Inspired by his self-proclaimed “militantly organic” leader, Frank Oakes, Michael Monteleone organized the first two Food and Thought Health Freedom Summits in 2015 and 2016. Oakes, the founder of the Naples organic movement, opened his entirely organic market and café in 2004. The first of its kind in Collier County, it set a high bar for any competitor that followed.

Passionately committed to providing the community with organic food and creating a space where Neapolitans could learn about organic farming and sustainability, Oakes—a second-generation farmer—taught organic gardening classes in his one-acre garden. Today, his garden, market, and café have flourished, requiring considerably more space, as well as the additions of an indoor/outdoor juice and coffee bar and an organic clothing store, Thoughtful Threads. The garden has expanded into a 15-acre farm where more than 60 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs are grown.

The passing of this veritable Johnny Appleseed in 2013 was mourned by his loyal and dedicated following.

For 20 years, Monteleone has passionately carried his mentor’s “militantly organic” banner, doing everything he can to build upon the Health Freedom Movement. He has engaged with other like-minded individuals, such as Dr. Joel Bohemier, director and founder of StandForHealthFreedom.com, and Kim Elia, founder of WholeHealthNow.com.

Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and activating a grassroots movement to protect health and families. It seeks to transform awareness into action by empowering individuals to take a stand—both personally and as part of a growing and influential voter bloc. This is achieved through community education and grassroots calls to action that advocate for pro-health freedom policies.

Bohemier, a speaker at the April 5 event, is a Doctor of Chiropractic currently practicing at Trinity Chiropractic in Naples.

Elia, who will also speak on April 5, is passionate about educating the public on homeopathy, often referred to as “the people’s medicine,” which is highly valued in 14 countries outside the U.S. He will take questions at a screening of the film Introducing Homeopathy on April 6 at 4:30 p.m. at the Paragon Pavilion Movie Theatre in Naples. Tickets can be purchased at ParagonTheaters.com/movies under “Coming Soon.”

See the speaker list for details on the other seven speakers, topics, and times.

Saturday, April 5 – Health Freedom Summit Speaker Schedule and Topics

11:00 am – John Marmol, BA, CAP – Take Control of Your Health: Why Supporting Your Immunity in Our Modern Age Is a Must

John Marmol is the National Education Manager for Natural Immunogenics Corp. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida (USF), majoring in psychology and taking pre-med courses. He holds a Certification in Addiction Counseling from USF’s School of Community Sciences and has five years of clinical mental health experience. He specializes in psycho-educational techniques for adult learners, including anger management, domestic violence, parenting, and substance abuse counseling.

11:50 am – Aleksandra Mihailovic – Feed Your Frequency: The Field of Energetic Communication

Aleksandra Mihailovic believes that we become what we feed our minds—and who we surround ourselves with. In this enlightening session, she explores how food is more than just calories—it’s information that directly communicates with both the body and mind. Through energetic communication, we not only nourish our own well-being but also influence those around us, consciously and unconsciously. Learn the basics of low- vs. high-frequency foods and how the energy of people and environments impacts our well-being.

Aleksandra graduated magna cum laude from The University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication and a minor in Psychology. She earned a full athletic scholarship as a Division 1 Women’s Soccer player and was recognized as a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success. Her interest in functional medicine began as a patient and evolved into professional work at a functional medicine clinic, leading her to pursue further education and training in the field.

A CellCore Biosciences practitioner, Aleks is currently studying to become a Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner.

12:20 pm – Dr. Valerie Sorge, NMD, PhD – Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Therapy

Dr. Valerie Sorge has led numerous high-profile projects in various countries over the past decades. Expanding her global network, she currently operates in 14 locations, specializing in regenerative therapy and research. She has complemented her medical expertise with naturopathic training, integrating traditional medicine with organic and natural treatments to maximize medical efficacy.

Dr. Sorge has been reviewed by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), fully qualifying in the required safety and procedural expectations for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

At Vidaful Medicine, Dr. Sorge and her team provide progressive, complementary treatments as an adjunct to traditional primary care, ensuring that patients receive preventative, progressive, and personalized healthcare. Vidaful Medicine boldly seeks to provide safe and effective integrative therapies—even when the mechanisms of action are not fully understood—because patients want to feel better, look better, restore peak health, and prevent unnecessary illness.

1:15 pm – Brendan Gaughran – Reduce Reliance on Big Pharma by Reducing Toxin Overload

Brendan Gaughran is the CEO and Founder of Liver Medic. His presentation will focus on reducing chronic disease and reliance on Big Pharma by minimizing the body's toxin load. He will discuss strategies for avoiding toxins and safe detoxification protocols to safely conduct cleanses that improve overall well-being.

1:45 pm– Dr. Richard Schroeder – The Covid Tyranny Task Force: A Voice for Health & Awareness

Dr. Richard Schroeder, a former obstetrician/gynecologist and healthcare executive, will discuss the formation and evolution of the Covid Tyranny Task Force. He will highlight its role in advocating for health freedom and expanding public awareness.

2:15 pm – Dr. Joel Bohemier – Stand for Health Freedom

As one of 46 chiropractors in his family, Dr. Joel Bohemier is passionate about natural healthcare and the body's innate ability to heal. A strong advocate for holistic living, he frequently speaks on topics such as organic foods, green living, and strategies for maintaining a resilient mind, body, and spirit.

Dr. Bohemier serves as an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom and as a board member of GreenMedInfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced natural health database.

He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba in 1996 and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, in 2000. He has practiced in Italy and Canada and currently operates Trinity Chiropractic in Naples, Florida.

3:25 pm – Michael Monteleone – The Truth About Organic Food & How Frank Oakes Inspired the Nascent Naples Health Freedom Movement

Michael Monteleone is the Health & Wellness Manager at Food & Thought and will celebrate his 20th anniversary with the store this fall. He credits Anthony William (The Medical Medium) with saving his life and helping him secure his first job in a health food store in 2004.

Michael spearheaded the first two Food & Thought Health Freedom Summits in 2015 and 2016, aiming to inspire individuals to take responsibility for their health and spiritual well-being while fulfilling their God-given purpose on Earth. He is a passionate researcher, relishes the pursuit of knowledge, is an avid cinephile, and happiest when experiencing the sacred art of cinema in a proper movie theater.

4:00 pm – Kim Elia – Homeopathy: The Future of Medicine Is Already Here

Kim Elia, Executive Producer of the film "Introducing Homeopathy," is a world-renowned homeopathic educator with a passion for bringing reliable homeopathy to the world. As a co-founder of WholeHealthNow.com, he provides free and affordable educational resources and tools for the homeopathic community.

Elia played a key role in developing the online web application HomeopathicHouseCall.com, a first aid and acute-care homeopathy tool. As the project’s principal creative lead, he oversees development and creative strategy. In this session, he will present case studies demonstrating the validity and effectiveness of homeopathy.

Note: On April 6 at 4:30pm attend a special screening and presentation with Kim Elia of Introducing Homeopathy through the Naples Cinematheque at the Paragon Pavilion Movie Theater, located at 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, in Naples. See Event ad for information on tickets.

5:00 pm – Shane Hennessy – Empower Yourself with Knowledge

Shane Hennessy has worked in the health food and supplement industry for 20 years. Throughout his career, he has assisted customers on their healing journeys, represented and pioneered numerous companies, and co-founded two businesses.

He currently owns and operates Brokerage of the Earth Natural Sales and serves as the National Sales Manager and National Educator for Black Lotus Shilajit. Hennessy is deeply involved in product development and production management.

With a unique industry perspective from multiple roles, he is passionate about helping people navigate through marketing hype to distinguish genuinely beneficial products from misleading claims. In this session, he will share simple successful strategies for sifting through marketing hype and understand what is truly beneficial.

Food and Thought - 2132 Tamiami Trail N Naples, Naples, FL

100% Organic Cafe, Juice Bar, Grocery & Clothing Store Established in 2004, Food and Thought offers only the highest quality organic produce and groceries, fresh juices, real milksha... Read More »