Doug Fine: Author, Journalist, Adventurer, Goat-Herder

Since Farewell, My Subaru has been covered everywhere from the New York Times to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, I’ve been asked to speak at institutions ranging from the National Geographic Society, to Merrill Lynch Taiwan, to colleges all over the world.

As you can see from the Live Event Schedule link on this site, I’m keeping pretty busy with these live events. That’s because I’ve found I really enjoy presenting on the timeliest themes on the planet, from Digital Age Sustainability to Wilderness Survival to Personal Lifestyle and Team Empowerment. These are no sedate book readings. They are intensely funny, informative and timely multimedia events, both motivating and adventurously humorous, and perfect for a keynote, a retreat, or an educational (but entertaining) seminar. I always am glad to tailor the events to a specific venue’s needs, whether corporate, academic or non-profit. I offer 90-minute keynotes (with Q&A) as well as packages that include both a keynote and break-out or educational sessions. Here are my three main topics. To set-up a booking, shoot me an email.

PETROLEUM FREE IN ONE YEAR: An Evening With Doug Fine In Which We Learn How Anyone, No Matter How Busy, Can Live Locally and Reduce Fossil Fuel Use Without Giving Up Any Digital Age Comforts

As I travel around the world, talking to audiences about how anyone can get petroleum out of his or her life without giving up any Digital Age comforts (not even car!), I’m often surprised by how difficult folks imagine their transition to sustainable living would be. Many believe that in some magical future we, as busy modern humans, will develop the technology to live comfortably and in a sustainable manner.

In my 90-minute slide show and talk based on my iconic sustainability book, Farewell, My Subaru, I use humor (including my many initial mistakes), rather than fear, to show audiences how anyone can move seamlessly to sustainability in three steps: through solar power, vegetable oil-powered autos and a sustainable diet. The message is, “If this guy can do it, anyone can.” After all, when I started, coyotes attacked my chickens, my solar panels nearly electrocuted me, and my vegetable oil exhaust gave me a bad case of the munchies (it smells like Kung Pao Chicken). And yet here I am, two years down the road, with upwards of 90% of fossil fuels out of my life. And I’ve given up none of my appliances, including washing machine, laptop, and, possibly most important of all, booming stereo sub-woofers.

This very funny, inspiring and informative talk is followed by an interactive Q&A, as audiences are always inspired to ask questions about how they might emulate my carbon-neutral lifestyle, whether at the personal, corporate, organization or academic level. Think “Green Stand-up” rather than a boring or scary melting-ice-sheet talk — this is David Sedaris meets Al Gore. The presentation always generates large turnout and has a huge impact on audiences, which see how a regular guy can actually get oil-free, today. All without giving up my “American lifestyle.” I simply made it sustainable, without any special skills at the start. And this talk has proven a perfect fit for any audience, as a major retrofit geared to sustainability, of course, is crucial for the future of the species. There is hardly a more timely topic than this one in an era of high energy prices and concern about climate change.

The goal of the talk is to reach busy, mainstream folks, often with family, who care about the planet, are busy, and (most paralyzing) often scared about where to start as individuals or business managers: this talk reaches that minivan driving soccer mom, that manager of a corporation in Silicon Valley, that dentist in Duluth. Everyone will come away knowing that sustainability is possible TODAY, in home, classroom and business alike.

Email Doug to Discuss a Speaking Engagement Booking.

EXTREME SURVIVAL IN RURAL ALASKA: Moving to the Remote Wilderness and Surviving on Salmon Without Humiliating Myself Too Badly — Doug Fine, Former Suburbanite and Fast Food Addict, Shows Any Organization How Making The Right Individual Decisions Will Prove A Route To Success (Even If Bears, Whales and Ten Feet of Snow Stand In The Way)

This humorous and educational 90-minute slide show and talk based around the topic of my first book, Not Really An Alaskan Mountain Man. Audiences hear engaging and wild tales about (and see slides of) my harvesting whale meat with Inupiak Eskimos and hear tales of my getting chased by a polar bear, while learning about the life cycle of the salmon that sustained me when I made my drastic lifestyle change.

We’ll also address the culture shock of my decision to move to the Alaska wilderness with no survival skills. I was a suburban guy who couldn’t even change the oil in his car, let alone catch a salmon. Suddenly I was being chased by Arctic carnivores and facing the coldest Alaskan winter in 50 years. The presentation always spurs lots of questions from transfixed audiences of all ages and is supplemented by visual images of the whales, bears, glaciers, eagles and moose that came across my path every day.

By its end, the presentation becomes an inspiring story, with the message that if this guy can choose to leave the 21st Century Fast Lane and gather his own food in an extreme environment, anyone can endure any endeavor and come out stronger on the other side. Plus audiences, if desired, can get a colorful biology lesson about the life cycle of the salmon. This part of the talk delves into how eating healthy, local, wild food actually can actually make one happier. It includes a visual and entertaining description of the subsistence salmon-catching process, and my travails in tackling the world of subsistence fishing. This is a popular keynote talk for groups that want a wildly adventurous and humorous break from a serious convention theme, for awards banquets and for anyone group with interest in wildlife, adventure and the natural world.

Email Doug to Discuss a Speaking Engagement Booking.

Personal and Team Empowerment, Reaching Beyond Expectations and Achieving Success Outside of Pre-Conceived Models:

In this talk, I use my many near-death experiences with polar bears, coyotes, and 40 below temperatures, as well as solar powered Organic Ranch living, to help individuals, organizations and corporate groups motivate to break out of their routines and live a more adventurous life or productive work life by being open to growth. Not everyone has to move to the wilderness, but I encourage people to be open to what their wildest dreams are telling them. Anything is possible for ANYONE. In a witty, down-to-earth style, I give valuable, though humorous and self-depreciating advice to audiences about how to live their best life outside the box. Audiences come away feeling, “If this guy can do it, I can too.” This is a motivational event that leaves people energized, believing in themselves (or their organizations) and smiling.

Email Doug to Discuss a Speaking Engagement Booking.