We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dresden Throwsnakes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dresden below.
Dresden, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a customer success story with us?
As a Portland guide, I share the local culture with people passing through. A core belief of the local mindset is that we all have our place in the world, somewhere we belong, and we’re willing to reinvent our lives in order to find it.
I had a guest who was feeling incomplete in his life. He was holding on to comforts that he knew were holding him back. In asking him about his place in the world, he could sense that there was a spiritual lacking in his life, a hole that only a connection to a higher power was fit to fill.
I offered him prayer, and during this time together, he said he felt God’s presence, like a weight had been lifted. He was tearful in saying that he felt connected to God, that he felt supported in a way that he didn’t know he was searching for.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Throw Snakes Tours offers walking tours through Portland’s districts, making stops at neighborhood hotspots to drink, eat, and learn the local perspective on what makes Portland weird!
How did I get into my industry?
Hosting travelers and getting to know their personal lives is the thing I could do and not ever tire of. It’s the thing where if all my physical needs could be taken care of, this is how I would be spending my time.
The Japanese have this concept called ikigai, where an activity is the confluence of four things: what you love, what you do well, what the world needs, and what you can meet your own needs through.
In other Eastern cultures, they call it “dharma.” In the West, they call it “purpose.” Personally, I call it God’s calling.
What problems do I solve for people?
Travelers are the most problem-free people there are. They tend to come to me in a state of celebration. Think about it: to be in a position to travel recreationally implies a state of personal thriving.
Often, the topic of thriving comes up, and I help my guests bring into conscious awareness what they know intuitively: that fulfilling relationships are at the root of a fulfilled life, that being yourself is the privilege of a lifetime, and a grateful attitude tends to attract more things to be grateful for.
All the while, I fulfill the guests’ desires to learn about what makes the city tick, what contributes to the local culture, and what type of events highlight how weird the city of Portland is!
What am I most proud of?
That I get to have fun. I’ve tried social work, but it’s just not as fun. If I have the option to improve the world while having a fun, I’m going to have fun. It’s the sensible thing to do.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
I began hosting tours of Portland as a volunteer guide for what used to be the Hawthorne Hostel.
I loved spreading the good news of Portland, specifically to travelers. As I mentioned, if you can travel for recreation, you’ve got a degree of mastery over life.
Imagine you’re constantly interacting with people who’ve mastered their realities. They each have something cool to tell you about their experience of the human condition. Wouldn’t you want to do that all the time?
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I have an authentic desire to see the city of Portland shine in the eyes of other people. I believe this city is an example of the New Humanity, where communities are founded on heart forward and sustainable values. Portland values people over profit, working to live rather than living to work, and coming together in safe spaces while promoting each other to grow.
There’s a phrase which goes, “Differences do not have to mean division. Unity does not have to mean uniformity.”
If there is a common denominator to Portland, it’s that we’re all here to love. There are a lot of hurtful yet conventional ways to live in this world. And Portland locals try to be aware of the ways of convention that are hurtful. They’re trying to live a new way, where people are interested in each other’s well-being regardless of backgrounds. It feels like a city where everyone who was bullied in high school has moved here.
I’m in touch with the soul of Portland, and that’s what makes the tour successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.throwsnakestours.com/
- Instagram: @throwsnakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThrowSnakesTours