the pressure evaporates and genuine enjoyment takes over.

Medal

Real Impact

This isn't just theory. We've watched this play out over 24 years and thousands of events.

Teams that embrace playfulness and stop worrying about placement consistently have better experiences. They bond more deeply. They laugh more. They take creative risks. And ironically, they often perform better than teams that are desperately trying to win.

The teams that place last often become the most talked-about teams afterward. Their photos get shared more. Their stories get retold more. They become part of company culture in ways that winning teams sometimes don't.

That's the power of reframing outcomes and managing expectations.

Takeaway

Olympic research proves what cityHUNT has practiced for decades: how you feel about an outcome depends more on your expectations than the actual result.

Silver medalists are miserable despite coming in second because they expected gold. Bronze medalists are thrilled despite coming in third because they're grateful for any medal at all.

At cityHUNT, we've designed our events around this psychology. By celebrating both first and last place, we help teams focus on what really matters - connection, laughter, and shared adventure.

Conclusion

The bronze medal effect reminds us that happiness isn't about winning - it's about perspective. When you expect less and celebrate more, every outcome can feel like a victory. This is why cityHUNT prizes last place alongside first place, creating team building experiences where everyone wins something.

Over 24 years, we've learned that the teams who laugh the hardest often finish last. And those teams? They're the ones who bond most deeply and create the best memories. That's worth more than any first-place trophy.

Ready to experience team building where last place is just as fun as first? Let's create an adventure where everyone wins, no matter where they finish.

There's so much more to explore in the full interview, but I hope this gives you a taste of my path from childhood dreams to mindful entrepreneurship.

Continue reading below to explore what we talked about, or read the full Bold Journey interview.

Morning Rituals

My day begins with intention. My life partner and I start with a reading from our 365-day book focused on peaceful communication called "Peaceful Living: Daily Meditations for Living with Love, Healing, and Compassion."

After that, I step outside to catch the morning light during my meditation, follow it with sun salutations, and then journal.

My journaling has three parts:

• Free-form writing (Dear Universe)
• Gratitude from the prior day
• Planning the day from a place of gratitude

My Mission

I'm the founder of cityHUNT, a company that brings teams together through fun, interactive scavenger hunts designed to build connection, improve workplace culture, and spark joy. For over two decades, I've been combining mindfulness, positive psychology, gamification, and adventure to help individuals and organizations thrive.

In 2019, a retreat in Costa Rica shifted everything for me. That experience led me down a path of self-discovery through India, Ecuador, and deep inner work. I began to shed old patterns like emotional reactivity, codependency, and excess weight, embracing a more intentional, grounded way of living.

Childhood Dreams

One of my earliest, strongest memories was setting up a "circus" in the tiny triangle of grass in front of our row home in Overbrook Park, Philadelphia. Our street was lined with working-class row houses, each one sharing walls with the next.

In our little yard stood a metal jungle gym that took up almost the entire space. To the grown-ups, it was probably just a structure to keep kids busy. But to me, it was a stage. A circus tent. A place where imagination could take over.

I recruited the neighborhood kids and together we put on shows. I printed flyers, charged a quarter for admission, invited every parent on the block, and handed out Dixie cups of orange juice to our "audience."

That little ringmaster in a chain-link triangle, dreaming big on a tiny patch of grass - that's who I was before the world tried to shape me into anything else.

Rock Bottom

During COVID, I felt like my world was collapsing. I was in the early stages of my divorce, living alone with my dog on a small farm. The quarantine rules kept me from seeing my two children, friends, or family. I felt completely burnt out and isolated.

At the same time, cityHUNT came to an abrupt and expensive halt. All of my investments dropped dramatically, and I was under intense financial pressure. It felt like everything I had built was crumbling around me.

In that silence and uncertainty, I came dangerously close to giving up. But something inside me shifted. I had to dig deep and learn how to transform loneliness into the power of solitude. It was during that time that I discovered how to find peace in stillness, and how to rebuild not just my business, but myself from the inside out.

Industry Truth

One of the biggest lies I hear in the team-building and personal development space is the promise to fix or heal people and teams, as if that transformation can be done to them. But real growth doesn't come from an outside expert swooping in with answers. It comes from within each person, within each team.

The real work isn't about delivering a quick solution. It's about creating meaningful experiences and offering the right tools so people can do the work themselves, together, in ways that are engaging, empowering, and even fun.

Conclusion

My journey has taught me that inner peace isn't a destination but a daily practice. Whether I'm meditating, walking barefoot outside, or simply taking a breath before a conversation, those small moments of presence bring me back to center. Through cityHUNT's Make Awesome for Others initiative, we've redirected over half a million dollars in profits toward scholarships for nonprofits, schools, and mission-driven groups.

True transformation begins with reconnecting to ourselves, then extending that connection to others and our environment. I'm committed to my journey for inner peace, regardless of the outer world, and supporting others on their journeys.

Read the complete interview and discover more insights about my path from childhood circus dreams to mindful leadership on Bold Journey's website.

A CNN article highlighted this revolutionary approach, explaining how “social prescriptions are health care referrals for activities and resources in your community” rather than just medications. The piece explored how healthcare providers are prescribing everything from nature walks to art classes to combat the epidemic of loneliness affecting American workers.

But here’s where it gets interesting: cityHUNT has been creating these exact “social prescriptions” for over 24 years, long before the medical community had a name for it. What we call team building adventures, doctors are now recognizing as legitimate medicine.

I dig deeper into this topic in The Philosophy of Presence.

Five Pillars

According to the CNN article and social prescribing research, there are five core pillars that make these “prescriptions” so effective: movement, nature, art, service and belonging. These aren’t just nice extras – they’re requirements for human health.

Here’s why each pillar matters:

• Movement: releases feel-good brain chemicals and improves memory. Exercise helps treat depression, stress, anxiety and type 2 diabetes just as effectively as many medications.
• Nature: restores your attention and focus. Some studies show time outdoors can improve concentration as much as ADHD medication.
• Art: helps process tough emotions and reduces anxiety. Humans have used creative expression to cope with difficult feelings since the beginning of time.
• Service: gives you purpose beyond yourself. The CNN article shared Akeela’s story – when chronic pain forced her to quit her job, volunteering for a children’s charity helped reduce her pain more than pills and surgeries.
• Belonging: meets our deepest survival need for community. For thousands of years, humans survived in groups. We had roles in our communities. Now many of us live isolated lives, which literally hurts our health.

Social prescribing works because it addresses these fundamental human needs through community activities instead of just treating symptoms with medication.

Why It Works

The science backs this up. Exercise helps treat depression, stress, anxiety and type 2 diabetes. Time in nature can improve focus as much as ADHD medication. Art reduces anxiety and trauma symptoms.

Take Akeela’s story from the research. When chronic back pain forced her to quit her caretaking job, she became deeply depressed. She tried every pill and surgery doctors recommended. Some helped a little.

But what really turned things around was volunteering for a children’s health charity. By focusing on helping others instead of her pain, her symptoms actually got better. That’s the power of social connection as medicine.

The cityHUNT Prescription

Here’s where cityHUNT becomes the perfect social prescription. For over 24 years, we’ve been creating experiences that naturally combine all five pillars without participants even realizing they’re getting “medicine.”

When doctors prescribe a cityHUNT team building adventure, they’re prescribing:

• Movement – Teams walk 2-3 miles exploring their city
• Nature – Hunts take place outdoors in parks, neighborhoods, and urban green spaces
• Art – Creative challenges involve photography, performance, and problem-solving
• Service – Teams interact with strangers, help community members, and spread positivity
• Belonging – Small groups of 4-6 people bond through shared challenges and celebration

What makes cityHUNT especially powerful as a social prescription is that it’s designed for corporate wellness programs. Progressive doctors and HR leaders could easily partner to prescribe cityHUNT adventures for teams struggling with burnout, isolation, or low morale.

Imagine getting a prescription that reads: “Take one cityHUNT team adventure monthly. Refillable for improved workplace culture.”

Perfect Medicine

What makes cityHUNT so effective as social medicine isn’t just that it hits all five pillars – it’s how we’ve perfected the delivery over 24 years.

Our adventures create flow states where time disappears and people become fully present. We design challenges that are engaging for different personality types, from extroverts who love singing to strangers to introverts who prefer solving puzzles.

Unlike traditional team building that can feel forced, cityHUNT participants forget they’re in a “wellness activity.” They’re just having fun, which is exactly when the healing happens.

We’ve also solved the scale problem that makes most social prescriptions impractical for large organizations. While a doctor might struggle to prescribe pottery classes for 500 employees, cityHUNT can create unified experiences for thousands of people simultaneously.

Healthcare Integration

Forward-thinking doctors are already exploring partnerships with companies like cityHUNT for corporate wellness programs.

Here’s how it could work:

• For Occupational Health Physicians: Instead of just treating workplace stress and burnout with medication, prescribe monthly cityHUNT adventures for teams. Track improvements in employee satisfaction, sick days, and team cohesion.
• For Corporate Wellness Programs: Partner with local doctors to create “social prescribing” packages. Employees struggling with anxiety, depression, or isolation get referred to structured cityHUNT experiences designed for therapeutic benefit.
• For Employee Assistance Programs: Add cityHUNT team adventures as a preventive mental health intervention. Instead of waiting for crisis intervention, proactively prescribe connection and play.

The beauty of prescribing cityHUNT is that it addresses both individual wellness and team dynamics simultaneously. You’re not just treating one person – you’re improving the entire workplace ecosystem.

Real Connection

cityHUNT creates the three-layered connection that’s essential for healing: connection with yourself, with other people, and with the world around you.

During our adventures, participants often have moments of self-discovery as they step outside comfort zones. Teams bond through shared challenges and silly moments. And everyone connects with their city in new ways, seeing familiar places through fresh eyes.

Quality connection provides feelings of inclusion, being seen and affirmed for who you are, and a true sense of belonging. cityHUNT creates these feelings naturally through gameplay rather than forced interaction.

This is why our team building experiences work so well – they’re designed around authentic connection rather than artificial team building exercises.

Corporate Applications

Smart companies are already catching on to this. They’re realizing that traditional team building often falls flat because it focuses on productivity instead of play and genuine connection.

The most effective team building experiences combine all five pillars of social prescribing naturally. When you get teams moving through cities, solving creative challenges together, and connecting with strangers, you’re essentially delivering medicine disguised as fun.

These experiences work because they’re designed around the same flow principles that make social prescribing effective – challenging enough to be engaging, collaborative enough to build bonds, and playful enough to remind adults how to have fun together.

Beyond Health

This approach could solve bigger problems too. People who lack belonging often get pulled into harmful extremist groups. Stories from former conspiracy theory believers often include depression, social isolation, loneliness and lack of belonging leading up to getting sucked in.

When we don’t provide healthy spaces for connection, people find belonging in unhealthy places. Social prescribing creates positive alternatives.

The Future

cityHUNT represents the future of social prescribing in corporate America. We’ve already proven that adventure-based team building improves workplace culture, reduces turnover, and boosts employee satisfaction.

Now imagine if doctors could prescribe these experiences as preventive medicine. Instead of waiting for burnout to require medical intervention, teams get regular “doses” of playfulness, connection, and flow.

The economics make perfect sense. A cityHUNT adventure costs less than a single therapy session but benefits entire teams. Companies save on healthcare costs while employees get medicine that actually feels good to take.

We’re ready to partner with progressive healthcare providers who want to prescribe something better than pills. Our effortless planning process makes it easy for doctors to refer patients to structured wellness experiences that actually work.

Conclusion

Social prescribing recognizes what cityHUNT has known for 24 years: humans need community, purpose, and play to thrive. When doctors start treating workplace isolation like a medical condition and prescribing team adventures like medicine, real healing begins.

The evidence is clear that cityHUNT adventures naturally combine all five pillars of social prescribing – movement, nature, art, service, and belonging. We’ve perfected the delivery method that makes this medicine both effective and enjoyable. Maybe it’s time doctors started prescribing what actually works.Ready to pioneer social prescribing in your organization? Contact cityHUNT to explore how we can partner with your healthcare providers to prescribe team adventures that heal, connect, and transform workplace culture.

We spent time with Basilio, a beloved elder of the Siekō'pai tribe and one of the last living wisdom keepers of his people.

Seeing how his community functions was a powerful reminder of what team building is in its purest form.

Basilio

A Different Pace

Getting to Basilio’s community in Remolino is a journey. After flying from Quito, we took a two-hour car ride to a port, then got into a canoe to travel the rest of the way.

Life there moves at a different pace. There’s no electricity besides some solar power, and the water is collected from the rain. In a world where we can get anything with a click, their way of life is a lesson in intention and collaboration.

The Siekō'pai people have to work together to survive. They don’t have an Amazon delivery truck showing up at their door; they have each other. Everything from building their homes to gathering food is a collective effort. Watching them, I saw a team that was perfectly in sync, operating with a shared purpose that has been passed down for generations.

The Power of Nature

Being so immersed in the jungle, I was reminded of nature’s incredible ability to restore our minds. There’s a concept called "attention restoration theory," which suggests that our ability to focus is a finite resource that gets easily used up.

Nature, on the other hand, is "softly fascinating." The gentle patterns of leaves or the flow of a river allow our brains to rest and recharge. Experts believe this is why a walk in a park can boost our cognitive scores by nearly 20%. Being in nature puts our minds at ease, making us more efficient and creative. This is exactly the state of mind we try to create in our team-building events. We focus on getting people outside and into a space where they can truly connect.

To learn more about the science of attention restoration and how nature impacts our brains, you can read the full article here.

A Lesson in Community

The Siekō'pai face incredible challenges, from palm oil companies invading their land to the loss of their traditions. Basilio himself is losing his eyesight to cataracts. In response, our non-profit partners and a global community came together to raise the money for his surgery. This collective effort to support an elder and preserve his wisdom is the ultimate example of a team working together for a shared goal.

Basilio is a master craftsman who weaves traditional hammocks from palm fibers. It's a process that takes him over a thousand hours per hammock. It’s a skill he is passing down to his children and grandchildren. His work, his community, and his resilience are all tied to his connection with nature and his people.

The wisdom of indigenous communities like the Siekō'pai has deeply influenced my thinking. I write more about this in Lessons from Ancient Wisdom.

Conclusion

My time in the Amazon was a powerful lesson. It showed me that the core principles of effective teamwork, like collaboration, shared purpose, and genuine connection, are universal. The Siekō'pai community embodies these principles not as a corporate strategy, but as a way of life.

This is what inspires my work. I design experiences that take people out of their typical environment and encourage them to connect with each other, their surroundings, and themselves. Whether in a bustling city or a quiet jungle, the foundation of a great team remains the same.

For over 24 years, cityHUNT has explored every team-building option out there, and we always come back to scavenger hunts. They are simply the most rewarding, fulfilling, and inclusive way to help people connect.

Our goal is to create unapologetically epic bonding experiences that help you discover the humans behind your coworkers. And we promise, it’s guaranteed not to suck.

Effortless Planning

I know that planning a team event can feel like a second job, or worse, a gamble.

You need something exciting and well-executed, but you don’t have time to manage all the different details. That’s where we come in.

With cityHUNT, we handle all the difficult logistics. We take care of the details so you can show up, have a blast, and take all the credit for an event that runs like clockwork.

• We offer fully guided or self-guided options tailored to your needs.
• You’ll have responsive support before and during your event.
• We can create custom hunts in any city, any time. Wherever your team is, we can make it happen.

Fun for Everyone

Forget forced small talk. We create exciting, interactive adventures where everyone has a role to play. Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, athlete, or nerd, there’s a place for you in a cityHUNT.

Our dynamic challenges are designed to encourage teamwork and can be customized to align with your specific company culture, complete with inside jokes and team trivia. We build every hunt on our three pillars of fun: playfulness, connection, and flow. This ensures every single participant feels engaged and valued.

Uncompromising Scale

Large groups are our sweet spot. We’ve spent decades refining our process to keep hundreds or even thousands of people fully engaged at the same time, without splitting them into forgettable breakouts. Whether you have 100 teammates or 5,000, we can create a unified experience.

This is made possible through an event-wide leaderboard to sustain momentum, and push updates to align every team in real time. We can even run simultaneous events across different cities with a single ruleset and unified results, bringing your entire company together no matter where they are.

Our Philosophy

Everything we do is built on a foundation of science-backed principles. Our hunts are designed for maximum engagement around the pillars of positive psychology, gamification, and mindfulness. We believe that when people are having fun, bonding happens effortlessly. This combination turns a simple game into a powerful tool for building connections that last.

How It Works

Our state-of-the-art app is your group’s digital HQ. It delivers real-time challenges, tracks progress, and fuels friendly competition. You can spy on rival teams, rack up points, and capture epic moments while exploring your city like never before.

We also offer the perfect level of support to match your team’s style:

• Self-Guided Hunts: For independent groups, our Live Helpline is available to assist any teams that get lost or confused. We provide just enough help to keep things running smoothly without spoiling the adventure.
• Virtual Guide: Need some backup? Our Virtual Adventure Guides can kick off your event with a live video orientation and wrap things up with a high-energy video debrief to celebrate the winners.
• On-Site Adventure Guide: Want to go all out? Our On-Site Adventure Guides are part game show host and part cheerleader. They’ll kick off your event, keep the energy high, ensure fair play, and even throw in extra challenges to make your hunt legendary.

Conclusion

Ultimately, our mission is to craft the perfect hunt so you can focus on the fun, the competition, and the magic moments of connection. We turn coworkers into teammates and teammates into legends by creating unforgettable shared adventures.

We handle the details so you can focus on what truly matters: your people. We take the gamble out of event planning and replace it with a guaranteed awesome experience.

Ready to create an unforgettable experience for your team? Let’s build your next adventure together.

I’ve dealt with it my entire life—from my over-committed high school days to navigating my company through global crises. It’s a pattern I’ve had to learn to recognize, confront, and actively manage.

A recent newsletter I read laid out the triggers for burnout so clearly, and it inspired me to share my own journey in the hopes that it might resonate.

The Early Signs

My first real encounter with the burnout shadow was in high school.

On the surface, I was a high-achieving kid: juggling preparatory school, a demanding theatre schedule, and a job as a server at a seafood restaurant, all while prepping for college. But underneath, the cracks were showing. I had trouble sleeping, often waking up from “night terrors” where I was just re-living the stress of my day. My appetite disappeared.

Back then, there wasn’t a name for it. The culture was to “white-knuckle it”—to just push through at all costs. It wasn’t seen as having too much on my plate; it was just life. I learned to ignore the signals my body was sending me, a habit that would follow me into adulthood with much higher stakes.

The Pattern Repeats

As I built my company, that same pattern of pushing past the limit re-emerged during intense periods. The 2008 financial crisis was one. Drastic Google algorithm changes that threatened our business were another. The most intense was during COVID, when I was navigating a divorce and the complete shutdown of our industry.

During these times, my old symptoms returned, but amplified. The stress became so physical that my back would give out—a painfully literal metaphor for trying to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. When I couldn’t even rely on exercise, my main coping mechanism, I felt truly trapped.

My godfather, who is an expert in palm reading (and about to publish a book about it), once looked at my palms and told me I have a propensity for “People Pleasing”. It’s the tendency to want to save everything and everyone, to burn myself out for what I believe is the greater good. That resonated deeply. I was constantly putting the company, my team, and my responsibilities before my own wellbeing, and my body was paying the price.

My godfather

The Triggers

That newsletter I mentioned identified several triggers for burnout, but two, in particular, stood out from my own experience:

1. Lack of Control: This is the big one for me. During the financial crisis or when facing those algorithm changes, the feeling of powerlessness was immense. My reaction was to try and regain control by micromanaging and pushing everyone harder, which I now realize only amplified the stress for the entire team.
2. Toxic Work Environment: I’ve learned the hard way that one or two “energy vampires” on a team can poison the well for everyone. In the past, I might have kept someone on too long because they were a high performer, ignoring the toxic undercurrent they created through gossip or negativity. That toxicity is a direct line to team-wide burnout.

Flipping the Pyramid

The most crucial shift in my approach came from rethinking my priorities. I used to operate on a pyramid where Work was the massive, heavy base. Stacked on top of that was Family, then Friends, and at the very tiny, unstable peak was Me. My wellbeing was an afterthought, the first thing to be sacrificed.

I had to flip the pyramid.

Now, the base is Me. It’s not selfish; it’s sustainable. This base is built on four pillars: my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. From that strong foundation, I can support the next level, my Family and Relationships, and from there, my Work and my impact on the world. When you have a solid base, you can weather the storms without the whole structure collapsing.

Practice of Staying Well

A vacation won’t cure burnout. It’s a temporary reprieve from a systemic issue. True resilience is built through a disciplined, daily personal practice.

For me, that means:

• Meditation, Breathwork, and Yoga: These aren’t just things I do when I’m stressed; they are non-negotiable parts of my daily routine to keep me centered.
• Journaling: It’s a vital tool for processing thoughts and maintaining clarity.
• Healthy Habits: Prioritizing sleep and nutrition is fundamental. It’s the fuel that makes everything else possible.
• Leading by Example: Because I’ve been there, I’m hyper-aware of the risk of burnout in my partners and team. I check in, I encourage autonomy over micromanagement, and I work to foster a culture of transparency and psychological safety. I give my team the space to explore ideas and even fail, because that trust is the antidote to a culture of fear and control.

Conclusion

Burnout is not a failure; it’s a signal. It’s your body and mind telling you that the way you’re operating is no longer sustainable.

By listening to those signals, understanding your triggers, and intentionally building a life with your own wellbeing at its foundation, you can move from just surviving to truly thriving.

Here's a brief rundown of how the interview went and some of the key topics we covered during our chat.

The Beginning

We talked about how cityHUNT started in my NYU dorm room as a simple scavenger hunt pub crawl using polaroid cameras.

I shared how it eventually grew into the team building and urban adventure company we are today, now operating in 250+ cities.

The Challenges

The interviewer asked about the difficulties we've faced over the years.

I mentioned how starting the company literally the day before 9/11 was just the beginning of learning to adapt through major challenges like the financial crisis and COVID-19.

Our Mission

We discussed what makes cityHUNT different from other companies in our space.

I explained how we give back by using a portion of our proceeds to create scholarships for non-profits and schools because we believe no one should be shut out from "being more awesome together."

The Pandemic

The conversation touched on how COVID completely changed our business model.

I shared how we developed our virtual platform in just weeks and how the pandemic actually reinforced our core mission of helping people deepen relationships with others.

Our Culture

I briefly talked about what drives us as a company.

I described our passion for infusing gamification, positive psychology, and mindfulness into everything we do, always with the goal of making people more awesome together.

Conclusion

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share our story with Voyage Baltimore - it was nice to take a moment and reflect on how far we've come. The conversation reminded me why we do what we do and how much we love helping people connect.

Want to read the full interview? read the full interview on Voyage Baltimore.

The Challenge

I knew Ziggy was graduating and wanted to do one more big trip together before he headed off to college. When I asked him where he wanted to go, his answer surprised me: "Japan."

I'll be honest, I thought it was a crazy idea. "Buddy," I said, "I don't think that's going to happen. It's really far, it's a lot." But I stayed open and I realized that I had some open cityHUNT and non-profit work in Japan. So instead of shutting down his dream, I made him an offer that was equal parts challenge and leap of faith: "You want to go? You plan the trip."

I honestly wasn't sure he'd follow through. But Ziggy surprised me. I'd been sharing content from travel writer Kevin Kelly with him—stories about seeing the world with intention and purpose. Using Kelly's blog and AI as his guide, he came back with a detailed plan for a two-week journey across Japan. My role shifted from trip planner to supporter, and I had to do something that's never easy for any parent: step back and trust him to lead.

Rediscovering Japan

The last time I was in Japan, I was 21 years old—25 years had passed. I remembered the energy, but this experience felt completely different. Japan is a country built on mindfulness and order, and you feel it in everything from how people treat each other to how they care for their spaces.

You can tell a lot about a culture by its bathrooms, and in Japan, they're remarkable. We found heated toilet seats and thoughtful automatic features in the most unexpected places—that level of care permeates everything. The spirituality is tangible too, with Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples tucked into neighborhoods and mountainsides, offering these perfect pockets of calm in the middle of busy cities.

There was also a pleasant surprise: despite Japan's reputation for being expensive, the strong dollar made it one of the most affordable places I've traveled recently.

The Defining Moment

Our most memorable day began on Miyajima, a small island just outside Hiroshima. We decided to hike Mount Misen via the traditional path—2,000 stone stairs leading to the summit. Along the way, we'd stop at small shrines to rest and meditate. The climb was challenging but beautiful.

On our descent, we chose the longer, less traveled route and barely saw another person. We discovered a hidden waterfall and sat there for a while, just taking it in. Then, as we were getting hungry and looking for lunch, Ziggy pointed to a massive boulder perched 2,000 feet up the mountainside. "Let's eat lunch up there," he said.

So we did. It was his call, his moment of initiative, and it was perfect. Sitting on that boulder, sharing a simple meal and looking out over the landscape, I realized this trip had become something bigger than I'd imagined.

Learning to Let Go

Of course, the journey wasn't without its challenges. At one point, Ziggy was traveling solo to our next destination when the bullet train station's credit card system suddenly went down. He found himself stranded, trying to figure out how to get cash in a foreign country. I had to step in and help him navigate the situation.

But even moments like these became part of the larger lesson. My job wasn't to prevent every difficulty or swoop in at the first sign of trouble. It was to let him learn, to let him problem-solve, but to be there when he genuinely needed support.

What impressed me most was watching Ziggy connect with people wherever we went. We'd attend hardcore shows where he'd immediately make friends, and those new connections would tell us about another show in a different city. Our carefully planned itinerary became this living, breathing thing, shaped by the relationships he was building and the opportunities that emerged from his openness to new experiences.

What I Learned from My Son

Throughout the trip, I was struck by Ziggy's discipline—something that far exceeded what I had at his age. Even while traveling, he'd carve out time to meditate and work out. He approached each day with intention and balance. In many ways, he was teaching me as much as I was guiding him.

His natural ability to connect with people, his willingness to embrace uncertainty, and his thoughtful approach to new experiences reminded me that my role as his father isn't to shape him into who I think he should be. Instead, it's to create space for him to discover who he already is.

The Real Journey

Traveling together revealed something I'd always suspected but hadn't fully understood: it's one of the best ways to truly get to know someone, including your own children. This trip wasn't just about experiencing Japan's culture, food, and landscapes—though all of that was incredible. It was about watching my son step confidently into his independence, forge his own connections, and build community wherever he went.

The experience reinforced a lesson that applies as much to entrepreneurship as it does to parenting: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is step back, create the conditions for success, and trust the process. My job isn't to fix or mold Ziggy into some predetermined version of himself. It's to love him unconditionally and support him as he discovers his own path.

As we returned home, I realized that this trip marked not just the end of his high school years, but a new chapter in our relationship—one where I'm learning to be his father in a different way, with more trust and less control.

And through it all, I'll keep practicing the art of being his dad.

In fact, it’s often been messy, uncertain, and full of learning. But in between work trips, high school art shows, hardcore punk concerts, and quiet conversations over dinner, I’ve found something worth reflecting on: the way entrepreneurship and fatherhood constantly inform each other.

This series is about that intersection. It’s about navigating the pressure to produce while still showing up as a present parent. It’s about learning from my kids as much as I try to guide them. And most of all, it’s about connection — how we build it, how we protect it, and how we let it evolve.

A Father’s Pride

As I sit here on the eve of my oldest son Ziggy’s high school graduation, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve shared. Tomorrow, he’ll walk across that stage, adorned with honors cords and AP recognition – achievements he kept quiet about even as he complained daily about school. In a few months, he’ll head to Georgia State University on a full scholarship. The path that led us here has been anything but traditional, and it’s taught me more about parenting, presence, and letting go than I ever imagined.

Hanging with my best bud

Figuring Himself Out

Ziggy’s educational journey defied convention from the start. For most of his early years, he was homeschooled and unschooled, spending his tweens traveling the south east of the country training horses and competing in Olympic-level riding. I even started a horse training business to support his passion. When he finally entered traditional school, it was first at a small high school where he learned to navigate the social dynamics, then his final two years at a large public school where he discovered a true passion: art.

What makes his story remarkable isn’t just the accolades – though watching someone who constantly complained about school receive honor after honor has been surreal. It’s how he found his path through adversity.

During his junior year, a series of concussions from wrestling, and, ironically, from moshing at hardcore shows forced him to step back from physical activities. During that difficult recovery period when he couldn’t attend school, he picked up a guitar and discovered his artistic side.

What could have been devastating became transformative. He moved from being in the mosh pit to photographing shows (reasoning that no one would knock down the person with the big camera), then to managing bands, and eventually to forming his own band, Sacred Hum.

His group has gained real momentum in Atlanta’s hardcore scene – they even went viral on TikTok after being kicked out of Denny’s and convincing a Taco Bell manager to let them perform in the parking lot to hundreds of kids.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sacred Hum (@sacredhum)

Art of Stepping Back

One of my greatest lessons as a father has been learning to support without scripting, to be present without projecting.

I’ve always been inquisitive, asking questions and letting Ziggy flow into whatever interested him. But the key has been not being attached to his choices or needing his success to validate my parenting.

A perfect example: when someone else at cityHUNT offered him an opportunity to help guide an event – completely separate from me – he was far more interested than when I had suggested it.

That taught me something valuable about giving him space to be discovered and valued on his own merits.

This approach has allowed him to develop an incredible sense of initiative. When he was just 11 or 12, he watched “The Big Short” and decided he wanted to be like the Ryan Gosling character.

Without any prompting, he found someone in our community who worked in finance and took them to coffee to learn about building a career in that field. That’s who he is – someone who sees what he wants and goes after it.

Nothing like bonding with your son

Sage on Stage to Social Media

Our relationship has evolved in unexpected ways. We’ve always been close – when he was young, I took him to concerts where he was the youngest person there. Now the roles have reversed, and I’m the oldest person at his hardcore shows.

But it goes deeper than just attending. At his request, I’ve become part of his performances, coming on stage before shows to burn sage and lead meditation, creating a moment of calm before the chaos.

In a humorous twist, I recently discovered that Ziggy has been using my dormant Facebook account to promote his band and the Atlanta music scene. My friends think I’m the world’s most supportive “hardcore dad,” constantly posting about shows and his band’s achievements.

While I wasn’t thrilled at first – you know how I feel about social media – I’ve come to appreciate that he’s using technology exactly as I’ve always intended with cityHUNT: as a tool to bring people together for real-life experiences.

He’s never been one for phones or empty digital connection. As a kid, he called peers who were always on their devices “phonies” – not to be mean, but because he wanted real interaction. Now he uses these platforms strategically, purely to get people to come out and experience live music together.

We have the same smile

Framework for Authentic Parenting

This journey with Ziggy has paralleled my own personal evolution. For years, I had what I now call my “Life Pyramid” completely inverted.

The company was the foundation, and I believed that if the business succeeded, then I could take care of my family, then the community, and finally myself. This approach led to periods where I was consumed by cityHUNT, driven by the pressure to provide, but not truly present.

Over the past six years, I’ve worked intensively to flip that pyramid. Now I understand that I must take care of myself first – my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Only then can I truly show up for my family, contribute meaningfully to my company, and serve my community. This shift has been transformative for my parenting.

When I’m centered and healthy, I can love my children in a non-needy way. I’m not using their achievements or happiness as a measure of my worth as a parent.

The most important message I’ve conveyed to both Ziggy and my 13-year-old daughter is this: I don’t love them for what they do. I love them because I love them. Nothing they achieve can make me love them more; nothing they fail at can make me love them less.

Balancing Passion and Presence

Being an entrepreneur and a father creates unique challenges. There’s immense pressure to produce, to succeed, to provide – especially as men; this weight can feel overwhelming.

I’ll be honest: I haven’t always gotten the balance right. There were times when financial pressures made me believe that success in business was the only way to be a good provider.

But I’ve learned that presence is worth more than any financial success.

Now, whether it’s driving an hour each way to his shows, planning our upcoming trip to Japan together (which he’s organizing entirely as a learning experience), or simply making pad thai together (he recently declared with complete sincerity that he makes the best pad thai of any 18-year-old in the world), I prioritize these moments of connection.

The integration has become beautiful. Ziggy now runs his band like a business, along with a production company and photography brand.

He’s watched me build cityHUNT for 25 years, and while he’s learned from my successes, he’s also learned from watching my struggles with work-life balance. We’re heading to Japan soon, partly for CityHunt and partly for celebration – the lines between work, family, and shared passion have blurred in the best possible way.

Roaming the woods together

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

As Ziggy prepares for college, I’ve been working with him on practical life skills that schools rarely teach. Using AI to research, I discovered that about 70% of income in America goes to taxes and interest – a sobering reality for any young person entering adulthood.

We’re having frank conversations about financial literacy, decision-making, and how to avoid the traps that ensnare so many.

But beyond the practical, I’m watching him develop his own philosophy of life. He’s been essentially vegan since age 12 after watching a documentary, maintaining a disciplined approach to diet and fitness. He’s built an authentic community through his music.

He uses his creativity not for fame but for connection. These aren’t things I taught him directly – they emerged from having the space to explore and discover his own values.

Practice of Imperfect Parenting

If there’s one piece of wisdom I’d share with other dads, especially entrepreneur dads, it’s this: be patient with yourself first. There is no perfect way to parent – there’s only practice. The goal isn’t to avoid all mistakes or to have all the answers. It’s to show up, stay open, ask questions, and love without conditions.

My relationship with Ziggy has taught me that children don’t need us to fix or mold them into who we think they should be. They need us to create space for them to discover who they are. They need to know that our love isn’t transactional, that it doesn’t depend on their achievements or choices.

As I prepare to watch him graduate tomorrow, I’m not just proud of his accomplishments – the scholarships, the art awards, and the successful band.

I’m proud of the person he’s become: someone who takes initiative, builds community, stays curious, and isn’t afraid to forge his own path. He’s taught me as much as I’ve taught him, maybe more.

Conclusion

This might be the first in a series of reflections on entrepreneurship and fatherhood. There’s so much more to explore – about financial pressure, identity, the challenge of modeling success while allowing failure, and the ongoing practice of presence. But for now, this chapter is about celebration and gratitude.

Tomorrow, Ziggy walks across that stage. In June, we’ll explore Japan together. His band will play more shows, possibly in more Taco Bell parking lots. And through it all, I’ll keep practicing the art of being his dad – present without controlling, proud without attachment, loving without conditions. It’s the most important work I’ll ever do.

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  The Founder Fatherhood Files: Our Japan Trip

  Jul 2, 2025

  In my last article , I wrote about standing on the eve of my son…

Inspired by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow theory, I wanted to bring the magic of immersive, joyful moments into corporate environments that too often forget the value of laughter and creativity.

My co-founder and I constantly tweaked the game mechanics around the principles of flow, trying to create experiences that would be meaningful and transformative.

What began as a simple idea has evolved into something that drives everything else I do—from nonprofit work to my upcoming book.

Our Mission: Positively Impacting Companies

At its heart, cityHUNT is about positively impacting companies.

We aim to help organizations through our unique team-building experiences. The more people we can reach and introduce to cityHUNT, the further our mission spreads.

This isn’t just about business growth; it’s about creating more abundance that, in turn, helps us fund other events and projects aimed at making a positive difference.

The Three Pillars: Playfulness, Connection, and Flow

Our experiences are built around three core principles.

Playfulness

As humans, we naturally play as children, just as animals do.

But we often forget how to play as we get older, even though it’s one of the best paths to joy and bliss.

At cityHUNT, we create space for adults to reconnect with that childlike playfulness.

Play doesn’t need an end result; the play itself is the point. This contrasts with the productivity-focused mindset many of us develop.

Ironically, when we make space for play, our ability to produce actually blossoms rather than narrows.

Connection

Our second pillar is about fostering meaningful connections.

I’ve come to understand connection as a three-layered concept:

1. Connection with oneself
2. Connection with other people
3. Connection with nature and the world around us

These connections work like a pyramid. You need to build that inner work first so that you can truly connect with others without needing anything from them.

When you’re fulfilled within yourself, you can connect with others from a place of openness rather than manipulation or coercion.

At cityHUNT, we create opportunities for all these levels of connection, but especially focus on human-to-human interaction.

While you can have fun by yourself, playfulness is typically a shared experience that strengthens bonds between people.

Flow

Flow occurs when people engage in activities that are challenging enough to be interesting but not so difficult that they become frustrating.

We design tasks to hit this sweet spot for different personality types.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research on flow states was foundational to how we developed cityHUNT.

We wanted to create experiences where time seems to disappear and people become fully present in the moment. That’s when true transformation can happen.

I’m grateful for thinkers like Catherine Price, who has spoken deeply about the science of play, and Jamie Wheal from the Flow Genome Project, who’s expanded how we understand peak experience.

Their work continues to influence how we design our experiences.

Designing for All: Diversity as a Superpower

cityHUNT events are crafted to celebrate differences. Some people thrive in social challenges, others prefer mental puzzles.

We ask clients about their team dynamics upfront and design experiences that allow everyone—from the CEO to the quietest team member—to shine.

For extroverts, we include challenges like singing a song to a stranger or doing a TikTok dance.

For introverts who might enjoy solving puzzles, we include more cerebral challenges. This ensures everyone has their moment to shine.

I come from a theater background, so I think of our events almost like plays, where each person gets to be the star in their own way.

We create moments where different strengths are valued—a maintenance person might know something crucial that a CEO doesn’t, highlighting how everyone brings unique value.

Our teams are specifically designed to be four to six people.

It’s the magic number for team building—intimate enough to build real connections and big enough to harness diverse talents.

With fewer than four people, you lose the diversity of thought and skills needed to solve challenges effectively.

With more than six, some participants start to disengage or form smaller subgroups.

What Makes cityHUNT Different

Our approach isn’t about high-tech gamification for its own sake. In fact, only one person per team uses a device.

The rest is face-to-face, voice-to-voice.

Our job is to remove friction and invite people to be present. If we’ve done our job, they forget it’s a team-building exercise—they’re just laughing, solving, and seeing each other.

One thing we’ve mastered over 25 years is how to create team-building experiences for very large groups.

Once you get beyond 30-50 people, most team-building activities become unwieldy. But we’ve developed the expertise to run events for hundreds or even thousands of participants.

We’ve perfected the art of routing teams through geographical areas that are neither too small (where teams are on top of each other) nor too large (where it becomes physically exhausting).

We create an arc where everyone starts together as a large group, then breaks into small teams for intimate bonding experiences, and finally reunites to celebrate as a whole.

The Evolution of cityHUNT

The company has evolved significantly over the years.

When we started in 2000, we could only provide 10 clues because we only had 10 Polaroid pictures!

As technology advanced to digital cameras and eventually smartphones, we were able to scale and enhance the experience.

We were paper-and-pen for longer than we’ve been digital, which is amazing to think about.

Technology has helped us scale while staying true to our mission.

Having immediate feedback is a crucial part of flow, and as technology evolved from Polaroid cameras to digital cameras to smartphones, we’ve been able to provide better, more immediate feedback while still keeping the focus on human interaction.

What’s interesting is that we’ve used technology to connect people instead of allowing it to separate them.

We’ve harnessed technology to scale our experiences to thousands of participants without losing the personal touch.

Lessons from the Early Days

We didn’t get it right from day one. Early on, teams got lost, no one had cell phones, and we overcomplicated everything.

But the intention was always there: to make something beautiful happen when people come together to play.

Looking back, we made many mistakes.

We’d overthink everything—creating multiple variations of each clue (easy, medium, hard), adding complexities that didn’t enhance the user experience but just seemed “cool” to us as designers.

We had to learn through trial and error what actually worked.

Over time, I’ve spent considerable effort studying positive psychology, gamification, and mindfulness to refine our approach.

I started with gamification, then dove into positive psychology, and finally added mindfulness—realizing that participants could have moments of personal realization and self-reflection during our games, something I hadn’t initially thought possible.

Impact Beyond Participants

Our mission is to positively impact over a million people, and the math works out.

First, the game itself requires participants to interact with strangers—helping someone, opening a door, singing a song.

Then, participants share their positive experiences with family and friends. And those strangers who were impacted during the game also share their experiences.

It’s like ripples in water or the Big Bang—an initial positive interaction spreads outward exponentially. With technology and social sharing, the impact multiplies quickly.

We even have YouTube videos with over 100,000 views. When you think about it this way, reaching a million people isn’t that difficult in our connected world.

Conclusion

Everything I do—cityHUNT, my future book, the nonprofit work—rests on this foundation: abundance through connection.

cityHUNT is how we fund it all, but it’s also how we live our mission. We help people help themselves by creating spaces where joy and collaboration are possible.

In 2019, my perspective shifted significantly.

Before that, I spent most of my time working on external things and building material success.

But starting in 2019, I began focusing more on inner work and developing a new understanding of happiness and fulfillment.

I realized that all happiness comes from within. The external stuff is great, but when I lean into it too much, it causes suffering.

I also realized that no one can actually help me—they can only help me help myself. Similarly, I can’t directly help others—I can only help people help themselves.

This three-layered connection approach has transformed how I live and how I approach my business.

The inner work serves as the foundation, enabling me to better support my community and the larger world through cityHUNT and all my other endeavors.

No matter what external success I achieved—building cityHUNT into a thriving business, acquiring properties and possessions, maintaining a busy social calendar—the prospect of spending time with just myself filled me with dread.

Being alone meant facing myself, and that was something I actively avoided. My happiness came from making others happy, often at my own expense.

The Invincible Warrior

I built my identity around being the “invincible fun warrior”—always on, always performing, never showing vulnerability. I embraced the “crush it” mentality: no sleep, push through pain, never show weakness.

This fear of solitude shaped almost every aspect of my life. My relationships drifted toward codependency, with my self-worth tied to what I could do for others.

My business reflected this same pattern—I excelled at creating connections between others but hadn’t learned to connect with myself.

The Unexpected Catalyst

Everything changed in 2019. What I now describe as my “awakening” began with a complete misunderstanding.

I thought I was heading to a luxury resort in Costa Rica with a friend for a typical vacation.

Instead, I found myself at a transformative yoga and meditation festival in the jungle with nothing but a swimsuit, a hammock, and no phone.

That weekend of complete disorientation became the catalyst for transformation. Without my usual distractions and comforts, I was forced to be present in a way I’d never experienced.

This unexpected detour pushed me to seek out teachers in India, spend time with indigenous communities in Ecuador, and begin exploring yoga, meditation, and shamanic practices that were completely foreign to my previous life.

Then COVID-19 hit, and like many people, I found myself in isolation. My situation was particularly challenging—I was going through a divorce, and suddenly it was just me and my dog on a farm outside Atlanta.

I was separated from my children and faced with the very thing I had always feared: extended time alone with myself.

Learning to Be With Myself

During those months of isolation, I leaned into the practices I’d begun exploring after my awakening in Costa Rica.

I deepened my meditation practice, tackled Kundalini yoga challenges, and spent hours walking the 2,000 acres surrounding my home in the Serenbe community.

Gradually, something remarkable happened. I began to discover a fundamental distinction that had eluded me my entire life: the difference between loneliness and solitude.

Loneliness, I came to understand, is a painful state of feeling disconnected or isolated, even when physically surrounded by others.

It’s characterized by a sense of lacking, of something missing. I had experienced plenty of loneliness throughout my life, often in the midst of crowded rooms or even within relationships.

Solitude, by contrast, is something entirely different. It’s a chosen state of being alone where you’re connected with yourself rather than feeling isolated.

In solitude, there’s a sense of completeness, of being sufficient unto yourself. There’s peace in the quiet moments, joy in simply being rather than constantly doing.

In my previous life, I never allowed myself to experience solitude because I was so terrified of loneliness. I filled every moment with activity, people, noise—anything to avoid facing myself.

But during those months of COVID isolation, I had no choice but to sit with myself, to be quiet, to experience true solitude, perhaps for the first time.

Practices That Transformed My Relationship with Being Alone

Several key practices helped me transform my fear of being alone into an appreciation for solitude:

Deep Meditation: Unlike my previous experience with performance-based meditation (the kind focused on manifesting wealth or success), I began practicing meditation simply as a way of being present with myself.

I learned to observe my thoughts without judgment and find peace in the spaces between them. This wasn’t about achieving anything; it was about being fully present with whatever arose.

Nature Immersion: Living on 2,000 acres at Serenbe gave me ample opportunity to connect with the natural world. I began taking all my calls while walking in the woods, feeling the earth beneath my feet, hearing birdsong, watching seasonal changes unfold.

Nature became both teacher and companion, showing me that I was part of something larger than my individual concerns.

Men’s Work: I became involved with men’s groups, both as a participant and eventually as a facilitator. These groups provided a safe space for emotional vulnerability—something completely foreign to my previous “crush it” mentality.

I learned that showing vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s courage and authenticity. These connections helped me develop a new relationship with my emotions and with other men.

Physical Practices: Yoga, particularly Kundalini yoga, helped me reconnect with my body after years of neglect. I lost 50 pounds not through dieting, but through a complete shift in how I related to my body.

My eating habits changed naturally as I became more present and attuned to my physical needs.

The Paradox of Connection Through Solitude

As I embraced these practices, something remarkable happened: the loneliness I had feared my entire life began to transform.

I still experienced moments of feeling lonely, especially being separated from my children during COVID-19, but those feelings no longer defined me or drove my actions.

I discovered that authentic connection with others begins with being connected to oneself. When I was running from myself, my relationships were based on performance and need—what I could do for others, what they could do for me.

As I learned to be comfortable in my own presence, my connections with others became more genuine, more satisfying, and paradoxically, more intimate.

This led to a profound insight: you can feel deeply connected and at peace even when physically alone. Conversely, you can feel desperately lonely in a crowd or relationship if you’re disconnected from yourself.

True connection isn’t about proximity or even shared experiences; it’s about presence—being fully available to yourself and others.

Bringing Solitude into Business

This understanding of solitude versus loneliness hasn’t just changed my personal life; it’s transformed how I approach business.

For years, I built cityHUNT on creating connections between people—and that remains important. But now I understand that meaningful connections between people start with each person’s connection to themselves.

Today, as cityHUNT partners with Highland Yoga to launch a corporate wellness program, we’re incorporating practices that help people connect with themselves first: breath work, journaling prompts, and yoga.

These inner practices provide the foundation for the team-building activities that follow. The result is deeper, more authentic engagement among participants.

I’ve also committed to making these practices accessible to everyone through The Warrior Sanctuary, a nonprofit I helped found that creates sliding-scale and donation-based opportunities for yoga, meditation, sound baths, and other ancient wisdom practices.

We’re democratizing access to the very tools that helped me transform my own relationship with solitude.

Solitude in a Hyper-Connected World

This message about the value of solitude feels particularly important in our current moment. We live in a culture that often equates being alone with being lonely and values constant connection through technology.

Social media platforms are designed to keep us externally focused and perpetually engaged, rarely encouraging the inner connection that true solitude offers.

For many people, the pandemic forced an uncomfortable confrontation with solitude.

Without the usual distractions of social gatherings, travel, and workplace interactions, many found themselves alone with their thoughts for the first time—and it was terrifying.

I understand that terror intimately; it defined much of my life.

But I’ve also discovered the treasure on the other side of that fear.

Learning to be comfortable in your own presence isn’t just about surviving alone time; it’s about discovering an inexhaustible source of peace and fulfillment that doesn’t depend on external circumstances or other people’s approval.

An Ongoing Practice

Becoming comfortable with solitude isn’t a destination I’ve reached once and for all. It’s an ongoing practice, a skill I continue to develop.

There are still days when old patterns emerge—when I seek external validation or avoid quiet moments. The difference now is that I recognize these patterns and have tools for returning to center.

I’ve learned that solitude should be cultivated and cherished, not feared and avoided. In the quiet moments of being alone with myself, I find clarity, creativity, and a deep sense of peace I never knew was possible.

From this grounded place, I can engage with others not from need or habit, but from fullness and choice.

Conclusion

The “Scavenger Hunt for the Soul”, as I call it in my upcoming book, always leads back to this essential truth: the secret isn’t out there in achievement, accumulation, or external validation.

The secret lies inside, waiting to be discovered through practices that have sustained humans for thousands of years. And from that place of inner connection, we’re never truly alone.

As the expert on gamification and positive psychology, I helped corporations create environments where employees could have “their best day at work.”

On paper, I had it all figured out. In reality, something fundamental was missing. In 2019, I experienced what I can only describe as an awakening.

Where it All Started to Change

It wasn’t planned or expected—quite the opposite. I thought I was headed to a luxury resort in Costa Rica with a squash buddy for a typical vacation.

Instead, I found myself at a transformative yoga and meditation festival in the jungle, with nothing but a bathing suit and a hammock, completely cut off from technology and my normal routines.

That weekend of disorientation became the catalyst for a complete life transformation. Stripped of comforts and totally out of my element, I connected with something deeper than I’d ever experienced.

This unexpected detour led me to travel to India, spend time with indigenous communities in Ecuador, and ultimately reimagine my entire approach to both business and life.

From Performance to Presence

Before my awakening, my understanding of wellness was purely performance-based.

When I thought about meditation, it was always tied to tangible outcomes—meditation as a tool for creating wealth or achieving success, very much in the Tony Robbins framework.

Everything revolved around external results. The ancient wisdom I discovered through yoga, meditation, and shamanic practices offered a completely different perspective.

Instead of focusing on external achievement, these traditions emphasized finding joy within.

They taught me that true fulfillment comes not from accomplishment or acquisition but from connection—with myself first, then with others, and with the natural world around us.

This shift from performance to presence changed everything. My meditation practice wasn’t about “getting” anything; it was about being fully present with myself.

My yoga practice wasn’t about achieving perfect poses; it was about reconnecting with my body after years of neglect.

My time in nature wasn’t about conquering trails; it was about remembering my place in the larger web of life.

My Physical and Emotional Transformation

The external changes were dramatic and visible. I lost 50 pounds without trying to “diet.” My relationship with food transformed completely.

I used to consider chicken wings health food because of their protein content—I could eat them and still lift weights, so they must be good for me, right?

Social drinking had been a constant in my life, essential for networking and building business relationships.

As my practice deepened, these habits simply fell away. I didn’t consciously decide to change my eating or drinking patterns; they evolved naturally as my awareness shifted.

My body knew what it needed once I started listening to it rather than imposing my will upon it.

The internal changes were even more profound. I had always derived my sense of worth from making others happy, often at my own expense.

This led to codependent relationships where I never took time to simply be with myself.

During COVID-19, isolated on a farm with just my dog after my divorce, I was forced to confront myself for perhaps the first time in my life.

Through meditation, yoga, and time spent in nature, I discovered the power of solitude and the difference between being alone and being lonely.

I learned to be comfortable in my own presence, to value the quiet moments between thoughts, and to find joy in simply being rather than constantly doing.

Reimagining Business Through Ancient Wisdom

As my personal life transformed, so did my approach to business.

I made a fundamental commitment that cityHUNT would never turn away schools, nonprofits, or mission-based organizations due to budget constraints.

Team building was too important to be accessible only to those with deep pockets.

This principle gave birth to our “Make Awesome for Others” (MAFO) initiative, where profits from corporate clients fund scholarships for those who couldn’t otherwise afford our services.

Over the years, we’ve channeled about half a million dollars into these scholarships and grants, making our experiences available to a much broader community.

I also transformed my relationship with material success. At one point, I owned multiple houses and vehicles—all the external markers of achievement.

After my awakening, I simplified dramatically, selling properties and possessions and focusing more on experiences than acquisitions.

I realized that true fulfillment didn’t come from what I owned but from how I lived.

Today, I make my home in Serenbe, a wellness-focused community outside Atlanta, surrounded by 2,000 acres of preserved nature.

I spend as much time as possible outdoors, often taking business calls while walking in the forest.

This environment nourishes my ongoing practice and reminds me daily of the interconnectedness of all things.

The Biophilic Approach

One concept that’s become central to my thinking is biophilism—the understanding that nature operates in cycles of giving and receiving, never taking without giving back.

This principle applies equally to farming, business, and personal relationships.

In conventional models, we often extract value without replenishing the sources: from the land, from employees, from ourselves.

The result is depletion and eventual collapse. The biophilic approach recognizes the need for regeneration, for giving back to the systems that sustain us.

I’ve applied this thinking to both cityHUNT and my nonprofit work with The Warrior Sanctuary.

In business, it means creating models where everyone benefits: employees, clients, communities, and the natural environment.

In wellness, it means ensuring these life-changing practices are accessible to everyone, not just those with financial privilege.

Merging Ancient and Modern Wisdom

What I’ve discovered through this journey is that ancient wisdom and modern approaches aren’t in opposition—they complement each other beautifully.

Gamification, which I’ve studied for years, has actually existed forever. Indigenous cultures have always used play, challenge, and reward to teach essential skills and strengthen community bonds.

This blend of ancient practices and modern play creates powerful opportunities for authentic connection.

Having witnessed too many entrepreneurs suffering from burnout and disconnection, I want to share what I’ve learned about weaving wellness into the entrepreneurial journey.

The Essential Insight: Connection First

If there’s one insight that defines my journey, it’s this: human connection comes first—connection with oneself, then with others, and with the natural world around us.

In my previous life, I was constantly connecting with others, but never truly connecting with myself. I was the “invincible fun warrior,” never showing vulnerability and always performing.

Now I understand that authentic connection with others can only happen when we’re connected with ourselves.

Through my involvement with men’s groups, I’ve created spaces for emotional vulnerability—something I would have dismissed as weakness in my former life.

I’ve witnessed how this kind of authentic engagement transforms not just individuals but entire communities and organizations.

The ancient wisdom traditions I’ve encountered all point to this same truth: when we’re grounded in ourselves, everything else flows naturally.

Business becomes more sustainable, relationships grow more fulfilling, and life finds greater balance—not because we’re forcing these outcomes, but because we’re aligned with the deeper rhythms of being.

Conclusion

This journey continues daily. I haven’t “arrived” at some perfect state of balance and wisdom. Instead, I’ve discovered practices that help me return to center when I inevitably drift off course.

I’ve committed to sharing these practices through my business, my nonprofit work, and my daily interactions—making ancient wisdom accessible in contemporary contexts for anyone seeking it.

After decades of building my team-building company, cityHUNT, I experienced a profound shift in 2019 that drew me toward yoga, meditation, and indigenous healing practices.

My path crossed with my godfather, Itzhak Beery, who has devoted nearly three decades to working alongside indigenous communities in South America.

Through him, I connected with Chris “Kanyini” and Paige “Zai’ra” Benson, whose vision of making ancient wisdom accessible deeply resonated with me.

I became a founding circle member of The Warrior Sanctuary and now serve on its board.

Creating Sacred Spaces in Ecuador

One of our first initiatives—and one particularly close to my heart—was establishing an indigenous retreat center in the lush forests of Mindo, Ecuador.

This sacred space serves a vital purpose: providing a safe haven where tribal elders can share their teachings, preserving wisdom that might otherwise disappear due to colonization, resource extraction, and cultural displacement.

The ceremonial house, known as a maloca, holds special significance for me. It’s named after my father, Igal, who was Itzhak’s closest friend and who passed away when I was just 14.

Creating this space feels like honoring his memory while building a bridge between generations and cultures.

At Amaroo (as the center is called), indigenous wisdom keepers can teach their practices, while people from around the world can learn approaches to healing and connection refined over thousands of years.

It’s a place of cultural exchange and preservation that honors the original stewards of these traditions.

Bringing Ancient Wisdom Home

While our work in Ecuador remains vital, we’re equally committed to making these practices accessible closer to home.

In both Atlanta and New York, we’re creating opportunities for people to experience yoga, meditation, breath work, and other ancient practices through sliding scale and donation-based models.

In my own community near Atlanta, I’ve been supporting practitioners who offer free meditation classes, yoga sessions, sound healing, and other modalities.

Our approach is straightforward but effective: those with financial means sponsor others, while those with limited resources participate at reduced rates or even for free.

Most people pay a fair middle price that keeps the system sustainable. This model dismantles the economic barriers that typically limit access to wellness practices.

Too often, these powerful traditions become exclusive luxury experiences available only to those with disposable income.

We’re actively working to transform that paradigm, making ancient wisdom accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

Why This Matters Today

In our fast-paced, technology-saturated world, we’ve drifted away from our innate connection to nature, our bodies, and each other.

While modern medicine and science have delivered remarkable advances, they sometimes overlook the wisdom preserved in indigenous and traditional healing systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed what many had already been experiencing: a profound mental health crisis affecting communities across the spectrum, particularly those facing economic and social disparities.

Anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and sleep problems have reached epidemic proportions.

Ancient wisdom traditions offer proven approaches for addressing these challenges—not replacing modern methods, but complementing them.

These practices have been refined over thousands of years to support human flourishing and deserve a place alongside our contemporary approaches to wellness.

The Sanctuary’s Approach

At The Warrior Sanctuary, we concentrate on three core areas: education about holistic healing practices, access to transformative events and experiences, and creating physical spaces where people can reconnect with themselves and others.

We honor the lineages and individuals who have preserved these traditions through countless challenges, ensuring future generations can access their birthright of wellness practices.

Our work aims to reconnect people with their innate capacity for healing and growth, fostering more balanced individuals and communities.

The spaces we create are thoughtfully designed to support transformation.

Through drum circles, holistic healing courses, sound journeys, yoga classes, meditation retreats, and Reiki sessions, we provide environments where both teachers and students can explore ancient practices in contemporary settings.

A Personal Connection

For me, The Warrior Sanctuary represents the perfect integration of my lifelong passion for creating meaningful experiences with my newfound appreciation for ancient wisdom.

Throughout my career with cityHUNT, I’ve witnessed how play and connection transform workplaces and relationships.

Now, I’m applying those same insights to wellness and spiritual development.

After my own awakening experience in 2019, I realized how profoundly these practices had changed my life.

I lost 50 pounds, dramatically improved my health, and developed a completely different relationship with myself and others.

Having experienced these benefits firsthand, I’m passionate about making them available to everyone.

Living at Serenbe, a wellness-focused community on 2,000 acres outside Atlanta, I’ve witnessed firsthand how intentional environments foster transformation.

Our work with The Warrior Sanctuary applies this same principle—creating spaces where healing and growth emerge naturally.

Looking Forward

As we continue developing The Warrior Sanctuary, I envision expanding our reach while maintaining our commitment to accessibility.

We’re forging partnerships with like-minded organizations, developing online resources that complement in-person experiences, and documenting indigenous wisdom (with appropriate permissions) to preserve it for future generations.

I believe these ancient practices offer profound solutions to modern challenges—from mental health struggles to environmental degradation to social disconnection.

By making them accessible to all, we’re not just preserving traditions; we’re revitalizing them for today’s world.

Through The Warrior Sanctuary, I combine my entrepreneurial experience with my passion for wellness and ancient wisdom.

It perfectly expresses my belief that when we connect authentically with ourselves, others, and the natural world, everything else falls into place.

Whether you seek healing, growth, or simply a deeper connection to yourself and others, The Warrior Sanctuary offers a pathway to explore ancient wisdom in accessible, contemporary ways. I invite you to join us on this journey of discovery and transformation.

What started as a final project—combining theatrical experiences with pub tours—grew beyond my wildest dreams.

I loved blurring the lines between audience and actors. We used simple tools: Polaroid cameras, paper, and pens. It was just a fun scavenger hunt for birthdays and friends.

Then came a pivotal moment.

Someone asked,

“Can you do this for my company?”

When they mentioned team building and their budget, I decided: “We’re a team-building company now.”

That changed everything.

Evolution Through Technology

Early on, we were limited by available technology.

Polaroid cameras could only do so much. But with digital cameras, participants could take more photos and videos.

Our uniqueness wasn’t just technology, but our philosophy—a journey of exploring positive psychology and gamification, refining experiences based on feedback.

Remarkably, in corporate settings where people often felt disconnected, our games became their “best day at work.”

We crafted experiences for everyone—introverts, extroverts, CEOs, and entry-level employees—creating equal footing through play and shared challenges.

This inclusive approach became our signature.

A Different Path to Growth

Unlike many startup founders, I chose a different journey—one where cityHUNT remained a “lifestyle business”—I never took outside funding.

User experience was my top priority, and I worried rapid growth would compromise quality.

Instead, we expanded thoughtfully and sustainably, growing from New York to the Northeast, then nationally and internationally.

This approach allowed us to maintain quality while reaching more people. As our reputation grew, I spoke about gamification and positive psychology at events.

I connected with Conscious Capitalism to explore ethical businesses serving all stakeholders.

This led to a core principle: never turning away schools, nonprofits, or mission-based organizations due to budget constraints.

This commitment evolved into Make Awesome for Others (MAFO), where corporate clients subsidize experiences for those who couldn’t afford them.

We’ve channeled nearly half a million dollars into scholarships and grants for schools and nonprofits.

The Unexpected Awakening

By 2019, despite helping organizations create positive cultures, I realized I was neglecting my own wellness.

Focusing on others’ positive psychology, I ignored my body and spirit. The turning point came unexpectedly.

I thought I was going to a resort in Costa Rica but ended up at a transformative yoga and meditation festival in the jungle, with just a bathing suit, a hammock, and no phone.

This profound experience sparked a complete life transformation, launching a new journey of self-discovery.

It led me to seek wisdom in India, Ecuador, and beyond, studying yoga, meditation, and shamanism—practices that complemented my understanding of gamification and positive psychology.

Personal Transformation

After that awakening, everything changed. I realized my possessions weren’t fulfilling.

Soon after, I went through a divorce and simplified my life, focusing on living rather than accumulating.

When COVID-19 hit, this transformation deepened. Isolated on a farm with my dog, separated from my children, I faced the solitude I’d always avoided.

I used to derive joy from making others happy—classic codependent relationships—and feared being alone with my thoughts.

During this time, I discovered the difference between loneliness and solitude. Through meditation, yoga, and nature, I learned to be comfortable with myself—perhaps for the first time.

Men’s Work and Personal Growth

Part of my journey involved participating in and eventually facilitating men’s groups—supportive spaces for emotional vulnerability.

This was revolutionary for me, as I was raised with a “crush it at all costs” mentality that forbade showing weakness.

My physical appearance changed too. I lost 50 pounds as my relationship with food evolved.

I used to think chicken wings were healthy because of the protein; I could eat them and lift weights.

Social drinking had been a networking staple, but as my meditation deepened and I spent more time in nature, these habits naturally faded.

Writing My Story

Now I’m working with a Forbes writer on a book called ‘Scavenger Hunt for the Soul,’ chronicling my journey to find balance between sustainable living and business growth—often conflicting paths.

Having seen many entrepreneurs suffer burnout, I want to share my insights on finding harmony between these forces.

The book has been six years in the making, and I’m planning to launch it without traditional social media.

After dealing with stalkers as my profile grew, I found social media wasn’t always safe for me.

I’m exploring alternative ways to build genuine connections and community beyond these platforms.

cityHUNT Today

Today, cityHUNT continues to evolve as part of my ongoing journey, enriched by a new perspective.

We’re launching a corporate wellness program with Highland Yoga at Serenbe, the wellness community where I now live outside Atlanta.

Companies can experience breath work, journaling, yoga, and a cityHUNT game—”fun stress” that engages teams and builds connections.

The foundation remains: fun, connection, and play.

But now these elements are enriched by deeper understandings of wellness and ancient wisdom. I

It’s about connecting—first with oneself, then others, and the natural environment, even in urban settings.

Through all the changes, games remain my constant companion—another form of ancient wisdom, a way humans have always connected with each other and themselves.

Born in 2001 as a scavenger hunt pub crawl experience, cityHUNT was revolutionized when I discovered the transformative power of gamification and positive psychology in the workplace.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: To Impact 1 MILLION PEOPLE.

To Impact 1 MILLION PEOPLE by fostering better work environments and creating stronger, more productive relationships. This mission was not just a goal but a calling, deeply rooted in my passion for bringing people together.

Our Evolution

Over 20+ years, cityHUNT has evolved into more than a team-building company.

We’ve become a movement. A movement that combats isolation and promotes mindfulness, happiness and deep social connection.

Inspired by research from prestigious institutions such as Stanford and Harvard, we have refined our approach to ensure that our scavenger hunts are not just fun but also scientifically grounded.

The cityHUNT Experience

At cityHUNT, we believe in the power of play.

Our Adventure Guides and Producers, not unlike stage performers and writers, craft experiences that are immersive and exhilarating.

Every hunt, every challenge is an opportunity for teams to bond and to experience gratitude and kindness – the very elements that often win our games.

It’s an experiential theater where everyone becomes part of the show, creating memories and connections that last.

Three Pillars of Fun

We build our hunts around the Three Pillars of Fun.

Beyond Entertainment

My journey across the globe, exploring how different cultures experience fun and connection, has infused cityHUNT with a unique philosophy.

We see our scavenger hunts as a vehicle for healing – from workaholism, corporate burnout, and the relentless pursuit of growth.

It’s our way of giving back and ensuring that moments of oneness and transformation are accessible to all.

Charity Initiative

Make Awesome for Others: Our commitment to positive impact is embodied in our Make Awesome for Others (MAFO) initiative, a program that thrives on the generosity and success of our corporate clients.

Funded by proceeds from these clients, MAFO embodies our commitment to spreading abundance and prosperity.

We’ve given out $400,000+ in discounts and scholarships to non-profits, schools and purpose-driven organizations.

This program is the heart of cityHUNT, offering our experiences to those who might otherwise miss out on the joy of team building.

It’s our way of ensuring that no company or group is left behind, regardless of budget.

Our Team

Meet the people behind cityHUNT.

Join Our Adventure

At cityHUNT, we’re not just changing the way teams play.

We’re changing the way they connect, communicate and thrive. Join us on this journey of fun, growth and heartfelt experiences.

Together, let’s change the world! One scavenger hunt at a time.

Book your discovery call today. Or visit our website to know more about us.

We dive into our friendship, the adventure of moving to Philly, and the challenge of learning to breathe—even as an Eagles fan.

Podcast

Click below to listen to the full podcast episode.

Learning to Breathe with Ben Hoffman

You can also listen to the full conversation here:

• Apple Podcasts
• RADIOKISMET’s Episode Webpage

Transcript

Christopher Plant: Welcome to RadioKismet Live with Christopher Plant. RadioKismet Live is a partnership with Kismet Cowork and is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is a short segment with Ben Hoffman, who is the owner and operator of a scavenger hunt company called cityHUNT that was founded in New York City in 2000. I first met Ben in 2013 at my birthday party and we’ve had a great friendship since then. Ben moved down to the Atlanta area several years ago, but we’ve managed to stay in touch and so I was very excited to get him in for my third podcast of the year at Radio Kismet. I’m excited for you to take a listen. He’s on a journey and he’s a great guy. Here we go. Here we are live at Radio Kismet for our first exercise in Unscripted with Christopher Plant. Uh huh. Yes. We are here today in the studio with Mr. Ben Hoffman and his amazing son, Ziggy.

Ben Hoffman: Ziggy.

Christopher Plant: They’ve just arrived from just outside of Atlanta down in Serenby.

Ben Hoffman: Serenity. Yeah. Chattahoochee Hills.

Christopher Plant: Chattahoochee Hills.

Ben Hoffman: Chattahoochee Hills.

Christopher Plant: Chattahoochee Hills. Yes. And they’ve just come in and we are all going to. What are we doing on Sunday?

Ben Hoffman: E A G L E S. Eagles.

Christopher Plant: We’re gonna go see the Eagles in the first wild card playoff against the Seattle Seahawks. And so I thought I’d take the opportunity to invite Ben into the studio. Ben and I are old friends and have done a lot of really, really fun things together.

Ben Hoffman: BFFs.

Christopher Plant: BFF? Yeah. Most notably, we just got back from the Summit series out in Los Angeles and we had a fabulous time and we just, we travel well together. We share many of the same sensibilities. His scarves are always a little bit larger than mine.

Ben Hoffman: I like to call them skankets or blarves, not scarves. I feel like that’s a more proper term for the neckwear, body wear that are wrapped around or a skanket.

Christopher Plant: I like skank it better.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, I mean, it’s either or. I’m not going to, like, judge you if you call it a blarf. I’m not going to judge you if you call it a skank it. And some days it might feel like a skanket, some days you might feel like a blarf. And like, totally fine.

Christopher Plant: Fantastic. So, Ben, I know a lot about you, but why don’t you give us a highly abridged version of how you came to be Sitting here. You started a scavenger hunt company out of your dorm room when?

Ben Hoffman: Around 2000, 2001? Ish, I guess. At NYU? Yeah.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. And so you were. You were in your dorm and you decided you wanted to have a scavenger hunt company.

Ben Hoffman: And so I went to NYU for theater. And at the end I was like, oh, wow, this was really great education, really fun, but I am not going to do theater. This is a miserable profession to be in. I was like seeing all my friends who graduated starving doing like terrible theater that I’d have to go watch and not getting paid. I’m like, oh, my goodness.

Christopher Plant: Not going to do it.

Ben Hoffman: No good, no bueno. So, yeah, so my co founder at the time, he had done this sort of scavenger hunt pub crawl experience. I came. It was a disaster, but it was still so much more fun than a regular night out. And so I was like, what if we made this a theatrical experience? Everybody was part of it. And that was always my favorite part. I realized about theater was not like, oh, I’m an audience. Everybody has their role, but everybody’s a part of it. The whole city’s the set, all the people are part of it. And just sort of making magic together. And we’re doing it with Polaroid cameras. And a lot of the times in the beginning, it was basically theatrical pub crawls. That’s what I would say, with gamification tied in. All this stuff that I didn’t know about, just sort of doing it. And then one day someone, we were doing this, we do it for our friends, birthday parties, things like that. One day someone was like, oh, can you do this for my company? And I was like, sure. What’s your budget? They told me their budget. They’re like, yeah, as a team building event. I was like, oh, that’s what we do. Team building events, obviously. This is obviously a team building company. Of course.

Christopher Plant: That’s what we do.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, that’s what we do. And then that just what do you need?

Christopher Plant: That’s what we did.

Ben Hoffman: That’s exactly. It was like that moment of like, I didn’t. When they told me that number, I didn’t flinch. Which was like a life changing moment right there. I just sort of was like, yes, yes.

Christopher Plant: Whatever it is, I’ll figure it out.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. So that figured it out and built a crazy game that was like way too complicated. But they had a lot of fun. It was a lot of work. Then we figured it out over time and yeah. And then we had digital camera. It was just a Good time in New York too. This is kind of early 2000s and there’s just a lot of people were hungry for team building and the options.

Christopher Plant: It was kind of the beginning of the experiential kind of thing that was going on. I know that at the time, Blue Man Group had just launched and was doing great. De La Guarda was doing really well in Union Square and I had spent a lot of time in Europe. I’d seen a lot of experiential stuff. And so it’s just natural that that kind of hunger for experience would. Would filter down into the everyday life.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. Yeah. And that’s what sort of I realized was like, okay, how do we take this, like what circus Olay was to circuses? How could we take the idea of a scavenger hunt? And what do we do to make it totally different, experiential, unexpected, and use this amazing city as our playground where we could do. Get people to do crazy, fun things and connect them. That’s what I realized the best part was connecting with one another and the people of New York.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. And. Yeah, 7 million people there as opposed to a smaller town. And just the natural spectacle that. That. That is New York conditions people to be a little over the top just from. From the very beginning. So an auspicious place to begin a business, but so you’ve been doing it for. For years and years. And eventually you left. You know, I met you when you lived in Philadelphia. You know, we met. I don’t know if you remember the year. Do you remember the year?

Ben Hoffman: A long time ago.

Christopher Plant: Two, one. 2013. Seven years ago. Wow. And I remember the moment, just not the year.

Ben Hoffman: The year’s a blur, but I remember.

Christopher Plant: Raining out in particular because of other things that happened in that year. And it was my birthday party and it was a terrible weather and I was throwing myself my own gallery show.

Ben Hoffman: Shocking.

Christopher Plant: To prevent me from having to sit at home by myself on my birthday. I threw myself my own birthday party. And. And I’d taken over this. This storefront and made it into a gallery and brought in DJ equipment and. And I remember that Judy McCoobry brought you in and, you know, you guys had your hoods up and you’re dripping wet and. And. And I’m like, who’s this guy? And. And, you know, I won’t call it love at first sight, but we. We fell in.

Ben Hoffman: We did pretty quickly. We fell in. Bromance pretty fast. Romance fast. It was a very fast bromance.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. And we’ve been. Yeah. Making our Wives Nerv. But. But yeah. And we immediately started kind of like working on projects. And I was very fascinated by a lot of the stuff you were working on and tagged along with to a lot of meetings and things like that. And, you know, I think I’ve always loved how the status quo has never been like. Like where you were looking to go. You were like, okay, I got here, let’s go there, let’s go there. And. And then we each made our own comical videos. We are our lives impacted by Dollar Shave Club Totally. And made our own videos. But, you know. So why did you decide to come from New York down to Philadelphia?

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, so we were transitioning the company. We, you know, it was always like, oh, what’s next? How can we share this kind of what we were doing, the positive psychology, the gamification to more places. So we were doing more stuff in D.C. that was sort of the next market we went to. And I’m from Philadelphia originally, and it was sort of in the middle. And actually, I think I was down here looking at an investment property. And my wife at the time, she’ saw this house that was just like Philadelphia had, like. We were like, buying real estate in New York and she was a real estate broker there. So we saw this. She was like, this is the best deal ever. Let’s move here. I was like, okay.

Christopher Plant: Compared to New York standards.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, yeah. And that was like. Our mindset was that it was this old house from the 1800s, like from the Freeman Auction House just in Germantown. And I.

Christopher Plant: It was that your house on Price Street?

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, Price street house, yeah. So Chris has a big old house too. Not that far away. Yeah, there’s just coming from New York, that wasn’t possible.

Christopher Plant: No, I mean, I live. I live in my dream house. By comparative standards of what I was looking at. I mean, I fled New York basically because of, you know, what I perceived as an inability to afford New York real estate and the style of living that I wanted. I had a kid. I was about to have a second kid. The towers had just fallen. And I was like, you know what? I’m getting out of here. Philadelphia was a natural place to go. And I still believe that the quality of life here is incredibly high compared to the other towns that I’m familiar with. Washington, Boston, and primarily New York and even Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. But how long were you here in Philadelphia?

Ben Hoffman: How long was I. I moved about a little over three years ago, so. And I may have been there a year or two. So I don’t know, three or four years, something like that.

Christopher Plant: It’s gotta be a little more than that.

Ben Hoffman: Maybe maybe five years. I don’t know. What’s time, what’s years? What’s all this you speak of? I don’t even understand any of this. Like, I’m believing what you’re saying when you said it was 2013. But honestly, a lot of this stuff, like recently just becomes a little blurry, Hazy. Yeah, it’s just like, what’s the work? It’s all the same.

Christopher Plant: Anyway, my friend Ben, the alien, the extraterrestrial.

Ben Hoffman: So.

Christopher Plant: But you. So three years ago you moved down to. To Atlanta.

Ben Hoffman: Yes.

Christopher Plant: And you have found yourself to this community that was really interesting. It’s called Serenity.

Ben Hoffman: Yes. So I knew that I wanted to live in a conscious community. And Tony Hsieh was sort of working on one in Las Vegas. Something that was planned out based on relationships, kind of social collisions, this idea. I saw him speak and I was getting involved in some stuff he was doing in Vegas. And that didn’t. Didn’t pan out into kind of what I was expecting, but I was just open to it. I just wanted to be there. And so we were just on vacation in Serenby. And it’s a pretty amazing place where it’s just built about people, kind of beautiful, amazing nature and people and all coming together and magic and. Yeah. And then the next thing I knew, I had a five acre farm next to Serenity and I was not planning on living there full time. I kept my house in Philadelphia, but it’s very hard to, once you get into this life, drive around on a golf cart. And by that time, right when I had met Chris, we were getting into the technology space and kind of, we were always a positive. We became a positive psychology, team building company. And then that was around the time of like iPhone and Android, all that stuff was really taking off. So we were developing this technology so we could go national and International around 2013. And then by that time when I moved, we were everywhere and we were just expanding so I could really be anywhere. And the Atlanta airport’s only 20 miles away, so it gave that ability to go. And yeah, it’s been amazing.

Christopher Plant: So the app really did change the entire way that you could do business.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. So before it was very driven in terms of who could be on site, having these really amazing. Which we still have amazing trained people all over the country. But I had this vision of making this available for anyone, anywhere, anytime. And the only way to do that was through technology. Taking all the stuff we built for corporations and then kind of reconfiguring that and making it available. And we still do mostly corporate team building events, but now anybody schools, we have this program called Mofo make awesome for others. And that’s what I’m most passionate about at this point, where we give scholarships to nonprofits in schools so they can afford really amazing team building events. Because I can see the giant difference. Even two hours of building relationships for corporations. And then in the schools and nonprofits, it feels like it’s even like rocket fuel. But because they don’t. They don’t get a lot of that because it’s. Team building can be really, really expensive. So making that available to them.

Christopher Plant: So how many cities are you in right now?

Ben Hoffman: That’s a great question. Just like Todd, I’ve honestly lost everywhere. Like, any time. We’re building new experiences all the time, people. You know, someone was like, we just built something in Canada last year. And I was like, where is that? They’re like, well, like, they named a hockey player.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And they’re from here. I was like, okay, yeah, that’s good enough for me. Let’s build it. Do you have, you know, do you have cell service? Perfect. Okay, we’ll figure it out.

Christopher Plant: That’s great.

Ben Hoffman: So, yeah, we’re, you know, all over. All over the world now, mostly North America, but we get crazy requests and build stuff.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Wherever people want it, in really boring places and really exciting places. And we’ve had to find a way through augmented reality and different technology.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: To make it work no matter where people are.

Christopher Plant: That’s great. And so, I mean, I know as I’ve watched, you know, sort of our relationship over the. Over the years, you know, moving down to Atlanta allowed you to do a lot of different things. You bought this farm, Ziggy became a competitive horseback rider. You had tons of animals, motorcycles, and. And you’ve invited a lot of people into your life. What do you. What are some of the major impacts of. Of being down there that have impacted your life in general?

Ben Hoffman: I think the biggest impact was I’ve always lived in a city. When I was 18, I moved to New York City, and I was always in Philadelphia. So being. I think nature has been the biggest shift kind of that energy. Spent a lot more time just being quiet. Got much more into mindfulness meditation. I’d been doing a lot of personal development work, positive psychology work, kind of on the. Getting coached a lot going into it, and that then it just shifted drastically, kind of being there and Being able to be there and be committed to breathing. Yeah, maybe I didn’t breathe that much for the first.

Christopher Plant: No, it’s funny because, I mean, I could easily tie you into my journey to sort of higher consciousness. As, you know, you had done a lot of Tony Robbins back in the day, and, you know, you had invited me to go check it out, and in the end, you were not able to go. I went on my own and. And, and surprisingly, I’m most grateful, actually, for that, that I got to go on my own. And it’s kismet that you. That you let me down. No, I’m kidding. But. But I. It was. It was amazing that I got to go by myself. I did not have to live up to anybody’s expectations, and. And I got to feel it on my own. Right. And I went in skeptical, and I. I emerged from that definitely different. You know, I. I walked the fire. And even though the intellectual part of my brain was trying to avoid being moved by the experience, I was in fact, moved. And that was in 2014. By 2015, I was doing the Goldman Sachs program. Then I did the design leadership program, then I did the mba, then I did the kismets. And so. Thanks. Ben.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. I have to tell you something right now that I haven’t told you before.

Christopher Plant: Oh, no, you’re not.

Ben Hoffman: I’m going to tell you. Yeah, Yeah. I did that on purpose.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: The same thing. When I went into Tony Robbins, someone did the exact same thing to me. They made it seem like we were going together.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And then they didn’t show up, and I had to do it myself. And that was the first time I had to be that vulnerable in an experience. And it really, really shattered me in a great way. And so when I had done that, I was playing.

Christopher Plant: You’re just coming clean here.

Ben Hoffman: Now, six years later, six years later, now that. Now that it’s a positive experience, I was just going to wait to see how you made it, how you made it through. I mean, it was such a big thing for me, honestly, in my life to be. I’d never been in a situation like that. Like, it was so extreme. And to be there by myself without anyone to cling to or anything, and just felt there because it’s. It’s a really intense experience. And then when I was like, go, go, go. I was like, I, you know, I can’t go.

Christopher Plant: Yeah, I remember it was, you know, thanks. Thanksgiving weekend in 2014. And, you know, the. The trip was at the beginning of January, and I. I was like, Are you going? Are you going? You’re like, I. I can’t go. And I was like, okay, it. I’m gonna go. And I, you know, decided to do it on my own. And. And I was also. I mean, I felt. I. I definitely felt vulnerable. I think I felt more skeptical than. Than anything.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, no, that too. Vulnerable.

Christopher Plant: Skeptical.

Ben Hoffman: All of that. Yeah.

Christopher Plant: What I was gonna find. And there are elements of it that I. That I don’t enjoy. You know, the, you know, groups of people showing up in the Keller Williams team real estate T shirts and like. Yeah. You know, but. But in the end, you don’t like.

Ben Hoffman: People dancing and business casual on stage. It seems like that’d be totally your jam.

Christopher Plant: Yeah, like. Well, some version of it is. Yeah, it is. But. But regardless, it was. I was really glad that I did it. And. And it absolutely, you know, impacted the trajectory of the sort of rest of my days because sort of everything since then has been hyper focused on, you know, both personal and professional development and making sure that. That. That I always had something, some kind of, like, secret driving force pushing me. And. And, you know, you’ve always been heavily engaged in, you know, like, mindfulness and these ideas behind, you know, just sort of higher consciousness. And I remember that, you know, I was happy first that we stayed in touch, but, you know, hearing about all the stuff that was going on down at. At the farm and with the developments with. With this. With the. With. With cityHUNT and how that was evolving and being excited about the future projects that I knew that you were going to come up with. And so, you know, right now we are. You know, we went to the summit series in Los Angeles together back in November, and we were great roommates.

Ben Hoffman: Big spoon. Your little spoon.

Christopher Plant: Big spoon. Little spoon.

Ben Hoffman: Totally.

Christopher Plant: And we.

Ben Hoffman: We.

Christopher Plant: We had a blast. Tell me about, you know, you’ve been to a bunch of festivals. You’ve been to a lot of places. What’s going on with Ben Hoffman?

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. So, so blessed.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Thank you. In love with the universe.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. My life took a drastic, drastic shift last, you know, this last February, so I was very much into as I was. The company has been growing. cityHUNT. I’m so blessed with that. We’ve been growing all this beautifulness. I got the chance. I’m working on a book right now, so I have an amazing partner, and I’ve been working on a book last year around sort of this idea of kind of what I’ve done the last 20 years and making this available for people who want to grow themselves, grow Their businesses, all the positive psychologists. And I realized it was like Tony Robbins was a huge impact on me. Some other people from the masculine side of positive psychology and that type of work. And then last year I was invited to. It was called a transformative festival. I had no idea what that meant in Costa Rica. And there’s no way I could go. You know, I have businesses to run. I have kids, all kids, everything like that. And multiple people. You have that. You have those things where multiple people keep inviting you. So you’re just like, okay, this is. Something’s happening. And then there’s like, no way this can work. But at the last minute, I was just like, okay, I’m going. And I didn’t really. I didn’t do any research, didn’t know what it was. I was like, oh, there’s some yoga meditation, which is totally my jam. Beautiful, amazing music. I thought I was going to an all inclusive resort. So I fly down, I meet my friend, we get out and we like bribe our way onto a bus. And I see him literally slip someone money. They’re like, no, you know, you have to put it in this piece of paper. And I’m like, what’s going on? I was like, I’ve got work to do. Yeah, I’ve got, I’ve got like a company.

Christopher Plant: Where’s my Internet connection?

Ben Hoffman: Yes. No, totally. And he’s like, we’re going to the jungle. He’s like. I was like, how far? He’s like, it’s four hours away. I was like, where are we staying? He’s like, in the jungle. He’s like, you’re not working. So it was great. And it was one of the first times where I just had to trust my team. And I said, okay, I’m about to lose connection. You’re in charge, all of this. So that was a lot where I had to. My ego had to get shut down. And it wasn’t my choice. And I just had to trust others to work the company, Everything that I’d been building for so long. And then it was just an amazing experience one morning. It was lots of meditation, yoga. We were homeless, we lost our place. Literally didn’t have a place to stay. There was no connection. Someone let us sleep in their hammocks under a tree house. And there was 8,000 people who were just so kind and loving. Sort of the Burning man ethos of everyone was providing for one another. And then one morning I was meditating and I had this crazy experience where I just shattered. I don’t know how else to explain it, I still don’t know. But there was no me anymore. There was a bunch of molecules for a little while. There was no future, there was no past. There was nothing. And then there’s really nothing. And then I came back together and I was not the same person for sure. I came home, I could hardly use my phone. I would go and talk to people and just miss every meeting because I would just be like, my eyes would get really big. I was like, I can feel your heart, you know, and this like overwhelming wave of feminine energy. It’s like I felt like my heart was like the Grinch, like grew three sizes after I came back and, and it was just not on this planet for about a month. And then I just had to follow kind of where that led and kind of openness to that. And it led to me reconnecting with my godfather, who’s a shaman, getting to spend time with some shamans in Ecuador.

I've written more about the wisdom traditions I've encountered in Lessons from Ancient Wisdom.

Christopher Plant: Well, you did that recently?

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, in June. So right after that, February. And then I just started connecting and it was just open to all of this and realizing that that was the solution.

Christopher Plant: Envision, you’ve been to twice now or you just went to Envision earlier this year.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, it happens in 19.

Christopher Plant: Yeah, yeah, that’s a big year.

Ben Hoffman: It’s a big year.

Christopher Plant: And to be frank, you know, what we’re talking about is a little bit about like plant based medicines and, and things like that. And there was this, you know, it’s funny to kind of bring it to a kismetic level. You know, you ultimately first learned about plant based medicines in Los Angeles, hanging out with my friend Eric Oberholtzer who is the founder of an incredible restaurant group and who’s done some amazing things with his life and practiced meditation for 30 years. And he and I came together through it’s somewhat unbelievable scenario through Facebook messenger. But you know, we talked on the phone. I ended up visiting him in LA and then found out that his restaurant group was the chef for the San Diego Chargers. On the flight home, looked up the schedule for the year and mind you, this is the year that the Eagles would go on to win the Super Bowl. We, the Eagles were playing the Chargers in their new home in the LA Galaxy Stadium. 26,000 people compared to the 65,000 that you know, frequently come to the link. And I called Eric up and in classic Christopher Plant tradition invited myself out to the game and a friend, and a friend, and a friend. And so Ben and I went out to Los Angeles and met up and you know Had a Airbnb circular bed.

Ben Hoffman: Circular bed. The hanging circular bed.

Christopher Plant: Ben got it on Saturday, I got it on Sunday. Yes.

Ben Hoffman: That was before we were comfortable. We hadn’t gone. Our bromance hadn’t gone to that level yet.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. But it was fun because it was very interesting to talk to Eric about some of the things that he was aware of that were going on happening in California. And it was something that obviously stuck in your head. And we both know from our, you know, both having read the book Stealing Fire and some of our other research that, you know, the vast majority of very, very successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, billionaires, and people who have, you know, created groundbreaking products and services, almost all have in common that they have, at some level or another, dabbled in psychedelics and participated in events similar to what we’ve done with Summit series like Burning Man. And was that something that was kind of playing into this growing consciousness of yours?

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. So when Eric told me that was the first time, I was like. Because his business is a beautiful story about its growth. And I was like, how do. Because cityHUNT was still in a place of. I wasn’t sure what was going to go, how big I wanted to grow, all of that. And he had just coming out of this major growth phase, and then he started talking about his experiences with plant medicine. And it was like. That’s what I was saying. It was like Alice in Wonderland. He opened this door and I was like, what? This whole world that he painted, and it just stuck in my mind. I didn’t know. It was scary at the time. It was scary but interesting. Dangerous but interesting and intriguing about lessons learned. And it definitely stuck. And then, as I said, I sort of stumbled into it a little bit. How I ended up there. The universe, that’s the plants call you. You don’t call the plants that. Sort of some of the phrasing that you hear is just time. Where I was there, the timing was right. And then it’s just my life has changed drastically since then, and I just feel so much more in alignment with the universe based on this. Like, just amazing people that are coming together, doing this work, trying, and that’s what they all have in common. Whatever they’re using. Meditation, yoga, all this consciousness, mindfulness work, psychedelics, if that’s it, focused on creating a better universe by sort of letting all the love of the universe radiate through them.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And pouring them out and making more awesome for other people every day, which is just. It’s a lot more fun than being anxious.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Depressed super. Like, well, battling for every inch of everything. Feeling like someone has to lose so you can win. My mindset has shifted so, so, so much. I don’t. I’ve. It’s. It’s crazy to think before and after.

Christopher Plant: Well, and, you know, I. In, you know, I’m basically on my second pass through Stealing Fire, that. That incredible book that is pushing me, pushing a lot of the right buttons in my world right now. And, you know, they had said that over the last 30 years, there have been, like, literally 4,000 plus studies on depression, and there have been less than 60 studies on happiness, joy, and positive psychology. And it’s pretty hard to imagine this world where all we’re doing is studying these, like, incredibly negative things without really. And trying to figure out how to treat them with, you know, either services or drugs or processes, and yet not spending an equal amount of time studying, you know, the rigor and the process behind joy and happiness and how that can work. And it seems so claustrophobic and counterintuitive now, but, I mean, it’s a pretty amazing fact that’s out there. Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And I could see that in all the work we’ve done, probably cityHUNT’s for, I don’t know, close to a million people at this point. And I was looking at the data when we were deciding how to build this before, it was just fun, theatrical. Then I got really into the positive psychology side and the gamification side. And I see that 70% of people are so disengaged at work that they’re physically getting ill.

Christopher Plant: Right.

Ben Hoffman: And the feedback. I get the game. It’s not magic. People are like, oh, there’s so much fun. But it’s just, I’m using the positive psychology. A lot of the work of Shawn Achor, kind of his work coming out of Harvard, he has a great TED talk that was really inspirational to me. And reading those type of things where when people. They just want to connect as humans. I want to feel your heart. And a lot of the times we’re never given that opportunity at work.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: So we’re. We have this weird thing where we’re not being human with each other, but then you have two hours where we can just be human. I can get a CEO of a major company to hug a tree.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. Or Hoda and.

Ben Hoffman: Hoda and Jenna from the Today show.

Christopher Plant: They.

Ben Hoffman: They crushed it. We just. They both were coming back from maternity leave, and they brought me in to do their team building event in Rock Center. It was just so beautiful. They were so much fun.

Christopher Plant: They were they were having a blast.

Ben Hoffman: They had a blast, and they were creating so much fun for all the people in Rock Center. It was just like, it turned into this big, beautiful party. I mean, they came in, their energy. They’re that. But it’s the people who come in who don’t expect. Right. That’s the most interesting thing in these experiences is when I have companies where people’s arms are crossed and they’re so angry, they have to be there.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And then by the end, they’re laughing, they’re smiling, and it’s just because I let them be them for two hours.

Christopher Plant: It’s funny. You can, like, spot them across the room when they come in.

Ben Hoffman: I mean, I point them out and, like, play with them if I’m hosting an event, which I don’t get to do that often anymore. But that’s, like, when I train, too. I’m like, connect with that person, the toughest person in the room, because they have the most. They could get the most benefit of today. Like, that’s where my heart is, because I’ve been there. Right. I know that feeling. I know that look. I know that weight, that. You’re not going to break me. You know, there’s been times in my life where I’m like, I’m upset, I’m angry no matter what. You. You do?

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And that’s like the ultimate challenge is like, okay, how can I just like.

Christopher Plant: Well, it’s kind of like, you know, the old western cowboy, you know, take that, the nastiest, you know, mangiest, meanest, you know, pony, and try and break it.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah.

Christopher Plant: Show the other ponies what’s up.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. And it’s just fun to see that, too, because that. That’s such a. Maybe this person hasn’t smiled in a year. Right. If I can get them laughing and smiling just for two hours.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And I used to be like, is that enough? Am I doing enough, you know, to change the world, all of this. But I get them for two hours. And sometimes I hear that this is the best two hours of work that I’ve had this year.

Christopher Plant: I mean, it doesn’t surprise me for a second. I mean, it is somewhat unbelievable how hard. I mean, it’s not that hard to believe, but, like, how hard life is for many, many people. And I am. I feel incredibly lucky, and I feel a lot of gratitude for the life that I’ve had now that hasn’t just happened to me. I’ve worked for and. But, you know, I have a lot of empathy for people who work in terrible jobs. And, you know, there’s a lot of stuff as enlightened as maybe you and I might be at this table, somebody still has to take the trash out. And there’s a lot of ugly jobs out there where it’s hard for me to compellingly understand how you can balance that out with whatever it is you might want to try and do that with. And so I’m interested in how this growing consciousness that’s impacting the workplace and that sort of thing is going to create a sort of broader idea of wellness and that sort of thing in our world. But you are working on something that could potentially impact that. And tell me a little bit about the Breathwork project you’re working on.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, so this is an interesting project. After I had come back from Ecuador, there was a bunch of changes in my personal life. And when I was in my early 20s, I got to go to India, and I felt this magic there that I hadn’t felt anywhere. I got to travel a lot, but there was something about India. And I knew that there was some drastic changes coming up in my personal life. So at one point, I was with the therapist, and he was like, you have to work through this. And I was like, I’m not going to work through this in an office. I just knew that I wasn’t going to sit there and just talk to somebody to work through. So I start telling everyone, I’m like, I’m going to India. And then I love Ram Dass. That’s who I was, like, reading when I was in India. Be here now. And then through my godfather, RIP Ram Dass? Yeah, just. Or he’s here with us now. Like, that was just like, there’s just a transition. So beautiful. That’s a whole nother Ramda story. But so I was just started telling people, I’m like, I’m going to India. And I had been connected to all these amazing people doing all these amazing things. And they’re like, oh, his friend Raghu Markus just left. You missed him. You could have gone to India and gone to all the places Ram Dass went. And I was like, oh. So I told another friend, and they’re like, wait, call this person. You might be able to go. So I called in there, like, and Saraswati, who was running the trip, she was like, can you get your visa this weekend? Come with us to India. So the next thing I know, I’m in India in the Himalayas, or Himalayas, as I found out is the right way to say it, because I had no Idea what I was doing. It’s a yoga yatra. And like, there’s all these people who knew what was going on talking about all this stuff, and I was just like, I’m here. I have no idea. But it’s so magical. It’s India, like getting dropped into Delhi, you know, and it just. India is just. There’s no place like it on earth, especially there. And then traveling, going like 10 miles. But it takes, you know, it takes nine hours. Yes. Wait, you’re going with the ox and all of that. But it was. It was beautiful. It was amazing. And it was just so heart opening. And I knew that I had been able to build this really cool technology with cityHUNT, the app, and it was really changing lives. But still, it’s a 1% thing, right? You start to think about it. Who can really do this? It was the 1%. So I was just like, universe, how can I pour this out? I want everyone to get to experience what this is, what we all have in common. And what is that? So I was like, oh, I want to talk to some gurus. I want to see what that is. I want to hear from these different people kind of what that is that will tie us all together and maybe use technology, which I did with our app in the first place with cityHUNT, where I can make people more happy as opposed to technology, where it gets a lot of. And it can make people really depressed and really sad and really disconnected. So what’s this next phase? I’m open to it. And that was part of it. I was working through my own stuff there, but I also wanted to build that there. And I didn’t know how, what form it was gonna. I had this idea that, like, the Dalai Lama was gonna start writing apps. Like, it’s just crazy stuff like that. So just open. So I got to spend some time and I got to go up. At one point, they’re like, oh, there’s a guru on top of this mountain. It’s a two hour straight up hike. But he’s 100 years old and he lives in a cave for 50 years. And I went up there and it was. There’s nothing like that. It was true. I joked that when we left, they’re like, okay, get that guy out of makeup. Turn the sets off. It was just like, totally unreal. And there was some crazy stuff that happened there, but it led to a lot of things, like getting to hang out with these people. And one thing they all talked about when I was listening to the shamans, when I was Meeting all these people in India who had done a lot of personal work was the breath. I felt like when you drill it down, everyone’s a guru, everyone’s a shaman, and how we’re connected is. Is the breath.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: You might not really have to eat. You can go a long time without eating. You can go a long time, you know, a little bit long. Longer without people. Like these people are cave. You know, water. You do need water, but you can go pretty long time with the breath. It’s four minutes.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Unless you’re David Blaine.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: But like most of us, right? So. And that’s such a way that we can connect as humans. And I met this amazing person there, Julia, she’s an Olympic gold medalist, and she had this vision on Necker island about the world breathing. Breathing together as one. And I said, I think I have technology where we can do that. So we started developing, along with some other amazing people around the world, this app called Breatholution. Where the idea. Breatholution, like revolution.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: With an O, not an A, not breath. No. A lot of people. It’s confusing. That’s what I have to say. We got to fix that. But anyway, so. But the idea of this is to get a billion people breathing together for one minute. One once a day.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: How does that change the world? Because we all have our phones. It’s just one minute. And, like, you can’t mess it up. Like, you’re doing great right now. You haven’t died since we’ve been here, so I know you’re breathing, right. You’re crushing it. Chris. You’re, like, so good at breathing, man. And, like, you don’t have to meditate. Like, that’s a scary word to some people. You don’t have to be conscious.

Christopher Plant: You don’t have to be mindful baggage.

Ben Hoffman: You can’t mess it up. It’s just breathe in and out. Breathe in and out. Breathe in and out. Breathe in all the love of the universe. Just radiate that all out. In and out. One more time. Just breathe in all the gratefulness in your life. Hold it for a second, let it all out. And just take like 20 seconds of just being in that grateful place.

Christopher Plant: That’s good.

Ben Hoffman: It’s good, right?

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: I hope everybody out there just did that with us. Maybe I could have pre framed it a little bit.

Christopher Plant: Feel free to rewind it and start back again.

Ben Hoffman: But seriously, I do this now when I start all my meetings. Even with clients, a lot of the times I’ll ask them just to breathe with Me, just so I can do a better job. Whatever I need to do, it gets me in a different state for sure.

Christopher Plant: I’ve seen dozens of presentations over the last six to 12 months that have started out with a small breathing exercise. And I think it’s a really great way of cracking the ice and kind of setting an intention around anything. And, you know, because the world is filled with panic and fear and weirdness and, you know, if you are convening a group of people to talk about something or to listen to something, taking a minute to stop and chill out and kind of reset the table, I think it’s a. It’s a great thing.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. Because we’re the same in that moment. There’s no you. We’re just breathing.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: All that stuff’s gone. When I was around the shamans, they use this term, shungo.

Christopher Plant: Shango, Shango.

Ben Hoffman: And I was like, what is that? It’d be a shungo. It’s like, same, same. We’re the same. There’s no difference. And I don’t know if I’m getting that exactly right. So all the shamans of the shaman sending letters or people know what’s really. Yes. Like, you know, there. So.

Christopher Plant: But.

Ben Hoffman: And I was like, oh, that’s everything. Right. There’s no difference between us. And then when I was in India, I was talking about that, and they’re like, oh, sabek. And it’s a Sanskrit term for same thing.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And it’s like, we don’t have that term, but for them, it’s such a big part of what they are.

Christopher Plant: Same, same, same, same.

Ben Hoffman: No difference. We’re all one. We’re all connected. And that’s been my journey, is feeling that when that. When I shattered that moment in Costa Rica.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: And there was nothing but everything. Right? There was nothing, but it was everything. And like, I look at that and then be like, oh, if we break ourselves down, we’re all just like a bunch of stardust anyway. Like, when you break it, all the stuff, all the science, it’s like tying into spirituality when it’s all the same. We’re so good at pointing out differences and what makes us special, but we’re the same. And that’s where the magic is, and that’s where the frustration is. Sub ec. Yeah. Like S U, B, space ek. Yes.

Christopher Plant: And shungo.

Ben Hoffman: And shungo. And that’s been just the big turning point in my life, trying to live that, seeing I don’t see. We’re just mirrors of each other.

Christopher Plant: Yeah. Yeah. And you and I quite literally are.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. Yeah. I just have a bigger skanket than you. That’s the only difference.

Christopher Plant: The only difference. So. Okay, man, you’re on this wild mission, and yet, I mean, you’re such a perfect. You still have your Eagles season tickets.

Ben Hoffman: Yes.

Christopher Plant: And you’re still like a major fan. So you’re this.

Ben Hoffman: I’ll tell you a funny story because I’ve been thinking about that. I’ll tell you a funny story about the Eagles. So it’s interesting. So, I mean, before this all happened, the Eagles won a Super Bowl.

Christopher Plant: Right.

Ben Hoffman: So I feel like that’s really why how I got my.

Christopher Plant: You were there.

Ben Hoffman: I was there. Yeah. So I was blessed enough to be zig there. No, no, no, no. Now he’s talking. He’s really mad. I promise him if they go to Miami, he’s going. So if they make it to the super bowl, you’ve heard it right now. So you can remind me. He gets to go to Miami.

Christopher Plant: I hope he gets to go to Miami.

Ben Hoffman: So they had that, and I felt changed after they won that Super Bowl. And then all this. All this stuff happened to me. And like, I used to really stress out at Eagles games.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: I’d go and it was like sort of a fun but, like, not so fun experience.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: But now it’s like a learning. Every time I go, I’m like, this is enough. Whether I win or lose, being around.

Christopher Plant: 60,000 people who care like I do.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, but you’re just in this state. And then I see some people, like, losing.

Christopher Plant: If you could get to breathe, well.

Ben Hoffman: That’S hope to do that at the Olympics.

Christopher Plant: Oh, my God.

Ben Hoffman: Julie is going to be at 20, 22 Olympics, my friend. She’s a gold medalist snowboarder founder. We want at the opening ceremony, no flags, no nothing. What if we all just breathe for a minute as the world. What if we did that at stadiums? Just breathe. I do that at random places before people eat. I’m like, can we just breathe for a minute before we eat? And all of this, because it just changes the energy there, where there’s no different teams because we’re not. And that’s fun. That we can have our differences and have city pride, but, like, having that moment of being together makes the difference a little bit more beautiful. And even being at the game and enjoying that energy and being able to step away when people are going. I watch Eagles fans literally fight with each other.

Christopher Plant: Oh, I know, it’s great.

Ben Hoffman: And it’s just like, wow, this type of energy. And I know I’ve had that energy, and it’s still within me. But it’s interesting to kind of be able to step outside a little bit.

Christopher Plant: Extrapolate.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, yeah. And be there with all my necklaces, my shaman hat, and, like, my Eagles jersey, you know, but be there.

Christopher Plant: That’s funny.

Ben Hoffman: We should.

Christopher Plant: We should try and invent, like, a peaceful talisman, you know, for the Eagles that we can sort of infect the stadium with and get a bunch of those.

Ben Hoffman: No, I try to do that with my section.

Christopher Plant: I mean, how cool would it be to sort of help remake the image of the Philly Eagles fan, you know, which is, you know, reviled around our country in those parking lots.

Ben Hoffman: I don’t. I’m always like, if I see stuff going down, like, harassing, I’m like, I have my Eagle stuff on, but I’m like, come on. You know, I try to be.

Christopher Plant: No, I loathe it.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. And, like, I try to say something now. In the past, I would just be like. I wouldn’t get involved, but I would look away.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: But now I’ve just tried to be like, hey, you know, like, not cool. Like, dude, let’s do it. Come on.

Christopher Plant: Chill it.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah. Just be kind about it. And not trying to judge them for their thing and not trying to judge those others, but just trying to have it not escalate so that bottles are being thrown and not even for rep. But these are human beings here who.

Christopher Plant: Care about the same sp. And if we didn’t have an opponent, you wouldn’t have a game. If you don’t have a game, you can’t be a fan.

Ben Hoffman: Yes. They’re so similar, and it’s just like.

Christopher Plant: This person traveled all the way from wherever they were to come to a game in a known hostile territory. Give him some respect.

Ben Hoffman: Or I’d, like, what’s it gonna do? Like, this fight is just, like, you’re not gonna go see the game, like, the outcome. Be like, just give everybody a break.

Christopher Plant: Yeah.

Ben Hoffman: Just be. It’s okay.

Christopher Plant: Same. Same dude.

Ben Hoffman: Say Shango. That’s what I’m just gonna say. Shungo.

Christopher Plant: Shungo.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, that’s gonna be.

Christopher Plant: We should put that on the back of a J jersey.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah.

Christopher Plant: Double zero. Shungo.

Ben Hoffman: Sell back jerseys. We should start selling those. Write that down. Oh, I thought you’re about to write down this idea.

Christopher Plant: Eagleshungo.com I got it down there, so. Yeah. But this is great, Ben. I. I love that, the journey you’re on. I love that I get to share in it. I’m thrilled that you’re here. I’m thrilled that we’re going to the game. I know that there is a very powerful 2020 coming for us both and, and that there’s a lot of things that we’ve yet to do in the grand scope of a person’s world. I think it’s incredibly lucky that I would find someone like you when I was already in my 40s and be able to develop such a sincere and profound friendship. So I’d like to thank you for that and thanks for being here to talk with us at Radio Kismet.

Ben Hoffman: Yeah, man, thank you so much. I love you so deep in my heart. Like true to this point, you are such a special person in what you’re putting out to the universe. I can feel the care and love in watching you grow as a person and change and how many lives you’re impacting with the work that you’re doing and sort of looking at it as adding more love, peace and joy and light to the universe through your work, your co working spaces, creating housing for people and just creating a safe space for people to explore themselves. So I love you, brother. Even if you didn’t do all that stuff, I’d still love you, I’d love Shango, I’d still subck you just because you’re you. It is amazing what you’re doing, but that’s not it because you know, I can, I can feel your heart every day. So thank you for being in my life.

Christopher Plant: Fantastic. All right, signing off.

Ben Hoffman: Peace out.

Christopher Plant: Radio Kismet. Bye bye.

Ben Hoffman: Bye.

Christopher Plant: You can find Ben Hoffman at www.cityhunt.org. that’s www.cityhunt.org. you can also learn more about breatholution@www. Breatholution.com. that’s B R E A T H O L-O-U-T-I-O-N.com and if you’d like to find more about Ben in particular, you can look him up@www.Benjamin Peace Hoffman. That’s B E N J A M I N P E a c e H-F-F-M-A-N.com and by that time you should know all you need to know about my dear friend Ben Hoffman. Radio Kismet is a partnership with Kismet Cowork Kismet Cowork is a shared office based solution in the Philadelphia region with locations in Chestnut Hill, Manayunk and locations in the Spring Arts neighborhood of downtown Philadelphia. We care about what we do, we care about the design and we care about how it makes you feel. We produce effective and efficient workspace and we want to know how we can help you do the work that you need to do. Thank you and come visit Akismet soon. You can find out more about RadioKismet at www.radiokismet.com. that’s R R-A D I O K I S M E T.com. you can also find out more about Kismet Cowork at www.kismetcowork.com. that’s K I S M E T C O w o r k.com and by that time you should know everything you need to know about what we do. Thank you very much. See you soon.

I was tapped to create a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt for Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager to celebrate their reunion after maternity leave.

The Big Call

When the initial email came through, there was a moment of disbelief. We get reached out to all the time with crazy stuff, so we didn’t think it was real at first. But it was very real.

The Today Show was looking for a fun, engaging way to help Hoda and Jenna bond after being apart for a significant time. It was so cool that they came to us as a way to bond and come back together.

Watch Now

Watch the 5 min segment below, or watch the segment on Today’s website.

Watch Hoda and Jenna’s scavenger hunt around 30 Rock

Behind The Scenes

Planning an event with a major network involves some serious logistics. The cityHUNT team worked closely with The Today Show’s producer to map out the perfect scavenger hunt around Rockefeller Center.

The day of the event was a flurry of activity, complete with a full camera crew, dedicated security, and even a secret video clue filmed by a famous personality from Dateline NBC to add a special surprise for Hoda and Jenna. There was a lot of pre-work that went in. We worked with their producers, and the whole thing was just a really fun prep process.

Contagious Energy

On the day of the shoot, the energy was electric. Hoda and Jenna arrived in matching team uniforms, pumped and ready to compete. I just remember how excited I was when I came out to meet them. The three of us just clicked right away. They were so excited, and I was so excited.

That genuine enthusiasm made the event a massive success. The positive energy was palpable, creating a fun-filled atmosphere that translated perfectly on screen.

Me with Hoda and Jenna

A Lasting Impact

The five-minute segment was a phenomenal moment for the company. Being featured on a show as iconic as The Today Show provided incredible credibility and exposure.

To be on The Today Show and have a five-minute segment about the game was just phenomenal. The timing was poignant; this career high occurred in December 2019, just a few months before the world shut down due to the pandemic. While the immediate momentum was cut short, the experience remains a powerful and cherished milestone for the cityHUNT.

Conclusion

The scavenger hunt for Hoda and Jenna is a perfect example of how a shared, fun experience can bring people together in a meaningful way. It’s a testament to the power of play and connection.

Watch Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager compete against their assistants, Cate and Kathy Ryan, in a team-building scavenger hunt ahead of their post-maternity leave reunion.

PS: I was featured too!