Erik was born and raised in Northern California, graduating from UC Davis with a degree in political philosophy. He’s worked as an educator in the US, a researcher for the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung in Berlin, Germany, and as a consultant and board member to non-profits in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. He holds a masters’ degree in sociology from the Universities of Freiburg (Germany), KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and Jawaharlal Nehru (India). In 2007, Erik Founded the 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Sustainable Bolivia. For the last decade he’s worked to promote Sustainable Bolivia’s mission in both the Andes and Amazon.
He’s worked as a researcher and graduate assistant at the University of New Mexico. He’s conducted research in the Peruvian, Ecuadorian and Bolivian Amazon. Alongside his wife, Sasha, and his father in law, Erik founded and oversees the daily operations of the Plant Medicine Retreat Pisatahua. In 2016, Erik helped establish the 20,000 hectare Aquicuana Reserve. He facilitates healing retreats in Europe, the US and South America. Outside of work Erik’s passions include surfing, gardening and plant medicine.