The Appropriate Omnivore with Aaron Zober

Episode 188: In Support of Meat with Michele Thorne of Good Meat Project

For the latest episode of The Appropriate Omnivore podcast, host Aaron interviews Michele Thorne of Good Meat Project. Michele describes her journey into food systems transformation, beginning with concerns about food company transparency, ingredient adulteration, and corporate control, and shares her wide-ranging background from nonprofit management to raising animals herself. She explains Good Meat’s mission to advance an ethical meat system and details their programs, including FARMIN (farmer marketing support), BACON (butcher-chef partnerships), Good Meat Breakdown (consumer education), and various annual promotions. Michele emphasizes the organization’s focus on small and mid-sized local producers nationwide, busting myths about affordability and highlighting the benefits of direct-to-consumer bulk buying. She also discusses efforts to connect stakeholders and build community through initiatives like the Good Meat Switchboard and quarterly journals, while outlining challenges faced by the movement. Finally, Michele shares her vision for future resources and collaborations from Good Meat and invites listeners to join the community and explore their free educational offerings.

Episode 187: Regenerative Agriclture Well Defined with Bob Quinn of the Quinn Institute

The 2025 Wise Traditions Conference in Salt Lake City is just one week away. For his final guest in the conference speaker series, Aaron welcomes Bob Quinn, founder of the newly established Quinn Institute. Quinn’s presentation, “Healing the Earth as Medicine – A New Profit Center for Farmers and Ranchers,” delves into the Institute’s core mission to advance regenerative organic research, education, and health-oriented agriculture, with the goal of healing both people and the planet through improved farming and food systems. The conversation clearly distinguishes between organic and regenerative agriculture, as Quinn reflects on his transition away from chemicals on the farm and shares research about ancient grains, such as the wheat grown by Kamut International, which Bob also founded. He discusses the nutritional shortcomings of refined foods—especially wheat flour—and advocates for whole grain and traditional sourdough preparation for better health and nutrition.

Episode 186: Targeted Microbial Therapy with Vanessa Hargrove

As host Aaron Zober continues to count down to the Wise Traditions Conference on The Appropriate Omnivore podcast, his speaker for this week is microbiome coach Vanessa Hargrove. Vanessa is author of the book Homestead to Homestead and teaches a course called Targeted Microbial Therapy. Vanessa will be speaking at the Wise Traditions Conference in Salt Lake City, giving two talks: one on targeted microbial therapy and the other on sourdough's health benefits. Vanessa shares her personal health journey, including overcoming fertility challenges by adopting nutrient-dense eating patterns inspired by the Weston A. Price Foundation. She explains her coaching program, which helps clients rebuild gut health through a 12-week fermented food course, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. The conversation covers the importance of fermented foods, particularly homemade milk kefir, and how microbes boost nutrient bioavailability. Vanessa also tells Aaron about some of her favorite recipes in her book, including sourdough, fermented condiments (mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, etc.), as well as natural skincare and cleaning products she makes and teaches others to craft.

Episode 185: Food & Agricutlural Policies & Laws with Judith McGeary of Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance

It's the next installment of the Wise Traditions Conference speaker series, with host Aaron Zober interviewing Judith McGeary, founder of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA). Her presentation, "Changing Laws that Govern Our Food," focuses on promoting common-sense agricultural policies and reforming food system laws. Judith, an attorney, activist, and regenerative farmer, discusses key topics including Texas cottage food laws, efforts to simplify regulations, egg sales and grading laws, meat processing reforms, regenerative agriculture and certification, and national legislative issues. She emphasizes bipartisan cooperation and the importance of challenging corporate control over food systems to benefit farmers and consumers alike. This episode serves as both a legislative update and a call to action for building a diverse, locally based, regenerative food system through pragmatic policy and grassroots activism.

Episode 184: The Evolution of Diet & Nutrition with Mike Keen of Eat Your Environment

The Appropriate Omnivore host Aaron Zober continues with his Wise Traditions Conference speaker series, interviewing Mike Keen of Eat Your Environment in this episode. Mike’s presentation, “Eating Greenland - An Evolutionary Diet Revelation,” shares his background as a chef with global experience that led him to a transformative journey focused on ancestral and evolutionary diets. Mike emphasizes the importance of eating seasonally and locally based on evolutionary principles. He strongly critiques the modern industrial food system's detrimental impact on health and the environment. Looking ahead, he plans a significant project in 2026 to live one year eating three distinct diets—hunter-gatherer, agricultural, and industrial—while undergoing scientific health monitoring to analyze the effects. Throughout the conversation, Mike discusses traditional food preservation methods, the role of fermented foods in evolutionary diets, and the loss of culinary and survival skills in contemporary culture as key issues to address.