Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

This week on the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast, we're diving deep into lighting and photobiology with Shane Torpey, founder of MIGRO. With a background in engineering and construction, Shane turned his passion for growing into a global grow lighting company known for trusted reviews and educational content.We break down what's working—and what's not—in cannabis lighting for 2025, including:Far-red and intra-canopy lightingLED vs. HPS and how to transitionMaximizing PPFD without added CO₂Dimming schedules at sunrise/sunsetThe impact of lenses on LED light penetrationWhat really matters when choosing a grow lightEmerging technologies shaping the future of cultivationWhether you're scaling a facility or dialing in your home grow, this episode gives you the tools to make smarter lighting decisions rooted in science and real-world data.Links to channels here:https://www.youtube.com/@MIGROLIGHThttps://www.instagram.com/migrolight/https://www.facebook.com/MIGROLIGHT/https://www.tiktok.com/@migrolight

In this episode of the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Michael Gutensohn, an expert in plant physiology and secondary metabolism, to explore the intricate relationship between environmental stress and the production of secondary metabolites in cannabis. We discuss how various abiotic stressors—such as light intensity, temperature fluctuations, and nutrient availability—can influence the biosynthesis of key phytochemicals, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Dr. Gutensohn shares insights from his research on plant defense mechanisms, metabolic signaling pathways, and how growers might harness controlled stress to enhance both plant resilience and phytochemical output. Whether you're a cultivator aiming to fine-tune your grow environment or a scientist delving into cannabis metabolomics, this episode offers valuable, research-backed perspectives on optimizing secondary metabolite production through stress modulation.

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. My guest this week is Bryant Mason. I've had Bryant on the podcast a few times in the past and he's one of my favorite guests.Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 8 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. If you want to save $100 on his course, you can use the discount code KISORGANICS, all one word. I've taken his course and was recently going back to review some of the content. It's excellent and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do a deep dive on cannabis fertility and re-using your soil.After recording the podcast with Bryant, he had a couple of points he wanted to clarify so there is a short addendum that I added in at the very beginning of the podcast.Now on to the show!

Before starting the podcast, I wanted to share about an exciting new conference that we are hosting in conjunction with Collective Elevation in Bozeman, Montana. I've been talking to Suzanne Wainwright Evans about hosting a conference for years, and Adam at Collective graciously offered to open up his doors and let us host it on his property. The event is happening on September 5-7th, 2025 and I'm super excited. We are kicking it off with workshops from The Bug Lady Suzanne and Dr. Greenhouse, followed by a facility tour and then a bunch of excellent speakers and networking events over the next 2 days. Then on the 7th, the Montana Living Soil Alliance is hosting a tasting event that will be included in the price of the conference ticket. The tasting event will be a private event, with cannabis donated by the Living Soil Alliance, as a way to have an amazing sensory experience and see what premium quality Montana Living Soil has to offer. Tickets are limited to 200 spots, so be sure to grab a ticket if you're interested. Tickets are now on sale at kisorganics.com and the conference is called the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Conference.In honor of the conference, I wanted to do an interview series with some of the amazing folks at Collective Elevation to give a growers perspective and share some of what they've been able to accomplish. I've already had Adam Arnold on the podcast and you can also view a tour of their facility on the kisorganics youtube page.My guest this week is Jared Ferguson, the Greenhouse Manager at Collective Elevation. He's been working at Collective for over 4 years now, but prior to that he studied Environmental horticulture at Montama State University in bozeman. During which he worked for the universities greenhouse facility and research farm, where hje got his first experiences in mixing soil, amending plants, managing irrigation, and conducting IPM processes. Now on to the show!

Saul began his agriculture work in vineyard and winery operations on the Central California coast.  After deciding to focus his career on crop protection he moved north where he managed IPM programs at Monterey Mushroom Company and Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo.  This work led to a position as IPM Manager at Harborside Farms where he directed their bio-intensive greenhouse cannabis IPM program.  Saul now works as a Technical Sales Representative for BioBee USA.

Dr. Nadia Sabeh is the President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., an agricultural and mechanical engineering firm that specializes in the design of HVAC systems for indoor plant environments. Dr. Sabeh has her PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arizona's Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. For over 20 years, she has dedicated her education and career to helping farmers control their environments, allowing them to grow crops indoors, in greenhouses and in facilities that would otherwise be impossible or impractical to do so. Nadia has a free VPD app for both iPhone and Android as well as an amazing podcast called "The Doctor is in" that's available on all streaming platforms. https://www.doctorgreenhouse.com/podcast/tag/podcast

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven't already. Her website is bugladyconsulting.com where you can find links to other webinars, podcasts and information as well as how to contact her for direct consulting. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven't already. Her website is bugladyconsulting.com where you can find links to other webinars, podcasts and information as well as how to contact her for direct consulting. Now on to the show!

This was a fun podcast for me because I think there's a lot of misinformation around this topic and it was great to hear from an expert! Sphagnum Peat Moss is the gold standard for the horticulture industry. In N. America we use the majority of our peat for growing plants. Are there better options? What's the current research tell us about the sustainability of peat moss? In this episode we talk about why peat moss is such a popular choice for media as well as the pros and cons of the current substrates on the market. 

My guest this week is Christine DeJesus. Christine operates at the intersection of regenerative organic agriculture and social justice. For five years she's been perfecting a highly efficient organic cultivation model while managing operations for Galenas Cannabis in Akron, Ohio. Prior she worked in food justice, ran a farm for Great Lakes Brewing Company, functioned as campaign coordinator for Marijuana Policy Project, and co-founded the Midwest CannaWomen. She was featured in the documentary “Polycultures: Food Where We Live,” with Michael Pollan, and at the “My Global Kitchen” exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Christine is a creative writer, a columnist for Cannabis Business Times magazine, and holds degrees from both Kent State and the University of Pittsburgh. In her current role, she focuses on keeping plants, processes, and people healthy and productive while delivering top-tier quality cannabis flower to Ohio consumers. Christine also works with home-growers to bring commercial-level success to their backyard gardens.

Christine Goedhart is an experienced educator and educational developer with a specialization in teaching undergraduate biology courses. Currently serving as a Science Education Specialist at the University of British Columbia, she supports faculty in making their courses more equitable and student-centered, and she recently developed and taught an undergraduate Biology of Cannabis course. Previously, Christine spent eight years as a full-time faculty member at Citrus College, where she taught a variety of biology courses for non-major students. With a strong commitment to student-centered and inclusive education, Christine has effectively implemented innovative pedagogical and assessment strategies to enhance student engagement and learning in biology courses, and she shares information, tips, and evidence-based best practices for teaching in her Tips for Teaching blog article series.

My guest this week is Matthew DeBacco. Matthew received his Bachelors degree in Pathology with a secondary degree in horticulture, then going on to receive a master's degree in agronomy 2011 and a masters in education in 2014, both from the university of Connecticut. Then in 2020 he received his PhD from Ashford University. Matthew started the first cannabis course at a public university at the University of Connecticut. I first found out about Matthew from his research on powdery mildew with cucurbits using raw milk, as it was circulating around the giant pumpkin community. Matthew also enjoys growing giant pumpkins and has held the state record twice with the largest weighing 1,885.5 lbs. In this episode we talk about the similarities between the giant pumpkin community and the cannabis community and how we might be able to utilize some of the advancements across the cultivation of these very different plants. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Adel Zarei. Dr. Zarei earned his Ph.D. degree from Leiden University in the Netherlands, specializing in molecular mechanisms governing defense and secondary metabolism in plants. Dr. Zarei spent a decade as a Research Associate at the University of Guelph, where his research focused on stress physiology in plants. His primary passion lies in the study of plant secondary metabolites, many of which possess pharmaceutical significance. In 2017, Adel transitioned to the Cannabis industry, serving as a Scientific Advisor and Cannabis Micropropagation Expert. He played a pivotal role in designing and establishing multiple Cannabis Micropropagation labs for Cannabis Production License Holders. His groundbreaking work in this field garnered multiple Government grants and led to the development of commercial-scale cannabis micropropagation techniques. The results of this research were published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant and Plants”. Throughout his scientific career, Adel has authored more than twenty-two peer-reviewed articles covering topics such as plant stress physiology, secondary metabolites, and plant pathology.Dr. Zarei is an integral member of the PharmaCrop team, serving as the Chief Operating Officer at PharmaCrop Pty. Ltd. in Queensland, Australia. In this role, he oversees operations that encompass every stage of the process, from seed cultivation to the final production of medical-grade cannabis products. Dr. Zarei has successfully transferred his extensive knowledge and experience in the cultivation and processing of medical cannabis into Australia burgeoning industry. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Adam Arnold is a founder/ Owner at Collective Elevation in Bozeman Montana. Collective Elevation is one of the largest living soil cannabis greenhouse  facilities in the country.   Adams been growing cannabis for 20 years, the last 10 at his facilitiy in Bozeman which was designed and built from the ground up by him and his team. Prior to recreational legalization in Montana he built off grid greenhouse facilities in Montana during the medical days and has founded Collective Elevation on a platform of sustainability  utilizing sun assisted living soil practices.  He went to school at the university of Idaho for Conservation Biology and Natural Resource Ecology and worked in wilderness management for the Forest Service prior to working in the Cannabis industry.I had the pleasure of visiting Collective Elevation last year and filmed my tour, which is available on Youtube, I highly suggest checking it out. It's one of the nicest facilities I've ever seen in person and I'm honored that they have been using our soils in their greenhouses for a few years now. Anyway, now on to the show!

Dr. Tassa Saldi is an accomplished molecular biologist with more than 25 years of research experience in RNA biology, infectious disease, and molecular pathogen detection. Dr. Saldi graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Molecular Biology. She completed her graduate and postdoctoral studies at the University of Colorado, where she studied RNA structure, small RNAs and RNA processing. She was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the American Cancer Society and was one of eighteen doctoral fellows nationwide invited to present her research at the Aspen Cancer Conference.  Dr. Saldi has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals. As the Chief Science Officer and co-founder of TUMI Genomics, Dr. Saldi continues to use her expertise to provide the cannabis industry with reliable, accurate diagnostic tools and pathogen mitigation guidance. 

My guest this week is a returning guest. Dr. Nicole Gauthier is a pathologist, and Professor and Extension specialist at the University of Kentucky.  Her program focuses on disease management of specialty crops, including hemp.  In her Extension role, she develops educational and outreach programs to help growers manage disease through identification, understanding of pathosystems, and integration of management strategies. Her research program focuses on a range of hemp diseases, including Fusarium head blight.  Dr. Gauthier earned her BS in Horticulture Science and her PhD in Plant Pathology from Louisiana State University.  She joined the UK College of Agriculture in 2011 and began working with industrial hemp in 2014. There will be a link on the podcast page to access her resources and research. Now on to the show!Hemp and cannabis research and Extension fact sheets https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/extension/publications#HEMPSilicon study https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/pprr-02.pdf

George has degrees in Horticulture from the University of Georgia and the University of Florida. He is the GGSPro Technical Services Manager with Griffin Greenhouse Supplies. GGSPro assists ornamental, edible, and hemp/cannabis growers across the country with their cultivation issues ranging from sanitation, IPM, fertility, lighting, and water quality. GGSPro fields over 17,000 grower related calls and emails annually. This amount of valuable interaction helps Griffin collaborate with chemical vendors, academic researchers, and plant producers to implement change within the green industry. 

My guest this week is June Graesch from Bioworks. Julie has 18 years of experience as a biological scientist, practiced in laboratory, greenhouse, and field research as well as technical service support for the integrated pest management industry. She has been with BioWorks for 5 years and has previously held positions at BASF, Becker Underwood, and Iowa State University. Now on to the show! 

Irrigation is one of the most underrated aspects of cultivation and understanding water quality, dissolved oxygen, and best practices will make a HUGE difference in plant health. My guest this week is Les Evans from Dramm, to answer all my questions about water. Les has a degree in Biological Engineering, with a concentration in Water/Soil & Environmental Engineering from NC State University, and 29 years of industry experience helping growers, of all types of crops, with their environmental and water quality challenges. Les' day-to-day involves supporting the Dramm sales team and their customers with water treatment designs that maximize investment while minimizing environmental impact. When he's not at his desk, he can be found planting perennials with his family, or running the NC Mountains-to-Sea trail system a stone's throw from his home in Raleigh.

My guest this week is Chris Castle. Chris is the co-founder and CEO/COO of Flora & Flame out of California, currently the largest vertical indoor living soil cannabis farm. Chris is a bay area native who has been cultivating cannabis for 17 years, with the last 6 solely on indoor living soil.

Before starting the podcast I wanted to let listeners know that I plan on adding more interviews of growers this season. While the original intention of the podcast was to bridge the gap between academic research and real life cultivation, I have done a wide variety of interviews of the years and think it's important to hear how growers are dealing with real day to day issues in their cultivation facilities, as we don't typically get to grow under perfect conditions and control for every variable. So while these interviews might be slightly less scientific and may contain some personal experiences and anecdotal information, my hope is that it will spark new ideas, research, and help growers deal with real life scenarios that they may be facing as well, and grow the community.In the spirit of this, my guest this week is Matthew Butters. I met Matthew when he emailed me and we started corresponding. I went to tour his facility, which is about 2.5 hours away from me, and after the tour I decided I wanted to have him on the podcast. Matthew serves as the Director of Cultivation at Smokey Point Productions and Waypointe Ventures, a prominent i502 operation in Washington. Leveraging his expertise in cannabis cultivation, he has a rich history of successfully developing and leading cultivation teams in various settings worldwide. Matthew is driven by a commitment to achieving sustainable production of top-tier cannabis on a commercial scale, reflecting his passion for excellence in the industry. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Michael Alden. Michael is the Research Director at Stairway Holding, Inc. and explores methods to improve  efficiency and productivity in cannabis cultivation. He spent the past 5 years as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Jim Faust studying the flowering physiology of poinsettias (M.S.) and cannabis (PhD) at Clemson University. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven't already.

Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 5 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. If you want to save $100 on his course, you can use the discount code KISORGANICS, all one word. I've taken his course and was recently going back to review some of the content. It's excellent and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do a deep dive on cannabis fertility and re-using your soil. Now on to the show!

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. My guest this week is Bryant Mason. I've had Bryant on the podcast a few times in the past and he's one of my favorite guests.Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 5 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. If you want to save $100 on his course, you can use the discount code KISORGANICS, all one word. I've taken his course and was recently going back to review some of the content. It's excellent and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do a deep dive on cannabis fertility and re-using your soil. Now on to the show!

In this episode, I review some of the available research on mycorrhizal fungi and how it applies to cannabis and other edible crops. I also talk about how to determine what products are worth using in your garden, how best to apply mycorrhizal fungi, and what its role is in heavy metal uptake. 

Robert Thomas is the principal scientist at Scientific Solutions, a consulting company that serves the educational needs of the trace element user community. He has worked in the field of atomic and mass spectroscopy for almost 50 years, including 24 years for a manufacturer of atomic spectroscopic instrumentation. Rob has written overt 100 technical publications, including a 15-part tutorial series entitled, A Beginner's Guide to ICP-MS. He is also the editor and frequent contributor of the Atomic Perspectives column in Spectroscopy magazine, as well as serving on the editorial advisory board of Analytical Cannabis. In addition, Rob has authored 6 textbooks on the fundamental principles and applications of ICP-MS. His most recent book is entitled, A Practical Guide to ICP-MS and Other AS Techniques, which was published in September, 2023. Rob has an advanced degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Wales, UK, and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Chartered Chemist (CChem).

Victoria has a lifelong interest in studying the interactions between microbes and their surrounding environment. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Michigan before moving to Dartmouth College to further her studies with postdoctoral research. As Chief Science Officer of Imio, Victoria has led the development and production of multiple microbial products that replace harmful chemicals and enable healthier, more productive cultivation of plants. Charles started Imio to dedicate his career to helping people, plants and our planet. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he began his career at Morgan Stanley where he focused on the technology sector. He moved on from finance to join a NYC based software startup where he gained valuable insight into scaling companies and teams. As CEO of Imio, Charles manages Business Development and Operations, as the company works to unlock plant productivity and restore our planet through the power of nature.  Now on to the show!

In the course of all my interviews, I sometimes find topics that I want to talk about more in-depth or share a deeper opinion on than I get to in the podcast itself. Sometimes the flow of the podcast changes direction or it just doesn't fit in the context of the interview, but regardless of the reason I thought a format like this would allow me to both share more information on the podcast as well as further support and provide value to the listeners who currently support our Patreon channel. Also, I've found that in some of my earlier interviews, the information has changed or I may not agree with everything that was shared by a guest. This will allow me to go share an alternative viewpoint or perspective on a topic. It takes me a long time now to vet guests for the show and while I'd like to be able to release podcasts more frequently, I'd rather focus on quality content rather than quantity.

My guest this week is Steve Cantwell. Steve is a former mixed martial artist and entrepreneur known for his time in the UFC and his involvement with Green Life Productions.Steve Cantwell was born in Long Beach, CA. He began training in martial arts at a young age and developed a passion for combat sports. In 2005, Cantwell made his professional MMA debut and quickly gained attention for his aggressive fighting style and well-rounded skills. He amassed an impressive record in regional promotions, which led to his signing with the UFC in 2008.In recent years, Cantwell has focused on his entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly in the cannabis industry. He founded Green Life Productions (GLP) in 2014, a prominent Las Vegas-based cannabis cultivation company. GLP is known for its organic and sustainable approach to cannabis cultivation, producing high-quality cannabis.Cantwell's involvement with GLP has allowed him to combine his passion for entrepreneurship with his interest in health and wellness. His contributions to the company reflect his ongoing dedication to promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the cannabis industry. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Steve Cantwell. Steve is a former mixed martial artist and entrepreneur known for his time in the UFC and his involvement with Green Life Productions.Steve Cantwell was born in Long Beach, CA. He began training in martial arts at a young age and developed a passion for combat sports. In 2005, Cantwell made his professional MMA debut and quickly gained attention for his aggressive fighting style and well-rounded skills. He amassed an impressive record in regional promotions, which led to his signing with the UFC in 2008.In recent years, Cantwell has focused on his entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly in the cannabis industry. He founded Green Life Productions (GLP) in 2014, a prominent Las Vegas-based cannabis cultivation company. GLP is known for its organic and sustainable approach to cannabis cultivation, producing high-quality cannabis.Cantwell's involvement with GLP has allowed him to combine his passion for entrepreneurship with his interest in health and wellness. His contributions to the company reflect his ongoing dedication to promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the cannabis industry. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Jack Munz. Dr. Munz has a decade's worth of experience in the field of plant molecular genetics working on complex gene regulation and nutrient metabolism projects. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Botany from Colorado State University while working as a lab assistant facilitating the development of genetic markers for invasive species. Jack then earned a Master of Science from Illinois State University where he worked towards increasing vegetable oils in temperate grasses like corn for biodiesel production using targeted gene expression. He then earned his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of British Columbia during which he worked to unravel the genetic regulation of nitrogen starvation responses in plants with next-gen sequencing technologies. Dr. Munz is a lead scientist at Genie Labs and head of pathogen testing Research & Development. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Colin Bell. Colin is most well known in the industry as the co-inventor of Mammoth P. He completed his Ph.D. in Soil Microbial Ecology in 2009. As a Research Scientist at Colorado State University, Colin published dozens of peer reviewed publications that were focused on elucidating microbial mediated processes that enhance plant growth. Colin's academic research includes long-term multidisciplinary studies in which biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of soils were measured to elucidate soil microbial and plant responses to climate variability. He currently works for Miicrobial Mass, a plant amendment product comprised of several unique species of beneficial bacteria shown to promote plant vigor, increase plant biomass, and enhance microbial life in and around the root zone. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Cassandra Maffey and she shares her experience with creating and utilizing Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs in your garden. Cassandra is a legacy cannabis cultivator who specializes in commercial scale, organic living soil cultivation. She honed her cultivation skills in the early 2000's in Northern California's Emerald Triangle, then relocated to Colorado to co-found one of Boulder's first licensed dispensaries in 2009. Since then, she has helped clients across the country establish successful commercial scale living soil cannabis cultivation facilities, working with Medical, Recreational, and Celebrity brands. Cassandra's passion for sustainability and quality has won numerous cannabis cups and accolades for her teams, and Cassandra was named one of the top 50 women in cannabis by High Times Magazine in 2019. Cassandra was kind enough to share a sample SOP as an example on our podcast page. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Michael Brownbridge. Michael is a Biological Program Manager with BioWorks. In this role he provides technical support for the company's catalog of disease-management products, and their utilization in integrated plant health programs. Prior to joining BioWorks in 2019, he was fortunate enough to have travelled the world plying his craft, with research and outreach positions in Israel, Kenya, the US, New Zealand, and Canada, putting new biological control tools and knowledge into the hands of growers. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Brandon Hudson. Brandon is a second generation cannabis cultivator with over 35 years of direct experience with this amazing plant. Building on fundamentals learned as a child Brandon has applied a controlled approach to cannabis cultivation starting his first plants his freshman year of college in 1986. He currently works for KIS Organics providing growers with everything from customer support to assistance with nutrients and soil tests. A well rounded and passionate organic grower, Brandon's real passion is in soil chemistry. Most recently, Brandon was the Director of Cultivation and one of four founding members of a minority-owned hemp flower farm in South Carolina.  He provided SOPs and oversight for all aspects of cultivation from propagation to harvest and cure, including daily operation of a large nursery facility. In this role Brandon also performed several federally funded hemp trials for HBCUs as well as research projects for nutrient producers. He is a proud dad and husband who spends his free time outdoors with his veggie gardens and chickens.This week's show is a bit different, as we get a lot of the same questions at KIS Organics and thought it would be fun to do a show covering a lot of the most common ones. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Nicole Gauthier. She is a Professor and Extension specialist at the University of Kentucky.  Her program focuses on disease management of specialty crops, including hemp.  In her Extension role, she develops educational and outreach programs to help growers manage disease through identification, understanding of pathosystems, and integration of management strategies. Her research program focuses on a range of hemp diseases, including Fusarium head blight.  Dr. Gauthier earned her BS in Horticulture Science and her PhD in Plant Pathology from Louisiana State University.  She joined the UK College of Agriculture in 2011 and began working with industrial hemp in 2014. There will be a link on the podcast page to access her resources and research. Now on to the show!

Cari Peters Raymond is Vice President at her family's company, JR Peters Inc. She is proud to be the 3rd generation of Peters at the company, following both her Father and Grandfather, who introduced the original Peters fertilizers over 72 years ago. At J.R. Peters, Cari is the formulator of all products developed by JR Peters. She heads a hard-working team (the Jack's Blue Crew) to bring new fertilizer formulas that provide solutions to growers' nutritional issues. She also manages the J.R. Peters Laboratory & provides tech support – as in, real solutions to growers using the lab or Jack's products. She has development many formulas that are all connected by the common goal to use nutrients efficiently according to a crop and stage specific nutrient target approach. Cari's vision for Jack's fertilizers include constantly looking for ways to help growers feed their plants more efficiently by using the most innovative nutrient sources.Growing Up Blue: Cari is a Terp & a Blue Hen -- She received her Ph.D. in Plant Sciences (2004), M.S in Agronomy (2000) from the Univ. of Maryland and her B.S. in Biology from the Univ. of Delaware (1997).

My guest this week is Bryant Mason with Soil Doctor Consulting. Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 4 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. You can also find him on instagram @soil_doctor

My guests this week are 2 awesome cannabis researchers, Paul Cockson and Patrick Veazie. Paul has been on the podcast before on episode 59 talking about his paper on cannabis deficiencies. Be sure to check out that episode if you haven't already just click on the learn tab then podcast. I also recently had them on to talk about their phosphorus research and they are back to this week to talk about magnesium.Paul has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2018, and in plant science research since 2016. He has a background in horticulture, agroecology, and floriculture from his time at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD at the University of Kentucky working with industrial hemp. Paul's primary research focuses on rhizosphere management and brings strengths in plant mineral fertility, plant hormones and growth regulators, substrate research, general diagnostics, and greenhouse and growth chamber expertise. In addition to a strong greenhouse background, Paul is also literate in field level agronomic processes. Paul's passion is for mentorship and sharing the research process with undergraduate students. When not doing research, Paul and his dog (Groot) can be found hiking in local, state, and national parks.Patrick Veazie has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2019, and as a plant science researcher since 2018. He has a background in horticulture and floriculture from his time as an undergraduate researcher at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his M.S. at North Carolina State and is focusing on greenhouse substrates for Cannabis and other floriculture crops. Patrick's primary research focuses on plant mineral fertility, substrate research, and general diagnostics.Was super excited to talk to them about some of their latest published research on cannabis and hemp. Now on to the show!That was Paul Cockson and Patrick Veazie and you are listening to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast. If you like the podcast, please leave us a rating and review, and give us a follow on instagram. If you want to support the podcast, check out our new patreon for some unique benefits or the wide arrange of products we offer on our website ranging from soils, amendments, beneficial insects, led lights, soil test analysis and consulting. You can also sign up for our newsletter on our website homepage to stay up to date on the latest research and information. Thanks for listening!'

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge.My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven't already. This podcast though is a 2 part series where we discuss some of the latest research in cannabis and hemp from a recent invite only conference she attended. One of the biggest topics being viruses in cannabis.Now on to the show!That was Suzanne Wainwright Evans and you are listening to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast. If you like the podcast, please leave us a rating and review, and give us a follow on instagram. And don't forget at KIS Organics we have a wide arrange of products we offer on our website ranging from soils, amendments, beneficial insects, sticky cards, soil test analysis and consulting. I also recently added a Patreon for folks interested in supporting the podcast directly. Lastly, you can also sign up for our newsletter on our website homepage to stay up to date on the latest research and information. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge.My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven't already. This podcast though is a 2 part series where we discuss some of the latest research in cannabis and hemp from a recent invite only conference she attended. One of the biggest topics being viruses in cannabis.Now on to the show!That was Suzanne Wainwright Evans and you are listening to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast. If you like the podcast, please leave us a rating and review, and give us a follow on instagram. And don't forget at KIS Organics we have a wide arrange of products we offer on our website ranging from soils, amendments, beneficial insects, sticky cards, soil test analysis and consulting. I also recently added a Patreon for folks interested in supporting the podcast directly. Lastly, you can also sign up for our newsletter on our website homepage to stay up to date on the latest research and information. Thanks for listening!

Our guest today is Jeff Lowenfels. I wanted to get Jeff, our very first podcast guest and old friend, back on the show. Jeff is the author of the popular Teaming series, Teaming with Microbes, Teaming with Nutrients, Teaming with Fungi, and now his new book “Teaming with Bacteria," which he joins us today to discuss. He also has a book called DIY Autoflowering Cannabis which we discussed in an earlier interview. In this episode, we discuss the importance of bacteria in relation to plant growth and the rhizophagy cycle.Jeff is an extremely respected and popular national garden writer. He is the former president of the Garden Writers of America,Jeff has been a good friend now for over a decade and is a wonderful advocate for organic gardening, compost teas, and the microbes in our soil. Thanks for coming on the show Jeff! https://www.jefflowenfels.com/books-by-jeff-lownfels/https://www.amazon.com/DIY-Autoflowering-Cannabis-Easy-Homegrown/dp/0865719160

My guests this week are 2 awesome cannabis researchers, Paul Cockson and Patrick Veazie. Paul has been on the podcast before on episode 59 talking about his paper on cannabis deficiencies. Be sure to check out that episode if you haven't already and also this is a good one to go to the podcast page at kisorganics.com, just click on the learn tab then podcast. I will have links to all the papers so you can follow along as well as a link to their new website that shares all their research in one central location, it's a great resource. Paul has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2018, and in plant science research since 2016. He has a background in horticulture, agroecology, and floriculture from his time at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD at the University of Kentucky working with industrial hemp. Paul's primary research focuses on rhizosphere management and brings strengths in plant mineral fertility, plant hormones and growth regulators, substrate research, general diagnostics, and greenhouse and growth chamber expertise. In addition to a strong greenhouse background, Paul is also literate in field level agronomic processes. Paul's passion is for mentorship and sharing the research process with undergraduate students. When not doing research, Paul and his dog (Groot) can be found hiking in local, state, and national parks. Patrick Veazie has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2019, and as a plant science researcher since 2018. He has a background in horticulture and floriculture from his time as an undergraduate researcher at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his M.S. at North Carolina State and is focusing on greenhouse substrates for Cannabis and other floriculture crops. Patrick's primary research focuses on plant mineral fertility, substrate research, and general diagnostics. Was super excited to talk to them about some of their latest published research on cannabis and hemp. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Daniela Vergara. She is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF; AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Dr. Vergara recently joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist' to help hemp farmers with their crop. Dr. Vergara's scientific publications include the comparison of the cannabinoids by the federally produced Cannabis to that produced by the private market. These results were featured in news platforms such as The Atlantic, Science, and FiveThirtyEight. Recently, she published a comparison between the genome of these federally produced varieties to the genome of the varieties found in the private markets. Some of her other scientific publications are a compilation of the existing genomic tools available for Cannabis research that was featured in Science, and the maternally inherited genomes (chloroplast and mitochondria). Vergara has authored these publications along with collaborators from the private sector in the Cannabis industry as well as academics from several institutions worldwide. Through AGF, Vergara educates the public about science, data analysis, statistics, evolutionary biology, and genomics. Now on to the show! https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-102-cannabis-genetics-and-terpene-expression-with-dr-daniela-vergara

My guest this week is Dr. Monique McHenry. Dr. McHenry is a botanist with a background in plant diversity and evolution. She is the director of the University of Vermont Cannabis Science and Medicine and Plant Biology Certificate programs, director of the Medical Cannabis Center for Research and Education, and co-director of the cannabis pharmacology course at the University of Vermont Medical School. She is also Co-Founder of the CASE Institute, a plant-based pharmaceutical research enterprise. Dr. McHenry completed her Bachelors and Master's of Science at the University of Colorado and her Ph.D. at the University of Vermont. Now on to the show! https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-101-plant-stress-and-cannabinoid-relationships-with-dr-monique-mchenry

This episode is a bit different.  I didn't know what to do for our 100th episode and my friend Suzanne, who you all know as the Bug Lady, convinced me to let her flip the tables and interview me to share a bit more about myself, how this podcast came to be, and some of what I've learned from the many amazing guest I've had the privilege of interviewing over the past 4 years. https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-100-origins-podcast-suzanne-wainwright-evans-interviews-tad-hussey    

My guest this week is Steven Arthurs. Steven graduated from the Imperial College London with a Masters of Science in Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management. He also received a Diploma in Applied Entomology and went to get a PhD in Insect Pathology. He did his Post Doctoral work at Texas A and M researched biological pest control for thrips on ornamental plants and investigated insect/virus interactions while conducting greenhouse trials to evaluate new insecticides. From there he worked as a research entomologist with the USDA for 5 years before becoming an Assistant Professor in Entomology at the University of Florida. He is currently a research associate with Texas A & M University and also a Technical Sales Specialist with Biobee USA, a leading provider of biologically based integrated pest management. Biobee is the world's leading producer of persimilis, the most effective natural predator of spider mites.  I'm very excited to announce that in conjunction with this podcast release, KIS Organics has partnered with BioBee to offer their wide array of beneficial insects through our website and will be shipping direct from insectary so as to ensure optimal viability of insects upon arrival. In today's podcast we discuss the many pests we see in cannabis and what some good management options are utilizing beneficial predatory insects. Now on to the show!

Dr. Russo is a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher, and author. He is the Founder and CEO of credo-science.com.   He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (Psychology), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, before residencies in Pediatrics in Phoenix, Arizona and in Child and Adult Neurology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was a clinical neurologist in Missoula, Montana for 20 years in a practice with a strong chronic pain component. In 1995, he pursued a 3-month sabbatical doing ethnobotanical research with the Machiguenga people in Parque Nacional del Manu, Peru. He has held faculty appointments in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Montana, in Medicine at the University of Washington, and as visiting professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University. He has also published numerous book chapters, and over fifty articles in neurology, pain management, cannabis, and ethnobotany. His research interests have included correlations of historical uses of cannabis to modern pharmacological mechanisms, phytopharmaceutical treatment of migraine and chronic pain, herbal synergy and phytocannabinoid/terpenoid, serotonergic and vanilloid interactions. He has consulted or lectured on these topics in 39 US states and Canadian provinces and 39 countries.