Before joining XPRIZE James worked at Popular Mechanics magazine as Field Editor and Head of Outdoors where he ran all outdoor coverage for print and online. He left print editorial to work as a freelance writer, editorial consultant, and design researcher. He uses his seven years of experience in short and long form journalism, design, and communications to empower his work as Copywriter with XPRIZE.

His written work can be found in the New York Times, Delish Magazine, Peloton Magazine, Men's Health, Outside, and New York Magazine among others and his science and technology communications projects include scripting and producing the Discovery Channel podcast Curiosity Daily and working with startups including TeakOrigin. He has worked as a design researcher and experience designer with MINA Collective, IDEO, we3, and he is a founding member of the creative collective Chaotic Goods.

James graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Creative Writing and a minor in Environmental studies. In his free time he enjoys cycling, motorcycles, canoeing, fiction writing, dirtbag travel, and exploring greasy spoons.