Saturday Schedule

Apple Stage / Keynote Speaker Panels & Cooking Demos

Emcee - Will Tucker

Will Tucker is a four-time Natural Bodybuilding Champion, the owner of WTF! (Will Tucker Fitness), a frequent contributor to Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine, a certified fitness trainer, and speaker. He constantly dispels the myth that animal protein is required to build an outstanding physique. Many of his clients have eliminated the need for prescription medications while eradicating physical ailments.

10:45-11:15 - Chef Demo: Rhyan Geiger "How to Make a Plethora of Plant-Based Milks"

Rhyan is a vegan dietitian in Phoenix who is passionate about helping people find easy, affordable, tasty vegan eats. She completed her undergraduate degree at Arizona State University receiving a BS in Nutrition, a minor in Global Health, and a certificate in Childhood Nutrition. She then attended Georgia Southern University’s dietetic residency program, completing 1,200 supervised practice hours. www.raspberryrhy.com

11:30-12 - Chef Demo: Melanie Albert "Arizona Winter Plant-Based Farm-to-Table Greens Salad, Green Pesto, Edible Flowers"

Melanie Albert is founder and CEO of Experience Nutrition Group in Phoenix and award-winning cookbook author of A New View of Healthy Eating. She regularly contributes recipe articles to Natural Awakenings and appears on The List TV show. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, has worked in marketing with Weil Lifestyle, and has completed 610 hours of plant-based culinary training. She has taught thousands of people simple ways to cook delicious meals with plant-based food from local Arizona farmers.

12:10-12:40 - Kenyatta Banks & Sid Garza-Hillman; Will Tucker (m) "Vegan Athletes Panel"

Kenyatta Banks is the creator and CEO of the Arsenal by Kenyatta workout series. He teaches boxing, battle ropes and his Arsenal classes at Tru Fusion Scottsdale. He was born in Washington, and grew up in Germany and Florida. He enjoys playing basketball, hiking, traveling, Netflix, comedy shows, a hint of fitness modeling, and being around positive people.

Sid Garza-Hillman, podcaster and YouTuber, is the author of Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto and Raising Healthy Parents: Small Steps, Less Stress, and a Thriving Family. He graduated from UCLA with a BA in Philosophy, and is a public speaker, certified nutritionist, and Small Steps Coach. He is the Wellness Programs Director at the Stanford Inn Eco-Resort, an ultra runner, and Race Director of the Mendocino Coast 50K trail ultramarathon.

Will Tucker is a four-time Natural Bodybuilding Champion, the owner of WTF! (Will Tucker Fitness), a frequent contributor to Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine, a certified fitness trainer, and speaker. He constantly dispels the myth that animal protein is required to build an outstanding physique. Many of his clients have eliminated the need for prescription medications while eradicating physical ailments.

12:50-1:40 - Elysabeth Alfano "State of the Plant-based Union"

Our health, the environmental business innovation, Medicare, job security, factory farming, subsidies, politics, our national culture, our personal culture and the stock market…what do all of these have to do with begin vegan? Plant-based radio host, expert and chef, Elysabeth Alfano connects the dots and explains the progress on these fronts paving the way for a plant-based future and how to dismantle the hurdles that still exist.

Elysabeth Alfano is the host of the only plant-based radio show in the nation. The Elysabeth Alfano Show is syndicated on the Smart Talk Radio Network and WCGO-Chicago. In addition, Elysabeth is a plant-based expert for mainstream media, breaking down the plant-based news for the general public on radio (Chicago’s WGN, WCPT, WCGO, Los Angeles KFI, San Francisco’s KGO, NY’s The Answer, NPR’s KCRW) and TV (Chicago’s WGN (cooking demos), WCIU, and Los Angeles’ Good Morning LALALand). Elysabeth whips up plant-based goodness as the host of The Silver Chic Chef Cooking Series on the JaneUnChained News Network, coaches individuals looking to go plant-based and does recipe development and consultations for restaurants and food companies looking to veganize their offerings. For more information, visit www.elysabethalfano.com

1:45-2:15 - Chef Demo: Haritha Mogilisetti "Lemon Rice, Mixed Veggies, Tofu Coconut Milk Curry"

Haritha Mogilisetti is an active member of Goshala, an organization for protecting cows. While pursuing her career in engineering, she opened a cow shelter in San Tan Valley where the cows can lead a natural and peaceful life. Having grown up enjoying a wide variety of tasty and healthy Indian vegetarian food, she is interested in teaching the preparation of vegetarian dishes to those trying to switch to a vegetarian diet.

2:25-3 - Dr. Arpita Surkunte "Incorporating a Vegan Diet into Daily Life"

Dr. Surkunte is board-certified in Internal Medicine, a diplomate of Obesity Medicine, and a member of the Obesity Medicine Association. She attended medical school in India followed by an internal medicine residency at Maricopa Medical Center. She worked as a hospitalist at Banner MD Anderson, and as medical director and primary care physician for Cigna. Her specialty is the prevention of obesity and the treatment of obesity-related illnesses; her focus is on nutrition, exercise and wellness.

3:10-3:40 - Chef Demo: Noemi Garcia "Secrets of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine"

Noemi is an AfroLatina queer vegan, a vegan lifestyle coach and educator, and co-owner of Wild Clover Botanicals--a vegan organic bath and beauty company. She is co-organizer of AZ Vegan Nation, a Phoenix Meet-Up group celebrating diversity in the vegan community with nearly 900 members. She is also the founder of the PHX Vegan Cook-off. Noemi has been vegan for more than years, is an Animal Rights Advocate, yogi and Salsa Dancing Machine.

3:45-4:15 - Tom & Lindsay Robeson; Sara Presler (m) "Vegan Parenting Panel"

The plant-powered parents, Tom and Lindsay, are whole food plant-based parents of 2 toddlers. Lindsay is a stay at home mom who creates vegan recipes and photographs food around Phoenix. Tom is currently seeking his Bachelor's degree at ASU in Healthy Lifestyle Coaching. Together they love living a plant-based lifestyle and teaching their daughters the power of plants.

Sara Presler is a plant-based mama of triplets. In 2008, she was elected mayor of Flagstaff, and was the youngest person and first woman to ever hold the office. She served 2 terms. Through appointment by the governor, she has served on numerous local and state commissions, including the Governor’s Homeland Security Council. Sara has served as General Counsel of a global renewable energy company, CEO of a medical company, and CEO of a women’s foundation. In 2013, she helped her wife, Ali, start Arizona's first vegan food truck, and they operated it throughout the state. Ali is a plant-based chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. In 2015, Sara shifted into the cannabis industry as a lawyer and consultant for licensed operators. In 2018, Sara and Ali grew their family times three. From pregnancy to birth to raising babies, they're plant-based; the family resides in Mesa, Arizona. Follow them on instagram @SaraPresler and @Ali_Presler

4:20-4:50 - Yolanda Soto; Dorie Morales (m) "Green Living Panel"

Yolanda A. Soto is the president and CEO of Borderlands Produce Rescue, a nonprofit with the mission of helping to feed the vulnerable nutritiously through partnerships with hundreds of community organizations. The Non-Profit Times named her one of the most influential people of 2015 because of her organization's produce distribution program in Arizona, known as P.O.W.W.O.W. (Produce on Wheels With-Out Waste). Soto lives in Nogales, Arizona where she was born and raised.

Dorie Morales is the publisher and editor in chief of Green Living magazine, Arizona’s premiere eco-conscious lifestyle publication. The monthly magazine educates, inspires and empowers readers to make eco-conscious choices for a healthy life and healthy planet. The goal of Green Living is to improve our planet today and leave the earth a much better place for future generations.

Grape Entertainment Stage

Emcee - Comedian: Matthew Piccione

Comedian Matthew Piccione has been living a plant-based lifestyle for 10 years. He performs stand-up at numerous veg festivals and at comedy clubs around the California area. His current comedy show has been running for 3 years strong. Matthew is also a community advocate and public speaker for non-profit organizations. He enjoys visiting schools to inspire and motivate youth on the topic of veganism.

10:45-11:45 - The Tree Huggers

The Tree Huggers are an upbeat, fun acoustic duo from British Columbia, Canada. They play family-friendly tunes about love, the planet, and enjoying life. https://m.youtube.com

12-12:30 - The Riley Rainbow Family Circus

The Riley Rainbow Family Circus--with their home school programs, circus camps, circus-themed birthday parties, and traveling circus show--have been entertaining families for more than 10 years. This amazing family of talented jugglers, contortionists and acrobats will inspire you to new heights as they perform fantastic feats together.

12:40-1:40 - Alter Ego Fitness

Alter Ego Fitness is a dance based studio specializing in empowering our clientele. They are home to premiere instructors offering Zumba, SEED Method, SEED Total Body Conditioning, Body Sculpting, Kizomba, Bachata, Salsa, Barre, Burlesque and Cardio Dance Parties. They also host special events, workshops, private parties and rent the studio space for all other needs. alteregofitnessaz.com Facebook: alteregofitnessaz, Instagram: alter_ego_fitness_az

1:50 - 2:50 - Turnup Workout with Fit678

3:00 - 4 - Zumba with Eos

Marlon Flamenco has been part of the Zumba© world for 15 years and an instructor for 9. He has been at EOS Fitness for 2 years.

Efrain Gomez finds that Zumba© combines his love for dance and fitness. He’s been an instructor for 3 years, and has been working at EOS Fitness for 2 years.

4:10 - 5 - BollyX with Fit678

Mind/Body Fitness Zone

All Day – Elevate Yoga

In this mini-demo, an instructor will use the breath to move through aerial yoga asanas while incorporating modifications for all skill levels, accommodating beginners and experienced aerial yogis alike. After warming up, students will be led through a creative flow sequence, and will be given the opportunity to explore fun inversions using the aerial silk.

11-11:45 – Chakra Balancing with Crystal Valentina

Crystal is a 500RYT instructor with an emphasis in Sound Healing and Yoga Nidra at Spirit of Yoga for the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe.

12-12:45 – Yoga Six with Natalie Harden Corre

Natalie began teaching yoga after experiencing the profound effects of the practice in her own life. Throughout college and afterwards, her yoga practice followed her from Tempe to Los Angeles to Honolulu, where her teaching career had its roots. She completed the 200-hour YTT at Power Yoga Hawaii, and then completed 300 hours of training under Noah Maze. Additionally, she has trained in Thai massage, sound healing, and kids’ yoga.

1:05-1:45 -- Meditation with Ananda Marga

Dada Diiptimanananda learned meditation in Iceland in 1991, trained in Denmark and Sweden, and became a monk in 2005. He worked in Taiwan and Russia teaching meditation and philosophy. Since 2013 he has taught yoga and meditation in the US, and he regularly organizes retreats here. His special interests include classical Western and Indian music, devotional songs, and spending time in nature.

Didi Ananda Acira learned meditation in Indonesia in 2000. She became a nun in 2006 and worked mostly in South East Asia. She moved to the United States in 2014 and currently teaches meditation, yoga, and natural detox at Ananda Dhiira meditation center in Penn Valley, California. Didi is certified yoga teacher. Her interests include health, wellness, natural detox, organic farming, and living a natural lifestyle.

2-2:45 -- Club Pilates

3-3:45 -- Chinese Energetic Medicine (Qigong) with Aeimee Diaz

Aeimee Diaz is a licensed acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, which she has been studying and practicing for more than 11 years. She works in connection with medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, and other healthcare providers. Her treatment options include PEMF therapy, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, food therapy, qigong, therapeutic bodywork, and sound medicine. The healing profession runs in her family; she is a fourth-generation healer

4:10-4:50 -- BollyX with Fit 6-7-8

Elevate Yoga Aerial Zone

Mini-Aerial Yoga Demonstrations

About the Demonstrations...

Demos will be open to all levels and will occur throughout the day.

No pre-registration required, walkups welcome.

Students must be checked no later than 5 minutes prior to class start time.

In this all levels mini-demo, an instructor will use the breath to move through aerial yoga asanas while incorporating modifications for all skill levels, accommodating beginners and experienced aerial yogis alike. After warming up, students will be led through a creative flow sequence, and will be given the opportunity to explore fun inversions using the aerial silk.

Elevate Yoga is Phoenix's only aerial yoga studio. Learn more about them on their website, www.elevateyogaaz.com, and on Instagram + Facebook: @ElevateYogaAZ.