Dancing for the Planet: My Sustainability Journey at EDC Las Vegas

This year marked my sixth EDC Las Vegas, and it was unlike any other -- because this time, I wasn’t just there to dance under the electric sky. I was invited to represent Plant Futures with the press, gaining special behind-the-scenes access to share our vision for a more sustainable, plant-centered future. To say it was a dream come true would be an understatement. Everything I love came together in one unforgettable weekend: plants, sustainability, community, friends, laughter, electronic music, dancing - and most importantly, purpose.

And it all started with a full-circle moment.

Samantha and Mariah, UC Berkeley Plant Futures Alumni, with DJ Rusko

🎶 Interviewing DJ Rusko: From Fan to Advocate

On Day 1 of EDC, I had the surreal honor of interviewing one of the first DJs who changed my life: Rusko. When I was 18, I went to his show-my very first electronic music experience-and it opened my mind to a whole new world. That moment shaped my love for this community and eventually led me here.

Interviewing him was a dream come true, and the fact that we got to talk about Plant Futures, health, and sustainability made it even cooler.

Rusko shared how eating plant-based helps him feel lighter and perform better, and how important it is that festivals like EDC lead the way in showcasing what it means to rave healthy. He spoke honestly about the music industry’s environmental footprint - and how even small acts, like choosing a plant-based meal, can ripple through a community as connected and open as ours.

“In dance music, the strongest thing we have is community… people influencing each other. That’s how good things spread.”

— Rusko

We’ll be sharing the full interview with Rusko on our social channels in the coming days, so be sure to follow along and catch it when it drops!