HAPPY HAPPY VEGAN TEAM
Meet the people behind the content
Lisa Williams
Co-Founder & Editor
Lisa Williams is a long-term vegan who thought there simply wasn’t enough straightforward information on the ‘net for those interested in living a plant-based life.
That was back in 2014, and the seed for what has become happyhappyvegan.com was sown.
David Bedford
Co-Founder & All-Rounder
Along with the brilliant Ms. Williams and the rest of the exceptional HHV family, David has been integral to site’s success. When he’s not polishing prose, he’s pushing things forward from behind the scenes, ensuring the vegan message is available to the widest possible audience.
Emma Letessier
Writer
Emma is a blogger, life-coach and qualified PR professional and journalist, who also happens to be a passionate vegan, animal and nature lover. She lives in a small village in France with her husband, Christian, their daughter and their dog, Hatchi.
You can find her most days walking in the countryside around the village, spending time in the garden, preparing delicious vegan meals, working on Barefoot Vegan and writing about veganism.
As a writer, Emma’s work has been featured in other popular well-being and spiritual websites such as Elephant Journal, IVORY magazine, The Hectic Vegan, VegWorld, One Bite Vegan, and she’s part of the Huffington Post’s team of regular bloggers.
Her writing was included in the latest Tiny Buddha book 365 Love Challenges from Tiny Buddha, released in 2015 by HarperCollins. She also edited and compiled Even in My Dreams: A Collection of Vegan Poems, featuring contributions from vegan artists all over the world.
Phil Grossman
Writer
Phil Grossman is a writer based out of New York. A polyglot who speaks French, German, Spanish, and a little Norwegian, Phil strives to put his love for language to good use through traveling and writing in his second tongue: music. An experienced composer, Phil teaches and writes electronic music with a focus on balancing mathematical and theoretical structure with emotional immediacy.
Phil has been interviewed on the TODAY Show and featured on CBS 2 News, Anderson Cooper 360, and in the Journal News for his work as an education activist. Passionate about many different societal and institutional issues, Phil has shifted his current focus towards veganism and environmentalism.
Phil started his vegan journey in 2017 after reading Be Here Now by Ram Dass. The book inspired him to reduce the violence in his eating by becoming a vegetarian.
Just a few months later, Phil became vegan and has been following the plant-based lifestyle ever since. Phil is also a Buddhist and hopes to inspire others to become more compassionate, more aware of their impact on the world around them, and to find peace and happiness through loving kindness.
Cristina Tangreti
Writer
Cristina is a freelance writer, doggy daycare attendant, and vegan of nearly a decade. She earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature with a minor in gender studies from University of California, Irvine. As an undergrad, she served as president of the university’s animal rights club and conducted and presented research on the intersections of feminism and veganism.
Before pursuing writing in any professional capacity, she toured college campuses throughout the US to educate students about animal agriculture and veganism. Living on the road and spending time in over 20 different states taught her how to eat vegan pretty much anywhere, no matter how limited options may have seemed. Once she’d left her nomadic lifestyle behind, she spent two years writing and editing animal rights petitions before finally joining HappyHappyVegan’s team. She’s thrilled to share her knowledge and friendly approach to veganism with new and experienced vegans alike.
When she’s not writing or taking care of dogs, she enjoys reading everything from autobiographies to YA fantasy novels, tending to her houseplants, cooking, and drawing. She lives in Southern California with her boyfriend and their dog.
James Dixon
Writer
James Dixon is an active freelance health and fitness writer, fully qualified personal trainer and veggie athlete. He holds several black belts and is currently training in both strength/barbell athletics and kickboxing. He has had an interest in animal welfare all his life, having been raised vegetarian, and has trained numerous athletes on plant based diets to great effect in recent years. Writing on vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and training is a passion for him.
Aside from this, he is also an award-winning novelist and playwright, having been shortlisted for the 2018 Somerset Maugham Award by the Society of Authors for his debut novel, ‘The unrivalled transcendence of Willem J. Gyle’ (Thistle Publishing, 2017.) He most recently had his debut play performed at the Edinburgh Science Festival 2019. Entitled ‘It’s My Turn,’ it aimed to explain current and emerging scientific theories to children.
He lives, works and trains in Glasgow, Scotland.
Carly Keys
Writer
Carly Keyes is writer and personal trainer who decided to go plant-based after a visit to the True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, CA. The change has completely revolutionized the way she feels, looks, thinks and behaves, making her a very vocal advocate of the vegan lifestyle.
She studied screenwriting at the University of Michigan and has written for the Michigan Daily, as well as numerous health and fitness columns both on and offline. She is also a passionate songwriter, crafting 4-minute audio-stories with a vocal style akin to the likes of Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant and Janis Joplin.
Carly lives in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Rupali Jeganathan
Writer
Rupali Jeganathan, a passionate environmentalist, has over 5 years of writing experience under her belt.
Being an enthusiastic and happy vegan herself, she is always looking for ways to share tips and information with others who share the same lifestyle.
Jess Faraday
Writer
Jess Faraday is a longtime vegetarian and recent vegan.
Her vegetarian role model was her grandmother, Helen, who first helped her to make the connection between diet, compassion, and animal welfare. Her grandmother’s example was always kind and inclusive and never harsh or judgmental, and this is how Jess likes to approach the subject: with facts, reason, and kindness.
Jess lives in Scotland with her family. She’s an award winning novelist who also writes about nutrition, pet care, and crafts. When she’s not writing, she enjoys trail running and martial arts.
You can check out her fiction and other projects at www.jessfaraday.com.
Ralphie Noodle
Mischief Maker
Ralphie is a dedicated vegan…at least he claims to be whenever carrots and strawberries are being chopped close to his incredibly sensitive nose!