I love reading and sharing my favorite books. They are a very personal medium that helps people to open up while talking about them and how they have affected their lives. For two years in a row, together with my girlfriend Nastya, I organized a book swap party for friends. The way they go is that each guest brings some books they want to share, presents them to others, and takes home some they find exciting. Inspired by "The art of gathering" by a fantastic facilitator Priya Parker,  these parties create a sincere and amiable atmosphere that brings people together. And I have some huge new ideas for the next edition of the book swap!

PS reach out if you want to connect on Goodreads

When it comes to sports, I would call myself a generalist: I love to try new ones and use them as a way to explore cities (running), waters (SUP surfing), and forests (hiking) with friends.

Eating is a long-time hobby of mine. Finding new recipes, exploring different ingredient combinations, and trying out various ways of preparing them is a delicious creative exercise. And it is an amazing way to get familiar with other cultures. Last year, my favorite recipes and to-cook lists became so extensive, I created a Notion recipe book to keep them neatly organized.

For ethical and environmental reasons, I significantly decreased the fraction of meat in my diet. Apparently, there is a term for that: flexitarian, or flexible vegetarian.

PS let me know if you want to get access to my recipe collection

I am a huge architecture buff whose heart rate increases when I see the art-nouveau of Budapest, the experimental modern architecture of Rotterdam, and the geometric perfection of constructivism in Moscow alike.

And I've watched too many movies in my life, so I can call myself a cinemaholic. 

The second thing, apart from running ,that got me through the lows of the COVID lockdown was observing the birds I've met during the runs through the Middelpolder near Amsterdam: Egyptian geese, Eurasian coots, ring-necked pheasants and many more. This quickly escalated into a peaceful hobby I enjoy a lot.

Inspired by the effective altruism movement, I have pledged to give 5% of my income to NGOs, independent media, and volunteers that protect human rights and help improve lives worldwide.