Ashley Judd is well known for starring in both box office hits and for turning in unforgettable performances in fine independent films. From her debut in Sundance Film Festival grand jury prize winner, Ruby In Paradise, to Where the Heart Is, Simon Burch, Helen, De-Lovely, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, her films tell very personal stories-- which is exactly what Judd does when she is not making movies. But the stories she tells are not about being a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress or about making People magazine's “50 Most Beautiful People” list three times.
Judd is a feminist and social justice humanitarian. She has been working internationally, with NGO’s, grassroots organizations, governments, and supranational bodies since 2004. Presently, she serves as Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, is the Global Ambassador for Population Services International, and also for Polaris Project. She serves on the Advisory Boards of International Center for Research on Women, Apne Aap Worldwide, and Demand Abolition. She is Chairperson of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project: Curbing Abuse, Expanding Freedom. She has also served as a board member for Population Services International (PSI) and as Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS.
She frequently serves as a panelist at international conferences and is a sought after public speaker. Her book, All That Is Bitter and Sweet, details her visits to grassroots programs in 13 countries, was a New York Times bestseller.
David Kessler, MA, RN, is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and bestselling author. He’s the founder of Grief.com and author of six books, including Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He’s co-authored books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross and Louise Hay and leads grief certification programs for professionals and online groups for those in grief. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life.
Jud Brewer, MD, Ph.D., (“Dr. Jud”) is a New York Times bestselling author and thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery,” who blends over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training and a career in scientific research. He is passionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives – with the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large.
