2021 SPEAKERS
Check back often as Speakers are updated frequently.
The 2021 SVWFC line-up will include over 30 presenters.
James Nestor
James Nestor is a science journalist and bestselling author. In his most recent book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, Nestor lays out his ten-year personal investigation of breathing in a spellbinding, comedic, and riveting fashion. The book explores the history of how humans shifted from the natural state of nasal breathing to chronic mouth breathing. Humans typically take about 25,000 breaths per day — often without a second thought. But the COVID-19 pandemic has put a new spotlight on respiratory illnesses and the breaths we so often take for granted.
Nestor argues that this shift (due to the increased consumption of processed foods) has led to a rise in snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, autoimmune disease, and allergies. He also worked with scientists at Stanford whose research suggests that returning to a state of nasal breathing will improve an individual’s health.
Vin Gupta MD, MPA, MSc.
Dr. Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, MSc. is a public health physician, professor, and health policy expert.
Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, is a Critical Care Pulmonologist and Affiliate Faculty at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, part of the University of Washington. He’s served in a variety of roles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to his clinical responsibilities, including serving as the current Chief Medical Officer of COVID-19 Response for Amazon.com, Inc. Additionally, he served as health advisor on the Biden-Harris Transition’s COVID-19 Response team and is the primary COVID-19 advisor for the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners. His background in public health has focused on epidemic preparedness, with relevant roles at the US CDC’s Emerging Infections Program, the World Bank’s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility, the China CDC, and the Pentagon’s Center for Global Health Engagement. Finally, Dr. Gupta is a deployable critical care physician for the US Air Force Medical Corps Reserves, where he is Officer-in-Charge of Joint-Base Lewis McChord’s Critical Care Air Transport Team. He is a medical analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and board member for several non-profit organizations nationwide. You can follow him on twitter @VinGuptaMD
In her acclaimed book, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, Bolz-Weber “takes readers on the engaging and accessible journey” (Booklist) from her roots as a hard-drinking standup comic to an ordained Lutheran pastor. Bolz-Weber speaks on spirituality and faith; friendship and community; life purpose and activism; self-care, shame, and the body; recovery and self-awareness; sex and intimacy; health and wellness; and leadership and authority.
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Former pastor and New York Times bestselling author Nadia Bolz-Weber has been called “a pastor for America’s outsiders” (BBC). Bolz-Weber is the first to attest that she doesn’t look like most people’s idea of a pastor, but the community of faith she founded in Denver, Colorado—House for All Sinners and Saints—is a haven for a diverse community seeking affirmation and acceptance. In her books and talks, Bolz-Weber makes the deeply felt argument that honesty and human connection are the key to creating and sustaining community.
Matthew Walker, PhD
Dr. Walker is a former Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and currently is a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Why We Sleep. Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and synthesizing decades of research and clinical practice, Why We Sleep explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer,
Alzheimer’s, obesity, and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children; and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses.
Tommy Rosen
Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher, author, and addiction recovery expert who has spent the last three decades immersed in yoga, recovery, and wellness. He holds certifications in both Kundalini and Hatha Yoga and has over 29 years of continuous recovery from drug addiction. Tommy is one of the pioneers in the field of Yoga and Recovery assisting others to holistically transcend addictions of all kinds. He is the founder and host of the Recovery 2.0: Online Conferences and the Recovery 2.0 Group Coaching Program. He leads Recovery 2.0 retreats and workshops internationally and presents regularly at yoga conferences and festivals. Tommy’s critically-acclaimed book, Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life, was published by Hay House in 2014.
at the Aspen Institute. The Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution has incorporated Race Demystified & the Healing Process as part of the curriculum in their conflict resolution certification training.
Milagros Phillips
Milagros Phillips specializes in transforming relationships between people of different backgrounds and creating a safe space to engage in difficult conversation. Her powerful approach leaves participants empowered, inspired, and hopeful. Phillips’ program, Race Demystified & the Healing Process, has been presented for more than 15 years to Fortune 100 Companies, colleges, universities, and communities throughout the US. She co-developed the Race Equity Framework Model to End HIV for The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). She has been invited to be a blogger for the Community and Culture’s Dialogue on Public Libraries