Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Author of The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors and Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger, and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care.

A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod activates the intersections of his identity to create a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive. Applauded for his mastery in balancing weighty topics with a sense of lightness, the Queen has been featured by various national and international news outlets.

Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself. Wanna keep tabs on what Lama Rod is doing next? Be sure to sign up for his email list here. Stay tuned to his website here for upcoming offerings and click here for bookings and other requests.

Closing Keynote: Ash Pryor

Ash is shattering glass ceilings wherever she goes. A former Big 10 athlete, an award winning rower, high school hall of famer, and Peloton’s first full figured instructor. Her workouts are a mix of thought-provoking moments, intense sweat sessions, and joyful sing-a-longs.

As a first-generation college graduate and a black woman in rowing, Ash emphasizes education and inclusivity in her teaching. She uses movement to foster community, address self-esteem and mental health issues, and promote social change through sports and fitness. 

Ash has been an athlete her entire life but stepped into fitness full time in 2018, with a mission fueled by her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease in 2016. Turning her pain into power, she birthed her own mobile gym and non-profit. Starting as a strength based instructor she has taught a variety of styles. From dance hip hop, bootcamps, step aerobics, to rowing on and off the water. In 2022, she became a global leader with Peloton, connecting with 7 million members through the app, equipment, and studio visits.

Since 2013, Ash has traveled the country facilitating workshops on leadership, body image, entrepreneurship, social change, and holistic wellness. She has received numerous accolades, including the Integrity Leadership Award from NASPA, the Steady State Network Change Maker Scholarship, and the Community Excellence Award from The Ohio State University. Recently, she was inducted into her high school’s Alumni Academic Hall of Fame.