ABOUT

"Story is the language of the heart." - John Eldredge

 

 

MISSION: 

 

The Art of Story exists to deliver compelling stories of adventure and the resilience of the human spirit, and to provide actionable coaching that helps people bridge the gap between who they are, and who they know they can be. 

 

CORE BELIEFS & VALUES:

 

• All people are made in the image of God

 

• Rhythm and pacing are two of most important things we can cultivate in our lives. Knowing when to push hard and work, and when to slow down and rest.

 

• Living in service of others is one of, if not the highest form of good in all the world. Learning to do this from the root of your unique wiring is how we find fulfillment. 

 

• Life is radically impermanent. Therefore, live courageously, learn to take risks, and pursue what brings you to life as much as possible. 

 

• The only thing you get to take with you is who you become. 

 

• Convenience rarely equates to progress. Intentionally pursuing the right kind of hardship helps us become resilient to the suffering that life will inevitably send our way. 

 

• The mind follows the body. Learning to move with both self-control and confidence allows the mind to slow down and respond, not react. 

 

• Being is far more important than doing. 

 

• The world is far bigger than any one story. 

 

• Connection to nature is absolutely vital. We cannot forget who we are, where we come from, and the natural world of which we are all still a part. 

​

About me: 

 

My name is Zach. I’m a Colorado-based coach, photographer, filmmaker, and writer. My passion for story all began with photography, when I started taking my camera to the mountains at sunrise with my friends back in high school. Photography has since taken me all over the American West, and all over the world. Filmmaking was an inevitable progression as I sought to tell stories in deeper ways, so I’ve slowly and steadily entered the world of making documentaries. And throughout it all, I’ve spent the last 10 years developing my skills as a coach through teaching parkour at APEX Denver, where I currently serve as head coach. Ultimately, I realized that teaching people how to move with confidence, overcome obstacles, and contend with fear through parkour was a gateway to so much more, and that I wanted to coach people not only in movement, but in other aspects of their lives as well. So, I’ve spent the better part of the last 5 years walking through the process of identity formation myself, so that one day I could walk alongside others who want to do the same. 

 

When I’m not coaching or making photos/films, you can find me hiking, climbing, backpacking, skiing, training parkour, hunting, or curled up on the couch resting from one of those activities. 

 

- Zach