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Explore every episode of the podcast The Canna Curious Podcast: Conversations on Cannabis, Wellness & Women’s Health

Dive into the complete episode list for The Canna Curious Podcast: Conversations on Cannabis, Wellness & Women’s Health. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
64 - I’ve Changed My Mind About Cannabis, Wellness and Dating with Kyla de Clifford.05 Aug 202600:23:05

It’s the Season Three finale, and I’ve changed my mind about a few things.

After a magical girls’ weekend in Byron, 14 hours of talking, laughing, eating and doing absolutely nothing I’ve been thinking about what wellness really looks like and what Canna Curious is actually here to do.

I don’t need you to love cannabis. I don’t even need you to take cannabis. I just want women to be able to ask questions about it without feeling stupid, irresponsible or judged.

In this episode:

  • What 539 women told me about cannabis, judgement and healthcare
  • Why curiosity, not conversion is the goal
  • What 18 months of online dating has taught me
  • Why the apps feel like poker machines
  • The return of the Spanish man
  • Why chicken tikka, a maz and a movie might still be my perfect date

Azure Health

Azure Health is a healthcare clinic with specialist female doctors who are passionate about creating a safe, respectful healthcare experience for women.

Learn more at Azure Health 

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who has listened, messaged and made this season feel like a conversation in my lounge room.

Canna Curious will return with Season Four at the end of August.

Bhang Organic Intimacy Oil is made by women, for women. An essential ritual designed to nourish the skin, elevate touch and bring you back into your body. Find it at www.rubymarybotanicals.com.au

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63 - The Joy Of Making – Creativity, Cannabis and Care with Kyla de Clifford.29 Jul 202600:19:35

This episode of Canna Curious is proudly brought to you by Azure Health.

This week, we’re stepping away from prescriptions, legalisation and the latest cannabis research to talk about something a little more whimsical: the joy of making things with our own hands.

In this episode:

  • Why handmade gifts can feel more meaningful than purchased ones
  • Creativity as ritual, generosity and nervous-system downtime
  • The beautiful blankets that reminded me how much care matters
  • The story and intention behind Bhang
  • Simple ways to bring more making into your life
  • Why women can find it so difficult to rest without feeling guilty
  • Munchies, motherhood and food as an expression of love
  • A rather underwhelming dating update
  • Why dating in the modern world deserves an episode of its own

A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY

This podcast shares personal experiences and general education only. It is not medical advice. Medicinal cannabis and CBD products should only be taken as prescribed and should not be shared with other people or added to homemade preparations without guidance from your prescribing clinician or pharmacist.

Essential oils can cause irritation or allergic reactions and are not suitable for everyone. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions, use an appropriate dilution, patch-test topical preparations and keep essential oils away from the eyes, children and pets.

RESOURCES

I have put together the recipe we chat about in today’s podcast, there are also other resources being uploaded weekly including T-break guides, recipes, cannabis101 etc.

Resource Library  www.cannacurious.com.au/resources

AZURE CLINIC

This episode is proudly brought to you by Azure Health.

Azure Health is a healthcare clinic with female doctors who are passionate about creating a safe, respectful healthcare experience for women.

Learn more at Azure Health 

THE WOMEN AND CANNABIS SURVEY

The “How Women Want to Be Spoken to About Cannabis” survey closes at midnight on the day this episode is released. If you haven’t participated yet, this is your final chance to add your voice.

www.cannacurious.com.au/survey

CONNECT WITH CANNA CURIOUS

Instagram: @cannacuriousaus
TikTok: @cannacuriousau

If this episode inspires you to make something, send me a message and tell me what you created.

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62 - The Cannabis Questions We’re Too Afraid to Ask with Kyla de Clifford.22 Jul 202600:23:57

This week, I’m answering anonymous listener questions about cannabis, including:

  • How do patients manage driving under Australia’s current presence-based laws?
  • How far away is legalisation?
  • What do you do when family members judge you for taking cannabis?
  • Can cannabis become part of your identity?
  • How can you reduce smoking without necessarily giving up the plant?
  • Are you reaching for cannabis intentionally—or automatically?

We unpack the difference between medicine, habit and ritual, why stopping smoking can feel like losing part of yourself, and how curiosity can help us make changes without shame.

I also share details of the upcoming Brisbane rally for fair, evidence-based driving laws, an update from my latest questionable Wellness Field Note, some wonderful personal news and why “heyyy” is not a conversation starter.

Clarification: The reference to Fisherman’s Friends reflects personal anecdote only. There is no reliable evidence that mints prevent THC detection or alter roadside drug-test results. They should never be relied upon to avoid a positive test. Never drive while impaired.

Mentioned in this episode

Fair cannabis driving laws

The peaceful rally will be held outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane on 25 August 2026, from 12 pm to 2 pm.

If you cannot attend in Brisbane, organisers are encouraging supporters to stand peacefully outside their local MP’s electoral office.

Free Canna Curious resources

Visit my resource library for practical cannabis guides, advocacy tools and educational downloads—including my 21-Day Tolerance Break Guide.

  • Free resource library: Here

How Women Want to be Spoken to About Cannabis Survey

More than 540 women have now shared how they want to be spoken to about cannabis. If you haven’t taken part, there is still time to add your voice.

This episode is supported by Azure Health

Learn more at Azure Health or follow @azurehealth.

www.azurehealth.com.au/cannacurious

Connect with Kyla

Instagram: @cannacuriousaus
TikTok: @cannacuriousau
YouTube: @cannacurious
Website: cannacurious.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review.

This podcast shares personal experiences and general education only. It is not medical or legal advice. Speak with an appropriately qualified professional about your individual circumstances.

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61 - The Truth About Pubic Hair with Dr Erica Zelfand.15 Jul 202600:33:04

Who Told Us Hairless Was Healthier?

What if one of the beauty standards we've accepted for decades wasn't based on health at all?

In this episode, I sit down with integrative physician Dr Erica Zelfand to unpack the surprising history of body hair, the myths surrounding hygiene, and how marketing has influenced the way many of us think about our bodies.

We explore why pubic hair exists in the first place, whether removing it has any health benefits, and how beauty standards have evolved over the past century.

Also in this episode:

Wellness Field Notes

  • My latest wellness rabbit hole: washing with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.

Dating Diaries

  • One observation from my recent adventures back in the dating world...Are European lovers really different from Australian men?

In this episode we discuss:

  • Why body hair exists.
  • Does hairless really mean cleaner?
  • The surprising history of women's shaving.
  • Gillette's role in changing beauty standards.
  • The function of pubic hair.
  • Body hair and sexual health.
  • Beauty, ageing and self-acceptance.
  • Choosing for yourself rather than following expectations.

About Dr Erica Zelfand

Dr Erica Zelfand is an integrative physician, naturopathic doctor and educator who combines conventional medicine with nutrition, lifestyle medicine and whole-person care. Her work focuses on helping people reconnect with their health through evidence-informed and compassionate care.

Connect with Dr Erica Zelfand

@drericazelfand

Contact | Dr. Erica Zelfand | Functional Medicine & Integrative Psychiatry | Online Appointments | Counseling | Psychedelic Consultation

Azure Health

Azure Health is a healthcare clinic with specialist female doctors who are passionate about creating a safe, respectful healthcare experience for women.

Learn more at Azure Health 


The Survey

How Women Want to be Spoken to About Cannabis


If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you subscribed, left a review, or shared it with someone who enjoys questioning the things we often take for granted.

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60 - I Quit Alcohol. Then I Found Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.08 Jul 202600:22:39

This week marks 13 years since I had my last drink.

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story I don't often tell - the night that changed everything, why I called AA the following morning, and what life has taught me about alcohol, recovery, identity and healing.

I talk about the shame that surrounded my drinking, the challenges of early sobriety, losing friendships, rebuilding my sense of self, and why giving up alcohol didn't magically solve all my problems. I also reflect on the striking contrast between the way society celebrates alcohol while continuing to stigmatise medicinal cannabis.

Whether you're sober, sober-curious, supporting someone you love, or simply questioning your own relationship with alcohol, I hope this conversation gives you something to think about.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The night I decided to stop drinking.
  • My first experience attending AA.
  • Why alcohol gave me confidence—and what happened when I removed it.
  • The identity shift that comes with sobriety.
  • The hardest part of giving up alcohol.
  • Why I believe recovery looks different for everyone.
  • Alcohol stigma versus cannabis stigma.
  • What I don't miss about drinking.
  • Questions to help you reflect on your own relationship with alcohol.

Resources

Survey

Thank you to the hundreds of women who have already contributed. If you haven't completed the anonymous survey yet, I'd love for you to add your voice. You'll find the link in the show notes.

https://cannacurious.com.au/survey/

Resources if You're Thinking About Changing Your Relationship with Alcohol

If this episode resonated with you, please know you're not alone.

Whether you're questioning your drinking, taking a break, cutting back or considering stopping altogether, support is available.

Hello Sunday Morning

Evidence-based tools, articles and support for anyone wanting to change their relationship with alcohol.

Hello Sunday Morning

Daybreak App (Free)

Created by Hello Sunday Morning, Daybreak is a free Australian app offering anonymous peer support, practical tools and behaviour-change programs whether your goal is to reduce your drinking or stop altogether.

Download Daybreak

SMART Recovery Australia

A science-based recovery program that focuses on practical skills and self-management rather than a 12-step model.

SMART Recovery Australia

 Alcoholics Anonymous Australia

AA meetings are available throughout Australia, both in person and online. While everyone's recovery journey is different, many people find community support invaluable.

Alcoholics Anonymous Australia

🩺 Speak with Your GP

Your GP can discuss treatment options, referrals, counselling and medications that may help reduce alcohol cravings and support recovery.

National Alcohol & Other Drug Support

Find alcohol and other drug services in your state or territory.

Australian Government Alcohol Support Services

Books I Recommend

  • This Naked Mind — Annie Grace
  • Quit Like a Woman — Holly Whitaker
  • Alcohol Explained — William Porter
  • The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober — Catherine Gray

If you're struggling, remember that asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness. Every person's recovery journey looks different, and finding the support that works for you is what matters.

You don't have to identify as having an alcohol problem to explore your relationship with drinking.

Many people choose to take a break simply to see how they feel physically, mentally and emotionally.

Sometimes curiosity is enough to start a meaningful change.

This weeks episode of the podcast is supported by Azure Health.

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59 - What Happens When You Don't Fit the Stereotype? With Paul O’Donoghue.30 Jun 202600:43:32

After 59 episodes, I finally invited a man onto the podcast.

But not just any man.

Paul O'Donoghue from Give n Toke has spent years creating space in the cannabis community, listening more than he talks, and challenging what it means to belong.

In this episode we chat about:

  • Why neither of us fit the typical cannabis stereotype
  • Bro culture, belonging and finding your place
  • What women have taught Paul about cannabis
  • Why listening matters more than talking
  • My latest Wellness Field Notes: flotation tanks (spoiler... they weren't for me)
  • A dating update and the unexpected lessons I'm learning from a professional dominatrix

If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit in, this conversation is for you.

You can find Paul on Socials @giventoke or go check out their amazing accessories here If you use code: cannacurious at checkout you get 20% off!!

🌿 This episode is proudly brought to you by Azure Health.

Azure Health is a healthcare clinic with specialist female doctors who are passionate about creating a safe, respectful healthcare experience for women.

Learn more at Azure Health 

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58 - Love, Weed & Unlearning with Renee the Celebrant.24 Jun 202600:45:36

What if the biggest rules in your life… were never really yours?

This week I'm joined by celebrant, performer, DJ and cannabis advocate Renee to explore the stories we've inherited about love, marriage, cannabis, intimacy and identity—and what happens when we start questioning them.

From the Marriage Equality campaign to the stigma surrounding cannabis, we unpack why some conversations still make people uncomfortable, how love is changing, and why being truly seen might be what we're all searching for.

We also dive into cannabis and intimacy, the myths that refuse to die, why CBD deserves a place in every emergency room, my latest dating disaster involving a 60mg gummy, and this week's Wellness Field Notes on protein, creatine and feeling stronger through perimenopause.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Renee's experience working on the Marriage Equality campaign
  • The surprising similarities between cannabis stigma and LGBTQIA+ stigma
  • What marrying hundreds of couples has taught Renee about intimacy
  • Renee's personal journey with cannabis—from Ireland to Australia
  • Cannabis, creativity and sexual wellbeing
  • Why language matters: "using" cannabis versus "taking" cannabis
  • The myths about cannabis that still persist today
  • CBD as a tool for managing an uncomfortable cannabis experience
  • This week's Wellness Field Notes: protein, creatine and women's health after 40
  • My latest dating story... involving a very enthusiastic edible consumer

You can find the beautiful Renee @reneethecelebrant

This weeks episode is supported by Azure Health

www.azurehealth.com.au/cannacurious

@azurehealth

Help Shape the Future of Cannabis Conversations

One of the biggest themes in this episode is what it means to truly be seen and heard.

That's exactly why I've launched a survey asking one simple question:

How do women actually want to be spoken to about cannabis?

If you've ever felt judged, dismissed, confused, or simply unheard when it comes to cannabis, I'd love to hear from you.

📝Take the anonymous survey here

Together, I'm hoping to turn these insights into a white paper that helps shape better conversations, education and healthcare for women.

Connect with Kyla

Instagram: @cannacuriousaus

Website: www.cannacurious.com.au

Join the conversation and let me know:
 Which rule have you stopped following—and why?

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57 - What If We've Been Talking to Women All Wrong? With Kyla de Clifford.17 Jun 202600:25:54

For decades, women have been expected to fit into healthcare systems that were never really designed with us in mind.

This week I'm sharing the story that made me realise the gap in women's health research isn't just a cannabis problem, it's a women's health problem.

From being prescribed Stilnox before anyone understood how differently women metabolised it, to the everyday conversations I have with women who apologise before asking a simple question, this episode explores what happens when we stop assuming and start listening.

I also share why I've launched an international survey asking women how they actually want to be spoken to about medicinal cannabis, what I hope to do with the results, and why I believe listening might be the most powerful form of advocacy we have.

Plus:

  • Why women have historically been underrepresented in medical research
  • The NSW driving law debate—and how not to get distracted from the bigger picture
  • This week's Wellness Field Note on learning to truly listen
  • Dating updates, gummies gone wrong, and why I might soon be answering to "Mistress Kyla."

Resources

📝 Help shape the future of cannabis education for women
Complete the How Women Want to Be Spoken To About Cannabis survey here: 

📣 Want to support cannabis law reform?
Download my guide with the next steps you can take to support cannabis legalisation and fair driving laws.

This weeks episode is supported by Azure Health

www.azurehealth.com.au

@azurehealth

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you left a review, shared it with a friend, or tagged me on social media. Every conversation helps break stigma and bring us one step closer to better education for women.

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56 - Five Cannabis Red Flags I See Every Week with Kyla de Clifford.10 Jun 202600:22:44

Are you using cannabis intentionally, or just hoping for the best?

This week, I'm sharing five cannabis red flags I see every week from chasing higher THC percentages to forgetting that sometimes the body changes, not the medicine. Along the way, we explore curiosity, relationships, discipline, and why questioning assumptions might be one of the most important skills we can develop.

This week on Canna Curious, Kyla explores the power of curiosity, questioning assumptions, and why some of the biggest mistakes people make with medicinal cannabis have nothing to do with the plant itself. 

Kyla shares her thoughts on the proposed NSW medicinal cannabis driving law reforms and why understanding how political change happens may be more productive than simply getting angry online. She also reflects on a recent slide in discipline, a five-kilo weight gain, and her plan to get back to the habits that keep her feeling her best. 

The conversation then moves into a discussion sparked by last week's ethical non-monogamy episode and the bigger question it raised:

How many of our beliefs have we actually chosen for ourselves?

From relationships and marriage to medicine and wellness, Kyla explores the importance of questioning inherited ideas and staying curious enough to change your mind when the evidence asks you to. 

In This Episode

  • NSW medicinal cannabis driving law changes
  • How to influence political change
  • Discipline, habits and getting back on track
  • Ethical non-monogamy and inherited beliefs
  • Curiosity as a tool for better decision-making
  • Five common cannabis red flags
  • THC, CBD and treatment goals
  • Tracking patterns and symptom changes
  • Why tolerance breaks matter
  • Water scrying explained
  • The value of stillness and reflection

Plus, in this week's Kyla's Wellness Field Notes, Kyla experiments with an ancient practice called water scrying—a reflective practice involving a bowl of water, a candle, and ten minutes of uninterrupted stillness.

No psychic powers were unlocked.

But a little clarity might have been.

Azure Health 

Feeling confused?

Wondering what “alternative healthcare” actually means? Or what kinds of treatments we offer to eligible patients? Or how pricing works after your first consult?

If things seem unclear, it’s largely due to the regulatory guidelines we must follow within our healthcare industry.

That’s why we encourage you to get in touch in whatever way suits you for an upfront and confidential conversation.

Azure Health https://azurehealth.com.au/cannacurious

How to effect Change in a Bill -  NSW driving.

https://cannacuriouscomau.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nsw-medicinal-cannabis-driving-reform_-what-patients-should-do-right-now-3.pdf

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55 - Dry Vaginas, Cannabis & Ethical Non-Monogamy with Kyla de Clifford.03 Jun 202600:23:37

This week on Canna Curious, Kyla de Clifford explores the world of magnesium supplements, including Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium L-Threonate, and whether they actually help with sleep, stress and brain fog.

We also answer a listener question about medicinal cannabis suppositories, discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system in women's health, endometriosis and pelvic pain, and unpack why language matters when we talk about taking versus using medicinal cannabis.

Plus, a personal reflection on dating, ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and relationships in midlife.

In This Episode

  • Magnesium for sleep, anxiety and brain fog
  • Magnesium Glycinate vs Citrate vs L-Threonate
  • Medicinal cannabis suppositories explained
  • The endocannabinoid system and women's health
  • Endometriosis, pelvic pain and cannabinoids
  • Taking vs using medicinal cannabis
  • Dating and ethical non-monogamy after 50

Resources

  • Endocannabinoid System & Women's Health
  • Magnesium Supplement Guide
  • Women's Health & Pelvic Pain Resources

Connect

Got a question for the show? Send it through and it may feature in a future episode of Canna Curious.

Resources & Links

Azure Health (Sponsor)

Endocannabinoid System & Women's Health

Suppositories

Magnesium
Useful resource explaining:

  • Magnesium Glycinate (may be best for sleep)
  • Magnesium Citrate (Constipation)
  • Magnesium L-Threonate (Brain Fog)

Connect With Kyla

  • Instagram: @cannacuriousau

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54 - I Don't Feel Like Myself Anymore: Women, Hormones & Cannabis with Dr. Shabnam Sarshar.27 May 202600:37:22

What if one of the earliest signs of perimenopause isn't missing periods… but simply feeling like you don't quite feel like yourself anymore?

This week on Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with Dr. Shabnam Sarshar — researcher, scientist and passionate advocate for better conversations around women's health and cannabinoid science.

From growing up in Iran and unexpectedly moving to Germany for her PhD, through to becoming deeply immersed in women's health research, Dr. Shabnam shares her story and unpacks the fascinating relationship between hormones, the endocannabinoid system and why so many women spend years feeling dismissed, confused or wondering what is happening to their bodies.

Plus, Kyla returns with another instalment of Kyla's Wellness Field Notes, where she volunteers herself as tribute and investigates magnesium... with mixed success.

In this episode:

• Dr. Shabnam's journey from Iran to Germany
 • Traditional herbal medicine and modern science
 • Why women’s health research has historically been overlooked
 • The impact of stigma in cannabinoid science
 • Perimenopause and the "I don't feel like myself anymore" feeling
 • The relationship between hormones and the endocannabinoid system
 • Why mood, pain and sleep suddenly shift
 • Omega-3s, inflammation and nutrition
 • Exercise as medicine
 • Learning to advocate for yourself in healthcare
 • Female sexual health and cannabinoid research

Find Dr. Shabnam Sarshar

LinkedIn

Substack: The Recalibration

Also mentioned

Claude from Satinca

Rachel Payne MP

Connect with Canna Curious

Instagram: @cannacuriousaus
TikTok: @cannacuriousau

This episode is supported by Azure Health. 

www.azurehealth.com/cannacurious

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

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53 - I Forgot to Press Record…Also Let's Talk Minor Cannabinoids with Kyla de Clifford.20 May 202600:23:14

Everyone talks about THC and CBD… but what about the rest of the plant family?

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla dives into the world of minor cannabinoids — the tiny compounds quietly hanging around in the background that researchers are becoming increasingly interested in.

From CBG (the organised mum of the family) to CBN (the sleep celebrity) and THCV ("diet weed"), we unpack what we know, what we don't know yet, and why these compounds may matter especially for things like inflammation, mood, sleep, metabolism and brain fog.

Plus: Kyla launches a brand-new segment — Wellness Field Notes — where she volunteers herself as tribute and tries the wellness trends the internet keeps throwing at us.

Also included:

  • A podcast recording disaster (yes... forgetting to press record)
  • Thoughts on navigating perimenopause with cannabinoids
  • Dating app adventures and Bumble chaos
  • Why sometimes being single actually feels pretty great

In this episode:

What minor cannabinoids actually are
 CBG and brain fog
 CBN and sleep: hype vs reality
 THCV and metabolism research
 CBC and the entourage effect
 THCA + CBDA explained
 Wellness Field Notes
 Dating app updates nobody asked for

Link to cannabinoid descriptions 

Connect with me

Instagram: @cannacuriousaus
 TikTok: @cannacuriousau

Questions, stories or topic ideas? Send me a message — I love hearing from you.

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52 - Feedback, Femininity & Failed T-Breaks with Kyla de Clifford.12 May 202600:20:29

This episode marks the beginning of a new era for the podcast, one that feels more intimate, reflective, and human.

After conversations with an award-winning producer and some unexpectedly confronting feedback from people closest to her, Kyla opens up about why she’s evolving the format of the show.

This season will still bring evidence-based education around cannabis, women’s health, hormones and the nervous system… but with more space for lived experience, cultural conversations, wellness experiments, personal stories and honest reflections.

In this episode Kyla talks about:

  • Why the podcast format is changing
  • The feedback that challenged her creatively
  • Doing everything alone as a creator and educator
  • The emotional side of receiving constructive criticism
  • Women, perfectionism and vulnerability
  • Returning home from Nimbin and deciding to attempt a tolerance break
  • What tolerance breaks actually are
  • Why tolerance breaks can sometimes fail
  • The relationship between stress, nervous system load and cannabis use
  • Learning to approach wellness with curiosity instead of perfection

Download my Free 21 Day Tolerance Break Guide 

Thanks for being here for the evolution of Canna Curious.

This episode of the podcast is supported by Azure Health.

http://azurehealth.com.au/cannacurious

@azurehealth

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51 - No Placebo, Just Proof: What Animals Reveal About Cannabinoids with Emma Delaney.08 May 202600:27:11

In this episode, Kyla sits down with pharmacist-turned-veterinary cannabinoid specialist Emma Delaney to explore the rapidly emerging world of cannabinoid therapies for animals.

From chronic pain and anxiety to seizures and palliative care, cannabinoids are increasingly being used in veterinary medicine—but the real insight comes from something deeper:

animals don’t have a placebo effect.

This conversation unpacks what that means for how we understand cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and therapeutic outcomes in animals.

What We Cover

  • Why animals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) just like humans
  • The key difference: why dogs are more sensitive to THC
  • CBD vs full spectrum vs isolate—what it means
  • Common conditions treated in animals:
  • Chronic pain (e.g. osteoarthritis)
  • Anxiety (especially post-COVID separation anxiety)
  • Seizures
  • Skin conditions (like atopic dermatitis) 
  • What to do if your pet accidentally consumes THC
  • The role of CBD as a potential “buffer” or antidote
  • Why journaling your pet’s behaviour is critical
  • Dosing principles: start low, go slow
  • What animals can teach us about:
  • Placebo vs real effect
  • Observable outcomes

 Important Notes

  • Always speak to a qualified veterinarian before giving your pet any cannabinoid product
  • Animals are more sensitive, particularly to THC

 Resources & Links

Research Papers

Is cannabidiol (CBD) effective to ease separation anxiety? 

Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal intervention studies 

Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel

Scientific Validation of Cannabidiol for Management of Dog and Cat Diseases

Learn more about Emma’s work

NEW* Kindred has offered a discount on their take home range use the code KYLA10 

This episode of the Canna Curious Podcast is bought to you by Azure Health

https://azurehealth.com.au/

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50 - From Opioids to the Plant: A Story of Survival with Debi Wimberley.29 Apr 202600:45:21

What happens when the system you trusted… walks away?

In today’s episode, I sit down with Debi Wimberley — a former oncology professional who went on to live with one of the most severe chronic pain conditions imaginable.

For years, Debi was prescribed high-dose opioids to manage her pain.
Then, almost overnight, that support was removed,  with no real plan, no transition, and no safety net.

What followed wasn’t just withdrawal.
It was a complete unraveling… and then a rebuilding.

This conversation explores what it looks like to navigate pain, autonomy, and healing when you’re forced to take your health into your own hands — and how the plant became part of that process.

This isn’t a simple “before and after” story.
It’s complex. It’s messy. And it’s incredibly important.

What We Cover

  • Debi’s early work in oncology — and first exposure to the plant before the ECS was even discovered
  • Living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — one of the most severe chronic pain conditions
  • Long-term opioid prescribing and what high-dose use actually looks like
  • The abrupt withdrawal of care during the opioid crisis — and what that means for patients
  • Why regulation without education creates harm
  • Navigating cannabis with no clinical guidance
  • Trial, error, and real-world patient experimentation
  • Understanding the endocannabinoid system in practice
  • Reducing polypharmacy (25+ medications)
  • The shift from outsourcing health → reclaiming body autonomy

A Note on This Episode

This episode discusses chronic pain, opioid use, and medical system failures.

Debi’s story is her own lived experience.
 It is not a universal outcome, and it’s not a substitute for personalised medical advice.

If you’re navigating medication changes or chronic health conditions, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.

Resources & Further Learning

You can find Debi @debwimberley 

🌿 Support the Podcast

If this episode resonated with you… and you want to support the work behind Canna Curious:

You can buy me a coffee 
(or realistically… help fund more conversations like this)

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49 - My Daughter, The Plant, and the Anxiety That Followed with Kyla de Clifford and Ruby Skues.22 Apr 202600:42:46

This episode is a little more personal than usual.

Today, I’m sitting down with my daughter, Ruby and we’re having a conversation I’ve been quietly avoiding for a while.

Because while I spend my life educating people about the plant…
Ruby had an experience that changed her relationship with it completely.

We talk about:

  • what it’s like growing up with a parent in this space
  • the stigma that still exists (especially in younger years)
  • her first experiences with cannabis
  • and the moment everything shifted after a difficult “greening” experience

But this isn’t just about one night.

It’s about what came after the anxiety, the fear of it happening again, and how that feeling can linger long after the plant has left your system.

We also explore:

  • why edibles can hit differently (and sometimes unexpectedly)
  • the importance of dose, timing, and environment
  • how CBD can be used as a harm reduction tool
  • and what honest, open conversations about drugs actually look like in real life

This episode isn’t here to convince you of anything.

It’s here to show the nuance that the plant isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that education, safety, and self-awareness matter more than anything else.

If you’ve ever had an experience that didn’t feel right…or you’re navigating this with your kids, your friends, or even yourself this conversation is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE

  • Growing up around cannabis: stigma, secrecy, and shifting perspectives
  • First experiences with the plant (and expectations vs reality)
  • What “greening out” actually feels like
  • How one experience can lead to ongoing anxiety
  • The difference between THC and CBD (in real-life terms)
  • Why edibles require a completely different approach
  • Harm reduction: what we wish more people were taught
  • The gap between school education and real-world drug use
  • Navigating this as both a parent and a young adult

A NOTE FROM KYLA

This one stretched me.

It’s one thing to talk about the benefits of the plant it’s another to sit across from your daughter and hear how it impacted her in a way you didn’t expect.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it.

You can find more conversations like this at Canna Curious — where we explore the plant with curiosity, not assumption.

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48 - When Pain Starts at 13: Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia & Fighting to Be Heard with Grace Ker.14 Apr 202600:37:30

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with Grace Ker to explore her deeply personal journey with endometriosis and fibromyalgia,  a story that began at just 13 years old and unfolded into years of chronic pain, medical intervention, and self-advocacy. 

Grace shares what it was like to:

  • Be dismissed in early medical appointments
  • Navigate multiple treatments, including hormonal therapies and surgery
  • Enter medical menopause as a teenager
  • Experience chronic, debilitating pain that conventional treatments couldn’t resolve
  • Later develop fibromyalgia following burnout and physical stress

The conversation also explores how alternative approaches  including Chinese medicine and plant-based therapies  played a role in symptom management, and how Grace learned to trust her intuition in a system that often didn’t listen. 

This episode is as much about emotional resilience as it is about physical health — touching on identity loss, grief, and what it means to rebuild your life when your body changes.

Key Topics

  • Early onset endometriosis and symptom dismissal
  • Chronic pain and the limits of conventional treatment
  • Medical menopause in adolescence
  • Fibromyalgia onset and full-body pain
  • Opioids vs alternative approaches
  • The role of the nervous system in pain perception
  • Plant-based medicine and symptom regulation
  • Self-advocacy in healthcare
  • Grief, identity, and chronic illness
  • The importance of education and body literacy

🌿 Resources & Links

From Kyla

This episode really stayed with me.

There’s something about hearing a story like Grace’s that reminds you how many women are navigating pain quietly… and how often they’re told it’s normal.

It’s not.

And conversations like this are how we start changing that.

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47 - I’m Tired of How We Talk About Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.01 Apr 202600:14:08

Somewhere along the way, the conversation around cannabis got… distorted.

Depending on who you listen to, it’s either: dangerous and life-ruining or a cure for everything.

And neither of those are helpful.

In this episode, I unpack the gap between those extremes and why so many people are still confused, even with more access, more products, and more information than ever before.

Because the issue isn’t the plant. Maybe its body autonomy and intention.

What I cover:

  • Why cannabis is still misunderstood (just in a different way)
  • The shift from fear → hype (and why both miss the point)
  • The role of context: nervous system, stress, environment
  • Why people think they’re “doing it wrong”
  • The gap between clinical messaging and real-life use
  • Why more information hasn’t led to better outcomes

Journaling + tracking

A beautiful journal for handwriting and keeping with your stash https://www.rubymarybotanicals.com.au/products/cycles-journal

Australian designed and decentralised - Online app tracking with @ontrackaapp 

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46 - Hemp as Fuel - Why Aren’t We Using It? With Kyla de Clifford.25 Mar 202600:21:25

This week, we explore a question that seems simple… but isn’t:

If hemp can be used as fuel then why aren’t we using it? Particularly during this very planned war and outage of oil with far reaching implications.

In this episode, I break down:

  • The history of hemp as an industrial crop
  • Henry Ford’s plant-based car and early biofuel exploration
  • What hemp fuel actually is (biodiesel + ethanol)
  • Whether it really works — and where it falls short
  • Why it didn’t scale (policy, infrastructure, economics)
  • Where hemp fits in today’s energy conversation
  • And the bigger question: how systems decide what gets adopted… and what gets left behind

References & Further Reading

For more on Australia's Oil production, petrol etc  and who is and isn't paying tax follow @punterspolitics on instagram

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support these conversations, you can do so here:

Buy Me a Coffee 

If this episode made you think differently, send it to someone who still thinks this plant is one-dimensional.

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45 - Cannabis Research: The Story We Were Never Told with Kyla de Clifford.18 Mar 202600:17:56

Cannabis research often feels confusing.

One study says the plant may help with pain, sleep or inflammation. The next headline warns about risk.

So what’s really going on?

In this episode of Canna Curious, I unpack why cannabis science has been so difficult to interpret for the past 70 years.

From the Nixon-era report that recommended decriminalisation but was ignored… to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system by Raphael Mechoulam… to modern case studies in epilepsy, endometriosis and chronic pain.

I also explore how research bias, funding incentives and media headlines can shape the way cannabis science is interpreted.

Most importantly, I look at how to read cannabis research with a more critical and curious eye.

Because the science around this plant is still evolving.

And in many ways, the most important questions are only just beginning to be asked.

In this episode we discuss

• The 1972 Shafer Commission and the research that was ignored
• Raphael Mechoulam and the discovery of THC and the endocannabinoid system
• Why cannabis was placed in Schedule I and how that shaped research
• How media headlines can misrepresent cannabis studies
• Case studies in epilepsy, endometriosis and chronic pain
• Practical tips for how to read cannabis research

Support the podcast

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support the research and production that goes into each episode, you can buy me a coffee via the link in the show notes.

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44 - Everyone Is Just Trying to Cope: A Psychiatric Nurse’s Story with Megan Simpson.11 Mar 202601:10:44

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with psychiatric nurse Megan Simpson for an honest and deeply human conversation about mental health, stigma, and healing.

Megan has spent years working on the front lines of psychiatric care, supporting people through crisis, trauma, and severe mental illness. But behind that professional role was also a personal story — one that includes burnout, PTSD, and navigating her own path toward recovery.

Together, Kyla and Megan explore what happens when the people caring for others also need support themselves.

This conversation covers:

  • The realities of working in psychiatric nursing
  • Trauma and burnout in healthcare workers
  • How alcohol is often normalized as a coping mechanism
  • The stigma surrounding substance use and mental health
  • Why understanding the root cause of coping behaviours matters
  • The importance of community, connection, and compassionate care
  • Throughout the conversation Megan reflects on what helped her rebuild her life and how her experiences now shape the way she supports patients.

This episode is raw, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful.

Content Note / Harm Reduction

This episode includes discussion of:

  • PTSD and mental health challenges
  • Alcohol use and coping mechanisms
  • Suicide and suicidal ideation

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.

Australia support services

Lifeline — 13 11 14
 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention
 https://www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
 Mental health information and support
 https://www.beyondblue.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467
 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

If you are in immediate danger, please contact 000.

Disclaimer

The information shared in this episode is for education and discussion purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified medical professional.

Experiences shared by guests reflect their personal perspectives and may not apply to everyone.

If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.


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43 - Two Rooms, One Industry with Kyla de Clifford.04 Mar 202600:13:52

This week on Canna Curious, I’m reflecting on 48 hours that revealed the tension inside Australia’s medicinal cannabis space.

From hosting a candlelit launch centred on women, story and nervous system safety…to having a thoughtful dinner conversation with Professor Kylie O’Brien about the TGA and AHPRA review…to walking the floor at UIC 2026 - one of the country’s major industry conferences.

On paper, the conference program was rigorous and impressive, with respected clinicians and researchers presenting on addiction, hormones, endometriosis, regulatory frameworks and real-world data. Speakers like Justin Sinclair, Dedi Meiri and Dr Shabnam Sarshar are doing important, evidence-based work.

And yet, walking through the exhibitor hall, I kept asking one question:

Where were the patients?

This episode explores the shift from movement to marketplace, the evolution of the industry over the past decade, and why lived experience still matters in rooms where regulation, research and commerce intersect.

This isn’t a takedown. It’s a reflection on growth, memory, and the importance of keeping care at the centre.

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42 - From Parliament to Plant Medicine: Bee Mohamed on Advocacy, Integrity & Reform.25 Feb 202600:51:14

In this episode, Kyla sits down with Bee Mohamed for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation on health policy, patient advocacy, and the realities of building change inside broken systems.

Bee shares her journey from working in Parliament House under the Minister for Women, to frontline advocacy work during the rise of prescription medication dependency and overdose, to entering the medicinal cannabis sector with a simple hope: access, affordability, and human rights for patients.

Together, Kyla and Bee unpack the difference between “advocacy” as branding versus advocacy as lived experience, why harm reduction conversations can be uncomfortable (but essential), and what brave leadership looks like when profit pressures collide with patient care.

This episode touches on heavy topics including female genital mutilation (FGM) and medication-related deaths  with care, context, and a strong focus on how change actually happens.

Content Note

This episode includes discussion of:

  • Female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • Prescription medication dependency, overdose, and death

Please take care while listening.

What We Cover

  • What it’s like to witness “political will” actually create change
  • The rise of prescription dependency: opioids, benzodiazepines, and polypharmacy
  • Why reforms like real-time prescription monitoring matter (and what they can/can’t fix)
  • How Bee entered medicinal cannabis — and what she hoped would be different
  • The ongoing barriers for patients: access, affordability, stigma, and driving laws
  • Why roadside drug testing debates often miss the point (presence vs impairment)
  • What “patient advocacy” really looks like in practice
  • The tension between values and commercial structures — and how misalignment shows up in the body
  • Can harm reduction exist inside a commercial model?
  • “Corporate cannabis” and the missed opportunity to build true patient education
  • Grief, integrity, and the moment you realise you can’t self-compromise anymore
  • Bee’s definition of brave leadership: remembering why the industry exists at all

Links & Resources 

If this episode hit something in you  send it to a friend who’s tired of “just coping.”

And if you’re a clinic, brand, or organisation in this space: come talk to us. Harm reduction doesn’t have to be scary. Patient safety is not optional.

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @CannaCurious (or wherever you want them to find you).

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41 - They Burned the Women, Not the Wisdom with Melanie Wentzel.17 Feb 202601:17:00

A History of Women in Cannabis - with Melanie Wentzel

Before prohibition.
Before pharma.
Before THC percentages became a marketing strategy.

Cannabis lived in women’s hands.

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla is joined by healthcare strategist, bestselling author of Cannabis Queens, and women’s health advocate Melanie Wentzel to trace the history of cannabis through a female lens.

Together, they travel back through:

  • Ancient China and early medical pharmacopoeias
  • Ancient Egypt and recorded cannabis suppositories for period pain
  • Medieval Europe and Hildegard von Bingen’s writings on hemp
  • The witch trials and the destruction of women’s medical knowledge

This is a lineage story.

It’s about remembering that women were clinicians long before we were allowed degrees. That tending plants, tending bodies, and tending community were never separate practices. And that the knowledge of this plant survived — even when the women who carried it were persecuted.

If you’ve ever felt like the modern cannabis conversation is missing something  this episode explains why.

There is a golden thread running through history.

And we are still holding it.

In This Episode We Discuss

• Cannabis in ancient medical texts
• Women as early healers and apothecaries
• Suppositories and formulations used in Ancient Egypt
• Spiritual and ritual uses of cannabis across cultures
• Why high THC is a very modern obsession
• The erasure and survival of women’s plant knowledge

Resources Mentioned

  • Cannabis Queens by Melanie Wentzel
  • Historical references to Hildegard von Bingen
  • Papyrus Ebers (Ancient Egyptian medical text)

If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs reminding that this story didn’t begin yesterday.

And if you’re loving these deeper dives, subscribe, rate, and leave a review - it helps more women find this conversation.

Let’s keep tracing the thread.

You can find Mel @h.i_m.e.l__

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40 - Balance, Boundaries & Are Gummies Really Medicine? with Jess Peros.11 Feb 202600:35:17

In this episode, Kyla is joined by her friend Jess for a wide-ranging, honest conversation that starts with balance - and quickly reveals how complicated that word really is.

What does balance actually look like for women today? How do nervous systems stay regulated in a world of constant immediacy, technology, and responsibility? And where does the plant fit into that picture when used intentionally - not as an override, but as a support?

From there, the conversation turns to a topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant in Australia: gummies as medicine. As edible formats become more popular, Kyla and Jess unpack the questions that aren’t being asked loudly enough - around safety, formulation, harm reduction, and whether all “medical” formats truly support health.

This episode isn’t about telling you what to think. It’s about slowing down, zooming out, and asking better questions.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What “balance” actually means for women - and why juggling everything isn’t the same as being well
  • The impact of technology, immediacy, and accessibility on the nervous system
  • Boundaries as a form of balance (especially with phones, work, and availability)
  • How intentional cannabis use can create pause, presence, and space
  • Why balanced THC:CBD products can be a powerful starting point - and often an ongoing tool
  • The role of hormones, perimenopause, and changing cannabinoid needs over time
  • CBD flower, balanced flower, and why “stronger” isn’t always better
  • The rise of gummies in the medical market - and the risks that come with lolly-like formats
  • Sugar, distillate vs rosin, and how formulation matters more than people realise
  • Why some people feel low or flat after certain gummies
  • Child safety, packaging gaps, and real harm-reduction conversations
  • Whether gummies should be considered medicine - or something else entirely
  • Why anecdotal experience still matters in emerging health spaces
  • The importance of asking better questions of prescribers and products

We also introduce a new recurring segment:

“What has weed taught us this month?”
A reflective check-in on lessons, friction, community dynamics, and what the plant continues to reveal  not just biologically, but culturally and personally.

💬 Join the conversation:
Kyla and Jess invite you to send through questions, experiences, or topics you’d like them to unpack in future episodes. Debate is welcome. Curiosity is encouraged.

You can find Jess @jessica.inherbloom

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39 - Alethea Wallace: When The System Takes Someone You Love.03 Feb 202601:04:01

In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla is joined by her close friend Sandrine for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about their friend Alethea (Leath) — who has been incarcerated for cannabis-related charges for just over a year.

This is not a legal analysis or a political debate. It’s a human conversation about friendship, shock, grief, love, anger, and the quiet resilience required when someone you love is caught in a system most of us never expect to encounter.

Leath cannot speak freely on the podcast right now, but when she is released later this year, she will be invited on to the podcast to share her story in her own words.

Until then, this episode holds space for her, and for all the people left on the outside trying to make sense of the inside.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Who Alethea is beyond her sentence — her heart, warmth, and devotion to community
  • The shock of finding out a close friend is in prison
  • How little most of us understand the justice system until we’re inside it
  • What contact with someone in prison actually looks like (calls, visits, letters, costs)
  • The emotional toll of limited access and constant uncertainty
  • The strange mix of powerlessness, guilt, and love felt by friends on the outside
  • Self-censorship, stigma, and why people struggle to talk about incarceration
  • The realities of prison healthcare, communication, and overcrowding
  • Learning to live inside constraints you didn’t choose
  • Holding hope for release, parole, and life on the other side

A note to listeners

This conversation may be emotional to listen to. We speak candidly about incarceration, systemic injustice, and the personal impact of these systems on real people. Listener discretion is advised.

We’ve been careful not to share details that could compromise Alethea or anyone else. This episode is shared with love, respect, and care.

Want to support Alethea?

If you feel called, Alethea loves receiving letters - they bring her enormous joy and help her feel connected to the outside world.

📬 Mailing details:
Alethea’s public mailing address and prisoner number are listed below 

Alethea Wallace

Numimbah Correctional Centre

Private Mail Bag 1 

Nerang QLD 4211

(Please keep letters simple: no stickers, metallic ink, or extras - plain paper and pen are best.)

If you’d like to send a message of support but aren’t sure where to start, reach out to Kyla via socials and she’ll help guide you.

You can find Sandrine @marquisedesark


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38 - I’m Not Interested in Being “Responsible” Anymore with Kyla de Clifford.27 Jan 202600:18:40

In this episode, ’m unpacking why I’ve started to push back on the idea of “responsible use” — at least the way it’s so often applied to women.

Because when we really look at it, “responsible” rarely means neutral or supportive.It usually means self-monitoring, self-correcting, and self-blaming — layered on top of bodies that are already expected to manage pain, emotion, cycles, stress, and capacity without much support.

This conversation isn’t about encouraging recklessness.
 It’s about questioning why women are so often asked to carry extra moral weight when it comes to their bodies and why cannabis has become another place where we’re expected to prove we’re doing it properly.

In this episode, I explore:

  • How “responsibility” has become a gendered expectation
  • Why women are taught caution while men are given permission to experiment
  • The emotional cost of constant self-surveillance
  • How self-monitoring disconnects us from pleasure, rest, and trust
  • Where this messaging comes from — medicine, regulation, and wellness culture
  • The difference between compliance and agency
  • Why I’m more interested in discernment than rules

This is a quieter but firmer episode.
 Less about advice.
 More about power, agency, and what it means to be in relationship with your body without supervision.

If this episode feels uncomfortable, that’s okay.
And if it feels relieving — you’re not alone.

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37 - Tolerance, Breaks & the Nervous System with Kyla de Clifford.21 Jan 202600:26:50

Do I Need a T-Break?

Tolerance breaks are usually framed like a punishment.
Like you’ve done something wrong.
Like you need to reset, detox, or start again.

But for many women, that framing doesn’t fit real life - or real bodies.

In this episode, Kyla takes a slower, more body-led look at tolerance breaks and what they’re actually for. This isn’t about abstinence or discipline. It’s about understanding when a break is helpful, when it’s not, and how to approach it without destabilising your nervous system — especially if you’re navigating perimenopause, pain, sleep disruption, anxiety, or chronic stress.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What cannabis tolerance actually is (and what it isn’t)
  • Why tolerance isn’t failure — it’s feedback from the body
  • Signs your system may be asking for space
  • How pain, trauma, and nervous system load change the T-break conversation
  • Why stopping THC suddenly can feel awful for some people
  • Different ways to take a tolerance break — from full breaks to gentler resets
  • Whether CBD has a place during a T-break (and when it helps vs. when it doesn’t)
  • What a successful T-break actually looks like — beyond white-knuckling

This episode draws on both clinical research and lived experience to offer a more compassionate, realistic approach to tolerance one that prioritises regulation, safety, and relationship over rigid rules.

A gentle resource 

If this episode sparked the thought “I know I need a break, but I don’t know how to do it without falling apart”, Kyla has created a 21-day tolerance break guide you can download it here

Support the show

If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy Kyla a coffee here No pressure - it simply helps keep these conversations going.

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36 - Nobody Told Us Cannabis Would Feel Different in Perimenopause with Kyla de Clifford.13 Jan 202600:17:03

Women, Hormones & Cannabis: Why Your Body Changes How the Plant Feels.

In this episode, we explore why so many women notice that cannabis feels different depending on where they are in their cycle, throughout perimenopause, or during periods of stress and hormonal change.

We unpack what’s actually happening in the body, why this experience is common (and normal), and how women can work with their changing physiology instead of blaming themselves or assuming something has gone wrong.

This episode builds on last week’s conversation about the endocannabinoid system and brings the focus specifically to women, hormones, and lived experience.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why cannabis can work beautifully one month and feel overwhelming the next
  • How the endocannabinoid system interacts with estrogen and progesterone
  • Why midlife women notice these changes more clearly
  • The difference between microdosing as restriction versus microdosing as body literacy
  • Why timing and nervous system state matter more than strain names
  • Practical ways women can adjust their approach during hormonally sensitive times

Key ideas discussed

  • The endocannabinoid system plays a central role in regulating mood, pain, sleep, inflammation, and stress
  • Estrogen has been shown to influence cannabinoid receptor sensitivity, particularly CB1 receptors
  • Hormonal fluctuation, rather than hormone loss, is a major factor in why experiences change during perimenopause
  • Women often experience stronger subjective effects from THC at lower doses compared to men
  • Cannabis tends to amplify the existing state of the nervous system rather than override it
  • Learning to work with context, timing, and subtle dosing can make cannabis feel more supportive and less destabilising

Support the show
Canna Curious is produced independently. If you’d like to support the podcast, you can Buy me a coffee

Share this episode
If this conversation might help someone you love — a friend, a partner, a patient  feel free to pass it on.

Thank you for listening, and for being part of this community.

Research and further reading

Cannabis, estrogen, and the endocannabinoid system

The Endocannabinoid System and Sex Steroid Hormone Signalling
 A comprehensive review exploring how estrogen and progesterone interact with endocannabinoid signalling pathways.
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3863507/

Sex Differences and the Endocannabinoid System
 A review outlining biological sex differences in cannabinoid metabolism, receptor expression, and subjective effects.
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8216879/

Estradiol Regulation of Endocannabinoid Signalling
 Research examining how estradiol affects endocannabinoid tone and cannabinoid-related behaviours.
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5028287/

Anandamide and Estrogen Correlations
 Overview of how endocannabinoid levels, particularly anandamide, fluctuate alongside estradiol during the menstrual cycle.
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9422771/

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35 - What’s Actually Happening in Your Body When You Take Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.06 Jan 202600:23:40

In this episode of the Canna Curious Podcast, Kyla slows things right down and returns to the foundations.

Before conversations about strain names, dosing, or delivery methods  before stigma, shame, or opinion  this episode asks a simpler question:

What is actually happening inside your body when you take cannabis?

This episode is for patients.

For women who turn to this plant not to escape their lives - but to cope with pain, stress, hormonal change, burnout, grief, or nervous system overload.

At the centre of this conversation is the endocannabinoid system (ECS)  a regulatory system that exists in all of us, whether we ever take cannabis or not.

In this episode, Kyla explores:

  • What the endocannabinoid system is - and why it’s not a “weed system,” but a core biological regulator
  • How the ECS was identified in the 1990s through cannabinoid research by scientists including Ally Howlett and Raphael Mechoulam
  • The three key components of the ECS: receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes
  • The roles of CB1 and CB2 receptors, and how THC and CBD interact with them differently
  • Why your body makes its own cannabinoids — and even passes them through breast milk
  • Why relief from cannabis looks different for everyone, and why variability is expected - not failure
  • How hormones, stress, nervous system state, and life stage (including perimenopause) influence response
  • The difference between regulation and escape, and why many women use cannabis to stay present  not numb
  • Why dosing can feel unpredictable, and why curiosity works better than rigid rules
  • How one-size-fits-all advice often creates shame and what a body-literate approach offers instead

Support the show
Canna Curious is produced independently. If you’d like to support the podcast, you can Buy me a coffee

Resources & Further Reading

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

These sources support the explanation of the endocannabinoid system as a regulatory system involved in balance, pain, mood, sleep, inflammation, and stress:

Individual Variability, Dosing & Patient-Centred Care

Referenced when discussing why cannabis affects people differently and why rigid dosing models often fail patients:

  • Huestis M. (2007). Human cannabinoid pharmacokinetics. Chemical Biodiversity, 4(8), 1770–1804.
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbdv.200790152
  • MacCallum CA, Russo EB. (2018). Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 49, 12–19.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0953620518300470
  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017).
     The Heal

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34 - When Women Stop Whispering with Kyla de Clifford.23 Dec 202500:09:58

As the year draws to a close, Kyla pauses - not to summarise, but to sit inside what this season of listening has actually revealed.

Recorded from Melbourne, in a softer and more honest state than usual, this solo episode reflects on thirty-three conversations about women’s health, relief, regulation, and the quiet ways women learn to manage their bodies inside imperfect systems.

At the centre of the episode is a question Kyla has been carrying since the very beginning of the podcast:

What actually happens when women stop whispering about medicine?

This is not an episode about trends, tips, or solutions.

It’s about:

  • why women whisper in the first place
  • how shame still shapes the way relief is accessed and talked about
  • what Kyla has noticed listening to women across diagnoses, ages, and lives

Throughout the episode, Kyla speaks candidly about:

  • whispering as a learned survival strategy
  • and the steadiness she witnessed when women were given language, curiosity, and trust

Rather than positioning the plant as a fix, this episode explores what cannabis use revealed:
 the gaps in care, the lack of education, and the unmet needs women have been navigating for years.

This conversation is for anyone who has:

  • softened their language to be taken seriously
  • questioned whether their relief was “allowed”
  • carried shame alongside something that helped
  • or felt like they had to work it out on their own

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33 - How to Choose a Good Medicinal Cannabis Clinic (and Avoid the Red Flags) with Kyla de Clifford and Jess Peros.16 Dec 202500:43:25

What does a good medicinal cannabis clinic actually look like in Australia - and how do you spot the ones that should make you pause?

This episode was sparked by a moment many of us have had lately: seeing cannabis clinic advertising out in the wild that feels… off. 

Kyla shares a story about walking down the street with her 11-year-old when they spotted a very obvious (and very questionable) clinic poster - which opened a bigger conversation about regulation, ethics, patient care, and how clinics should actually be operating.

Together, Kyla and Jess unpack what’s going wrong in the current clinic landscape, why patients are feeling frustrated and disempowered, and what you are absolutely allowed to ask for as a patient.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why medicinal cannabis clinics are not allowed to advertise the way many currently are - and why that matters for stigma, regulation, and long-term access
  • The biggest red flags to watch for when choosing a clinic
  • What patient-centred care actually looks like (and what it doesn’t)
  • Vertical integration, profit margins, and why some clinics push certain products
  • Your legal right to access your own scripts and choose your pharmacy
  • Why informed patients should be welcomed — not shut down — for doing their research
  • The growing frustration around discontinued products and limited prescribing
  • Why minor cannabinoids like CBG and THCV deserve more attention (especially for women)
  • How the system is heading toward a collision — and what needs to change next

Clinics Kyla trusts and recommends:

PlantMed with Dr John Teh - a genuinely integrative, whole-person approach https://plantmed.net.au/

Mode Health with Dr Matty Moore - collaborative care, tele-health, and strong clinical ethics https://www.modehealthcare.com.au/

Kyla recommends these clinics based on her personal experience as a patient. There is no paid partnership or financial incentive involved.

Key takeaways:

  • You are allowed to ask questions - and a good clinic expects you to
  • You should never feel rushed, dismissed, or funnelled into one product pathway
  • If something feels off, it probably is
  • The future of cannabis care isn’t stronger  it’s smarter, more nuanced, and more patient-led

This episode is for patients, parents, clinicians, and anyone trying to navigate medicinal cannabis in Australia without getting burned along the way.

Resources mentioned:

TGA advertising guidelines for medicinal cannabis
APRA regulations around prescribing and promotion

You can find jess @thegreenroom.hq

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32 - Dependence, Insomnia & Letting Go: Shaye’s Story of Rebuilding Her Relationship With Cannabis.09 Dec 202500:25:11

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

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31 - How to Talk To Your Kids About Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.02 Dec 202500:17:22

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)

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30 - Living With a ‘One in a Million’ Cancer: Alli’s Story of Surgery, Healing & Self-Trust.25 Nov 202500:37:46

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: alli@allihealingontheroad.com

Radical Remission by Kelly A Turner

Quantam Healing by Deepak Chopra 

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29 - Growing Up With Chronic Pain & Stigma: Kaylee’s Story of Coping & Self - Advocacy.18 Nov 202500:41:24

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

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28 - Irena Katz: The Naturopath Who Used CBD To Heal Her Dogs Leg. 11 Nov 202500:31:34

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

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27 - Sam Clohessy: Breast Cancer, Fitness, and the Power of the Plant.05 Nov 202500:44:54

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:

Connect:

Follow Sam Clohessy on Instagram @infinityboundlessfitness

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26 - Megan Mbengue: Dancer to Nurse to Plant Medicine.28 Oct 202500:55:22

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

Connect with Megan

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25 - Lillie Brown: Painful Sex 101.21 Oct 202500:56:11

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.

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24 - Seeded: Does Cannabis Bring You Closer to God? with Bee and Ray.14 Oct 202500:43:20

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

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23 - The Hemp Perspective: Crystal White from Northern Rivers Hemp.07 Oct 202500:38:29

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

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22 - Love, Loss, and the Plant: A Family’s Pancreatic Cancer Journey with Christie Ahfa.30 Sep 202500:35:08

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:

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21 - Give The Plant Back To The People with Kyla de Clifford.23 Sep 202500:36:14

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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20 - Seeded. Called By The Plant with Bee and Ray.26 Aug 202500:42:47

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

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19 - Alcohol Vs Cannabis: Kyla de Clifford.19 Aug 202500:19:17

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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18 - Instigating Rebel: Christina McMullan's Cannabis Story.12 Aug 202500:54:16

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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17 - In Memory Of My Beautiful Nanna.05 Aug 202500:16:32

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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16 - Seeded. How to Take a T- Break: Resetting Your Cannabis Tolerance with Bee and Ray.29 Jul 202500:24:47

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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15 (Bonus) - Desire: Sex and Cannabis with Lillie Brown.25 Jul 202501:02:05

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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