Paul McDaniel

taking the piper archer out for a spin. testing out my meta glasses first person camera view. landing sped up 4x

Wow wow wow! Back packing 10 miles down into the Grand Canyon did not disappoint. We dropped 10 miles down into what felt like a 8 mile long water park connected by an obstacle course. Some super crazy features with water, ropes and chains. This was a genuine oasis that the price of admission is earned. Thanks to my besties and crew for sharing such a beautiful experience with me. This was the hike of a lifetime.

The Moonlight Library aglow with the light of the setting sun 📸: @walrusmcd #burningman2025 #burningmanart #burningman #moonlightlibrary #milkandhoney #burnerart #ritual

@qmcdaniel got me on the program ! what i love so much about the program she’s got me on: - total core strength. we doing pilates once a week. the entire time i did this life my core was SOLID. nothing hurt. or had pressure. all the work was in my legs - PR’d ! i weigh 175 and this was 4x4 up to 185 - sloooow and stable. it’s hard to tell because the video is 2x (45 seconds was too long for a reel. lol) but the lift was super steady and slow. almost pausing in the hole - deep. i broke my left hip a couple years back and mobility was never really my thing. im now able to get deep. hips back. knees not over toes. zero knee pain or pressure. all legs and deep in the hole. she’s got me on the program !!

A little story about my recent health journey (physical and mental). I started this around dec 2016 when my bestie called up “hey, lets do an Ironman”. We were both tech data nerds. I started using garmin toys and now have ~8y of telemetry, and performance stats (yeah … I’m a data nerd) So I started training for Ironmans, did my first 70.3 in HI (with that same bestie). 6y later, the first image is me in 2023 at the start of the 1.2 swim. This was my 5th Hawaii 70.3, many of them done with my bestie daughters and wifey. I was ~160lb and ~8% body fat via my garmin electronic scale. My endurance performance was on point; those events take about ~7h and are an ultimate test of physical endurance, pacing, nutrition, and mental meditation. Alas, they require~15hr of training per week to build that base and endurance load capacity. I would spend 4-6 months, which took a huge part of my life and every weekend. I would haul my bike trainer around with me on vacations ;) In 2024 I decided to do my last one, and my whole family came out to celebrate. My momma even ran part of the final run course with me !! I transitioned to something that would let me live a more balanced lifestyle, training maybe 3-5 hours a week. I started focusing on diet, nutrition, longevity bio markers (@peterattiamd is my current fav, he focuses on ‘healthspan’ vs. ‘lifespan’). The second pic is me now at solid core with my bestie wifey!! @qmcdaniel . 2 years later, where my protocol is more around how to build up my ‘body 401k’ for healthspan, which includes building lean muscle mass, focus is on 3 things: MOBILITY, STABILITY, and STRENGTH. I spend less than 5h a week now, I have all of my weekends back and available to play with my friends and family. What blew me again is my ‘traditional’ metrics. I actually GAINED weight to ~180lb (+20). I went up to ~13% body fat (garmin). Instead of chasing the scale/race/clock, I chasing a healthy lifestyle. with focus on long term healthspan and a balanced lifestyle where I can play every weekend with all my besties!!

This moonlit moment with @murrayhidary ✨ Come see the #prairieofpossibilities again this weekend! Fundraiser tickets on sale now! Link in bio.

Enjoy the #prairieofpossibilities once more! 🪩 The Astral Affair (party) - Sat May 31 ✨ Prairie (exhibit) - Wed May 28 - Fri May 30 📍The Loom, Oakland, CA Link to tickets in bio 📷: @bengebo

What does it mean to be human? The Moonlight Library explores that question through an immersive experience that centers around our ability to author our own stories. To be human is to engage in the grand experiment of life — trial and error, growth and regret, joy and sacrifice. It is the process of becoming, and the fragments of self we leave behind as we change. This exhibit honors that tension — the balance between who we were and who we choose to be. It is about our ability to reflect, to evolve, and to rewrite the narrative of our lives. The Moonlight Library, visible to the human eye as a desolate ruin suspended between realms, serves as a liminal archive of collective memory. And in this moonlit moment, participants have the opportunity to look at their own story from the viewpoint of their last chapter… and author their own changes to their narrative. #moonlightlibrary #moonlightcollective #burningmanart #bmart #immersiveart #immeriveexhibits #libraryart #burningman #burningmanusa #burningman2025 #lightart #immersiveart #immersive #experientialart #soundscape #burningman #art

I started as a Sand Farmer on the Prairie of Possibilities, shaping its foundation and learning the challenges of building in the dust. Now, I’m taking on a new role as a Carpenter for The Moonlight Library, a 2025 Burning Man Honoraria project led by James Gewertzman and the Moonlight Collective. Follow along as we bring this installation to life, tackling design, logistics, and the realities of building art on the Playa #MoonlightLibrary #PrairieOfPossibilities #HonorariaWinner #Honoraria2025 #PlayaEngineering #BurningManBuildCrew. Been to Burning man before?

The Moonlight Library – Burning Man 2025 Honoraria Winner Building large-scale art for Burning Man isn’t just about technical ingenuity—it’s about the people, the collective effort, and the shared vision that turns an idea into reality. The Moonlight Library, brought to the Playa by James Gewertzman & The Moonlight Collective, is more than an installation. It’s a feat of engineering, logistics, and radical self-reliance. Designing for the elements means planning for every uncertainty, from wind loads to material endurance. But beyond the technical challenges, there’s another layer—the human coordination needed to bring it to life. Art at this scale demands leadership, trust, and unity. It’s late nights troubleshooting, countless hands lifting, minds collaborating, and the unspoken understanding that no one builds alone. This is decommodified art in its truest form—created not for profit, but for the experience, shaped by a community that believes in something greater than itself. We’re engineering something structurally sound, but also something deeply felt. Follow along as we design, build, and bring The Moonlight Library into existence—from concept to dust, from dust to dreams. #MoonlightLibrary #BurningMan2025 #PlayaEngineering #DecommodifiedArt #RadicalSelfReliance #BuiltTogether

Celebrating another lap around the sun at the breathtaking Post Hotel in Leavenworth, WA!From indulging in the theme park-like spa and living in our cozy bathrobes to savoring every gourmet meal and marveling at the extraordinary craftsmanship, this weekend was pure bliss. Just a short 2-hour drive from Seattle, each room has luxurious marble bathtubs and inviting fireplaces. We even booked our return trip for next year’s anniversary! ❤️ This is, without a doubt, the best way to celebrate love with my best friend and life partner. We highly recommend experiencing this work of art. #AnniversaryWeekend #PostHotel #LeavenworthWA #Love #Relaxation #LuxuryLiving Feel free to tweak it as you like! 😊

so much gratitude for 2024. as the year ends , reflections: - fencing with my babe - vegas , coffee , eclipse chasing , car racing , tough mudders , skating , fire juggling - so much support from my friends and fam on my sixth ironman (CDA this year). my momma even ran the final segment with me - summer sailboat regattas. with friends and partners. getting the pineapple ready for our sail away boat adventures in 2030 - suana / cold plunge for days - 50th birthday party with all my best friends !! - tlc (the little clinic) is blossoming and growing its anti-aging club. (face lasers!) - so many new friends. so many treasured time with existing friends - ending with the best mcdaniel tropical sailing christmas ritual ; my most treasured time of the year ; time with my girls ❤️❤️❤️ 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼