Our Speakers

Through a series of interviews that are conducted personally by John Robbins, and broadcast in our annual Food Revolution Summit, we bring you distilled wisdom from some of the world's top food revolutionary experts. These interviews are replayed in rotation on our site, excerpted in our blog posts, and incorporated into forthcoming books.

It is our privilege to share the insights from a leading edge team of doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, scientists, activists, coaches, political leaders, and teachers whose decades of hard-won wisdom have inspired hundreds of millions of people. We consider these visionary leaders to be the faculty of the Food Revolution Network.

2013 Food Revolution Summit Speakers: (roll mouse over picture for bio)

This father-son duo will finish up the summit with a loving call to action for your health and the health of your planet. They'll help you put what you've learned into delicious action, and to stop playing small and start changing the world. Dr. Dean Ornish is founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute. For over 35 years, he's been directing clinical research demonstrating that lifestyle changes can reverse heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and many forms of cancer. The author of 6 bestselling books, Dean has been a physician consultant to presidents and to bipartisan members of Congress. He was chosen by Life Magazine as One of the 50 most influential members of his generation. Dean's research proves that better diet can lead not only to better health, but also to more energy, more happiness, and even better sex! On Valentine's Day in 2003, Kris Carr was diagnosed with a very rare and incurable stage 4 cancer. Instead of giving up on life, she set out on a journey to understand the real sources of health and vitality, and wound up igniting a global wellness revolution. Millions of people, from soccer moms to Oprah Winfrey, look to Kris to help them find out how to look and feel better, lose weight, reduce stress and suffering, have more energy, and nourish their spirits. Kris' NY Times bestselling books include <em>Crazy Sexy Diet</em> and <em>Crazy Sexy Kitchen</em>. Her motto: Make juice not war! Dr. Mark Hyman is a family physician, a six-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, founder and medical director of <em>The UltraWellness Center</em>, and chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine. He also serves as medical editor for <em>The Huffington Post</em> and on the Medical Advisory Board of The Dr. Oz Show. Mark's <em>Blood Sugar Solution</em> program has inspired millions and been promoted by President Clinton, Mehmet Oz, and Pastor Rick Warren. Mark will empower you to treat the underlying causes of illness with good nutrition, and to have stronger immunity and more vitality. Cory Booker is the wildly popular 'superhero' mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He's jumped into burning buildings and performed CPR to save constituents, sprung into action to save dogs and cats, and overseen a tremendous drop in crime rates and an increase in economic vitality. Cory is a dedicated advocate for healthier lunches and better nutritional education in schools, for community gardens and farmer's markets, and for increasing access to healthy food in low-income communities. He will give you his top tips for effective advocacy, building a healthy food community, and living with passion. Robyn O'Brien's love of her kids led her to investigate the food her family was eating and where it came from. Her findings galvanized her to found <em>AllergyKids</em>, which is seeking to restore the integrity of the food supply and the health of children. With her wildly popular TED talks, books, magazine columns, and online advocacy, Robyn has become one of the most formidable forces in the food movement today. Find out why the New York Times has called her 'food's Erin Brockovich'. Get informed to have peace of mind and know you're making choices that will protect your family. Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder of the <em>Agape International Spiritual Center</em> in Los Angeles. He is a sought after speaker, meditation teacher, and retreat facilitator. Michael is the author of <em>Life Visioning, Spiritual Liberation~Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential, The Answer Is You, Forty Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, and TranscenDance Expanded</em>. He has appeared on <em>The Oprah Show, Larry King Live, Tavis Smiley</em>, and his own PBS special, <em>The Answer Is You</em>. Michael will help you restore reverence, beauty, and delight to your relationship with food and the earth community to which we all belong. Seane Corn is an internationally renowned yoga teacher and spiritual activist. She co-founded the organization <em>Off the Mat, Into the World</em> in 2007, and went on to create a ground-breaking fund and awareness raising effort called the <em>Global Seva Challenge Humanitarian Tours</em>, which have raised millions of dollars for international communities in need. Seane's teachings focus on the mind-body-spirit connection and understanding the shadow aspect of self for deep healing. In her sparkling yet down-to-earth manner, Seane will show you how to be an effective agent of change without ever coming across as a nag. Russell Simmons is cofounder of the billion-dollar <em>Def Jam Records</em> and the <em>Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</em>. USA Today named him one of the 'Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years.' Russell launched the <em>Hip-Hop Summit Action Network</em> to harness hip-hop on behalf of at-risk youth, and is the author of several NY Times bestsellers. A passionate voice for humane and healthy food, Russell led negotiations with KFC that caused them to require more humane practices from their suppliers, and has been named a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations. Thom Hartmann is one of the ten most popular talk show hosts in the United States, with more than 3 million daily radio listeners and a television program that is syndicated to over 600 million homes on Free Speech TV, RTTV, and 200+ public tv stations. Thom is bestselling author of 23 books on a vast array of topics including climate change, the connection between food and the environment, and the collapse of the middle-class. Listen to one of the most brilliant minds of our times. You'll learn how the toxic modern food culture came to be, and what you can do to transform it. Will Potter is an award-winning journalist who focuses on the animal rights and environmental movements, and civil liberties in a post-9/11 world. His reporting and commentary have appeared in media outlets including The Washington Post, NPR, Vice, and Rolling Stone. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, and has lectured at more than 100 universities and public forums. Will's book, <em>Green Is The New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege</em>, was awarded a Kirkus Star for 'remarkable merit.' His message will alarm you with disturbing truths, and galvanize you to make a difference. Mike Adams is a passionate advocate for personal and planetary wellness, whole foods nutrition, and health freedom. He is the founder and editor-in-chief for NaturalNews.com, which attracts more than 5 million unique visitors every month and is one of the 2,000 most popular websites in the world. Natural News offers a free daily email newsletter that reaches 400,000 active subscribers, as well as online radio and television channels to bring you the latest in natural health. Mike will share his top insights to help you lose extra pounds, protect your family from junky and toxic food, and take advantage of the latest breakthroughs in natural living. Kathy Freston is one of the world's most prominent health and wellness activists. She is the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books including <em>The Lean: A Revolutionary 30 Day Plan for Healthy Lasting Weight Loss</em>. A media favorite, Kathy has appeared frequently on national television, including <em>Ellen, The Dr. Oz Show, Charlie Rose, Good Morning America, The Talk, The Martha Stewart Show, Extra and Oprah</em>. With clarity and kindness, Kathy will help you lovingly lean into natural weight loss, decreased stress, more stamina, and greater vitality. Ken Cook is co-founder and president of the 1.3 million-member <em>Environmental Working Group (EWG)</em>. EWG's research and analysis have ruffled feathers and changed policy at the USDA, the FDA, in the halls of Congress, and even in the White House. They have blown the cover on who's really benefitting from hundreds of billions of farm subsidy dollars funded by U.S. taxpayers - and guess what, it's not your local organic broccoli farmer. But there's good news, too! Ken will teach you how to take action on the issues you care about, and in the process to live with more meaning and purpose. Clinical researcher Dr. Neal Barnard is one of America's leading advocates for health, nutrition, and higher standards in research. An Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, he serves as president of <em>Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine</em>, whose membership includes 150,000 health care professionals and concerned citizens. Neal has authored dozens of scientific publications and 15 books, including the bestsellers <em>21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart</em> and <em>Power Foods For The Brain</em>. He'll give you tips on the top foods to help prevent Alzheimer's, improve mental function, and maximize your chances for a long and healthy life. Zoe Weil believes compassion and respect can be nurtured, and she's taught hundreds of thousands of people how to honor the relationship between human beings and animals, the Earth, and one another. As cofounder of the <em>Institute for Humane Education</em>, Zoe created the first Master of Education and Certificate programs in Humane Education, and she's trained thousands of people to incorporate her principles into families, classrooms and communities. Zoe is author of several award-winning books including <em>Above All, Be Kind.</em> Discover how meaningful and joyful it can be to advocate for compassion and to deepen your connection to the world and its creatures. Forty years ago, Dr. Michael Klaper was giving patients anesthesia for surgeries when he started wondering why they were getting sick in the first place. He discovered that much illness and premature death could be prevented with good nutrition. For 4 decades since, Michael has had the joy of helping patients thrive. He serves as Director of the <em>Institute of Nutrition Education and Research</em>, and on the medical staff for <em>True North Health Center</em>. The author of several books and a popular speaker, Michael's passion and insight will inspire, touch, and galvanize you on the path to strong nutrition and vibrant health. Andrew Kimbrell is a leading public interest attorney and the founder and director of <em>The Center for Food Safety</em>. He fights to protect people and the environment from the threats of chemical-dependent industrialized agriculture. Andrew has often been called upon to testify before Congress, and his work has been featured in numerous published works and documentaries. His most recent book is <em>Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food</em>. The Guardian recognized Andrew as one of the 50 people who could change the planet. His insights will help you protect your family from toxic food. Mark Bittman has been a popular New York Times columnist for more than 13 years. His blockbuster 1998 bestseller <em>How To Cook Everything</em> helped make cooking more accessible and delicious for millions of people. After turning his attention to the impact of our food choices - not just on our palates, but also on our health and world - Mark wrote the bestseller <em>Food Matters</em>, and became one of the leading advocates for a transformation in our food systems. Tune in for his top tips for the conscious consumer who wants to make a difference! Dr. Vandana Shiva is a world-renowned environmental leader and thinker. She is director of the <em>Research Foundation on Science, Technology, and Ecology</em>, and the author of many bestselling books, including <em>Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis</em>. Vandana is a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, often called 'The Alternative Nobel Prize'. Forbes named her 'one of the 7 most influential feminists in the world', and Time selected her as an 'environmental hero'. Vandana will show you like never before the global impact of your food choices. Brenda Davis is a registered dietitian, a respected researcher, and an internationally acclaimed speaker. She is the bestselling co-author of 8 books, including <em>Becoming Vegetarian</em> and <em>Defeating Diabetes</em>. For the last 7 years Brenda has been the lead dietitian in a heavily studied diabetes intervention project in the Marshall Islands. Her findings present evidence that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by changes in diet, and that with support, healthy changes can take root in any community. Get her take on the latest breakthroughs in nutrition and the compelling advantages and unique needs of a plant-strong diet. Jeffrey Smith's meticulous research has made him a world authority on the dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). He documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put our health at risk, and the environment in peril. Jeffrey is founder of <em>Institute for Responsible Technology</em>, author of the bestselling book, <em>Seeds of Deception</em>, and producer of the award-winning film, <em>Genetic Roulette - The Gamble of Our Lives</em>. Behind all the politics and special interest dollars, what's the real scoop on GMOs? Find out what's at stake, and how to protect yourself and your family. In 2003, when a co-worker in his Texas fire team was diagnosed with high cholesterol, Rip Esselstyn led the members of Engine 2 on a plant-strong diet and watched them get extraordinary results. Now Rip is teaching millions of people how to align what they put in their mouths with what they want for their weight and health. Rip is author of the NY Times bestseller, <em>The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan </em> that lowers cholesterol and burns away the pounds. As a firefighter, Rip says, 'We're here to save lives, in whatever ways we can.' Dolores Huerta joined with Cesar Chavez in founding <em>United Farm Workers</em>, which she helped guide for 37 years. She has been arrested 22 times for nonviolent social protest, and her legacy places her alongside Gandhi and King as a heroine of nonviolent social change. Dolores' work has led to many breakthroughs in the treatment of farmworkers, including passage of the <em>Agricultural Labor Relations Act</em>, drinking water protection from pesticides, and legal status for over a million farmworkers. She is a recipient of 9 Honorary University Doctorates and prestigious awards from 2 U.S. presidents. What torch will she pass to you? Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. He has written 7 books on human nutrition, including the # 1 NY Times bestseller, <em>Eat To Live</em>. Joel's hugely successful PBS television show, <em>3 Steps to Incredible Health</em>, brought nutritional science to millions of homes. He is research director of the <em>Nutritional Research Foundation</em>. If you want better immunity and circulation, increased strength and libido, improved digestion and sleep, or to lose weight the healthy way, then you'll LOVE Joel's message.

2012 Food Revolution Summit Speakers: (roll mouse over picture for bio)

Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a family physician and researcher who specializes in reversing disease through nutrition. Dr. Fuhrman has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows. His PBS show, '3 Steps to Incredible Health', was the highest grossing special of 2011, bringing in $10 million for the network. Dr. Fuhrman is the New York Times best-selling author of Eat to Live, and the research director of the Nutritional Research Project of the National Health Association. He studies the data, and then he makes the latest learnings of medical science accessible to all of us. Vandana Shiva is a world-renowned environmental leader and thinker. She is director of the Research Foundation on Science, Technology, and Ecology, which she founded in her mother's cowshed in India. Vandana is the author of many bestselling books, including Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis. She is the founder of Navdanya ('nine seeds'), a movement promoting diversity and use of native seeds. Vandana is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize. In 2011 Forbes named her 'one of the 7 most influential women in the world.' Gene Baur has been hailed as 'the conscience of the food movement' by TIME magazine. For 25 years he has traveled extensively, campaigning to raise awareness about the abuses of industrialized factory farming. Gene is the president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. He has a masters degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University and has conducted hundreds of visits to farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses to document conditions. Gene is the author of the national best-selling book Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. Bill McKibben is the author of a dozen books about the environment, including the first book about global warming, The End of Nature, in 1989. He founded 350.org which has become the biggest grassroots climate campaign on the planet. In 2011 he led the organizing for what became the largest civil disobedience action in 30 years in America, two weeks of sit-ins against the proposed Keystone pipeline. Find out the startling truth about the food-climate connection. Rory Freedman is co-author of the #1 NY Times bestseller, Skinny Bitch: A no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous. Skinny Bitch spent three years on the New York Times bestseller list, and it now has more than three million copies in print and has been translated into twenty-seven languages. Rory has appeared on dozens of national and international television and radio programs. She has a deep sense of ethics and conviction that underlie her life and work. Rory was named VegNews Magazine's first ever 'Person of the Year.' Frances Moore Lappé is the author of eighteen books, including the three-million-copy Diet for a Small Planet and the just-released EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want. She is cofounder of Food First: The Institute for Food and Development Policy, and of the Small Planet Institute, a collaborative network for research and education helping to bring democracy to life. Frances is a world-renowned spokesperson for democracy, food justice, and civic participation. She was named by Gourmet magazine as one of 25 people who have changed the way America eats. Dr. Dean Ornish is founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and has been a leading researcher on diet and health for more than 30 years. His program is the first based in comprehensive lifestyle change (not drugs or surgery) to ever be covered by Medicare. The author of six bestselling books, Dr. Ornish has been a physician consultant to president Clinton since 1993 and to several bipartisan members of Congress. He was chosen by Life Magazine as 'one of the 50 most influential members of his generation Dr. Joseph Mercola is a 1982 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a former Chairman of Family Medicine at St. Alexius Medical Center. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, and founder of one the most heavily trafficked health websites on the internet, mercola.com. Dr. Mercola was voted the 2009 Ultimate Wellness Game Changer by the Huffington Post, and has been featured in hundreds of magazine and television appearances. With refreshing clarity and candor, Dr. Mercola will give you provocative insights that you can immediately put into action. Marianne is one of the world's most beloved spiritual authors and lecturers. Four of her books have been #1 New York Times Best Sellers. Marianne is founder of Project Angel Food, a meals-on-wheels program that every day serves more than 1,000 homebound people with AIDS. Her latest Best Seller is A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. She is bringing to food and weight loss the same piercing insight and spiritual principles she brings to so many areas of our lives. Ronnie Cummins is founder and Director of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a non-profit, U.S. based network of 850,000 consumers, dedicated to safeguarding organic standards and promoting a healthy, just, and sustainable system of agriculture and commerce. The OCA's primary strategy is to work on national and global campaigns that integrate public education, marketplace pressure, media work, litigation, and grassroots lobbying. Cummins' most recent book is Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers. Kathy Freston is a bestselling author with a focus on healthy living and conscious eating. Her latest book, Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World, was an instant New York Times bestseller, as were two of her previous books -- Quantum Wellness and The One. She has appeared frequently on national television, including Oprah, Ellen, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The View, and Extra. She promotes a body/mind/spirit approach to health and happiness that includes a concentration on healthy diet, emotional introspection, spiritual practice, and loving relationships. Raj Patel is a writer, academic and activist. He has degrees from Oxford University, the London School of Economics and Cornell University, and is both a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley's Center for African Studies, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in Durban, South Africa. He is the author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, and the international bestseller, The Value of Nothing. Raj is often referred to as a 'rock star of social justice writing.' Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide flock to David Wolfe's nutrition mission and the natural health and eco-beauty revolution that he champions. With a masters degree in nutrition, and a background in science and mechanical engineering, David Wolfe is considered one of the world's authorities on natural health, beauty nutrition, herbalism, longevity, chocolate, and organic superfoods. David is author of seven bestselling books, founder of the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, and a highly successful eco-entrepreneur with a passion for building businesses that make a difference for healthy people and a healthy planet. Nicolette Hahn Niman is an attorney and a livestock rancher. She is author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms. Nicolette is also a frequent contributor to the New York Times. She has served as Senior Attorney for the environmental organization Waterkeeper. Nicolette is an inspired advocate for CSAs, school lunch revamps, school gardens, networks of pasture-based farms, and farm to table restaurants. She and her husband, Bill Niman, operate a natural, organic meat company called BN Ranch. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., is author of the bestselling book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. President Clinton credits Dr, Esselstyn's work with helping to save his life following quintuple bypass surgery. Dr. Esselstyn was trained as a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, and he has produced more than 150 scientific publications. In 1995 Dr. Esselstyn completed a groundbreaking 20-year nutritional study on arresting and reversing coronary artery disease in severely ill patients. The results of this study rocked the medical world. Dr. Esselstyn explains, with irrefutable scientific evidence, how we can end the heart disease epidemic forever by changing what we eat. Morgan Spurlock is a writer, director and producer. His first film, Super Size Me, captured him eating nothing but McDonald's meals for 30 days, and tracking the results. What he learned just might change how you look at fast food forever. Super Size Me premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 and won Morgan Best Directing honors. The film went on to win the inaugural Writers Guild of America best documentary screenplay award as well as garner an Academy Award nomination for best feature doc. Morgan went on to be the executive producer and star of the reality TV series, '30 Days.' International bestselling author and filmmaker Jeffrey Smith is a widely popular and leading spokesperson on the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). He has counseled world leaders from every continent, changed the course of government policies, and is now orchestrating a tipping point of consumer rejection of GMOs through his programs at the Institute for Responsible Technology. His book Seeds of Deception is the world's bestseller on GMOs, and Genetic Roulette documents 65 health risks of GM foods Americans eat every day. Michele Simon is one of the world's leading experts on the politics and practices of the food industry. She is the author of Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back, and president of Eat Drink Politics, an industry watchdog consulting business. As a public health lawyer, Michele has done groundbreaking work on issues like food safety, agricultural policy, health claims, nutritional labeling, school food policy, and consumer empowerment. In an industry often dominated by big money, Michele is a champion of the public welfare. Nikki Henderson is one of the leaders in the food justice movement. She serves as Executive Director of People's Grocery, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing fresh, good food to people of all income levels. She is also co-founder of Live Real, a national collaborative of food movement organizations committed to strengthening and expanding the youth food movement in the United States. In 2010 Nikki was featured in Elle Magazine as one of five 'Gold awardees' for her innovative work in urban nutrition, agriculture, and enterprise. For more than forty years, Dr. T. Colin Campbell has been at the forefront of nutrition research. His legacy, the China Project, is the most comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted. Dr. Campbell is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. He has more than seventy grant-years of peer-reviewed research funding and has authored more than 300 research papers. He is coauthor of the bestselling book, The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health. Clinical researcher and author Neal Barnard, M.D., is one of America's leading advocates for health, nutrition, and higher standards in research. He is the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. Dr. Barnard has authored dozens of scientific publications as well as 15 books for lay readers, including the New York Times bestseller, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart: Boost Metabolism, Lower Cholesterol, and Dramatically Improve Your Health. In the past thirty years, Geneen Roth has worked with hundreds of thousands of people using meditation, inquiry, and a set of seven eating guidelines that she sees as the foundation of natural eating. Geneen has appeared on many national television shows including The Oprah Show, 20/20, The NBC Nightly News, The View, CBS Early Show and Good Morning America. She has written monthly columns in Good Housekeeping Magazine and Prevention Magazine. Geneen is the author of nine books, including The New York Times bestsellers Women Food and God, Lost and Found, and When Food Is Love. Elizabeth Kucinich is the director of government affairs for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and she is currently co-producing a provocative documentary on GMOs. She and her husband, eight-term Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) are passionate peace, animal, and health advocates who connect the impact of empowered individual choice to the global picture. Congressman Kucinich was the youngest person ever to lead a major American city when he was elected Mayor of Cleveland at age 31. He has been a leading champion in the United States Congress for the regulation of GMOs and for healthier school lunches, along with many other causes. Congressman Kucinich has been honored by Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth and the League of Conservation Voters as a champion of clean air, clean water and an unspoiled earth.

 

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