Connect How did your love story begin?

After a vision of her future husband during a meditation retreat, Melissa moved from her home of 12 years in Oregon to Arizona on pure intuition. The first event she attended was hosted by Akshay’s friend, who introduced them. She’d heard him say on a podcast that, as a Marine, he was “more afraid of asking a woman on a date than going to war,” so she asked him out. They’ve built a peaceful, thriving marriage that’s withstood raising $1M for his solo Antarctic expedition and 4 months apart.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Our favorite memory is when we reunited in the Punta Arenas, Chile airport after Akshay spent 60 days skiing solo across Antarctica. We only had brief satellite calls, no video, no touch. Melissa ran into his arms, crying. His beard was full, he hadn’t showered in weeks, and I didn’t care. That hug held everything...distance, fear, love, and the strength it took to come back to each other. In that moment, words couldn’t capture the joy and relief of finally being in each other’s arms again.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’d invest $20,000 to grow our mission: guiding high performers to reach the heights of peak performance and the depths of romantic partnership. Through our books, workshops, and coaching, we teach the mindset and tools to thrive in both purpose and love. This funding would amplify our impact, helping more people create relationships that elevate ambition, strengthen connection, and become the foundation for a life of meaning, impact, and enduring love.