Different Leaf: the Podcast

In this episode of the Different Leaf the Podcast, photographers Sam Lee and Hunter Abrams discuss their long-running creative partnership and their approach to shooting one of the book’s most striking visual stories. Having worked with leading outlets including Vogue, Interview Magazine, The New York Times, and GQ, Lee and Abrams reflect on how they first met, how their collaborative process evolved, and what it means to build trust behind the camera. 

The conversation centers around their Different Leaf photo shoot with André De Shields — Tony Award–winning actor, singer, and cultural icon — whose presence, movement, and history informed every frame. They break down the role of styling and wardrobe, and how thoughtful choices allowed De Shields’ creative energy to lead without overpowering the image itself. Lee and Abrams also speak to Bob Faust and Nick Cave’s original vision for the book, and how they translated that vision into photographs that expand the narrative while honoring its spirit—adding texture, rhythm, and humanity to a world built on art, cannabis, and storytelling.

In this episode of the Different Leaf: the Podcast, host Brit Smith talks with curator Denise Markonish as she unpacks the vision behind the inaugural book hitting shelves in Summer 2026. Drawing on her extensive background in contemporary art — including her current work as the Martin Friedman Chief Curator at the Madison Square Park Conservancy and previously at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA) — Markonish reflects on what has shaped her curatorial approach and why subversive artists feel especially vital in today’s political and cultural landscape.

She shares what drew her to invite Nick Cave and Bob Faust to guest edit the book, highlighting the rigor, playfulness, and social awareness that defines their artistic practices. The episode traces the early conceptual framework for the book project, following the journey of Mr. Karen, an other-worldly character created by author Jonathan Lethem who moves through Different Leaf’s richly layered world of art, cannabis, community, and storytelling.

In this episode, host Brit Smith sits down with Chicago-based artists Bob Faust and Nick Cave to talk about their roles as guest editors of the upcoming book. Drawing from decades-long careers across visual art, performance, and community-centered practice, Faust and Cave share how their distinct backgrounds shaped an initial vision rooted in storytelling, collaboration, and movement. They unpack how the character of Mr. Karen serves as both narrator and guide, leading readers through the book’s shifting moods and ideas while anchoring its larger world. The conversation also highlights the many photographers, writers, and artists who expand the project, each contributing their own perspective to the book’s layered narrative. Throughout the conversation, cannabis and lifestyle emerge not as trends, but as cultural touchstones — woven naturally into a broader discussion about creativity, process, and the ways Faust and Cave believe art reflects how we live.

Different Leaf: The Podcast is back with a new season and a fresh direction. In this first episode, host Brit Smith talks with Different Leaf Publisher Michael Kusek about how Different Leaf is evolving—from a redesigned magazine with guest editors to a renewed focus on cannabis through the lens of art, music, and fashion. Start listening to hear what's next.

It's here! Our final podcast episode before we go on hiatus! In case you missed the big announcement in the fall 2023 issue of Different Leaf Magazine; "We're saying goodbye -- for now."

This week, host Brit Smith sits down with Different Leaf CEO/Publisher Michael Kusek to talk about
what his Editor's Note on page 11 announcing the hiatus means for the future of Different Leaf.

They talk about the changes Michael has seen in the cannabis industry and the publishing industry over the past five years, what the hiatus means for our magazine and podcast, and what readers and listeners can expect when we return in mid-2024.

Brit also has our annual "high holiday gift guide" with Different Leaf magazine’s merch and more writer John Arvanitis. You can read more about all John's chosen products and experiences in the fall 2023 issues of Different Leaf Magazine, available at DifferentLeaf.com

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Thanks to everyone who has worked on this iteration of DL the Podcast, including:

Editor-in-Chief; Michael Kusek
Production Manager; Jen Hayes
Audio Producer; Aleksandra van der Westhuizen
Head of Audio Production; Gretchen Kuhsel
Musicial Duo; HomeBody

See you all in 2024!

If you've ever walked into a cannabis dispensary and felt overwhelmed with options, you are not alone. Around 2/3 of cannabis consumers consider THC potency the leading factor when purchasing pot.

While that doesn't tell us much about the experience we might have, there are plenty of things beyond THC and price that we can consider when picking products at our local pot shop.

This week, host Brit Smith talks to the staff at Boston's Rooted In dispensary, to learn how professional cannabis purchasers make their selections for the shelves, how cannabis consumers can hone in on their most enjoyable experiences, and how we can try new products without breaking the bank.

The Rooted In team discusses the range of prices we often see in cannabis flower, the questions curious consumers might want to ask when they get to a dispensary register, and the best ways to test your local cannabis options for cheap or free. Then Brit goes to Botera dispensary in Franklin to try out what she learned about picking the perfect product.

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Get your issue of Different Leaf magazine now at DifferentLeaf.com

Between socializing, cooking, traveling, and spending, the holiday season can be a tough time to chill out. And then, of course, some of us have kids to watch, and those kids are also watching us.

Thankfully, cannabis is a great tool to help adults enjoy the holiday season, even if we’re in charge of children. And this generation of parents is becoming much more open about discussing cannabis with their kids. They use electronic dab-rigs. They wear smoking jackets. They tell their children why they can't touch their medicine.

In this episode, host Brit Smith sits down with three moms who use marijuana, to talk about the best ways to consume pot during the holidays when there are little ones around.

Brit hears from cannabis consultant Cara Crabb-Burnham, Bountiful Farms sales manager Amy Fintonis, and massage therapist Kristi about their preferred ways to consume around their kiddos and their advice for parents and guardians who want to take the edge off while staying focused on the family.

The moms discuss the benefits of concentrates and vaping over smoke, how to talk to young people about why adults might smoke cannabis, use weed during postpartum, and give advice for overcoming the stigma associated with being a parent who uses pot.

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It's the end of the year, the perfect time to indulge in some much-deserved rest and relaxation. And with so many spas now offering CBD-infused facials and massages, we can truly relax to the max this holiday season.

So does topical CBD actually help our bodies more fully relax?
Can a cannabis-infused facial benefit skin more than a regular facial does?
And how else are spas incorporating cannabis to help their guests truly chill?

To kick off the holidays, host Brit Smith and production manager Jen Hayes hit the road for the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, to try the nation's first seed-to-spa experience; The Windham Spa (thewindhamspa.com).

First, Brit and Jen talk with spa owners Antonia and Chris Schreiber about their decision to grow and produce their own CBD-infused massage oil for clients in Windham, NY. They also discuss the long-term benefits of using cannabis-infused skincare and wellness products, and the crossover between spa culture and cannabis culture.

Then, Brit and Jen experience The Windham Spa's Entourage Package, which includes a selection of infused edibles, a CBD foot soak, a massage with oil made from their hemp plants, and hemp-focused facials made with local products by MASK.

Get your fall 2023 issue of Different Leaf magazine at DifferentLeaf.com

Follow us on social media @DifferentLeaf and find host Brit Smith @BritTheBritish

Stock up on some dope DL merch for the holidays at xDifferentLeaf.com

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that covers a diverse group of conditions. Since it's a spectrum, what it means to be diagnosed with autism varies widely. So do the experiences of autistic people and those who try cannabis and CBD for their health issues.

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to two autistic people about their experiences trying cannabis and CBD for common problems for those on the spectrum, like anxiety, focus, masking, sensory processing, and physical discomfort.

First, Brit speaks with California-based writer Ian Donley, who penned the essay in the back of the fall 2023 issue of Different Leaf magazine, entitled; "I'm Autistic, This is What It's Like Getting High."

Then, Brit chats with her younger brother, musician Spud Smith, about how cannabis extracts have impacted his ASD-related issues like anxiety and sensory overload, and his symptoms of Tourette's.

Get the fall 2023 issue of Different Leaf magazine at DifferentLeaf.com or find your nearest seller at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

Follow us on social media @DifferentLeaf and @BritTheBritish

Get your DL merch now at xDifferentLeaf.com

CBN, CBG, THCV, THCA... beyond the famed cannabinoids THC and CBD, we're seeing a surge of offerings known as minor cannabinoids. More and more people are swearing by these plant's so-called minor molecules to help with issues like sleep, appetite, and energy.

So what’s the science behind all of it? Why does the plant make these chemicals? How do we extract and use them? And what does the research say about how minor cannabinoids could help better our health?

In this episode, host Brit Smith speaks with Natalia Lopez, director of cultivation at Thai Stick in Bangkok, one of Thailand’s first cannabis producers. Natalia explains the science behind plant cannabinoid production, how growers get plants to produce specific minor cannabinoids, and what research says about their effects on our bodies to date.

Brit also talks to John Nathan, CEO of Bay State Extracts, Massachusetts' premier company specializing in minor and rare cannabinoids. John discusses his experience finding minor cannabinoids helpful alongside THC and CBD, how his company sources and manufactures all kinds of rare and minor cannabinoids from CBC to CBN, and what kinds of effects his consumers are reporting.

Get your fall 2023 issue of Different Leaf the magazine now at DifferentLeaf.com or find your local in-person seller at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

Follow us on social media @DifferentLeaf and @BritTheBritish

Check out our dope new merch line at xDifferentLeaf.com