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

When Christie's husband, Lei, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, life as they knew it turned upside down. With two young boys, a global plandemic unfolding, and a devastating diagnosis, their family was thrust into a whirlwind of hospitals, misdiagnoses, and impossible decisions.

In this conversation, Christie shares openly about:

• The early symptoms that were missed and the persistence it took to finally get answers.
• The harsh realities of cancer care, from mis-prescribed chemo to navigating genetic testing.
• How faith and community anchored them through moments of crisis.
• The turning point when the plant became part of Lei’s care - improving appetite, easing pain, and helping him regain quality of life.
• What it meant to provide palliative care at home, and bringing Lei’s body home after his passing.
• The lessons she’s carried forward about advocacy, honesty with children, and finding strength you don’t know you have.
• Lei’s message for anyone walking through illness: Don’t stop living.

This is a tender, powerful episode about love, resilience, and redefining what care can look like. Whether you’re navigating illness, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking perspective, Christy’s story will leave you with both hope and grounding.

You can find Christie @christie_ahfa

✨ Resources & Mentions:

• Genomics genetic testing for chemo/medicine compatibility https://www.genomicdiagnostics.com.au/tests/pharmacogenomics#order
• Information on pancreatic cancer: PanKind Foundation – The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.https://pankind.org.au

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In this episode, I take you on a journey through the history of cannabis prohibition, from the powerful industries and political figures who drove it, to the propaganda and international treaties that locked it in place.

This is not a deep academic lecture, but a story about how we got here and why a plant that was once widely used for pain, sleep, women’s health, and everyday ailments became criminalised across much of the world.

We’ll look at:

• The early uses of cannabis in medicine and daily life
• Harry Anslinger’s role in pushing prohibition, and why he was not acting alone
• The influence of industry, media, and racism in shaping public fear
• Australia’s own prohibition history, from Smith’s Weekly headlines to Hunter Valley “weed raiders” and beyond
• Why prohibition was never about health or safety, but about profit, power, and control

By the end of this episode, you’ll see why I believe it is time to give the plant back to the people.

Resources and Further Reading

The Joke Dr John Jiggens - couldn't find a link to this but I got mine at The Hemp Embassy in Nimbin.

Owen Smith Legalising Cannabis Extracts, Edibles in the Supreme Court of Canada 

1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and later UN treaties

Le Dain Commission

Legalise Cannabis Party - Bill

OWL Conference

https://owlconference.com.au/owl-speakers/

TGA Public Consultation

https://consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/test-soms/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who still believes the old myths about cannabis. And do not forget to rate and review the podcast, it helps the algorithm put this conversation in front of more people.

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In this episode, we pull back the curtain and share some our own stories of how the plant called us into this space.

From harm reduction and patient advocacy, to chronic pain, migraines, and the quiet frustration of being dismissed in the doctor’s office each of us followed a different road. But the common thread is connection. The plant didn’t just relieve symptoms; she shifted our perspectives, revealed truths we couldn’t ignore, and opened the possibility of healing on deeper levels.

This episode isn’t about giving you a one-size-fits-all answer. It’s about reminding you that there are choices, and that healing isn’t just about quick fixesit’s about slowing down, listening, and reconnecting with yourself.

What We Talk About in This Episode

• The harm reduction frontline and what it taught us about preventable loss
• Living through migraines, chronic pain, and the opioid treadmill
• Gentle first encounters with the plant and what shifted afterward
• How stigma silences women and patients, and why that has to change
• The role of meditation, mindfulness, and holistic care alongside cannabis
• Why respect, patience, and “starting low, going slow” matter more than ever
• The bigger medicine: connection to self, to others, and to possibility

Why This Matters
Too often, women’s pain is dismissed, masked with pills, or met with silence. By sharing our stories, we want to open doors for conversations, for new pathways, and for anyone who has ever wondered if there’s another way forward.

Resources & Mentions

• Harm reduction and patient advocacy in Australia https://www.harmreductionaustralia.org.au/
• Research around CBD and beta-caryophyllene in addiction and recovery
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8173061/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8026612/

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In this solo episode of Canna Curious, Kyla gets personal about grief, self-care, and the choices we make when life gets heavy. She unpacks one of the oldest debates: alcohol versus cannabis.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why alcohol is responsible for 2.6 million deaths a year globally, while cannabis has zero overdose deathsrecorded.
• How cannabis-related harms are often tied to polydrug use or accidents, not toxicity alone.
• The gender double standard: wine marketed as “self-care,” cannabis framed as “irresponsible.”
• How alcohol worsens hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep in perimenopause — while cannabis may support relief.

Key Takeaways:

• Alcohol is normalised but deadly. WHO reports show millions of deaths annually.
• Cannabis carries risks but far fewer. And no deaths from toxicity alone.
• Context and gender matter. Women are pushed toward alcohol, even though it worsens health outcomes in midlife.
• Narrative is everything. Stigma has shaped laws and culture more than evidence ever has.

Statistics:

Breakdown of Cannabis-Related Deaths in Australia (2000–2018)

This comes from a retrospective review of coronial records via Australia’s National Coronial Information System, as reported by Emma Zahra and colleagues at NDARC, UNSW Sydney

Manner of Deaths (out of total 559 cases):

• Accidental injury: 29.9% (~30%)
• Suicide: 25.0%
• Polysubstance toxicity (i.e., cannabis plus other substances): 17.0%
• Natural disease: 16.1%
• Natural disease plus drug effect/toxicity: 7.9%
• Assault: 3.0%
• Unascertained (unknown): 1.1%
• Cannabis toxicity alone: 0%—no deaths were attributed solely to cannabis toxicity

Polydrug Involvement

• In 81.4% of cases, other drugs were noted alongside cannabis in the cause of death citations.
• The most frequent co-detected drug was alcohol, appearing in 47.2% of these cases

Resources & References

• Zahra E., Darke S., Degenhardt L., Campbell G. Rates, characteristics and manner of cannabis-related deaths in Australia 2000–2018. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2020.
• World Health Organization (2024). Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health.

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What does it mean to grow up in a medical household, rebel against it, and then return to plant medicine as the very thing that brings peace, presence, and healing?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Christina McMullan, an instigating rebel and the voice behind Aus Canna Reviews and the Aus Canna Podcast.

We start by going back to the 90s, when cannabis first entered her life on a hill in Texas, and follow her journey through grief, motherhood, and advocacy.

Christina speaks candidly about:

• Her first encounters with cannabis and the cultural stigma in the American South
• Growing up in a family of doctors where cannabis was never discussed
• Using the plant during her father's end-of-life care and the conversations it unlocked
• Navigating pregnancy nausea and the decision to use cannabis with the support of her doctor
• The role cannabis played in helping her slow down and show up more fully as a mother
• Why she believes in fighting for access to the plant, especially at the end of life

This episode is honest, reflective, and full of those quiet truths that often go unspoken. Whether you're new to the plant or have a long-standing relationship with it, Christina's story is a reminder that healing is not always loud, and rebellion is not always visible.

Christina hosts the Aus Canna Podcast you can find her here: @auscannareviews

Or you can find her on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Subscribe to the Canna Curious newsletter:

Get honest conversations, science-backed insights, and plant-based tools to support your wellbeing. 

Sign up at www.cannacurious.com.au

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Lena Mariana (Mary) 11/04/1928 - 03/08/2025.

This week’s episode is raw and unpolished, recorded during a tender moment as my Nanna Mary was nearing the end of her life. It's a conversation wrapped in love, loss, and legacy.

I explore:

• What we inherit beyond genetics like patterns of silence, sacrifice, and self-denial
• The cost of “being strong” and what it means to choose softness instead
• How the silent generation of women carried so much without ever being allowed to fall apart
• Reclaiming nervous system regulation, rest, and emotional honesty
• Using plant medicine not to escape, but to return to ourselves
• Why our healing work matters not just for us, but for our daughters and their daughters too

This episode is for anyone grieving, anyone breaking generational patterns, and anyone learning to feel instead of flee. It’s for the woman becoming the ancestor her grandmother never got to be.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Silent Generation (1928–1945) and their legacy of resilience and repression
• Microdosing for emotional regulation
• Ancestral healing through nervous system repair and ritual
• A call to remember and honour the women who came before us

A gentle ask:
When you light up, drop in, or take your tincture this week, do it in memory of my Nanna or yours. For all the nans who never got to rest.

Thank you for holding this space with me. I’ll be back next week with our regular program.

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In this episode of The Canna Curious Podcast, we’re talking about t- breaks also known as tolerance breaks. Whether you use cannabis for anxiety, pain, migraines, or perimenopause symptoms, sometimes it’s worth pausing to ask: Is my medicine still working the way I need it to?

Together with Bee and Ray, we dive into the why, when, and how of taking a break from cannabis. We explore what to expect physically and emotionally, how to avoid white-knuckling your way through it, and why planning, journaling, and self-compassion are your best allies.

We also unpack:

• Signs you might need a t break
• How to set an intention (and why it matters)
• How to handle withdrawal symptoms with care
• What to do if you can’t stop using cannabis completely
• The underestimated power of rest, routine, and reflection

Whether you’re taking a one-day pause or a three-week reset, this conversation is a reminder that your relationship with the plant can be intentional, empowering, and deeply supportive.

Resources Mentioned:

 🫖 Download the Tea Break Guide & Tracker → https://cannacurious.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cannabis-rest-reset-tolerance-break-6.pdf

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 is a storyteller and connector, finding her path in this work through involvement in social responsibility, agroecology, regenerative and bioregional projects for over 10 years. She is a passionate living systems advocate.

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

You can find her @ray.steele

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Welcome to the first in a new series exploring sex, pleasure, and the plant - hosted by Kyla and somatic sexologist Lillie Brown. In this juicy and deeply honest conversation, we crack open a topic that’s often whispered about but rarely explored with compassion: desire.

This episode is for every woman who’s felt the weight of low libido, shame around cannabis use, or a disconnect between their mind and body especially in the chaos of motherhood, chronic illness, or perimenopause.

We explore:

• Why pain, stress, and hormone changes impact desire
• The difference between arousal and desire (and why it matters)
• Spontaneous vs. responsive desire—hint: both are valid!
• How shame and stigma still show up for women who use the plant
• Ways to get back in touch with your body and your pleasure
• The power of slowing down (seriously, slooooow down)
• Practical tips to dial up desire, including erotic rituals and daily pleasure practices
• The underrated brilliance of smutty novels and mindful nudity

Lillie also shares her framework of making eroticism a lifestyle and why your sex life isn’t just about what happens in the bedroom. From brushing your teeth to cleaning the socks off the floor, she reminds us: context is everything.

Whether you’re partnered or solo, in a drought or riding high, this episode is a permission slip to explore desire on your terms, in your body, with your tools - and maybe even a cheeky vape or velvet doona cover.

Lillie Brown

Lillie Brown is a certified somatic sexologist, facilitator, writer, and collage artist who’s obsessed with helping people experience more pleasure, confidence, and connection in their sex lives. Whether it was Catholic school or Friday nights spent watching Girls of the Playboy Mansion, she’s always been fascinated by why we crave sex, how we have it, and how to dial up the pleasure.

Her warm, playful, and judgement-free approach helps individuals, couples, and groups get intimately acquainted with their bodies, desires, and erotic potential. A hedonist at heart, Lillie is dedicated to guiding people through erotic transformation and sexual liberation with shame-free, pleasure-focused education.

Ready to explore your own desires, build your sexual confidence, or finally feel at home in your body?

Book a 1:1 session with Lillie and start your journey toward the sex life—and pleasure - you deserve. 

Find her @sexwithlillie

Free Download:

Make sense of your turn ons

https://www.lilliebrown.com/make-sense-of-your-turn-ons

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Today we’re diving into a question every canna-curious woman has either wondered about, or learned the hard way: How do I actually dose cannabis? And what does my cycle have to do with it?

If you’ve ever taken an edible and suddenly found yourself narrating your life like it’s a David Attenborough documentary or if you’ve avoided trying again after a not-so-great experience, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How to find your personal sweet spot
• What to do if you overdo it
• Why estrogen, ovulation, and the luteal phase can change your THC sensitivity
• How to work with your cycle (instead of against it) using intentional, layered dosing

We’ll walk through what a low dose actually looks like, how to track what’s working, and why body literacy is your best friend when it comes to plant medicine. Plus, I’ll break down each phase of your menstrual cycle and how it can impact your cannabis experience from microdosing for cramps to titrating carefully during PMS.

Whether you're new to this space or looking to deepen your relationship with the plant, this episode gives you the tools to tune in, track wisely, and dose with confidence.

Download Your FREE Dosing + Cycle Tracker Here: https://cannacurious.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/gold-leaf-cycle-trader-one-page.pdf

References + studies mentioned are also listed below:

1. Craft RM, Wakley AA, Tsutsui KT, Laggart JD. (2012).
    Sex differences in cannabinoid pharmacology: A reflection of differences in the endocannabinoid system?
    Life Sciences, 92(8–9), 476–481.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2011.09.017
2. Cooper ZD & Craft RM. (2018).
    Sex-dependent effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: A translational perspective.
    Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 34–51.
   https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.140
3. Cuttler C, Mischley LK, Sexton M. (2020).
    Sex differences in cannabis use and effects: A cross-sectional survey of cannabis users.
    Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 5(4), 252–262.
   https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0078
4. Sinclair J, Oudshoorn E, et al. (2024).
    Cannabis Use for Menstrual Health and Symptom Management: An Observational Survey of Australian Women.
    (Forthcoming – presented at the International Endometriosis and Cannabis Symposium, 2024)
   Note: This study is not yet published in a journal but was presented at a medical conference. Check back on the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics or cannabisresearchaustralia.org for publication updates.
5. Ross M. (2020).
    Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency.
   https://www.drmicheleross.com/vitaminweed/

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Ever felt judged for choosing a vape over a wine? Or wondered why mothers who take c*nn*b!s still get side-eyed while wine o’clock is seen as self-care?

In this episode of Canna Curious, I sit down with Jess, a mother, grower, educator, and lifelong plant lover, to talk all things womanhood, wellness, and rewriting the story we’ve been told about cannabis!

From her first joint at 14 to microdosing with intention, Jess shares how her relationship with the plant has shifted through the wild years of growing up, raising kids, and working on the frontlines of patient care.

We talk about:
✨ How motherhood changed her ritual and made it more sacred
✨ Unlearning the belief that cannabis is for everyone
✨ What most people get wrong about mothers who use the plant
✨ Tolerance breaks, terpenes, and making the method match the moment
✨ Why we need less ego and more connection in the  c*nn*b!s  space

This one’s for the women who use the plant not to check out, but to check in. To calm the chaos. To reconnect. To heal.

It’s raw, reflective, and rebellious in the best way. Whether you’re new to the plant  or have been using it for decades, Jess reminds us what conscious use really looks like.

You can find jess @thegreenroom.hq

Mentioned

Dr Jeffrey Hergenrather https://www.drjeffhergenrather.com/

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