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PaleoFX

Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas to attend the second PaleoFX conference. Three days of talks and panels on all things Paleo – surrounded by like minded people! It was good to see a few other people had also travelled to the event from outside the US.

It was especially great to see Jimmy Moore and Nora Gedgaudas, who have both been out to Australia for seminar series in the last year or two. I also got to meet Robb Wolf, Sean Croxton, Abel James and so many others.

PaleoFX 2013

Having attended the Ancestral Health Symposium, I was interested to see how this event would differ. As well as lectures, PaleoFX had a lot of panels, where a group of “Paleo experts” sat on stage and answered a wealth of questions on a particular topic. As with the Ancestral Health Symposium, up to three talks occurred simultaneously, so it wasn't possible to listen to everyone. Fortunately they are releasing videos, so it will be possible to catch up on what I missed!

The highlight for me was meeting Dr Terry Wahls and listening to her lecture. I also enjoyed Dr Cate Shanahan, who I first heard on the Paleo Summit.

PaleoFX 2013

On the ground floor was a big exhibition set up, with stalls selling all manor of Paleo products. Books I've not been able to get in Australia, jerky, kombucha, fitness products, supplements, vitamins, Paleo snacks – everything you could possibly want.

With such a big Paleo community of our own here in Australia and New Zealand, we’re really excited about the next seminar series we have in the pipeline. I’d love to hear who you would like us to invite to speak in Australia and New Zealand – and what you would like them to speak about? And which cities should the series travel to, each state capital? Please please share your thoughts in the comments below, or send me an email.

Bringing the PaleoFX Energy Back Home

After spending a weekend immersed in all things Paleo at the conference in Austin, it’s hard not to come back feeling completely energised and inspired. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by others who share a deep passion for real food, ancestral health, and questioning the status quo when it comes to nutrition and wellness.

Back in Australia, I’ve been reflecting on just how valuable these events are — not just for the content, but for the conversations, connections, and sense of momentum they create. Attending events like PaleoFX reminds us we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves: a global movement striving to reclaim health through evolutionary principles.

Key Themes Emerging in the Paleo Community

One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s conference was seeing how much the Paleo conversation has evolved. While food is still at the centre, there’s a growing focus on wider lifestyle factors — and it’s clear that this holistic approach is where the movement is heading.

  • Sleep and Circadian Rhythm: Talks explored how modern light exposure, screen use, and disrupted sleep patterns are impacting everything from hormone balance to immunity and mood.
  • Mental Health and Neuroscience: There was a strong spotlight on anxiety, depression, neuroinflammation, and how diet and lifestyle can influence brain health, not just physical wellbeing.
  • Movement Beyond Exercise: Rather than focusing on workouts alone, speakers encouraged incorporating natural movement, mobility, play, and even rest as vital elements of health.
  • Regenerative Agriculture: Soil health, sustainable farming, and food sourcing were hot topics — particularly how we as consumers can support farming practices that benefit the planet and human health.

These conversations are especially relevant here in Australia, where we have incredible potential to adopt regenerative practices, support local producers, and shape how future generations think about food and health.

Could We Host an Event Like PaleoFX Here?

Given how large and passionate the Australian Paleo and ancestral health community is, it’s not a question of if we could host something similar — but when. Events like this spark lasting change, and with the right line-up, structure, and backing, we could create an event that rivals or even exceeds what’s currently happening overseas.

Imagine a multi-day event that brings together the best of our local experts, along with a few international thought leaders, to host workshops, cooking demos, live panels, and practical sessions. Not just lectures — but hands-on experiences to help people truly integrate this lifestyle.

Potential Speakers and Topics for an Australian Summit

  • Dr Terry Wahls — with a focus on neurodegenerative disease, mitochondrial health, and autoimmune recovery through diet.
  • Nora Gedgaudas — revisiting her insights on primal mind and nutritional psychology.
  • Local voices — doctors, nutritionists, regenerative farmers, movement coaches, and those thriving on Paleo in real-world conditions.
  • Practical workshops — such as primal movement, barefoot running, cooking for families, fermentation, or ancestral fitness.

We could easily align topics with common health challenges in Australia and New Zealand — from inflammatory disease and gut health to hormone imbalances, fertility, chronic stress, and ageing well.

What I’d Like to See Next

After absorbing so much information over the PaleoFX weekend, I came away with a few big takeaways that I think should guide the next chapter of Paleo in Australia:

  • Focus on Accessibility: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the perfectionism sometimes seen in health circles. We need to keep encouraging progress over perfection — showing people how to implement changes even on a budget, with a busy schedule, or while raising a family.
  • Community-Led Support: The more we can facilitate meetups, online groups, recipe swaps, and real-world community building, the stronger the movement will grow.
  • Education Beyond Food: Paleo isn’t just a diet — it’s a way of rethinking modern life. We need more education around sleep, stress, posture, play, natural rhythms, and how they all fit together.

With this in mind, I’ll be working behind the scenes to bring something exciting to the Paleo community here. If you’ve ever dreamed of attending a summit like this without having to fly across the world — this might be your moment.

Let’s Co-Create the Next Paleo Event

I’d love your input. If you could attend a Paleo event anywhere in Australia or New Zealand, where would it be? Which experts do you want to hear from? Would you prefer talks, workshops, or cooking demos? Would you want to attend in person or stream it online?

Please drop your thoughts in the comments or reach out via email. This event is for all of us, and your ideas could shape its direction. With enough interest and support, we can make something incredible happen right here on home soil.

Until Then — Stay Inspired

Even if you weren’t at PaleoFX this year, there are so many ways to stay connected and inspired. Revisit your favourite speakers’ blogs, follow thought leaders on social media, and keep experimenting with what works best for your body and lifestyle.

And don’t forget — real food, movement, sleep, sunshine, and community are always available. You don’t need a conference pass to live well.

Melbourne Sugar

On Saturday I went across to Melbourne for a series of lectures on Sugar, Paleo and related topics given by a fantastic lineup of presenters.

Dr Rod Tayler organised the event and gave the first lecture, which was quite an eye opener into how much sugar the average Australian actually eats.  It’s quite frightening to think how much sugar most people mindlessly consume – something we have no real requirement for.

Sugar Conference in Melbourne – Seminar on Quitting Sugar

Dr Ken Sikaris gave a fantastic talk about fructose metabolism, which I wish had been recorded.  He was a fantastic speaker and I learnt so much from his talk.  I really think he should speak at the Ancestral Health Symposium on Fructose this year!  I knew that fruit isn’t the wonder food that conventional wisdom would have you believe, but Dr Sikaris explain exactly why – and exactly what happens to the fructose.  I really hope the Paleo community get to hear more from Dr Sikaris.

Dr Anastasia Boulais was up next and gave a great talk about making the right food choices with a framework to guide this process.  This was a great talk, as I think a lot of people think it’s too hard to eat a Paleo diet – and that it’s an all or nothing approach – which just isn’t the case.

I really enjoyed Jamie Scott ‘s lecture about what Paleo is – and isn’t.  It was great that he also spoke about the lifestyle factors – not just what we eat, as the whole lifestyle is important, not just nutrition in isolation.

David Gillespie was next.  I read David’s book “Sweet Poison” when it first came out and found it so well written, that it became one of those books I regularly lend to interested friends and families.  It was really good to meet the man himself and to hear his talk.  David spoke about his background as a lawyer, and how he came to give up sugar – his talk linked in very well to those before and built up a compelling case.  I’m looking forward to getting started on his new book “Big Fat Lies”.

Meeting David Gillespie – Melbourne Sugar Event

After the break, another familiar face took to the stage.  I’d met Dr Ted Arnold in LA at the Ancestral Health Symposium last year (there were a few of us from this part of the World at the AHS!).  He spoke about where we’ve come from and looked at the ever changing (but not in the right direction) nutritional advice and food pyramids.

We then heard a completely different angle from Alice Hucker, who spoke about the psychological barriers to healthy eating.  I think this is such an important topic, yet one that doesn’t get discussed very often.  I’d have like to have heard more on this topic.

Finally we heard from Dr Michael Axtens and his positive experience with changing his diet

I was so impressed to see so many people at the lecture – I bet just a couple of years ago filling the room would not have been possible.  There was a great mix of people, from those already following some sort of Paleo/ ancestral/ low-carb/ no-sugar eating plan, to those very interested in making positive changes to their diet and health.

A significant number of those in the audience were doctors, medical professionals and dieticians.  I spoke to one dietician who had been told about the event by a client and was very interested in learning as much as she could.  It’s so encouraging to see more and more of these people showing an interest in a Paleo approach.

It was so pleasing to appreciate the huge wealth of knowledge and expertise we have in Australia and New Zealand – I think we can definitely give the American Paleo folk a run for their money!  I can’t wait for more homegrown Paleo events!

Key Lessons from the Event

It’s been a few days since the Melbourne event, and I’m still reflecting on the insights I gained from each speaker. The sheer depth of information was inspiring, and it reminded me just how powerful knowledge can be when you’re trying to make real, sustainable changes to your health. What stood out most was the consistent thread linking all the talks: the importance of questioning conventional dietary wisdom and looking at nutrition through a more ancestral lens.

Standout Presentations

One of the most powerful takeaways for me was the growing momentum behind the sugar-free movement in Australia. David Gillespie’s presentation made me reconsider how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go. His personal story of quitting sugar, combined with the legalistic way he dissected health claims, was compelling. I noticed so many heads nodding during his talk, especially when he pointed out the dissonance between mainstream health advice and actual science-backed outcomes. It’s conversations like these that help build grassroots awareness—and push back against misleading food industry narratives.

Equally compelling were the scientific underpinnings Dr Ken Sikaris provided on fructose metabolism. What really hit home was his explanation of how even seemingly ‘healthy' foods, like fruit juices, can be detrimental when consumed in excess. His message wasn’t anti-fruit, but rather a nuanced breakdown of how our bodies respond to different types of sugar. It’s information like this that makes me feel grateful for these kinds of events—because we rarely get this level of detail from mainstream sources.

It was also interesting to hear multiple speakers, like Jamie Scott and Dr Anastasia Boulais, place a strong emphasis on lifestyle factors—not just food. Sleep, stress, physical activity, and even community were highlighted as essential components of wellness. As someone who came to Paleo through food, it was a powerful reminder that a healthy life is about more than just your plate. It’s about your environment, your mindset, and how you move through the world each day.

I found myself particularly drawn to Alice Hucker’s talk on the psychological side of nutrition. While many presentations focused on biochemical pathways and macro/micronutrients, Alice zoomed out and asked: why do we struggle to implement what we already know? Her reflections on emotional eating, habits, and internal resistance really resonated with me. I think it’s a topic that deserves more time and attention at future events, especially as so many people know what to do, but still find themselves stuck.

Another encouraging theme that emerged was how many medical professionals are now attending these events with open minds. I overheard conversations between GPs, dietitians, and nurses who were clearly intrigued—even if they weren’t fully converted just yet. The fact that these professionals are showing up and engaging is a strong sign that the movement is shifting. A decade ago, the idea of a mainstream dietitian attending a Paleo event would have seemed laughable. Now, it’s a reality.

Audience Insights

There’s also something incredibly energising about being in a room with like-minded people. Whether they were seasoned Paleo veterans or complete newbies, there was an unmistakable sense of community in the air. Conversations flowed easily, and I noticed a real willingness to share resources, recipes, and experiences. Events like this remind me why I love this lifestyle so much—it’s not just about eating differently, but about building a different kind of life altogether.

The Future of Paleo in Australia

I left the event feeling proud of the quality and credibility of our local speakers. From New Zealand to Melbourne, there’s a growing number of passionate, well-informed advocates who are pushing the conversation forward. We don’t have to wait for international names to come here—we’re building our own platform, and it’s growing stronger by the day. I hope to see more events spring up in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, and regional centres, giving more people the chance to connect and learn.

So what comes next? For me, it’s a renewed commitment to sharing what I’ve learnt—whether that’s through this blog, in conversation with friends, or even just by continuing to make conscious decisions about what I eat and how I live. If you ever get the chance to attend one of these events, I wholeheartedly recommend it. There’s nothing quite like it.

If you were at the event too, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which speaker impacted you the most? Were there any ‘aha' moments? And if you’ve never been to a Paleo or health seminar before, what would it take to get you there?

Here’s to more knowledge, more empowerment—and hopefully many more inspiring events to come!

Food & Health as Evolution Intended – Nora Gedgaudas

Yesterday I went to Nourishing Australia’s “Food & Health as Evolution Intended” seminar.  The seminar was held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and featured five lectures by Nora Gedgaudas, and lectures by Bruce Ward on naturally grazing animals and Costa Georgiadis on the importance of where food comes from.

I’d heard Nora Gedgaudas speak at the Ancestral Health Symposium in August and really enjoyed her talk – it was just 45 minutes though, so the opportunity to hear her talk for a whole day, in my own city, was too good to miss.

meeting Nora Gedgaudas in Sydney

I was so pleased to see such a full lecture theatre yesterday.  The audience was a very varied mix of medical professionals, nutritionists, as well as people who had only recently heard about Paleo.  There were also a few familiar faces from the Sydney Paleo meet-up group.

Nora Gedgaudas Sydney

As much as I enjoyed the AHS in August, food wasn't included, and being on the UCLA campus good Paleo food wasn’t on hand.  At yesterdays seminar however, the event was catered and the food was fantastic.  Agape Organic Restaurant provided all of the beautiful food yesterday.  Whilst the food was organic and sourced locally, it wasn’t Paleo as it included a bit of dairy, quinoa, corn chips (!) and some sweetened dressings.  It was fairly easy to avoid these elements though and the good sized portion of beef and chicken at lunch was very satiating.

The seminar started with an overview of where we have come from and the food we evolved eating.   The other topics covered included fats and carbohydrates; grains, the link between nutrition & mental health & primal fitness.  The key messages I got from the conference concerned insulin and blood sugar.  Reducing the insulin requirements – by controlling blood sugar appears to be crucial in so many aspects of our health and longevity.  Gluten was also spoken about frequently – and I’m now going to be a lot more cautious to ensure I completely avoid it, especially when I’m eating out.

I really enjoy listening to Nora Gedgaudas, as she is a great speaker who has the ability to put across complex science and theories in a very accessible way.

If you’re in Australia and missed the Sydney seminar, they are going to be in Armidale on the 16th November and the Gold Coast on the 19th November; so it’s not too late to book!

nora_gedgaudas_sydney

Morning tea: Pumpkin, spinach and basil frittata, Ham, tomato and cheddar frittata. Salmon, pear, chilli, chive & quinoa tatare Corn chips Wagu & pork meatball & Cherry tomato relish

Nora Gedgaudas Sydney

Lunch: Grass fed wagu beef, Roast chicken

nora_gedgaudas_sydney

Lunch: Roasted Vegetable & Honey mustard dressing salad Broccoli, daikon, carrot, zucchini, adzuki & miso sesame dressing salad Beetroot, parsley, sultana & honey yoghurt dressing Spiced poached pear & cream