Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

Episode 171: Heavy Metals & Living Soil: How to Pass Compliance Testing with Greg Larson

How do you maintain a high-fertility organic living soil program in states with near-zero tolerance for heavy metals? In this episode, Tad Hussey (KISS Organics) sits do

Episode 170: Unlocking Soil Potential: Dr. Colin Bell on Microbial Consortia, Rhizosphere Ecology, and Mammoth P

Key Takeaways & Highlights Mammoth P Relaunch & Product Updates The Return: After stepping away in late 2022 and spending three years working with the Microbial Mass Pr

Episode 169: Uncovering THC Potency Variability with Cannabis ChemLab

This episode covers the key scientific drivers behind lab result variability, from instrument calibration down to field sampling practices. Understanding Reference Stand

Episode 168: Is It Really "Bad Weed"? The Science and Data of CHS with Dr. Codi Peterson

The Reality of CHS and the 1,100+ Patient Study Dr. Peterson highlights the scope of his landmark survey, which gathered data from 1,134 CHS sufferers. The study reveals

Episode 167: Genetic Degradation in Propagation: Why Clones Lose Vigor Over Time

The Mechanics of Genetic Drift Plants are natural genetic mosaics. As they grow and divide over time, typos naturally accumulate in their DNA code, which are known as som

Episode 166: Debunking Cannabis Cultivation Myths with Dr. Deron Caplan

In this conversation, host Tad Hussey (KIS Organics) and Dr. Deron Caplan (CannaCribs Horticulture Consulting) discuss the intersection of agricultural science and commer

Episode 165: Boosting Yields 50% with a 13-Hour Photoperiod? Debunking Cannabis Science with Dr. Youbin Zheng

In this episode, we discuss: Bridging the Genetic Gap: Looking critically at how horticultural research transfers between high-THC cultivars and industrial hemp. The 13

Episode 164: Mycotoxins & Microclimates: The Science of Cannabis Pathology with Dr. Nicole Gauthier

o keep the audience engaged while highlighting the technical value of the episode, this version focuses on the "why" and the high-level takeaways, leaving the "how" for t

Episode 163: Concrete Botany: Reconnecting with the Living World in the Age of Disturbance with Joey Santore

Key Takeaways & Discussion Highlights The Railroad Roots: Joey’s transition from a Union Pacific engineer to a "vigilante botanist." He discusses the influence of Carl Sa

Episode 162: Dips, Sprays, & Phytotoxicity: Mastering Oils in Cannabis Cultivation with Julie Graesch

Why can't you just use canola oil from your kitchen to kill spider mites? If you’ve ever wondered about the true science behind oil-based pesticides, this episode is a de

Episode 161: The Secret Lives of Pathogens with Dr. Zamir Punja

Key Takeaways for Cultivators The Week 3 Strategy: Preventive sprays for Botrytis must occur when the flowers are still small and "open." Once the bud swells (Weeks 6+),

Foundations Series #5: Reading the Soil: Agronomy, Soil Testing & Crop Health with Lee Briese

Key Topics & Notes • Why experienced crop consultants rely heavily on chemical soil analysis for making management decisions • The limitations of relying solely on biol

Foundations Series #4: What's Your Garden Missing? Cracking the Code of Applied Horticulture with Don Marshall

Key Takeaways: Botany vs. Hacks: Moving past "quick fixes" to understand the biological lens of plant science. The Limiting Factor: Learning to identify the specific en

Foundations Series #3: The Soil Food Web: Science, Dogma, and Controlled Ecosystems with Tad Hussey

The Underground Economy: Carbon as Currency Biological Gold: Why photosynthesis isn't just about plant growth—it’s about minting the "carbon currency" required to hire a

Foundations Series #2: Lean Farming & Efficient Cultivation Systems with Ben Hartman (Originally Episode 20)

This episode is part of the Foundations of Soil & Plant Science series — a selection of conversations that continue to influence how I approach soil health, plant perform

Foundations Series #1: Silicon in Plant Health & Stress Resistance with Dr. Wendy Zellner (Originally Episode 98)

My guest for this episode is Dr. Wendy Zellner. Dr. Zellner received her doctorate from the University of Toledo in 2012, where she trained in molecular and cellular bio

Episode 155: Entomopathogenic Fungi Explained: Blastospores, Beauveria, and Smarter IPM with Julie Graesch

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

Episode 154: Is Seed Based Cultivation the Future of Cannabis? - with Dr. Matthew Indest

n this conversation with plant scientist and commercial cultivation strategist Dr. Matthew Indest, we explore the emerging frontier of seed-based cannabis production and

Episode 153: Rethinking the Basics: pH, Water, Light & Nutrients with Bryant Mason

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

Episode 152: Light, Spectrum, and Plant Signals — A Practical Guide with Dr. David Hawley part 2

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