Whether I’m diving into the evolution of myths, dissecting scientific concepts, or talking with guests about their unique creative paths (even if their jobs aren’t traditionally considered “creative”), my goal is to feed your curiosity and hopefully spark something in you too.

These themes might seem all over the place—science, mythology, creativity—but they’ve always captivated me. More importantly, they’re the filters I use to understand the world and myself more deeply. By weaving together insights from diverse areas, I believe we can create a richer, more colorful tapestry of the human experience—and maybe even find a deeper sense of belonging.

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How It All Started: My Personal Backstory

I grew up in a deeply religious home. I was heavily involved in church activities, from youth groups to mission trips. When I was seven, my sister went on a mission trip to Africa. Seeing her go off to this faraway place ignited something in me. I wanted to travel, to serve, and to experience cultures beyond my own.

By the time I was twelve, I got my chance through a church exchange program with a congregation in Wales. I went back multiple times and built lasting relationships. Even today, I’m still connected with some of the people I met there.

But when I was about 14, I chose to go on a mission trip to Greece through a the organization my sister went to Africa with, one that focused more on service and less on evangelism. When I broke the news to my youth pastor, someone I deeply respected, he turned on me. He yelled at me, told me I was making the wrong decision, that I didn’t know what God wanted. It was jarring and heartbreaking.

That moment was a crack in the foundation of what I believed. I was only 14, and suddenly I didn’t know where I fit anymore. But I still went to Greece, where I lived on the side of Mount Pelion, the mountain where centaurs supposedly originated! We did manual labor, helped local communities, and had Bible studies every morning. The view of the Aegean Sea, the apricot trees, the work we did, it was all transformative.

And I couldn’t shake the contradiction: how could someone tell me this wasn’t where God wanted me? Because everything in my body told me otherwise.

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Losing and Rebuilding Faith

After that trip, I tried to go back to my old church, but it didn’t feel the same. It felt foreign. Eventually, I stopped going to church altogether. I explored different formats, coffee shop services, smaller gatherings, but something had shifted. I didn’t trust authority figures anymore, and I started to question everything I believed.

I don’t think I ever fully became an atheist, but I definitely got cynical. At the same time, I began building a new perspective, my own spiritual lens. I still value my Christian upbringing and the deep introspection it sparked in me, but I also knew I needed something more expansive, more exploratory.

That moment launched me into a lifetime of curiosity. I started to develop my own mythology, my own way of navigating the world.

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College: From Art History to Biology

I began college thinking I’d study history or anthropology. But after taking a biology class, everything changed. I was acing tests that others were struggling with, and I thought, maybe this is what I’m meant to do.

So I changed my major to biology, transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington, and dove deep into classes like genetics, organic chemistry, and cellular biology. I graduated cum laude in 2015, fully intending to go into research and development.

After graduation, I took a three-month backpacking trip through 15 countries in Europe. It was like drinking culture straight from the source. I connected with my Danish roots, fell in love with Slovenia’s dragon mythology, and reunited with friends in Wales. It was deeply enriching and helped crystallize a lot of what I’d been feeling about culture, belief, and personal identity.

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The Research Lab to Airport Chili’s Pipeline

When I returned to the U.S., I got a job in a stem cell research lab working on treatments for macular degeneration. It was cutting-edge work, but the day-to-day was monotonous. I was doing the grunt work while PhDs handled the big stuff. The worst days were when I had to euthanize lab animals whose DNA didn’t match our targets. That was the breaking point.

So I left the lab and started bartending at Chili’s in the Dallas Love Field airport. It was hard work, but surprisingly lucrative. And it fueled another dream: to travel again. So after saving for a year, I left for Bali.

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Bali and the Beginning of a New Chapter

Bali changed everything. I was surrounded by digital nomads—people working remotely on their laptops from cafes—and I wanted in. I learned everything I could about online marketing and eventually returned to the U.S. with just enough savings to buy a laptop and start freelancing.

I moved to Austin, found a job at Easy Tiger on 6th Street, and kept grinding on my side hustle. Eventually, thanks to a friend, I got a marketing role at a CBD company. That turned into a full-time position, which turned into a marketing coordinator role. I got to use my biology degree, create campaigns, and travel while working. I lived in Mexico for a month, road-tripped across the U.S., and even returned to Europe.

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From CBD to Creative Director

After a few years, I transitioned to a marketing agency, where I quickly rose through the ranks and became the Creative Director. On paper, it was my dream job—I got to coach others, oversee creative projects, and bring visions to life. But in reality, the constant demands, screen time, and pressure were taking a toll.

My inner child—the part of me that wanted to play, create, and explore—was suffocating. I wasn’t painting. I wasn’t writing. I wasn’t creating for me.

So on April 1, 2024, I quit. And I haven’t looked back.

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Welcome to Nad Knows

Now, I wake up and decide what I want to make. I paint. I write. I research. I play. And out of that freedom, Nad Knows was born.

This podcast (and this blog) is my way of reconnecting with wonder and sharing it with you. We’ll dive into everything from global creation stories to the cellular mechanisms within us. I’ll tell stories from my nomadic life and have conversations with people who blend creativity into unexpected careers.

If you’re curious, open-minded, or just craving something that feels real—you’re in the right place.

The first episode is up, along with another deep dive into global creation myths. So if you’re ready to binge, click over and join me.

Let’s explore this big, weird, beautiful world together.