Our team

Hacking the Vagus Nerve was produced by the non-profit Root Cause Project working closely with the non-profit Vagus Nerve Society.

Smiling man with short gray hair, light stubble, wearing sunglasses with reflective lenses and a black shirt, against a plain background.
A smiling man with short, light-colored hair, wearing round tortoiseshell glasses and a dark jacket against a gray background.
Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, wearing a dark T-shirt, in front of a blurred background.
Close-up photo of a middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing clear glasses, a navy blazer, and a light blue shirt, smiling slightly.

Roland Peralta - Executive Producer

Roland Peralta co-founded Nutrafol, the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, which sold to Unilever in 2022 for $1.2 billion. His personal recovery from thyroid cancer and rheumatoid arthritis fueled his passion for functional medicine and science-driven wellness. In 2024, he founded The Root Cause Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the health and wellness paradigm shift through documentary storytelling.

Dr Mark Tager - Producer

Mark Tager, MD is a physician, author, and educator known for his engaging approach to health communication and training. He has created nationally recognized courses on personalized nutrition and authored consumer and professional books, including Feed Your Skin Right. Clinically, he focuses on integrative care, combining functional medicine and nutrition to address chronic conditions. He is the director of The Root Cause Project and co-founder (with Dr. Peter Staats) of The Vagus Nerve Society.

Brian Lilla  - Director

Brian Lilla is an award-winning filmmaker with over 20 years of experience creating documentaries that span environmental, LGBTQ, and social justice themes. His work, including Patagonia Rising, has screened at top festivals and streamed on Netflix, Discovery, and Amazon Prime. Praised by Variety and The New York Times for its intelligence and beauty, his storytelling is both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

Dr. Joel Evans - Lead Scientific Advisor

Joel M. Evans, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and international lecturer, is the Chief of Medical Affairs for the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). He is also the Director of The Center for Functional Medicine in Ridgefield, CT. He continues to serve as the external lead of the IFM Advanced Practice Module in Hormone Health since its inception.