What drives a man with a seemingly successful life in the United States to give up everything and live in a converted motorhome? For Joe Felz, the answer was disappointment and a desire to ‘disconnect’. Following an unexpected divorce, his search for authenticity led him to Costa Rica. In just seven months, he has run barefoot, gone canyoning, and caught his first tuna. This is the story of how the outdoors and the Tico pace became his radical new reality.
Today, although he has contracts near the beach, his heart resides in the mountains of Alajuela, living a life that finally feels authentic. Here we tell you his story…
Joe Felz is originally from Papua New Guinea, where his parents were missionaries to tribes that were formerly cannibals. “My mother gave birth to me without painkillers, and my father delivered me himself. I was very sick as a child, so we left when I was only a few months old, and I grew up in the southern United States,” he recounted at the beginning.
Everything was going well in the United States and he had achieved a lot, but a sudden and unexpected divorce from his wife and subsequent family betrayal led him to leave in search of a culture with some glimmer of true kindness, “since I had found little empathy in the United States, not even among my own descendants. In my opinion, the United States has become a selfish and self-centered country, dominated by the pursuit of profit and consumed by endless internal division.”
In search of stability, he moved into an isolated mobile home that he adapted and began to travel constantly.
What drives a man with a seemingly successful life in the United States to give up everything and live in a converted motorhome? For Joe Felz, the answer was disappointment and a desire to ‘disconnect’. Following an unexpected divorce, his search for authenticity led him to Costa Rica. In just seven months, he has run barefoot, gone canyoning, and caught his first tuna. This is the story of how the outdoors and the Tico pace became his radical new reality.
“When I found out that not recycling Imperial bottles incurs a surcharge, I started thinking about life here. What finally convinced me was that Alx, my lifelong partner, could eat without getting sick. In the United States, she had great difficulty eating anything without discomfort, but Costa Rican food agreed with her differently. So, after two trips of intense searching, we decided to take the plunge and buy a small farm,” he said.
Joe has been in Costa Rica for seven or eight months now, and he has enjoyed every minute of it, especially in the northern part of the country. “Alx and I have traveled extensively throughout Alajuela, even as far as Los Chiles, where I crossed the border into Nicaragua on foot with my good friend Gary Rojas (I believe that crossing the border on foot is an experience that all Americans should have before commenting on the ability of others to do so).”
Almost all of his trips have been for outdoor activities: he has run barefoot along trails in Guanacaste National Park, jumped into the blue waterfalls of Dos Ríos, stalked howler monkeys in Barra Honda National Park, and surfed in the waters of Playa Negra. He told us that one of his favorite experiences has been rafting in Sarapiquí and canyoning with Suresh on his Desafío team in La Fortuna, which can be terrifying and tempting at the same time, and fishing with North Pacific Charters in Coco Beach, where he caught his first tuna.
He chose to settle in the mountains of Alajuela, but currently has a contract on a property near the beach and countless new CR contacts from social media that, in his opinion, he needs to get to know.
What inspires you about Costa Rica?
While geography and energy initially drew Felz to Costa Rica, it is the warmth of the people that has sealed his emotional commitment to the country. The authenticity of the people has had a profound impact on him.
“After visiting several traditional Tico homes where I experienced genuine kindness and authentic love from complete strangers, I cried my eyes out when I realized: I love Pura Vida!” he said.
His admiration centers on the simplicity and lack of artifice in everyday life: “I love people without schedules. I love people who want another cup of coffee. I love people who come over for dinner and leave the next day. I love homemade drinks.”
For him, this humility is in stark contrast to what he perceived in the United States. “I love everything about these people and their humble way of life. They are not pretentious or arrogant, nor do they pretend to be something they are not,” he said. The depth of these connections is summed up in a personal comparison: “I can honestly say that my best friend Wilbert has treated me with more kindness than all my brothers combined in a tenth of the time.”
When asked what he wanted to be when he was a child, Joe replied that he just wanted to be popular. No one in his family was a laborer, and he had to call contractors to fix anything that broke at home. He always admired construction workers who could fix anything and would go out for beers with them in their ripped jeans as soon as they finished work. “I think what I was imitating was their apparent independence, their ability to create something real with their hands, and the arrogance with which they walked around. I also had a great love for animals, especially snakes, and I planned to be a herpetologist until my senior year of high school, when I realized I had never seen a single job posting for a herpetologist. To be honest, I always lived in my own little world, population 1, consumed by numerous and varied interests, fueled by an insatiable curiosity for all things unknown and misunderstood.”
Joe Felz’s defining characteristics
There are two fundamental pillars that define his life: unreserved passion and uncompromising moral integrity. Felz admits that he throws himself into every project “with all his strength and intensity, regardless of the dangers or obstacles.” However, it is his moral code that seems to be his anchor: “I have never compromised my morals for anyone or anything, and I never will. I admit that I am a flawed and sinful man, but I have the purest heart you will ever find, and I live my values openly.” After acknowledging the mistakes of his youth, his adult life has focused on emulating the genuine actions of Jesus, beyond imposed interpretations.
At 39, Felz reveals a singular mind. His cognitive tests place him in the top 99.8% of the world’s population, a peculiarity that, according to him, makes it difficult to connect with ordinary people. Despite having thousands of contacts, he values few true friends. This trait aligns with nearly four years of uninterrupted travel, driven by a constant desire to explore the remote. Costa Rica is his first residence outside the US, but this “nomad through and through” already has his sights set on the horizon: “My plan is to explore the wild places of the world until I find one that loves me and I love it back. Will it be here in Costa Rica?”
Among his dreams is to find a small country without a stable power grid and exchange a solar power system for acceptance into their community and autonomous territory. “I will bring with me a complete set of Western knowledge in technology, digital, marketing, construction, finance, and solar energy, along with a deep understanding of American systems, for any country that wants to compete with the Western Beast,” he added.
In everything he does, Felz is inspired and driven by this life of extremes, which he sees as an internal compass with seemingly inexhaustible energy. He explains that, like ancient cultures and Polynesians who navigated guided only by the stars, his guide is not external inspiration, but his own conscience, intuition, and soul. “I don’t need inspiration because I embody it. I just need a clear goal and a little less bureaucracy.”
Who did he inherit his multifaceted nature from? Joe pointed out that he inherited his multifaceted nature from his father, Mike Felz. He was a brilliant medical researcher and a fanatical endurance athlete, qualifying for and finishing the Boston Marathon several times and even completing a triathlon at the age of 54. “In addition to being an unconditional human being, he was also the most intentional and impactful father a son could wish for, instilling in me the morality, responsibility, courage, resilience, and faith that make up my inner psyche.”
Joe said that his closeness to Christ is undoubtedly due to his twice-daily Bible readings, which he dreaded as a child but now treasures in his soul.
“My father always pushed me to strive for personal excellence, not just to outperform others, and to this day I compete only with myself, a quality that has taken my life to new heights. Although he is now dying of Parkinson’s disease in a nursing home, I still revere and respect him for dedicating his entire life to improving others, and every time I run in the cold and strong headwind, I know it is my dad who pushes me to keep going,” he added.
When asked how he would like to be remembered, his answer is straightforward: “As the most genuine person who ever walked this Earth; a man who devoted his entire being to what he felt was right, regardless of opposition, and kept his eyes on the prize without ever taking a step back.” His wish is to have lived with his heart on his sleeve, his words in his chest, his head in the clouds, and his feet firmly on the ground.
Professional training and experience
Joe Felz’s professional career is as diverse as his personal life, ranging from certified construction to cutting-edge alternative energy.
In the United States, Felz has solid credentials in the construction industry: he is a licensed builder and electrician in Georgia, and is licensed in South Carolina to manage all necessary permits for the construction of single-family homes and apartment buildings.
It is worth noting that, in the United States, licenses are granted both by state and by trade.
Beyond construction, he defines himself as a professional international real estate investor. His experience spans the entire spectrum, from reselling land to managing unique accommodations as an Airbnb host in his own properties. It is crucial to note that Felz distinguishes himself from traditional real estate agents: “I am an off-market real estate expert with a proven track record, having bought and sold around 300 homes without a mortgage.”
He does not define himself as a real estate agent.
Alternative Energy
Despite his success in real estate, Felz confesses that energy from an alternative perspective is his true specialty. He has spent more than three years living off the grid, experimenting with most known energy systems.
His career has been marked by pioneering achievements: ✓ Historic Solar Pyrolysis. He recently made history alongside Julian Brown by powering the first microwave pyrolysis machine entirely with solar energy. He describes this milestone as one of the high points of his career: “Seeing gas made from sunlight and trash.”
Research and Development (R&D): In addition, he has been actively researching wireless transmission with Parker Edmundson and collaborating on product R&D with Eric Lundgren and Marshall Neipert at BigBattery, Inc.
Regarding Joe Felz personal brand and his companies
His personal brand is described as “very strong,” attracting nearly 1.2 million followers online. He is recognized for his boldness, authenticity, creativity, and efficiency. Currently, this brand translates into collaborations with major American companies such as Jabaroma Deodorants and Big Battery Solar Products.
Joe Felz has diversified his experience in construction and energy across several business units, each with its own slogan:
Felz Investment with the slogan: “People before profits.”
Felz Energy and its slogan: “Own your energy.”
Felz Media: “Reality TV lives here.”
Felz Vans: “Find your freedom.”
And Creative Construction, whose motto is “This ain’t HGTV, cuz.”
It owns and operates eight different companies, seven in the US and one in Costa Rica. It is involved in various industries and has created a synergistic network of interconnected companies: Felz Energy Consultants, solar and renewable energy; Felz Media Group, media, marketing, and web production; FelzApps, mobile application development; Felz Vans, off-grid van conversion; Felz Investment Group, international real estate investment and development; Creative Construction, construction and renovation company; Firethorn Realty, real estate agency; Firethorn Homebuyers, national investment group.
Here in Costa Rica, Felz Energy, Felz Media, and Felz Investment have partnered with Big Battery, Inc. to build a renewable energy training center that I have named Reality.
Beyond everything else and his professional slogans, Felz has distilled life lessons through endurance sports, translating them into mantras applicable to all aspects of his existence:
✓ Intensity and focus, intensity and focus.
✓ You’ve been here before, how long can you stay here?
✓ God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
“I have many personal mantras, many of which I developed while running ultramarathons and have applied to the rest of my life,” he said.
What led you to the world of content creation?
Contrary to what you might expect from someone who grew up without television and who “practically lives in a cave,” Joe Felz has built a powerful digital presence. His entry into the world of marketing and content creation was deliberate and with a clear purpose.
Felz did not have social media until May 2022, when he moved into his van, “El Suave,” as an act of abandoning conventional society. His initial motivation was pragmatic: “If people see that I can start businesses, make millions, build houses, and run marathons, maybe they will respect me; and if they respect me, they will listen to what I have to say.”
The central message that drove his entire media presence (television shows, podcasts, social media, and articles) is an urgent call for sustainability: “America, you need to make your houses smaller and more efficient because you’re wrecking up the planet.”
Despite his recent entry into the digital ecosystem, he has demonstrated a special gift for media, excelling in storytelling, videography, and editing. He has managed to build all his platforms organically, without paying a penny for promotion or media assistance.
Application Innovation
In 2023, Joe expanded his impact to application development. He launched two management tools: FelzHouse and FelzHouse Manager, used to oversee all his international renovations. In addition, he created FelzCalc, a completely free solar calculator that allows users to verify the electrical compatibility of solar equipment and generate professional wiring diagrams for installation.
Although he is relatively new to the media, he feels that he has arrived to leave a lasting mark that will benefit people in the digital world long after he is gone.
Solar energy and community engagement
Joe Felz not only claims to be an expert in solar energy; his track record demonstrates a deep understanding of energy in all its forms. “I understand energy perfectly: what it is, how it moves, where it is found,” he says, adding that he himself lives entirely off solar energy.
His specialty is the challenge of mobile solar energy. He has demonstrated his technical prowess by powering homes with his truck, running a microwave pyrolysis machine with a trailer, building his own solar power system from scratch, and even constructing an off-grid bus where three people lived for two consecutive years.
The hybrid project in Costa Rica
Today in Costa Rica, Felz is designing a hybrid renewable energy system that seeks to generate electricity from water, wind, and sun, based on the observation that days without sun tend to have wind or rain. This system will integrate Big Battery’s new Nexus batteries and three Apex inverters, which offer unprecedented features such as the ability to switch AC outputs between 120V, 230V, and 208V three-phase. Together with a perpetual generator powered by water and gravity, this system is designed to produce between 80 and 110 kWh per day, far exceeding the complex’s consumption (10 to 20 kWh). Felz has already trained a generation in the United States and plans to replicate this work in Costa Rica, offering classes and seminars on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to promote practical self-sufficiency.
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his community contribution plans are straightforward and measurable: 1. Free Training: They will offer free classes to Costa Ricans in renewable energy, electricity, and construction skills, training the new workforce and easing pressure on the national grid. 2. Surplus Donation: Plans to freely offer surplus energy (between 70 and 100 kWh per day) to the Costa Rican government to be applied to the accounts of indigent Costa Ricans with overdue bills. “If the batteries are full, the sun shining on the panels won’t do them any good, so it makes sense to give away what I so generously receive every day,” he explained.
Regarding his volunteer work, Felz detailed two recent initiatives: School support, where his friend Zeidy, director of a local school system, asked him for help with electrical renovations in a large classroom. Felz went there, drew up a complete list of materials, a diagram, and the scope of the work. She will manage the materials donated by local businesses, and he will meet with the electricians when they are ready. And conservation: he also plans to join his friend Wilbert, who does volunteer work with alligators, to participate in alligator counts in March of this year, 2026.
More details about Joe Felz
The intensity Felz brings to his business and philosophy is directly reflected in his personal life, which is dominated by extreme endurance sports and a deep immersion in ancient history.
Felz is recognized in his hometown as a serious endurance athlete. His accomplishments include winning 50-mile, 40-mile, and 25-mile races, as well as multiple obstacle course competitions. His list of achievements is rounded out by a 3-mile open water swim and victories in CrossFit competitions.
He has a box of ultrarunning medals that weighs about 35 pounds.
“I’ve been a combat sports enthusiast my whole life; I turned down the opportunity to wrestle in college and have been training in kickboxing and MMA since I was 13,” he said.
Outside of athletics, his curiosity is directed toward the immemorial. He is deeply interested in archaeology, anthropology, and ancient history, driven by the search for lost civilizations. This search recently took him to Central America, where he participated in a unique excavation: “I personally unearthed an artifact that we believe contains a lost city at the end of an underground tunnel.”
Personally and professionally, what can’t Joe Felz do without?
Personally, his driving force is purpose. He rejects simple tasks: “I don’t want to build a house with a blueprint and a pile of dimensional lumber; I want to build one with three tools and a bunch of junk, with a wind turbine to power the renovations. I don’t want to install a hydroelectric system; I want to design a perpetual generator that runs on water.” His pleasure lies in solving complex problems in unconventional ways that result in a net effect: people taking less advantage of planet Earth.
Professionally, his response confirms what we have already explored: his businesses are not mere ventures, but manifestations of his passions. “My businesses are all wrapped up in my personal interests; I don’t have business projects. I have personal passions disguised as business projects.”
For Joe Felz, what is the best way to contribute to caring for the planet?
For Joe, his devotion to protecting the Earth drives his actions more than anything else. His commitment translates into a lifestyle of minimal impact, rejecting what he considers unnecessary luxuries: “I only have five changes of clothes, I usually eat only once a day, I have a pair of sandals, and I avoid hot water and air conditioning, considering them luxuries that are not granted to other animals, and I believe I should not allow myself that either.”
He has lived off the grid for three and a half years, using only solar energy and making renovations with renewable sources, as he maintains that energy comes from the Earth and believes that it cannot be bought or sold.
Particularly concerned about plastic waste, which he considers permanent, Felz joined Julian Brown this fall on a bold mission. Together, they became the first in history to operate microwave pyrolysis using solar energy and disconnected from the power grid. This achievement, which required two attempts to power Julian’s 14 kWh “Mark” build, is seen by Felz as an amazing feat of engineering.
His core belief is that humanity was put on Earth to be a steward, not to violate it.
Joe Felz Difficult moments
Reflecting on the difficult moments that shape character, Joe Felz shares one of the most painful and costly lessons of his life, summed up in a biblical and financial maxim: Those who give have no limits, and those who receive have no limits.
He recounted ten years of total dedication to a woman he met in 2012 in a state of extreme vulnerability: devastated by bulimia, weighing 97 pounds, mentally unstable, evicted, and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes due to her diet. Felz stepped in by providing a total recovery environment: the first house he ever bought, healthy food, a gym he built himself, and payment of all her bills. The result was an apparent miracle: in less than three years, he overcame depression and diabetes, and they conceived two children. During that time, he bought his four cars and three custom homes.
The relationship broke down in May 2022 when she filed for divorce. The consequences, in Joe’s opinion, were devastating: he lost his childhood home, a six-bedroom, three-bathroom property valued at $500,000 that he had just renovated. He was ordered to pay child support and alimony in excess of $8,000 per month, “even though she had no debts or bills to pay.” The hardest blow was being barred from seeing his children, on the grounds that it was unsafe for them, despite a recent visit.
This experience led him to quote 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.”
How does Joe Felz envision himself in the future?
Despite personal and professional challenges, Joe maintains an ambitious agenda that ranges from in-depth research to creating a lasting legacy.
He plans to delve deeper into the world of ancient artifacts, with talks already underway for a documentary. His research will focus on archaeology and ancient frequency energy. At the same time, he is venturing into the arts: he is writing, and is already 17% of the way through the final draft of his first book, which will be titled “Scant Chance of Success: Part 1 Gone,” and is halfway through a thesis on the evolution and mutations of Homo sapiens. He has also been focusing on music, writing his first song dedicated to his brother Daniel and negotiating with a record label for his debut album. And he has plans to create FelzCast, his own streaming platform.
His top priority is personal: “I have to get my kids (Lilly and Mikey) back,” a path he describes as uncertain.
In Costa Rica, his specific missions include: Completing the farm and building the energy center, organizing the “Joe experience” for visitors. Finalizing work with Julian Brown on the “Mark V” mobile solar pyrolysis bus and understanding frequency energy. Publicly launching his FelzHouse app and completing the Felz Investment website for his properties in Costa Rica. Launching his album and visiting ancient ruins in South and Central America.
It was a real pleasure for us to talk to Joe, despite the obstacles that arose. We hope that all his projects are successful, always benefiting others and conserving all the blessings of our planet.
If you want to follow Joe Felz‘s every move, you can follow him on social media: Instagram and TikTok @joefelz, Facebook as Joe Alx Felz, and YouTube as Joe Felz.
