Wise Traditions

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...

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 indust...

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 va...

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...

What really happened during the COVID era—and why are so many people still afraid to talk about it? Jeffrey Tucker became one of the leading voices questioning lockdowns, censorship, and vaccine mandates during the COVID years. As the founder of the Brownstone Institute and author of Life After Lockdown, he has spent years documenting the far-reaching consequences of pandemic policies and advocati...

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 ex...

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 differen...

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...

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 critic...

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 e...

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 are...

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-standin...

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...

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 K...

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 l...

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 choose...

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 lear...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 cr...

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...

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)...

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 suppo...

There is DEFINITELY a mental health crisis in the U.S. right now. But it's not about a lack of access to treatment or meds. Nearly one in four adults is on psychiatric meds, and nearly one in ten children is, as well. The crisis has to do with med-induced harm, according to Laura Delano, the author of "Unshrunk". And Laura speaks from her own first-hand experience with the American mental health i...