We spoke with Dr. Aviaja Hauptmann, an Associate Professor in the Institute of Health & Nature and Head of the Department of SILA (Scientific and Indigenous Teachings on Life in the Arctic). Her work explores the interaction between microbiology, diet, and the environment, focusing on Inuit food microbiomes and Indigenous food sovereignty. She is examining gastrophagy as a way of connecting animal gut, food, and human gut microbiomes. Join our conversation on hybrid fermentation, probiotics, and the open questions in health and fermentation studies.