Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

Guest: Julie Graesch
Biological Scientist | IPM Specialist
Currently with BioWorks
Formerly: BASF, Becker Underwood, Iowa State University

Topics Covered:

What “entomopathogenic fungi” actually means

How fungi like Beauveria and Metarhizium infect insect pests

Differences between blastospores and conidia

Why formulation and environmental conditions matter

Common reasons fungal biocontrol applications fail

Preventative vs. reactive use of entomopathogenic fungi

Integrating fungal biologicals into a broader IPM strategy

Key Takeaways:

Entomopathogenic fungi are biological tools, not chemical knockdowns

Un...

n this conversation with plant scientist and commercial cultivation strategist Dr. Matthew Indest, we explore the emerging frontier of seed-based cannabis production and what it would take for the industry to move beyond clonal propagation.

We cover:

The agronomic upside of seed-grown plants (disease resistance, vigor, adaptability, cost savings)

The scientific and operational barriers preventing widespread seed adoption

How genetic stability, inbreeding depression, and trait selection differ between cannabis and traditional crops

Data-driven cultivation strategies for evaluating new seed lines

Whether seed-based production can truly rival clonal...

This wide-ranging conversation with Bryant Mason covers a series of essential—but frequently misunderstood—topics in organic cultivation. We explore why simple, low-tech data collection strategies often outperform high-tech systems and how to interpret those readings in the real world. From there, we break down how pH truly behaves in biologically active soils, what your water test results do and don’t tell you, and how water chemistry shapes nutrient availability.

We also discuss practical considerations for under-canopy lighting, when it helps and when it’s a distraction, and dig into the recurring challenges Bryant sees around phosphor...

In this conversation, Tad and Dr. David Hawley (Chief Science Officer at Fluence) unpack what really matters when dialing in your lighting strategy for cannabis and other high-value crops. They get deep into how plants perceive light, what “good spectrum” actually means, and how to think about intensity, uniformity, and plant response in a more scientific (and practical) way.

Topics covered include:

Understanding Daily Light Integral (DLI) and how it relates to plant metabolism

When to use far-red and what to expect from it

The truth about UV lighting and secondary meta...

In this conversation, Tad and Dr. David Hawley (Chief Science Officer at Fluence) unpack what really matters when dialing in your lighting strategy for cannabis and other high-value crops. They get deep into how plants perceive light, what “good spectrum” actually means, and how to think about intensity, uniformity, and plant response in a more scientific (and practical) way.

Topics covered include:

Understanding Daily Light Integral (DLI) and how it relates to plant metabolism

When to use far-red and what to expect from it

The truth about UV lighting and secondary meta...

Can stress actually improve flower quality? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. José Leme to dive into the science of plant stimuli and how growers can apply it in practice. We cover:

🌿 Mechanical cues — how super cropping and vibration trigger plant defense pathways.

💧 Water restriction — why moderate, timed drought can shift carbon toward secondary metabolites like terpenes and cannabinoids.

🧪 Jasmonates (MeJA) — when they increase trichome density, and what trade-offs you need to consider.

🔬 Trichome measurement pitfalls — why bracts are the gold standard for consistent data.

🌱 Propagation & trial design — the importance...

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 lighting

LED vs. HPS and how to transition

Maximizing PPFD without added CO₂

Dimming schedules at sunrise/sunset

The impact of lenses on...

📝 Episode Highlights:

Connor’s journey from greenhouse grower to propagation leader

Scaling propagation: key infrastructure and protocols

Hormonal treatments and substrate selection for optimal rooting

Managing cultivar libraries and mother plant health

IPM and environmental control strategies tailored for veg

Writing and refining SOPs for compliance and consistency

Track-and-trace integration in a regulated cannabis market

The role of living soil vs. hydroponics in Connor’s career

🧪 Mentioned in This Episode:

Collective Elevation: www.collectiveelevation.com

KIS Organics Products...

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 cultiva...

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 preci...

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 netw...

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.

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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 f...

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 bugla...

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 bugla...

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 w...

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...

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 an...

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...

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 unive...

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 t...

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 2...

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. 

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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!

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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...

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.

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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 cont...

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!

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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.

Hoste...

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...

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 preci...

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. 

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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 th...

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 h...

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 m...

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...

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...

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 th...

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 se...

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...

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!

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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 m...

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...

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 pro...

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...

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, an...

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 p...

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 p...

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 na...

My guests this week are two 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 gr...

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 priv...

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 Verm...

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

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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...

Dr. Zellner received her Doctorate from the University of Toledo in 2012 where she trained in molecular and cellular biology, focusing on the role of silicon in plant defense responses.  Upon graduation, she pursued a four-year postdoctoral position with the USDA-ARS, where she continued studying the role of silicon in alleviating both abiotic and biotic stress in tomato and tobacco.  Her current studies are to design standard methods for quantifying the uptake of silicon from fertilizer material in addition to identifying uptake mechanisms for silicon in model species and testing for similar pathways in other crops.

Hosted by...

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 app...

My guest this week is Michael Wilson. Mike is the owner and head cultivator of Maine Craft Cannabis, a cannabis cultivation company licensed under Maine’s medical cannabis program.  Maine Craft Cannabis grows organically in living soil beds, and I met Mike when he reached out 2018 regarding consulting and dialing in the program in his facility. We’ve stayed in touch ever since, sharing ideas and test results as we continue to learn.

Before joining the cannabis industry, Mike had a career in Mechanical engineering designing industrial centrifuges and x-ray machines.

If you want to learn...

My podcast this week is a bit unique in that we will be discussing how to diagnose deficiencies in cannabis and how to use a dichotomous key. We have a new document available on our website that has the dichotomous key we reference in the podcast as well as images showing the deficiencies related to each mineral we discuss. So if you wanted to follow along to the podcast with visuals you can check it out on our website or at anytime as a free guide.

My guest this week is Brandon Hudson. Brandon is a...

Our guest this week is Jeremy Plumb. Jeremy was the Director of Production Science at Pruf Cultivar, one of the most technologically advanced cannabis cultivation facilities in North America. At Pruf, Jeremy combined decades of cannabis horticulture experience with cutting-edge technology to deliver previously unattainable consistency in both product quality and consumer effect.

Prior to his leadership at Pruf, Jeremy was a co-founder of Farma, recently acclaimed by Rolling Stone as one of Oregon’s top dispensaries. Jeremy has served as a cannabis consultant to Israel medical cannabis researchers and as a cannabis policy advisor for US members of...

My guest this week is Ryan Lee. Ryan is an educator, breeder, and researcher specializing in the chemical and genetic diversity of the cannabis species. Ryan comes from a background in neuroscience focusing on the endocannabinoid system, but later focusing on plant breeding technologies and the study of the molecular aspects of the cannabis genome and how we can use science to shape and improve the plant. Now on to the show!

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Samuel Hoefler is a 10-year cannabis industry professional and current Head Grower of Prūf Cultivar. Sam is finishing an agronomy at Oregon State University and focuses primarily on nutrient management, irrigation techniques, and cannabis crop production. Sam has created a novel cultivation model at Prūf Cultivar while building one of the most advanced and informative data sets on cannabis nutrient values to date. Sam’s long term goals include establishing optimal nutrient ranges for cannabis, creating an open platform for industry professionals to share knowledge, and to continue pursuing a lifelong passion for researching cannabis cultivation.

Ho...

My guest this week is Dr. Heather Grab. Dr. Grab is a Senior Lecturer at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the School of Integrated Plant Science. In this role she teaches multiple courses focusing on Cannabis cultivation and processing and mentors students in Cornell’s Hemp Master of Professional Studies program. In collaboration with Cornell experts and industry partners, she delivers best practices for the cultivation and processing of Cannabis and Industrial Hemp to professionals in the Northeast and beyond. Prior to this position Heather was a USDA NIFA post-doctoral researcher in the Entomology Depa...

My guest this week is Rufus Akinrinlola. He is a Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He works in the research programs of UT Specialty Crops and Field Crop Pathology, focusing on Sustainable Disease and Integrated Pest Management Systems, where he’s co-mentored by Drs. Heather Kelly and Zachariah Hansen. Rufus has an MS degree in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a BS degree in Microbiology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria. His areas of interest include management of field and specialty cr...

My guest this week is Dr. Anna Paltseva.

As an international urban soil scientist and assistant professor, Dr. Anna Paltseva's mission is to educate communities about the critical importance of soil health in growing nutritious food, supporting healthy ecosystems, and helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gases.

Her expertise is in helping people identify and remedy soil contamination in urban gardens. She has a passion to help others to understand the impact of heavy metals on the health of soils and the best ways to improve soil quality.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast...

My guest this week is Dr. Jordan Zager. Jordan is an expert in natural product biosynthesis and chemical analysis of cannabis resin compounds. Dr. Zager earned his PhD from Washington State University, where his research set the stage for studying the regulatory events governing gene expression in cannabis and their effect on the biosynthesis of trichome-bound cannabinoids and terpenoids. Early in his career, Jordan set his sights on aggressively applying modern scientific methods to the medicinal and recreational cannabis industry and to bring cultivators the tools to become exceptional. Dr. Zager is now the CEO and co-founder of Dewey...

My guest this week is Lee Briese with Centrol Consulting.

Lee is an independent crop consultant from central North Dakota. He provides agronomic advice that helps farmers build customized systems to grow and manage crops profitably. He specializes in helping farmers adopt practices to protect and improve their soil and local environment including reduced till, notill, cover crops, crop rotation and increased plant and economic diversity.

You can find them online at CentrolTV.com. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-87-details-matter-an-ag-consultants-perspective-with-lee-briese

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For This week’s podcast I had the honor of interviewing Dr. Nadia Sabeh also known as Dr. Greenhouse.

She 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 indoo...

My guest this week is Dr. Jack Munz. Jack 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 also has a 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. Jack is n...

Our 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.  She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, landscapers and interiorscape companies.  She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business for over 21 years.

My guest this week is Dr. Abbey Wick. Abbey is a North Dakota State University Extension Soil Health Specialist and Associate Professor, and has experience working with farmers on soil health building practices like incorporating cover crops into rotation and transitioning to no-till systems.    Since 2012, she has had her hands in over 50,000 acres of soil and influenced management on over 200,000 acres of farmland in the northern plains just with the personal relationships she’s developed with farmers.  There are many other farmers she influences through her bi-weekly magazine articles and television segment along with discussion-based Extension programming.  She focuses on goal...

My guest this week is Dr. Kevin Mehr. Dr. Mehr has spent the last five years driving the development of large-scale micropropagation programs for cannabis in North America. Kevin received his Ph.D. in Genome Science and Technology from the University of British Columbia and translates this experience with genetics and plant science to every facet of operations and product innovation.

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This week’s podcast will be a bit different than my usual topics. As many of you know, there’s more to cultivation than just what happens in our gardens. Whether we like it or not, taxes and proper accounting are crucial to keeping your business afloat. I sat down with two CPAs, Betsy Morem and Mark Waller who have founded an accounting firm specializing in working with folks in the cannabis industry. We talk about some of the things to look out for and pitfalls to avoid so you can focus on cultivation.

Hoste...

My guest this week is Eleanor Kuntz. Eleanor is a trained herbalist and geneticist bridging the gap between traditional herbalism and modern science. She is the CEO and co-founder of LeafWorks Inc., botanical verification company using genetics to improve medicinal quality, sustainability, and transparency in the supply chain. She is also co-founder of Canndor, the People’s Herbarium, the first herbarium committed to documenting and preserving cannabis cultivars and varietals along with the collective knowledge gained through community engagement. This is her second time on the show and if you are interested in learning more about herbariums, we talk mo...

Our guest this week is Dr. Jim Barrett. Jim has a bachelor of science from Auburn University in Agricultural Sciences, a Masters of Science from Auburn University with an emphasis on Physiology of Vegetable Crops, and a pHd from Michigan State University with an emphasis on physiology of horticulture crops. He was a professor at the University of Florida from 1978-2016 with a focus on crop production in controlled environments. A major component of his work was evaluating Plant Growth Hormones, also knowns as PGRs and developing new application strategies for greenhouse crops. After retiring from the University, he...

Our guest this week is Tom Miles.

Tom is the president of T.R. Miles, Technical Consultants, Portland, Oregon, a biomass energy consulting firm, which designs, develops, installs, and commissions systems for processing wood, agricultural, and urban residues. Innovative biomass systems include pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion, sizing, drying, densification, handling, modification of boilers and gasifiers to improve efficiency and emissions, and systems to recycle nutrients. He has developed heat and power systems in developing countries. His knowledge of ash transformations in biomass led to recycling nutrients using pyrolysis of residues to biochar which can improve soil health and sequ...

Born and raised in Israel, Prof. Kapulnik received his doctorate in Soil Microbiology from the Hebrew University and as a Fulbright Fellow, completed his post-doctoral work at the University of California, Davis (1984-1986). He worked for more than 25 years as a Professor of Plant physiology and biotechnology at the Volcani Center, Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. His early work focused on the study of Plant-microorganism interactions, mainly in plant’s roots, and their impact on crop productivity. Later, he concentrated on identification and utilization of natural products produced by numerous plants species and their health benefit to human. Prof. Kapulnik ho...

Our guest today is Nelson Lindsley, of Poetry of Plants. You can check him out on Instagram under “poetryofplants” Nelson has been cultivating cannabis for over a decade and working in the industry for over two decades. An artist by heart and an innovator by trade, he has worked with the majority of leading grow room technology and techniques that are available on the current market and studied their application for efficient large scale cultivation. Over the last three years he has consulted on cultivation sites in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Pennsylvania and California.

After working with Nelson we h...

My guest this week is Rob Knechtel, founder of Black Swallow Living Soils. Although Rob’s life long interest in growing cannabis began in the late 60’s, he has spent the past 45 years in a completely unrelated industry designing, installing and marketing fireplaces. When the Canadian government announced approximately 5 years ago that they would be legalizing cannabis production, Rob, his wife Lou and son Nathan decided to start up Black Swallow Living Soil. 

Nathan runs the day to day operations with his team, and Rob along with his wife continue to concentrate on further building the Black Swall...

My guest this week is Dr. Cari Peters. She is the vice president at JR Peters and the formulator of all products and development of new fertilizer formulas that provide crop-specific solutions to growers nutritional issues. She has too many honors and accolades to list here, but I will put them up on the podcast page. Cari has a PhD in Plant Sciences  and a Masters of Science in Agronomy from the University of Maryland as well as a Bachelors of Science in Biology. She’s the 3rd generation of Peters in the family business which was founded over 72 yea...

My guest this week needs very little introduction. If you’ve ever studied lighting you’ve probably read some of his research. Bruce Bugbee is a professor at Utah State University and President of Apogee Instruments.  He is internationally known for his work with NASA to design food production systems for people living on Mars and has been a frequent speaker at conferences on indoor food production on Earth.  In 2011 he received the Governors Medal for Science from Utah Governor Gary Herbert. He has recorded several videos on photobiological principles; search for “bugbee agriculture”. Perhaps his pinnacle achievement is summarizin...

My guest this week is Bryant Mason of Soil Doctor Consulting. Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last three 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.

Link to podcast page

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Don Marshall has dedicated his life to teaching students about how plants grow and bridging the gap between botany and practical horticultural applications. Don is the founder of the Environmental Horticulture program at Lake Washington College, where he taught for over 40 years. 

In addition to teaching, Don is a Certified Professional Horticulturalist, ecoPro, and Certified Arborist. He owns and operates Plant Designs, a landscape design, installation and maintenance firm specializing in organic fine gardening. 

Don co-authored Home Landscaping, Northwest Region published by Creative Homeowner, now in its 4th printing.

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Virginia Emery is founder and CEO of Beta Hatch, a pioneering insect farming company that is industrializing insects for agriculture. Beta Hatch is fueled by a passion to see insects reach their true potential in our food systems. The company has grown to be internationally recognized for its scientific approach to scaling insect production and operates North America’s largest mealworm farm for animal feed production in Washington. Virginia is the country’s most innovative insect entrepreneur, recently recognized as a Visionary Grist 50 Fixer. Virginia has a PhD in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley, has been awarded over 20...

In this episode I interview Dr. Ben Higgins and he shares the results of the research he did at Gold Leaf Gardens that helped increase yields dramatically. We also discuss the importance of good research and development and how it can be used to make data-driven decisions.

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Suzanne Wainwright-Evans 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. She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, landscapers, and interiorscape companies.

Additionally, Suzanne is frequently published in trade magazines, teaches workshops and lectures professionally to industry groups. Her lectures use her extensive library of insect photos and macro i...

Delmond Marshall, inspired by his father, started the Flint Unity Farming Project to help and inspire the area youth in Flint, Michigan.

In 2014, officials in Flint switched the city's water supply to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure for the struggling city. In doing so, they unwittingly introduced lead-poisoned water into homes, in what would become a massive public-health crisis.

Without access to safe drinking water, the health of the residents of Flint quickly began to decline.

In 2016, Delmond Marshall started the Flint Unity Farming Project to offer hope and learning to...

Dr. Chris Hayes began his journey into biologicals while working on his PhD; then continued in the field as a scientist at Cornell University/NYSAES in Geneva, NY.  At Cornell, he worked on the strains of Trichoderma, T22 & G41, which would ultimately become the active ingredients in RootShield Plus.  He left Cornell approximately 25 years ago to help start BioWorks.  For the past quarter-century, he has worked in various areas within BioWorks with the ultimate goal of helping those interested in using biologicals to understand the do’s and don’ts to maximize the effectiveness of biologicals in programs to prevent pl...

Brian is a founding partner of Anderson Porter Design, Inc., an international practice focused on design and architecture for the cannabis industry. Anderson Porter Design provides strategy, technology, design, and thought leadership, built on 20 years as a general practice in Architecture. Since 2014 they are focused on buildings for plants: Controlled-Environmental Horticulture (CEH), Extraction / Manufacturing, and Retail Dispensaries.   Brian merges a RISD education in the craft tradition of making and designing objects with an analytic data-driven process to drive value along the cannabis supply chain. He has a Master's degree from Harvard and has been in practice since 1992. Anderson provides p...

Kelly came to B.I. in 2016 after a 17-year career in greenhouse ornamental and landscape pest management with a strong focus on biological controls and soft chemistry. Since joining the team in Redding, he’s worked in a wide variety of ornamental, food and hemp/cannabis crops developing bio control programs for a myriad of crop pests. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/copy-of-cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-63

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Kelly Vance came to Beneficial Insectary in 2016 after a 17-year career in greenhouse ornamental and landscape pest management with a strong focus on biological controls and soft chemistry. Since joining the team in Redding, he’s worked in a wide variety of ornamental, food and hemp/cannabis crops developing bio control programs for a myriad of crop pests. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-63

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Ladybugs are amazing insects and wonderful aphid predators. However, there are a ton of reasons why you should never buy them and why they shouldn't even be legal to sell. 

I was fortunate to get an expert who has been studying ladybugs and their ecology for decades.

Dr. J.P. Michaud is an insect ecologist specializing in biological control and other aspects of crop protection entomology.  He has a background in evolutionary ecology and many of his research endeavors are guided by the implications of evolutionary theory.  His interests include cultural and conservation approaches to bio...

Understanding how these soil tests are performed and what numbers you should be using is really important. Some numbers on these tests don't work for potting soils. Agronomist and Author Bill McKibben takes us through the Logan Labs tests and shares what you need to know when using a soil test with potting soils. SPOILER: It's not the same as agricultural soils and not all the numbers are accurate!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-61

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This episode is a bit different than my other episodes. With the upcoming Biocontrols Conference in Portland, Oregon next week, I wanted to interview a couple speakers and key attendees prior to the show. 

I caught up with Suzanne Wainwright Evans, to talk a bit about the cannabis aphid. I also interviewed John Sanderson who is a professor of entomology at Cornell University with over 30 years of experience in pest management experience on greenhouse crops. Ronald Valentin, the director of technical business for Bioworks, and Justin Magill, head grower at Legit Farm North.

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There's been little to no research on what nutrient disorders look like when analyzing leaf tissue on cannabis. Paul Cockson shares his recently published paper on the subject from North Carolina State University.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-59

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Why do we grow the cultivars (strains) that we do? There's a lot of mythology surrounding potency and the cannabis experience. Learn how scientists are using data to help determine why certain cultivars are more popular and how high THC is a product of prohibition and not enjoyment.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-58

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Deron is a horticultural scientist and the Director of Plant Science at Flowr in Kelowna, BC. He was the first person in North America to earn a PhD with research focused on cannabis production. Dr. Caplan has written and published several  peer-reviewed articles on cannabis production, focusing on irrigation, growing media, fertilization, and propagation. He has testified on cannabis production before the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and has provided expert commentary on cannabis for a variety of media outlets, including CBC, Nature, and Rolling Stone Magazine.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-57

Certifications within the Cannabis industry are a lot more complicated than one would think at first glance. Andrew Black is the Certified Kind Founder and Director. Andrew spent the past 11 years working for Oregon Tilth, one of the nation’s most trusted organic certification agencies. Andrew has worn many hats in organic certification, including Farm Program Manager, Inspector, Final Reviewer, Latin American Specialist, and Certification Officer. Andrew has inspected hundreds of farms and food processing facilities in the United States and Latin America and has made certification decisions for hundreds more. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-56

This week’s podcast is with David Bronner, CEO aka Cosmic Engagement Officer for Dr. Bronners, the top selling brand of natural soaps in North America. Not only do they make the best soap, but they’ve dedicated themselves to advocacy around our food supply, regenerative organic agriculture, animal welfare, fair labor practices, and responsible integration of cannabis and psychedelic medicine into American and global culture. In my opinion, this is one of the best examples of how a company can operate ethically and sustainably in today’s society and it was an honor to spend this time with David...

I sit down on the other side of the microphone this week with John Z and cover a wide variety of listener questions ranging from soil microbes to compost teas to re-amending living soils and much more.

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