self portraits as the sun sets

My name is John “Halcyon” Styn.

I am a Lifestyle Artist and Love Warrior.  Over the last 15 years, my experimental web projects have won Webby awards in multiple categories while pushing “Digital Intimacy” across the ‘Net.  I am available in a consulting, producing, or talent role for evolutionary live events, digital & video projects. You can find me all over Facebook, on the highways in the Hugmobile, or spreading positive pink vibes during my weekly podcast, “Hug Nation.”

My path is my work.

PROFILES:

Facebook

Myspace

Twitter

Yahoo

Tumblr

Tribe

YouTube

Vimeo

Blip

Stickam

Ustream

Flickr

Delicious

PASSIONS:
broadcast: Host of HugNation podcast.

social media: Owner of Royal Pink Productions, a Creative Services Agency.

service: Co-founder of 1stSaturdays.org, a homeless outreach project.

evolve: 13 year Burning Man participant and Pink Heart Camp founder.

WEB:

  • Bought first URL in 1996, prehensile.com, to migrate my xeroxed “zine” to this new worldwide publishing system I had heard about. Published a new funny story every Monday.
  • Worked as the very first Webmaster for Sony’s E-commerce Mall before they took it in house.
  • Sued by Fruit of the Loom for a parody piece called “Meat of the Loom.” It was one of the first “David & Goliath” battles in the new collective medium of the Web.   I won.
  • Launched cockybastard.com to publicly explore inward using this new medium.
  • Won the 2000 Webby for best personal website, cockybastard.com.
  • Was Spokesperson and Community Voice (Aka “Tom”) for the 2 million member, pre-Facebook,  CollegeClub.com web community from 1999-2001.
  • Coined term, “digital intimacy” to explain the real connections people have over the net.
  • Hosted the first “Virtual Commencement” for College Club featuring Elizabeth Dole.
  • Explored webcams as a tool for Digital Intimacy. After developing CClive at collegeclub, created and ran CitizenX.com, an experimental webcam community.
  • Hosted and ran “live audience” interactive webcam events like Virtual Grace, HugNation, and the Feel The Love call-in show.
  • Lived for 2 years in a 24/7 webcam house with night vision and audio & was the subject of an MTV documentary about living publicly.
  • MC’d The SXSW web awards (live event) from 1999-2003 before passing duties to ZeFrank.
  • Won a second Webby Award with my grandpa in 2007 for our video podcast, HugNation.
  • Did the first ever “Hug Tour” in honor of Grandpa Caleb in a 24 foot pink RV.
  • hosted the NBC.com experimental web show,  “FEARS. REGRETS. DESIRES.”
  • Founded 1stSaturdays.org, a non-denominational service group with monthly visits to help the homeless.
MISC:

  • Mario Lopez cut off my long hair on a TV makeover show.
  • Had my first “real” date on the Gameshow STUDS.
  • Burning Man is a central part of my spiritual practice. (participant since 1998)
  • Pierced my right nipple in 1991 and my left in 2001.
  • I have no tattoos.
  • My best friend is my brother.
  • I tend to be very good at being in the moment. But much worse at remembering moments.
  • I forget everyone’s names.
  • Sometimes when people are explaining things to me in a warm way, I get a blissful tingling sensation. I’ve called it “the feeling” since I was a kid. Sometimes an interesting accent can trigger it. Sometimes a cold chill, or foreign accent helps maintain it.
  • My skin complexion is my weakness. I pick at my face and then get depressed when my face is a mess.
  • My personal mantra is, “love more, fear less. float more, steer less.”
  • I had a spiritual experience on a mountaintop in Turkey in 1991 and have been changed ever since.
  • I have walked on hot coals, sky dived, And naked bungee-jumped.
  • I hosted a weekly call-in radio show for almost 2 years.
  • I’ve had the personal licence plates: DEF MANE, C*CKY, HUGABLE, and HUG NATN
  • Lost my virginity or Prom night, right before my 18th birthday. Neither one of us climaxed.
  • I wore turtle necks every day for a year (10th grade) because I thought it made my ears smaller and my ‘pencil neck’ not-so-noticeable.
  • I wore makeup (foundation) during jr high and high school because of my complexion. Occasionally, I still do.
  • I was heavily into underground rap in 1988-89. I saw NWA and Public Enemy live. My rap name was “Def Mane.” I also saw Farrakhan speak.
  • My first car was a beige Volvo Station Wagon.
  • I Helped start a fraternity while in college.
  • Sam Donaldson said “Get a load of that guy! What an ego!” about me on the air at the 2001 Webby Awards.
SPIRIT:

  • I am ordained in the Universal Life Church.
  • I have performed several unorthodox marriages.
  • I do not consider myself a Christian, but do consider Jesus to be one of my valued teachers.
  • I consider Buddha, Gandhi, Eckart Tolle, Mr. Rogers and MANY others valuable teachers, too.
  • I believe that a spiritual path is deeply personal. And whatever works for you is perfect.
  • I distrust anyone who knows “the true way.”
  • I do a weekly “Belief Buffet” broadcast before HugNation each week where I share ways that work for me.
  • I tend to believe what my grandpa believed, summed up in the title of a book he gave me: “All Religions Are True” by Gandhi.
  • I consider myself a spiritual infant.
  • I believe in love.
  • I love you.
INSPIRATIONS:

Teachers/places/things that enrich my journey.

Films:

Schools of Thought

Blog | Videos | Flickr | twitter | MySpace | email


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