Inside Cultivation

Watch the latest Inside Cultivation episode to discover how regenerative organic farming is reshaping commercial cannabis—and why one California company refused to compromise, even when the industry did.

Eljay sits down with Darren Story, Co-Founder and CFO of Coastal Sun, California's largest regenerative organic cannabis producer. 

From rebuilding abandoned greenhouses to helping create one of the state's leading OCAL-certified brands, Darren shares the philosophy, challenges, and long-term thinking behind growing cleaner cannabis.
In this insightful episode, you'll discover:

• Why regenerative organic cultivation is about building healthier plants—not relying on more inputs
  
  
• How stronger soil biology naturally reduces pest pressure and improves plant resilience
  
  
• The real challenges of scaling organic cannabis production commercially
  
  
• Why Coastal Sun believes quality and affordability can exist together
  
  
• How OCAL certification is educating consumers about cleaner cannabis
  
  
• Why cultivating for the long term beats chasing short-term profits
  
  
• The surprising similarities between organic cannabis and premium food production
  
  
• How beneficial insects, healthy soil, and biodiversity replace traditional chemical approaches
  
  
• Why educating retailers and consumers remains one of the industry's biggest challenges
  
  
• Darren's advice for growers looking to build businesses that last for generations—not just market cycles
  
  

Whether you're cultivating at home, managing a commercial facility, or simply curious about where the cannabis industry is headed, this conversation offers valuable insights into the future of sustainable cultivation.

Watch now and discover why regenerative agriculture isn't just better for the environment—it may also be the future of premium cannabis.
Reply and let us know your biggest takeaway.

Coastal Sun's Website:
https://www.coastalsunfarm.com/

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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

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Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
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In this episode of Inside Cultivation, host Eljay sits down with cultivation consultant JJ Cross, a grower with 26 years of hands-on experience helping commercial cannabis facilities improve efficiency, increase profitability, and solve the problems that hold growers back.

From legacy cultivation to large-scale commercial operations, JJ has worked with facilities across the United States and around the world. Together, they dive into the costly mistakes many growers continue to make—and the practical changes that can dramatically improve yields, workflow, and long-term success.

In this episode, you'll learn:
🌱 The biggest mistake quietly hurting commercial grow profitability
🌱 Why more plants don't always mean more money
🌱 How proper scheduling can transform an entire cultivation facility
🌱 Why fresh eyes often spot problems growers overlook
🌱 The difference between growing with passion and operating professionally
🌱 How ego can become one of the biggest obstacles to success
🌱 Environmental mistakes that lead to deficiencies, mold, and poor plant performance
🌱 Why reducing plant counts can actually increase yields and ROI
🌱 How even experienced growers must continue adapting as the industry evolves

Whether you're a home grower, commercial cultivator, consultant, or simply passionate about cannabis cultivation, this conversation is packed with real-world insights earned through nearly three decades in the industry.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss future conversations with the people shaping the cultivation industry.

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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

The cannabis industry was built by legacy growers… so why are so many of them disappearing?

In this powerful episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Lorien Curran from POET (Producer Owners of the Emerald Triangle) to talk about the harsh reality facing small cannabis farms — and the fight to keep craft cultivation alive.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
🌱 Why legacy growers went from $3,500/lb to struggling at $250/lb
🌱 How POET’s co-op model is helping farmers survive
🌱 Why sun-grown flower is reaching insane potency levels outdoors
🌱 The truth about compliance costs crushing small farms
🌱 How mega-farms changed the cannabis landscape
🌱 Why the Emerald Triangle could become the “Napa Valley of cannabis”
🌱 The connection between sustainability, quality, and medicinal value

Plus, Lorien shares insights from her work with Woody Harrelson’s The Woods and why consumers are beginning to care more about how cannabis is grown.

🎙️ Watch now and join one of the most important conversations happening in cannabis today.

🌐 https://www.poetflower.com/

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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

Tune into the latest episode of Inside Cultivation for a sharp entrepreneurial story in the cannabis space — and a real look at what most operators still get wrong about pre-rolls.

BigMike sits down with Adam King — entrepreneur, podcaster, political activist, and long-time cultivator — who invented a cutting-edge rolling machine that changed how pre-rolls are made.

In this eye-opening conversation, you’ll discover:

• The shadowy force aiming to control the cannabis industry from behind the scenes
• How Adam smuggled an illegal rolling machine into the U.S. — and why Big Tobacco had it banned
• Why the 8mm form factor is the “key to the kingdom” for pre-rolls
• How his machine produces 3.5 million joints a year — with a breakthrough that eliminates relighting
• The three ways to machine-roll a joint — and why only one actually works for cannabis
• Why some legacy growers are thriving while others are struggling — and the lasting impact of Cannageddon
• How operators can push back and level the playing field

…and much more.

If you’re in cultivation, manufacturing, or just want to understand where the industry is really headed — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

👉 Watch now and hear the inside story most growers have never been told.
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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

In this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Shane Ponto, co-founder of Maven Genetics—one of California’s most respected cannabis genetics and cultivation brands.

What started as a passion for exceptional flower has grown into a fully vertically integrated operation with more than 150 employees, global demand, and a reputation built on quality. But behind every winning strain is a process most people never see.

In this conversation, Shane pulls back the curtain on how Maven discovers, selects, and develops strains that stand out in one of the most competitive markets in cannabis.

You’ll hear about:
• The pheno-hunting process Maven uses to identify winning genetics — and why it can take up to a year before a strain ever reaches the market
• What Shane noticed about French Laundry that told him it was special before he even smoked it
• Why the curing process is everything, and how Maven uses a 60/40 climate-controlled method to protect terpene expression
• The one handling mistake that destroys flower quality (and why many teams still make it)
• How vertical integration gives Maven an edge most cannabis brands simply can’t replicate
• The two strains Shane is most excited about for 2026
• The difference between building a real cannabis brand and just chasing hype
• Why certain legacy strains may be making a serious comeback

If you're serious about cultivation, genetics, and building a lasting cannabis brand, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Watch the full episode and subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of cannabis.

https://www.mavenmvn.com/home

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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

In this special episode of Inside Cultivation, the script is flipped — BigMike sits in the hot seat for the first time.
Interviewed by ACT specialist Eljay, BigMike reveals the raw, unfiltered truth behind the journey that built Advanced Nutrients, the world’s most trusted cannabis nutrient company.

From a childhood shaped by pain…
…to scientific breakthroughs that changed the industry…
…to life on the run under multiple aliases…
…to founding a global powerhouse…

This is the full story — told with zero filters.

In this episode, BigMike opens up about:
🔥 The childhood trauma that forged his relentless drive
🌱 The cloning breakthrough in 1983 that started everything
🕵️‍♂️ What life was really like as a fugitive
⛓️ The prison sentence that nearly ended it all
🌿 How the industry’s “Good Ol’ Boys” tried to shut him down
💰 Why they dodged his million-dollar head-to-head grow-off challenge
🧠 The self-awareness journey that turned an outlaw into a leader
🚀 What young entrepreneurs must understand about building something real

This isn’t your typical success story.
It’s the truth about building a legacy when the world bets against you.

Watch the interview now — and discover the story only BigMike could tell.
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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

How did Texas build a $10 billion recreational market — without legalization?

In this eye-opening episode of Inside Cultivation, host BigMike sits down with Colton Luther, commercial cultivator and host of the Texas Growers Podcast, to uncover how the Lone Star State quietly turned hemp into a booming cannabis economy.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How Texas transformed hemp into a $10B industry
• The political chess game behind repeated hemp bans
• Why Governor Abbott extended his private meeting with Colton
• How 200,000+ sq. ft. of indoor cultivation and hundreds of outdoor acres operate legally
• The truth behind the “8,000 dispensaries” claim
• What’s fueling growth projections to $20B by 2030
• Key lessons for cultivators nationwide

🔥 Discover how Texas bypassed traditional legalization to create America’s most surprising cannabis success story.

Watch now and join the conversation — we want to hear your take!
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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

In this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Bobby Forde, Terrral Mapp, Candy Fraser, and Kevvian Black to explore why St. Vincent and the Grenadines is fast becoming cannabis cultivation’s next frontier—and the host of the epic CannaBliss SVG Festival, October 2–5, 2025.

🌋 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How volcanic soil gives St. Vincent a unique edge over other islands
  
  
• How Advanced Nutrients helped rebuild the industry after the 2021 eruption
  
  
• Festival highlights: Beenie Man & Spragga Benz headlining the Grand Reggae Concert
  
  
• The Traditional Cultivators Village honoring 50+ years of heritage
  
  
• Why 100+ traditional Rastafari cultivators now hold licenses
  
  
• Exclusive facility tours of world-class cannabis operations & testing labs
  
  
• Direct export pathways to Europe fueling global opportunity
  
  
• How to attend the full conference for as little as $20 USD, including catamaran cruises through 32 pristine islands
  
  

✨ Backed by SVG’s Ministry of Agriculture, Bureau of Standards, and Tourism Authority, CannaBliss SVG Festival 2025 showcases how cannabis is driving cultural pride and economic growth.

👉 Watch now and see why St. Vincent offers the perfect blend of growing conditions, supportive regulations, and unforgettable hospitality.

🔗 Explore the full schedule & register here: https://cannablisssvg.gov.vc/

💬 Drop your questions, takeaways, or feedback in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!
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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

From underground roots to a legal cannabis empire—this week BigMike sits down with Ben Green of Grow Motion, one of Europe’s leading cultivators. With over 4,000 growers in his community, Ben is reshaping the future of cannabis cultivation across the continent.

🌍 In this episode, you’ll discover:
✔️ Ben’s journey from black market beginnings to running one of Europe’s most advanced facilities
✔️ Why the “We Grow Together” kit is changing how European cultivators approach growing
✔️ A first-of-its-kind contest with 100 growers competing for pharmacy distribution
✔️ How salts + additives = maximum terpenes & industrial-scale yields
✔️ Market insights: Why Germany is leading—and which countries are next
✔️ How a grassroots super-pheno hunt could uncover the next legendary strain
✔️ The mindset shift from basement growing to facility leadership
✔️ Why crop steering and high EC feeding separate elite cultivators from the rest

🎧 Watch now and get insider access to the future of cannabis cultivation.
💬 Comment below: What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode?

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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️

The success of your grow starts with your ability to lead.

In this game-changing episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with renowned business fixer Chris Collins to break down exactly how to turn a struggling cannabis facility into a profitable, high-performance operation.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to reset a burned-out, dramatic, or disengaged team
✅ Why most leadership advice keeps you stuck
✅ The key mindset shift that drives reliable returns
✅ How to set boundaries that transform team dynamics instantly
✅ What separates scaling cultures from ones that crumble under pressure
✅ The “shadow integration” process used by elite leaders

Whether you manage a large-scale grow or lead a tight-knit cultivation crew, this episode will redefine how you lead, communicate, and scale.

Watch now and take the first step toward a stronger, more resilient team.

📱 Follow @InsideCultivation on Instagram for exclusive clips, bonus content, and leadership insights.

👇 Drop a comment with your leadership wins or challenges — we might feature your question in a future episode.
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Welcome to Inside Cultivation, the #1 destination for all things cannabis! 🌿
Join our host, BigMike, as we explore the latest industry news, cutting-edge technology, and in-depth insights into cannabis cultivation. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just curious about the world of cannabis, we've got you covered. Don't miss out—subscribe and stay informed with the best in the industry!

🎙️
Listen / Follow The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeartRadio

Instagram:   / insidecultivation 
Tiktok:   / insidecultivationpodcast 
🎙️