What if the most important part of your cannabis experience happens before the plant is even grown?

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, I sit down with Chase, founder of Umami Seed Co., to explore the world of cannabis genetics, phenohunting, and what it really takes to create a cultivar worth building around.

With over 20 years in the space, Chase shares how a single decision early in his growing journey sparked a lifelong obsession with breeding, and why today, that same process can take years to refine.

We unpack the reality behind phenohunting, why most cultivars never make the cut, and what separates something that’s simply “good” from something that truly stands out.

But this conversation goes deeper than genetics.

In an industry where patients often don’t see what happens behind the scenes, we explore the role of trust, how much of the cannabis experience is shaped at the genetic level, and why flavour, terpene profiles, and subtle chemical differences can completely change how a product feels.

From the early days of weed to global expansion across medical markets, this is a grounded, honest look at the evolution of cannabis and the people shaping its future.

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire (2:28)

* Falling in Love with Cannabis Genetics (15:15)

* From Brick Weed to Boutique Bud… It’s a Stark Difference! (18:45)

* Trust, Genetics & Industry Transparency… Is Cannabis Built on Trust or Blind Faith? (22:50)

* No Compromise Philosophy (29:15)

* What Keeps Chase Up At Night? (30:12)

* The Reality of Pheno Hunting (33:55)

* Terpenes, Flavour & the “Umami” Concept (40:01)

* What Makes a Cultivar “10/10” (42:00)

* Patient Perspective: Effects vs Genetics (44:58)

* Global Cannabis: Regulations & Chaos (52:01)

* Prefecting Craft Cannabis on a Global Scale (53:44)

* Classic vs Modern Breeding… Why both can coexist (56:30)

* Passion Over Profit (60:02)

* Where to Find Umami (64:00)

Show Notes:

* Umami Seed Co YouTube Channel

* Terpene of the Month: Terpinolene

Where to Find Chase:

* Umami Seed Co on Twitter/X

* Umami Seed Co on Instagram

* Umami Seed Co on LinkedIn

* Umami Seed Co on Facebook

* Umamai Seed Co Website

Where to Find Christina:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

There’s a shift happening in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry.

As the space grows and becomes more commercial, many are starting to ask the same question: Are we losing the patient voice?

In this episode, I sit down with Bee Mohamed, a government relations and advocacy professional working at the intersection of policy and lived experience, to unpack where things really stand.

We talk about the move from grassroots advocacy to industry growth, and the growing disconnect between decision-making and real patient experience.

Bee shares why lived experience needs to go beyond tokenism and be embedded into how policy is actually shaped. Plus, we explore what it would take to bring patients back into the centre of the conversation.

We also get practical. From patient-led events to better industry support for advocacy, this isn’t just about what’s broken… It’s about what we can build next.

Because this space was created for patients, and the future of it depends on whether we keep them at the centre.

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire (2:04)

* From Grassroots to Growth: Are We Losing the Patient Voice? (10:02)

* The Problem With “Patient Consultation” (TGA Breakdown) (14:01)

* Why Patient Stories Actually Change Policy (19:01)

* When Profit Enters: Has the Industry Shifted Too Far… What Can You Do For Me? (22:58)

* Collaboration vs Gatekeeping: What Needs to Change (28:57)

* “The Peace Pipe”: A New Kind of Patient Event… Looking For Sponsors (31:15)

* Can Companies Support Advocacy Without Breaking the Rules? (34:01)

* Outdated Systems: Prescribing, Access & Education Gaps (37:01)

* What Needs to Happen Next (Patients, Clinicians, Industry) (41:58)

* The Meaning Behind Mata & Storytelling as Medicine (45:01)

* Full Circle Moment (49:00)

Show Notes:

* The Mata Collective Website

* Drive Change

* Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers 2026

Where to Find Bee:

* Bee on SubStack (The Mata Collective)

* Bee on Instagram

* Bee on LinkedIn

Where to Find Christina:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

The Catch-Up is a collaboration between Give and Toke and AusCannaReviews, with Paul and Christina coming together occasionally to explore what’s happening in Cannabis in Australia and around the world.

In this episode:

* Unmissable talks: Gabriel Younes on aroma, and Chad Walkaden on Indigenous healthcare (2:30)

* The TGA Presentation: cautious optimism and takeaways (7:00)

* Community leading the way (12:00)

* Good vibes prevailing in a volatile time (14:30)

* Key takeaways - memories, challenged perspectives, finding common ground, breaking stigma (17:00)

* Improving UIC for patients (22:00)

* UIC is Cannabis School Camp (26:00)

@AusCannaReviews on SubStack, Instagram and Twitter/X

Email [email protected]

Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au

Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram

Email [email protected]

Get $10 off accessories with the code ‘CATCHUP’ at giveandtoke.com.au

In this episode, Christina sits down with Helen Kapalos for a frank conversation about medicinal cannabis, media, and policy in Australia. Helen shares the story behind her documentary A Life of Its Own, why she left mainstream journalism, and how stigma and misinformation still shape public narratives.

They unpack the TGA’s medicinal cannabis review, the danger of policy driven by headlines, and the gaps in data, education, and leadership across the sector. From patient power to the need for credible research and medical education, this episode looks at what real reform could actually look like in Australia.

If you want to understand how policy, media, and advocacy collide in cannabis, this one is essential listening.

In this episode:

* Rapid Fire

* Who is Helen Kapalos?

* A Life of Its Own hits a roadblock that mortgaging a house overcomes

* The things you learn as you grow

* Everyone’s talking about the TGA review with hyped up narratives

* Knee-jerk reactions and loaded questions lead the conversation

* Why is the TGA’s head in the sand?

* Letters… who’s getting them and who’s not?

* Cherry picking the facts

* Who has the real influence?

* We need more research and education

* Lowering the bar on expectations

* Show me the data!!!

* Hope for the TGA’s review… Best-case scenarios

* The plant doesn’t change; our understanding of the plant does

* Christina’s small confession

* There’s important work left to do

Show Notes:

* A Life of Its Own

* AusCannaReviews’ TGA Letter

* E-Petition to end roadside and workplace zero tolerance of THC for medicinal cannabis patients in QLD. (The petition is closing on April 22, 2026. 💚)

Where to Find Helen:

* Helen on LinkedIn

* Helen on Instagram

Where to Find Christina:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

After months of scheduling across time zones, Christina finally sits down with UK cannabis patient advocate and industry insider Alex Fraser for a wide-ranging conversation on advocacy, access, and what happens when patients step inside the system they once protested.

Alex shares his journey from living with Crohn’s disease to becoming one of the UK’s most influential voices in medical cannabis. What began as personal symptom relief evolved into activism, community organising, and the creation of the United Patients Alliance, a movement that helped push medical cannabis into the mainstream conversation.

Now working with distributor Grow Group, Alex reflects on the shift from grassroots advocacy to shaping the industry from within, the realities of building a career in cannabis, and why transparency matters more than ever. They also dive into Grow Conversations, a platform designed to humanise the industry and rebuild trust between patients, clinicians, and companies.

A big focus of this episode is the legal and social challenges patients still face. Christina and Alex unpack discriminatory driving laws, stigma, and the emotional toll of being judged for using prescribed medicine. Alex also introduces Patient Protect, a new subscription-based legal support service for UK patients navigating arrests, court cases, and systemic barriers.

This episode is honest, personal, and practical. It is about responsibility, community, and what real patient-led change looks like when advocacy meets industry.

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire

* Driving Laws… discrimination at its finest

* Where did Alex’s cannabis journey start?

* From grassroots to a steady paycheque

* What drew Alex to work with the Grow Group?

* Grow Conversations… open dialogue during the lockdown

* The power of transparency

* Patient Protect… empowering patients rather than just directing them

* Could something like Patient Protect work in Australia?

* The cost of advocacy

* Hope that the narrative is shifting

* Alex’s call to action

Show Notes:

* The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

* Crohn’s disease

* United Patients Alliance

* Grow Group

* Grow Conversations

* Patient Protect

Where to Find Alex:

* Alex on LinkedIn

* Alex on Instagram

* Alex on TikTok

* Alex on Facebook

Where to Find Christina Mc Mullan:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

This Year in Review episode brings together the clips you replayed, shared, and messaged me about all year, along with the three most downloaded episodes of the season, a proud moment taking the AusCannaPodcast on the road to New Zealand and Thailand, and a few milestones that stopped me in my tracks.

Show Notes:

Veterans Deserve Better: Derek Pyrah on PTSD, Cannabis and the Fight to Change the DVA System

Grow High, Aim Higher: Medcan Australia’s Mission with Gareth Ball

The Christinas: A Cannabis Conversation Across Two Worlds

SVG: The Genesis Study: CBD, IBS, and the Future of Gut Health

From Bedridden to Blunt Truths: Sharna Stewart’s Medicinal Cannabis Journey

Sacha La Forgia: From Award-Winning Winemaker to Craft Cannabis Cultivator

Where to Find Christina Mc Mullan:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

Harry Baird joins me for a slow, thoughtful chat about how cannabis fits into real life. We look at the moments that shaped his journey, from early flower sessions to discovering extracts and why solventless has opened up a whole new lane of learning for him.

We talk about catching yourself when your habits drift, finding balance again, and why aroma can tell you more than test results ever will. Harry breaks down concentrates in simple terms, shares what he’s learned so far, and looks at where extracts might sit in the future of the Australian market.

We touch on stigma, responsible use, and why open conversations still matter. We talk sport, movement, daily rituals, and the way different people consume, whether it’s wine, whiskey or weed.

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire (1:50)

* When the rotation takes you out (10:26)

* Catching yourself slipping (14:24)

* The mindset shift that changed everything (16:02)

* Why some aromas hit home (19:20)

* Harry’s extract education (22:17)

* Concentrates in plain English (26:28)

* The future of extracts in Australia (28:47)

* Is this how Big Pharma walks in? (30:29)

* Talking honestly to change stigma (35:27)

* What responsible use really means (38:00)

* A space with zero judgment (43:11)

* Ten years of legal access… “Bud Murphy’s” (48:15)

* Could home grow be the missing piece? (51:56)

* So you work in cannabis (58:01)

* Can weed and wellness/fitness get along? (61:02)

* Wine, whiskey, and weed (62:55)

* Harry’s final message (64:10)

Show Notes:

* Arnott’s Chocolate Royals

* Mac Miller - Nikes On My Feet

* SilverStar Mountain Resort

* Stranger Things

* Game of Thrones

* Flagstaff Hill Skatepark

* Analysis of street cannabis and cannabinoid composition in Australia

* Bundaberg Distillery Tour

Where to Find Harry:

* Harry on LinkedIn

* Zaari on LinkedIn

Where to Find Christina Mc Mullan:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

In this episode, I sit down with Los Angeles creator and edibles expert Christina W. founder of Fruit & Flower Co. for a candid conversation about cannabis from farm to table. We talk about sun-grown flowers, the art and science of edibles, and the rituals that shape how we experience the plant.

Christina shares stories from her years visiting farms in northern California, the rise of curated cannabis experiences, and why intention matters more than grow style. We compare the cannabis cultures of California and Australia, explore the challenges of medical regulations, and discuss the minor cannabinoids that deserve more attention.

Along the way, we share tips for overconsumption, debate creative versus clinical approaches to cannabis, and reflect on the communities that make the plant meaningful.

This is a conversation about craft, culture, curiosity, and connection!

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire (2:05)

* Morning rituals and learning to roll a joint (14:30)

* The fading world of craft sun-grown flower (23:54)

* Owning the role of a weed influencer (27:22)

* Why intention matters more than grow style (30:07)

* What Christina pays attention to on farm tours (34:28)

* The rise of “curated” cannabis farm experiences (36:28)

* Balancing clinical dosing with creative cooking (37:44)

* Tinctures and easy infusion shortcuts (42:08)

* A look inside Australia’s medical cannabis system (43:08)

* Going too far and feeling held by the community (45:15)

* Tips for handling overconsumption (48:15)

* Who’s actually growing Australia’s cannabis? (50:20)

* It’s illegal everywhere… except the ACT (51:37)

* Home grow, THC trends and what’s being lost (54:10)

* Minor cannabinoids and why we need more options (58:58)

* When cannabis becomes a commodity (61:44)

* Christina’s call to action (65:30)

Show Notes:

* Great British Bake Off

* Hemostat

* Palmer’s Lotion

* Joint holder ring

* Papa & Barkley

* Pure Beauty

* Glass House Brands (Article about ICE raid)

* Sol Spirit Farms

* Moon Made Farms

* Maven Genetics

* Kiva Confections

* Ay Papi

* Yummi Karma

* LA Times Pesticide article

Where to Find Christina W:

* Fruit+Flower Unfurled on SubStack

* @fruitandflower on Instagram

* @fruitandflower on TikTok

Where to Find Christina Mc Mullan:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

In this special episode of The Catch-Up, Christina Mc Mullan and Paul O’Donoghue reunite to unpack their recent trip to Thailand. They share insights from their visits to Iridescent Med and the facility cultivating Cookies California genetics, reflect on the world-class standards they witnessed, and express gratitude for the hospitality extended by the teams. Expect thoughtful reflections, genuine appreciation, and excitement about the innovation shaping Thailand’s cannabis landscape.

Show Notes

Read all about the Thailand adventure here: Thailand with SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals: An Unforgettable Cannabis Journey

@AusCannaReviews on ⁠⁠SubStack⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠⁠

Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Visit ⁠⁠www.giveandtoke.com.au⁠⁠

Follow @giveandtoke on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

In this episode, I’m joined by Deb Ranson, a Registered Nurse and Clinical Nurse Consultant who has spent her career championing patient-centred care while supporting and educating healthcare practitioners. We dive deep into the endocannabinoid system and why every healthcare professional should understand it, the challenges and barriers created by hospital and facility policies around medicinal cannabis, and the practical ways Deb is helping clinicians navigate these complexities through her platform, Bodhi Nurse.

Deb shares her insights on bridging the gap between policy and practice, ensuring both patients and practitioners have access to accurate, evidence-based information, and advocating for changes that truly reflect patient needs. Her motto, “reach one, teach one,” guides her work and highlights how small shifts in education can create real, systemic change.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a patient, or simply curious about cannabis in healthcare, this episode is packed with practical advice, advocacy strategies, and compassionate guidance for navigating this evolving field.

👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!

💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!

In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:

* Rapid Fire (2:17)

* Who is Deb Ranson? (17:05)

* What it was like to first become involved in the cannabis space (19:16)

* 2016 was the year things changed… Cannabis education enters the hospital setting (22:20)

* Reach One, Teach One (26:15)

* Explaining the ECS (33:22)

* The power of rebalancing your ECS… Happy Go Larry (39:22)

* When the driving laws force patients to choose (41:11)

* When the TGA wants evidence (43:17)

* Working together so that patients are functional members of society (45:20)

* The biggest challenges in hospital and facility policies around medicinal cannabis (49:27)

* Don’t have a policy? Make one! (50:30)

* Examples of facilities that are getting it right (54:50)

* Hospital drug vault sigmas with no key (59:53)

* Medications in a school setting… no touching! (62:01)

* Where would we be without nurses? (65:05)

* Deb’s call to action (69:01)

Show Notes:

* Dr Peter Grinspoon Books

* Rocky Horror Picture Show

* Requiem for a Dream

* Cannabis Queens Book

* Chico Babies

* United in Compassion (UIC)

* Drive Change

* The Endocannabinoid System

Where to Find Deb Ranson:

* Nurses’ Green Health Education Website

* Bodhi Nurse

* Email [email protected]

Where to Find Christina Mc Mullan:

* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

* Email [email protected]

* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast