My dear sister Chloe Parsons joins us on ReWild Yourself Podcast to talk all things motherhood. Chloe blends her unique experience as a nutritional therapist, MovNat trainer and a mother of two to invigorate modern women with renewed perspective on health and happiness. She works with clients and actively shares her learning experiences in health, mothering and life as @wholly.chloe on Instagram.

In this episode, Chloe and I open up about a very intimate subject: our miscarriage stories. We share our own unique experiences with miscarriage, how it affected us and how we processed our reproductive grief. Additionally, Chloe recounts her firsthand experience with pregnancy, childbirth and mothering two children and discusses the philosophies that guide how she mothers. We also get into the topics of breastfeeding, menstruation, the importance of family and how Chloe incorporates movement into day to day life with her two children. If you're a mother, mother-to-be or aspiring mother, this interview is for you!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction:
  • Upcoming Surthrival Sale
  • Recounting a recent trip to Florida
  • Recent Maine foraging adventures
  • Q&A: Podcast & book recommendations for the beginning forager
  • Q&A: Where to forage for wild food
• Introducing Chloe Parsons
• On the importance of family
• Chloe's guiding mothering philosophies
• Religious upbringing as a rite of passage
• On miscarriage, holding space and women reclaiming the birth process
• Beginning menstruation
• Chloe describes the differences in her first and second pregnancies
• Incorporating movement with kids through play
• Breastfeeding
• Auto-cannibalizing yourself post-pregnancy
• Chloe's postpartum approach to nutrition
• Advice to aspiring mothers and mothers-to-be
• Raising future generations and Chloe's prognosis for the future of the human species

In past episodes of ReWild Yourself Podcast, I've explained why I'm not a vegan (ReWild Yourself Podcast #94) and, instead, why I'm a conscientious omnivore (ReWild Yourself Podcast #100). In my personal quest for the most natural diet for the human animal, I was a vegan for about 10 years, and The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith was an impactful read for me as I transitioned back to an omnivorous diet.

I'm thrilled to have Lierre Keith — former vegan, best-selling author and environmentalist — join us to share about her experience with veganism. Lierre spent 20 years eating a vegan diet, and in that time, she did significant damage to her body. Only when she began to introduce animal foods back into her diet — eating a more balanced, omnivorous diet — was her body able to heal and regenerate. Lierre also explains the destructive history of agriculture and why veganism is not the answer for ecological restoration of our devastated prairies and forests. This is an important conversation for all of us interested in eating the optimal human diet while living with a light ecological footprint on this planet!

**Please note: The audio quality of this interview is not excellent because we recorded over Skype. We apologize in advance for the audio quality, but we think the content makes up for it!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show introduction:
  • Poison ivy, nettle stings and tick bites
  • Harvesting Hopniss, Apios americana
  • Upcoming Florida hunt + gather trip
  • Subscribe to my newsletter
  • Q&A: Thoughts on gardening vs wild food foraging
• Introducing Lierre Keith
• How Lierre came to write The Vegetarian Myth
• The damage veganism can do to the human body
• The results of Lierre's 20 years of veganism
• What led Lierre to ecological restoration
• Why are vegans so angry?
• Agriculture and our hierarchical civilization
• Is organic farming a way forward?
• Restoring the prairie grasslands
• The future of Lierre's work
• What keeps Lierre motivated in her work
• Lierre's prognosis for the future of the human species
• How to find Lierre's work

Dr. Jack Wolfson "The Paleo Cardiologist" joins us on ReWild Yourself Podcast for a lively conversation on everything from natural heart health to vaccines to geoengineering. Dr. Wolfson is a board-certified cardiologist who believes bad nutrition and toxins create heart health problems. At his practice, Wolfson Integrative Cardiology, he uses in-depth testing and targeted nutrition to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease — treating the whole person, getting to the cause of the issue, instead of treating only the symptoms.

Dr. Wolfson is bold, honest and passionate about awakening the world to wellness and a holistic approach to healthcare. In this episode, he breaks down the landscape of holistic cardiology and how he works with patients who are transitioning from conventional cardiology to a more natural approach. Our interview also takes us into some taboo areas — the vaccine debate and geoengineering, in particular — and Dr. Wolfson and I share our personal beliefs surrounding these topics. Please listen with an open mind, and as always, do your own research and use your intuition to come to your own personal conclusions. Enjoy!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction:
  • I'd Rather Hunt + Gather T-Shirts
  • Leek harvest
  • Preserving your harvest
  • Post season scouting for new wild food spots
  • Subscribe to my newsletter
  • Q&A: Practical gear recommendations
  • Q&A: Thoughts on wasted harvest
• Introducing Dr. Jack Wolfson
• The landscape of the conventional cardiology world
• How Jack got into holistic cardiology
• Transitioning a patient from conventional to holistic cardiology
• Explaining quantifying blood tests
• Breaking down Leaky Gut
• Thoughts on environmental toxins and heavy metal toxicity in seafood
• The vaccine debate
• Attachment parenting
• Is our modern-day condition by design or by accident?
• Geoengineering
• Jack's prognosis for the future of the human species

Dr. Nicole Apelian joins us to share about her experience living with Lions and the San Bushmen in southern Africa. Nicole is a scientist, mother, educator, researcher, expeditionary leader, safari guide, herbalist and traditional skills instructor. Nicole's background is as diverse as it is impressive. She has worked as a game warden with the US Peace Corps, spent time tracking and researching lions in southern Africa and she's developed strong relationships with the San Bushmen tribe through years of living and working with them. A passionate educator, she currently leads yearly tracking & bird language expeditions through the Kalahari alongside the Naro Bushmen. Nicole continues her work with the San Bushmen to help them find strategies to preserve their traditions and is currently cataloging indigenous plant uses with a community of Naro Bushmen who regard her as family.

In this episode, Nicole gives us a peek inside the world of the San Bushmen tribe. We learn who they are, how they structure their tribe, how the relationships between men and women work and how they raise their babies. She also shares some of the horrific obstacles they've faced over the years and how they're recovering today.

Our conversation traverses a myriad of fascinating topics. We discuss what it's like living with a predator, cultural appropriation and the romanticizing of the hunter-gatherer lifeway, Nicole's time spent surviving alone in the wilderness, the future of modern day indigenous tribes living in their traditional lifeway and much, much more.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction:
  • Hunt + Gather T-Shirt Pre-order Update
  • How Reishi mushroom impacts your health
  • Pine pollen harvesting
  • Recounting spring turkey hunting in Maine and New Hampshire
  • The Eagle Huntress
  • Arthur Haines' Spring Foraging Workshop
  • Landscape analysis
  • Ecologically conscious foraging and regulating foraging
  • Continuing the conversation on invasive species vs planetary plant citizenship
  • Q&A: Thoughts on forming communities online vs in-person
  • Subscribe to newsletter for exclusive content
• Introducing Dr. Nicole Apelian
• Nicole's story
• What it's like living with predators
• Living with African Lions vs living with Mountain Lions
• Who are the San Bushmen?
• The status of the San Bushmen botanical knowledge
• The obstacles the San Bushmen have faced over the years and how they are recovering
• Cultural appropriation and romanticizing the hunter-gatherer lifeway
• Alone in the wilderness vs community living
• Egalitarianism & the relationship between men and women in the San Bushmen community
• Raising babies, love and marriage in the San Bushmen community
• The gift of timelessness
• How Nicole fed herself during her time alone in the wilderness
• Role of wild food and medicine in the future
• The future of indigenous peoples living in their traditional lifeway
• Nicole's prognosis for the future of the human species
• Importance of prepping
• How to connect with Nicole

Our feet are so much more capable than many of us are aware, and innovative podiatrist Dr. Ray McClanahan is here to share how we can attain strong, flexible, proprioceptive and resilient feet that engage their world meaningfully.

In his 18 years as a podiatrist, Dr. Ray has learned that most foot problems can be corrected by restoring natural foot function. His practice, Northwest Foot & Ankle in Portland, Oregon, allows him to care for those who find their highest joy when in motion. He is also the inventor of Correct Toes, silicone toe spacers designed to place each toe in the correct anatomical position in relationship to each other and to the ground.

In this episode, Dr. Ray shares the history of wearings casts (aka shoes) on our feet and the foot ailments that are caused by modern footwear and lifestyle. He breaks down our basic foot anatomy and the vast capabilities of the human foot when allowed to function in its natural form. He also gives an overview of what the journey to robust foot health looks like and the steps we can take to achieve this. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on this foundational piece of our overall health and wellness strategy!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show introduction:
  • Pine Pollen harvesting season
  • Recounting this week's turkey hunt
  • Birch syrup season
  • Spring green foraging
  • Discussion on invasive species
• Introducing Dr. Ray McClanahan
• Why did we start wearing casts on our feet?
• What foot ailments are caused by footwear and lifestyle?
• Breaking down foot anatomy
• How Dr. Ray got into natural podiatry & the podiatry industry
• The four primary negative features of athletic footwear
• Capabilities of the human foot
• The story of William Rossi and Phil Hoffman
• Fashion footwear
• The truth about arch support
• What does the journey to foot health look like?
• Dr. Ray's prognosis for the future of the human species
• How to connect with Dr. Ray

In part two of the Way of the Sea Huntress, professional spearfisherwoman Kimi Werner shares the beautiful story of her relationship with her local aquatic ecology and what led her from competitive spearfishing to spearfishing for food. Coming full circle, one of the most important parts of spearfishing for Kimi is getting to prepare her harvest to share with her loved ones and community. Tune in for an inspiring story of a woman dedicated to her craft and passionate about a healthy, sustainable future for our global community. And if you enjoy this conversation, check out part one where Kimi and I go deeper into her spearfishing hunting practice!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Introducing Kimi Werner
• How Kimi became a spearfisherwoman
• What led Kimi to competitive spearfishing
• Spearfishing in Hawaii vs Rhode Island
• Walking away from competition
• Who is Kimi today
• Participating in ecology
• Kimi's relationship to her prey
• Kimi on holding her breath
• Women and hunting
• The beauty of your food's story
• Kimi's prognosis for the future of the human species

The ocean has long been a source of sustenance, inspiration and adventure for Kimi Werner. Free diving to the ocean floor on a single breath to catch each day's meal, Kimi is intimately connected with her local ecosystem. Her passion for spearfishing and ocean ecology has led her to be a heart-driven voice for conscientious hunting and conservation.

Growing up off the grid in an isolated part of coastal Maui, Kimi was introduced to spearfishing by her father, who freedove for her family's primary food source. Discovering her passion for free diving later in life, she went on to become the U.S. National Spearfishing Champion.

While there are many complexities to identifying as a hunter, Kimi believes that conscientious hunting is a meaningful way to have true connection to where our food comes from. We discuss this, as well as the role hunters play in restoring the earth back to balance. For those who are interested in the more tactical, day-to-day elements of Kimi's spearfishing practice, you'll enjoy hearing Kimi break down her spearfishing kit, the fish to table process, her favorite smoker grill and more!

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction:
  • Kim Anami's Coming Together 10-week Salon
  • Fountain of Truth Spring Water crowdfunding campaign
  • Q&A: Building strength and agility for archery and hunting
  • Q&A: Daniel's tick strategy
• Introducing Kimi Werner
• Kimi's recent adventures
• The complexity of identifying as a hunter
• Connection to our food and our sense of self
• Kimi explains her spearfishing hunting practice
• How Kimi remains undetected from prey underwater
• Kimi's basic spearfishing kit
• Special relationships with certain tools
• What species have meant to the most to Kimi
• The most humbling species that Kimi has shared the water with
• The fish to table process
• How Kimi keeps her fish cold after the hunt
• Kimi's favorite smoker grill
• Getting into mammal hunting and hunting invasive species
• Do hunters play a role in the future of bringing the earth back to balance?
• How to connect with Kimi

"…The modern day renewal of rites of passage is essential not only for the health of the individual, but also for the health of our communities and for the planet." -School of Lost Borders

Petra Lentz-Snow has guided vision fasts and wilderness rite of passage programs for over 20 years and is currently serving as Co-Director and Board Member at the School of Lost Borders. A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual that marks a transition into a new life stage. Some rites of passage occur naturally over the course of your life and others are brought about by crisis or a significant change in your life. The modern day renewal of rite of passage ceremonies, initiated by organizations like the School of Lost Borders, gives us the opportunity to intentionally step into our lives more fully and reclaim our indigenous soul.

In this episode, Petra gives us an in-depth look into the purpose and process of rites of passage, both naturally-occurring and intentionally sought out ceremonies, such as guided vision fasts. She takes us through the many different types of rites of passage, discusses why crisis is crucial for growth and shares about the role of the natural world in rite of passage. Enjoy, and be prepared to soak up Petra's deep, healing wisdom throughout this conversation.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction
  • New Surthrival product teaser
  • I'd Rather Hunt + Gather T-shirt Pre-order ending soon!
  • Spring, maple syrup tapping & upcoming hunt + gather adventures
  • Winners of "I'd Rather Hunt + Gather" giveaway
  • Q&A: Daniel's thoughts on proposed bill that could end foraging in Maine
  • Arthur Haines' new project on sustainably harvesting native plants
• Introducing Petra Lentz-Snow
• How Petra got into guiding rite of passage retreats
• What is a rite of passage?
• Bringing your gift out into the world
• The first and foremost rite of passage
• Common rites of passage for women and men
• What calls people to a rite of passage?
• Protecting your status
• Why is crisis crucial?
• Preparing for a rite of passage
• The role of the natural world in rite of passage
• Coming back from a rite of passage
• Petra's prognosis for the future of the human species

Chris Morasky is a wildlife biologist with 30 years experience teaching Stone Age skills and nature connection and is considered one of the top Stone Age skills experts in North America. After many years spent living in the wilderness and small communities of British Columbia, Idaho and Utah, Chris left his primitive lifestyle and transitioned to living in the metropolis of Los Angeles. Through this experience, Chris has gained a unique perspective on the intersection of ancient skills and future technology, and he's here to tell us why it's essential for humanity to understand how to merge the wisdom of our ancestors with the ideas and technology of the future.

In this episode, Chris encourages us to look at the bigger picture philosophies of ReWilding. While learning how to tan a hide and start a friction fire are valuable skills, the true purpose of ReWilding can sometimes get lost in these minute details. Chris shares how we can use primitive skills, nature connection and indigenous wisdom as doorways to healing and gaining a better understanding of our interconnectedness.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show Introduction:
  • How to win a free "I'd Rather Hunt + Gather" T-shirt/Sticker
  • Thriving by staying fit for our three environments: natural, artificial & virtual
  • Q&A: Why Daniel chooses to live in Maine
  • Q&A: How to ReWild in the city
  • Q&A: How to explain ReWilding to people in your life who might find it hard to relate to
  • A new piece of acorn processing equipment
  • Stewarding land and harvesting maple sap
• Introducing Chris Morasky
• How Chris developed a passion for awakening the ancestral human spirit
• How Chris got involved in pre-agricultural ways of being
• The nature of our enslavement
• Looking at the bigger picture in ReWilding
• The rugged individualist
• Chris's story of leaving the wilderness and moving to LA
• Our human trajectory
• How can we heal?
• Chris's prognosis for the future of the human species
• How to work with Chris

"Scientists mapped the human genome a decade ago, but we still haven't mapped what's in human milk." —Jennifer Grayson

Jennifer Grayson — breastfeeding mother and author of Unlatched: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy — has made it her mission to find out how & why we've moved away from breastfeeding as a society and to identify what needs to happen for human milk to once again become the human norm.

In this eye-opening conversation, Jennifer takes us on a journey through the timeline of our attempts to re-create breastmilk and the industrialization of feeding our babies. While breastfeeding has been making a comeback in the last few years, this natural, ancestral practice is still considered controversial and taboo in our society, and Jennifer shares what we can do to help normalize breastfeeding once again. From the sexualization of breasts to the risks of not breastfeeding to the lack of societal support for breastfeeding women, we cover a lot of ground in this interview. Tune in for an education on our first and most fundamental experience as human beings.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

• Show introduction:
  • Exciting announcement: New T-shirt/Sticker "I'd Rather Hunt + Gather"!
  • How to win a free "I'd Rather Hunt + Gather" T-shirt/Sticker
  • Roadkill as a way to eat wild meat
  • Q&A: Creating space for rewilding practice in a world set out to enslave and dominate our time
  • Q&A: Thoughts on coffee/stimulants in general
  • Q&A: Interviewing guests from a hunter-gatherer/indigenous background on the show
• The importance of the topic of breastfeeding
• When did we start moving away from breastfeeding?
• The phenomena of the wet nurse
• Industrialization of feeding human babies
• The timeline of our attempts to re-create human breastmilk
• Why it's difficult for some women to breastfeed
• Benefits of breastfeeding
• Modern day vs anthropological norms for breastfeeding length of time
• The sexualization of breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding in public
• How to make breastfeeding the norm in the United States
• How can we help as individuals to make breastfeeding the norm
• Is it inevitable that human milk will become the human norm?
• Jennifer's prognosis for the future of the human species