The People
Speakers, Chefs, & Performers
Recordings of presentations will be available on our Youtube Channel
Speakers
Steven Blake, ScD
Director of Nutritional Neuroscience, Maui Memory Clinic
Research Director, Neuroscience Nutrition Foundation
Talk Title: Perfect Food
Steve Blake, ScD is a nutritional biochemist, clinical research scientist, and author who has followed a plant-based diet for 56 years.
His work focuses on the relationship between nutrition and brain health, with particular expertise in memory, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurological conditions. Steve designed and ran the Hawaii Dementia Prevention Trial and authored its nutritional protocols, researching the potential role of diet and nutrients in cognitive health.
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He was named one of VegNews magazine’s Most Influential Vegan Athletes and travels internationally sharing his story of transformation from a skinny farm kid to champion vegan bodybuilder.
Robert is the author of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, Shred It!, Plant-Based Muscle, the New York Times bestseller The Plant-Based Athlete, and The Impactful Vegan, released in 2024. He is also a former multi-sport athlete, book-writing consultant, and ghostwriter.
Robert continues to live in his hometown of Corvallis, where his journey began.
Robert Cheeke
Vegan Body Builder, Author, Activist
Talk Title: How To Be An Impactful Vegan
Robert grew up on a farm in Corvallis, Oregon, and adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15. More than 30 years later, he is a natural bodybuilding champion, author, and founder of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness.
Often called the “Godfather of Vegan Bodybuilding,” Robert helped establish the vegan bodybuilding movement in the early 2000s and has spent decades showing what’s possible with a plant-based diet.
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He previously served as a Faculty Nutritional Biochemist at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience.
Steve is the author of numerous books on nutrition and health, including the McGraw-Hill college textbook Vitamins and Minerals Demystified and Nutrients for Memory. He has also served as a lead advisor and author for the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine and has presented his research and work at medical institutions and universities.
Jack Gescheidt
Environmental & Animal Rights Activist, The TreeSpirit Project
Talk Title: Please Don’t Call It An Animal Holocaust. Even Though It Is
Jack Gescheidt’s [“geh-SHITE”] TreeSpirit Project combines art, advocacy, and activism to explore our interdependence with trees, forests, animals—wild and domestic—and the natural world we all share. A lifelong lover of nature and animals, Jack became a professional photographer 40 years ago, an environmental activist 20 years ago, a vegan activist 12 years ago, and an animal rights advocate at the turn of the millennium.
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Through his photography and speaking, Jack explores the connections between how we humans treat other animals, the climate crisis, and our technological separation from nature—and from our own nature. His work invites us to consider what happens when we lose sight of our place within the living world.
The TreeSpirit Project brings these ideas together through powerful photographs and public actions designed to make our relationship with the natural world impossible to ignore.
Tamiko Katsumoto, MD, DipABLM
Clinical Professor, Stanford University
Talk Title: Food’s Protective Power Against Disease
Tamiko Katsumoto, MD, DipABLM, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University and is board certified in lifestyle medicine. She earned her MD from UCSF, where she also completed her internal medicine residency, rheumatology fellowship, and postdoctoral training in immunology.
Deeply committed to human and planetary health, Dr. Katsumoto educates patients, colleagues, and the public about the
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benefits of sustainable, whole-food, plant-centered diets for individual health and the planet. She is particularly interested in the relationship between diet, lifestyle, inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.
At Stanford, she directs the Rheumatology Oncology Clinic and co-directs the Immune Related Toxicity Working Group, which focuses on improving care for cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. She is also involved in clinical trials and previously led global immunology trials at Genentech.
Dr. Katsumoto co-chaired the American College of Rheumatology Climate Change Task Force and serves on the steering committee of Stanford’s Center for Human and Planetary Health, where she co-leads the Food Systems, Health and Environment Working Group.
Jan Liband
Chief Researcher & Speaker, Plant-Based Advocates
Talk Title: Our Food Choices Matter: A Path to Sustainability and Health
Jan Liband is a fact-based environmentalist, health advocate, public speaker, and former Silicon Valley executive who has studied the growing environmental and health impacts of our food system for decades. An enthusiastic vegan since the 1980s, Jan serves as the Chief Researcher and Speaker for Plant-Based Advocates, a Bay Area based non-profit promoting more sustainable, plant-based living. Jan has presented to thousands at conferences, universities, corporate settings, community organizations, and via podcasts.
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He also serves on the boards for the American Vegan Society and Compassionate Living. Jan loves cooking, playing music in multiple bands, and exploring the natural wonders of the Bay Area.
Austin Meyer
National Geographic Explorer & Member of Only People Studio
Talk Title: re(Introduction) To Animal Storytelling
Austin Meyer creates stories and learning experiences that change the way people walk through the world by inspiring empathy, curiosity, and joy. His work blends journalistic ethics alongside a spirit of play and improvisation. As a documentary filmmaker, Meyer is a National Geographic Explorer whose work has been featured by HBO, Hulu, NatGeo, & The New York Times. Meyer is also a member of Only People, a learning experience design studio that specializes in personalized, project-based learning experiences designed to help people imagine, make, and sustain change in the(ir) world.
Zoe Rosenberg
Animal Cruelty Investigator and Organizer, Direct Action Everywhere
Founder, Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary
Talk Title: Why I Became a Felon for Chickens
Zoe Rosenberg is the founder of Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary and an animal cruelty investigator with the grassroots animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere. She designed her own major at UC Berkeley to study social movement strategy and history. Zoe was recently convicted of felony conspiracy and sentenced to jail time for her rescue of four chickens from a Perdue slaughterhouse.
Mike Rupena
Organizer San Francisco Chapter, Anonymous for the Voiceless
Activist Panel
Mike has been vegan for more than six years. His journey began one day while sitting in his car at a marina in San Francisco, where he watched the documentary Dominion. After just 15 minutes, he made the decision to go vegan, although he stayed and watched the entire two-hour film. Soon after going vegan, Mike began learning everything he could about veganism through Google and the internet. He quickly realized that changing his own choices wasn’t enough—he wanted to help others understand the stories of animals and the urgency of taking action on their behalf.
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Through Vegans of Marin, Mike connected with animal rights activist Dany Patelle, who introduced him to Anonymous for the Voiceless. He has been involved with the organization ever since. In 2023, Mike became the organizer of Anonymous for the Voiceless’ San Francisco chapter.
Mike believes that direct, compassionate activism is one of the most effective ways to create meaningful change for animals, and he is committed to continuing that work in San Francisco and beyond.
Zoe Novic
Executive Director, Center for Animal Protection & Education (CAPE)
Talk Title: re(Introduction) To Animal Storytelling
Zoe Novic is the Executive Director of the Center for Animal Protection and Education (CAPE), where she combines her passion for animal advocacy and public health. With a diverse background that includes two years in the Peace Corps in Indonesia, a Master’s in Public Health, and leadership roles at The Humane League, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and Greener by Default. Zoe has deep expertise in grassroots organizing, public health policy, and advocacy. Her mission is to build a more just and compassionate world for all people, animals, and the planet.
John Sanbonmatsu
Professor of Philosophy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Talk Title: The Omnivore's Deception: 10 Myths about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves
John Sanbonmatsu is Professor of Philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prof. Sanbonmatsu's book, The Omnivore’s Deception: What We Get Wrong about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves, has been described in Forbes magazine and elsewhere as the best book ever written on veganism and animal justice. He is also author of The Postmodern Prince and editor of Critical Theory and Animal Liberation, as well as creator and curator of the website www.CleanMeat-Hoax.com.
Paul Shapiro
CEO, The Better Meat Co.
Talk Title: Is the Future of Meat Fungi?
Paul Shapiro is the CEO of The Better Meat Co., the author of the national bestseller Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World, a five-time TEDx speaker, and thehost of the Business for Good Podcast. He was also named a Most Admired CEO by the Sacramento Business Journal.
Dylan Gabino Ventura
Fellow, New Roots Institute
Co-President, Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy
Student, UC Berkeley
Activist Panel
Dylan Ventura is a New Roots Institute Fellow and Empowerment Award recipient, participating in the organization’s year-long mentorship program focused on creating effective change for animals on campus.
Dylan is a junior studying economics at UC Berkeley, where he is pursuing a self-guided thesis on managing transformative technological change to benefit animals and their welfare. He co-presides over the Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy, UC Berkeley’s student chapter for animal advocates, and works with the university’s
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dining program to help fulfill its commitment to make 50% of campus food offerings plant-based by 2027.
In 2026, Dylan was involved in efforts to remove the Save Our Bacon Act from the congressional Farm Bill, helping coordinate dozens of volunteers to mobilize animal advocates and raise awareness of the legislation’s potential impact on animals.
His work brings together student activism, institutional change, policy advocacy, and an interest in using emerging technologies to advance animal welfare.
Lia Wilbourn
Farmed Animals Campaign Specialist, In Defense of Animals
Activist Panel
Lia has been vegan and an animal liberation activist since 2013, engaging in coalition-building, street outreach, protests, public speaking, social media advocacy, and volunteering at farmed-animal sanctuaries. At In Defense of Animals, she advocates for farmed animals and veganism through articles, action alerts, media appearances, video production, presentations, speeches, and engagement with Congress and other food system decision-makers.
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Lia also works with Allied Scholars for Animal Protection, co-hosts a monthly online Vegan Mentor Support Group, and is Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University.
Her advocacy has been recognized around the world with international talks in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Canada, and a three-week tour of India. Dr. Kong is the author of If You’ve Ever Loved an Animal, Go Vegan, she is editor of Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers, and her new book, Vegan Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Plant-Based Living, is on sale here today. She appears in the major documentary Eating Our Way to Extinction. In her advocacy activities, Dr. Kong draws upon a diversity of skills as a writer, speaker, and creative artist, and performs in the duo, Vegan Virtuosi, with cellist and vegan advocate Christoph Wagner.
Chefs
Jillian Love
Plant-Based Personal Chef
Let’s Get Saucy
Jillian Love is a whole food, plant-based chef and the founder of Visionary Nourishment, based in the SF Bay Area. She specializes in preparing healthy meals that accommodate special diets, drawing on years of experience leading retreats, cleanse programs, and chef trainings around the world. In addition to her culinary background, Jillian is a certified life coach and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner, which shapes her holistic approach to food as a tool for wellness and transformation.
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Her work centers on aligning values with actions — helping people make real, healthy, and sustainable food choices without sacrificing flavor. Through personal chef services, custom classes, and menu development, Jillian is committed to helping others nurture their health, enjoy delicious plant-based cuisine, and transform their lives, one meal at a time.
Chef Pharaoh
Chef, 1837 Vegan
Dish TBD
Chef Pharaoh is the driving force behind 1837 Vegan, a Sacramento-based plant-based kitchen serving organic, gluten-free, soy-free food that's designed to convert skeptics as easily as it satisfies longtime vegans. His menu is built around bold, comfort-forward dishes — jackfruit tacos, crispy oyster mushroom "chicken," stacked burgers, and mojo fries — sourced from local, non-GMO ingredients.
Beyond the kitchen, Chef Pharaoh brings 1837 Vegan to the community through food
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truck pop-ups and farmers markets around Sacramento, and hosts the Ingenious Cooking Series, a hands-on cooking class pairing plant-based recipes with dinner, good vibes, and a focus on conscious eating. His philosophy is simple: food should have "soul in every bite," proving vegan cooking can be just as bold and craveable as anything else on the plate.
Nalima Price
Recipe Creator, Influencer
Golden Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry
Nalima Price is the creator behind @girlmeetsvegan. She went vegan over 13 years ago after learning about the realities of animal agriculture, and what started as a decision rooted in compassion quickly changed the way she cooked for herself and her family. Today, she creates the kind of food she loves to eat at home: colorful, comforting, full of flavor, and surprisingly simple. On Girl Meets Vegan, you’ll find everything from easy weeknight dinners and high protein favorites to desserts and fun takes on classics, all with the goal of making vegan food feel exciting, approachable, and worth craving.
Dhani Rivera
Vegan Chef, Om Sabor
Dish TBD
Dhani Rivera is a Mexican immigrant, vegan chef, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Om Sabor in San Francisco. Drawing inspiration from her Mexican heritage and a love of flavors from around the world, Dhani creates vibrant, soulful plant-based food that is both deeply comforting and adventurous. Through Om Sabor, she combines her passion for food, creativity, and community to show how vegan cooking can be delicious, joyful, and welcoming to everyone. Dhani is dedicated to using food as a way to connect people, celebrate culture, and inspire a more compassionate world.
Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff
Chef, Author
Demo: Indian Chutney
Shanta is an author, educator, and longtime advocate for vegetarian food, community food systems, and the rich culinary traditions of India. She is the author of Other Avenues Are Possible: Legacy of the People’s Food System of the San Francisco Bay Area, Flavors of India: Vegetarian Indian Cuisine, and Cooking Together: A Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook.
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Through her writing, cooking, and teaching, Shanta shares her deep knowledge of Indian cuisine, with a particular focus on the essential role of herbs and spices in creating vibrant, flavorful, and nourishing food. She brings a rich understanding of traditional culinary practices while celebrating the connections between food, community, culture, and social change.
Performers
The Good Jobs
Massimo Onesto (guitar, bass, vocals)
Felipe de Quesada (drums)
Dean Lahana (guitar)
A fusion between rock and jazz-rock.
Lena Morris
Singer / Songwriter
Lena is a Taiwan-American singer-songwriter creating quiet folk and Americana music rooted in stories of belonging, nature, and the places in between. Her music is quiet and honest, shaped by travel, two cultures, and the landscapes she has called home. She performs live concerts and intimate sets for venues, weddings, wineries, and private events across the U.S. and internationally.
Kenny & Daughter
Musicians
Coming soon
Scott Quay
Singer / Songwriter
Scott Quay is a Berkeley, CA based singer/songwriter who performs solo acoustic shows and with rock and roll band Spider Garage. A vegan himself, he is honored to participate in SF VegFest again.