Kris Uhlhorn, better known as “The Bongfather,” is the founder and head artist behind Special K Glass, where he’s been creating one-of-a-kind, hand-blown glass since 1998.

In this episode, we get into Kris’s nearly three decades in glassblowing and cannabis culture, how Special K Glass grew from a modest operation into a recognizable name in functional glass art, and what makes soft glass such a unique medium to work with.

We talk about the balance between art and engineering, the techniques Kris has spent decades developing, and the tiny details that can make the difference between an ordinary smoking piece and something people want to collect. We also get into what makes Special K’s approach to glassblowing different, the role color and creativity play in his work, and the techniques Kris has developed over decades behind the torch.

From there, we dig into sustainability and Special K’s use of 99% recycled glass, some of the strangest and most memorable pieces Kris has created over the years, the evolution of cannabis culture, and what it’s like knowing that some pretty famous Hollywood cannabis enthusiasts have become fans of his work.

A conversation about cannabis, craftsmanship, creativity, sustainability, and what happens when something designed to be functional becomes a piece of art.

Zev Paiss has spent more than four decades working in sustainability as an educator, consultant, author, and advocate, with a career spanning land use, urban agriculture, renewable energy, resilient local economies, and industrial hemp. He was also part of the early days of Colorado’s modern hemp movement, serving as a hemp expert witness and becoming involved with the early National Hemp Association at a time when the industry was still finding its footing in the United States.

In this conversation, we look back at those early years and what it was actually like to advocate for hemp before the industry we know today existed. Zev shares stories from Colorado’s emerging hemp movement, his experience working as an expert witness, and the people and organizations working to build legitimacy around the plant during those formative years.

We also take a broader look at sustainability in 2026 and some of the realities that can get lost behind the word itself. After decades spent working across different areas of sustainability, Zev brings a long-term perspective to what has changed, where progress has been made, and what building genuinely resilient communities and economies can look like moving forward.

More recently, Zev has brought many of these ideas into his work as an author of what he calls “positive future mysteries.” We talk about his concept of a protopian future, one that is neither utopian nor defined by collapse, but instead imagines a realistic path toward something better.

From the early hemp movement to the realities of sustainability today, this conversation is about what we have learned, what still needs work, and how we might think differently about the future we are building.

Bernardo Duque Carreira is the co-founder and CEO of 8000Kicks, a company on a mission to bring hemp back into the mainstream through sustainable footwear. What began as a late-night conversation with friends grew into a global brand built alongside his grandmother, Otília, whose decades of textile experience helped shape both the company and its commitment to quality.

In this conversation, we explore why hemp disappeared from everyday life, what our ancestors understood about quality and craftsmanship that we've forgotten, and what it really takes to build a business around one of the world's oldest natural fibers. Bernardo shares the challenges of rebuilding a hemp supply chain, changing consumer perceptions, and competing with fast fashion in a world driven by convenience.

We also discuss Portugal's rich history with hemp, the influence his grandmother has had throughout his journey, and why he remains optimistic that hemp will one day become a first-choice fiber rather than an alternative. It's a conversation about entrepreneurship, sustainability, craftsmanship, and the long road to changing the way we think about the products we use every day.

Stacy Moore has spent much of her life helping people. Long before founding Healing Harbors, she served as a Coast Guard helicopter mechanic in Alaska, accompanying rescue missions before returning home to Maine to become a caregiver. It was through caring for a stroke patient that an unexpected path unfolded, one that would eventually lead her into the world of cannabis, hemp, and natural wellness.

In this conversation, we explore Stacy's journey from military service to caregiving, and how one patient's recovery completely changed her perspective on cannabis and CBD. We discuss the moments that led her to create Healing Harbors, what she's learned from years of working directly with people seeking natural relief, and how those experiences shaped her approach to hemp wellness.

We also talk about the realities of building a business in the hemp industry and the role compassion has played throughout her career.

Whether you're interested in hemp, caregiving, or simply enjoy hearing stories of people driven by purpose, this conversation offers a look at the unexpected path that took Stacy from Coast Guard rescue missions to founding Healing Harbors.

Oleg Maryasis entered the cannabis industry in 2012, beginning with vaporizer technology before shifting his focus to cannabinoids, education, and the science behind cannabis. Today, he serves as Director of Education at Lock and Key Remedies, Director of Education and Compliance at NYCBUD, a licensed New York dispensary, and earned his Master's Degree in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2024. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Oleg also hopes to use his education and experience to help advance the future of medical cannabis and hemp in his home country.

In this conversation, we explore the evolution of both the cannabis industry and our own relationship with the plant. From the early days when the conversation centered largely around THC and getting high to today's growing emphasis on education, science, and responsible use, Oleg shares how his own journey, including using cannabis to come off prescription medications after 15 years, completely changed his perspective on what the plant is capable of.

We also discuss New York's rapidly evolving cannabis market, why education is more important than ever, and how the industry can continue to mature without losing the culture and community that helped build it. Oleg offers a perspective that blends real-world industry experience, scientific education, and a thoughtful look at where cannabis is headed next.

Whether you've followed cannabis for decades or are simply curious about where the industry is going, this conversation explores how the plant, and the conversation surrounding it, continues to evolve.

Fresh off a trip to Mary Jane Berlin, now the world's largest cannabis trade show and conference with more than 85,000 attendees from around the globe, I've been reflecting on one of the things that always stands out at events like this: community. As cannabis continues to evolve through research, policy reform, medical programs, and expanding markets around the world, it's easy to focus on the headlines. But at the center of it all are still people sharing stories, exchanging ideas, and building connections across cultures, languages, and borders.

That spirit reminds me of the Cardinal Rules of the Cypher, shared with me years ago by Coach Mike, whose full episode of Apples in Winter will be released soon. A cypher is a gathering, a circle where people come together to share stories, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. In many cannabis communities, it often includes the passing of the plant, but the idea is simple: everyone contributes, everyone learns, and everyone has a place.

While in Germany, I found myself sharing these rules with some of the new friends I met along the way and realized they were too good to wait for the full episode. In this special release, Coach Mike shares five of the ten Cardinal Rules of the Cypher.

David Sergi is a Texas-based attorney who has spent decades working at the intersection of hemp, cannabis, and regulatory law. In this episode, we unpack the legal battles shaping the future of hemp, from the high-profile fight unfolding in Texas to the broader questions surrounding THC definitions, federal oversight, enforcement actions, and regulatory uncertainty across the United States.

We also discuss David's involvement in a federal lawsuit challenging the DEA over a rule that bans the hemp-derived cannabinoid HHC. The groups involved argue the DEA exceeded its authority and violated the intent of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing low levels of THC.

David shares his perspective on what's actually happening in Texas, why the state has become a focal point in the hemp debate, what is at stake for businesses and consumers, and how ongoing litigation could influence policy far beyond state lines. We also discuss international approaches to regulation, common misconceptions about hemp, where the industry has gotten things wrong, and what businesses should be watching most closely in the year ahead.

Whether you're deeply involved in the industry or simply trying to make sense of the headlines, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the most important legal and policy discussions facing hemp today.

Micaela Machado is a sustainable designer, hemp building advocate, and artist whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, natural materials, and environmentally conscious building.

This conversation explores hemp as a building material, what makes it so unique, and the growing momentum behind hemp construction. We also discuss the incredible projects Micaela is involved in through her work in sustainable design and green home builds, along with her background in art and sculpture, the spark that first drew her toward hemp, and how those creative foundations evolved into a career centered around sustainable design and regenerative construction.

Micaela graduated from The University of Arizona with a degree in Sculpture and Business Management. After years working in California with Cemrock as an artistic fabricator, she returned to Arizona to earn her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, a path that ultimately led her deeper into hemp building and green home construction.

She is the qualifying party for Old Pueblo Hemp Co.’s General Residential Contractor’s License, current President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, Arizona Chapter, and a member of the United States Hemp Building Association.

John Roulac is the founder of Nutiva, one of the earliest companies to help bring hemp foods into the mainstream in the United States. Over the course of several decades, his work has spanned entrepreneurship, regenerative agriculture, environmental advocacy, policy, and media, including serving as an executive producer of the film Kiss the Ground. More recently, he’s focused on rethinking everyday consumer products through his company Coco Clean.

In this conversation, we discuss the early days of hemp in America, what it was like fighting for legitimacy in an industry that existed far outside the mainstream, and the legal battle that led John to sue the U.S. government to help keep hemp foods legal. We also get into regenerative agriculture, environmental health, consumer products, and the progression of his advocacy over time.

This conversation moves through entrepreneurship, conviction, public perception, and the importance of staying rooted in genuine passion and truth, even when the broader culture, industry, or political climate may be pushing against it.

Attorney David Bush has practiced law for more than 34 years and is widely considered one of, if not the first, hemp attorneys in the United States. Having represented both cannabis and hemp clients through major periods of industry change, David offers a rare firsthand perspective on the early days of cannabis legalization, the emergence of hemp regulations, and the rapid rise of the Colorado hemp boom.

In this conversation, we discuss what it was like navigating industries that were being built in real time, often without clear legal frameworks or public understanding. David reflects on the evolution of cannabis and hemp from fringe industries to major economic and cultural forces, along with the risks, opportunities, and challenges that came with that transformation.

This conversation moves through business, law, resilience, shifting public perception, and the strange reality of witnessing entire industries evolve across multiple decades of change.