I got in trouble for saying ‘crap’ in class. So I quit teaching and started a walking tour company.

As student teacher, I was placed in a Catholic high school U.S. History class. I remember some of my classmates were nervous about the day they’d have to stand in front of a classroom and take charge. But not me. Honestly, I had a hard time not taking charge.

My first observation went flawlessly—well, with one minor exception. “You need to be more careful with your language,” the retired teacher hired by my college to mentor me told me. “Never use words like crap.”

My thoughts? Well, that’s bullshit.

History is about people. Often very, very, very dead people. But it’s still something alive—something breathing. When we reduce those stories to academic vernacular or try to put a shiny spin on things, we dehumanize them. And humans are at the heart of history. It needs to be relatable—because it is relatable.

Which statement are you more likely to connect with?

The Pilgrims showed up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with zero supplies—basically 2% battery, no charger, and no clue where you are. Except instead of asking for Wi-Fi, they were digging graves in the snow.

OR

When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in December 1620, they were off course, underprepared, and already in crisis. With no permanent shelter and limited food, they faced a harsh winter in an unfamiliar land.

When we can truly connect with the past, it opens a portal for us to examine ourselves, the world and our place in it with more curiosity.

I taught and used the word crap in my classroom for almost 10 years, but then I finally got sick of the school system’s bullshit and started my own walking tour company. Now I can swear all I want and humanize history, all in the name of us all learning to treat each other and ourselves with a little more humanity.

What can you expect on an Unseen Path tour?

1. Real stories, not textbook summaries.

We talk about actual people—flawed, funny, brave, messy. No heroic myths, no sugarcoating.

2. A chill, conversational vibe.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s more like a group of curious humans walking together through the past. I share the stories, you ask questions, we laugh (and sometimes cringe) at how wild history really is.

3. Honest context.

We’ll talk about what really happened—not just the polished version. That means colonial failures, survival stories, power struggles, and everything in between.

4. Dogs welcome, shoes required. No dog? You’re still welcome!

Yup—your pup is welcome! Just bring comfy shoes, weather-appropriate gear, and a sense of curiosity.

5. A little swearing. A lot of humanity.

I don’t censor the past—and I don’t censor myself either. Because history is full of emotion, frustration, and raw human experience. That’s the good stuff.

Come curious. Leave thinking.

That’s the goal. If you walk away with one story that made you laugh, one that made you feel something, and one that made you think about the present a little differently… we’ve done something right.

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