Northwest VegFest 2026 Speaker Lineup

Saving Flavor from the Compost Bin - Utilizing Waste in the Kitchen

Aaron Adams Casañas - Chef, Founder of Asterapdx

Every day, over 350 million pounds of food is wasted in the USA alone. A lot of this waste are amazing opportunities at building your pantry for your kitchen. In our demonstration, Chef Aaron Adams Casañas will show you a few techniques, from simple to more advanced, on how to save those scraps from the compost bin and create stunning flavors to accentuate your repertoire.

Aaron grew up watching public television cooking shows and dreaming of a culinary career. After starting as a dishwasher in Seattle, he worked through various Italian and American kitchens before becoming chef de partie at the Westin Resort in Guam in 1996.
Following studies at Johnson & Wales in Miami and a saucier role at New York's Park Avenue Cafe, Aaron opened The Village Store in Jacksonville in 2001. Ethical concerns there led him to remove animal products entirely, eventually transitioning to a fully vegan philosophy.
Moving to Portland in 2003, Aaron initially worked as a machinist before returning to kitchens via pop-ups and vegan establishments. He co-founded Portobello Vegan Trattoria in 2008, where his "BOH" tasting menus reaffirmed his passion for fine vegan dining.
In 2015, he launched Farm Spirit to highlight Oregon's farmed and foraged ingredients. During the 2020 pandemic, it evolved into Fermenter, focused on cultured foods. After expanding his fermentation workshop, Aaron used a neighboring space to test new ideas, leading to Astera's debut in January 2024. Today, Astera showcases Oregon's bounty through a refined tasting menu.

Cooking Demo

Chef AJ - Plant-Based Pioneer, Chef, Author & Speaker

More information coming soon!

Chef AJ has been a culinary leader for over 48 years. Former host of "Healthy Living with CHEF AJ" on Foody TV, she is a speaker and author of four bestsellers, including "The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss" and "Unprocessed." Previously the Executive Pastry Chef at Santé in LA, she specialized in sugar-, oil-, and salt-free desserts. Today, she hosts a thriving YouTube channel with 250,000+ subscribers, interviewing health experts and sharing recipes to inspire thousands to live healthier.

Cooking Demo

Miyoko - Award-winning Chef, Author, Entrepreneur and Speaker

Join legendary culinary activist Miyoko Schinner for a live demonstration of breakthrough plant-based cheesemaking. Learn to transform simple, wholesome ingredients into rich, cultured delicacies that rival traditional dairy. You'll leave with the techniques and inspiration to elevate your home kitchen.

Miyoko Schinner is an award-winning chef, author, and founder of Miyoko's Creamery, credited with bringing vegan cheese to the mainsteam. As an activist and "Vegan Revolutionary," she founded Rancho Compasión animal sanctuary and teaches at UC Berkeley. Miyoko has authored seven books, including the bestseller "The Homemade Vegan Pantry," and appeared in the netflix series "You Are What You Eat." A Global Speaker and former PBS host, she continues to inspire food innovation from West Marin, CA.

Cooking Demo

Turnip Vegan: Todd Anderson - Chef, Author, Content Creator

More information coming soon!

Todd Anderson, widely known as Turnip Vegan, is a celebrated vegan chef, content creator, and two-time cookbook author based in California. A passionate advocate for plant-based living, Todd creates bold, craveable vegan versions of comfort food favorites using fresh plants and mushrooms. Since going vegan in 2016, he has built a massive following by making plant-based eating fun, approachable, and flavorful. He is best known for his creative recipes, mushroom cultivation, fermentation, and vibrant social media content. Former co-owner of Spoiled Vegans Cafe in San Diego, Todd now focuses on recipe development, his popular Turnip Vegan Recipe Club, and growing his brand through cookbooks, digital guides, and wellness products.

Delicious Anti-Inflammatory Quinoa Salads

Linda Tyler, Author and Instructor

Whether you're struggling with inflammation or just want to stay in tip-top shape, come learn how a plant-based diet can make a big difference. Linda will discuss the ways diet can calm inflammation and will demonstrate three variations of a quinoa salad from her Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook. The salads will feature an array of anti-inflammatory superstars—the foods that research has shown to be especially helpful with inflammation. Come taste these healthy, flavorful salads and see how delicious plant-based eating can be.

Linda Tyler is a Portland-based cooking instructor, cookbook author, and food photographer. Her Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook focuses on superstar foods that can help calm chronic inflammation. Her meal-prep guide, Cook Once, Eat Better, provides 12 weeks of healthy, balanced plant-based meals using an easy mix-and-match approach for maximum efficiency and flexibility. Linda teaches cooking classes for Portland Community College, including one-on-one plant-based lifestyle sessions, and is on the video review team.

Cooking Demo

Plant Based Papi: Jewan Manuel - Chef

More information coming soon!

Jewan Manuel, known as Plant Based Papi, is a celebrated vegan chef and founder of Plant Based Papi in Portland, Oregon.
Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Jewan brings bold flavors, creativity, and soul to plant-based cooking. He transforms familiar comfort foods and Latin-inspired dishes into elevated vegan experiences using whole ingredients, fermentation, and inventive techniques — proving that plant-based isn't a compromise, it's an upgrade.
After moving to Portland in 2017, he launched Plant Based Papi as pop-ups in 2018. His cult-favorite tacos and tasting menus quickly gained a loyal following, leading to a brick-and-mortar restaurant and ongoing residencies, including at Dame.

Easy Ethiopian Plant-Based Cooking Demo

Eleni Woldeyes - Chef, Founder Eleni's Kitchen

Learn how to prepare easy Ethiopian vegan meals using traditional Injera and ready-made sauces. The demo will include a brief history of Ethiopian plant-based cuisine, an Injera demonstration, and samples of the dishes prepared.

Eleni Woldeyes is the founder of Eleni's Kitchen, a Portland-based Ethiopian food business specializing in traditional sauces and frozen injera made from teff. After moving from Ethiopia, she was inspired to make authentic Ethiopian food more accessible to her new local community. Her products are available in local co-ops, New Seasons, and Market of Choice stores, and have gained a loyal following across diverse communities. In addition to her business, Eleni has spent more than 10 years teaching Ethiopian cooking classes through Portland Community College, sharing the culture and traditions behind the cuisine.

Live Your Life with E.N.E.R.G.Y!

Terri Chrisman - Board Certified Nutritionist and Author

In this engaging keynote, Terri Chrisman explores how simple lifestyle changes can dramatically improve health and vitality. Using her E.N.E.R.G.Y. framework, she introduces six pillars that support long-term wellness and disease prevention.

Terri will also host a plant-based cooking demonstration featuring recipes from her book Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan to Get Well and Stay Well, along with an interactive workshop that provides practical tools for incorporating healthy habits into everyday life.

TICKETS REQUIRED FOR 'Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan to Get Well and Stay Well' - $99
Ticket details to come!

Terri Chrisman is a board-certified nutritionist and award-winning author dedicated to helping people improve their health through practical, science-based lifestyle strategies. Her work focuses on empowering individuals to prevent and reverse chronic disease through whole-food, plant-based nutrition and sustainable daily habits. Through her presentations, writing, and educational programs, Terri inspires people to take control of their health and build lasting wellness.

Extending Healthspan

Dr. Alan Goldhamer - Founder, TrueNorth Health Center

A whole body approach utilizing diet and fasting to live longer and better.

Dr. Alan Goldhamer is the founder of TrueNorth Health Center, where he has supervised water-only fasting for over 25,000 patients since 1984. A leading expert in therapeutic fasting, he directs a multidisciplinary team treating conditions from hypertension to autoimmune disorders. He is the author of The Health Promoting Cookbook and co-author of The Pleasure Trap. Dr. Goldhamer has published numerous peer-reviewed studies and lectures globally on restoring health through diet and fasting.

Health & Wellness Presentation

Chef AJ - Plant-Based Pioneer, Chef, Author & Speaker

More information coming soon!

Chef AJ has been a culinary leader for over 48 years. Former host of "Healthy Living with CHEF AJ" on Foody TV, she is a speaker and author of four bestsellers, including "The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss" and "Unprocessed." Previously the Executive Pastry Chef at Santé in LA, she specialized in sugar-, oil-, and salt-free desserts. Today, she hosts a thriving YouTube channel with 250,000+ subscribers, interviewing health experts and sharing recipes to inspire thousands to live healthier.

Health & Wellness Presentation

Matt Ruscigno - MPH, RD, and Expert in Sports Nutrition

SATURDAY
Plants, Protein, and Performance: What You Need to Know About Sports Nutrition  
We've all seen photos of vegan athletes, but what do they eat and what does the science say? We'll cover some basics of sports nutrition and look at where the research is the strongest...and weakest. No matter where you are on the exercise spectrum you'll leave with practical and applicable info on how to fuel with plants.
SUNDAY
Expanding the Plant-based Plate and Your Palate: The Unlimited Possibilities of Vegan Eating
In this fun and engaging talk we'll look at plant-based meals from around the world through a nutrition lens. You'll learn how to adjust your macros at home, expand your palate, and get the nutrients you need while eating the best food of your life. 

Matt Ruscigno, MPH, RD has two degrees in nutrition, is a registered dietitian, and has been vegan for over 25 years. An engaging speaker and educator at heart, he draws from his unique professional and personal experiences to make audiences laugh while they learn. Matt has competed in dozens of endurance events, has ridden his bike across the USA (more than once!), and has traveled in 50+ countries. He has co-authored a number of books, including the upcoming 2nd edition of Plant-based Sports Nutrition (Dec 2026, Human Kinetics Publishing). 

Plant-Based Living for Real Life

Chuck Underwood - MPH, RD, and Expert in Sports Nutrition

Plant-based living doesn't have to be perfect, expensive, or complicated. In this honest and down-to-earth talk, Chuck Underwood of Brand New Vegan shares how small, realistic changes can help ordinary people build healthier lives that actually last. Combining comfort food, simple habits, and Dr. Dean Ornish's 4 Pillars of Health, this presentation focuses on making healthy living feel practical, enjoyable, and sustainable in the real world.

Chuck Underwood is a plant-based influencer and an avid vegan cook, blogger, author, and YouTuber. Chuck began experimenting with plant-based cooking in 2008 and is a graduate of T. Colin Campbell's Plant-Based Nutrition Course. Brand New Vegan is unique in that it focuses on helping people make the transition easier by providing comfort-food recipes people already know and love. Chuck currently lives in the suburbs of Portland, OR.

You Already Knew: On Instinct, Buried Truth, and the Courage to Act

Kip Andersen - Founder of A.U.M. Films and Media

There is a moment for every activist, every filmmaker, and every person who chooses the harder, truer path, when you simply know. It happens before the research, before the community, and before the language even exists to name it. Something deep inside you sees exactly what the culture around you is working so hard to obscure.

In this powerful keynote, Kip Andersen traces that spark across more than a decade of groundbreaking investigative filmmaking. He uncovers a universal pattern: beneath every accepted story is a buried truth; beneath every industry consensus is a suppressed reality; and inside everyone in this room is a person who trusted their instincts when the world told them not to.

Weaving together the through-line of truth-telling across his body of work, Kip maps the journey from first sight to final action. He pulls back the curtain on the moments the camera cracks a story open, the intense pressure to look away, the cost of refusing to, and the extraordinary power of going public with what you know.

In an era of manufactured reality, algorithmic noise, and AI-generated consensus, this talk makes a radical case: human witness—lived truth, embodied choice, and life as testimony—is the most irreplaceable act of storytelling left.

Beyond feeling inspired, you will leave this room feeling recognized. Because the most powerful documentary in the world right now isn’t on a streaming platform. It’s the life you are already living—out loud, against the grain, and ahead of the culture. And it all begins with the moment you already knew.

Kip Andersen is a filmmaker, producer, and founder of A.U.M. Films and Media, a non-profit dedicated to creating impactful films and media that promote compassion, sustainability, and harmony for all life.

He is best known for directing and producing the groundbreaking documentaries Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014), What the Health (2017), Seaspiracy (2021), and Christspiracy (2024). His films have sparked global conversations about animal agriculture, environmental destruction, public health, and ethical living.

From One Rescue to a Global Movement

Gene Baur - President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary: 40 years of hope and healing. Reflecting on our roots and looking ahead with purpose.

Hailed by Time as the "conscience of the food movement," Gene Baur is a pioneer in undercover investigations and animal rescue. Since the 1980s, his work has exposed factory farming cruelty and inspired the international farm sanctuary movement. Gene was instrumental in passing the first U.S. laws prohibiting cruel farming practices and has authored two bestsellers. He holds degrees from CSU Northridge and Cornell, dedicated to promoting a just and compassionate food system.

Vegan With A Passport: The Journey of Vegan Ventures

Ashley Castellanos - Owner, Vegan Ventures

Join Ashley Castellanos, founder of Vegan Ventures, as she shares her compelling journey of transforming her passion into a thriving platform. In this inspiring talk, Ashley reveals how she built a community that connects vegan food enthusiasts with extraordinary culinary experiences worldwide. From viral marketing campaigns with major tourism boards to intimate cooking classes and international vegan group trips, Ashley's story demonstrates how authentic content creation, strategic partnerships, and a deep understanding of community can create meaningful impact.

Ashley Castellanos is the Founder of Vegan Ventures. What started as just a social media platform in 2020 has grown into a dynamic digital media platform and international travel company dedicated to making plant-based living accessible, exciting, and culturally rich. Through curated vegan group tours, immersive culinary experiences, and comprehensive online resources, Ashley has built Vegan Ventures into a trusted guide for the global vegan community.

Plant Powered Pooches: Thriving On A Vegan Diet

Susan Weber - Founder, Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay

Plant Powered dogs live an average of 1.5 years longer than dogs on a meat based diet (that's equivalent to 10 years in human lives). During this presentation you will find out why our canines are much different than wolves, what our dogs today really need to be their happiest and healthiest and the state of commercial dog foods on the market. Learn how home cooking plant based dog food and treats is much simpler and less costly than you think. And you will meet a very special little plant powered dog named Wiley.

Following a successful sales career, Susan founded Dalmatian Rescue of Tampa Bay in 2003. Together with a team of wonderful volunteers, over 2,000 dogs were saved from high kill shelters and placed into loving homes.
Susan worked for Blue Buffalo in lead sales for 5 years beginning her introduction into pet nutrition. She also repped for vegan dog food start-up Wild Earth. Susan is certified in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach through Main Street Vegan Academy and has recently completed Plant Based Nutrition for Dogs through Arielle Griffiths, DVM of Just Be Kind in the U.K.