Sheila Patel, MD

Is the Medical Director for Mind-Body Medical Group, an integrative health care program at the Chopra Global in Carlsbad, CA. A board-certified family physician and a certified instructor of Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation, she is passionate about the intersection of holistic healing practices and Western medicine, especially as it pertains to preventive medicine. In her role as Clinical Director for the Chopra Center’s research team, she enjoys the opportunity to highlight the role of mind-body practices and give them scientific validation. Her hope is that by confirming the benefits of integrative healing practices, more patients will gain access to these life-enhancing techniques.Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Mauris egestas at nibh nec finibus. Aenean eu justo sed elit dignissim aliquam.

Finian Makepeace

Is the co-founder of Kiss the Ground, an education and advocacy non profit devoted to regenerative agricultural, a farming practice that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds and enhances the functionality of ecosystems. A renowned presenter, media creator, and thought leader on soil health, he has developed training programs, workshops and talks to awaken people around the world to the importance of healthy soil microbes and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere -- and to empower them as agents of ecological change. A lifelong activist and former band leader, Makepeace combines his artistic vision with a striking ability to organize and advocate for a growing and diverse global community seeking to heal our planet.

Loren Poncia

Is the owner of Stemple Creek Ranch and 4th generation steward of its Tomales, CA farm land, is a pioneer in the carbon farming movement. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a major in Dairy Science and Ag Business, Poncia oversees Stemple Creek’s active preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat, maintenance and restoration of natural watershed areas, implementation of cutting edge solar and gravity flow technology and intensive rotational grazing schedule. Through his leadership and that of his wife Lisa, Stemple Creek Ranch is committed to progressive farming practices that fight climate change and enhance our ecosystems -- and to raising and finishing grass-fed beef that is tender, well-marbled, and tastes just as good as, if not better than, grain finished meat.

Jim Jensen

Is a sixth-generation sheep and cattle farmer at Jensen Ranch in Tomales, CA and an expert in land stewardship and conservation planning. Both on his own farm and in his roles as Stewardship Manager at Marin Agricultural Land Trust and with the Marin Carbon Project’s Implementation Task Force, he is an advocate for Carbon Farm Planning, a practice of maximizing the capacity of land to be healthy, productive and resilient -- and achieving measurable goals toward greenhouse gas sequestration and climate change mitigation. Jensen holds a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Natural Resources and a minor in Rangeland Resources Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

REBECCA BURGESS

Is the Founder and Executive Director of Fibershed, an organization developing regional and regenerative or “soil-to-soil” cycles of textile production around the country. Her work advocates carbon farming and regional manufacturing, and connects end-users to farms and ranches through public education. Both a writer and an educator, she is the author of the best-selling book Harvesting Color on the natural dye traditions of North America and has taught on the intersection of restoration ecology and fiber systems at Westminster College, Harvard University, and for various NGOs and corporations. She also serves as Board Chair for Carbon Cycle Institute.

Zach Bush, MD

Is one of the few triple board-certified physicians in the country, specializing in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Hospice/Palliative Care. His research focuses on the deadly effects of chemicals on the human body and how to combat them. His passion to restore human health, food and water security and food independence led him to create the docu-series Farmer's Footprint, exploring the social, economic and educational incentives to steer farmers away from conventional chemical agriculture practices and toward regenerative land management. He believes that through legislative reform and consumer education, we can create radical change in the mega-industries of big farming, big pharma, and western medicine at large.

Neka Pasquale, L.Ac, MS

Is a California state-licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, author and founder of Urban Remedy, an organic food company that blends cutting-edge nutrition with Traditional Chinese Medicine, embodying the belief that "food is healing."​ She founded Urban Remedy in 2009, after a decade of private practice in which she repeatedly saw the value of combining acupuncture and Chinese medicine with nutrition and lifestyle modifications. And from the life-changing results her patients experienced after just a few on her wellness retreats. Her book Urban Remedy aims to help people break bad habits, reset routines and intentions, and improve their health and nutrition.

Hemalee Patel, D.O

Is a leader in the lifestyle medicine movement. Board certified in Internal Medicine and certified in Ayurvedic medicine level 1 and 2, she believes that empowering people to make simple changes can afford optimal wellness to each of us. She focuses on the prevention and management of chronic diseases and on lifestyle approaches to optimize energy levels and productivity. Her integrative approach to medicine values an understanding of each patient’s personal values, lifestyle and concerns. She firmly believes in treating the whole person rather than just their symptoms. Dr. Patel is currently practicing at One Medical, California Pacific Medical Center and is also on staff at Stanford University Hospital.

BARBARA SATTLER, RN, MPH, DrPH

Is an international leader in environmental health and nursing. She works to integrate environmental health -- health risks associated with lead-based paint, pesticides, Superfund sites, gas and oil extraction methods such as fracking and more -- into nursing education, practice, research and policy/advocacy. She also advocates for the triple bottom line in healthcare organizations of employee health, patient health, and ecological health. Dr. Sattler is a Professor at the University of San Francisco, a founding member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She has advised the US EPA’s Office of Child Health Protection and the National Library of Medicine and is the author of Environmental Health and Nursing.

Rebecca Katz, MS

Is an author, speaker, teacher and trained chef, who advocates for the power of culinary medicine, using both flavor and nutrition to reduce chronic diseases and promote health. She is the founder and director of the Healing Kitchens Institute at Commonweal in Bolinas, CA, a non profit that trains healthcare professionals and patients how to translate nutritional science directly to the plate. She is the author of numerous cookbooks including The Healthy Mind Cookbook; Mood, Memory and Mental Vitality; The Longevity Kitchen and the award-winning Cancer-Fighting Kitchen and One Bite at a Time. She lectures and offers culinary demonstrations for leading healthcare institutions and universities across the country.

Tiffany Lester, MD

Is an internal medicine physician with specialized training in functional medicine, acupuncture, and nutrition. She is passionate about healing chronic disease through a comprehensive approach and teaching people how simple, small shifts can have an enormous impact on their health. She is the National Clinical Director of Community and the San Francisco Medical Director at Parsley Health, a groundbreaking new medical practice focusing on nutrition, prevention and wellness. By combining the best of both conventional and functional medicine, she navigates the complexity of the body to get to the root cause of disease. She is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen and more. Dr. Lester advises and practices: 98% healthy, 2% cupcakes.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Is an award-winning filmmaker, advocate, and founder of the non profit The Representation Project, which inspires individuals and communities to challenge limiting gender stereotypes and shift norms.  She has worked with women entrepreneurs around the world to create socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Her experiences as a female actor and producer in Hollywood led her to write, direct and produce the award-winning documentary film “Miss Representation” and subsequently launch The Representation Project. Newsom proudly serves as a member of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and also on the advisory boards for The Imagine Bus Project, The Common Sense Media Gender Initiative, and Emerge America. She is the First Partner of the State of California.

Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA

Served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States under President Obama. As America’s Doctor, she provided the nation with the best scientific information available on personal and public health. She also oversaw the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers working worldwide. Dr. Benjamin is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, awards and commendations, and in 1995, she was the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She was the 1998 United States recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and was recognized with the Papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2008, she was honored with a MacArthur Genius Award Fellowship.

Alice Waters

Is a chef, author, food activist, and the founder and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, CA. She believes that eating is a political act and that the table is a powerful means to social justice and positive change. A champion of local sustainable agriculture for over four decades, she is the founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project, which advocates for a free school lunch for all children and a sustainable food curriculum in every public school. Her honors include election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007; the Harvard Medical School’s Global Environmental Citizen Award, which she shared with Kofi Annan in 2008; and her induction into the French Legion of Honor in 2010. In 2015 she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama.

Anna Lappé

Is an author, advocate for food justice and sustainability, and advisor to funders investing in food system transformation. A recipient of the James Beard Leadership Award, her book Diet for a Hot Planet was named by Booklist and Kirkus as one of the best environmental books of the 2010. She is the founder or co-founder of three national organizations, including the Small Planet Institute and the Small Planet Fund, which she launched with her mother, Frances Moore Lappé. She co-directs Real Food Media, a non profit that decodes corporate spin, reveals the true cost of industrial food and explores how, together, we can transform the food system and create healthy, thriving communities. A frequent public speaker, her popular TEDx talks have been watched nearly one million times.

Andy Naja-Riese, MSPH

Is a creative, visionary, and compassionate leader with an extensive background in nutrition assistance and community agriculture programs. He currently serves as CEO of the Agricultural Institute of Marin and was previously Chief of the Program Integrity Branch of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, Western Region, where he oversaw the administration of $12 billion in benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, redeemed by 8 million low-income households at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retailers across nine states and territories. He believes that connecting agricultural producers directly with shoppers in farmers’ markets and food gardens is one of the most powerful ways to boost local economies.

Daniel Siegel, MD

Is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, a New York Times best-selling author and a practicing psychotherapist. An award-winning educator, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and founder of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion and empathy in individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Dr. Siegel's unique ability to make complicated scientific concepts exciting and accessible makes him a sought after speaker to professional, governmental and community audiences.

SHAUNA SHAPIRO, PhD

Is a professor at Santa Clara University, a clinical psychologist, author and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness. With twenty years of meditation experience studying in Thailand and Nepal, as well as in the West, Shapiro brings an embodied sense of mindfulness to her scientific work. Over one million people have watched her 2017 TEDx talk “The Power of Mindfulness" and her books include the critically acclaimed The Art and Science of Mindfulness and Mindful Discipline. She has been an invited speaker for the King of Thailand, the Danish Government, Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Summit, and the World Council for Psychotherapy, as well as for several Fortune 100 Companies. She is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, co-founded by the Dalai Lama.

DANIEL PARDI, PhD

Is the CEO of HumanOS, an application dedicated to helping you take care of your mind and body so that you can perform better. His research at both Stanford University and Leiden University (Netherlands) investigates how lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise and diet, exert influence on cognitive function and decision making. He works with high performing organizations in Silicon Valley and beyond, and with high performing individuals including a variety of US Military Special forces. He is the host of the podcast “HumanOS Radio” and a frequent contributor to the HumanOS.me blog. Daniel is a frequent guest on health and science podcasts on topics ranging from sleep, biohacking, optimizing cognitive performance, health, behavior, and lifestyle.

Paul Hawken

Is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author and activist who has dedicated his life to ecological sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. Among the environmental movement’s leading voices, his work includes founding successful, ecologically conscious businesses, writing several best-selling books about the impacts of commerce on living systems, and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy. A recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, Hawken has received six honorary doctorate degrees. More recently, he is the founder of Project Drawdown, a non profit dedicated to determining when and how global warming can be reversed.

Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac

Is a primary health care provider practicing acupuncture and manual therapies, Western and Chinese herbs, and nutritional medicine. He is the co-founder with his wife Ingrid Bauer, MD of Five Flavors Herbs, a company supplying single herb extracts for clinical use to health care professionals. A great deal of these herbs are collected from the wild, grown by local Bay Area farmers farmers or come from conservation-minded companies. From his clinical experience working with autistic and severely disabled young adults and children, people with HIV, AIDS and other physical disabilities, among others, arises his belief that when people are supported without judgment to make lifestyle changes, amazing results are possible.

Ingrid Bauer, MD

Is an integrative physician who emphasizes affordable, effective, culturally-appropriate therapies with her patients. She enjoys teaching about herbal medicine for Western medical practitioners, and sharing Western medical knowledge with the herbal community. She currently serves as Medical Director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, a California-based non profit herbal medicine research organization. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked in organic agriculture and farmworker advocacy. She practices at La Clinica de la Raza, a community health center in East Oakland, CA, as well as at several local hospitals. Dr. Bauer also owns and operates Five Flavors Herbs with her husband Benjamin Zappin L.Ac.

Karinn Gallagher, L.Ac

Is the founder of AcuPop, a mobile acupuncture and wellness clinic that uses aromatic essential oils, meditative sounds and gentle hands-on therapy to calm all that noise inside and out.  By working therapeutically with the whole body, she believes we become more enduring and stable in this ever-changing world. Equally passionate about sports medicine, pain management and reproductive health, her overriding goal is to help her patients to thrive on their own internal wisdom. She is an advisor to Rupa Health, an innovative healthcare startup matching patients with holistic practitioners, and she is the resident acupuncturist at The Assembly in San Francisco.

Anna Hughes

Is one of the Bay Area’s most beloved and respected yoga teachers and teacher trainers. She began practicing yoga as a teenager, after a childhood pursuing dance. She completed her 500-hour Bikram teacher training in 2002 has been teaching full time ever since. Influenced by various styles, she is most at home the vinyasa tradition and the space it allows for creativity and spirituality. Yoga helps Anna be her best, most authentic self, and she is honored to share these tools to help others do the same. She teaches public classes at Yoga Flow in San Francisco and Metta Yoga Studio in Corte Madera, CA, as well as offering private sessions and group retreats.

Kevin Paris

Is an award winning singer-songwriter, self-described hug dealer and pioneer yoga musician. Equally at home in the traditional music scene and the vibrant yoga and live music scene, he has toured the world playing nearly 2000 shows as a 100% independent artist. He has shared stages and lineups with artists including Stephen Marley, Michael Franti, Magic Giant, Trevor Hall, Xavier Rudd, Nahko and Diplo. Since training as a yoga teacher in 2012, Paris has played for over 1000 yoga classes at festivals, retreats and events worldwide. No matter the venue, his unmistakable, feel-good music uplifts, connects and keeps the movement moving.