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 so difficult to reconcile conflicting beliefs, even when the stakes are high. The conversation examines the tension many feel between what they've been told is "safe" or "normal" and what they instinctively sense may not be right. Dr. Palevsky discusses how fear, conditioning, and social pressure can keep individuals stuck—and what it takes to step outside that framework and begin thinking independently. This episode offers a thoughtful look at awareness, responsibility, and the courage to question long-held assumptions. It serves as an invitation to slow down, examine inherited narratives, and consider what it truly means to make informed, conscious choices for oneself and one's family. WAPF Ad- 11 principles book - Westonaprice.org and click on the "order material" button Visit Dr. Lawrence Palevsky's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Goddess Vitality from Optimal Carnivore "Discount code WESTON10 for 10% off" and New Biology Clinic, "Discount code WISETRADITIONS"

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 stark contrast to modern, industrialized alternatives.   Steve also offers a glimpse into the realities of commercial fishing: the long hours, the dangerous conditions, and the deep respect required to harvest food in a truly sustainable way. Along the way, themes of connection, stewardship, and traditional foodways emerge—inviting a deeper look at how we source, prepare, and value what we eat. This episode is a reminder that food is not just fuel—it is part of a living system. And when that system is honored and protected, it has the power to nourish both people and the planet.   WAPF Membership Ad Visit Steve Kurian's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group   Check out our sponsors: Nutrition Therapy Institute "Get 50% off your first course" and Paleovalley "Get 15% off your first order."

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 became a vegetarian at just thirteen years old, driven by a deep concern for animals. Years later, she found herself raising livestock as a regenerative farmer—facing the emotional, ethical, and ecological realities of producing food within a living system. In this conversation, Abey shares what it was really like to wrestle with the moral complexity of eating animals—and why she ultimately came to believe that well-raised livestock may actually do less harm than many plant-based food systems. She explains how animals play a vital role in restoring soil health and ecological balance, why removing them from agriculture could push farmers toward more synthetic fertilizers and industrial practices, and how regenerative farming offers a path forward that honors both the land and the animals. We also explore what this means for you—whether you live on acreage or in a city apartment—and how small, intentional choices can help you reconnect with real food and more sustainable ways of living. This is a thoughtful, honest, and at times surprising conversation about food, ethics, and our place in the natural world.   Visit the WAPF Real Milk Ad to learn more and get involved Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group   Check out our sponsors:  Masa Chips "Discount code WISETRADITIONS for 25% off your first order" Goddess Vitality from Optimal Carnivore "Discount code WESTON10 for 10% off"

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 mandate and efforts to halt employer vaccine mandates—Leslie explains how this case is unfolding, why it has drawn national attention, and what could be at stake if the Court takes it. At its core, she argues, this case could reshape how medical mandates are interpreted under the Constitution.   She also introduces a new national effort—the COVID Justice Resolution—aimed at bringing accountability to pandemic-era policies and ensuring that similar overreach is never repeated.   And in a surprising turn, Leslie shares details about a bold new initiative she's taking on—launching a national petition to address geoengineering—an emerging and largely unexamined issue that raises profound questions about environmental exposure, public health, and consent.   Get a free WAPF info pack Visit Leslie Manookian's Health Freedom Defense Fund website to learn more and get involved Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group  Check out our sponsors: Optimal Carnivore "Discount code WESTON10 for 10% off

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 conducted in partnership with the Brownstone Institute, offering surprising insight into how Americans view informed consent, personal autonomy, and the role of government in healthcare.   In this conversation, Leslie explains how the Idaho law is being strengthened, what's happening in other states, and how individuals can get involved in shaping the future of health freedom in their own communities.   Visit Health Freedom Defense Fund to learn more and get involved Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: New Biology Clinic "Discount code WISETRADITIONS", and Paleovalley "Discount code WISE" for 15% off your first order.

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 the way about wise traditions and what's in store for the podcast. Visit Hilda's website: HolisticHilda.com Visit Kendall's website: GreaterGoodMovie.org Become a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation Check out our sponsors: Nutrition Therapy Institute and Oyster Max

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 flaws of the carnivore diet and more. Sarah also tells the story of the astounding results she experienced when she made some simple changes: like effortless, significant weight loss and a successful pregnancy over the age of 40.   Visit Sarah's website: sarahkleinerwellness.com Become a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation (and use code pod10) Check out our sponsors: Earthley Wellness, Paleovalley and Optimal Carnivore

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 herself and her family. She reviews in this conversation why she prefers uncommon yet healthier practices in her home and life and what the results have been.   Visit Mia's Instagram account @theoliveoilqueen and her linktr.ee account Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Masa Chips and Marine Health Foods

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 Weston A. Price Foundation (and use code pod10) Check out our sponsors: Optimal Carnivore and Bordeaux Kitchen

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 fridge and where it comes from.   Trevor has trekked all over the world, working alongside artisanal cheesemakers, so he understands and shares the importance of working with (instead of against) microbes and nature. He describes cheeses you may have never heard of, along with unique approaches to making them. Trevor also helps us take stock of what has been lost in our modern approach to cheesemaking.   Visit Trevor's website: sourmilkschool.com Become a member and/or donate to the Weston A. Price Foundation at westonaprice.org Check out our sponsors: New Biology clinic and Bordeaux Kitchen Naturals