PRESENTERS
Deanna Allison
A Diné (Navajo) actress best known for her breakout series regular role in Dark Winds.
Deanna Allison represents a new wave of Indigenous storytelling in film and television. As a Diné actress, her work in Dark Winds has helped shift representation toward authenticity and depth. Her performances contribute to a broader movement redefining Native narratives on screen, bringing visibility and complexity to stories that have long been overlooked.
Marc Barasch
A filmmaker (The Phenomenon), author (The Compassionate Life) and ecological activist (Green World Campaign).
Marc Barasch is a bestselling author (The Compassionate Life, Remarkable Recovery), filmmaker (The Phenomenon, The Roswell Incident), ecological activist (founder of the Green World Campaign) and former editor at Natural Health, Psychology Today, and New Age Journal.
Garry Blackchild
A singer-songwriter, of afro-Indigenous, western roots/folk that, as he says, “Auntie would dance to.”
Garry Blackchild’s music moves between worlds, grounded in Afro-Indigenous identity while drawing from Western folk traditions. His sound is intimate yet expansive, shaped by rhythm, memory, and lived experience. At the core of his work is connection—to family, to land, to lineage. His phrase “music Auntie would dance to” captures the spirit of his work: rooted in community, joy, and continuity. Through his music, Blackchild creates space for cultural memory to live and evolve.
Nocona Burgess
A Comanche painter whose contemporary portraits of Indigenous men and women radiate power and history.
Nocona Burgess creates contemporary portraits that honor Indigenous identity with striking clarity and presence. As a Comanche artist, his work reflects both historical awareness and modern expression, capturing subjects with a sense of dignity and power. His paintings challenge outdated narratives, offering a more nuanced and self-defined representation of Indigenous life.
Scott Christopher
An artist, Santa Fe Magazine contributing editor and former shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.
Scott Christopher’s career spans professional sports, visual art, and writing, reflecting a life shaped by reinvention. As a Santa Fe-based artist and contributing editor, his work often explores identity and transformation. His perspective is grounded in lived experience, bringing depth and narrative to everything he creates.
Juliana Ciano
Operates Reunity Farms, where she is reimagining regenerative living.
Juliana Ciano’s work focuses on sustainability, agriculture and community. Through Reunity Farms, she creates a model for regenerative living that connects people to land and resources. Her work reflects a shift from sustainability to active restoration, emphasizing long-term environmental and social impact.
Will Clift
A Santa Fe-based sculptor known for creating large-scale, gravity-defying forms with materials like carbon fiber, steel, and wood.
Will Clift’s sculptures challenge perception, using materials like steel, wood, and carbon fiber to create forms that appear both grounded and in motion. His work explores balance, tension, and the relationship between structure and space. Each piece reflects a careful negotiation between weight and lightness, creating a sense of dynamic equilibrium.
Chip Conley
Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and was Airbnb’s Head of Global Strategy. He is a best-selling author and co-founded MEA, a midlife wisdom school in Santa Fe and Baja CA.
Chip Conley has built a career at the intersection of business and personal growth. As founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and former Head of Global Strategy at Airbnb, he has shaped modern hospitality. He is also the co-founder of MEA, a midlife wisdom school, where he explores aging as a period of growth and reinvention. His work blends leadership, psychology, and purpose-driven living.
Alexis Corbin
Radio host and Executive Director, symphony and opera performer and arts education activist.
Alexis Corbin is the Afternoon Host and Executive Director of Classical 95.5 KHFM in Albuquerque, where she brings both curatorial vision and an engaging on-air presence to one of the region’s leading classical music stations. A native of Portland, Oregon, she performs regularly with Opera Southwest and the Santa Fe Symphony, and has collaborated with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, the Bill Evans Dance Company and Kawambe-Omowale African Drum and Dance Theater. She has also performed with steel pan artists Liam Teague and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. She previously served as founding Program Director of New Mexico’s first El Sistema program and has supported arts education through her work with the Public Academy for the Performing Arts.
Sara Dant
An author, historian, professor and lover of the outdoors.
Sara Dant is an award-winning writer, historian, distinguished professor emeritus, runner, and avid outdoor enthusiast who lives in the Galisteo River Valley outside Santa Fe. Her recent book is Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West, a “big history” of people and nature across twenty-five thousand years in the West. In addition to appearing in Ken Burns’ The American Buffalo film, Sara’s writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, PBS.org, San Francisco Chronicle and the Colorado Sun. She has also provided expert witness historical research, court testimony and a precedent-setting report on stream navigability upheld by the Utah Supreme Court.
Marisa C de Baca
A creative voice exploring identity and storytelling in contemporary culture.
Marisa C de Baca’s work reflects an interest in narrative, identity, and expression. Through creative practice, she engages with evolving cultural conversations around storytelling and meaning.
Sally Denton
An investigative reporter who writes about subjects others ignore – from drug conspiracies in Kentucky to organized crime in Las Vegas to corruption in the Mormon Church.
As an investigative journalist and author, Sally Denton brings depth and rigor to complex subjects, revealing the systems and forces that shape society. Her work challenges readers to look beyond surface narratives and engage with deeper truths.
Gay Dillingham
Her award-winning films include The WIPP Trail, My Body Belongs to Me, Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary, and Crossings.
Gay Dillingham’s films sit at the intersection of storytelling and inquiry, exploring profound questions about identity and transformation. Her work reflects a deep curiosity about consciousness and human experience. Through documentary filmmaking, she invites audiences to engage with ideas that challenge conventional thinking, creating space for reflection in a fast-moving world.
Kirk Ellis
A two-time Emmy Award and two-time Humanitas Prize–winning writer and producer who created John Adams, the acclaimed event series.
Kirk Ellis’s work focuses on character-driven storytelling grounded in historical context. Ellis’s approach highlights the human dimensions of history, making complex narratives accessible and compelling.
Angela Ellsworth
A multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of The Museum of Walking, where art meets ritual.
Angela Ellsworth’s work moves across sculpture, performance, and installation, often engaging with themes of ritual, identity, and transformation. As co-founder of The Museum of Walking, she creates experiences that blur the line between art and lived practice. Her work invites participation, reflection, and a reconsideration of how we move through both physical and conceptual spaces.
Tina Elmo
An acclaimed independent producer known for her work on television series and documentaries, most notably as an executive producer on Dark Winds.
Tina Elmo has worked across film and television, helping bring stories from concept to audience. As an executive producer on Dark Winds, she has contributed to a shift toward more authentic representation in media.
Julie Ferman
The matchmaker extraordinaire behind 1,400 love stories — and counting.
Julie Ferman has built her career helping people find meaningful connection. With over 1,400 relationships to her name, she blends emotional intelligence with practical strategy. In an era dominated by dating apps, her work offers a human-centered approach rooted in intuition and insight. Ferman’s work reminds us that connection isn’t accidental — it’s intentional.
Tony Floyd
Contributing photographer for W Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Santa Fe Magazine and senior contributor to The New York Times.
Tony Floyd began his creative journey in the 1990s as a model, working with leading photographers such as Steven Meisel and Bruce Weber, often assisting Weber behind the scenes. Over the past two decades, he has established himself as a contributing photographer for major publications including W Magazine and The Wall Street Journal, and is currently a senior contributor to The New York Times. In late 2024, Floyd was commissioned by The New York Times to photograph artists Judy Chicago, Larry Bell, Lucy Lippard, Harmony Hammond and Rose B. Simpson for a feature exploring the influence of New Mexico on their work. Captivated by the region’s landscape and spirit, Floyd extended the assignment from one week into a three-week immersion, forming a deep connection with its singular beauty. Floyd is currently a proud contributor to Santa Fe Magazine.
Dan Flores
An American writer and historian who specializes in cultural and environmental studies of the American West.
Dan Flores has spent decades reinterpreting the history of the American West through an environmental lens. His work challenges traditional narratives, focusing on the relationships between humans, animals and landscape. By blending science, history, and storytelling, Flores offers a more nuanced understanding of place, one that highlights interconnected systems and long-term ecological impact.
Richard Friedman
Explores psychology, culture, and human behavior through a multidisciplinary lens.
Richard Friedman brings expertise in geology, remote sensing, archaeology, and digital technologies to the study of the Chaco world. He worked with the Navajo Nation Chaco Sites Protection Program to document Great Houses and roads across the Four Corners and has researched Chaco roads for over 30 years using advanced imaging techniques, including LiDAR and photogrammetry. Friedman has co-authored key publications on Chacoan infrastructure and landscape use. He appears in the Solstice Project documentaries The Mystery of Chaco Canyon (1999) and Written on the Landscape (2024), and contributes to the current production, From the Mind’s Eye.
Kristin Goodman
An award-winning film director, screenwriter and playwright.
Kristin Goodman is an award-winning film director, screenwriter and playwright. Her most recent play #UnderTheInfluence, a dark comedy in three acts, centered around two sisters searching for meaning in a world shaped by social media and debuted Dec 2021 at the historic Santa Fe Playhouse.
JP Granillo
A renowned Chicano artist who, after a decade of incarceration, co-founded the Alas de Agua Art Collective, supporting underprivileged youth.
J.P. Granillo’s artistic journey is shaped by transformation. After a decade of incarceration, he emerged with a renewed sense of purpose, channeling his experiences into art that speaks to resilience and identity. As co-founder of the Alas de Agua Art Collective, he supports underprivileged youth through creative expression. His work reflects both personal redemption and collective empowerment, offering a vision of art as both testimony and change.
Jeff Hamaoui
A teacher, writer, speaker and regenerative community builder for MEA in Santa Fe and Baja, California.
Jeff Hamaoui’s work centers on how individuals and communities can live more sustainably and intentionally. Through his role with MEA, he helps people navigate transitions and reconnect with purpose. His approach blends personal development with systems thinking, offering an alternative to fast-paced, extractive ways of living.
Dr. Jason Hao
Has been practicing and teaching scalp acupuncture for 32 years and have been teaching classes worldwide.
Dr. Jason Hao has spent decades refining and teaching scalp acupuncture, a technique that blends traditional Chinese medicine with modern neurological treatment. His work focuses on conditions like stroke recovery and chronic pain, offering alternative pathways for healing. Through international teaching and clinical practice, he has helped expand understanding of integrative approaches to care.
Tania Katan
A Transformational Speaker, Award-Winning Author, Creativity & Innovation Expert.
Tania Katan is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author, and visionary mind behind the viral social impact campaign #ItWasNeverADress; a movement that has inspired over 100 million people to see, hear, and celebrate creativity and belonging.
Her visionary way of formulating ideas led to her award-winning book, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Work and Life, as well as the award-winning memoir, My One Night Stand With Cancer.
As an inspirational speaker, Katan is highly sought after by everyone from Fortune 500 companies to global summits, to teach individuals, leaders, and teams how to tap into their innate superpower — creativity — and drive innovation, discover unlimited possibilities, and build cultures where people don’t just belong but long to contribute.
Whether on stage or on the page, Katan makes creative thinking fun, unforgettable, and — most importantly — immediately actionable.
Pilar Law
Lisa Law's daughter, who runs Edition ONE Gallery in Santa Fe.
Pilar Law carries forward a legacy rooted in photography and cultural documentation while shaping her own path in the art world. As the force behind Edition ONE Gallery in Santa Fe, she curates work that bridges past and present, highlighting both established and emerging artists. Her work reflects a commitment to storytelling through visual culture, creating space for dialogue and discovery.
Ellen Petry Leanse
A neuroscientist, Stanford instructor, author, and consultant for Apple, Google, and Facebook.
Ellen Petry Leanse bridges neuroscience and technology, examining how attention shapes our lives in a digital world. A former executive at Apple and Google, her work now focuses on the science of focus, presence, and belonging. She explores how modern systems fragment attention and how individuals can reclaim it. Her work offers both scientific insight and practical tools for navigating an increasingly distracted world.
Larry Leeman
A physician, researcher, and therapist with over 25 years of experience, focusing on addiction, trauma, and transformative healing.
Dr. Larry Leeman’s work spans medicine and therapy, focusing on recovery and long-term healing. His approach integrates physical and psychological care, addressing complex challenges like addiction and trauma with depth and compassion.
Dr. Shelly C. Lowe
A national leader in education advancing Indigenous knowledge and academic leadership.
Dr. Shelly C. Lowe’s work centers on expanding access and equity in higher education. A member of the Navajo Nation, she has held leadership roles focused on supporting Indigenous students and integrating cultural knowledge into academic systems. Her work reflects a belief that education should strengthen identity, not erase it.
Marc Maron
Writes and performs comedy for film, television, and stage and is known most notably for his podcast WTF, which achieves 55 million listens per year.
For over thirty years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing comedy on stage, radio, online and television. With his landmark podcast WTF with Marc Maron, which achieves more than 55 million listens per year, he’s interviewed icons such as Robin Williams, Keith Richards, Nicole Kidman and Barack Obama.
Marc has released five stand-up comedy specials, most recently, Marc Maron: Panicked, which received a WGA award. His previous one From Bleak to Dark also won a WGA nomination. Maron also starred in the Netflix series Glow and the scripted series Maron which aired for four seasons. For this session, Maron goes deep on grief, shame, the absurdity of surviving it — and why the funniest thing about tragedy is that it keeps happening.
Jessica Matten
A Canadian Métis-Cree actress, model and producer blazing a trail in Hollywood — best known for her roles in Dark Winds and Frontier.
Jessica Matten is part of a new generation of Indigenous actors reshaping film and television. A Métis-Cree actress, she is best known for her roles in Dark Winds and Frontier, where she brings depth and authenticity to complex characters. Beyond acting, she is also a producer and advocate for inclusive storytelling, working to expand opportunities for Indigenous voices in the industry. Her work reflects a broader shift toward representation that is nuanced, self-defined, and culturally grounded.
Alonso Mendez
A Tzeltal Maya cultural astronomer exploring ancient Maya and Chacoan connections.
Alonso Mendez is a Tzeltal Maya cultural astronomer and visual artist with over 30 years of research on ancient Maya art, architecture, and writing. Born in Chiapas, Mexico, he studied Fine Arts at Middlebury College. He later worked on archaeological projects in Palenque, producing detailed drawings and 3D reconstructions of the site. His work uncovered new astronomical insights in Maya temples and hieroglyphs. Mendez focuses on Indigenous science and knowledge through educational programs and collaborates with the Solstice Project on links between Mesoamerican astronomy and Chacoan culture. He lives in Taos, New Mexico, where he continues his research and artistic practice.
Jace Mercer
A Creative Director specializing in transformative technology experiences.
Jason Mercer works at the intersection of design and emerging technology, creating immersive digital experiences that reshape interaction. His work blends storytelling with innovation, focusing on how technology can deepen human connection. Rather than treating tech as neutral, Mercer explores its impact on perception and behavior, designing with intention and meaning.
Mark Miller
A culinary icon and restaurant owner credited with reinventing Southwestern cuisine.
Mark Miller is the founder of Coyote Café and the architect of modern Southwestern cuisine. He began his career at Chez Panisse cooking under Alice Waters. He started numerous heralded restaurants including Fourth Street Grill in Berkelely, and most notably Coyote Café where he is credited with reinventing Southwestern food.
Catherine Oppenheimer
Co-founded the National Dance Institute of New Mexico and the New Mexico School for the Arts.
Catherine Oppenheimer has played a defining role in shaping the arts landscape of New Mexico. As co-founder of the National Dance Institute of New Mexico and the New Mexico School for the Arts, she has expanded access to arts education for generations of students. Her work reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity, building institutions that nurture both artistic excellence and community connection.
Elena Ortiz
Works at the intersection of education, media and the arts.
Elena Ortiz, an enrolled member of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, holds a Master’s degree in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. She has served as a founding board member of the Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies and Red Media, and as a board member of the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry, where she also judged the Youth Poet Laureate competition. Ortiz is the Southwest Regional Director for Road Scholar, an educational nonprofit travel organization. She lives in Santa Fe with her family.
Jacques Paisner
Artistic Director, Santa Fe International Film Festival
Jacques Paisner works within the publishing world, representing authors and shaping how stories reach audiences. His role bridges creative work and market influence, helping ideas move across platforms.
Raul Pacheco
A cofounder is a songwriter and a founder of Ozomatli and Manboy Brown, as well as an actor who starred in The Guardian and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Raul Pacheco is a founding member of Ozomatli, the Grammy-winning band known for blending genres and cultures. His work extends beyond music into film and storytelling, reflecting a commitment to community and creative expression.
Garrett Peck
An author, historian and tour guide in Santa Fe, specializing in adventure travel and historic interpretation.
Garrett Peck explores history as something lived and layered into everyday spaces. As an author and guide, he uncovers overlooked narratives that reveal the complexity of place. His work connects past and present, inviting audiences to see history not as distant, but as something actively shaping our world.
David Perez
A longtime entrepreneur and now founder and CEO of the New Mexico Innovation Hub.
David Perez leads the New Mexico Innovation Hub, supporting startups and economic development. His work focuses on creating systems where ideas can grow into impactful businesses, shaping the region’s future.
Godfrey Reggio
A director of experimental documentary films, including Powaqqatsi, Koyaanisqatsi, Naqoyqatsi and Once Within a Time.
Godfrey Reggio is best known for the Qatsi trilogy, films that combine powerful imagery with music to explore the modern condition. His work challenges traditional storytelling, offering a meditative, visual approach to understanding the world.
Ellen Bradbury Reid
Grew up at Los Alamos and shares stories about her encounters with famous scientists working on the atomic bomb, including J. Robert Oppenheimer and Edward Teller.
Ellen Bradbury Reid offers a rare, personal perspective on one of the most pivotal moments in modern history. Growing up in Los Alamos, she encountered many of the scientists behind the Manhattan Project, including J. Robert Oppenheimer. Her stories provide a human lens on a moment often defined by its global impact, revealing the individuals behind the science.
Alexandra Renzo
Theater buff, filmmaker, actress, Creative Director of Performance at Meow Wolf, all-around storyteller.
Alexandra Renzo is a theater performer and filmmaker. Most often known as ‘Renzo.’ First performing professionally at the age of 15, Renzo has willfully and stubbornly been immersed in the world of story for all of her life. Italian and Ukrainian, raised in the midwest, aged in New York City, she has now called New Mexico home for the past ten years. As an actress, recent film credits include the feature Queen of Knives opposite Mel Harris (Amazon, AppleTV), a wide variety of short films by New Mexican filmmakers and two feature films yet to be released. She has been seen on stage in NYC at Atlantic, BAM, and Cherry Lane — amongst others — and locally at the Santa Fe Playhouse. Feature film producing credits include: Meow Wolf: Origin Story (SXSW), Selah and the Spades (Sundance) and Soulmate(s), amongst a slew of short films. She works as a Creative Director of Performance at Meow Wolf, championing and designing weird theatrical adventures across all five of their exhibitions. She believes strongly in de-centralized storytelling — and if not working, she can be found snuggled up with a book and her cat, collaging, or on adventures far and wide alongside her sweetheart. She graduated from the New School: Eugene Lang College where she studied performance used as a form of resistance.
Jesse Roach
A water systems expert shaping how Santa Fe prepares for climate change.
Jesse Roach leads Santa Fe’s public utilities with a focus on water sustainability and climate resilience. A hydrologist and former river guide, he combines technical expertise with real-world experience. His work helps position Santa Fe as a national model for water conservation and long-term planning.
James Robinson
Stage director of the American premiere of Lili Elbe at the San Francisco Opera in August.
American stage director James Robinson is stage director of the American premiere of Lili Elbe at the San Francisco Opera in August. He is the Artistic Director at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where he has mounted productions including Jack Perla’s Shalimar the Clown, Terence Blanchard’s Champion, Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, Peter Ash’s The Golden Ticket, John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer and Nixon in China.
Andrea Romero
A legislator and entrepreneur shaping policy and opportunity in New Mexico.
Andrea Romero brings together law, business, and public service to create impact at multiple levels. As a New Mexico state representative, she focuses on issues affecting Santa Fe County while also engaging in broader economic and community development. Her work reflects a new model of leadership — one that moves fluidly between sectors to drive meaningful change.
Hampton Sides
Known for his best-selling, gripping non-fiction adventure stories about war and epic expeditions (Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder.)
Hampton Sides brings history to life through narrative nonfiction that reads like a thriller. His bestselling books combine meticulous research with cinematic storytelling. Sides focuses on moments of high stakes and human endurance, transforming historical events into immersive, character-driven narratives.
Jen Sincero
The powerhouse author of the best-selling You Are a Badass series comes to talk confidence, creativity and cash flow.
Jen Sincero redefined self-help with a voice that is equal parts irreverent and practical. Her bestselling books cut through traditional personal development, offering readers tools to shift limiting beliefs and take action. Drawing from her own nonlinear path, her work focuses on confidence, money mindset and creative growth. She invites audiences to confront their habits and step into change with both honesty and humor.
Anna Sofaer
A researcher on the archaeoastronomy of the Ancestral Puebloans of the Southwest, famously rediscovered the Sun Dagger marker site in Chaco National Park.
Anna Sofaer is a researcher, filmmaker, and founder of the Solstice Project whose work reshaped understanding of Chaco Canyon. Since her 1977 rediscovery of the Sun Dagger site atop Fajada Butte, she has led decades of interdisciplinary research into the region’s astronomical and ceremonial significance, grounded in collaboration with Pueblo educators. She has brought these discoveries to wide audiences through PBS documentaries including The Sun Dagger, The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, and Written on the Landscape (2024). Sofaer is currently producing From the Mind’s Eye, exploring global ancient sites, while continuing to advocate for the preservation of Chaco’s sacred landscape.
Miranda Viscoli
Co-founder and Executive Director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.
Miranda Viscoli is Executive Director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence. Viscoli received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at New York University as well as a Bachelor of Arts from California State University at Long Beach. In the summer of 2009, she completed her masters in Latin American art history at California State University Long Beach where her master’s thesis won the Outstanding Thesis Award for the College of the Arts. After the Sandy Hook shooting, Miranda Viscoli suspended work on her PhD at the University of New Mexico in order to research and write about the problem of gun violence both in New Mexico and the United States. She is the Co-founder and Executive Director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence — a non-partisan 501 (c)3 whose sole purpose is the prevention of gun violence in New Mexico. She has created and implemented gun violence prevention programming in schools, teen and gang intervention centers and juvenile detention centers throughout New Mexico. Viscoli helped to design and organize the national Guns to Gardens buyback program and sits on the leadership committee. She has implemented statewide policy on gun violence prevention. She works with schools, school boards, police departments, legislators, city councils and the New Mexico Department of Health to implement gun violence prevention measures throughout the state.
Dr. Andrew Weil
The father of integrative medicine, shares insights on how to heal the whole human.
For more than half a century, Dr. Andrew Weil has challenged the boundaries of conventional medicine, asking what it means to heal the whole person. A Harvard-trained physician and founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, he has helped bring holistic health into the mainstream. His work blends science with global healing traditions, emphasizing prevention, nutrition, and the body’s innate capacity to heal. Through decades of research and bestselling books, Weil has reshaped how we think about wellness, advocating for a more integrated, human-centered approach to medicine.
Peter Zandan
The executive chairman of Quantified Communications, an advanced analytics and communications software company.
Peter Zandan operates at the intersection of data and human behavior. As Executive Chairman of Quantified Communications, he analyzes how language and delivery shape perception and influence. His work reframes communication as both art and science, offering leaders insight into not just what they say, but how it lands. In a world saturated with information, Zandan’s work brings clarity to the mechanics of persuasion.