Shaping Fire

Today's episode is different. Shaping Fire host Shango Los was invited to moderate a private webcast entitled, "Cannabis, Mushrooms and Terpenes for Optimum Health." Shango didn't choose the topic or speakers but the quality of answers by this experienced panel are so good that we want to share them with you. Dr. Ethan Russo, Tony Verzura, Jeff Chilton, and Berner discuss how best to blend a variety of alternative medicines to reach healing goals often unattainable by pharmaceuticals.

None of the stylish cannabis advertising is directed at folks soon to die. And yet, humans at the end of their days often wish for the relief and perspective that comes from cannabis. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los welcomes back Dr. Sunil Aggarwal to talk about integrating cannabis into end-of-life care, dosing protocols, and how to address objections from family and institutions.

Age-old natural farming fermentations and preparations have made a huge resurgence in the cultivation scene. However, there is a great deal of misunderstanding regarding how to blend them, if at all. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Certified Master Natural Farmer Chris Trump about how best to use Korean Natural Farming preparations, how to blend them, and how small amounts can have such substantial impacts on plants.

One of the greatest challenges in life is to suffer from an ailment that people have chosen to take for granted. Fifteen percent of all humans suffer with migraines and yet still little is known about them. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los interviews world-renowned neurologist and cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo about the state of the science on migraines and how to incorporate cannabis and psilocybin mushroom as therapies.

Female cannabis plants are often threatened by male pollen coming from a neighbor's garden. Now though, regular breeding has created the first cannabis triploid plants. This naturally occurring plant type not only is impervious to unexpected pollen, but the third chromosome these plants have makes them larger, more resistant to pests and molds, and with bigger yields. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with socio-ecologist Seth Crawford about these new plants and their extraordinary characteristics.

More and more people are growing cannabis and making ice water hash at home. It is an incredibly simple yet satisfying hobby that takes a short time to learn but years to master. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los discusses home hashmaking best practices with lifelong hashmaker Ganja Gil - The Ice Wook. Their discussion spans the entire process, including choosing starting material, ice, hash bags, temperature, screens, washers, agitation, drying and storage.

Feminized seeds have a reputation based on devotion, hyperbole, and myth. Cultivators have strong feelings about these particular seeds, no matter if they love or hate them. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with biologist and cannabis geneticist Ryan Lee about the science behind feminized seeds, how to make them, and why they used to have a bad reputation. The third set is dedicated to understanding "female-only" breeding.

Natural gardeners like the idea of planting companion plants that will distract cannabis pests and harbor the insects that prey on these same pests. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, The Buglady, about the complexities and challenges of using banker and trap plants in a cannabis garden, why the plants suggested so often online don't actually work in real life and some strategies for making banker and trap plants work for you if you are willing to put in the effort.

Pain and chronic illness are so dynamic that they can injure us on multiple levels. Too often, not only does our body suffer, but our sexuality suffers as well. On this episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with sex educator Chris Maxwell Rose of Pleasure Mechanics about the mental and emotional challenges of having sex while experiencing chronic pain, communication between partners, and positions, toys and other strategies for sexualizing your life, even with a chronic malady.

The application of light to plants, whether it be sunshine or from electricity, is an important part of the overall skillset a cultivator needs to perfect their craft. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with former NASA lighting scientist Robert Soler about some of the key threshold points in the relationship between the light spectrum and cannabis plants that impact all cultivators, clearing up some botanical myths that persist in cannabis cultivation, and a bit about how working under artificial lights impacts the lives of professional indoor cultivators.