Join us for a deep dive into the world of cannabis science with Dr. Miyabe Shields and host Dr. Riley Kirk cofounders of the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy. NAP is a nonprofit focused on studying the real world uses of cannabis and other natural products as well as the biochemical mechanisms. In this episode, we discuss the latest updates on biochemistry projects, the importance of enzymes in the endocannabinoid system, and the exciting findings from the Science of Smokability study. Discover ...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 42 min
In this conversation, Dr. Michele Ross discusses the complexities of cannabis use during pregnancy, sharing her personal experiences and insights as a neuropharmacologist and fibromyalgia patient. The discussion highlights the lack of comprehensive research on the effects of cannabis, the comparative safety of cannabis versus traditional medications, and the stigma surrounding its use. Dr. Ross emphasizes the importance of advocacy, education, and support systems, including the role of doulas, i...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 24 min
In this episode, Riley Kirk shares her personal journey through pregnancy, focusing on her experiences with cannabis use, tapering down her consumption, and the emotional and physical changes she faced. She discusses the importance of mental health during this time, the role of her supportive partner, and the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). The conversation also touches on the gender reveal process and the complexities of navigating a high-risk pregnancy. In this conver...
May 30, 2025•55 min
In this conversation, Host Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Anurag Agrawal discuss the intricate relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed, exploring themes of coevolution, chemical ecology, and the ecological arms race. He explains how monarchs have adapted to survive the toxic compounds in milkweed, the challenges they face due to habitat destruction and pesticides, and the importance of conservation efforts. The discussion highlights the fascinating dynamics of species interactions and the ...
May 16, 2025•1 hr
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Allyn Howlett—renowned neuroscientist and pioneer in cannabinoid research—shares her groundbreaking journey into the study of cannabis and the discovery of the CB1 receptor. Originally focused on neuronal hormones, Dr. Howlett recounts how her curiosity led to one of the most pivotal findings in medical cannabis science: the identification of the brain’s first cannabinoid receptor. She dives into the mechanisms of THC, the function of cannabinoid rec...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In this conversation, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Josh Kaplan delve into the complexities of cannabis research, particularly focusing on CBD and its therapeutic potential for conditions like epilepsy. Dr. Kaplan shares his journey into cannabis research, highlighting the significance of understanding CBD's mechanisms, the role of GPR55 in seizure management, and the challenges of dosing CBD effectively. They also discuss the entourage effect, the importance of personalized medicine, and the ongoing r...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk interviews David Sandelman from Cannatrol, delving into the intricate processes of drying and curing cannabis. David shares his journey into the cannabis industry, emphasizing the importance of controlling environmental conditions to achieve optimal drying and curing results. The conversation explores the science behind water activity, the significance of terpene retention, and the implications of traditional drying methods like the 60-60 ...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr
In this conversation, Jordan River shares his journey into the cannabis industry, emphasizing the importance of home growing and the concept of Overgrow, which advocates for more individuals to cultivate their own plants. He discusses the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, the connection to nature, and the role of caregivers in supporting patients who cannot grow for themselves. The conversation highlights the value of homegrown cannabis compared to dispensary products and the need for community ...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 13 min
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dan Nelson from Happy Valley Genetics discuss the importance of home growing cannabis and the various types of seeds available. They delve into the differences between photoperiod and autoflower seeds, the benefits of feminized seeds, and what beginner growers should consider when selecting seeds. The conversation also touches on the evolution of cannabis genetics and the significance of disease resistance in cannabis cultivation. In t...
Mar 07, 2025•58 min
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk speaks with Dr. June Chin, Chief Medical Officer at Leafwell, about the evolving landscape of medical cannabis. They discuss the benefits of obtaining a medical card, the differences between medical and recreational cannabis, and the challenges faced by patients, including cost and accessibility. The conversation also delves into the sensitive topic of cannabis use and firearms, recent legal cases impacting this issue, and the importance o...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, host Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Elizabeth Sage who is a certified Ganjier- which is essentially the weed equivalent to a sommelier in the wine world. In this conversation, Riley and Elizabeth delve into the intricate process of evaluating cannabis, discussing various aspects such as appearance, grinding techniques, flavor profiles, and the importance of set and setting in consumption. They share personal experiences with different strains and emphasiz...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 55
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, host Dr. Riley Kirk dives deep into groundbreaking cannabis science with world-renowned molecular biologist Dr. Ali Bektaş. Dr. Bektaş has an impressive background in plant biology, microbes, and agriculture, specializing in affordable and distributed systems for detecting nucleic acids in agricultural environments. He has worked extensively with cannabis nurseries and biotech companies as a consultant, staff scientist, and Chief Science Officer. Notably...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 54
On this episode of Bioactive, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Megan Mbengue, RN, MS. Megan is the owner of the cannabis company The Trusted Cannabis Nurse. She formulates custom products for patient specific needs as well as selling whole plant formulations through her website. The conversation discusses a recent study that Megan completed implementing the use of suppositories for pain relief during menstrual periods. Megan shares her study on the effectiveness of suppositories for period pain. Th...
Jan 10, 2025•52 min•Ep. 53
🌱 In this episode of Bioactive, host Dr. Riley Kirk dives into her favorite cannabis research publications from 2024, sharing groundbreaking insights that advanced our understanding of this incredible plant. 📖 Exciting News! Dr. Kirk's upcoming book, Reefer Wellness: Understanding Cannabis as Medicine, is AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER now! 👉 Order Here ✨ In this episode: Highlights of key cannabis research papers from 2024. Sneak peek at upcoming Bioactive Season 2025 guests. New Year's cannabis re...
Dec 27, 2024•27 min•Ep. 52
In this engaging conversation, Ken Behr shares his remarkable journey from a dyslexic child who struggled in school to a successful writer and former drug smuggler. He discusses the challenges he faced growing up, the influence of his family, and the cultural shifts he experienced moving to Florida during the rise of drug culture in the 1970s. Ken recounts his early experiences with cannabis, the transition to smuggling, and some of the wild stories from his past, including a dramatic plane smug...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 51
Host Riley Kirk interviews Sarah Burke, the founder of Women in Media Network and her new producer! They explore the intersection of cannabis, science, media, and the evolving perception of cannabis in society, especially as it pertains to women. They question some of the advertising challenges that the cannabis industry and content creators within it face, while looking at accepted habits and attitudes towards alcohol. They talk about content creation in the cannabis industry and its inevitable...
Nov 29, 2024•55 min
Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk: Leaders in Cannabis and Natural Products Research Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk, co-founders of the nonprofit organization The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), are at the forefront of research and education in cannabis science and natural products. Through their work, NAP conducts national and international studies exploring diverse topics such as cannabis consumption patterns, consumer trends, emerging products, vape and lab testing, and dat...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 48
🌱 The Science and Magic of Sungrown Cannabis | Bioactive Podcast 🌱 Join Dr. Riley Kirk and an inspiring panel of experts — Tina Gordon, Lindsay MaHarry, Colleen King, and Christina Wong — as they dive deep into the unique qualities of sungrown cannabis! Recorded after their 2024 Emerald Cup panel discussion, this episode explores the unparalleled benefits of cultivating cannabis in natural sunlight and the artistry behind it. 🌿 In This Episode: What Makes Sungrown Cannabis Unique: Discover th...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 47
How Consumption Methods Affect Cannabis Chemistry | Dr. Riley Kirk | Bioactive Podcast In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk breaks down how cannabis consumption methods—whether smoking, vaping, or edibles—can impact the chemistry and effects you experience. We often focus on strain-specific effects to curate our cannabis experience, but your method of consumption also plays a key role. Different methods produce unique combinations of compounds, changing how you experience the...
Oct 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, we dive deep into a lesser-known but serious condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Join host Dr. Riley Kirk and guests Dr. Codi Peterson and Megan Mbengue as they explore the paradox of CHS, where in some rare cases, regular cannabis use leads to severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, despite cannabis being commonly used for its anti-nausea properties. We discuss the symptoms, the prodrome phase, and the potential genetic compo...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 45
In this video, Riley interviews Jini Glaros, the Chief Science Officer (CSO) at Modern Canna, about groundbreaking research on the relationship between water activity and moisture content in cannabis. Whether you're part of an MSO, a home grower, or just passionate about cannabis science, understanding how these factors influence product quality, shelf life, and data accuracy is essential. Watch as Jini shares key insights from her experiments and discusses how this information can help improve ...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 44
Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Jason Wilson, MS on this episode of Bioactive. The two share many interests in self-exploration of the brain with drugs, navigating their own paths in the cannabis industry, thoughts on open access science, and more. Jason is a neurodivergent scientist and excellent science communicator. He is the host of the podcast Isn’t Life Curious which is the new name after years of being the Curious about Cannabis Podcast. Jason is passionate about providing accessible educatio...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 44
Riley sits down for the second time with reserach scientist Twinkle Paryani from Abstrax Tech. Twinkle recently wrote a paper titled "Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics" and can be found (open-access) at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.4c03225 This paper dives into the chemistry of smell, and when cannabis breeders are breeding for unique aroma, how they should be evaluating the final product. We often attribute the...
Aug 23, 2024•55 min•Ep. 43
On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses microbial testing for cannabis products in the legal industry. This is a different conversation than living soil which will be a future topic. Riley chat with microbiologist and medical patient Morgan Boyle about what tests are being done, what species are being tested for and how these guidelines are determined. NJ Homegrow initiative: https://www.njhomegrow.com/ Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! www.bioactivepodcast.com Snapcha...
Aug 09, 2024•56 min•Ep. 42
In this episode Dr. Riley Kirk interviews researcher Dr. Whitney Ogle about using cannabis for exercise, Dr. Ogle is passionate about this subject because she has found the benefits of medicating before runs, hikes and other forms of exercise and believes it can be a tool to a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Kirk and Dr. Ogle talk about what reserach that is currently happening, how both of them personally integrate cannabis and exercise, navigating difficult conversations, the role of CBD and more. Dr...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 41
On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses illegal pesticides found in legal California cannabis products with Alex Halperin, the founder of WeedWeek and one of the main reporters on this topic. They review what pesticides were found, how this investigation started, and how the industry can improve these findings. This article is very important for medical users to be aware of and is unfortunately another reason why we need to have the right to homegrow. Most labs when analyzing cannabis p...
Jul 12, 2024•47 min•Ep. 40
Dr. Riley Kirk here letting you know that I'm taking a quick focus break to hit some deadlines for the book I'm writing, but I do have a few announcements! In the meantime, get caught up on any episodes you've missed, watch this new YouTube video I mentioned, or listen to the latest episode of the Spicy Fat podcast which is part of the Women in Media Network I'm joining. I speak to Dr. Carlen Costa (psychotherapist, clinical sexologist, psychedelic assisted psychotherapist, cannabis educator, ph...
Jun 18, 2024•4 min•Ep. 39
Welcome back to another episode of #NAPTIME with Dr.Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk (host of Bioactive). On these episodes the two stoner scientists recount cannabis industry events and discuss some of the relevant science. In these episodes we recount some of the events we attend in the cannabis industry and also talk about a lot of cannabis science. If you want to support NAP or learn more about the research we are conducting head to www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org. Mad love my friends! Learn m...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 38
In this week’s episode Dr. Riley Kirk and guest Tanya Funk dive in to the basics of providing nutrients to cannabis plants. This can look many ways depending on how you like to cultivate. The two discuss organic practices, organic gardening and what to look for to gauge your plants health. Tanya is co-owner of a nutrient company called Organitek who specializes in nutrients for plants. Check them out at www.organitek.com with some amazing resources on growing plants! Suggest guests for the podca...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 37
Todays episode is all about oral health with the talented educator and communicator Stacy Bobak. Stacy is a Registered Dental Hygienist and Certified Cannabis Educator in Ontario, Canada. She is the creator and owner of CannaDent - a Cannabis education platform for Dental Professionals and works as a college professor, public speaker, and nonprofit founder. She is a Breast Cancer survivor and a Medical Cannabis patient advocate and a soon to be a first-time Mom. Learn more about Stacy on IG (@ca...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 36
