This website is dedicated to chronicling the (mis)adventures of Brash Ash.

But why is Ash Brash?

My older brother is 100% disabled with cerebral palsy. I grew up in a house where he would have 15 epileptic seizures a day. My dad was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease when I was 21. He died 4 days after my wedding when I was 26 years old. My mom got COVID and ended up bedridden and disabled, currently in recovery….. I ended up divorced. So after all that, I decided that life is too short for airs and graces and pretense. I’ll just tell it like it is.

Also:

I live in Lisbon, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I am financially independent. I have a beautiful labrador-mix whose name is Leila. I traveled the world with my ex for 6 years and worked online while traveling. I founded the English comedy scene in Lisbon by setting up the first (of several) comedy shows that happened in the city back in 2018. Now, I perform at and run stand-up comedy shows and own a specialty coffee shop in Lisbon. I used to run some pretty big web projects, some of the biggest in the world back in the day and have had experience in growing and running several startups. I drive a Tesla Model 3 and did a road-trip across Europe in early 2022 and another one in 2023. I also founded and run the biggest digital nomad meetup community in the world! There’s more, but I think that’s enough bragging for now. I’ve had a good life so far, there have been ups and downs and sometimes I’m not convinced about whether the tally is positive or negative. But that’s life, it’s not a zero sum game.

So come with me on a journey while I deal with my trials and tribulations, my wins and frustrations, and everything in between. I used to run Backpack ME, a travel blog, with my ex. I wanted to continue running it after we split up but it took me 4 years to realize – fuck that shit.

It’s time for a step forward, a new direction, a new life. My mom’s critical illness made me realize that life is way too short for bullshit and compromises. Do what you love in the present as much as possible. Tomorrow may never come.

On this blog you’ll find me writing about travel, dogs, the comedy scene in Lisbon, the comedy scene in Europe, my journey with a specialty coffee shop in Portugal, what it’s like to live in Portugal, tips on finances and investing, tech stuff, and whatever else I come up with in this weird journey called life.

There’s no particular brand or topic I want to focus on. Just brutal honesty from Brash Ash.