The Cannabis Connection

Happy 710! Really enjoyed this chat with Ian. We covered deep insights into the history of key cultivation hubs across Humboldt County. We explored cannabis as a psychedelic and catalyst for neuroplasticity, contributing to protest movements across California. We also do a nice genetics segment shedding light on key lines from the Emerald Triangle and beyond.  Ian C. H. Hogan is a writer from the...

Today on the show, we welcome Genine Coleman to discuss the Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants Research Dissemination Event on June 26, 2026, from 1:30-4:30 PM at the Capital Events Center in Sacramento.  This Free public event will present findings from a first-of-its-kind, multi-year community-based participatory research project examining California's legacy cannabis genetic...

Today, we welcome Cole Chapman of High Hill Cannabis! High Hill Farms is a fully permitted, owner-operated cannabis farm nestled in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Spanning 15,000 sq ft, we cultivate 100% organic, sustainable, and regenerative cannabis in native soil. Our plants thrive in greenhouses, basking in natural sunlight, with cool nights and warm days contributing to the exceptional q...

April is the creator of Weird Spooky Storytime and the spooky girl persona @spookygirl831. With a B.A. in Social & Behavioral Science and a passion for research, April began diving into local history, folklore, legends, and paranormal stories throughout Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas. What started as late-night research rabbit holes eventually turned into creating videos about the strang...

Budularo is a family brand. Founded by Tony Budularo, his son Isaac, and his son-in-law Dave Perkins. Tony Budularo has been growing for 53 years and is a world-renowned connoisseur known to have received many proven genetics from all over the world. His seed collection is coveted by growers from many continents. Led by his son Isaac and Dave, Budularo cultivates long-flowering sativas and hazes i...

Happy 420! This 420, we welcome James Leitz, the Creator and Executive Producer of the California Cannabis Awards & Experience at the California State Fair. With over 30 years in sports, media, and live event production - including two decades at WMEIMG - he's built global campaigns and experiences for some of the world's biggest brands. Today, he focuses on emerging industries, help...

This week on the show, we welcome Jeremy Warren and Richard Philbrook of Dark Heart.  Founded in Oakland, California in 2007, Dark Heart helped shape the modern cannabis industry through pioneering work in tissue culture, pathogen detection and large-scale genetic development-protecting and advancing the plant through years of meticulous cultivation.  Jeremy Warren is the Director of Plant Genetic...

This week, we welcome Vanessa Lovarato to the show to share her wisdom on integrating weed into your favorite dishes and indulgences, such as chocolate, butter, and beverages.  Born in California and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, television host, chocolatier, and food writer Vanessa Lavorato graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in art history and Italian. But the biggest lesson she took from sc...

Today on the show, we welcome Kagyu of Coastal Seed Genetics. Our last show was 9 years ago. Kagyu's first cannabis garden in Santa Cruz was in 1969, and he has over 50 years of experience cultivating and preserving landrace lines.  At Coastal Seed Co, our mission is to preserve and advance legacy plant genetics with integrity. We are committed to safeguarding heirloom and landrace lines, pro...

Today on the show, we welcome Alex Tice to discuss Arizona Cannabis, Skateboarding Culture, Self Expression, and Radical Habits.  Alex Tice is the COO and CRO of Flow Distribution and a founding member of the company, where he leads sales, manufacturing coordination, product development, and marketing strategy. He played a key role in growing Flow into one of the largest cannabis distributors and...

Today on the show, this one is a long time coming, years in the making. Welcome Reba!  Reba, also known as Grateful_Cultivator, is a friend of cannabis. She has been cultivating since the Prop 215 days in the late '90s in Humboldt. She has a deep reverence for the plant, healthy soils, and wild spaces, with experience in most cultivation methods and particular expertise in organic and regener...

Today on the show, we welcome Q, Miguel, and Raven of Renegade Theater speaking about their April production of Reefer Madness. Renegade Theater Co. is a community-based theater company in Santa Cruz, CA. Renegade is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit that creates theatrical productions meant to challenge the standard expectations of theater. The show benefactor for Reefer Madness is The Last Prisoner Proje...

Indicus “Indy” Riggs owns and operates Galactic Farms, a second-generation regenerative farm and apiary. Indy is a founding member of the Cooperative Agriculture Network (CAN), an organization that aims to facilitate the development of cooperative enterprises in the agricultural sector. He is the vice-chair of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA) Board of Directors, a member of HCGA's...

Barron Lutz is the founder of Nasha Hash, a Humboldt-based company specializing in premium solventless hash. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Barron has dedicated his career to refining cold water extraction and advancing solventless techniques inspired by traditional Himalayan methods. Known for his technical innovation, he has designed and developed custom washing and processing equipm...

What do Neville Shoenmakers, Brownie Mary, Dennis Peron, Lawrence Ringo, and Rick Simpson have in common? Harry E. Rose. Today on the show, we welcome Harry Rose to share his life story and experience making medicine, healing others, and himself through the power of this sacred plant.  Harry Rose is a Cannabis Industry Consultant, Cultivator, and Manufacturer currently holding 3 California state l...

Today on the show, we welcome Pete Olander. We explore how cannabinoids like CBD can serve as a secret sauce to complement formulating clean and safe phyto therapies to optimize wellness. We know the wellness trend will not go away, and we can also branch out into the world of functional mushrooms, terpenes, and other compounds that can assist the horsepower behind THC to provide us with our desir...

Today on the show, we welcome John Casli of Huckleberry Hill Farms. Huckleberry Hill Farms is a legacy craft cannabis farm nestled in the hills of Southern Humboldt County. Founded by John Casali, who was raised on this very land during the Back to the Land Movement, the farm is built on a deep commitment to sustainability, community, and honoring tradition. After serving 17 years in the federal s...

Today on the show, we welcome Shanon Taliaferro of the Mateel Community Center to discuss Reggae on the River 2026! We explore Humboldt County history, the decades-long tradition of music festivals, kindred spirits between Jamaica and Northern California, and the ongoing legacy of love in healing through music and community. We look forward to Reggae on the River 2026, and we encourage you to cons...

Today, we welcome Justin Lee, the CEO and Founder of Ay Papi, an award-winning regenerative organic craft solventless brand innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the plant.  Ay Papi is a health and wellness company specializing in award-winning craft solventless products.  Ay Papi is committed to sourcing and phenohunting the cleanest sungrown regenerative cannabis through...

Today on the show, we welcome Eric & Jill of Hogwash Pharms and Most Wanted.  Hogwash Pharms is a family owned and operated farm operating off-grid in Humboldt County-the cannabis heartland of America-known for its old growth redwoods, the lost coast, and traditional cannabis.  Located in the Mattole watershed, growing seed cultivars adapted to our microclimate and created on-site. Hogwash Pha...

Today on the show, we welcome Dylan Mattole of Mattole Valley Sungrown from Honeydew, CA. Join us for an inspiring conversation behind the award-winning flowers and hash from the finest Clear Waters of the Emerald Triangle.  At Mattole Valley Sungrown, we are a family homestead farm. We are connected to this land. We believe that if we care for this land as stewards, it will, in turn provide nouri...

Today on the show, we welcome Melanie and Craig of Alpenglow Farms. We connected in Las Vegas at the MJBowl awards, where Alpenglow won the MVP award for Best Outdoor Flower in California for their Jack Herer. This was a cathartic and inspiring conversation. I hope you enjoy.  Welcome to Alpenglow Farms , our off-the-grid homestead where we practice the fine art of growing a garden and a family in...

Viva The Cannabis Connection! Las Vegas edition. This was my first MJ Biz experience, and I was honored to serve as a judge at the first MJ Bowl, a bicoastal cannabis competition.  Today, we celebrate the activation, a few MJ Bowl winners, and explore innovators in the industry with in-person interviews live from the Press Room above the expo.  We will hear testimony on the floor, connect with the...

There’s been some confusion about what the new federal hemp law means, so we welcome Steve DeAngelo to the show. Steve DeAngelo is a lifelong activist, author, and visionary. Steve is the Executive Director of One Plant Alliance. We dive deep into the recent developments with Hemp Laws, infighting within the community, and a way out of the madness, back to the roots of this movement by coming toge...

Demystifying the many misconceptions about cannabis with Santa Cruz expert Christopher Carr. We discuss Santa Cruz cannabis history of smugglers, musicians and botanists, the human cannabinoid system and how it relates to our health and so much more fascinating information about this wonderful yet notorious plant.  Do humans have a unique connection to cannabis? And if so, can cannabis be consider...