A Heartwarming Holiday Reflection

This episode is actually coming out a day after Christmas

, but before New Year's Eve , because I also realized this year that New Year's Eve falls on a Tuesday night , which means New Year's , new Year's is on Wednesday , so the episode falls right in between these two . So this episode is going to be for Christmas and New Year's and I'm going to be sharing some fun things about Bite Me , the show about edibles .

And first of all , I want to thank you so much for being a listener of Bite Me . None of this would be possible without you , and when I started this podcast five and a half years ago now , I never thought it would become what it is today . I didn't really know what I was thinking when I started it .

All I know is I really loved edibles and I also loved podcasts , and so I married the two and here we are . And when I first started it was bi-weekly episodes , and then I got that first email from a listener who said hey , I really like what you're doing and that spurred me on , and it's listeners like you out there who send your messages .

That really keeps me going , because podcasting is a tough space to be in sometimes for an independent podcaster and , as much as I love doing it , it can feel lonely at times . But that means I'll be planning some new things for the new year , and I had a lot of wins this year that I would love to share with you .

I had some wonderful guests , some of those guests . One of them was Jamie Evans . She was a guest on the show earlier this year .

She is an author and a wine sommelier who moved to the cannabis industry over the last five years , and it was only until this year that she agreed , which made me think , well , I've been doing this long enough now that perhaps it was the right timing for both of us , because without that time interviewing people under my belt it might not have gone as well as

it did . So that was a real feather in my cap for me personally , and Jamie has written a number of beautiful books on cannabis , cocktails and beverages and a book on CBD as well , a couple of other wonderful guests that I had .

One in particular was Ann Alchin , and you've probably seen me do some episodes with her , not only the interview but just covering her work that she's doing , because Ann is just a lovely human being that I had the opportunity to meet in person back in June when we went to Camp Canada together , and we really found that we had a lot in common , especially when

it came to cannabis . So that has been really special for me this year as well . And also Jackie McGaskill well , and also Jackie Magaskill , who is the co-founder of Sheesh Cola and also the author of Chill A Wine Lover's Introduction to Cannabis , which I just finished reading .

Actually , it's a wonderful book If you're interested in introducing any wine lovers in your life to cannabis , in your life to cannabis . It's a wonderfully written book that really shows you how the two plants have a lot of similarities . So it's very well done . Jackie has just been incredibly supportive .

It was a real thrill to get to know her a little bit too . I met her at Camp Cano as well . There was also Madam Cannoli , who helped me get an interview with Mila . That I did .

I wrote an article about Mila when she came to Canada for a hash making workshop that Cherry Blossom Bell was leading , and I also had the opportunity to interview Cherry Blossom Bell earlier this year too .

When I sort of think about all the wonderful people I've had the chance to interview , I'm really astounded sometimes what I've managed to pull off for one thing . But none of this would be possible without you folks listening out there and Bite Me Cannabis or Bite Me .

The show about edibles is still relatively small in the grand scheme of things when it comes to podcasts , but I recently did receive an email that I had hit the 100,000 download mark , which was really exciting to see . Now , that is across all my back catalog of episodes , but 100,000 downloads for just this middle-aged white lady in a small town in Canada .

And do you know what else is remarkable Is that this podcast is listened to in 70 different countries around the world . I find that remarkable as well . Sitting here in this small town , like I said , in Canada , and people are listening in 70 different countries around the world . It truly is an international audience . I love that .

I love how this show is bringing people together , how cannabis brings people together . I find that really encouraging . So that's my heartfelt thank you because these achievements mean so much to me and I couldn't have done it without you . Bite Me really has impacted people in a lot of positive ways .

Love getting messages around that and , with permission , I'm going to share a message with you that I received from Jim in Australia some time ago Actually , it was pretty recently , but he says Hi Margaret , I recommended my daughter your podcast the other day . I really like that you have some fitness and cannabis episodes .

I'm in my mid-40s , three kids in their mid-20s that have all moved out of the house . Sounds a little familiar . Yes , it does . I'm a gym enthusiast and I have a Concept2 air rower at home . I've noticed if I'm high I don't gas out as easily on the rower . It's like I stay relaxed and ease into it . I imagine it might be the same reason .

That might be the same reason I like it for grappling with Brazilian jiu-jitsu . I started my cannabis and lifting fitness journey at 40 with chronic pain from arthritis , bone spurs and joints and chronic knee pain . Now 44 , I have lost 18 kilograms but really put on so much muscle that I can't tell how much fat I've lost .

I have six-pack abs for the first time in my life at 42 . I mostly use cannabis for inflammation and don't lift well high .

I find it makes the aches and pains of exercise feel like a pleasant sensation and a reward for pushing myself , and Jim had listened to that episode that I did with Dr Whitney Ogle , who is a specialist in cannabis and exercise and is doing her research at Humboldt University in California , and that's a remarkable story .

I mean , starting your fitness journey at 40 and having six-pack abs at 42 is quite an accomplishment . I love hearing about how listeners are impacted by the work that I'm doing on the show , Sometimes by having guests who are sharing information that's new to all of us .

It's one of the reasons I love having guests on , because I'm learning right alongside you folks so much appreciated . Thank you for sharing that , jim , and , as always , if you want to send me a message , he sent me that through Instagram . Instagram is a social platform I'm most active on . You can send me emails .

You can send me a fan mail , although I can't reply to fan mail in the same way , but there's lots of ways to reach out and get a hold of me and I also want to say thank you to supportive listeners . Pat H recently bought me cookies on the Buy Me A Cookie platform .

He says I've been listening to your show since COVID and I look forward to every episode . Learn to grow , cure and cook edibles during that time . So I thank you for the edible end of things , margaret .

Thank you , pat , for your support and of course , I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to Wayne , steve and Terry , who are longtime listeners , who have been incredibly supportive during this whole journey , and I love when I can put names and faces in some cases to the folks who are listening to the show .

Now , in the spirit of the holidays , I also want to share a story with you , called Grandma's Secret Ingredient . The holidays had always been magical at Grandma Edie's house . Every December she transformed her cozy little home into a winter wonderland .

Twinkling lights sparkled on the front porch , the scent of pine and freshly baked cookies filled the air , and a well-loved record of classic carols played softly in the background . This year , however , was different . Grandma Edie was slowing down and for the first time her family insisted she take it easy .

They would handle the holiday dinner while she relaxed , but Grandma Edie wasn't one to sit idle , not when there were cookies to be baked . I can still make the cookies , she said firmly , brushing off her son's offer to pick up store-bought ones . They wouldn't taste the same .

On Christmas Eve , she tied on her faded red apron , the one embroidered with snowflakes that her late husband had given her decades ago . She pulled out her well-worn recipe box and smiled as her fingers brushed across the yellowing card labeled Holiday Magic Cookies . As she measured flour and spices , she reached for the jar on the top shelf her secret ingredient .

It was homemade cannabis-infused butter , something her granddaughter , mia , had taught her how to make a few years ago to ease her arthritis . A little extra holiday cheer never hurt anyone . She chuckled , folding the butter into the dough .

By the time the family arrived later that evening , the cookies were cooling on the counter , perfectly golden , with sugared edges that sparkled like frost . The scent of nutmeg , ginger and something extra cozy lingered in the air . Everyone gathered around the fireplace after dinner , sipping cocoa and swapping stories from years past .

Mia took a bite of a cookie and paused Grandma , she whispered wide-eyed did you infuse these ? Of course , grandma Edie replied with a mischievous grin . My hands may be stiff , but my memory is just fine . The family erupted into laughter . Best Christmas ever , her son declared reaching for another cookie .

That night there were no phones , no distractions , just warm conversation , shared memories and a whole lot of love Under the glow of the twinkling tree . It felt like magic had returned to their holiday . As Grandma Edie sat back and watched her family laughing , happy and connected , she smiled . It wasn't just the cookies that made this Christmas special .

It was being together , present in the moment

, wrapped in love and holiday warmth . Now that , she thought , is the real secret ingredient , is the real secret ingredient . There's lots exciting coming in 2025 , and I hope you'll take a minute to share some of your cannabis-related resolutions or goals for the new year . And until next time , my friends , it'll be 2025 . Until then , I'm your host , margaret .

Stay high .