The 2026 Lineup!

Founder & Director Rowdy Girl Sanctuary

Renee King-Sonnen is the Founder and Executive Director of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary and a powerful voice in the animal rights movement. Her journey began when she rescued her husband’s Texas cattle herd from slaughter, transforming their lives from ranchers to vegans and sparking international attention. Their story went viral on CBS News in 2016, propelling Rowdy Girl into the forefront of animal advocacy.

At Vibrant Vegan Fest, Renee will share her story of activism, faith, and spiritual transformation.

CEO Allied Scholars for Animal Protection

Dr. Faraz Harsini is a food system and biomedical scientist and the founder and CEO of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), the fastest growing nonprofit organizing veganism in universities. He holds a BSc in chemical engineering, an MSc in cancer research, a PhD in cell physiology and molecular biophysics, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Today he focuses on building university infrastructure for animal advocacy, plant based nutrition, alternatives to animal testing, and a compassionate food system.

Gut Health Experts
Married to Health

Dahlia Marin, RDN, LD, CGN & James Marin, RD, EN are the co-founders of the integrative dietetics & nutrition practice Married to Health, the Good Gut LIVE Podcast & the first 100% plant-based SIBO/IBS nutrition program. As integrative gut healthdieticians, Dahlia & James’ goal is to spread knowledge about the importance of incorporating plant-foods to support a healthy gut microbiome & help those with gut issues get back to a thriving gut microbiome, so they can ‘Heal with Each Meal (TM)”.

Sustainability Expert, Climate Healers

Dr. Sailesh Rao is a systems engineer turned climate visionary who earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1986. After pioneering the digital signal processing protocol for 1000BASE-T—now foundational to modern internet infrastructure, he shifted his focus in 2006 to addressing the climate and ecological crisis. He is the founder and executive director of Climate Healers and executive producer of influential documentaries including Cowspiracy, What The Health, and Christspiracy, and he champions bold, systemic solutions to restore our planet.

Speaker & Comedian

Ace Anderson, known as the “Ace of All Trades,” is a multi-hyphenate creative blending comedy, film, music, and design to uplift and inspire. His acting credits include appearances on Law & Order, S.W.A.T., and Godfather of Harlem, and he has collaborated with major networks including Sony Pictures, NBC, Peacock, and CBS.

As co-founder of One Great Vegan and Spark Cities, Ace is passionate about inspiring others to eat more plants and awaken the divine spark within. As founder of The Striped Heart creative studio, he helps brands bring bold visions to life.

At Vibrant Vegan Fest, Ace brings humor, heart, and visionary storytelling to spark creativity, purpose, and collective awakening.

Plant-based Doctor

Dr. Stephan Esser is a physician, author, and motivational speaker specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle transformation. He empowers individuals to optimize health, fitness, and overall well-being while making healthy living enjoyable and sustainable.

Dr. Esser earned his B.S. at Palm Beach Atlantic University, medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, completed a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at Harvard Medical School/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and a Sports Medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Before medicine, he was a competitive tennis player, ranked #1 in the U.S. Men’s Open Doubles (2002).
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Veganic Farmers
Permaculture Experts

Desmond and Victoria are veganic farmers and permaculture practitioners in Austin, Texas, where they are building an off-grid food forest. Their work centers on veganic growing methods that build soil fertility without animal inputs, demonstrating that abundant, nutrient-dense food can be cultivated in true alignment with nature.

Through workshops and community education, they empower others to grow food ethically, restore ecosystems, and reconnect with the earth in a healing, life-affirming way.

At Vibrant Vegan Fest, they’ll share practical tools and inspiring insights for cultivating thriving, animal-free gardens and regenerative plant-based food systems.

Teen Vegan Activist

egan Evan is the world’s youngest Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator, a graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy & a passionate voice for animals & the planet. As a youth ambassador for Solutionary Species & APlantBasedDiet.org, Evan has spoken at major events nationwide—including Central Florida Earth Day, VegFest Oahu, & the Animal Rights National Conference.
He’s been part of powerful campaigns with Million Dollar Vegan, advocating at COP26 & helping spark global conversations on plant-based solutions. Whether he’s rapping, leafleting, protesting, or rescuing animals, Evan brings unstoppable energy & heart to every cause. He’s on a mission to create a compassionate, sustainable world… & he’s just getting started!

Nutrition and Fitness Consultant
Living With Harmony

John Pierre is a nutrition and fitness consultant, famous as a personal trainer to celebrities, rock stars, and Fortune 500 CEOs.

With over 34 years of vegan living and 25+ years in nutrition and fitness, JP created one of the earliest brain‑building programs centered on plant‑based nutrition and holistic wellness. He has volunteered internationally with animal advocacy and women’s organizations, led health and fitness classes, and authored books including The Pillars of Health and Strong, Savvy, Safe.

At Vibrant Vegan Fest, JP will be leading fitness classes and share inspired strategies for living with greater compassion, balance, and connection to the planet

Vegan Author & Advocate

JoAnn Farb is a former microbiologist working in the pharmaceutical & animal health industries, who became a nationally recognized health educator, speaker & author. Known for her advocacy of vegan parenting & skepticism of industrialized medicine, she challenges corporate influence over public health.

JoAnn is the author of 2000 radical parenting primer: Compassionate Souls - Raising the Next Generation to Change the World and one of the first WFPB gluten-free cookbooks available in 2008, Get Off Gluten. Based in Kansas, JoAnn empower individuals & communities to make informed, healthy, compassionate choices.  You can see all her work at: JoAnnFarb.com

Vibrant Vegan Fest Founder

Sarina Farb is a holistic vegan educator, lifestyle coach, and TEDx Speaker working to make the world a better place for all beings.

Being born and raised vegan in Kansas taught Sarina to think for herself stand for justice even when it’s unpopular.

She is the founder and producer of Vibrant Vegan Fest, and focuses on building community and combining heart and science to empower people to live happy, healthy, and compassionate lives.

At the festival Sarina will share her thoughts on cultivating intentional community, effectively creating change & how to achieve a vibrant free, and sovereign world for all beings.

Vegan Activist

Shannon is a lifelong activist & Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator who’s been speaking out for animals since age 9. After two decades as a vegetarian, watching Cowspiracy awakened her to the cruelty of the dairy & egg industries—prompting an overnight shift to veganism alongside her young son, VeganEvan.

Today, Shannon is the President of Solutionary Species, a co-organizer for Plant Based Treaty Florida & the Plant-Based Community Coordinator at Solid Rock Community School. Since 2017, she & her family have traveled nationwide & beyond to educate, advocate & inspire compassionate action. Her mission: fight for animal liberation & a better future for her son & all beings.

Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Alyssa is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) & a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with over 500 hours of training. Her teaching style includes a focus on alignment for optimal physical wellness, a playfulness for trying new things & an emphasis on yoga philosophy. She's been vegan for 12 years, previously serving as a PCRM Food for Life Instructor & earned a certification as a Plant-Based Chef through the Rouxbe Cooking School. Alyssa teaches classes at Yoga Center of Denver (Denver, CO) & Yogi Colorado (Aurora, CO). Alyssa has led yoga sessions at events like Vegan Summerfest (the conference featured in the film Vegucated) in Johnstown, PA & the Colorado Vegfest. Alyssa serves as a board member of the Intermountain Iyengar Yoga Association (IMIYA). When she’s not teaching yoga, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her husband, homeschooling her kids, & love to snowboard, hike, camp, thrift & read.n goes here

Cacao Ceremony Leader
Yoga Teacher

era Galaxy is a collective healer, devoted to soul remembrance and heart-led living. As the founder of Considerate Collective, she alchemizes plant spirit, crystal healing, and energetic alignment into earth-honoring ritual tools.

She teaches yoga, guides cacao ceremonies, and offers intuitive sound healing with crystal bowls, voice, and vibration. Vera is also the host of Conscious Callings, a spiritual podcast exploring divine feminine wisdom, manifestation, plant medicine, and sacred living.

Her offering at Vibrant Vegan Fest is a Cosmic Cacao Ceremony—a sober, ceremonial space to connect, expand, and return to the heart through sound, intention, and soul presence.

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Music Performer
Founder Animal Rights Choir (ARC)

When animal rights and music collided - Vegan Queen V was born.

Vegan Queen V brings messages of truth, peace, love and compassion using her music as a powerful communicator to empower the people of the world to make more compassionate and mindful choices particularly where animals are concerned. 

She has released two albums 'Freedom Warrior' and 'In Dog We Trust' which she performs regularly at shows and festivals around the UK and Europe. 

Vegan Queen V started the 'Animal Rights Choir' in 2025 bringing together passionate compassionate souls who share a love for animals and singing. The choir rehearses online and has already seen 12 performances in the first 6 months of it's creation. 
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DJ & Wave link artist & Movement Facilitator

DJ orbit (Emerson Jane) is a Wave link artist, linking rhythm and movement for awakening through the body.

Emmerson Jane is also a body-worker with a doctorate in Chiropractic, certification in Rolfing, and years of experience assisting people in their journeys of psychosomatic healing and nervous system regulation.

She is adept in many other modalities, such as yoga and dance – where she is now becoming a facilitator of 360 Emergence.

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