Security Check: Jason Trost is Connecticut bred, NYC-transplant living in London. He is the the CEO of Smarkets, a betting exchange for trading sports, politics and entertainment events.

What’s your historical London and New York connection?
Before moving to London, I lived in NYC between 2005 and 2007 at 22nd and Broadway. My flat had a balcony looking onto the Flatiron building, which was great. I reverse commuted to UBS in Stamford, which took me 80 min door to door. That was painful but I did enjoy napping on the train before and after work.  I have lived in London since 2007 working on Smarkets.

Describe your experience in London as a New Yorker.
When I first got to London, the lack of convenience was a huge shock for me. The neighbourhoods were very spread out and it took an hour to get anywhere. Things shut early. In NYC you can be anywhere in 15 min and everything is open late. I still bemoan the lack of convenience, but London makes up with it by having heaps of charm. Even after living in London for six years, I can turn the corner on some small street and discover a new, secret world…like Samuel Johnson’s house! It’s wedged between modern law offices and Fleet Steet. But if you stand in front of his house, you feel like you’re in the 18th century.

How can NYC and London best engage with each other?
There are a lot of NYLON companies setting up offices on both sides of the Atlantic. I think the common interests in music, film, business, etc. along with a common language already has British and American cultures linked pretty tightly. The availability of good air links makes hopping between the two cities relatively easy. I think NYC and London will continue to interact with each other pretty effortlessly

Favorite NYC secret spot: Burger Joint in the Parker Meridian hotel. Amazing burger place literally hidden in the corner of a hotel lobby.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Right now, I’m pretty happy in London but would like to move back to the States at some point.

In flight entertainment >>>
What’s playing in your headphones right now? Anything by Hammock
What are you currently reading? Deadwood by Pete Dexter

From the 3460 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LONDON