I’m Stacey. I am an artist, a painter. After getting a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, I spent years “hustling,” working various kinds of painting jobs; i.e., production painting, set design, mural work, specialty painting for architects, etc. to support my “real” work as a painter trying to show my work in galleries, get grant money, and make a name for myself so I could make a living.

I later got a “doctorate equivalency” masters degree in Fine Arts from the U of MN. I also modeled, mostly runway, for many years.

Then, I became a mom and did mostly that and art for almost a decade. When I came out of my “momming” cocoon, I was engaged to an investment banker who wanted to compete in body building.

I gave body building a shot and ended up competing nationally for a few years. I became a coach (certified trainer and fitness nutrition specialist) to support that habit which took me into the Covid-19 lock-downs.

I crossed a Rubicon in that lonely year. I saw, in a way I hadn’t seen before, what was happening in the world. It changed me. I became an investigator/researcher and applied to law school at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law.

I earned two more Master’s Degrees in Legal Studies with a focus on civil litigation and Dispute Resolution. I became an expert in extremism. I got certified in Justice, Government Studies, Computer Science, OSINT, HUMINT, and Intelligence Analysis.

I worked for a short time as an Intelligence Officer at a private intel firm and briefly as an Investigative Reporter on an extremism beat. Now, I’m looking for work in Justice Reform and Research while writing StartMakingSense, doing contributing research for an international intelligence and security firm, and doing volunteer OSINT for Skull Games (and hopefully doing volunteer work for the Great Northern Innocence Project).

I have spent years researching the extreme right-wing in its various iterations and its connections with right-wing political and religious organizations. I’m writing about what I’ve learned, about extremism and other things of value.

I’m 54 years old and have been in recovery from drug & alcohol addiction for 34 years. I’m also in recovery from PTSD, disordered eating, and smoking. I am extremely introverted, but not online. I have a lot to say.