Award-Winning Tutors from Stony Brook University

I love tutoring students. Whether it's family, friends, or new students, I've had experiences with all different types of learners which has helped me grow as a tutor and become more flexible through experimenting and developing different teaching modes. In high school, learning to manage my time helped me dissect my learning style which resulted in more efficient and effective study methods. I joined Varsity Tutors because I want to help students not only maximize, but exceed their potential.Outside of academics, I enjoy watching and playing sports, listening to and writing and music, and hanging out with family and friends.

I am a current civil engineering graduate at Stony Brook University. I enjoy helping students in my free time, especially those with interests associated with STEM, to understand the material they are learning in their academics.I am also a current tunnel engineering intern for Mott MacDonald, and am in the process of obtaining my EIT, as I passed my FE - Civil Exam in the fall of 2022!

Struggling with organization, writing, or high-stakes exams? I'm a National BoardCertified English educator and college professor with over two decades of experience helping students master executive functioning, pass FTCE exams, and succeed in college English. I break complex tasks into clear, manageable steps and tailor every session to how you learnso you leave feeling prepared, capable, and confident.

I am a graduate of Stony Brook University. I doubled majored in both Applied Mathematics and Psychology. I started my journey of tutoring when I was in high school. During my high school years, I started as a volunteer at a tutoring center assisting Kindergarten kids to 3rd graders with Math, English, and Art. Slowly, I became an afterschool tutor and loved the fulfilling feeling after seeing my student's betterment. Moving on to college, I carried on that passion for tutoring and become a Teacher Assistant for both Multivariable Calculus and Financial Mathematics classes to help my peers with their questions on class materials. After graduating from college, I helped my friend in prepping for her GRE because I wanted her to study more effectively for the test instead of wasting time trying out different studying techniques and various test prep materials.While I tutored a broad range of subjects, I am the most passionate about tutoring math as I have firm confidence in my knowledge of mathematics, and I mostly helped students with their math courses. During my tutoring experiences, I am a tutor who likes to utilize examples and real-life scenarios in my explanation.

I'm a physics student at Stony Brook University with interests in mathematics, baroque music, and music theory.

I am a graduate of Stony Brook University with a degree in Biochemistry. I tutored all throughout my college career both in groups and as an individual through the Women in Science and Engineering program. My tutoring philosophy is getting to know how my students learn and then tackle any problems using their strengths. I can explain things a hundred different ways and I won't give up until we feel confident, together, that a concept is understood.

I am currently a medical student in Philadelphia, and have a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University. I have several years of experience tutoring SAT students, but thanks to my mixed background I have proficiency in a wide range of subjects including mathematics, biological sciences, engineering, and physical sciences.I am passionate about teaching, and have taught healthcare sciences to underprivileged high school students in my spare time. My own experience as a student has taught me that learning new subject material can be intimidating, so my teaching philosophy involves a focus on breaking down complex problems into simpler, less daunting components. As a teacher I am most fulfilled when, through systematic instruction and problem-solving, I am able to promote the type of academic confidence that allows students to achieve their full potential.I was a collegiate rugby player and understand the struggles of the student-athlete. However, I firmly believe that many of the qualities that earn success in athletics can also translate to the classroom. I strive to exemplify this balance and motivate students to pursue success in all areas of their life.

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology & Experimental Neuroscience from Elon University, located in North Carolina. Shortly thereafter I began to work towards my PhD in the field of experimental neuroscience research. My strongest subjects include statistics, math, and the sciences. My favorite subject to tutor would have to be statistics, mostly because I have taken so many classes in this subject that it is like second nature at this point. Outside of my education, I am an avid golfer. As a scratch handicap, I went to college on scholarship to play for a Division I NCAA team.

I have been tutoring since 2011 when I retired from developmental optometry, a specialty in which I saw the same children and adults on a weekly basis, using many of the same concepts that are used in tutoring. I have always enjoyed math which is necessary to understand optics and optometry and now I am pleased to watch my students' "aha" moments when they discover the joy of math. The National Tutoring Association has certified me as a tutor and an academic coach.

Hi my name is Sree and I'm currently studying Biology at Stony Brook! I'm excited to help with whatever you're having trouble with and hopefully we will power through together. If you have any questions feel free to ask any time!

I studied at Stony Brook University and the Art Institute of Philadelphia, where I received Masters of Social Work and Bachelors of Science degrees, respectively. I am also a licensed social worker in New York State.I tutor students in: Spanish, reading, writing (including college essays),psychology, social sciences, and public speaking.My favorite subjects to tutor are Spanish and reading. I am in love with the Spanish language and sharing my knowledge of it is an immense joy. Reading is also incredibly fun to teach, because it is exciting to see students make progress, buiild confidence, and start to see how big the world becomes as they advance to higher reading levels.My philosophy is simple: keep it fun, and help the student to become self-motivated. Once a student sees that learning can be joyful, rather than painful, they will look forward to honing their skills and tackling increasingly difficult areas of a given subject.I have previously taught: reading to five-year-olds, essay writing to college students, English and Spanish as second languages,and life-management skills in a variety of settings.

I am a PhD candidate in English literature dedicated to teaching writing, reading comprehension, and literary analysis.

I am a graduate of the Honors program at Indiana University in Bloomington,IN where I focused on music and philosophy. After graduation I spent time in Europe as an employee of the National Theater in Germany. I consider the multicultural experiences I had while living and working in Europe a wonderful supplement to my formal education and it fostered in me an appreciation of diversity.Since returning the to the US I have taught children and adults a variety of subjects and skills in a number of settings. I am thrilled to be partnering with Varsity Tutors to help young people as they work to improve their academic performance in language arts. The ability to express oneself clearly is an invaluable tool throughout life. As a tutor I am most passionate about helping students improve their scores on Critical Reading and Writing portions of standardized tests. As a teacher my greatest joy is seeing a student achieve more then they thought possible. I consider myself a life-long learner who places a high value on education. When I am not teaching or exploring a new subject area I enjoy jogging and exploring outdoors, as well as attending performances of music, dance and theater.

My name is Rachel! I am a college English professor at Suffolk County Community College , and have been tutoring students of all ages in English, math, and history for ten years. I experience joy every time I can help a struggling student understand, or even enjoy a subject. I am very experienced in tailoring lessons to meet an individual's needs, so no matter what your issue is, we can figure out how to solve it together! I look forward to talking to you.

My name is Rohan, and I recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a BS in psychology. I am starting medical school in the fall of 2017, and I hope I can use my current free time to help others achieve their academic goals. I want to be a tutor because I enjoy helping people learn. I have been a teaching assistant for two different biology classes during college, and those were hands-down my favorite experiences during my undergraduate time. Also, I truly believe that teaching others helps me learn the material at a higher level. As a future doctor, it is very important to be able to teach people things. You want to be able to express yourself to other students and patients and talk to them in a vernacular that they can understand. You want to create analogies and tell stories that are helpful; only then will people actually internalize the information and actually be able to apply it to different problems and in the real world. I promise to give my full time and effort to each of my students, and I cant wait to embark on a new journey with all of them.

I have my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Villanova University, a MBA from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stony Brook University where my GPA was 3.6. I passed the NCLEX on my first attempt with 85 questions. I believe that making sure one's fundamentals are sound before proceeding onto more difficult subject matters. I look forward to helping others pass the NCLEX.

I have always been a goal oriented and reaching-for-the-stars individual. As a New York native, I graduated as the salutatorian from high school with regents' honors. I have excelled with 95%+ in all of my high school regents examinations. As a high school student I fell in love with Math & Science and frequently tutored my colleagues who were struggling with their classes. In my senior year of high school I achieved the NY1 Scholar Athlete scholarship and was placed on the NYC Chancellor's Honor Roll. I then went on to Stony Brook University where I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Biology. At Stony Brook, I was on the Dean's List every semester and a Golden Key Honor Society Member. After completing my undergraduate science classes, I became a Teaching Assistant for Biology and Chemistry. As a teaching assistant, I met with students on a one to one basis during office hours and helped strengthen their problem areas.After undergrad, I went to medical school and graduated with honors. During medical school I tutored and prepared students for the United States Medical License examinations. I prepared and delivered daily lectures for the internal medicine students and increased the pass rate from 65% to 90%. I completed my medical clerkships and attained my M.D. December 2014.I am committed, devoted and conscientious to everything I set my mind on and my decision to tutor reflects my lifelong desire for personal growth and education. When tutoring, I believe that 'diagnosing' a student's weakness is essential to building a strong foundation. It is my motto to work hard and give nothing less than my very best. It brings joy to me and the thrill of seeing a student improve with my help drives my compassion and love for teaching. Teaching not only excites me but has become a part of me that I am dedicated to and passionate about. In my spare time I enjoy playing volleyball and running various races and marathons.

I am a junior studying computer science at Stony Brook University. I enjoy teaching so I would love more opportunities to teach. I taught as an undergraduate teaching assistant for a computer science course before. I like to exercise and play video games for fun.

My goal is to exemplify your strengths and pinpoint your weaknesses. Once I discover that weakness, I will do everything in my power to turn it into a strength. It doesn't matter who you are or how smart you are, I want to see you prosper!

I began teaching at the college level nearly ten years ago, and have taught courses in writing, literature, philosophy, and history. I have taught a wide diversity of students in a variety of contexts at several different institutions, including a one-an-a-half year tenure in Senegal working with West African students. As a professor, I have always highly valued opportunities to work with students on a one-on-one basis, and this experience led me to seek out work as a tutor. As a tutor I am most passionate about teaching writing, critical thinking, history and philosophy.I am a currently a doctoral student in the Philosophy Department at Stony Brook University, presently in the dissertation writing phase of the program. I have a MA in Art History and Theory from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art.When beginning to work with a student no matter the level of the student or the subject matter to be covered I always make sure that the student and I are on the same page. This means, in the first place, that I understand exactly what the students goal is and what she or he wants and needs from me. It also means that the student understands how I plan to facilitate the achievement of her or his goal. I am also sure to learn from the student what she or he feels to be their greatest weakness or source of difficulty in the pursuit of their goal. Establishing all of these things at the outset allows me to devise the most effective lessons and the ensures that the tutoring process is as effective and efficient as possible.

I'm a dedicated math tutor with a passion for helping students build confidence and mastery in the subject. I attended the High School of American Studies at Lehman College, a specialized high school known for academic rigor, and co-founded Soaring Minds Tutoring, a nonprofit that supported 8th graders and high schoolers for tests such as the SHSAT Math, Algebra Regents, AP Calculus AB, and for the SAT math section.

Are you struggling in a Math/Chemistry Class? Or are you looking to bump up your grade? Do you want preparation for SAT/ACT/GRE, Math section?You may be a high school student or a middle school student, or go to college, with my extensive (4 years) of one-on-one tutoring and 2 years of formal teaching (graduate level courses) experience, by hiring my services, you will have extra tools compared to your pier to accomplish your goals.Please find attached my CV. As you may observe I am a recent graduate from Stony Brook University (SUNY) with my PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. I have in-depth knowledge of Math and Chemistry. You may gauge the level of my knowledge in applied Math and Chemistry by going over my publications as enlisted in the CV. In addition I am a well published and cited author of various scientific publication, which demonstrate my command on English language, even though I was born and brought up in India.

I am a graduate from SUNY Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Teaching. I have tutored and taught students of all ages, from kindergarten through 12th grade, and even some college students. I love to tutor many different subjects, but Social Studies, Math, Literature, and Writing/Language Arts are my favorites. Social Studies and Literature allow students to discuss their own ideas and opinions about the subject, while Math requires more problem solving to best learn the concepts. I believe that learning, not just knowing, comes from asking the question 'why?' Only by thoroughly understand 'why' can learning occur, and learning allows people to successfully engage with the world around them. Outside of teaching, I enjoy baseball, reading, movies, music, and playing a variety of games.

Hello! My name is Tyrell R. I am a New York State Certified Math Teacher with an immense passion for not only educating people in math, but making the learning process an enjoyable experience! I graduated with a master's degree in teaching mathematics from one of the top universities in New York. Prior to that, I graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in computer applications. My motivation for teaching stems from watching the significant impact that teachers have on students' lives and wanting to ensure that my contributions to the next generation exceed what was given to me and my generation. I have taught in environments where most students were given up on, but my mission has always been to speak life into these individuals. My genuine belief is that everyone is capable, especially with the proper guidance. My specialty is making students feel comfortable enough to allow me to help them maximize their potential. There is no level of understanding that I have not helped elevate, so I am confident I can help you achieve your goals in abundance!I have been teaching Algebra, pre-algebra, and a variety of math subjects for years now both inside and outside of the traditional school setting. I have experience teaching anything from 1 on 1, to small groups, to big classes. I have also taught Regents prep classes for those taking state tests in New York. Outside of math, I have a business where my co-founder and I make grade school and college visits to give presentations on financial literacy. Teaching people how to manage and invest their money is also an extreme passion of mine!I am open to having a free consultation meeting if you desire one. Remember, I can be contacted at any time of the day. I usually respond very quickly. I am easy to talk to, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. I have been told I am very easy to work with! Hope to hear from you soon!

Hello, prospective students! I have made a life of teaching and studying. Among the subjects to which I have given the most attention are philosophy and history, each of which I have also taught at a college level. My courses have always been writing-intensive, honing my skills at guiding students in mastering their self-expression in English. I have also taught test preparation courses for the SAT, GRE, and LSAT. The most rewarding of all my teaching endeavors has been helping guide my son through his remote and online education. Now I want to put all of this to use for students here at Varsity Tutors. Any student can improve with the right personal care and hard work, and I am committed to providing the attention and support you need.

I have been teaching literature and writing courses for seventeen years. I earned my Bachelor's degree in English from NYU, and I went on to complete a Ph. D in English at Stony Brook University. I am extremely passionate about my subject. I love interacting with my students, and helping them to feel more confident in their reading and writing skills. I have been helping students to navigate the college admissions process, including preparing for standardized tests and writing the college essay, since I began teaching. My primary motivation is to do anything I can to help each student accomplish his or her goals .

Dear Parents:I understand your concerns about your child's education! I am a full-time homeschool mom of our three children in elementary school. Teaching our own children is both rewarding and challenging! I will work hard to motivate your child to develop an appreciation for learning, and to understand that a good education is a privilege. If you are looking for a kind, patient, and competent tutor for many subjects in K-12 (i.e., English, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies), please let me know how I can help you.In addition to homeschooling experience, I have a MA and PhD in Psychology. I have taught in higher education for over 15 years. I like teaching all courses in Psychology, including Statistics and Research Methods. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, articulate, and engaging tutor, who can make even Statistics fun, I am delighted to help you!

I received my Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University, and I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Operations Research at the same institution. While attending SBU, I tutored student athletes in a variety of math courses, ranging from Algebra, to Calculus. My favorite courses to tutor involve probability and statistics, because I love how many layers each question has, and how much you can learn from doing even the simplest problem! When tutoring, I strive to create a calm and relaxed environment that helps students work through problems by drawing conclusions from what they already know. I believe learning is a beautiful thing, and I do my best to help others improve their learning skills!Outside of school, I am a total health nut. I love learning about fitness, nutrition, and other health-related subjects. I am also an avid Ultimate Frisbee player and amateur musician.

I am a well-rounded individual that is able to communicate fantastically with kids. I never let myself get frustrated with pupils, which is a strength of mine as I can explain the same concept in a variety of ways until I feel comprehension has finally been reached. My ultimate goal is not to simply make sure a child knows a formula, but more importantly the concept behind that formula, and under what circumstances it needs to be applied. With my help, I can make sure pupils learn not only the what and when of a concept, but also the why and how. In my eyes, very few things are as fulfilling as teaching and making friends in the process.

I believe that one of the biggest flaws in education is the lack of intimacy between teachers and their pupils. Instead of teaching students en masse, a more optimal approach is to make each lesson fit for the particular student. I have carried out this philosophy while tutoring in the past and I intend to continue doing so in the present and in the future.

I graduated summa cum laude from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor's in Linguistics. I am currently attending Columbia University for my Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders.I have over 5 years of experience tutoring elementary to middle school students. I have prepared students for the New York State English Language Arts and Mathematics Tests and the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). I like to incorporate relevant discussions into my lessons because I find that is the best way to keep my students engaged and also increase their performance.I would love the opportunity to work with your child. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a lesson!

I'm a medical resident. looking to tutor in biology, anatomy, math, and MCAT prep. Teaching is one of my passions, and I have tutored since I was in high school. I continued to tutor while at Stony Brook University where I graduated with a double major in applied math and bioinformatics/computational biology. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I need to stay home for the next few months. I do not want to stop my tutoring so here I am looking to help students virtually! Medical school has made biology my favorite subject to tutor in as I've really nailed in me how to learn and understand a lot of material in a short amount of time. Medical school has taught me many approaches and tactics to making learning more efficient I wish I knew about earlier. I aim to share these methods with my students to make them stand out from the rest.

Throughout high school I had inspirational teachers that influenced my need to enrich the lives of students. As a graduate from Stony Brook University with a Bachelors Degree in Earth and Space Science for Education, I am confident that I can utilize my knowledge to benefit the learning processes of students of various ages. I believe it is important to relate students academic and extra curricular interests to what I am tutoring, therefore we can focus on the positives! Nothing makes me happier to see a students light bulb go on after struggling with a subject! My goal as a tutor is to engage students throughout the learning process. As a self proclaimed science nerd, I believe that we should ask questions. I will encourage my students to go beyond what they are learning and ask "why" the world is the way it is!It is important to me that not only are my students gaining knowledge from me but I also learn from them. Children are our future. I find I t is imperative that we as educators teach them the fundamentals of science and math so they can grow into the thinkers that change the world!

Hello, and welcome to my profile!I am Eva Albanese, and I am a recent Spring '19 SUNY Stony Brook University (SBU) graduate - my cumulative GPA was 3.63, and I graduated with the honor of Cum Laude. As a student at SBU, I majored in Psychology - 3.43 was my major GPA - and minored in English - 3.80 was my minor GPA. Additionally, to taking classes, I was a peer mentor for international students during my second and third years. I am currently on my gap year before returning to school to get my M.A. in Psychology. I hope I can be of service in your time of need.

While obtaining my first doctorate, I filled the role of senior prosector in the anatomy lab, a task typically reserved for elite anatomists, which created a powerful self-realization and redirected my life's objective. My purpose gradually presented itself while investing copious amounts of hours into thinking, studying, and working with cadavers. An innate artistic ability not only allows me to captivate detail but also to refine the hand motor skills necessary to execute meticulous dissections of human specimens.I aspire to produce work that will outlive me and live by the statement of Ben Franklin, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Trained in science, I objectify uncertainty from a logical perspective. My artistic side allows me to reveal answers to scientific questions from an imaginative angle. With these character traits, I am able to weave the web of the scientific literature.By fearing what we are inside, there is little hope in accepting anything beyond ourselves. While I am receptive to the aesthetic beauty that is available to everyone, I also attempt to reveal a greater beauty by understanding the wondrous design beneath the skin of the noble men and women who have donated their bodies to science.

I am a caring, passionate, and innnovative English language arts and writing teacher who is ready to help children with any and all of their verbal, reading, grammar, or writing needs. I am a graduate of Providence College, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in English, taking many pre- and post-1800 English courses, including Victorian (19th c.) literature, Shakespeare's Tragedies and Romances, and a survey course on Geoffrey Chaucer and his contemporaries. I also took many elective courses in creative writing and theatre outside of my major requirements, such as: Theatre Appreciation, Public Speaking, Oral Interpretation, Short Story Fiction, and Prose Poetry. I recently graduated from Stony Brook University with my Master of Arts in Teaching English. At Stony Brook, I took graduate English courses such as 20th Century American Poetry and 20th Century American Fiction, while also completing teaching courses required for certification (Special Education, Human Development, Methods of Teaching English I and II, and Foundations of Education). I am now certified by New York State to teach grades 5 through 12, though I have also worked with younger age groups as a substitute English teacher at Riverhead Charter School (Calverton, N.Y.) and St. Edward the Confessor (Syosset, N.Y.). Currently, I am employed as a fifth grade English/Math co-teacher at Riverhead Charter School, where I differentiate instruction for many students with disabilities while meeting the learning standards of Common Core for all of my students. However, I am not one to sit still and in my free time I would love to help other students improve their ELA skills and also learn to love writing and reading for its own sake. I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in my tutoring help!

Hello! My name is Sunny and I am an experienced tutor in the Life and Biomedical Sciences. I am from the Cleveland greater area and am very familiar with the community. I earned my undergrad degree in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University and progressed towards earning a few more graduate degrees. I have a Masters in the Biomedical Sciences from Rutgers University and even a Medical Doctorate degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. I am now a medical doctor seeking to expand my tutoring experiences to online tutoring to help students achieve their goals. I have tutored students during my undergrad and graduate career. I experience with all levels of coursework.Currently, I am invested in helping students learn and master Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology, Anatomy, and more! I have an extensive list of experience teaching students. I have tutored students for nearly 8 years and I am continuing to do so by coming to the online tutoring world! If you need any help, please don't hesitate to contact me! WE CAN SUCCEED!Step 1 score: 238Step 2 score: 240

I'm a Ph.D. candidate in the Computer Science department at Stony Brook University. I have got strong background and substantial teaching experience in Computer Science and Mathematics. Right now I'm interested in tutoring Maths and Computer Science for high school students, college, and university students.My areas of expertise are listed as follows:-------------------------Computer Science-------------------------1. Programming Languages: C, C++, Python, NodeJS (Javascript), Go, OCaml, Shell Programming (Bash)2. Operating System: Cache Architecture, Memory Management, Process Synchronization, Inter-Process Communication(IPC), Semaphore, Mutex, Unix Socket Programming, Client-Server Architecture3. Web Development Technologies: HTML5, CSS3, ReactJS, JQuery, WebSocket (Socket.io), JSON, JWT4. Database: SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL), NoSQL (MongoDB, ElasticSearch)5. Basics of Computer Science6. Algorithm Design and Analysis with Data-Structures7. Theory of Computation8. Graph and Automata Theory-----------------------------------High School Mathematics-----------------------------------Sets, Relations, and functionsAlgebraCoordinate geometry (2D and 3D)CalculusMathematical reasoningProbability and statisticsVectorsComplex Analysis

I am a rising senior at Stony Brook University and I have just taken my Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Working with students and meeting their needs has been a major part of my life outside of school. I worked at a local tutorial while I attended Brooklyn Technical High School after taking the Specialized High School Exam (SHSAT). I taught the math portion of the SHSAT examination for multiple years and it was a rewarding experience for me as I saw many of my students get into their high school of choice. After high school, I entered Stony Brook University and had the pleasure of being a Teaching Assistant for Honors Chemistry. I will be finishing up my Bachelor's in Pharmacology and entering Dental School in the following year. Through my knowledge and years of practice in core and essential subjects such as math, chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry, I can help make your life much easier. I believe the best method for learning is understanding the concepts rather than memorizing it and this has proved to be rewarding in many ways, especially long term. Let me use my years of experience to help you understand in the most short, simple and straightforward manner possible.

I am a graduate of Stony Brook University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with a focus on Latin American History. I have also received a Master of Arts in TESOL education from New York University. I am certified in New York State to teach ESL K-12. I have spent more than 5 years teaching abroad mostly in South Korea. I instructed students of all ages and from countries such as Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. I tutored professionals looking to improve their business English, college students preparing for the TOEFL exam, and those looking to hone their conversational skills. My love of teaching English as a Second Language comes from growing up with a large immigrant family. I was inspired by them overcoming their language difficulties and using their English language ability with confidence. To truly be a successful tutor, especially in ESL, one must have compassion and patience. Having those qualities allows me to instill my students with confidence which in turn increases their English usage. You have to use it to improve it! In my spare time, I enjoy digging up old jazz and soul records, basketball, and being lazy with my dog.