Press play first. We’ll talk after.

The official Hello My Name is Sharkbait book trailer is finally live, and you can watch it above, on my home page, YouTube, or anywhere you follow me on social. A minute long, and every second earns its place.

The folks at WeHikeAT put it together using a mix of my original 2018 hike footage and new imagery they layered in. I love the production quality, but what really got me was the homework put in first. They read the book. They watched the old vlogs. They researched the website. They picked up on details I never would have thought of (or remembered!). And the kicker? A Tom Neiman “Yooooo” call to close it out, straight out of my dad’s signature playbook. #ifyouknowyouknow

Amazon Ads, A+ Content, ACOS, and other A-words. I’m in the deep end of self-promotion learning, with some smart people who actually know this space helping me find my way. So far, the biggest lesson is that Amazon has dozens of clever ways to make you spend more. Set up an ad campaign unprepared, and you’ll be out a thousand bucks in a week with nothing to show for it. That smiling cardboard box didn’t get this big by playing nice, and I’m thankful to learn alongside experts who can help me navigate the wins … but more importantly, avoid the expensive pitfalls independent sellers with small budgets like me often make.

A reminder on the gear list. My ultralight gear list has quickly become one of the most-visited pages on the site, and for good reason. It’s everything I’d actually pack if hitting the trail, including a few items I learned the hard way to rethink (alas, the Cat Food Can Stove is nowhere to be found). I keep it up to date as new product innovations drop, so it’s worth a look if you’ve got any trips coming up, whether it’s prepping a thru or escaping for the weekend.

What’s next? A couple more author events on the calendar. I’ve got a signing at Bedford Books on July 18, and then I’ll have a featured table at Ridgefield Summerfest on July 25 (a hometown festival I get to crash with my family-friendly games and gear giveaways!). I’m also failing miserably doubling down on social media. I mostly despise everything that has come after Facebook, openly and unapologetically, but apparently I can’t ignore TikTok forever. And, if anyone runs an Instagram for Dummies workshop, sign me up. I literally can’t publish anything without doing it wrong. Seriously though, what is a reel vs. a story vs. a post vs. a thread … and don’t get me started on “stickers”. Ok, rant over.

Oh, and one more thing.

You may have noticed a placeholder for a backcountry meals page on the site. I’m excited to reveal this soon and tell you just how Michelin-star-level you can get with a camp stove and ramen noodles. I’d put in a catchy The Bear reference here, but I’m 2 seasons behind. So just stay tuned for updates on how you can make high-calorie-low-weight-gourmet-flavor meals soon!

I’m not saying there is a collaboration coming with Gordon Ramsay for the next season of Hell’s Kitchen... but I’m not saying there isn’t.

Hello Neiman!