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Paleofx conference seminar event expo paleo fx-min

PaleoFX

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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.

paleo meets vegan vegetarian-min

When Paleo Meets Vegan

There's an interesting talk at the Sydney Opera House tomorrow, as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.  The talk is entitled “What We Are and What We Eat”, by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Foer has written a book called “Eating Animals”, and it sounds like he has a strong vegan, anti-Paleo agenda.

From what I've read, it looks like he is very concerned about cheap, factory farmed animal produce, which is a viewpoint I completely agree with.  However, whilst I tackle this by sourcing very good quality, grass fed, organic meat, with a minimal degree of separation between myself and the farmer – I wonder if Foer's approach is tofu and grains?

I'm always interested in hearing and understanding differing viewpoints about diets and food sustainability, so I'm quite tempted to go along.

Must remember to take some beef jerky with me, I think they only sell sweets & crisps at the Opera House…

Paleo vs Vegan: Are We Really So Different?

There’s nothing quite like the topic of food to stir up passionate debate – and few dietary camps are as seemingly opposed as Paleo and vegan. On the surface, it looks like a black-and-white issue: one embraces animal products, the other avoids them entirely. But scratch beneath the surface, and you might be surprised by how much common ground there really is.

The talk by Jonathan Safran Foer at the Sydney Opera House, part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, is a brilliant example of how important these conversations are. They force us to examine what we believe – and more importantly, why we believe it. When it comes to the ethics of eating animals, sustainability, and modern food systems, both the Paleo and vegan movements raise compelling arguments that are well worth hearing.

What Paleo and Vegan Diets Have in Common

At first glance, Paleo and vegan lifestyles seem worlds apart. One champions grass-fed steak; the other praises lentils and tofu. But look a little closer, and you’ll see that both approaches:

  • Reject processed, industrialised food
  • Advocate for whole, nutrient-dense ingredients
  • Emphasise seasonal, local, and sustainable sourcing
  • Are rooted in a desire for better health and ethical choices

In fact, many long-term Paleo eaters start their journey by cutting out processed food, seed oils, sugar, and factory-farmed meat – which aligns closely with a wholefood vegan’s commitment to clean eating. The difference often comes down to one core question: is it ethical and sustainable to eat animals?

The Ethical Dilemma: Animals, Agriculture, and Accountability

One of Foer’s major criticisms – and a view shared by many vegans – is the cruel and unsustainable nature of factory farming. And here’s the truth: they’re absolutely right. Industrial animal agriculture is an ethical and environmental disaster. Confined animals, antibiotics, monoculture feed crops, and long, inhumane supply chains are all in direct conflict with both ancestral health and environmental stewardship.

This is where thoughtful Paleo advocates differentiate themselves. We don’t support factory-farmed meat either. We actively seek out pasture-raised, grass-fed, ethically sourced animals – ideally from local producers where we know how the animals are treated and what they’re fed. In many cases, the farmer is as much a part of the community as the butcher, grocer, or gardener.

So while vegans reject all animal consumption on principle, many Paleo eaters reject industrial meat while embracing regenerative animal farming as part of a sustainable ecosystem.

What About the Environment?

Veganism is often hailed as the most environmentally sustainable way to eat – and in some respects, this is true. Industrial meat production contributes significantly to greenhouse gases, water consumption, and deforestation. But when you consider regenerative grazing models, the picture changes.

Properly managed grazing can improve soil health, support biodiversity, and even sequester carbon. Local, pasture-raised livestock are part of a natural cycle – fertilising the land, controlling weeds, and helping restore damaged ecosystems. In Australia, regenerative farmers are proving that meat production can be done responsibly and sustainably.

Meanwhile, many plant-based staples like soy, almond milk, or out-of-season avocados often require monoculture farming, significant water resources, or long-distance transportation. There’s no perfect system – and both sides must make trade-offs. But the key takeaway is this: how food is grown matters more than what category it falls into.

Is Tofu Paleo? (Spoiler: Not Really)

In posts like this, people often ask, “But what about tofu?” It’s a vegan staple – high in protein, easy to cook, and widely available. But from a Paleo perspective, soy is generally off the table. Here’s why:

  • Soy is often genetically modified and heavily sprayed with pesticides
  • It contains phytoestrogens, which may disrupt hormone balance
  • It’s a legume – and many Paleo eaters avoid legumes due to antinutrients like phytic acid

That said, it’s not about demonising foods – it’s about understanding how they affect the body. Traditional fermented soy products like miso or tempeh might be better tolerated by some, but they’re still not considered Paleo by strict standards.

Food as Identity

Diet is never just about nutrition – it’s tied up in culture, ethics, and identity. Whether you’re sitting at a vegan café in Newtown or tucking into lamb chops from your local farmers market, the food you choose says something about how you see the world.

What’s refreshing is when people – like the attendees at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas – are willing to listen to opposing views without judgement. These are the conversations that move us forward. They also remind us that we all care deeply about food – where it comes from, how it’s made, and how it impacts our bodies and the planet.

Can Paleo and Vegan Ever Coexist?

While it's unlikely we'll see a Paleo-Vegan fusion café anytime soon (though stranger things have happened in Sydney), there’s room for overlap. Here’s how:

  • Both can celebrate seasonal, organic produce from local farms
  • Both can support food sovereignty, farmers markets, and transparent labelling
  • Both can champion fermented foods, healthy fats (like avocado and olive oil), and sustainability
  • Both can benefit from understanding the ancestral roots of human nutrition

There’s even a term – “Pegan” – used to describe people who combine elements of both diets. While it’s not technically strict Paleo or vegan, it’s an interesting sign of how people are seeking middle ground between these philosophies.

So… Did I Attend the Talk?

Yes, I did bring my beef jerky. And yes, I found the talk thought-provoking, even if I didn’t agree with all of Foer’s conclusions. But that’s the point. Hearing someone else’s perspective – especially when it challenges your own – is what makes conversations around food so important. It forces us to think, re-evaluate, and sometimes even strengthen our own beliefs.

And who knows – maybe a vegan in the audience left thinking more critically about food miles, regenerative agriculture, or the health impacts of ultra-processed soy products. Or maybe someone Paleo-curious discovered they could go a little lighter on the meat and heavier on the veg, and still stay true to ancestral eating.

Final Thoughts on Paleo vs Vegan

At the end of the day, the best diet is one you can sustain – physically, ethically, and emotionally. Whether that includes animal products or not, we all benefit from eating real food, supporting responsible farming, and staying curious.

Food doesn’t have to be a battleground. It can be a bridge – between people, between philosophies, and between the modern world and our ancestral roots.

How do you navigate the Paleo vs vegan debate? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Do you avoid soy and grains? Have you found common ground with vegan friends or family? Let’s keep the conversation going.