Joe Schaeppi is a world traveling entrepreneur, writer, surfer, musician, photographer, skier, painter and also the creator of Epic Stoke. Epic Stoke was created to ensure that future generations will be able to surf, ski and get ‘stoked’ in the same pristine conditions that we have today. They have partnered with various charities that are “aimed at keeping our natural playgrounds clean and helping the youth experience the oceans and mountains in a way their socio-economic status might have never let them.” Surf, ski and active wear products made from recycled or repurposed materials will be available for purchase in the upcoming months.

Name, location and what do you do?   

Mi amo es JOE Schaeppi and I currently live in Lausanne, Switzerland. What do I do? You sure you want to know?! I’ll speak, but don’t tell me that you didn’t ask for it. Well, hmm. In short, I rage, try to flow like water, and spread as much happiness and stoke as possible while constantly being mindful of a personal quest for enlightenment that I happen to have.

Why are you a global nomad? 

This definitely has to do with the enlightenment part. Even the pickiest people don’t eat only one food for their entire life. Why wouldn’t you test out different places and cultures to see which flavors excite your life and fit you the most?

What made you start this venture? Why are you doing this? 

My Mom gave birth to me. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. And for the same reason I do all the same things I do. Choice is a beautiful illusion we all like to believe in. All the decisions we make are strongly prepared by previous brain activity, so by the time consciousness comes in play, most of the work has already been done and we predictably act upon it in a way in which we think we’re choosing. That’s what neuroscience research says anyway. Feel free to look it up. I, however, like to think I put my two cents in as well and that it is perhaps that I’m vivaciously driven and creatively cognizant that I embark on the ventures that I do. I think it’s a matter of honing in on your genetics and predispositions and the choice exists in what we focus our attention on which dictates meaning and development in life. So my final answer is that I’ve come to do what I am doing from paying attention to who I am at the time. 

What do you hope to achieve? 

Enlightenment.

How long have you been working on this? 

Ever since I can’t remember.

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project? 

That “nothing is harder, yet nothing is more necessary than to speak of certain things whose existence is neither demonstrable nor probable. The very fact that serious and conscientious men treat them as existing things brings them a step closer to existence and the possibility of being born.” ..Herman Hesse said that. He’s amazing.

Where do you see this project in 10 years? 

I see it nearer, but most likely still far. However, with such a high aim, as always, it usually will help align all the little things which might seem big to most.

Hopefully EPICSTOKE will be a global brand, massive amounts of people will be reading and talking about my books, there will be films, music for people to get tingly to, photos in homes around the world to complete them etc etc.. but all this sooner than later. I expect to be going beyond these things by then. The overall idea though is to keep bringing what is in the clouds down to the ground. :) 

When did you start traveling? 

When I was a few months old!

How and why did you travel for the first time? 

My mom was a flight attendant and my baby might wasn’t strong enough to resist.  

In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?  

I’ve been many a place, but I’ve only lived in:

Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA)

Madison, Wisconsin (USA)

Geneva, Switzerland 

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Queenstown, New Zealand 

Tahoe City, California (USA)

Lausanne, Switzerland

Yes, that was in order.  

I speak English. Enough French to get me by. Broken German and Finnish (but will learn eventually) and most importantly I can say cheers in pretty much any language.

What’s your favorite city so far? 

New York of course ! Jay-Z and Alicia w000! Just kidding. I don’t have one. But if I could get the climate and scenery of New Plymouth, maybe get the Eiger, Squaw Valley, Jackson Hole, and Mt. Blanc to hang out with Mt. Taranaki with Alaska like powder, throw in the music scene and work ethic from Minneapolis, the culture and intellectual aptitude of Madison, and some Hawaii like surf, I’d be set. Northern California is as close as it gets. If you know another place like this, let me know. :)

If you could only take one item with you to travel the world (other than your passport), what would it be?

iPhone for sure- I can write in it, make music, play music, navigate, organize ideas, take photos, make videos, learn languages… wait, I’m not advertising for Apple anymore but it is like a Swiss Army knife for life. The keypad still sucks though- too bad you don’t own the patents on tactile feedback for screens Apple.

Give us your global nomad profile:

window or aisle? Window.

boat or plane? Skydive out of plane into water and get picked up by a boat = WIN.

train or bus? Depends where they’re going.

walk or bike? Skateboard.

metro or trolley? Trolley Snatcha.

tropical, temperate, polar? Taranaki

hotel, hostel or local’s apartment? A good friend’s place for sure. .. or a hammock in the forest.  

Must have fashion piece when traveling? I convince myself on a daily basis that my future is going to keep getting brighter until it’s a light that blinds- so definitely a sweet pair of sunnies. Also, my grandfather (who is an absolute legend by the way) was an Optometrist until he was 82 and only retired because he got Macular Degeneration. I really like my vision and know that when 30% of my brain is dedicated to that specific function, it’s quite important… I’d gladly go pantless and shirtless to save my eyes (unless I was in New Zealand for lack of ozone and melanoma sake, of course).

Explore/map or tour guide? I once had a tour guide named Pedro in Mexico on a family vacation when I was young… he took us to a Tequila plantation, got wasted, and passed out on the way to Mazatlan. Ever since I’ve been all about exploration… except for when I am on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. I LOVE Disneyland. Walt is a legend. But to continue, I’ve especially never wanted to exchange one of my heads for two of that head hunters at the end of the ride. So by the fact that I still have my head, I can definitely say that not only are those guides often hilarious, but they save lives.