Shaping Fire

We love autoflowers here, but there is no doubt that some aspects of growing autoflowering cannabis plants can be incredibly frustrating. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los chats with autoflower breeder Dan Jimmie about all the things they dislike about autoflowers, and solutions for a few of them. This is a really honest and comprehensive discussion about the failings of autoflowers from cultivators who love them.

Fusarium and Pythium root rots attack our plants and we never really know until they wilt, and it is too late. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with plant pathologist Cora McGehee about identification of these pathogens, best practices for prevention, and their mechanisms for action, so cultivators can take action to protect their gardens.

How does a horizon-style living soil bed function in real life? On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los and soil biologist Leighton Morrison assess the first run of Shango's indoor raised bed implementing regenerative cultivation techniques and the horizon soil strategy as explained in Shaping Fire episode 54. Included are soil layer measurements, fungus gnats, a failed green mulch and the best plants Shango has ever grown.

On this episode of Shaping Fire, we share with you an episode of the Curious About Cannabis podcast. Shaping Fire host Shango Los was recently special guest on the show. Shango and CAC host Jason Wilson discuss using outdoor regenerative cultivation techniques indoors, the rocky transition from medical to recreational markets for cannabis patients, how to form local growers collectives and how Shango formed the one on Vashon Island, the rise of autoflowers, and some behind the scenes thoughts about the Shaping Fire podcast.

More and more, folks are embracing the mental and physical benefits found in using psilocybin mushrooms in either small or large doses. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los invites Dr. Miyabe Shields back to explain how psilocin stimulates the serotonin and other systems, how differing doses reach specific threshold points and using this knowledge to heal humans.

Cannabis normalization is a patchwork of mismatched laws across the country. And this uncoordinated approach creates inefficiencies that cost money, liberties and lives. Only by naming these challenges and facing them straight-on will we have any chance of fixing the American cannabis experiment. On this special episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Dr. Dominic Corva PhD about the impact of state-licensing on long-time cannabis farmers in California, the awkwardness of prohibition and licensed sales existing at the same time, cannabis prohibition as a public health issue, the profitable injustice of non-violent cannabis prisoners, the latest on electrical usage by industrial agriculture cannabis farms and the rise of the citizen scientist.

The cannabinoid Cannabigerol (CBG) is so new to being studied that most people are still unclear what varieties of relief it offers. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los welcomes back neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo to discuss his new study published this week compiling patient uses for cannabigerol, the specific ailments CBG works for, and the quality of patient results.

All life breathes in its own way. We can become better cultivators by understanding the interplay between aerobic and anaerobic microbes and bacteria. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los welcomes back soil biologist Leighton Morrison to discuss the differences between aerobic and anaerobic environments, the interplay between oxygen-loving microbes and bacteria in building soil structure, and how to breathe life into dirt to regenerate your soil.

Everyone's endocannabinoid system works in ways that are unique to themselves. Our best chance at success with cannabis is to understand both the science generalizing cannabis use, while also learning how our own body functions specifically. On this episode of Shaping Fire, Miyabe Shields PhD returns for Part Two of Endocannabinoid Mechanics and talks with host Shango Los about how minor cannabinoids function, why we find cannabis relaxing, choosing between the various modes of cannabis use for the variety of relief we are looking for, and dosing thresholds for extraordinary ailments like immune disorders, cancer and others.

Today, Dr. Ethan Russo has published his groundbreaking research into the causes of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome. The research team's survey and genomic investigation of patients has, for the first time, identified the genetic mutations affecting neurotransmitters and the endocannabinoid system. In this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los reviews the entirety of the paper with Dr. Russo, including all five of the genetic mutations, the results of the patient survey and why we can exclude causes such as neem.