Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa has remained one of America’s favorite rock stars for more than two decades.

Melissa’s artistic and commercial successes have been highlighted by accolades including two Grammy Awards for “Best Female Rock Performance,” a “Songwriter of the Year” honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards, and a career milestone with a victory in the “Best Song” category at the 2007 Academy Awards for I Need to Wake Up, written for the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth. With massive original hits such as I’m the Only One and Come to My Window, Melissa cemented herself as a musical and cultural icon.

Throughout her career, Melissa has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her silent. She publicly acknowledged her sexual orientation at a time when it was considered risky to do so, and continued her activism for Marriage Equality.

After being diagnosed with with breast cancer in October 2004, Melissa appeared on the 2005 Grammy telecast despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. As a cancer survivor, Melissa has publicly advocated for the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis.

October 2022 saw Melissa’s return to the theatre with her one woman show, My Window – A Journey Through Life. The critically acclaimed, sold-out run premiered at New World Stages in October 2022, and has plans to move to Broadway in 2023.

Through the Etheridge Foundation, Melissa has continued her activism and public education with a mission to help people heal through the transformative power of plant medicines.

Deborah Klein, JD, has more than 30 years of experience in the music business with expertise including strategy, intellectual property, deal making, touring, merchandise, brand management, royalty statements, film and tv, new technology, online social and retail strategy, recording, marketing and artist relations.

Deb graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston with a concentration in intellectual property and contracts. She started her own law practice while simultaneously running the iconic punk label TAANG! Records, releasing over sixty albums in three years. In the early nineties, she started her own management company in Boston, finding and developing indie music icons and working with numerous major and independent record labels.

Deb moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to serve as in-house legal counsel for Spivak Sobol Entertainment as well as manager for Eve Six, Vanessa Carlton, Flyleaf, Yellowcard, Alexi Murdoch and Liam Finn. Spivak Sobol was acquired by The Firm, where Deb worked with artists from Smashing Pumpkins to Korn and Five Finger Death Punch. As GM for Prospect Park, Deborah was responsible for breaking Five Finger Death Punch with multiple Gold and Platinum Albums and multiple top ten singles.

Ten years ago Deb joined Primary Wave as a Joint Venture Partner. Her current roster includes Melissa Etheridge, Cypress Hill, Plain White T’s, Flyleaf, Ashlynn Malia, and Morphine. She loves music and art of all kinds, and when she is not working you will often find her in the kitchen or riding her bike.

Alabama-born Juli Crockett is a bona fide Renaissance woman: singer/songwriter, playwright/theater director, (undefeated) professional boxer and amateur champion, ordained minister, proud owner of a PhD (summa cum laude) from The European Graduate School, leader of the alt-country/Americana genre-defying band The Evangenitals, comedy writer, improviser, and weird mom.

Dr. Crockett has been a trusted compliance consultant to cannabis licensees across the supply chain since 2015. Elected to the CCIA Board of Directors in 2017, over the years Juli also served as Co-Chair of NCIA’s Federal Policy Committee, Chair of CCIA’s Legislative Committee, and a member of CCIA's Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Equity committee.

A published playwright, Juli’s works include 'Void Creation: Theater and the Faith of Signifying Nothing' (Atropos Press) and [or, the whale] (Delere Press). Excerpts of her play 'Saint Simone', appear in the collection 'I Might Be the Person You Are Talking To' (Padua Playwrights Press).

Unique to her career, Juli was also a professional boxer who was featured in Sports Illustrated, US News, and Music Connection Magazine (due to her professional connection to Jerry Boyd, aka F.X. Toole), and the film Million Dollar Baby. Juli retired from boxing professionally in 2002, undefeated at 3-0 (2 KO’s).

Anna Symonds joined The Etheridge Foundation in February 2022 as our first Program Manager, rising to Executive Director in January 2023.‍

Anna is a plant medicine advocate and activist who speaks regularly about the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis, psychedelics, and entheogens. She has directly educated thousands of people about cannabis science, including law and policy makers at the local, state, and national levels.

Anna is a retired Women's Premier League rugby player, and an Ambassador for the nonprofits Athletes for CARE, the Last Prisoner Project and the Concussion Legacy Foundation. She holds an MA in Communication and served on the Oregon Cannabis Commission's Research Leadership Subcommittee from 2020-2021.

Vanessa Kanter is Day to Day Manager with Primary Wave, where she works closely with Deb Klein. She holds a BA in Business of Creative Enterprises from Emerson College. Vanessa helps with the Etheridge Foundation's business operations. She is passionate about social justice, mental health, and music! In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking with her pup, Louie, and reading

Allison Feduccia, PhD is a neuropharmacologist, psychedelic researcher and educator. She is the co-founder of Psychedelic Support, a platform for education and to connect with psychedelic practitioners, and Project New Day, a 501(c)3 nonprofit on a mission to help people overcome addiction and actualize mental health through the responsible and legal use of psychedelics.

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Dr. Christopher Nicholas is Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health with expertise in clinical and experimental trial design, training, and neuroimaging in the field of psychedelics. His research examines the clinical efficacy and therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics and other psychoactive compounds for addiction (alcohol, opioid, and methamphetamine use disorders), trauma, chronic pain, and depression. Dr. Nicholas is also a supervisor for the UW Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program, and provides specialty clinical services focused on opioid medication management and taper in the context of chronic pain, addiction, and trauma.

Juliana Mulligan is a formerly opioid dependent person, formerly incarcerated, and has been a working member of the ibogaine treatment community for ten years.

Juliana is the Psychedelic Program Coordinator at the Center for Optimal Living, and runs Inner Vision Ibogaine, which supports people in preparation and integration around ibogaine treatment. She is currently working on her Masters in Social Work at NYU.

Juliana has worked in multiple ibogaine clinics, presented at various psychedelic and harm reduction conferences, and is the author of the Guide to Finding a Safe Ibogaine Clinic. She has taught about ibogaine at Charite University in Berlin and Southwestern College in New Mexico and has written for multiple publications about ibogaine, including Double Blind Magazine and Chacruna.

Deidra is a licensed professional counselor, providing individual therapy that includes a focus on addiction and trauma. She is also a person in long term recovery from opioid and alcohol addiction, with 27 years of sustained abstinence.

Deidra previously served as Clinical Director for Substance Use Disorder Services within a Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA), directly supervising clinicians and direct care staff for a 32-bed residential facility, detox unit and outpatient treatment services.

Deidra believes that there is not just one way to restoration or recovery. She is passionate about ending the stigma of addiction and helping people free themselves from the bondage of substance abuse, trauma, and mental illness, and restoring themselves to a life filled with love and compassion.

Lynn Gleim has been a leading Volunteer for the Etheridge Foundation since 2021, helping to plan, coordinate, and run fundraising events.

Partnering with the Etheridge Foundation holds a personal place in her heart, as her family has also been touched by the opioid epidemic.

Volunteering and running silent auctions have been Lynn's jam since 2006 when she held her first board position with Support For The Kids. She also currently serves on the board of The Power of a Shower, a nonprofit that provides mobile shower services for the unhoused community in the Venice Beach, CA area.

Lauren’s professional background is rooted in helping individuals with substance use disorder and mental health concerns, partnering with non-profit organizations, and working with community-based action plans.

Early on in her career, Lauren became aware of the struggles that modern society’s approach has upon supporting people affected by these concerns. An article about how transformative plant-based medicine may help those with eating disorders piqued Lauren’s inquisitive nature, influenced her perception on how psychedelics can be used for healing, and marked a pivot in Lauren’s career.

Lauren has spent the last few years writing for the health and wellness industry as she completes her doctorate degree in health psychology. It is her mission to provide education regarding the safety and sacredness of plant-based medicine and mental health, as well as self-connection and interconnectedness.

A single album cover changed Darren Melchiorre's life, and today, he is an innovative and up-and-coming art director for the music and entertainment industries. At the heart of Darren’s designs is passion. He believes in the undeniable connection of music and image, elevating each album cover with dedicated emotion and energy.

Darren created the visual design for Melissa’s album One Way Out and the cover art for her single Juliet. With an MFA from the prestigious School of Visual Arts, Darren is also a proud member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Darren considers it an honor to support the Etheridge Foundation’s work. After experiencing several people in his life battle drug addiction, the Etheridge Foundation’s mission is one that he champions – believing deeply that we can discover new methods to stop the pain, the struggles, and the devastating effects opioid addiction has on so many in this world.