In short: I currently run the Welding Department and teach Sculpture and Fabrication at TheCrucible.org in Oakland. I'm the founder and publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine and the director of The Dance First Association, (I write and publish a weekly "Monday Love" newsletter at ConsciousDancer.com). I'm the host and resident DJ at Dance Jam Berkeley, (the West Coast's longest-running ecstatic dance, est. 1976). I live-stream vinyl mixes twice a week online on Mixlr.com/DanceJam. My main fun these days is doing public art and sculptures, (mark-metz.com/metalwork).(Public Speaking Bio) I got started with public speaking in a roundabout way, due to my role as publisher of Conscious Dancer magazine. I was invited to give a keynote at a publishing conference in Manhattan. In spite of the butterflies in my stomach, I was totally surprised and delighted by how much fun it was, I’d never received an ovation for speaking before and when a couple of folks from Condé Nast buttonholed me afterwards to say how much they enjoyed it, I was hooked.I’ve always been the one who’s happy to grab the mic and emcee at events, being a loud guy with a deep booming voice has its advantages. I’ve always had a knack for synthesizing trends and current events into novel and unique ideas, so much so that I began calling myself a “cultural engineer” back in the 90’s. I’ve been invited to Bali twice to teach about marketing, practice building, and analog awareness. I’ve been brought to Boulder by a non-profit organization to teach similar subjects in schools. Recently I spoke to a group of advanced placement students at a Preparatory Academy in San Francisco about contribution vs entitlement, the double-edged sword of digital culture, and actionable time-management techniques.I’m eager to reach new audiences, and speak in front of different groups. Meeting planners, event organizers, and educational administrators all love working with me, they can count on memorable presentations that create lasting results. I have a stellar track record, and am often invited back for repeat engagements. The most surprising part of my story is how far I’ve come. Before I discovered the value of contribution in my mid-20’s and learned the meaning of work, I had hit rock bottom in a sea of entitlement, a doomed disaster of bad habits and trouble. The arc of my journey from homeless-punk-rocker to globe-trotting-public-speaker is inspiring, and I thank my lucky stars because I know the best is yet to come. Thanks for reading and let me know how I can be in service to you!