Wise Traditions

What can traditional cultures teach us about fertility, pregnancy, babies, and lifelong health? Nutritionist Mariélli Pahim spent 15 years traveling through more than 35 countries, living and working alongside indigenous and traditional communities and observing how they grow, prepare, and eat their food. Along the way, she discovered remarkable similarities across cultures—from the importance of animal foods and organ meats to fermentation, traditional food preparation, and the role of community. In this episode, Mariélli shares how her experiences in places like Tonga, Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, and Norway challenged what she had learned in conventional nutrition school—and how discov...

What's really inside the COVID shots? Electrical engineer and independent researcher Shimon Yanowitz decided he wanted to see for himself. Drawing on his background in semiconductor fabrication and industrial microscopy, Shimon began examining samples of the COVID injections under a microscope, and says what he observed led him down a years-long investigation into nanotechnology, engineering, and the scientific literature. In this episode, Shimon describes the unusual structures he says he observed in the samples, including ribbons, filaments, and formations resembling electronic circuitry. He explains how he watched some of these structures develop in real time and why he believes what...

Attorney Michael Connett has spent more than two decades investigating fluoride—and seven years battling the Environmental Protection Agency in federal court over the risks of adding it to drinking water. In this episode, he takes us inside the landmark case that resulted in a federal judge finding that water fluoridation poses an unreasonable risk to children's developing brains. Michael discusses research linking fluoride exposure during pregnancy with reduced IQ in children, the government report he says officials tried to prevent from being released, and how the court's decision helped propel efforts to end water fluoridation in Utah and Florida. He...

What happens when the financial system can control not just how we spend our money, but what we are allowed to buy? Catherine Austin Fitts, former Wall Street investment banker, former Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and publisher of The Solari Report, joins us to explain what she calls the emerging "control grid"—and why she believes it threatens food, health, and personal freedom. Catherine breaks down the three pillars of the control grid: surveillance infrastructure, digital identity, and financial transaction control. She explains stablecoins, the movement of bank deposits and investment assets onto distributed ledgers, and how an...

Gregory Wrightstone, geologist, author, and executive director of the CO2 Coalition, challenges the prevailing narrative that rising carbon dioxide and a warming planet spell disaster. Drawing on geology, climate history, and agricultural data, Gregory makes the case that modest warming and increased CO2 are benefiting both humanity and the natural world. He explains how longer growing seasons and higher CO2 levels can increase agricultural productivity and help plants withstand drought, and takes us back through history to explore the connection between warm periods, abundant food, and flourishing civilizations. He also weighs in on sea-level rise, retreating glaciers, polar bears and...

What if you needed a blood transfusion—but wanted a say in whose blood you received? In this episode, pharmacist and patient advocate Liz James shares the remarkable story behind Blessed By His Blood, a nonprofit cooperative helping people locate compatible directed blood donors and navigate a system that can make receiving blood from someone you know surprisingly difficult. Liz explains why she walked away from a successful pharmacy career in 2020, how her commitment to informed consent eventually led her into blood-donor advocacy, and why she believes patients should have the right to choose their blood donors in non-emergency situations. Sh...

Last week, Monika Holland explained why rebuilding the gut with No Plant GAPS can lay the foundation for healing. In this follow-up conversation, she explores another often-overlooked piece of the puzzle: therapeutic enemas. Monika explains why enemas have been used for generations as part of the GAPS protocol, describing the different purposes of cleansing, nourishing, and targeted enemas and how she incorporates them into her work with clients facing severe digestive, neurological, and autoimmune challenges. She discusses meat stock enemas for nourishment, coffee enemas for supporting the body's natural detoxification pathways, and other approaches designed to address specific needs. Along...

What if the foods you believe are nourishing your gut are actually preventing it from healing?   Monika Holland knows what it feels like to be told there are no options left. After years of debilitating illness, she was diagnosed with life-threatening Crohn's disease and given just months to live. Today, she helps people with some of the most severe digestive, neurological, and autoimmune conditions recover through the GAPS protocol—and a little-known therapeutic approach called No Plant GAPS.   In this first of a two-part conversation, Monika shares her remarkable healing story and explains why Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride developed No Plant GAPS...

For generations, people have turned to natural clay for everything from wounds and burns to digestive troubles and detoxification. But could something as simple as clay also offer relief when shingles strikes? Neal Bosshardt has been using natural bentonite clay for more than 50 years. His connection to it began with his grandfather's Utah farm, which happened to sit alongside a remarkable deposit of mineral-rich clay. Over the decades, Neal and his family began exploring the traditional medicinal uses of clay for a wide variety of ailments. In this episode, Neal shares stories of people who have turned to clay during...

What really happened during the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak? Dr. Ben Edwards shares his firsthand experience caring for hundreds of Mennonite families at the center of the highly publicized epidemic. He explains why he turned to cod liver oil, vitamin C, and other supportive therapies, discusses the nutritional and lifestyle factors he believes influenced patient outcomes, and recounts the challenges of navigating intense media scrutiny after his work drew national attention. Dr. Ben also shares why he has great respect for Dr. Tom Cowan's work and discusses the growing importance he places on terrain over germ theory, exploring how nutrition...

For decades, Dr. Steve Hughlett worked as a hospital pharmacist, helping patients manage chronic disease with medications. Then a deep dive into the nutrition research changed the course of his career. What he discovered convinced him that many of the chronic illnesses filling hospitals today have more to do with what people eat than with a lack of prescription drugs. In this episode, Dr. Hughlett explains why he believes insulin—not blood sugar—is one of the most important markers of metabolic health and why understanding its role can change the way we think about type 2 diabetes, obesity, fatty liver dise...

What if one of the most important health decisions you make every day has nothing to do with food—and everything to do with what touches your skin?   Michel May, founder of AIZOME Textiles, joins us to explore the hidden world of modern fabrics, synthetic dyes, and the chemicals woven into many of the clothes, bed sheets, towels, carpets, and other textiles that surround us. After witnessing his mother's reaction to conventional textiles during cancer treatment and discovering traditional Japanese dyeing practices, Michel began a journey that led him to question the materials most of us rarely think about.   In this...

What if cattle could help restore degraded land, increase biodiversity, improve water cycles, and even produce more nutrient-dense food? This week, regenerative rancher Alejandro Carrillo joins us from the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico to explain how holistic grazing transformed his family's ranch from bare, compacted ground into thriving grasslands teeming with life. Alejandro describes the surprisingly simple management changes that allowed nature to begin healing itself—and why he believes many of the world's degraded landscapes can recover as well. Alejandro explains how healthy soil functions like a sponge, why weeds are often nature's first responders, and how carefully ma...

What if the foundation of your child's lifelong health begins long before the first bite of solid food? In this episode, Kate Pope, founder of the Mama Baby Biome, explains why preparing for pregnancy, nourishing the maternal microbiome, and protecting a baby's earliest microbial exposures may be some of the most important investments parents can make. Drawing from both her professional training and her own birth experiences—including an unexpected cesarean followed by a successful home birth—Kate shares practical guidance for supporting both mother and baby through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and the introduction of first foods.   Kate explains why t...

What if many of the treatments we rely on to relieve symptoms are actually interfering with the body's ability to heal? Ronald Whitmont, MD, has spent decades exploring that question. A board-certified physician, homeopath, and former president of the American Institute of Homeopathy, he joins us to discuss the fundamental differences between conventional medicine and homeopathy—and why he believes modern science is beginning to validate what homeopaths have observed for more than 200 years. Dr. Whitmont explains how homeopathy works, the fascinating story behind its discovery, and why it was once one of the most widely practiced forms of medicine in...

What happens when a public health leader refuses to make decisions based on fear? In this episode, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo joins us to discuss the principles that guided him through one of the most turbulent periods in modern medicine. He reflects on his years at UCLA during the COVID-19 pandemic, why he publicly challenged lockdowns and mandates, and what it was like to work alongside Governor Ron DeSantis to chart a different course in Florida. But this conversation goes far beyond policy. Dr. Ladapo opens up about the childhood trauma that left him living in a near-constant...

Kate Tietje believes plants carry wisdom—and in this episode, she explains why herbal remedies have remained trusted tools for healing across generations. Kate is the founder of Earthley Wellness, a longtime herbalist, homeschool mother of six, and author of the book Natural Remedies for Kids. In this conversation, Kate shares how her journey into herbalism began when conventional medicine failed to help her young daughter's chronic health issues. What started as a personal search for answers eventually grew into one of the most trusted herbal wellness companies in the country.   Kate explains the philosophy behind herbalism, why whole plants wor...

Judith McGeary, founder of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA), joins us to explain how one massive piece of legislation quietly shapes nearly every aspect of our food system—from the seeds farmers plant to the food that ends up on our plates. She breaks down the history of the Farm Bill, how it evolved from supporting soil conservation and family farms to favoring consolidation and industrial agriculture, and why consumers should pay attention. Judith also discusses the controversial effort to grant pesticide manufacturers liability protection, the challenges facing regenerative farmers, the loss of seed diversity, and the regulatory ba...

In this episode, Aaron Siri discusses why he believes vaccines have become more than a medical issue—they've become a kind of modern religion. Drawing from themes in his book, Vaccines, Amen: The Religion of Vaccines, Aaron explores how belief, institutional authority, and pharmaceutical influence have shaped vaccine policy and public perception.   He explains the powerful role a small group of vaccinologists has played in shaping vaccine science, education, and government recommendations, and discusses what he uncovered while reviewing FDA clinical trial documents and deposing some of the most influential figures in vaccinology.   The conversation also examines the lack of plac...

What if some of the most powerful medicines aren't found in a prescription bottle – but in the microbes living inside traditional fermented foods? Vanessa Hargrove joins the podcast to explain how foods like kefir, kombucha, yogurt, sauerkraut, and sourdough may help restore the microbiome, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, curb sugar cravings, and support overall health. Vanessa shares her own dramatic healing journey – from debilitating joint pain and severe food sensitivities to vibrant health through ancestral nutrition and fermentation. The conversation explores how modern life may be damaging the microbiome through glyphosate, antibiotics, chlorinated water, and antimicrobial household products – and why rebuil...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Dr. Sina McCullough returns to unpack what may be one of the most overlooked—and unsettling—developments in our food system.   She introduces the concept of "pharma crops"—foods like corn, rice, and lettuce that are being genetically engineered to produce pharmaceutical compounds, including vaccines. While this technology has been in development for decades, Sina explains why its potential entry into the food supply raises serious questions about safety, transparency, and control.   We also explore the gaps in regulation—how these crops are tested (or not), what happens when contamination occurs, and why consumers are often left...

In this powerful first conversation, Dr. Sina McCullough shares how she went from a vibrant, athletic life to being so sick she could no longer stand, eat, or care for herself—and how she found her way back.
 
Despite her PhD in nutrition, Sina spent years searching for answers within the medical system, only to be told her symptoms were "all in her head." At her lowest point, she chose a different path—one that led her to uncover hidden toxicities, nutrient deficiencies, and overlooked food sensitivities that were keeping her body from healing.
 
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In many traditional cultures, the weeks following birth are understood as a critical window—one that shapes a mother's long-term health, energy, and emotional well-being. But in the modern world, postpartum care is often rushed, minimized, or overlooked entirely.
 
In this episode, Christina Eck shares an Ayurvedic perspective on postpartum healing—one rooted in rest, nourishment, and intentional support for the mother. Drawing from both traditional wisdom and her clinical experience, she explains why the body is especially vulnerable after birth, what it truly needs to recover, and how simple, time-honored practices can help restore balance.
 
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What happens when what we believe—and what we actually do—don't quite line up? This week on the Wise Traditions podcast, pediatrician Dr. Lawrence Palevsky explores the concept of cognitive dissonance—what it is, why it's so common in modern life, and how it quietly shapes decisions around health, parenting, and trust in authority. Dr. Palevsky has spent decades encouraging parents to think critically, ask better questions, and reconnect with their own intuition. In this episode, he explains how cognitive dissonance shows up in everyday choices—from the foods people eat to the medical decisions they make—and why it can be...

What if one of the most powerful foods on earth comes from a place so wild, so untouched, that it still operates exactly as nature intended? In this episode, Steve Kurian of Wild for Salmon shares the story of a life-changing summer spent on the remote shores of Bristol Bay, Alaska—living by the rhythms of the tides, the weather, and one of the largest salmon runs on the planet. The conversation explores what makes wild salmon so unique—from its extraordinary life cycle to its essential role in nourishing entire ecosystems—and why this pristine food source stands in such s...

What if the story we've been told about food—about meat, animals, and what it means to truly nourish ourselves and the land—is incomplete? Many people today are searching for a way of eating that feels healthier, more ethical, and more sustainable. Some turn away from animal foods out of compassion. Others are working to reconnect with traditional diets and local farms. But what if the answers aren't as simple as we've been led to believe? Our guest today is Abey Rae Scaglione, author of Radical Farm: Animals, Food, and Our Future. Abey's journey is anything but conventional. She beca...

What if a single court case could redefine your right to refuse a medical intervention? And what happens when the government is given broad authority over what goes into your body?   Leslie Manookian, President and Founder of the Health Freedom Defense Fund, returns for Part Two to discuss a potentially historic case that may soon be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court—one that challenges long-standing legal precedent and raises fundamental questions about bodily autonomy, informed consent, and the limits of government power.   Drawing on her experience leading successful legal challenges—including the overturning of the federal travel mask mandat...

What happens when one state passes a law that challenges the status quo around medical choice? Could it spark a movement across the country? And how are Americans really thinking about medical freedom today?   Leslie Manookian, President and Founder of the Health Freedom Defense Fund, joins us to discuss what has unfolded since the passage of the Idaho Medical Freedom Act—and why it may be just the beginning. Leslie shares how this legislation has inspired a growing coalition of organizations working together to advance similar protections in states nationwide.   She also reveals the results of a new national poll cond...

A pursuit of wise traditions may take you to Mongolia, Kenya, or to leave the podcast you'd been hosting and producing for over 10 years. On today's episode, Hilda Labrada Gore, our podcast host and producer, passes the baton to Kendall Nelson, an award-winning documentary filmmaker behind The Greater Good and a longtime collaborator with the Weston A. Price Foundation. Today, you'll get to know Kendall as she and Hilda discuss what they have in common--like travels around the world and a passion for preserving ancient cultures and health traditions. They share what brought them to WAPF, insights they've learned along...

Even an ostensibly healthy lifestyle can often defeat our attempts to lose weight, conceive a baby and experience optimal health. Today, Sarah Kleiner, a Quantum Biology expert and nutrition coach, explains how to get back into harmony with our body's biology and natural rhythms for the results we seek.   She reviews, for example how getting more sunlight and eating seasonally positively affects leptin, a master circadian signaling hormone. She goes over the cascade of benefits like improved cardiovascular health, stronger bones, optimized regulatory systems and enhanced fertility---that all stem from tuning into our circadian and quantum biology. She discusses the f...

Would you forgo an ultrasound as an expectant mom? Would you eat sushi or sit in a sauna? Would you avoid fluorescent lights and synthetic fabrics in your household? Just how far would you go to buck conventional parenting choices? Mia Rofrano is a holistic mom who makes many unconventional decisions to keep her family well – from her pre-pregnancy choices to how she labored, to how she now chooses co-sleeping and elimination communication" with her toddler.   Mia, as a teenager, struggled with digestive issues. Today, she is a healthy, nourished wife and mom, who focuses on natural beauty and health for...

In nature, there is no lie. But in our society, culture, and even agriculture there are lies. Mollie Engelhart is the author of Debunked by Nature and today she explains how nature re-educated her, helping her to see through the lies we've been told related to climate change, gender, how to nourish ourselves, and more.   Mollie was once a vegan chef. Today, she's a regenerative farmer who has learned a lot of lessons along the way. She shares some of the most important lessons on this podcast.   Visit Mollie's websites: sovereigntyranch.com and debunkedbynature.com Become a member of the We...

Traditional cheesemakers respect the process of cheesemaking. They honor the environment, the animal, its milk and traditional techniques – all of which lead to delicious, nutritious cheese. Industrial cheesemaking, in stark contrast, emphasizes sterile conditions, uniformity, and artificial inputs (including GMO-derived rennet). The cheese that results from the conventional approach is consistent... but misses a lot in terms of flavor profile and nutrients.   Trevor Warmedahl is a cheesemaker, fermentation educator and the author of Cheese Trekking. Today, he takes us on a cheese adventure, as we gain insight on traditional, artisanal cheesemaking. He gives us pause about what is in our fri...

Minerals are the spark plugs of the body. They are essential for proper digestion, hormone function and clear thinking. If you don't have adequate minerals, you may struggle with fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, and more. Nina-Marie Rueda, a naturopathic doctor who focuses on perinatal and pediatric health, offers today a quick guide for identifying and addressing mineral deficiencies. She goes over the "four lows" – common issues that arise when our bodies are low on calcium, sodium, potassium or magnesium. She explains what specific foods can address these deficiencies, like bananas for magnesium and clams and coconut water for potassium. She sh...

A former World Wrestling Entertainment star has become a farmer...and a hunter, butcher, homesteader, and children's book author. What led to the transformation? Histamine sensitivities played a part, but there's more to the story than that. Sarah Rowe, known as Valhalla in WWE, today shares what influenced her to leave that career in the rearview mirror. She discusses her healing journey and why she has more peace today than ever before. She also reveals what continues to inspire her to "choose hard" when it comes to farming...and life.   Follow Sarah on Instagram - @sarahrowe Check out our sponsors: G...

The American Heart Association still recommends limiting saturated fat intake. Grocery market shelves are loaded with promises of "heart healthy" seed oils. It's time to do some myth busting. Bryan Mussard is a lifelong rancher who is passionate about reviving regenerative ranching and making America healthy again… by embracing saturated fat.   As a young man, Bryan went through a personal health crisis that led him to investigate the benefits of fat. As a rancher and advocate for the Make America Healthy Again initiatives, he is uniquely positioned to offer insights on how politics, Big Food, and Big Ag can be mad...

The US Dept of Agriculture's new dietary guidelines surprised the public when they revealed a completely flipped food pyramid. Meat, eggs, and butter appear to be back! But what difference will this make in our dietary habits? Can the guidelines weaken the appeal of ultra-processed foods? And what does the fine print in the guidelines reveal?   John Klar, the author of Small Farm Republic and MAHA advocate, goes over the implications of this historic announcement and the alliance between the USDA and Health and Human Services agencies. He discusses the pluses and the minuses of the new pyramid, whether raw m...

Weight loss. Decreased appetite. Curbed cravings. These are some of the promises from GLP-1 medications. But the meds have serious side effects. And there are natural ways to support the body's hunger, cravings, and blood sugar control systems. Colleen Flynn, a functional nutritionist and gut health specialist, goes over today how to optimize the body's hormones (without the need for injections) for lower inflammation, improved gut health and healthy weight loss.   Visit Colleen's website: nutritionalzest.com Get a FREE info pack from westonaprice.org

Eating placenta is a postpartum tradition in many cultures around the world. A young woman's first period is celebrated with ritual. Postpartum healing is supported by the community. What time-tested traditions related to all of the above are we overlooking in our modern age? How can we embrace them once again?   Eyla Cuenca is a childbirth educator and doula with over a decade of experience supporting women through the transformational threshold of birth and postpartum. Today, she sheds light on how women were supported traditionally through childbirth and postpartum. She gets specific about how to avoid interventions during labor, how t...