The Creator Retreat

The Creator Retreat

The Collective Reset

October 20–23, 2026 | Sedona, Arizona

An intimate retreat for experienced food and wellness creators ready to build what’s next.

Two days of advanced workshops and strategy sessions, intentional community, and space to reconnect with your vision in the heart of Sedona.

October 20-23, 2026

Sedona, AZ

In Person

Outbound Sedona

Get tickets now

Meet The Speakers

Founders

Yoland "Yoli" Ouiya and Sonja Overhiser

Founders of the Food + Wellness Equity Collective.

Ashlea Carver

Ashlea Carver is the CEO and Founder of the website and brand All the Healthy Things (ATHT). After graduating from law school, Ashlea started ATHT in 2016 as a creative outlet and a way to share simple, healthy recipes with family and friends.

Nearly a decade later, ATHT has grown into a leading recipe destination, hundreds of dishes deep, built on one clear promise: eating well should never feel complicated or restrictive.

Holly Erickson

Holly Erickson, is the co-founder of The Modern Proper and co-author of The Modern Proper: Simple Recipes for Every Day. A Pacific Northwest native who fell in love with cooking at age ten, Holly has spent more than a decade building one of the web's most-loved recipe brands alongside her partner, Natalie.

Jeanelle Castro

Jeanelle Castro is the creator behind Jeanelleats, a food and travel brand known for story-driven videos. She uses her Filipina-American heritage and love for travel to share lesser known foods around the world, making the 'unknown' feel familiar to her audience.

Pailin Chongchitnant

Pailin "Pai" Chongchitnant, is a trained chef and the creator of Hot Thai Kitchen, the most popular Thai cooking show on YouTube with over 2 million subscribers. She's also the bestselling author of 2 cookbooks and the co-host of the Sabai Talk Podcast. She has contributed to major publications such as The New York Times, Cook's Illustrated and Serious Eats. She's a native Thai, currently residing in Vancouver, Canada.

Rebekah Edwards

Rebekah is the co-founder of Clara, a content-led SEO agency that's been working with consumer-facing websites since day one. With 6.5 years in business and 12 years of experience in the content and SEO space, she brings a take on the industry that's concerned with putting readers first for future-proofed results.

Ben Jabbaway

Ben Jabbawy is the founder of Grocers List, the leading growth + monetization platform built specifically for food creators. He lives in Boston with his wife and two daughters, and loves supporting entrepreneurs through new technology.

Heather Wilkins

Heather is a blogger turned WordPress developer and designer and the Chief Operating Officer at NerdPress. While working as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, she started blogging and has been working with WordPress since 2010. After she had trouble finding a blogging theme that she really liked, she decided to build her own…and fell in love with designing and coding for WordPress. She lives with her two energetic kids, their dog, a very snuggly and codependent Cocker Spaniel named Maple, and their crazy-cute but sometimes ornery cat, Max.

Shani Whisonant

Shani Whisonant is the creator of Begin with Butter and author of The Twelve Days of Pound Cake, a pound cake cookbook that celebrates the cakes that raised her. She transformed her blog into a multi-stream business and later launched Tavola, a boutique law firm and consultancy that helps food bloggers build revenue streams they can own and control. Tavola grew out of nearly 20 years of Shani’s work as an attorney, where she helped business owners successfully scale and create strong employment infrastructure. Shani brings her teaching heart to everything she does - whether she's teaching bakers how to perfect brioche or teaching business owners how to hire and retain talent.

speakers coming soon

Agenda

Full Agenda Coming Soon

Retreat Timeline

Tuesday, October 20

Arrival in Phoenix
Shuttle to Sedona (3 pm)
Check-in
Welcome Reception

Wednesday–Thursday, October 21–22

Advanced workshops
Strategy sessions
Networking
Wellness experiences
Shuttle back to Phoenix (Thursday 2pm)

Friday, October 23 - Flexible departure

Spa
Hiking
Explore Sedona
Shuttle back to Phoenix (12pm MT. Earlier options are available.)

Day 1

8:00 am

Day 1 - Thursday October 16

Breakfast and Registration

9:00 am

Opening Remarks

9:05 am

Grounding

9:15 am

SEO Isn't Dead; It's Evolved. [Organic Search Growth in 2026]

Speaker: Rebekah Edwards, Clara SEO Agency

10:15 am

Beyond Checklists: Designing Systems That Drive Creative Freedom & Growth

Speaker: Heather Wilkins, NerdPress

11:10 am

Break

11:25 am

Navigating Tech Shifts: Driving Traffic, List Growth & Revenue

Speaker: Ben Jabbaway, Grocer’s List

12:20 pm

The Newsletter Edge

Speaker: Sonja Overhiser, A Couple Cooks

12:50 pm

Mediavine Spotlight

Speaker: Cyd Converse, Mediavine

1:20 pm

Lunch

2:20 pm

Resilient Creator Blueprint

Speaker: Immaculate Adamu, Immaculate Bites

3:15 pm

Break

3:30 pm

YouTube for the Long Game: Strategies for Sustainable Growth
Speaker: Pailin Chongchitnant. Hot Thai Kitchen

4:25 pm

Panel: Future-Proofing Your Business in an Evolving Landscape

Panelists:

Jessica Hylton Leckie, Jessica in the Kitchen

Michelle Tam, Nom Nom Paleo

Immaculate Adamu, Immaculate Bites

Pailin Chongchitnant. Hot Thai Kitchen

5:15 pm

Closing Remarks

7:30 pm

Community Dinner Excursion (optional)

Day 2

8:30 am

Day 2 - Friday October 17

Breakfast

9:20 am

Grounding

9:30 am

Keynote - Beyond the Bake: Building a Brand That Lasts
Jocelyn Delk Adams (Grandbaby Cakes)

10:30 am

Break

10:45 am

Shani Whisonant, Begin with Butter

10:50 am

Integration & Action Planning: From Inspiration to Blueprint

12:30 pm

Networking Lunch

1:30 pm

Integration & Action Planning: From Inspiration to Blueprint continued

2:45 pm

Closing Circle & Farewell

3:00 pm

You have the option to join us for informal get-togethers on Friday Evening or to depart after the day is done!

Transportation

Getting to Sedona

Round-trip shuttle transportation between Phoenix and Outbound Sedona is included with your registration.

Arrival

Fly into Phoenix on October 20.
Meet at our designated shuttle location for refreshments and to relax.
Shuttle departs approximately 2–3 PM.

Return
Choose either:

Thursday afternoon (following programming) | Shuttle back to Phoenix (Thursday 2pm)

Friday afternoon after enjoying an extra night in Sedona. | Shuttle back to Phoenix (12pm MT. Earlier options are available.)

Lodging

Stay with us at Outbound Sedona at our exclusive group rate of $382/night + taxes. Programming takes place October 21–22, so most attendees will stay October 20–22 with some deciding to stay an additional night.

Book your room here.

Apply for Scholarships

Partial Scholarship

F+WEC has created partial scholarship that will provide lodging for attendees who are experiencing financial hardship. Application Deadline is September 5th, 2025. and we will notify recipients throughout the day on October 7th and 8th so that you have time to book your own airfare. This scholarship is open to all.

The partial scholarship includes:

🏨 Hotel Accommodations: Enjoy a comfortable stay for 1-2 nights to attend The Creator Summit.

Complimentary Pass to the Creator Retreat.

Full Scholarship

Thanks to our incredible legacy partner, Mediavine, we are offering scholarships exclusively for members of our collective who identify as Black, Brown, or Indigenous, as well as people with disabilities. Application Deadline is September 5th, 2025.

The scholarship includes:

✈️ Roundtrip Airfare: Travel to "The Creator Retreat" hassle-free!

🏨 Hotel Accommodations: Enjoy a comfortable stay for up to 2 nights to attend the Natural Products Expo East Show.

🎁 Custom Gift Bag: Discover exciting surprises tailored for scholarship recipients.

Complimentary Pass to the Creator Retreat.

To ensure fair access and opportunities for new attendees, individuals who have previously been awarded a full scholarship are not eligible to apply again.

CLOSED

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our events team at events@foodwellnessequity.com.

About Us

The Food + Wellness Equity Collective is a diverse group of content creators and entrepreneurs committed to being change agents for equity, diversity and anti-racism in the food and wellness industry.

We seek to:

Connect, educate and support our fellow content creators & entrepreneurs
Compel industry brands and media to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion into their brand DNA.
Advance food justice and wellness equity at the national and local level

We are writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, social media influencers, recipe developers, podcasters, photographers and media personalities in the food and wellness industry who are passionately pursuing equity and health for all people and the planet.

We seek to:

Connect, educate and support our fellow content creators & entrepreneurs
Compel industry brands and media to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion into their brand DNA.
Advance food justice and wellness equity at the national and local level

What Can You Expect

This isn’t your typical conference. It’s an immersive, high-level retreat built specifically for experienced content creators in the food and wellness space. Join us in New Orleans for two powerful days of deep learning, strategy, and community connection.

Two full days of 301-level workshops and sessions focused on income diversification, scaling, audience growth, platform shifts, and sustainability in today’s digital landscape.
Hands-on, small-group learning environments designed to give you personalized feedback and real-time business clarity.
Community-building opportunities through roundtables, curated meals, and intentional networking with fellow experienced creators.
A clear 12-month growth plan for your business including tangible goals, systems, and next steps rooted in your vision and capacity.

Come ready to get into the weeds, level up your strategy, and build lasting resilience alongside peers who truly understand the work.

Two full days of 301-level workshops and sessions focused on income diversification, scaling, audience growth, platform shifts, and sustainability in today’s digital landscape.
Hands-on, small-group learning environments designed to give you personalized feedback and real-time business clarity.
Community-building opportunities through roundtables, curated meals, and intentional networking with fellow experienced creators.
A clear 12-month growth plan for your business including tangible goals, systems, and next steps rooted in your vision and capacity.

Come ready to get into the weeds, level up your strategy, and build lasting resilience alongside peers who truly understand the work.

Where

Can't Wait To See You!

Outbound Sedona

Rate: $382/night + taxes
Book Here

1752 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ 86336

What Our Attendees Said

Here's what some attendees shared from our past events.

Clara Nosek @yourdietitianbff

Attending the FWEC Creator Summit was an incredibly enriching experience, as Yoli and Sonja created and fostered a special sense of community unlike anything I have ever experienced. The collective wisdom and unity among attendees left me inspired and deeply connected to a diverse network of individuals committed to truly inclusive and equitable, positive change.

Jenny Patrice Krystal Dunham @themotherroaddietitian

What I found was a community genuine about building one another up. I gained so much knowledge from this Summit & I'm grateful for Yoli & Sonja for their wonderful vision turned reality.

Liz Thompson @iheartveggies

The Creator Summit was such a great experience. I met so many incredible creators and I learned so much. I've been blogging for 13 years, and this was one of the best conferences I've ever attended.

Get Your Tickets Now!

Why is registration only $249?

The actual cost of producing The Creator Retreat is significantly higher than the registration fee.

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners, we’re able to subsidize the majority of the experience because we believe professional development should be accessible, not exclusive.

Your registration covers only a portion of the retreat’s actual cost.

...

Community Pass

$249

Join us for an immersive retreat experience designed to help you strengthen your business, build meaningful connections, and create space for intentional rest. Over two days, you’ll participate in expert-led sessions, hands-on workshops, and wellness experiences that support both your professional growth and personal restoration.

Welcome Reception on Opening Night

Two full days of programming

Wellness and restoration experiences

Community networking opportunities

Access to breakout sessions

Conference materials and program

Breakfast, Lunch, and Refreshments

Round-trip transportation from Phoenix

Purchase Your Pass

Supporter Pass

$399

The Supporter Pass includes the full retreat experience while helping make the Creator Retreat more accessible through scholarships and community programming. Your additional contribution directly supports the growth of a more inclusive creator community.

All features of the community pass

Purchase Your Pass

Support Ticket

Food + Wellness Equity Collective

The Creator Retreat