Wise Traditions

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 the microbiome influences everything from digestion and immunity to allergies, eczema, and even picky eating. She discusses the critical role of postpartum healing, why breast milk is far more than nutrition, and why she believes meat stock—not rice cereal or fruit—is the ideal first food for babies. She also offers hope for parents whose children are already struggling with food sensitivities or selective eating, showing that it's never too late to rebuild health from the inside out. Whether you're planning a pregnancy, raising young children, or simply curious about how our earliest nutritional choices shape lifelong wellness, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how traditional foods can help build healthier families for generations to come. WAPF Ad- Wise Traditions journal dedicated to healthy babies Learn more about Kate Pope and the Mama-Baby Biome Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Four Visions - "Use the code WISE for 15% off your order." Masa Chips - "Use code WISETRADITIONS for 25% off your first order."  

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 state of fear, the unexpected healing journey that transformed his life just months before the pandemic began, and how that experience changed the way he practices medicine, understands chronic illness, and approaches leadership. We also explore Florida's efforts to investigate contaminants in the food supply, remove fluoride from public water, protect informed consent, and address the environmental factors contributing to today's chronic disease epidemic. Throughout this deeply personal and thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Ladapo reminds us that fear narrows our perspective, while wisdom, courage, and connection can help illuminate a better path forward.   Visit Dr. Joseph Ladapo's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: New Biology "Use code WISETRADITIONS to get $100 off your membership activation fee, or code WAPF to get your first month free on an enrichment services only membership. Codes must be in all capital letters." Goddess Vitality From Optimal Carnivore "Discount code WESTON10 for 10% off."  

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 work differently than pharmaceutical drugs, and how herbs can support the body rather than simply suppress symptoms. We also discuss medical freedom, concerns about toxic ingredients in modern food and personal care products, and why she believes families should have greater access to natural healing modalities. Throughout the episode, Kate offers practical guidance for beginners—covering the best starter herbs to keep at home, how to safely forage and grow medicinal plants, and simple remedies anyone can make in their own kitchen. She also shares herbal suggestions for stress, sleep, digestion, postpartum recovery, immune support, and common childhood ailments. If you've ever felt curious about herbal medicine but didn't know where to begin, this episode is a warm and practical introduction to the wisdom of plants and the traditions that have supported human health for generations. WAPF Ad - Wise Traditions podcast - Remember to subscribe/follow this podcast and share it with your friends!  Visit Kate Tietje's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Nutrition Therapy Institute - "Podcast listeners get 50% off their first course - that's $475 in savings." Earthley Wellness - "Use code WISE10 for a special discount"  

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 barriers that make it difficult for local food producers to thrive. Along the way, she offers practical solutions for rebuilding resilient local food systems and explains why meaningful change often begins with ordinary citizens making a phone call to their elected representatives. Whether you're concerned about food quality, farmer livelihoods, regenerative agriculture, or the future of America's food supply, this conversation offers an eye-opening look at the policies shaping our agricultural landscape—and what each of us can do to help create a healthier future. WAPF Ad- RealMilk.com- Visit RealMilk.com Visit Judith McGeary's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Visit Paleovalley to receive 15% off your first order. Goddess Vitality from Optimal Carnivore. "Use code WESTON10 for 10% off."  

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 placebo-controlled trials for routine childhood vaccines, the liability protections granted to pharmaceutical companies under the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, the challenges surrounding informed consent, and the broader question of medical liberty in modern society.   Along the way, Aaron shares why he believes people should think more critically about environmental exposures of all kinds—not just vaccines—and why asking difficult questions remains essential when it comes to protecting long-term health.   Visit Aaron Siri's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors: Masa Chips "Discount code WISETRADITIONS for 25% off your first order." Grey Toad Tallow "Discount code WISE10 at checkout to save 10% on your order."  

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 the dark. Sina walks us through the "GRAS" loophole—"generally recognized as safe"—and how thousands of chemicals have entered our food supply without meaningful oversight.   From there, we take a closer look at what's actually in our food today… why labels like "gluten-free" can be misleading… and how processed foods dominate the modern diet.   Finally, Sina brings it back to the individual—offering a grounded and empowering perspective on how to navigate all of this without fear. She shares simple but powerful steps for becoming a more informed consumer and reconnecting with your body's own wisdom. This episode is both eye-opening and empowering—a call to look more closely at what we eat, how it's produced, and the choices we make every day. WAPF Ad- WAPF is active on IG, FB, MeWe & Telegram - Join us! Visit Dr. Sina McCullough's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook group Check out our sponsors:  Nutrition Therapy Institute "WAPF listeners get 50% off their first course " and  Goddess Vitality From Optimal Carnivore - "Discount code WESTON10 for 10% off."

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.   In this episode, she introduces the concept of "The Veil"—the unseen trust we place in our food system—and challenges the idea that chronic illness is something we must simply manage. Instead, she offers a powerful reframe: the body is designed to heal when we remove what harms it and restore what's missing.   We also explore why diets often fail, the difference between remission and true healing, and the critical role of emotional and spiritual stress in long-term health.   Sina's message is both sobering and hopeful: healing is possible—and it begins with seeing clearly.   Stay tuned for Part 2. WAPF Ad- Censorship is real - and click on the "Email list button on the homepage" Visit Dr. Sina McCullough's website to learn more Join the Nourishing Our Children closed Facebook Group Check out our sponsors: Four Visions "Discount code WISE for 15% off" and Masa Chips- "Discount code WISETRADITIONS for 25% off your first order"

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.   Christine discusses the role of warmth, digestion, and nervous system regulation in the postpartum period, along with the importance of hands-on bodywork in helping the body realign and heal. She also addresses the long-term consequences of neglecting this phase—and why many chronic issues women experience later in life can be traced back to an unsupported postpartum recovery. Whether a mother has just given birth or is years beyond it, this conversation offers a powerful reframing of what postpartum care can—and should—look like. WAPF Donation Ad Visit Christine Eck'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 Lumiram - "Discount code WISE for 10% off"

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"