Hi, I’m Dan.

I’m a writer — but also a bit of a dabbler, with a growing list of careers that includes investigative reporting, meditation teaching and sports betting.

As a journalist, I worked for Mountain State Spotlight, The East Bay Times, The Times-Picayune, Bloomberg News and other outlets. My reporting on West Virginia jails led directly to lawmakers repealing a jail secrecy law. While at the East Bay Times, my work on in-custody deaths and shoddy government accounting spawned investigations and reform.   

I’m from New Orleans and graduated from the University of Colorado in 2006. In 2009, I completed a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Oregon. That summer, I spent four months working for a newspaper in Ghana.

I’m also a certified instructor in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and have taught over 20, 8-week courses in addition to conducting workshops for organizations and businessess.

In 2024, I embarked on a new venture as a professional sports bettor. I currently manage a data-driven betting portfolio across major U.S. sportsbooks and partner with other professionals on developing sharp betting tools and strategies.

As a CASA volunteer, I advocate for children in the foster care system, working to ensure their voices are heard in court and that their best interests are prioritized.

I live in Mandeville, Louisiana, with my wife, dog, and two cats.

Feel free to check out some my writing work. I can be reached via email at daniellawton@protonmail.com.