CHRIS BIRKETT

Chris Birkett is a multi-talented, award winning producer, singer/songwriter, composer and sound engineer. His music collaborations with A-list international artists like Sinead O’Connor, Alison Moyet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Talking Heads, The Pogues, Bob Geldof, Quincy Jones, Mel Brooks and Steve Earle have sold over 100 million records and earned four Canadian Junos, a Grammy, a Polaris Music Prize and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business.

Chris is no stranger to Canadian music, having co-produced five award winning albums for the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, including her comeback album “Coincidence and Likely Stories” (1992) and the Juno winning “Running for the Drum” (2009).

His career began as a guitarist, playing in London clubs before touring with Memphis artists Rufus Thomas, Ann Peebles and King Floyd. At 23, Chris was performing with the pop group Love Affair, whose song “Everlasting Love” ruled the UK charts. The following year, he joined the band Omaha Sheriff who had just signed a major recording deal with Tony Visconti, manager of Good Earth Records and producer for David Bowie and the Moody Blues.

With Visconti as a mentor, Chris expanded his career to include producing, engineering and mixing many UK and international hits including Sinead O’Connor’s #1 song “Nothing Compares 2 U”. His London studio was a beehive of activity that was rated #2 in the world on Billboard’s top studio charts.

At the same time, Chris’ own single “Where Do We Go From Here?” was picked by Ed Bicknell (Dire Straits’ manager) to play alongside U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Marley, Tears for Fears and Queen on Polygram’s “One Voice One Love” album.

In 1993, Chris left the UK for France and built a recording studio inside his chateau near Bordeaux. There he produced albums with the Buena Vista Social Club and other world-class musicians, including Etran Finatawa, whose debut album was nominated for a 2006 BBC Radio best world music award. He then moved his studio to Paris, where he released his second album, “Freedom” and received growing acclaim for his work with world musicians like Algerian sensation Ali Amran.

In 2012, Chris moved to Canada, opened a recording studio in Toronto and finished work on his third album “Be Creative” featuring performances from many talented Canadian artists including Glen Milchem (Blue Rodeo) and Rick Emmett (Triumph). Now a Canadian citizen, Chris’ credits include co-producer of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Polaris and Juno award winning album “Power in the Blood” (2016) and the recent Juno winner, Medicine Songs (2017), both for True North Records. In 2019 he released 11:11, his fourth album under the band name The Free Spirits.

Chris is currently creating new recordings for a range of talented Canadian and European musicians and is immersed in his own upcoming albums: Songs from the Kauai Hotel Room and a collection of fun-loving songs with his new collective, The Happy Campers. In February 2021, he released the single Precious Love for his documentary filmmaker wife Joan Prowse.

Among his many Precious Loves Chris enjoys performing his original music live at musical venues, clubs and online events.

PESHANG HAMA KARIM

Peshang Hama Karim is a motivated young man from the high mountains of Kurdistan, in Northern Iraq. His undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering has brought him knowledge and insights about civilizing a nation; particularly meaningful given his birthplace in a troubled region dear to his heart called Halabja. His love of land and its loss of cherished lives there lends him a special sensitivity to adversity and community and the desire to sustainably improve not only his homeland but lands worldwide.

Obtaining his Masters in Environmental Engineering in Warsaw, Peshang has a vision of a greener, safer, gentler world and bringing his sense of responsibility both environmentally and environMentally to the global home and future generations. He carries a personal quote dear to his heart; “I dream to raise social consciousness wherever I am and however I can. From presenting at seminars and media outlets to signing protocols with Authorities in my homeland, I will continue to do this and more because my mission is to save Humanity. To achieve this would be my greatest triumph. And to strive for this triumph would be my greatest achievement.”

Co-Founding and managing environmental organization “Jingedosty” (aka “Eco Friends”) allowed his homeland to enter a new era of social awareness regarding environmental issues. Jingedosty’s many national and international activities led him to participate in several important world-wide events such as the UN Youth Climate Summit and CAP 21 among others. Recently he was selected to participate in & represent the voice of youth in Iraq at the UN’s Climate Conference for Youth in Glasgow (COY16) during the COP26.

Launching his PhD. studies in Environmental Sciences in Warsaw provided Peshang an ideal opportunity to dive into an ocean of knowledge and experience many new scientific achievements in Poland, which he eventually intends to apply in his home country.

His many published articles about Climate Change and meetings with significant Influencers in his native country lend further meaning to his distinction as one of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leaders. Peshang’s love of cultures, communication, and cross-collaboration is a hallmark of his invaluable leadership voice.

JACKIE PRIMROSE MONAHAN

Jackie headlines at the hottest clubs, regularly appears on TV, and has a cult indie-film following. Voted comic-to-watch by Esquire magazine.

“Jackie Monahan is Unstoppable”

– Curve Magazine

“Queen of Deadpan and an absolute delight”

– Roger Ebert

Jackie’s dynamic presence both on television and on stage combines an unapologetic fearlessness and spontaneous combustion that will make you want to dance. Jackie won Time Out New York’s Joke of the Year and according to The Comedy Bible, “Jackie wins over the crowd with her contagious energy. Jackie is fearless and patient. She keeps the energy up with every joke and she always delivers. She shines when being herself which is silly, relatable and disarming. She embraces universal humor that is genuinely entertaining to all audiences.”

Jackie does stand up at all major comedy clubs all over the globe as well as at recovery centers, jails, hospitals, and institutions. You may have seen her on Adult Swim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, Last Comic Standing, or Comedy Jam on Showtime.

Jackie Primrose Monahan has been called “The queen of deadpan” by Roger Ebert, “a f%cking genius” by Roseanne Bar, and “the funniest b$tch on the block ” by Amy Schumer whom Jackie toured with for 6 years.

Jackie starred in and co-wrote Madeleine Olnek’s beloved Sundance feature film “The Foxy Merkins” which was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Jackie was Zylar in Olnek’s Sundance hit “Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same” which received rave reviews from both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. She has professionally trained at UCB and Groundlings and she was born with a spot-on sense of timing and a unique look at life that cannot be duplicated.

“Jackie Monahan is funnier than 90% of the comedians out there”, says Jude the Comedy Dude from Now Hear This. 

BRIAN MORENO

Brian Moreno is an LA comedian, director, actor and writer that got his start at the House of Blues on Sunset as an emcee and their in-house comedian. He started House of Blues Comedy which became one of the hottest shows in LA until the House of Blues shut down.  From there the Hollywood Improv brought him in and taught him the ropes. If you have never seen Brian preform, he is one of kind with great energy, a smart sense of humor,  a wild perspective on life and some of the craziest stories you have ever heard. He is a must see.

 

Brian has had multiple viral videos most popular being True Comedian and Aliens & Comedy, where he matched HBO and the History Channel quality getting himself and these videos into multiple festivals. After that he decided to put down the short form and make the jump into feature film. His latest project is “Dreamland – A Storming Area 51 Story.” 

Mila Popovich is a global transformer. She is the voice of new standards and ethical leadership in the fields of science and technology, education, economy, and democratic systems. She is an academic, author, speaker, and artist. As a contributor and advisor on board of highest-ranking global organizations, she is ushering a new era of human development and leading the evolution of social values.

Mila is the Founder of EVOLving Leadership – program and consultancy for transformational leadership. She develops the potential of individuals, organizations and communities for superior performance. Mila is a Member of theExecutive Committee of the World Academy of Art and Science and the Chair of the Academy’s Nominations Committee. She is appointed the Head of Research andDevelopment on the project Global Leadership in the 21st Century by the United Nations Office at Geneva and the World Academy.

Mila’s work is sourced in three major domains: systems sciences and integral knowledge, psychology of transformation, and anticipation and future studies. In her workshops and transformational labs, Mila teaches the science of accomplishment and the art of fulfillment and designs distinctive synesthetic experiences for awakening individual and collective genius.

She draws on her cultural range from native Montenegro and resident USA for her artistic expression as an awarded performing artist in multiple dance forms, bilingual poet and experimental theater art director. She is an educational and social innovator and creative entrepreneur – a social artist sourcing her divers engagements as an academic, artist and activist to engender social transformation and systemic change for individual and collective thriving. 

Jill Lublin is an international speaker on the topics of Radical Influence, Publicity, Networking, Kindness, and Referrals.  She is the author of 4 Best Selling books including Get Noticed...Get Referrals (McGraw Hill) and co-author of Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic.  

Her latest book, Profit of Kindness went #1 in four categories. Jill is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the marketplace.  She is CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 25 years’ experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media.  

Jill teaches a virtual Publicity Crash Course, and consults and speaks all over the world. She has spoken on many stages with luminaries such as Tony Robbins.  She also helps authors to create book deals with major publishers and agents, as well as obtain foreign rights deals.

Eliana Gilad is a two-time TEDx presenter, motivational speaker, healing voice mentor, therapeutic singing trainer, composer/performer, and founder of Voices of Eden Ancient Wisdom and Healing Music Institute. Born in the United States, Eliana left for France in 1991 and then moved to Israel in 1994, where she held herself at peace despite bombings during three Middle East Wars, using healing empowering techniques she now teaches. 

Eliana has dedicated her life to reviving the conscious use of voice and rhythm as natural healing instruments, as they were used in ancient matriarchal times. This wordless healing sound modality helps people find their authentic voices and connect to their inner calm in the midst of change. It has been clinically researched in a neonatal intensive care unit, where it was proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate, increase focus, and improve the quality of sleep.

Through her Institute, Eliana researches and teaches the principles of thriving through uncertainty via online trainings and live retreats. She certifies healing professionals in the therapeutic singing model that is clinically proven to reduce anxiety and sets them up to use their creativity and charge for it.

Her new international bestseller, Emerge Triumphant: Thrive through Uncertainty helps readers understand that when they give their inner voice the ability and power to shine, limiting barriers can be broken and people can become their own leaders, opening themselves up to a world of new possibilities. 

ELIANA GILAD

Born in the United States, Eliana left for France in 1991 and then moved to Israel in 1994. Professionally, she has dedicated her life to reviving the conscious use of voice and rhythm as natural healing instruments, as they were used in ancient matriarchal times. This wordless healing sound modality helps people find their authentic voices and connect to their inner calm and wisdom.

It has been clinically researched in a neonatal intensive care unit, where it was proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate, increase focus, and improve the quality of sleep. Her work has been featured in publications like Drummer, Yoga Journal, Mothering, Music and Medicine Journal, Global Rhythm, and Hindustan Times. Documentarian Emmanuel Itier also features Eliana in her award-winning film Femme (2013), narrated by Sharon Stone.

Eliana is a frequent keynote presenter, teacher, and performer at healing music, leadership, health, and mindfulness conferences throughout the world. Such events include TEDxSanJuan (2017), International Conference of Traditional Music (2017), Globe Sound Healing Conference (2014), TEDxVailWomen Conference (2012), Chinese Spa Conference (2011), Music and Medicine Symposium (2010), and the Legends of Nonviolence Conference (2007). She has also presented at the United Nations, the Chopra Center in New York City, and the Thank Water Conference (2003), alongside Masaru Emoto, author of Messages from Water, whose research revealed the profound effect of her music upon frozen water molecules.

Through the Voices of Eden Ancient Wisdom and Healing Music Institute, Eliana researches and teaches the principles of feminine power and the voice.

In addition to Miriam’s Secret, she is the author two books: Rhythms of the Natural Voice Workbook (2002), a companion to the CD Rhythms of the Natural Voice (2001); and Quiet in the Eye of the Storm: Living Peace in a War Zone, a digital book and audio program written, recorded, and published during the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon War. She has produced five music CDs and a groundbreaking relaxation music program used by dentists worldwide.

Eliana also narrated the “The Forgotten Jews,” a PBS documentary broadcast in November 2005. In 1992, she broadcast the voiceovers for CBS television during the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.

She alternately makes her home in Los Angeles, California, and Galilee, Israel.