The Canna Curious Podcast: Conversations on Cannabis, Wellness & Women’s Health

In this deeply honest conversation, Kyla sits down with Shaye Topaz a mum, insomniac, and long-time cannabis consumer  to explore what happens when the plant that helped you cope becomes something you rely on.

Shay shares her 12-year relationship with THC, from rolling joints at 18 for sleep, to mothering through stress, heartbreak, and survival… all the way to the moment she realised she was dependent, not addicted, and decided it was time for a reset.

This episode moves through insomnia, nervous system overwhelm, motherhood, emotional regulation, and the spiritual side of cannabis including the comfort, companionship, and “being held” feeling so many women relate to.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why cannabis is such a powerful tool for sleep, stress, and emotional soothing
• How motherhood, overwhelm and loneliness influence cannabis use
• What it’s like to quit after more than a decade of nightly THC
• The emotional and physical symptoms of a tolerance break
• Appetite, metabolism, cortisol spikes, and night waking during withdrawal
• Using CBD, magnesium, adaptogens and supplements to support the nervous system
• Breaking the ritual: shifting from smoking to tinctures
• The spiritual and relational experience of cannabis as a “holder”
• How to know when you’re ready to take a break — and why readiness matters
• Creating new rituals, boundaries, and habits during a cannabis reset

About Shaye

Shaye is a mother of two navigating single parenthood, chronic insomnia, emotional healing, and a long-term relationship with cannabis. Her story reflects the reality for many women who use THC for sleep, coping, and nervous system support. Her honesty and introspection make this a powerful conversation for anyone reconsidering their relationship with the plant. 

You can find Shaye @shayetopaz

Resources & Links

• Kyla’s 21-Day T-Break Guide — a step-by-step journal for anyone wanting to explore their relationship with THC
• Dr Jeffrey Hergenrather’s work on cannabis use in pregnancy
• Research from Jamaica on cannabis, pregnancy and maternal outcomes

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this episode, we get real about something most parents are quietly struggling with: how to talk to kids and teens about cannabis in a world where edibles, vapes and oils are everywhere and often invisible.

Kids today are exposed earlier, more frequently, and in more confusing ways than ever before. Gummies look like lollies. Wellness-style bottles sit on shelves. TikTok jokes about edibles have millions of views. Whether you use cannabis, avoid it entirely, or sit somewhere in between, the conversation is coming and avoidance doesn’t keep kids safe.

This week, Kyla breaks down how to approach these conversations with calm, honesty and connection, instead of the outdated “drugs are bad” scripts many of us grew up with.

We explore:

• The rise in paediatric cannabis poisonings — including the NSW study showing nearly 3,800 cases in a decade, with toddlers and teens most affected.

• Why edibles have changed the landscape 

• The gap between modern cannabis use and the conversations parents are not having.

 • How today’s cannabis (concentrates, vapes, gummies) is completely different from the 90s weed many parents remember.

 • Why kids are not staying innocent by staying uninformed they’re just staying unprepared.

 • Harm reduction basics for families, from dosing to green-outs to mixing substances.

 • How to frame your own cannabis use with responsibility, nuance and clarity.

 • Exactly what to say to younger kids vs. teens, including simple scripts you can start using today.

 • How to respond if your teen admits they’ve already tried cannabis — without shame or panic.

 • Why warmth + honesty + boundaries remains the most protective parenting combination we have.

This episode is your toolkit for building trust instead of fear, clarity instead of shame, and ongoing conversations instead of one big dreaded “talk.”

Curiosity is not dangerous; it’s developmental. What matters is that they learn with us, not away from us.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another parent or caregiver - and leave a review to help this work reach more curious households.

Resources

Cannabis poisonings in Australia following the legalisation of medicinal cannabis, 2014-24: analysis of NSW Poisons Information Centre data

Cannabis poisonings among children increasing

How to talk to your kids about cannabis (PDF Downloadable resource)

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with Alli Bannister, a mother, nurse practitioner, and survivor of an exceptionally rare form of appendix cancer. One so uncommon it affects only one in a million people.

What began as unexplained pain, bloating and digestive changes quickly escalated into emergency surgery, a Christmas Day hospitalisation, and the devastating discovery that cancer had spread across nearly all of Alli’s abdominal organs. Within days, she was facing a radical treatment plan involving organ removal, aggressive surgery and hot chemotherapy. But Alli made a courageous choice to pause.

This conversation explores what happens when someone refuses to rush their healing, chooses to listen to their body, and claims agency in a system driven by urgency and fear. Alli shares her decision to seek integrative treatment in Thailand, her experience with medical cannabis for pain and anxiety, the role of meditation and trauma healing, and how mindset became just as critical as medicine.

In this episode, we explore:

• The early signs of Alli’s rare appendix cancer and why her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed
• The moment she received her diagnosis and how it reshaped her identity 
• The emotional and physical impact of emergency surgery and radical organ removal
• Why Alli chose to pause instead of rushing into life-altering treatment
• The role of integrative and alternative therapies in her healing journey
• How CBD and THC supported her pain management, anxiety and sense of calm
• The mind-body connection and the importance of meditation during trauma
• Financial realities of alternative cancer treatment and systemic limitations
• Reclaiming agency within the medical system
• How healing trauma and emotional release became part of survival
• Alli’s mission to support others walking a similar path

If you want to know more about Alli or the power of hydrogen water you can find Alli here IG @alli.healingontheroad

Email: [email protected]

Radical Remission by Kelly A Turner

Quantam Healing by Deepak Chopra 

"Send us a message"

Support the show

This week on the Canna Curious Podcast, Kyla sits down with Kaylee, a young woman whose journey with her body, identity, and the plant is as complex as it is courageous.

From navigating early puberty and intense body-image scrutiny, to experiencing schoolyard bullying and being dismissed by the medical system, Kaylee’s story shines a light on what it feels like to grow up “different” and how the plant became a source of relief, regulation, and finally, self-agency.

Together, we explore:

• Early puberty and the impact it had on her sense of self
• The pain, stigma, and isolation she faced as a teenager
• How misunderstanding and medical minimisation shaped her early experiences of health
• Discovering cannabis  not as escape, but as grounding
• Reaction to the COVID vaccination
• How workplace policies still fail medicinal cannabis patients
• Stigma, double standards, and being a woman who uses the plant
• Learning to advocate for her own health, safety, and wellbeing
• Building community and documenting her story on @4beanzy

This is an honest, nuanced conversation about growing up, reclaiming your voice, and refusing to shrink yourself to make others comfortable.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, judged, or misunderstood in your relationship with your body or your medicine  this episode is for you.

Where to find Kaylee

Instagram: @4beanzy

Support Services

Because we discuss themes of bullying, emotional distress, medical gaslighting, and workplace discrimination, please reach out if you need support:

 Australia

• Lifeline — 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
• 1800 RESPECT (Family & sexual violence support) — 1800 737 732
• Kids Helpline (for young people 5–25) — 1800 55 1800

If you’re outside Australia, please check local resources or national crisis hotlines.

What is BPD - Borderline personality disorder https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/borderline-personality-disorder

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this episode, Kyla sits down with Irena Katz - naturopath, educator, and pioneer of Australia’s herbal vape industry. From opening one of the first hydro stores in the country to helping shape a new understanding of plant medicine, Irina’s story is equal parts science, grit, and heart.

She shares how a heartbreaking moment when her one-year-old whippet, Lux, faced leg amputation  led her to experiment with CBD almost two decades ago. What followed changed everything: not only did Lux keep his leg, but Irena’s belief in the plant deepened, setting her on a lifelong path of education and advocacy.

Together, Kyla and Irena unpack the realities of running a hydro store when cannabis was still taboo, the double standards in Australia’s vape laws, and why real harm reduction starts with honest conversations. They also explore the stigma that still surrounds women who use the plant and the urgent need for open, non-judgmental education from budtenders to doctors.

This is a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about courage, curiosity, and creating community through the plant.

You’ll hear:

• How Irena helped bring herbal vapes to Australia
• The story of Lux, the dog who inspired her CBD journey
• Why stigma still drives secrecy among women who use cannabis
• What harm reduction really looks like in practice
• The missing link in doctor education about the endocannabinoid system
• Irina’s vision for community-led, plant-positive spaces

Contact

You can find Irena on Instagram @ladylux420 check out her amazing range of canna products here www.wearelux.com.au

"Send us a message"

Support the show

Today’s episode is raw, real, and deeply human. Kyla sits down with Sam Clohessy, a personal trainer from Western Australia, who shares her story of strength, survival, and self-discovery after being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 34 years old.

From her early days working on remote mine sites to building a fitness business and navigating the breakdown of her marriage, Sam opens up about how years of stress took a toll on her body and how she found resilience, healing, and hope through movement, mindset, and natural medicine.

Sam takes us through the moment she found a lump in the shower, her experience with chemotherapy and the “Red Devil,” and the turning point that led her to explore cannabis as part of her recovery journey. Together, Kyla and Sam unpack what it really takes to heal - body, mind, and spirit - and why curiosity, community, and self-care can make all the difference.

You’ll Learn:

• How chronic stress and emotional trauma can impact physical health
• What life on the mine sites taught Sam about fitness and discipline
• The reality of a young woman navigating breast cancer and single motherhood
• What to expect from chemotherapy and radiation (and the infamous Red Devil)
• How cannabis entered Sam’s healing journey  and why it’s still a taboo topic in oncology
• The lifestyle practices that help her stay healthy today: movement, nutrition, grounding, and mindset

Highlights:

• “Cancer isn’t who you are - it’s a chapter in your life. Don’t let it consume you.”
• “Fitness was my anchor. It filled my cup and kept me sane.”
• “I asked my GP for a prescription for cannabis and she said, ‘You’d have to be terminal.’ Two years later, she started prescribing it.”
• “The more positive and hopeful you are, the more your body can heal.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Research on CBD, THCA, and CBDA in breast cancer cell studies (referenced by Kyla in-episode) Cannabidiol as a Novel Inhibitor of Id-1 Gene Expression in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells - McAllister et al
• Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating the Crosstalk between Apoptosis and Autophagy - Shrivastava et al
• Kyla’s Cancer Support Document — to request a copy DM kyla on IG  @cannacuriousau

Connect:

Follow Sam Clohessy on Instagram @infinityboundlessfitness

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this conversation, nurse and educator Megan Mbengue walks us through her path from hospital wards to cannabinoid care. 

We break down the endocannabinoid system in plain language, why CBG is her daytime go-to for anxiety and focus, and how to use THC without wrecking your nervous system. 

We dig into cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), the problems with high-THC vapes, why flower still matters, and what her team is seeing in a suppository study for period pain. We also touch on microdosing psychedelics, integration, and doing the root-cause work so you actually need less over time.

You’ll Learn:

• What the endocannabinoid system does — in human words
• Why CBG can calm the fight-or-flight response without sedation
• How hormone shifts in peri/menopause can change your THC sensitivity
• The early signs of CHS and why vapes fast-track trouble
• When to choose flower, patches, teas, or suppositories
• A nurse’s harm-reduction approach to anxiety, sleep, and pain
• Where microdosing can bridge the gap when cannabis isn’t enough

Highlights:

• Dancer to nurse to plant medicine: the career pivot that started in hospice
• The seizure case that changed everything
• CBG vs CBD: different receptors, different outcomes
• “Start low, go slow”  especially for women in peri/menopause
• CHS red flags: morning nausea, abdominal pain, alcohol intolerance
• Vapes vs flower: why potency and frequency matter
• Suppositories for pelvic pain and periods: real-world outcomes women report
• Microdosing + integration: working on the root, not just the symptom

Practical Takeaways:

• Anxiety (daytime): try whole-plant CBG; keep THC low and targeted at night for sleep
• New or returning users: start with flower or gentle oral routes; avoid high-THC distillate vapes
• Pelvic or period pain: consider vaginal or rectal suppositories many women report reduced cramps, headaches, and nausea
• Morning nausea with daily use: pause and assess for CHS signs; seek support early
• Cycle tracking: you may need less THC mid-cycle and a different method in the late luteal phase

Resources Mentioned

• Society of Cannabis Clinicians https://www.cannabisclinicians.org/
• EntheaCare — https://entheacare.com
• OnTracka —https://www.ontracka.com/

Connect with Megan

• Instagram/Threads: @enthea.care

"Send us a message"

Support the show

Painful sex is common but not normal. Kyla and sexologist Lillie Brown unpack the fear–pain cycle, pelvic pain, arousal and lubrication, and practical steps to heal without pushing through pain. We also touch on how cannabis may help some women  reduce pain and increase pleasure, plus when to bring in a pelvic floor physio or sexologist.

Key Takeaways

• Pain is information, not something to “push through.”
• The fear–pain cycle can be broken with slowness + safety + pleasure.
• Arousal matters: women need 20–40 minutes for full physiological arousal (engorgement, lengthening, “tenting”).
• Lube is protective and pleasurable. Add more than you think.
• Penetration can be taken off the table while you heal and sex can still be great.
• Consider a pelvic floor physio and/or sexologist for tailored support.
• Some women  find cannabis (topical/systemic) helps with pain, arousal, and presence. Start low, go slow, and consult a clinician.

What We Cover

• Defining painful sex (dyspareunia) and common sensations (stinging/burning at the entrance, deep dull/throbbing pain).
• Pelvic pain 101 and common contributors (endo/adenomyosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, UTIs, thrush, IBS, hormonal shifts).
• Vaginismus (primary/secondary) and why “just relax” isn’t a plan.
• The fear–pain cycle: anticipation → bracing → pain → avoidance (and how to exit it).
• Arousal & anatomy: erectile tissue of the vulva, vaginal lengthening, and “tenting.”
• Practical tools: breathwork, pelvic floor release/relaxation, lube strategy, dilators with arousal, depth-limit tools (e.g., Ohnut), positions, and partner communication.
• Cannabis & sex: topical application, suppositories, systemic use, and why presence matters.

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this week’s episode, Kyla sits down with Bee and Ray to explore one of the biggest questions that’s ever come through the Canna Curious community: Does cannabis bring you closer to God?

What started as a social media poll quickly turned into an avalanche of DMs, reflections, and debates. In this conversation, we unpack what “God” means to each of us from traditional religion to personal spirituality and how the plant has long played a role in deepening our connection to self, source, and the sacred.

In this episode, we explore:

• What “God” or “higher power” means across different backgrounds and beliefs
• The history of cannabis in spiritual practice from Ayurveda to Rastafarianism
• How cannabis quiets the noise and deepens meditation, prayer, and presence
• Grief, ego dissolution, and finding connection beyond religion
• Why slowing down and returning to nature is a radical spiritual act
• Simple ways to create your own spiritual ritual with or without the plant

Referenced:

• Ayurveda texts citing cannabis (“bhang”) as one of five sacred plants
• Modern Rastafarian practices using ganja as a sacrament
• Survey data showing 66% of people report a spiritual benefit from cannabis use

Extras:
Kyla’s added a simple ritual and mantra guide in the show notes for anyone wanting to begin or deepen their personal practice. You can download it here!

Ray would like to leave these here for anyone on this journey.

30 sec: https://youtube.com/shorts/toho4X4cmGg?si=2tqKF7dDSaI3boc-

30 min: https://youtu.be/W57nYOaQmIU?si=VVYqt-ZKGVoUL6ln

Longer: https://theeternalsong.org

If this episode resonates, let us know. Your feedback helps shape future episodes and we love hearing your stories.

Bee Mohamed has worked in health policy for over 10 years, both in the public and private sectors. Bee was the inaugural CEO of ScriptWise, a health promotion charity addressing prescription medication addiction and overdose in Australia. 

Bee is passionate about patient advocacy and working towards better drug policy reforms in Australia. She is currently an Ambassador for Harm Reduction Australia and Founder of Mata, an online platform sharing stories from the plant medicine industry.

You can find her storytelling at @mata_gathering

Ray Steele Ray is a storyteller and connector working in spaces of regeneration. 

After 15 years of severe migraines, a return to natural therapies offered her relief and awareness to the interconnectedness of our healing and living systems.

You can find her @ray.steele

"Send us a message"

Support the show

In this episode of the Canna Curious Podcast, Kyla sits down with Crystal White from Northern Rivers Hemp to unpack her inspiring journey from working in the disability sector to running a 75-acre hemp farm in Nimbin with her husband. Crystal shares how a hemp license unexpectedly arrived in the mail during the pandemic, sparking a complete career pivot and eventually leading to the creation of a hemp farming co-op.

Together we explore:

• What hemp really is, and the differences between hemp, CBD, and THC
• Crystal’s path into farming, leaving the disability sector, starting from scratch, and building community
• The Northern Rivers Hemp Co-op and how local farmers pooled skills to create products and opportunities
• Policy change and advocacy, including Crystal’s role in the NSW Hemp Task Force and her work with politicians
• Hemp-based wellness and beauty products, and why hemp can be used topically in Australia but not ingested
• Bee-friendly farming practices and the importance of protecting native stingless bees
• Hemp in building materials, from hempcrete houses to Jason’s new hemp building certification
• A rare cannabinoid, CBL, discovered in Northern Rivers crops and possibly unique to the region

Why listen
This is more than a farming story. It is about community, resilience, and the future of hemp in Australia. Whether you are curious about plant medicine, sustainability, or rural entrepreneurship, Crystal’s story shows what is possible when passion meets persistence.

Resources and Links

• Visit the Northern Rivers Hemp Shop in Nimbin’s main street
• Follow Northern Rivers Hemp on social media for updates on hemp farming, products, and advocacy. @northernrivershemp
• State Senator for LCP Jeremy Buckingham @cannabisjeremy
• Learn more about hemp building: Australian Hemp Masonry Company https://www.hempmasonry.com.au/
• Stingless Bee Buzz @stingless_bee_buzz

"Send us a message"

Support the show