Who is Shaun Galanos?

Why I'm still single, what my work life looks like, and what's around the corner

Who’s Shaun?

At the time of this writing, I'm a 41-year-old, straight male love coach living in Montreal, Canada. And I'm still trying to figure out what life and love are all about. Single, child-free, and living with a 10-year-old blind dog, I have a confused but curious and open outlook on life, love, and work.

My big dreams include finding a partner, writing a book, and developing a TV show. I recently recorded a segment on dating for a local TV station and can’t wait for more opportunities to speak to a large audience.

I won't say I've done it all and seen it all, but my past work experience includes tech sales, taxi driver, Panamanian hostel owner, erotic masseur (more on this later, I promise), ski/bike/climb bum, and most recently, the love coach that you've probably seen on Instagram, helping people lead with vulnerability, authenticity, and playfulness. This trio of qualities are the pillars of a sustainable and fulfilling life, and I try to model this in how I live my life.

I've lived in Montreal, Panama City, Austin, San Francisco, Boulder, and Flagstaff. Thanks to my parents for dragging me along when I was young; I've traveled to more places than I can remember and am always hungry to experience new places, cultures, and people. And I’m a creature of habit; I love returning to places I’ve been before to re-experience them in new ways.

You might wonder why a love coach is still single in his forties, and that’s a valid question. I wish I could say with certainty, but the real answer is closer to, I'm not quite sure.

It's probably a mix of continuing to uncover and heal childhood trauma, experiencing fomo with everything in life, some mild fear of intimacy and commitment, and an insecure attachment style that presents as avoidant but is most probably a mix of ambivalent/disorganized with some solid and secure traits, according to my therapist.

Or, as others have said, “those who can’t, teach.” 😂

Love is complicated, my dude, and I'm living that challenge with you. 

It's weird to say, but I'm great at my job. 

I love dissecting complex situations into bite-sized pieces of advice. I often see through people's challenges to deliver a simple but hard-to-implement solution that usually leads to clarity.

My work life consists of creating bite-sized videos on Instagram and, until recently, hosting online courses, groups, and private coaching. But working remotely via Zoom isn’t quite feeding my soul how I want it to, and if I can’t feed mine, I can’t heal yours.

I’ve recently started hosting retreats that open people's hearts and empower them to live for themselves and not others. I'm also moving towards speaking more often and offering live workshop experiences. Working with people in the flesh is a balm for my soul—and for theirs, too.

I’ve also identified a yearning to write more, slow down, stop churning out bite-sized content for people to consume, and get off the hamster wheel of create, create, create so that I can reflect, be, feel, and write my way through life. You might not know this, but there's a book inside me, and if I don't spend time cultivating the writer within, it won't ever see the light of day. 

So, here we are. Substack.

This is a place to share my dreams, past failures, and experiences that have made me who I am today. I aim to document my life while inspiring and inviting you to live with more vulnerability, authenticity, and playfulness.

This is an opportunity to write pieces that hopefully bring you some joy, a lol here and there, but more importantly, hope for a brighter future. Or at least some food for thought as you navigate the complexities of love and life.

Substack is for those who yearn to know me on a deeper level, want more than experience me in 30-second bursts via IG Reels, and want to support, witness, and champion the next chapter of my life while learning about yours, too.

I'm ready for my next act and would love for you to join me. Don’t get me wrong, a huge part of me is terrified of pivoting to becoming a more serious, consistent writer, but I’ve nearly always leaned into fear, and this is no different.

Another subscription? In this economy?

I know that we're all being buried by subscription services, and there are people, projects, and causes worth supporting if you want to see those endeavors flourish. 

I hope a behind-the-curtain look at my life, some deeper insights best suited to writing, and a smaller community to connect and grow alongside is worth $7/mo. 

Nowadays, a venti frappuccino and a decent tip will cost you $8. Or, it can go to growing a small but passionate corner of the internet dedicated to relational growth, bold vulnerability, and a playful attitude to love and life.

If you’re on board, then you’ve got three options:

• The free subscription gets you a free post or two each month. Some of my best writing from the archive. If you can’t support financially, being a free subscriber helps, too. Share the work you resonate with and leave comments.

• $7 a month gets you all my new posts, every episode of my new micro podcast called Voicemails To Dad (you can guess what it’s about), the ability to leave comments on private posts and build community, and all my archived content.

• $60 a year gets you everything that $7/mo gets you, but cheaper. Save $20 on a yearly subscription and commit to being here the whole year.

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By joining as a paid subscriber, you support my journey as a writer, but also get access to:

• Voicemails to Dad, an intimate look at my relationship with my dad. Monthly voicemails to my dad.

• A quarterly Zoom hang. Grab a coffee and hop on Zoom. Hang out with me and ask me anything. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, December 7th, at 9 AM Pacific, 12 Noon Eastern.

• My most intimate posts. Read them here.

• And more. I’m just starting here and have big plans to further develop what you’ll get with your paid subscription. Video with some of my writer friends, thought leaders, and experts, a special Q&A column where you can send in your questions, a la Dear Abby, and more. Stay tuned.

So, will you join me in this next chapter of life?