You will find all recipes from the chef demos linked under their name below.
View speaker presentations and chef demos on our YouTube Channel!
“The Benefits of Plant-Based Nutrition: Above and Below the Belt”
and
“A Plant-Based Woman Warrior Cooking Demo”
Recipes (pdf)
12:00–1:30 pm
Notre Dame Room
Jane Esselstyn RN is a fresh, charismatic voice who brings her perspective and passion as a nurse, researcher, mother, and teacher to the forefront of the plant-based movement. She presents her work, research, and high energy demos around the world – and on her new YouTube channel with her firecracker mom, Ann Esselstyn. Women, families and community drive Jane’s work forward. With full enthusiasm, Jane co-founded Well, Now! Camp, an activity-filled, creative escape for Plant-Based Women Warriors – because vitality rocks!
Jane is an avid and inventive designer of plant-strong recipes and the co-author of the NY Times Bestseller Be a Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious, and The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook. She created the recipe sections of #1 NY Times Bestseller, Plant-Strong and The Engine 2 Seven Day Rescue, by Rip Esselstyn. And she is a co-author of The Engine 2 Cookbook. Jane brings her infectious energy and straightforward message to her presentations, cooking demonstrations, and cookbooks with clarity, hilarity, and a can-do attitude.
Click here to learn more.
“Sweet Potato Brownies”
11:30 am–12:00 pm
Pre-Function South (or South Wing)
Katherine and Joshua started Feel Better Living as a married duo on a mission to help others feel better in their mind, body, and spirit.
Because of their own history and struggles with health and wellness, they have devoted the past decade to uncovering and exploring natural modes of healing.
They also love medicinal herbs and mushrooms, solutions given by nature to help them Feel Better Living.
Another part of their Feel Better Living efforts comes in the form of mental support. Both Katherine and Joshua are accredited coaches who have supported 100’s in their efforts to gain mental awareness, manage their actions, overcome mental barriers, find peace of mind, and change their lives in positive ways.
Katherine and Joshua believe that in order to Feel Better Living, we need to look beyond ourselves, explore the essence of nature and understand our relationship with it.
Katherine has a bachelor’s in Wildlife and Joshua a bachelor’s in Environmental Science. They actively compost, reuse, and recycle to nourish the earth and create as little trash as possible. They believe when we nourish a relationship with the earth in these ways, we Feel Better Living.
Watch Katherine and Joshua on YouTube and visit their website.
“Sanctuary – Connection, and Community: How Animals Show Us a Better Way of Living”
3:30–4:30 pm
Notre Dame Room
Paws for Humanity began as a shared dream between Beth, a social worker, and Dale, a pastor and lifelong horseman. From their very first date, they talked about creating a space where people could reconnect—with themselves, nature, and animals.
In 2019, that dream became a reality when they founded the Sanctuary on a former alpaca farm, where 13 alpacas who had lived there their whole lives were given a permanent, loving home.
Today, Paws for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides refuge to alpacas, donkeys, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, barn cats, and three devoted Great Pyrenees. Through tours, hands-on programs, and volunteer opportunities, the Sanctuary invites people to experience healing, growth, and belonging through meaningful connections with animals and nature.
Click here to learn more and click here for a pdf presentation of Paws for Humanity.
“Vegan Rotel Nachos”
3:00–3:30 pm
Pre-Function South (or South Wing)
In 2018, Jasmine embarked on a journey to embrace healthier living in a society overwhelmed by toxicity. Inspired by eye-opening health documentaries, she discovered that changes in diet could help prevent the chronic illnesses that had deeply impacted many of her loved ones. This realization transformed her perspective, showing her that even the most daunting health challenges could be addressed with the right lifestyle choices.
Her research revealed a startling truth: many diseases stem from something as simple as unhealthy eating habits. Determined to break free from the troubling statistics—especially those highlighting the higher risk of chronic illnesses within the African American community—Jasmine decided to take charge of her health. She began exploring plant-based options, reinventing her favorite meals as flavorful vegan dishes that didn’t compromise on taste. To her surprise and delight, her creations wowed everyone who tried them!
Today, Jasmine shares her passion and knowledge through a variety of services. She offers vegan lifestyle coaching, cooking demonstrations for events or in-home settings, private chef services, catering, and more. Whether you’re looking for guidance or inspiration, Jasmine is here to show you how small changes to your plate can lead to life-changing results. Let her help you transform your health—starting with what’s on your fork!
Click here to learn more.
“Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan”
2:00–3:00 pm
Notre Dame Room
Matthew C. Halteman is professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and fellow in the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, UK. He is the author of Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation (2024) and coeditor of Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Arguments About the Ethics of Eating.
In his latest book, Matthew Halteman aims to transform our perception of vegan living by focusing on what it promotes rather than what it restricts. The book is a love letter to life itself in all forms, and presents an imaginative vision of a true, beautiful, and good world that motivates and sustains our deepest desires to be well. As hungry, beautiful animals ourselves, we strive for healthful living and survival on this planet, and our approach to flourishing matters immensely. It’s not about shame and blame, but about finding joy in the journey. See the press release (pdf).
“Vegan advocacy is vitally important and urgently needed. It is also thorny terrain, which is why it needs eloquent, informed ambassadors, preferably with a sense of humor. Halteman delivers magnificently on all fronts. I utterly recommend this book!” ―Jonathan Balcombe, New York Times best-selling author of What a Fish Knows
“This compelling read calls us to breathe into our humanity and to understand how our joy increases when we help bring joy to others. We are all connected, and anytime someone experiences kindness, whether human or more than human, our world is made better.” ―Gene Baur, President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary
Click here to learn more.
“(V)itale Stew”
Chef Audy has been sharing her passion for cooking across the country for many years. She has worked alongside esteemed culinary talents, including Chef Marvin Woods, celebrity chef and cookbook author, at his Atlanta restaurant, Asante. Her experience also includes time at The Aviary, the renowned Chicago restaurant and cocktail lounge owned by James Beard and 3-Michelin-starred chef, Grant Achatz. Additionally, she has honed her craft in a popular Denver restaurant and throughout Southwest Michigan’s vibrant culinary scene, particularly in the bustling tourist beach towns.
Specializing in from-scratch cooking, Chef Audy emphasizes the use of locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Her culinary style is deeply rooted in country-comfort cooking with a strong Southern influence. She also brings a global perspective to her dishes, skillfully preparing authentic cuisine from Southeast Asia, Mexico, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the West Indies, Coastal regions, and Black American Soul Food.
Beyond the kitchen, Chef Audy is an artisan spice maker, crafting custom seasoning blends that elevate flavors while adding medicinal benefits to her herbal teas, juices, soups, stews, sauces, and dressings. She is also a pioneer in plant-based cuisine, seamlessly reimagining classic dishes with innovative, flavorful alternatives.
Her latest culinary venture, (V)ITALE CUISINE, embodies her philosophy of fresh, clean, high-vibration foods—free from artificial flavors, colors, and animal products. Inspired by the Ital diet created by Jamaican Rastafarians, (V)ITALE CUISINE represents the roots of the modern vegan movement, celebrating unprocessed, earth-based nourishment at its finest.