Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

Tad Hussey

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 organic growing from a science based perspective and draw in top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. If you want to hear the latest in growing technology and methods, this is the place.. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast is a show about cannabis growing. The podcast interviews leaders in the horticulture industry. Through science, the show explores the latest research in cannabis production. Hosts talk to leaders in the industry, like growers, scientists, and company founders.

Tad Hussey hosts the show. He is the owner of KIS Organics, an abbreviation for "keep it simple." The company specializes in selling organic gardening products. Tad has a passion for organic horticulture and sustainable cannabis farming. In this podcast, he talks to experts in the farming field. Guests share their expertise and discuss new research on growing the cannabis plant.

Each podcast episode features one guest who discusses their research. In one episode, Dr. Colin Bell speaks about the role of microbes in cannabis growing. He is the co-inventor of the microbial supplement Mammoth P. In another episode, Dr. Jack Munz talks about viruses in hemp. He has over ten years of experience in molecular genetics. Agriculture consultant Nelson Lindsley shares techniques for better plant growth. He is the cofounder of Beanstalk Agriculture.

Suzanne Wainwright Evans, an entomologist, shares advice for pest control and biomanagement. She's often referred to as "The Bug Lady" for her notable work in pest control. Other podcast guests include Dr. Ben Higgins, Eleanor Kuntz, and Jeff Lowenfels. Episodes educate listeners on creating better plant health. Important topics include sustainability and respecting nature.

The podcast might be best suited to listeners who already have some background in cannabis cultivation. Each episode assumes basic knowledge about cannabis plants and cannabinoids. Tad is a welcoming host. He shows his scientific background through thoughtful and precise questions. The show is a good resource for cannabis industry professionals. It showcases industry leaders and promotes intriguing new ideas.

New episodes come out once or twice a month. Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast episodes are around an hour long.

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Episode 130: Understanding Water Quality with Les Evans

Episode 130: Understanding Water Quality with Les Evans

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.

Episodes

Episode 130: Understanding Water Quality with Les Evans

Episode 130: Understanding Water Quality with Les Evans

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.

Episode 129: Going Vertical With Living Soils With Chris Castle

Episode 129: Going Vertical With Living Soils With Chris Castle

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.

Episode 128: Tips and Tricks from a Commercial Facility with Matthew Butters

Episode 128: Tips and Tricks from a Commercial Facility with Matthew Butters

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!

Episode 127: Flushing and Photoperiod Research with Micheal Alden

Episode 127: Flushing and Photoperiod Research with Micheal Alden

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!

Episode 125: The Latest in Biocontrols with Suzanne Wainwright Evans

Episode 125: The Latest in Biocontrols with Suzanne Wainwright Evans

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.

Episode 124: Cannabis Nutrition with Bryant Mason part 2

Episode 124: Cannabis Nutrition with Bryant Mason part 2

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!

Episode 123: Cannabis Nutrition with Bryant Mason part 1

Episode 123: Cannabis Nutrition with Bryant Mason part 1

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!

Episode 122: Supplementary Podcast #2 - Mycorrhizal Fungi

Episode 122: Supplementary Podcast #2 - Mycorrhizal Fungi

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.

Episode 120: Heavy Metal Contamination in Cannabis with Robert Thomas

Episode 120: Heavy Metal Contamination in Cannabis with Robert Thomas

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).

Episode 119: Organic Microbial Solutions to Propagation with Victoria Holden and Charles Smith

Episode 119: Organic Microbial Solutions to Propagation with Victoria Holden and Charles Smith

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!

Episode 118: Supplemental Podcast 1, The Soil Food Web

Episode 118: Supplemental Podcast 1, The Soil Food Web

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.

Episode 117: Cover Crops and Soil Testing with Steve Cantwell part 2

Episode 117: Cover Crops and Soil Testing with Steve Cantwell part 2

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!

Episode 116: Soil Food Web, IPM, and Sustainable Cultivation with Steve Cantwell part 1

Episode 116: Soil Food Web, IPM, and Sustainable Cultivation with Steve Cantwell part 1

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!

Episode 115: The Latest Research on Hop Latent Viroid with Dr. Jack Munz

Episode 115: The Latest Research on Hop Latent Viroid with Dr. Jack Munz

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!

Episode 114: Microbial Ecology in Cannabis with Dr. Colin Bell

Episode 114: Microbial Ecology in Cannabis with Dr. Colin Bell

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!

Episode 113: The Importance of SOPs with Cassandra Maffey

Episode 113: The Importance of SOPs with Cassandra Maffey

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!

Episode 112: Microbial Solutions for Plant Pathogens with Dr. Michael Brownbridge

Episode 112: Microbial Solutions for Plant Pathogens with Dr. Michael Brownbridge

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!

Episode 111: Common Cultivation Questions with Brandon Hudson

Episode 111: Common Cultivation Questions with Brandon Hudson

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!

Episode 110: Research on Powdery Mildew and Other Pathogens with Dr Nicole Gauthier

Episode 110: Research on Powdery Mildew and Other Pathogens with Dr Nicole Gauthier

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!

Episode 109: Nutrient Analysis and Tissue Testing with Dr. Cari Peters

Episode 109: Nutrient Analysis and Tissue Testing with Dr. Cari Peters

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).