Speakers and More

Podcaster, Speaker, Mentor, Music Producer

Cory Allen is an author, podcaster, speaker, mentor, and music producer from Austin, Texas. Allen writes daily thoughts on mindfulness and mental clarity for his large Instagram following, reaching over a million people a week. On his podcast, And Then It Hit Me, he shares thoughts on self-development, speaks with leaders in the self-help field, and has been featured by The New York Times. In 2019, Cory's first book, Now Is the Way, was published by Penguin Random House. Allen's second book will be published in the summer of 2024.

President and Director of the Float Research Collective

Dr. Feinstein is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and an expert in the neuroscience of fear who is trailblazing a new path forward for the treatment of anxiety. His research has laid the foundation for novel therapies that can naturally alleviate stress and anxiety without the use of drugs including Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) and the modulation of CO2 as forms of interoceptive exposure therapy. In 2021, Dr. Feinstein became President and Director of the Float Research Collective, a nonprofit organization that is playing a pivotal role in establishing Floatation-REST as an accepted medical treatment.

Resident Microbiologist, and Senior Consultant for Vore & Associates, LLC | Float Conference Board Member | FTA Board Member

Dr. Roy Vore is the senior consultant with Vore & Associates LLC, a consulting company specializing in aquatic facility management, operator training, and risk management. He is internationally recognized as the pool and spa sector's leading authority on recreational water illness. Since 1991 he has been the aquatics industry’s voice, translating the complexity of microbiology into the everyday language of operators. His efforts include drafting portions of the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code, writing the NSPF’s recreational water illness manual, and a variety of fact sheets on microbial issues for APSP. Dr. Vore has over 90 scholarly papers and presentations on the selection and use of industrial biocides, biocide testing methodology, the microbiological of swimming pools and spas, and the governmental regulation of biocides. Roy became interested in floating due to the unique physiology of float tanks and the potential for non-pharmaceutical treatments for our overly stressed society. Roy’s hobbies include making beer and bird watching – which usually includes drinking the beer.

Float Enthusiast, Researcher, Scientist, Graphic Designer, and more

Dr. Flux has been a researcher for over a decade in about a dozen different labs on topics ranging from biotechnology to mental health. Dr. Flux completed a joint Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022, where his work focused on the role of the immune system in novel mental health therapeutics. Flux has spent the past year consulting, re-orienting his focus, and has made a large move into the psychedelics space from an ethics perspective. Flux is incredibly passionate about science communication, and has extensive experience as a graphic designer, which he applies to his presentations and educational illustrations. Flux has presented at the Float Conference each year starting in 2018 and is thrilled to be back for his sixth year.

Artist & CEO of More Floats

Bryce Evans is a multidisciplinary artist living in Montreal and the CEO of More Floats, the expert marketing partner for float centers. After a powerful first float experience over a decade ago, he has had a committed float practice of over 400 hours and focused his marketing expertise to elevate and grow the industry. Initially, working with leaders in the industry like Float House (at the time the largest float center in the world and the first float center in Vancouver) he has helped launch and grow some of the top centers around the world. Now, he is dedicated to creating educational content and highlighting powerful stories for float therapy to encourage more people to commit to a regular float practice. To create a ripple effect of calm, healing and connection.

Float Researcher at Laureate Institute for Brain Research

Dr. Emily Choquette is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) in Tulsa Oklahoma. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her clinical internship at the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Houston, TX. Her previous research and clinical work centers on women’s health, disordered eating, and substance use. She is currently working with Dr. Sahib Khalsa examining the therapeutic effects of floatation for treatment of body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa. She is interested in leveraging novel therapeutics and technology to alleviate suffering from mental health conditions.

Owner of Urban Float in University Place Washington

Enlisting in August 1994 as a Nuclear Machinist Mate, Mr. Puryear reported to Great Lakes for Basic Training on December 28th of that year. He completed Nuclear Field “A” school and Nuclear Power School in Orlando Florida from March 1995 – January 1996. After completion of Prototype in Balston Spa New York Mr. Puryear reported to USS ALASKA SSBN 732 Gold in ecember 1996. Mr. Puryear completed five strategic deterrent patrols and the C-4 to D-5 missile conversion before transferring to Navy Recruiting District New York as the Nuclear Field Coordinator in June 2001. As Nuclear Field Coordinator he was selected as the Region North Nuclear Program Coordinator of the year for 2002. In his off time he completed his Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison. In September 2004 Mr. Puryear was commissioned into the Medical Service Corps as a Radiation Health Officer. After completion of Radiation Health Officer School he reported to Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Pacific Northwest in March 2004. In 2006 Mr. Puryear was selected for out service training and reported to Purdue University in Lafayette Indiana in July of that year. In June 2008 Mr. Puryear graduated with a Masters degree in Health Physics and transferred to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVN 69. While onboard the “IKE” Mr. Puryear completed two deployments to 5th Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In July 2010 Mr. Puryear transferred to, Naval Hospital Bremerton to serve as the Radiation Safety Officer. In March 2011 Mr. Puryear was one of the first Radiation Health Officers deployed to Japan to assist in Operation Tomodachi and clean-up of Naval Assets from the nuclear accident at the Fukushimi nuclear plants. Mr. Puryear trained and supervised personnel in decontamination techniques onboard USS Chancellorsville CG 62. Afterwards he reported to Yokosuka and was part of a team of Radiation Health Officers that performed internally monitoring for all Naval personnel in the 7th Fleet. Mr. Puryear transferred to his last duty station at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where he has served as the Deputy Director of Radiation Health. Mr. Puryear retired after 22 years of Naval Service in February 2017. In November 2018 Jessie opened an Urban Float location in University Place, WA. Jessie is married with two children Carson and Piper aged 16 and 10.

Float Pioneer | Samadhi Tank Co

Glenn Perry, along with his partner Lee, who died last year, were inspired by Dr John Lilly to start Samadhi Tank Co and the floatation tank industry. Glenn invented the use of lots of salt to allow people to float weightlessly in the isolation tank. Together they designed and sold the first commercial float tanks. They also started the first float tank center to assist in selling those tanks. Additionally, they trained others in a method of running those centers and how to interact with the floaters to allow the floater to be comfortable floating instead of afraid and how to get the most out of their time floating. They have always been especially passionate about the amazing benefits of frequent floating in as distraction free environments as possible.

Recreational Water Scientist and Auditor

Jenn Huang holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Truman State University. A dedicated scientist and auditor practiced in technical and regulatory support, product analysis, method development and implementation and GLP, ISO and cGMP documentation and quality standards, she has over 15 years of experience in biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing, immunology and biopharmaceutical research with over 6 years in the water treatment industry. She has contributed to over six peer-reviewed publications, with two as a co-author. Some professional affiliations include American Chemical Society, Association of Water Technologies, American Water Works Association, CMAHC, and PHTA. She is currently an active member of Alpha Chi Sigma Professionals chapter (national professional chemistry), a former member of CMAHC Chlorine Stabilizers Ad Hoc Committee, and Technical Director of the Isocyanurate Industry Ad Hoc Committee, in addition to being active with the PHTA Recreational Water Quality Committee. Most importantly, for the past few years, she has specialized in harassing your friendly neighborhood bug guy, Roy Vore, on his limited skills in chemistry and the English language.

Float Enthusiast

Through professional athletics and performance, to a decades long practice of meditation, yoga, scientific/philosophical/poetic immersion. Retiring from a 30+ year career as a Psychiatric RN, researcher, educator, therapist and Anatomist. Continuing a private practice of an increasingly simple but deepening somato/spiritual nature. Developing into a ‘Float Contemplative’ in which suspension and immersion dynamics inform a growing intertwinement of science and spirit. Hopefully thinking, moving, communicating from a more interconnected sensibility.

Co-Founder of Float On, Float Tank Solutions, & HelmBot 

Graham is one of the founders of Float On, a six tank center in Portland, Oregon that opened its doors in 2010. Somewhere between then and now, Float On (with Graham firmly in tow) got itself tangled up in pretty much every aspect of the floatation world – from software and consulting to book publishing and music recording. Outside of his salty endeavors, Graham has a broad range of interests that include experimental theater, philosophical debates, complex systems design, and board games.

Co-Founder of Float On, Float Tank Solutions, & HelmBot 

Ashkahn is one of the founders of Float On in Portland, Oregon, and one of the founders of this very conference! He likes to think of himself as a sort of Johnny Appleseed character for floating, travelling around and salting the earth everywhere he goes. He's done a lot of really impressive stuff over the course of his life, including holding the Guinness world record for fastest one-handed sorting of peanut m&ms! Well, he doesn't actually officially hold the record, but he did try it one time, and he's pretty sure he did it faster than whatever it said in that book. Anyway, he's a cool guy. You should go say hi to him if you see him around.

Owner, GM of Float Seattle | Float Conference Board Member

Andrew Loppnow is PNW born and raised and an explorer at heart. Over the last decade, he has developed practices around float tanks, spiritual herbalism, meditation, and yoga, to alchemize his own depression and self-doubt into purpose and self-belief. Andrew sees floating, in particular, as the most accessible tool in the modern world to tap into our true potential. As the owner and general manager of Float Seattle, Andrew has grown the business from 2 to 4 locations and committed deeply to his mission to provide space for relaxation, healing, and growth for anyone seeking wellness on their own terms.

Part owner, Float Seattle

Andrew Ginn is a Northwest native with over 10 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry as a musician and event producer. He has been floating since 2012 and has been a part-owner of Float Seattle since 2020. Andrew is also a coach, breathwork aficionado, and skilled space-holder - he strives to inspire others to be their best selves.

Owner of Float Nashville

Rachel Benton is a wife and mother of two beautiful children, owner of Float Nashville, a collegiate professor with an MBA, and a real estate investor. With all that she does, she feels the most passionate about her role as an educator and sharing with others the tools she has used to keep her in alignment on her journey of life.

Join her in the Human Design workshop as she introduces you to the primary modality that she has used to not only understand her energetic design, but the design of the people that she has relationships with as well. Human design is a modality to help us better decipher who we truly are. Like astrology, the lesser-known discipline uses your birth information to create a unique chart that can give insight into your life, purpose, and more. Rachel will walk you through the details of the Human Design system, inform you on how to use the information to live your life in flow, teach you how to use it to make real time business decisions, and how to use the system to transform your relationship with your employees to better help retain the amazing talent you attract.

Founder and CEO of THOR Photomedicine

James Carroll is the founder and CEO of THOR Photomedicine. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine, Co-Chair Biomedical Optics Society conference on Photobiomodulation (PBM) mechanisms.

PBM is remarkable because it achieves two things with one mechanism: pain relief and healing. Red and near-infrared photons are absorbed in mitochondria, improving cytochrome c oxidase activity, which leads to increased ATP production and reduced oxidative stress. The downstream effects of this this are less inflammation, less pain, and faster tissue repair.

As a recognised authority on photobiomodulation, James has co-authored 27 academic papers on photobiomodulation. He has given a US Congressional briefing on PBM as a solution for the opioid crisis and a White House briefing on PBM as a solution for the opioid crisis. He spoke at the United Nations Global Health Impact Forum on Photobiomodulation for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Modern Day Hypnosis

Lauren Hall is heart-lead visionary ambitious about improving systems in literally all arenas for life, society, and the good of mother earth! Lauren doesn't see a broken world to fix. Instead she pictures mathematics of energy just continuing to explore potentials! Life is an ever evolving experience for energy…if you feel stuck or limited in any way you are hypnotized to believe that reality and can just as easily see new opportunities using hypnosis.

Lauren uses hypnosis practices to expand her mind, and the minds of clients, to see new and more supportive equations for life pleasure and harmony.

Lauren is an educator of Clinical Hypnotherapy and a Performance Mental Coach. She helps people all over the world to rewrite stories of mental blocks, challenges, or limitations so that they emotionally, and physically, begin experiencing increased health, happiness and flow.

Lauren has been operating Modern Day Hypnosis since 2013 and currently resides, beautifully, in North Carolina.

Owner of Ocean Elements Wellness

Allan and his wife Jeanne are co-owners of Ocean Elements Wellness Center in Ocean City and Kent Island, MD. He is also a certified trainer for Inner Matrix Systems. To become a certified trainer, Allan worked with individually with 32 people using techniques, tools and strategies designed to align, train, and rewire the emotions, thought strategies and nervous system to create a life they design. Allan uses these tools every day as a float center owner to drive inspiration, passion and joy that drive the consistent action that produces results.

Qi Gong Practitioner

Dr Linda Nadia Hole MD, is a Qigong Master practioner, author, & physician of over 40 years experience; & consulting editor for landmark textbook Chinese Medical QiGong. Besides her family, dolphins, floating, & dancing - her passions include healing in the way of Love; and the Sacred Ho'oponopono Breath of Aloha, Peace, and Qi

Master Reiki Practitioner and Owner of Surface Float Wellness Center

Kat was a high energy, no pain no gain, no rest entrepreneur that hit rock bottom in 2017. Completely burnt out, depleted, and newly diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disease, she started the difficult journey to healing and breaking up with stress! This journey is what led her to discover floating and was delighted with how much it contributed to her healing and replenishment. Complementing her Coaching and Reiki practice, it ultimately led her to open Surface Float Wellness Centre in 2020. Opening her business in the midst of a global pandemic was a stressful and demanding endeavour. A Master Level Reiki practitioner, Kat infused her business practices with this beautifully soothing and connecting energy and was able to overcome challenges without crashing and burning!

Co-owner, Still Point Wellness

Corey created the weekly didgeridoo meditation at the Esalen Institute and uses the instrument to help facilitate deep meditation and inner journey work. With a unique combination of playing didgeridoo and spoken word guided imagery from his experience as a somatic psychotherapist and trauma relief counselor, Corey creates a space imbued with self inquiry, exploration and deep presence. In addition to his counseling practice he also co-owns and operates Still Point Wellness in Asheville NC, with 5 float tanks and a staff of Esalen Massage practitioners.