I blink my eyes open after only sleeping about four hours. Im up. The second alarm sounds, I snap it off quick. Adrenaline courses through my veins. I feel my stomach flip. My great friend, Jacob, snores in the bed across the room. I yell for him, and without saying anything back, he too knowingly pops up. We had to move, and move with intention—it was finally the day of my TEDx Talk.

Straight to the gym, we went to get a workout in. It was a small setup, some errant dumbbells and a treadmill, so we went for some pushups, curls, squats and a bit of core work. Blasting Kendrick Lamar, we bounced through each set and slowly started to settle into the day, the gravity and the moment. I remember the quick beats with each song pushing us. After, we each downed a Red Bull and vanilla yogurt where it was then time for a last second prep session.

Back to the room, I went through my notes again and Jacob and I knocked out a couple of necessary promotional clips we had to shoot for the days event. I got to my coat, quickly ironed it, and tidied up as best I could. There, then, I started to really feel my nerves come in. Once in the clothes I knew were for this day, and this moment, it all began to feel increasingly more and more real. This had been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember. Time moved quickly then, and we were out the door, headed for the venue just across the street.

Inside, it was an instant blitz of media, TV interviews, preparation and pre-event meetings. Whatever bit of the calm I’d been grabbing hold of and had been able to muster, protect and guard, was expelled the second I walked through those doors. Everything about the intensity of the event was palpable in every person you crossed paths with—from the volunteers and event coordinators, to the other speakers and special guests. Every early conversation that day was met with a growing sense of the days urgency, as well as good dose of encouragement. Getting to the auditorium next, it was eerie seeing it completely empty in that moment, knowing that the next time we’d be in here, we’d have hundreds of eyes, ears and hearts surrounding us on all sides. I took one more look around, soaking it all in, before making a quick exit for a coffee in the green room. I found my notes again then too.

Throughout the months and months I’d dedicated to this talk I was set to deliver today, I’d religiously penned my notes in this one, tiny, pocket notebook. I brought it everywhere with me. I’d jot down a random idea on a plane, or re-read the previous nights practice session while pumping gas—anywhere I could steal a few moments to review, I did. I loved that thing. I’d studied those pages so intently that I’d often dream about the speech I was hoping to give while I’d slept at night. Starting each day by reading through it all and then ending each day the same. It was my bible. It was a direct and detailed manifestation of me.

With all of the noise, the conversations and intensity surrounding me then, I went for one last run through in my head. Carefully, I pinpointed each mark and each line I’d hoped to hit, and then once I’d gone through it completely, I flowed the speech out on a nearby whiteboard. I rewrote it out and even fleshed out a few remaining, straggling last-minute ideas and brought it all home around my primary central point.

“We have the power of life changing inspiration in our hands."

I put the marker down just as the crew came to mic me up. It was time. I was off to the side of stage and went through a short deep breathing exercise. I slowed down. I placed my notebook in my back pocket. Then, I took the stage.

Next thing I knew, it was over. I’d done it. Falling into the arms of the event organizers, Evan and Kaipo, I began to cry. Because in that instant, my mind flashed with every single speech I’d given before that had led me to this very moment. Every single face I’d seen in every single audience I’d met. All of the years of practicing my craft. All of the sacrifice. It was an unexpected and powerful wave of emotion, but a memory of that day that I'm sure I’ll never forget. The exhaustion piled on then and I felt it all in a sweeping instant.

I put everything into this talk. It is my magnum opus, my greatest project and my clearest moment of expression and story told in my life to date. Everything about this talk, and each word spoken came from a special depth of my heart.

Greenville, South Carolina, you’ll forever have my love, and to the live audience that November afternoon, thank you for the endless support. Thanks again to Evan, Kaipo and the entire TEDxUnityPark team for putting together this interminably inspiring event—it was my great honor to be one of your 2025 speakers. A special thanks to my family that traveled out for the event, and my NMDP ally, Erica Sevilla, it meant the world to have you there. And last, a special thanks to Jacob, my timer and my closest friend. I can always count on you brother.

It’s just you. You look down at your feet, your shoes are laced up tight. You take one final glance at your phone, but you tuck it away quick, remembering then that nobody’s awake because it’s early—it’s just after 6 am. The calm starts to get replaced then by nerves, anxiety and stress. Did I train enough? Did I train too much? Will I even get across the finish line? Will I hurt myself? How much do I have in me to even do this? It’s cold out, but you know that’s not going to last long. Suddenly, you’ve only got a few more minutes before the race officially kicks off.

There’s so much you learn about yourself while competing in your first marathon. It’s as if each individual mile is itself a battle, mountain, or type of adversity that’s been uniquely placed there just for you. Each mile is there to remind or even teach you something about yourself after you push through it. But, just as in life, the second you overcome one battle, it’s time to start running as hard as you can into the next. There’s nothing but open road, inclines, beating heat and miles and miles ahead. You look down and decide to dig in.

For me, that first mile was one of the scariest of them all. You take off and your heart starts to race from the excitement. It pounds in your chest. Everything moves so quickly then, and before you know it, you’ve flown through that first mile and you already start to feel a bit winded. You gulp. Panic. You’ve got 25.2 to go.

Finding your groove then, you start to feel that runners flow kick in—I know I did. Miles went down quickly after that. The rhythm of the race, the energy and the morning cool burns off—everything fades into what was once a colorful array of surroundings, into a tunnel of focus, grit, and pavement.

This was one of my favorite parts of the race that day. That calming feeling through miles 6, 7, 8 and 9 where everything fell together quickly and you start to flow. Then, the crowd starts to invigorate and motivate you, pushing you to maintain your speed and pace. Their energy then was palpable. I was soaking up the environment and how unique this all felt even then.

I kept kicking well into miles 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, but that’s when you start to feel that pain creep in. Then, like an unwelcome surprise dinner guest, that doubt follows shortly after. All the reasons why you can’t and won’t get across that finish line fly in and it really becomes a battle of you vs. you. And it stays that way.

Miles stop moving fast after that, in fact, it becomes quite the opposite. The length, exhaustion, and overall winded feeling you experienced at mile 1 now becomes the feeling through every single remaining mile. I remembered thinking as if from this moment onwards, that every mile until the finish was its own individual marathon. You want more than anything to just stop, but this is where running a marathon really happens. This is the point you’ve worked so hard to get to. Ultimately, this is the fun part.

What do I mean by that? Well, what I mean is that this is where you’re given the chance to tap in to that rarely used reserve tank of energy that’s nearly impossible to ever access throughout regular, day to day, life. It’s that special energy that you can only use for times like this, but it takes gentle care and replenishing throughout years of deliberate practice. All those years of protecting, grinding, integrating and retooling are now kicking in to will you to that finish line. Quickly, you find out how much of that—that special reserve fuel--you even have. And you realize in that moment it’s going to take everything in that tank.

Then, as you push through that finish line, the energy of the other runners and crowd around you carry you in this euphoric sort of float as you arrive to your finishers medal. I remember being nearly weightless then. All the hours of training and prep come rushing in at once, and just like that, you’ve done it. It’s over. It all happens so fast. I felt the entire city of LA with me then.

I have many more races and marathons ahead, but there’s nothing like your first. The energy and encouragement of the community around you is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. LA Marathon 2026, you were a dream. You were an inspiration. I’ll take you with me forever onwards from here. Now, let’s start the prep for the next.

Onto the next mountain,

JD  

Los Angeles is my whole life. My earliest days were spent up and down the beatific SoCal beaches, growing today into weekly Laker games, Hollywood red carpets and delivering lectures to my students as a professor at a local university. But it hasn’t always been sunsets, hoops and exclusive movie premier champagne flutes. In 2018, my family and I lost our Malibu home in the flames of the vicious Woolsey Fire, only to have tragedy strike again in 2025 when our beloved restaurant perched atop Pacific Coast Highway, Moonshadows, burned into the ocean following the firestorm that was the Palisades Fire. Tragedies that in an instant took away two bedrocks of not just our own lives, but the lives of so many that enjoyed precious moments at our restaurant in the decades it stood as an iconic pillar of our coastal community.
~
I can tell you from experience that it’s an unsettling shock in the beginning. Your mind runs each night when you try to close your eyes with all the precious mementos, family photos and cherished belongings turned to nothing but ashes, dust. You begin to get comfortable constantly on the move, shuttling from place to place. But deep down inside, over time and through consistent internal intention to your thoughts and fears, you then start to experience a pulling force to prevail. Somewhere in it all, you lay down that first brick, and then another, and another, and then you start to believe again. You look up, you see the resilience in your neighbors, and you start to feel hope.
~
As my home has endured one of the greatest global disasters in recent history, it’s with a great deal of pride I announce that I’m now locking arms with CORE to join in the rebuild of our city by helping to raise money by preparing to run in the upcoming and globally celebrated 41st Annual City of Los Angeles Marathon. What cofounders Sean Penn and Ann Lee have built at CORE is an army of mission driven helpers that are working every day to bring our city back by standing beside the vulnerable and those most in need. It’s as noble a mission there is, and I’m honored to run in support of this leading nonprofit.
~
The spirit of Los Angeles will forever embody every bit of who I am and what I aim to stand for, so to run for every Angeleno sister and brother of mine affected by these disasters is as important a challenge I’ve ever taken on in my life. You are not alone in your loss, and I will be right there with you all on race day, and every day after that follows. So, on March 8th, I invite you all to join me as we come together to heal, remember, and run hard for brighter days as we rebuild our city, brick by brick, so we can once again celebrate all the amazing sunsets our legendary home has to offer. Please consider donating today at the link below and sharing this message to help us spread the important awareness for our mission. LA, we are resilient, and I thank you all for your continued generosity, kindness and support.

https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/CORE-JD-Slajchert​

- JD Slajchert

About CORE: Founded after the 2010 Haiti earthquake by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a global humanitarian organization that empowers underserved communities in and beyond crisis. CORE’s community-powered work is informed and fueled by local hands. When crisis strikes, we listen, we learn, and we act to quickly fill gaps, mobilize resources, and develop long-term recovery solutions. With a focus on equity, CORE provides critical relief to marginalized and vulnerable people, from the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan to hurricane-ravaged states across the U.S. and beyond. Learn more about CORE’s work at www.coreresponse.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Protect your creative spirit. This world, folks, it can be thorny, but discovering what fuels your engine for ingenuity, fire, and thought is one of the most important recipes one could hope to learn about themselves. Unearth your ingredients, carefully cook, and feed yourself well. Refuel your creative engine, and I promise you'll be glad for the fullness and lucidity you'll surely gain. It'll be as if this once gray rock we all ride suddenly turns and turns to a planet of color.

Straightaway, I'd like to get to the business of my open letter today. I'm headed to Paris on a writer's retreat. Paris has long been in my sights, and I couldn't be luckier to finally be actualizing this dream. My sole aim is to feed my creative spirit with this forthcoming fuel that I expect to be quite the sui generis sustenance for my pen in hand. Like Joyce, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald, I go to Paris to bottle some of this creative vim, and let it spill onto pages of my very own for you all to—one day—hopefully enjoy. Walking, speaking, and most importantly, listening, to the sounds of the famous City of Light that has, for generations, inspired the world's greatest artists.

To all my family, friends, and loved ones back in America, I'll miss you dearly. Across the world or across the street, my mind is never far from you lot. This is officially goodbye for a spell. I'm off to wander through the cafe society of acceptable French coffees and cheeses. I'm off to study the lauded Parisian esprit de corps. I'm off to refuel with my very own moveable feast.

From Paris with Love,

​JD Slajchert

Three years ago I began a new book. For me, writing has always been a sort of secret stillness. It's meditative. A quiet creative space that allows my mind to wander, discovering stories and memories I didn't know were inside me. Freely the colors of my world meld with past, present and future.

But each day I wrote I, like all of you, was deafened by the everyday chaos surrounding us. Every notification was an update. Every update was a headline. And every headline was another tragedy. My life, and the world, had become much too loud.

I understand how easy it is to turn all of our attention towards the darkness. Because it's that darkness that's broadcasted each day, further perpetuating the angst and isolation we all feel behind the screens we now permanently live behind. However, despite the lack of attention the light gets, I choose to believe that in this world we find ourselves so lucky to live in, there is an equal amount of light to balance out the dark.

I believe that for every dictator, there's an army of activists. I believe that for every life lost, there's the miracle of another beginning just down the hall. And I believe that for every category five hurricane that Mother Nature creates, She too creates the northern lights in the September sky of Alaska. This was the simple thread that I followed until it became the focus of my latest work.

I'm elated to announce my second novel, Darling, You're Not Alone is complete and will be published this coming fall.

When I first began writing Darling, I had no idea where this story and these characters would take me, but I cannot stress enough how near and dear this project has become to my heart, and soon hopefully the hearts of many of you. This is more than a book, but my love letter to a world that needs to be reminded of the light. I believe this message, now more than ever, is so important.

Lux in Tenebris Lucet.
Be the light that shines in the darkness.

​JD 

About a year ago, I rolled into a diner to sit down for breakfast and coffee with actor, Spencer Daniels. It was our first time meeting one another. Instantly, I was taken by Spencer's incredible acting resume—appearing in roles in films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Office—but it was his passion for art in general that struck me as interesting. That, right away, let me know that there was so much more to who he is. Spencer spoke about favorite books he'd read, scripts he'd written and music that had inspired him, all before I'd taken a single bite of bacon. Frankly, in meeting Spencer, I was looking for some wisdom as too how to best navigate the shark infested waters of Hollywood, but what our meeting snowballed into was something of much greater significance.

What became one breakfast, became two, three, four, five, six and so on. We exchanged ideas about storytelling and became friends. Until eventually, I pushed Spencer into revisiting an old story he'd written some years back called, "The Constantine Fable." Hesitant at first, Spencer slowly peeled open his folder he'd stashed away and shared this project with me. On a first read, I was completely blown away. The story carried such a deep meaning and powerful punch despite it being short in length. So, with some work and the help of many other people, I proudly announce to you all, that on June 7th, 2022, "The Constantine Fable" will be published with Summer House. A long journey that began with a chance encounter over bacon. Spencer, my friend, you're soon to be an officially published author.

Spencer so kindly stopped by today to answer some questions about himself, the project and much more. Below, please find our full conversation, and read all about the man behind Summer House's newest project, "The Constantine Fable." I hope you enjoy.

1) "The Constantine Fable" where does the title come from? What other titles did you consider?

The title actually comes from Aesop's Fables and truly served as an inspiration for the story as a whole. The idea of a tiger named Constantine was what came to me first, so from there, I sort of just built around that. Then, while visiting a small bookstore in Vietnam, I came across a book of Aesop's Fables and it just clicked. I combined that book of fables with the name of the tiger. But, with that being said, I also never had any ideas for any other titles for this story. Titles, for all my projects, always come to me before I even begin writing.

2) If you had to select one inspiration for the project, who or what would that inspiration be?

That's a really tough question. As I try to think back to the 'initial spark' of what brought me to this idea for this story, one person does instantly come to mind, and that's South Korean actor, Ha Jung-woo. He was the lead actor in a film I was acting in and he was incredibly talented. He also was a producer, so in some ways, he was also, sort of my boss, but regardless of that, I was just blown away by his passion and almost obsession for the project we were working on. He would've done anything to make it great.

3) What was your favorite part of writing the project? Your least favorite?

My favorite part was the discovery of the first draft. I was living with my younger brother at the time and when the concept struck me, it was euphoric. The idea was the question, 'what is success?' And my least favorite part was all of the editing. All of the hard work of rewriting with you and Chris was actually just, well, 'work.' Reading Sally Rooney's Normal People was something that helped me push on though, as I hoped to attain some level of what she's accomplished. What was difficult was finding a way to turn something that was once wild and free into something focused and professional.

4) What's something strange about your writing process most people don't know about?

Well, to put it simply, I think everything about my writing process is sort of dumb and stupid. I don't think any of it is all that grand or interesting, but I guess what would be interesting is that most of my writing comes directly after watching the most horrible thing on YouTube. I go from watching a new Post Malone music video or some sort of stupid, gossip related current event, straight into attempting to write. The hardest part about writing is just getting myself to sit down, because all I want to do is move around, go on walks.

5) What are your aspirations for the projects release?

I hope that somewhere I've never been before, or maybe somewhere I go all the time, that someone picks this book out of the shelf, reads it, and is left with something that informs their world view. Even if it's in some small way. It doesn't have to be in a good way necessarily, but as long as it's different.

6) Did the project, in the end, meet your initial expectations for when you first came up with the concept?

I would say that it didn't meet my expectations, but it became much more. Originally, I thought of this project as a sort of 'adult fable' but it ended up building into much more of a full blown story. And, of course, it's like we spoke about before this interview began, where anytime you come up with an idea in your head, what ends up coming out on the page most often becomes a sort of perverted version of that same idea. This project did though have a freedom of expression that I didn't expect.

7) How does it feel to have "The Constantine Fable" finally completed and soon to be out in the world?

​It feels both nerve-racking and relieving. Terrifying. Exciting. Gosh, I feel like I'm in search of a quiet corner to sit in. But seriously, it's absolutely terrific and freeing. There is no more time to work on it, because now, it's done. And I'm responsible for it.

To Purchase "The Constantine Fable" and learn more about Spencer Daniels, please visit www.summerhousepublishing.co.
​"The Constantine Fable" will be available for purchase on June 7th, 2022.

In the, "City of Brotherly Love" on Saturday, January 15th, I watched my younger brothers play against each other. Wes, a senior guard at Dartmouth College, and Clark, a sophomore guard at the University of Pennsylvania, went toe to toe in a basketball game that was close until the very end.

Fortunately, I was able to catch a flight to Philadelphia, PA for the ball game. But to be completely honest, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I had some serious nerves going in. Thinking about it, I wanted more than anything for both teams to play well, but it was truly a challenge to monitor how to appropriately root for either team. Should I just not cheer at all? Should I only cheer when either of them does anything? Or should I just scream my lungs out the entire game? How could you possibly evenly root for both teams? The answer: don't worry about it.

In the end, I mostly just felt overwhelmingly proud. To have watched both of my brothers grow and mature into such amazing student-athletes at these prestigious institutions was plenty worth cheering about, regardless of the eventual outcome of the game. And to be able to witness them compete against one another? Well, that was just the icing on the cake. Because I know exactly how hard each of them worked to get there—for that game, that day. I know just exactly what they've sacrificed.

On the floor after, I was able to watch Wes and Clark laugh and hug it out, each with priceless smiles painted across their faces. The scene of a lifetime, that made all the stress worth it. I love my boys.

Best,

JD

P.S. It was also freezing there! I flew right back to Southern California the following day.

I've been going to The Sunset restaurant in Malibu for a long time. As a kid, it was many birthdays and other holidays with new family and even new friends. I got to know all sorts of people. But it were these individuals that—little did I know at the time—who would soon become apart of my new family. This is because my mom fell in love, and on May 12th, 2016 married restauranteur Franco Simplicio.

Over the years since, Franco has become so much more than just my step-father, but my friend, supporter and trusted mentor. I go to him for advice and wisdom. He's truly such a blessing on so many different levels and been an incredible addition to my life. His two sons, Luca and Oliver, both became my step-brothers and have been by my side ever since. I adore them both and can't imagine what my world would look like without them too.

So, when Franco decided to sign up for 805 Living Magazines, "Dishing It Our For Charity" fundraiser and made the beneficiary The LucStrong Foundation, I actually wasn't surprised at all. Because that is the man he is and always has been. He's always found creative ways to be giving, kind, considerate and charitable, despite being the busy business man he always is too. He is someone that always looks for another chair to add to his table, and it's a pretty inspiring thing to be around.

Each year, 805 Living Magazine recognizes a select group of restaurants to feature in their charitable drive, and The Sunset restaurant until December 31st, 2021 will be donating two dollars of all profits raised from the sale of their pumpkin tortellini dish to The LucStrong Foundation. A charity, that is incredibly near and dear to my heart. So, to all of you reading, please find a night to take your someone special down to The Sunset for a nice dinner by the water. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Last night, I was able to go to my favorite ocean-side eatery myself and enjoy this family recipe while remembering why it is so important to always be giving back to those less fortunate this time of year. So, good on you Franco. Thank you so much for doing this. What a tremendous way to give back.

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone! Smile!

JD

For more information about The Sunset Restaurant or 805 Living Magazine and the, "Dishing It Out For Charity" Fundraiser, please find each website below.

www.thesunsetrestaurant.com
www.805living.com

Exeter, New Hampshire never really felt like home. It sounds cliché, but the truth was I never quite found my rhythm during my post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy in 2014, so when I was invited to return and give an assembly, needless to say I was floored.

I thought about all of the wrongs I wanted to make right—people I wanted to inspire—and felt as though this would be an incredible opportunity to do just that. Furthermore, I knew delivering this speech during this time would also provide me with the unique opportunity to reach a diverse group of people all over the world during what is currently a global crisis.

Perhaps what would be my most important speech I've given to date came earlier this week and I am excited to now share it with all of you. Below, hear my thoughts on the current state of our world, how we can continue to find ways to smile and much more.

Exeter, New Hampshire is now a place I reflect kindly on and am confident I will for the rest of my days. Non sibi forever.

​ 

To Everybody,

Each day we are given is still precious. Now, more than ever, we mustn't forget that to be alive during any time is a blessing that is denied to many. This fear is something we all share. But we cannot let something that we cannot control dominate our well being. Although this obstacle remains daunting, walk proudly knowing full well that we are capable. I am just as scared as all of you. I miss my routine. But I also know that with tremendous adversity comes the opportunity for incredible achievement. The dark only exists because there is light.

Stay safe my sisters and brothers—we will get through this. This too will pass and our normal lives are right around the corner. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Peace and love,

JD

For more information and to find the other #19Letters please visit my instagram page @JD_Slajchert where I will posting one every morning until April 19th. Thank you.