Hayden is a graduate of Pacific Union College in St. Helena, California, near Napa with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in film and television. He has worked for the Capital Press, Malheur Enterprise, and Columbia Gorge News newspapers. He spends time outdoors and nerds out over movies and TV shows indoors. He appreciates superhero, horror, action, and mystery movies.

He has a black cat named Apollo and does some freelance design work in addition to hosting game nights with his friends. Hayden works at the Salem corporate office.