Landon Swanson
EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.
The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.
This week’s conversation is with parishioner and volunteer, Landon Swanson.
How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since 2017.
Which service do you typically attend?
The 11:15am.
Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. My mother, my grandmother, and her sister and brother—all of us went to church every Sunday.
My mother passed away when she was only 37 years old and I was very young. After her death I attended church on and off through middle school but by high school I questioned a lot. Between that and my father’s anger toward the church I stopped going.
What brought you back to the church?
I was already doing things that exposed me to the church. A restaurant I managed was well-loved by the Roman Catholic community so I hung out with a lot of priests. We’d play chess and card games and drink wine and have conversations.
Another reason was random curiosity. But a lot of it was my wife, Erika. She has a theology degree so she was able to help me navigate the gray shades in between the black and white I knew.
What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
It’s the only church I’ve found as an adult that gives me a full meditative experience. I can sit for 90 minutes and the world doesn’t intrude and I have time to just be. It’s one of the few churches where I can do that. I also love the incense and the singing.
What about that is important to you?
Our homes are always busy, and there are relationships at work and at home that need attention. Life is so busy that I sometimes lose sight of where I want to be—and I forget to reflect. Church is my time to focus on my relationship with God and figure out what I need to work on.
How are you involved in the parish?
I’m passionate about Outreach. I was involved with creating "Kitchen on a Mission” and am one of the kitchen leaders for the cooking that volunteers do for Primavera Men’s Shelter on the third Sunday of every month.
What about outreach energizes you?
I think it’s unfair to see people go without. It doesn’t matter what someone’s story is. Everyone should have food. It’s a basic necessity of life.
I grew up quite poor. When I was 15 years old my father left to take a job that had him leave for months at a time. I worked in restaurants so I would have food for myself.
As I got older I realized the basic dignity of having enough to eat. I believe it’s important to take care of our community.
What do you do professionally?
I work for Pueblo Vida Brewing Company and am the Director of Brewing Operations. It’s a fancy title which means I run all manufacturing related to production.
It’s a very local craft brewery. We make everything here in Tucson and sell a little to Phoenix.
How’d you get involved in that?
My undergraduate degree is in Biology and I like drinking beer, so brewing was always a hobby for me. I am fascinated with fermentation (micro-biology). It seems fitting that Louis Pasteur and I share the same birthday!
I first attended college in Oregon and the beer there tasted good. But when I returned to South Dakota, I noticed a real difference in the beer I tasted—and it wasn’t good. I started to brew beer at home and had some success. And it was fun!
Your path wasn’t linear, though. Was it?
Not at all! After finishing my Biology degree I started a Masters in Ornithology with a focus on geese and waterfowl. (There’s a lot of water up north.)
My first job after finishing school was with the National Park Service. I loved the birds but eventually realized that government bureaucracy isn’t for me. I want to be a doer instead of a watcher.
So I got a part-time restaurant job, worked my way into a managerial role, and then bought into a restaurant group.
My partners and I focused on a farm-to-table model on both the east and west ends of South Dakota. Success in business attracts developers who always want you to do more. We were invited to expand so we decided that it would be a good idea to open a brewery. Seven years later I sold the restaurants and brewery and moved to Tucson.
What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m pretty proud of what I’ve become given where I came from.
Would you share some of that?
I grew up in a family with lots of fractures on both sides. My father found parenting hard. I was 15 years old when he left and from then until I graduated from high school I was on my own.
I lived in a town with about 25,000 people. I had two friends who lived in the countryside. Their parents wanted them to be in my school district so they would live with me during the week.
It was a hard place. Everybody I hung out with in high school is either dead, in prison, or living a rough life.
What helped you create a different story?
I knew that I wanted to do things and experience life. I was also fortunate to have the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Ackierman, take me under her wing. We reconnected a few years ago. That was very special.
What’s one of your guiding principles?
I try not to judge people from what I see on the outside because I don’t know what’s going on in the inside.
How does that serve you?
It helps me stop and get to know someone that I might not normally. Ultimately I try to be a decent human being. When I die I want to know I gave this life my best shot.
How does your faith influence decisions you make?
There is the world of evangelism and I’m not a giant fan of pushing what I believe on someone else. But I am a big fan of showing people that I attempt to do my best at being a reasonable human being.
My faith powers my actions and I want to be an example that would invite someone else to consider exploring their faith. I prefer to try to be an example rather than an evangelist.
What’s one of your super powers?
I’m pretty good at recognizing when someone is struggling. If it’s someone I know then I can call baloney when they try to pretend everything is ok. And then, of course, I try to help!
What do you do just for fun?
Pretty much my favorite thing to do is ride my bike. I love to ride anywhere but my preferred surface is off-road.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I was a jazz percussionist. I wanted to be a jazz musician but I couldn’t afford to finish my degree at Portland State University in Oregon. But I still play drums and percussion instruments.
Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.