Afleveringen
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3rd Gen Family: Zkittlez Story, Iconic Terps, Ego Clash Tradition, Breeding Winners
If you’ve ever wondered what it would’ve been like to be a teenager during the height of Prop 215, living in the Emerald Triangle running and gunning with legends like Jack Herer and Eddy Lepp, you can’t miss a minute of the conversation with this guest.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by none other than Brandon of 3rd Gen Family Farms, Terp Hogz, Moonshine Melts, Dying Breed Seeds, and more to discuss growing up in the right place at the right time in terms of the evolution of the culture, the legend and legacies of Gas Station Bob, Overall Dave, and OGCookieMonster415, as well as his take on the creation of Original Z, the events that led to creating Ego Clash, arguably the world’s premier hash competition, and where the market is currently at with predictions of the future.
Brandon is not only one of the most outspoken guests we’ve ever had, but he is also one of the fortunate few who grew up around and learned firsthand from a lot of the legends we worship today. Originally born in LA, Brandon will unravel the story of his journey back to NorCal to his family’s roots, to become a 3rd generation legacy farmer, with his mom first connecting him to Eddy Lepp and Jack Herer who lived down the street.
You’ll hear Brandon recall helping Eddy and Jack run their medical programs, selling whole plants to patients after they tied red ribbons around them back in veg, even advertising in the back of High Times magazine. You know, the good times.
The real lore that comes to life in this pod is that of Gas Station Bob. Many have heard of this mythical figure responsible for world-famous varieties like Original Z and Rozé. Brandon dives deep into who this man is, his contributions to cultivation and breeding, and how strongly he wants nothing to do with the public eye.
Among the rambunctious recollections of his past, Brandon also highlights his stake in hash making. Back when the game was rife with nothing but BHO hounds, Brandon was pushing solventless like a madman, even sweeping cups (much to the dismay of others.) He will also explain his stance on the origins of Original Z, how he believes it’s a descendant of Key Lime Pie, and how he’s able to visually identify real Z off the rip, and that many stopped competing in competitions once he stepped in. These events led him to create Ego Clash, the world’s biggest hash competition that takes place in California and Barcelona.
Crazy stories aside, Brandon lets loose a slurry of bold claims in this podcast, such as the assertion that he created Runtz, the medical vibes are dead, and if he had taken over one of Connected’s early facilities there’d be no Alien Labs, and that a price surge in packs is coming, and he needs to be the one to form a high council of industry leaders to standardize quality and pricing.
Love him or hate him, Brandon from 3rd Gen Family Farms is a “lifer” in this industry who’s earned his legendary status over and over again, even selling untrimmed pounds of Z to Berner for $4k once upon a time. If you’re a true fan of the industry and stories surrounding the plant, you will either be in stitches or on the edge of your seat for this entire episode. Tune in and try not to get your feelings hurt!
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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Hemper: Unboxing of Hemper, Classic to Custom, Building a Smokers Business
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring a product like a glass piece or accessory from an idea to the manufacturing line and scale it to 20k+ orders, this episode is for you.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by the young legends behind the Hemper brand, Bryan (founder,) and Thai (lead designer,) to discuss their steady growth alongside the industry for the past decade, their wins vs losses in terms of dropping a new piece and accessories every single month for years, how market demand drove them into taking over the cone industry on a side hustle turned overseas pre-roll empire, and of course, all of the crazy stories in between.
For the uninitiated, Hemper is an herb accessory brand known for its high-quality smoking products, including glass b0ngs, rolling trays, and subscription boxes. The company was founded in 2015 with the goal of delivering curated smoking essentials directly to consumers. Hemper collaborates with artists and influencers to create innovative, limited-edition designs that appeal to both casual and experienced smokers. The brand has grown significantly, becoming a go-to source for affordable and stylish smoking accessories.
The story of how Bryan essentially graduated from college on the East Coast while simultaneously building the dream team to scale Hemper is one that you truly can’t miss. You’ll also hear about Thai’s background working with Hypebeast and Karmaloop on countless creative endeavors from creative design to music videos and more before Karmaloop’s imminent demise and bankruptcy around the time Diddy got involved.
A name of interest that comes up in this pod is Rama Mayo, an entrepreneur and visionary known for his significant contributions to the herb and music industries. He co-founded Hall of Flowers, a premier herb trade show, and Green Street, an herb brand agency. Before his ventures with the plant, Mayo spent 15 years in the music industry, working with renowned artists such as Jimmy Eat World, The Hives, and At the Drive-In, and co-founded the record label Big Wheel Recreation.
You’ll hear about Rama reaching out to Bryan only 15 months into the business running, insisting they come to Los Angeles to live in the same building as him and run their operation at the Green Street building. Bryan divulges crazy stories surrounding their time at Green Street and running with Rama, meeting essentially every key player in the LA scene pre-2020.
One of the biggest topics of conversation in this episode is easily product manufacturing and merchandising. Thai and Bryan weigh in on a number of topics surrounding deciding which glass pieces and accessories to mass produce in the thousands to tens of thousands, doing all their CAD design in-house, which ideas are even worth pursuing, and what goes into developing a full product line for an MSO.
The true gem of this pod is when Bryan and Thai talk about their cone side business that’s driven them to set up shop in India. Getting in during a cone shortage around 2017-18, they were able to rapidly scale their factories overseas to now own and operate over a dozen. Bryan will divulge exactly how they were able to meet crazy demand in the millions and presently produce around 30-40% of the world’s pre-roll cones.
Any aspiring entrepreneur who loves the plant should sit down for this inspirational episode about how you can build massive empires in this industry without ever having to grow, trim, or cure anything.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Dan’s Rollin Up: Luxury Cannabis Rolls, Hash Hole Artistry & Japanese Craftsmanship
The term “professional roller” is thrown around a lot these days by people in the industry, but today’s guest is almost the textbook definition.
Blackleaf is blessed in the studio by the presence of the man with the magic fingers, Dan aka @dansrollinup, to discuss the evolution of his connoisseur curation brand that brings together the utmost premium A-1 flower with the dabber’s dream headstash of rosin, along with how important maintaining quality control is, some of the incredible cultivators and hashmakers Dan is fortunate to work with, what it’s like visiting Japan on a regular basis, and some of the best places to grub down around LA.
Dan goes in deep on his storied career with the plant and all the different hats he’s worn that have brought him here today, as he will say, to his third iteration of branding himself. Now 37, Dan talks about his decades of experience cultivating, extracting, moving packs, and eventually discovering his gift for rolling the most beautiful donuts you’ve ever seen in your life.
Branding is a big conversation on this pod, as Blackleaf probes Dan about how he was able to land on his designs and elevate every detail of his packaging and unboxing experience, and what even goes into that. You’ll hear Dan talk about his love for his dog and iconic animes like Dragonball Z and emphasizing that you should create something based off the things you truly love (without biting too much on anyone’s IP.) You'll hear Dan claim authenticity in your brand as a reflection of yourself in so many words, always keeping your passion and head in the right place to build something meaningful and lasting.
If you’re curious at all about how to take your rolling game to the next level, this is definitely a pod you can’t miss. @Dansrollinup weighs in on how he believes you achieve the next step in taking your roll game professional, as well as maintaining quality control as business expands, and the organic method in which he sources all of the flower and rosin for his artisanal rolls.
As a bonus, if you’re ever visiting Toyko or Los Angeles, Dan riffs off tons of incredible places to grab a bite to eat ranging from Nobu in Japan to the bomb noodle spot at the airport, as well as the ACTUAL best sushi spots around Los Angeles. Dig into this episode and you’ll unearth countless delicious gems.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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For any aspiring member of the industry that feels like they don’t have the capital or equipment to start growing or breeding, this episode is 1000% for you.
Blackleaf is blessed in the studio once more by Compton’s own Masonic Smoker aka Masonic Seeds to discuss his heady operations out of his backyard where he’s been breeding and selecting some of the most fire cuts on the West Coast for washing into hash, popping seeds straight into soil, as well as rolling the dice with landrace genetics and growing 25-30’ tall Moroccan plants. We can’t emphasize this enough, he’s done all of this in his BACKYARD IN COMPTON—WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY?
Any real deal fans of the plant and/or grow nerds will have a hay day with the episode. You’ll hear Masonic shed light on how he developed his lauded Wilson strain, as well as some of the breeding projects he’s done with it since, like his absolutely insane Banana God cut.
Masonic also drops serious gems like how he (haphazardly) pops seeds, where he got his hands on Indian landrace genetics, how his “natural selections” work for new varieties, a few of his favorite breeders in the Los Angeles scene over the years, the Lemon Tree breeder controversy, and what happened to the real Sour D.
This episode is all about breeding for hash, cultivation, and fire genetics so don’t skip a second if you want to hear how Masonic Seeds handled his first backyard run of Z, why Oreoz looks fire, but isn’t actually fire, and how, for the most part, breeding fire with fire typically equals more fire.
Masonic Seeds lets loose an incalculable amount of opinions on this podcast about what he thinks is fire for smoking versus washing, how to grow light deps vs outdoor behemoths, and even what the best competitions are to showcase your work. You’ll hear him bring up Ego Clash among other competitions, as well as what it means when judges “shake n’ bake” to tip the scales in favor of their homies.
Hands-down, this is an episode you can’t miss if you’ve ever felt like you don’t have the tools to start participating in the industry. Masonic Smoker is the poster child of making it work with what you got and putting in the hard work to produce a consistently quality product. You don’t need a big fancy facility to build a business in this industry, just a backyard in Compton and some serious gumption. Masonic Seeds is living proof that all it takes is passion and consistency in this game to make a name for yourself. Find his work on www.masonicseeds.co and on IG @masonicseedsco. Follow Masonic Smoker on Youtube to see behind-the-scenes footage of his daily operations in the grow and what fire he’s currently working with.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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Lately it seems like all anyone can talk about are the classics like OGs, Sours, and Hazes. The guests blessing the studio on this particular episode just so happen to be a couple of the fortunate few that keep the lore of numerous iconic OG cuts.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by two serious legends from behind the curtain: Payaso and C*nn*bis Grower aka The C*nn*bis Brothers to discuss the relaunch of their brand in California, how they’ve been steadily booming in Canada, an upcoming launch in Australia, and of course, the brothers’ tenure in the game, working alongside the urban legend OG Raskal himself, and the genetics that made them all famous like Cookies and Chem, Fire OG, White Fire OG, and WiFi OG.
If you claim to know all of the biggest names in the industry that have been cranking work out of California since the beginning of Prop 215 and you don’t mention Terence and Philip Cabral, you’re mistaken. These guys have seriously been in the trenches, acquiring their first license in 2000, and catching plenty of charges along the way. Today, they proudly operate an almost completely family-run business in California, with complete autonomy over their project in Canada as well, often going up North and getting their hands dirty in the grow.
The stories from Terence and Phil in the episode are certifiably insane. You’ll hear the brothers talk about their entrance into the High Times Cups and how they definitively stepped up their games, citing this as the first place they ever met Dope as Yola and formed a lifelong friendship. Blackleaf at one point asks about some of the old crews they used to run with, and the brothers may mention some of the hustlers that used to absolutely crank work out of the Hollywood Hills, a West Coast Cure deal that went sour, and running and gunning with people like Ivan from Jungle Boys around LA.
In terms of game you can soak up from this pod—it’s immeasurable. You’ll gain insight into international events like Spannabis, how the C*nn*bis Brothers work with their significant others, children, and cousins on the day-to-day without going insane, how to build solid partnerships and take your work to new states/countries, how to produce A-1 flower, and what the legal market is currently like in Canada, Australia, Germany, and more.
Keep a lookout at your local shops for the relaunch of The C*nn*bis Brothers products if you want to taste a piece of history. If you’re in Australia, keep it locked for their official launch in February-March of this year!
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This is hands-down the most important episode to tune into if you consume, cultivate, handle, or have anything to do with the plant and don’t want to have a hard time with law enforcement.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by the famed Pot Brothers At Law (@pot_brothers_at_law), aka Craig and Mark Wasserman of Wasserman Law, to discuss countless scenarios where their copyrighted #STFU© script comes incredibly handy when dealing with the police. They also discuss their deep familial connection to the industry through Craig’s son and founder of West Coast Cure, J Cures, and how they became a global sensation for being the first to offer free legal tips on social media for the past 8 years.
The Pot Brothers at Law, Craig and Marc Wasserman, are Southern California-based herb and criminal defense attorneys who have become viral sensations by simply educating the public on their legal rights. Through their weekly "Shut The Fuck Up Friday" (#STFUfriday) campaign, they teach individuals how to handle police encounters by sticking to a simple, effective script.
Leveraging Marc's Hollywood background and Craig's legal expertise of over 30+ years, they’ve built a massive social media presence, attracting millions of followers with engaging and impactful content. Now expanding into media ventures like weekly Zoom sessions and potential movie-related projects, they continue to advocate for consumer’s rights while entertaining and educating a global audience.
Craig and Marc cover nearly every situation where you might encounter the police as someone who is caught in the act of smoking, is in possession of, or transporting, large quantities of herb. This includes wild stories from Craig about why it’s so important to invoke the 5th amendment during an arrest, the most common and random reasons you get pulled over, and the (il)legality of smoking in public or flying with herb on you. These two have literally seen it all since they’ve been defending consumers and industry members since the early days of Prop 215.
If you listen real closely to this pod you might also gain invaluable insight on the best ways to start up your own legal brand in CA in today’s competitive market and potentially save a pretty penny on licensing.
One thing that becomes abundantly clear in this episode is that if you’re in the mindset of taking your traditional brand into the legal market or even starting one from scratch, Craig and Marc should be the first people you talk to. Even if you aren’t based in California, these two have built a global network of resources that may be able to point you in the right direction. The other glaringly clear message from this episode is that if you’re even in doubt when encountering the police, SHUT THE FUCK UP, and STICK TO THE SCRIPT.
The SCRIPT©
“Why did you pull me over?”
“I’m not discussing my day”
“Am I being detained or am I free to go?©
(if detained) “I INVOKE THE 5TH!” then SHUT THE FUCK UP™
I do not consent to a search!
To any police officer or law enforcement personnel:
“I am invoking my 5th Amendment Miranda Rights and will only speak to you with my attorney present. Please allow me to contact my attorney.”
Visit PotBrothersAtLaw.com or call 855-WASS-LAW for more resources. Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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When you’ve been in the game consuming and cultivating herb as long as FSOTD’s host Blackleaf, you can immediately recognize when you’ve found a truly innovative new product for handling and breaking down your flower.
Blackleaf is joined in the Las Vegas Haze Radio studio by Brent Stevens from Flower Mill and his team, Q, Aaron, Jason, and John, to discuss the most groundbreaking technology for milling and/or grinding your herb in arguably the past 100+ years. Founded only in 2020, Flower Mill has found almost overnight success from their high-grade steel handheld mills designed by smokers for smokers to create the perfect grind with the optimal sift screen for collecting kief.
You’ll hear Brent tell the story of his first come-to-Jesus moment with this technology in 2018 at CannaCon in Detroit when he met his future counterparts, John, Jason, and Aaron, who came from the high-end automotive engineering industry. They developed the Crown grinder under the Royal Health moniker originally before fully conceptualizing the Flower Mill, and by 2020, Brent claims he has never forgotten the Crown or let the people who developed it leave his side.
The train to success has been moving almost at a bullet’s pace for this group of passionate individuals who go on to claim zero outside funding and how they’ve essentially stumbled upon extremely powerful organic promotion and support from not only their local areas like Arizona, California, Michigan, and Illinois but also by noteworthy celebrities such as That Mexican OT, Wiz Khalifa, Vic Mensa, Red Man, and more.
Two crazy stories you absolutely cannot miss during this episode are Brent explaining how they got their first big brand collaboration with Zig-Zag. This collaboration marked Zig-Zag's first venture into cannabis-related products in its 140+-year history. The second one is how their Flower Mill fell into the hands of Wiz Khalifa during his KK launch in Las Vegas, leading to their grinders showing up in his music video despite Wiz’s partnership with Santa Cruz Shredder.
One of the most powerful lessons you can learn from this podcast is that if you are a fan of herb with a brain for engineering, science, or math, there are incredible ways that you can disrupt and bring innovation to the industry. How many of us have had the same $30-45 grinder for the past 6+ years that is totally stripped and locks up when you have something especially sticky in there? The Flower Mill team put their heads together and solved this problem in less than five years flat.
Follow @brentfolowermill on IG to see all of the newest updates straight from the horse’s mouth. And, if you tune in for the entire pod you might even learn how to get into the Beta Testing program for all of the new cutting-edge products Flower Mill is constantly cooking up such as their new affordable “Next Gen Standard” grinders.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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If you’ve ever wondered what FSOTD’s host, Blackleaf, considers the absolute standard for curing and storing herb, you’d be a fool not to tap in.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by CVault co-founder, Ryan Parker, and Scott Swail, the North American Key Accounts Manager for Boveda, who’s been with the company for 10+ years to discuss all things herbal storage whether that’s keeping your head stash at the perfect humidity or controlling the cure and trichome deterioration when moving or selling large quantities of herb or even concentrate.
For the uninitiated, CVault is a company specializing in the production of airtight, stainless steel storage containers designed to preserve the freshness and potency of herb and other organic materials. They integrate humidity control technology, often pairing their containers with Boveda packs, to maintain ideal storage conditions.
Boveda is a 27+-year-old company that produces precision humidity control packs to maintain the ideal moisture levels for various products, including herb, cigars, and musical instruments. They utilize a patented two-way humidity control technology that adds or absorbs moisture as needed to protect and preserve items. If you’ve ever wondered about the CVault/Boveda connection, this pod unveils the entire backstory of how these two companies came together. You’ll hear Ryan and Scott explain why Boveda’s acquisition of CVault was truly a match made in heaven.
If there’s one thing you’ll hear during this episode, it’s Blackleaf’s undying love and rigorous implementation of CVault’s storage technology for all of his cultivation and daily consumption needs. Whether he’s storing big packs or carrying around a fresh batch of head stash, he swears by CVault’s stainless steel containers in tandem with varying sizes of Boveda packs. Everyone also weighs in heavily on how turkey bags are the absolute worst move for storage, especially when you’re stacking, and how undependable glass is for shipping bulk concentrate.
This episode truly identifies countless pain points of home growers and commercial growers everywhere, and how proper storage and humidity control play an utterly essential role in the final product. You can’t miss the part where Scott address the hearsay that Boveda packs “steal the terps,” and what this actually means.
For any true fans of cultivating or even preserving ultra top-shelf herb, you can’t miss a second of this episode with two serious pioneers in one of the biggest missteps in the industry—proper curing and storage.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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If you think we’ve had grow nerds on the show in the past, just wait until you hear this conversation with one of the nation’s most preeminent living soil farmers based out of a literal one-horse town also known as Pahrump, Nevada.
Blackleaf finally pulls one of the hardest-working farmers in Nevada, Steve of Green Life Productions, out of his daily grind to grace the FSOTD studio and speak on sustainable, no-till, “water-only,” real-deal organic farming, his career in UFC, and how he applies a fighter’s discipline to growing the cleanest, greenest herb (and even produce) possible.
For the uninitiated, Green Life Productions (GLP) is a Nevada-based cultivation company known for its commitment to sustainable, organic growing practices. Utilizing a "No-Till Living Soil" method, GLP promotes environmental stewardship by creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that nurtures high-quality, terpene-rich herb. The company is celebrated for its craft varieties and eco-friendly approach, not to mention becoming the first licensed brand in Nevada.
Aside from all of the valuable nuggets of grow knowledge crammed into this podcast, fans of UFC will truly enjoy the story of Steve from Green Life Productions. He details his journey fighting as a teenager and signing to UFC, traveling the world in the lightweight class, before ultimately discovering his love of herb during the downtime between matches. Turning away from prescription drugs in favor of clean medicinal herb to heal his injuries, Steve chose to dive headfirst into cultivation as he drew the curtain on his fighting career.
You’ll hear Steve speak a great deal on his 5-acre homestead out in Pahrump where he’s been unbelievably busy cultivating herb, premium produce, and even hunting specific breeds of dogs. Fans of sustainable farming will marvel at the entire universe he’s built on the property that has its own “Locals Only” farm store on-site showcasing their own produce and quality-sourced meats. He also speaks about his “open-kitchen” farming concept, which invites tourists to participate in the full experience from seed to sale.
Serious cultivators will find themselves pulling out their pen and pad countless times during this episode as Steve drops gems on how he builds his regenerative soil beds, how to properly amend and top your soil for the healthiest yields, adding beneficial microorganisms, and how he’s been able to out-perform $10 million+ buildouts with his $1.8 million setup that still only uses LEDs and water. One highlight you’ll hear Steve make is that he’s on his 40th cycle with some of his regenerative soil beds!
It’s almost impossible to cram all of the invaluable knowledge dropped in this podcast. For any aspiring cultivators, if this episode doesn’t inspire you, we don’t know what will. Find Steve’s work @greenlifeproductions on Instagram and at your local NV 🍃 shops via greenlifeproductionsnv.com.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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So many questions surrounding the origins of skunk, chem, diesel, and Durban genetics are answered in this once-in-a-lifetime episode with one of the real originators from the culture.
Blackleaf is joined in the studio by cultivation legend and breeder for Lucky Dog Genetics, Jason aka Skunk VA, to discuss his lauded history with the plant, following the Grateful Dead around on tour, and his immense efforts at genetic preservation.
Skunk VA is a name you may have only heard in closed conversations with longstanding members of the culture dating back to the ‘90s anywhere from Virginia to Colorado, San Francisco, Montana, or really anywhere across the US where people were growing massive weight as sneakily as possible.
You’ll get to hear legendary stories from Jason aka Skunk VA as he dives deep into his history with the plant, dating back to when he first began following the Grateful Dead as a teenager, going to rehab, and then eventually meeting the legendary guerilla grower Mark, who is responsible for the Super Skunk F2 as well as handing him his first cut of Chem back in 1991.
Throughout this podcast, one of the biggest things we hammer back in on is Skunk VA’s stewardship of the original Chemdog 91 cut. It’s become in many ways his calling card that has played a pivotal role in all of his past, present, and future work. You’ll hear Blackleaf ask about The Grateful Head project that Skunk VA is involved in with Kevin Jodrey and other OG’s that strives to preserve original cuts of all the important varieties throughout the history of herb.
There’s really no stone left unturned in this episode in terms of strains that need to be remembered. Skunk VA provides never-before-heard insight on the crosses and history of varieties like Diesel Poison, Crossroad, Chem Diesel aka Chem D, The Tits, Beatrix, Super Skunk, and what’s really happened to Sour D.
If you think it’s been all sunshine and daisies for Skunk VA—you’d be sorely mistaken. There are also stories that unfold from Skunk VA during this pod that will have you on the edge of your seat. Some of these involve raids, seizures, and serving hard time for simply growing (debatably large quantities) of the plant.
Any lifelong fans of the plant need to soak up every minute of this episode not only for its mind-blowing stories but also for insight into how someone can turn their passion into profit while still maintaining dignity.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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Calling all grow nerds—this is an extra special episode where we get answers about how to cultivate your herb with the best nutrient lines possible straight from the horse’s mouth.
Blackleaf brings two legends of the grow into the studio, Rex and Jason, owners of Drip Hydro to talk cultivation, canopy management, and all things nutrients. Drip Hydro specializes in creating clean, effective, and cost-efficient nutrient solutions for plant cultivation, backed by over 35 years of industry experience.
Their products, available in fluid and powder forms, are designed to deliver precise nutrition while preventing issues like salt buildup and poor flavor, making them compatible with various irrigation systems and growing mediums. One of the overarching things we discuss during this podcast is how to properly provide nutrients to your plants at any scale, along with the ongoing conversation of genetic preservation, highlighting the varieties we all truly miss like Skunk, Northern Lights 5, and the original Urkle.
Blackleaf also fires off countless questions during this podcast that only a fellow grower would know to ask such as why growing has gotten so complicated, what it’s like running greenhouses in Santa Barbara, how cultivation is going down in Puerto Rico, the key to finding top-shelf flower in LA these days, and some of their favorite genetics they’ve run over the past decades.
That isn’t to say that Rex and Jason don’t also let loose plenty of insider opinions throughout this episode as well. You’ll hear Rex weigh in on the history of BHO and why it’s a dead industry today, as well as the problem with LA growers all using the same genetics these days. Between all of the knowledge bombs and never-before-heard stories, you’ll even hear Jason talk about his early days in Colorado, selling bags to Anna from CAM before she set up shop in California.
If you’re a fan of cultivation or growing the plant in any capacity, this podcast is a must-see from start to finish. Rex and Jason have over three decades of combined experience working with herb and have seen it all in terms of visiting and building out custom grow spaces. Bust out the pen and pad for this one and you’re sure to unearth a wealth of knowledge.
Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with tastemakers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.
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At some point in all of our experiences with herb, this particular guest’s name always seems to come up, whether it’s through indoor packs for the low, rap lyrics, social media, outlandish urban legends, or even film.
Blackleaf and Packgods are joined in the studio by the original man, myth, and legend, Cali Plug, to talk game, maximizing your face card, and how (according to him) the scene blew up in LA thanks to his exploits.
This pod is the ultimate Ted Talk for trappers. Not only does Cali get incredibly thorough on how it’s done, but he also sheds light on the highs, the lows, and the risks one man is willing to take to get to the ultimate bag. This includes tales of homelessness, danger, deals gone bad, and overarchingly reckless behavior.
Cali Plug dives deep into his early days on social media circa 2015-16, his self-proclaimed invention of “SnapTrap,” and his disruption of the original LA seshes by peddling cheap grams. You’ll also hear tales of taking private jets and flexing on social media to appear larger than life to gain a considerable following. Cali might even take credit for deflating the LA market during this pod with affordable zips.
One thing is for certain during this interview—you will hear many bold claims from Cali Plug about his brand’s position in the market as well as his contribution to the game overall. Among these are his invention of paid social media promo for trappers, trap condos in LA, being a visible brand owner in herb. You’ll also hear him claim that he’s the biggest brand in the game, that he’d be the Uber of herb brands if he went legit, and that he is solely responsible for making LA the hub for California’s entire market.
Cali also weighs in on a multitude of topics throughout such as the quality of herb outside of California, throwing noticeable shade on Florida. He also goes into detail on the candy genetics wave and how he believes there won’t be another new cut or wave for the next several decades.
There are really so many memorable moments from this pod that are either straight-up hilarious or strangely insightful. Did we even mention Cali Plug’s movie, The Sesh, that’s available on Amazon Prime? If you think you know Cali Plug or have heard someone throw shade on him for the way he moves, it’s definitely worth tuning in for this entire conversation.
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We’ve had other guests on in the past who have unveiled never-before-heard history of the herb, but nothing comes close to the secrets revealed in this episode.
Blackleaf finally hunted down the elusive Todd McCormick, an American activist, childhood cancer survivor, author, and medical herb patient for a once-in-a-lifetime conversation. Todd has a laundry list of achievements and sightings in pop culture dating back to the late 80s.
More recently, he’s been an ongoing judge at the yearly Emerald Cup in NorCal and was one of the winners of the Cannabis Culture Award in 2012. You may have also seen him speak on screen during the 2007 documentary, The Union: The Business Behind Getting High.
There are no stones left unturned in this episode, as Todd recalls his famous 1997 arrest where he was caught with over 2,100 plants at a Bel-Air mansion and never snitching on any of his constituents, subsequently serving a 5-year sentence as a result, and getting bailed out by DJ Pooh and Boondocks creator, Aaron McGruder. You’ll also hear about the famous Playboy Mansion parties that he used to attend as well as host in the name of herbal activism.
It’s impossible to stuff all of the insane stories Todd tells into one description, as well as all of the celebrities that he’s befriended over the years. But, some names that will come up along the way include his close friends Hugh Hefner, Bill Maher, Dave Matthews, Tommy Chong, Mel Frank, Andy Dick, Joe Rogan, and so many more. You’ll even get to hear the legends of Skunk strain creator Skunkman Sam and Northern Lights strain creator, Seattle Greg.
In the realm of valuable knowledge, Todd riffs gems left and right throughout this pod. He weighs in on the global expansion of herb, its origins in Afghanistan and the Greater Middle East, how to perfectly pop a seed, why classic strains are dying out, and the origin of the war on drugs via the alcohol industry.
Take your time to really go through this episode and soak up all of the crazy stories and wisdom from the unsung hero of herb, Todd McCormick, who’s been growing for over 40 years and sharing their mission of normalizing herbal consumption at places like Woodstock ‘99, where he wound up giving a 40-minute opening speech.
Find all of Todd’s current genetic work showcased through his brand, Authentic Genetics Seed Company, agseedsco.com.
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Take out a pen and a pad because this episode of the pod with a real-life herb scientist will redefine your preexisting knowledge of the plant.
Blackleaf is joined by viral content creator and natural product chemist with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, Dr. Riley Kirk, to discuss a number of hard-hitting questions that only a scientist could accurately answer.
The entire first half of this episode is truly a treasure trove of educational nuggets surrounding Dr. Riley and her team’s efforts to unravel the Science of Smokeability (S.O.S.), as well as her own endeavors to understand the effects of terpenes and other compounds that make up each individual experience with a given strain.
You’ll hear Dr. Riley speak on the very real nature of the Entourage Effect, as well as how it can change based on the form of consumption you’re engaging in. She also weighs in on the receptors in our brains and bodies that respond to different strains in a way that only “the nose knows.”
If you’ve ever wondered why some herb smells like straight up dog shit, then this is also the podcast for you. Dr. Riley delves in deep on terpenes and how some of them present themselves in other organisms in the world. On the less stinky side, she even explains her theory behind why some strains spark creativity.
Deeper in the conversation, you’ll hear Dr. Riley give her candid opinion on the synthetic cannabinoid wave, the over 30% potency debate, why you should try more CBD, and how to more consciously purchase your herbal goods. This episode is especially unique because you’re getting the perspective of a regular smoker who consumes daily who is also a highly educated chemist with a Ph.D and a deep passion for the plant.
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This is just one of those episodes. If you love weed, whether you’re in the industry or just a fan, you can’t miss a second of this extended conversation with one of the real harbingers of the culture and preservers of the plant.
Blackleaf is joined by the mythological man behind the curtain of cannabis, Kevin Jodrey @kevinjodrey, creator of Port Royal, owner of Wonderland Nursery, and co-founder of The Ganjier.
Sit down and strap in for a longer episode that doesn’t skip a beat on moments of invaluable game-dropping, never-before-heard strain lore, run-ins with law enforcement, traveling the world for weed, certifying Ganjiers, and so much more.
If you’ve ever wondered where the birth of high-CBD strains began or what herb looks like in the wild countryside of Afghanistan while hunting genetics with Landrace Mafia, you’ll be on the edge of your seat for this entire chaotic ride.
Kevin Jodrey is hands-down one of the most well-known and respected growers out of Humboldt County. He’s also an internationally respected expert on the plant, accredited for improving and forwarding the modern cannabis movement. On top if it all, he’s spoken at a slew of universities, judged the Emerald Cup multiple times, and appeared on National Geographic and A&E to speak on cannabis education.
You’ll hear Blackleaf ask countless questions on every smoker’s mind, and Kevin candidly weighs in on topics such as the THCa wave, nicotine addictions fueling the candy wave currently sweeping the industry, how the average grower can preserve their genetics, why tissue culture isn’t always done right, and the fact that real Sour may be gone forever.
Kevin was literally at the epicenter of the “Green Rush” with seemingly uneding stories he riffs on from Humboldt back in the day throughout this incredibly special episode of the pod. Today, he’s at the forefront of the “Clean Rush” aka the sustainable movement of regenerating land naturally through cannabis cultivation…among countless other projects that span the globe.
It’s hard to concisely put into words all of the crazy insight, free game, jaw-dropping stories of hunting genetics and fighting law enforement, as well as genuine life and relationship advice that you can absorb from this episode. So, simply put—light one up, kick back, and lock in.
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For anyone who thinks “OG is dead,” it’s time to tune in and rethink that with this episode featuring the true keepers of OG genetics from Northern California.
Blackleaf catches up with Alex and Cody from Northern Emeralds (@northernemeralds), a respected and longstanding brand that’s been growing classic strains for over a decade. Their mission? To cultivate top-tier OG varieties and bring them to the people.
In this episode, Alex and Cody share why they believe many have lost the ability to grow real OG, how they’ve managed to keep their operating procedures public for those willing to learn, and why their prices have remained consistent for ten years. Interestingly, their core consumer group is between 45-60 years old, proving that there’s still a loyal fan base for classic strains.
Few cultivators in California can say they’ve specialized in OG for over a decade while maintaining their prices and refusing to compromise on quality. As California’s market continues to shift, Alex and Cody provide valuable insight into what’s kept them steady, while others rush to the bottom.
You’ll also hear their unique life stories, from Cody’s upbringing with parents who lived on the edge of the law to Alex’s experiences across the globe. These personal journeys are as compelling as the growing knowledge they share, making this episode one-of-a-kind. How many people can say they’ve had conversations with authorities about whether their family members could return to the U.S.?
If you’re a cultivator or home grower struggling to get the most out of your OG plants, this episode is packed with tips on how to perfect your grow. Alex and Cody explain the “freshness window” of cannabis and why OG strains need specific care, with insights that can elevate your results.
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Hustlers of the world need to unite for this reunion episode with one of California’s most iconic brands that have taken their IP to a global scale in ways that trappers can only dream about.
Packgods and Blackleaf are joined by the mastermind breeder behind Gelato 33, Sunset Sherb, Bacio Gelato, and so many more, Mario Guzman aka Sherbinskis, for a follow-up conversation to see how far he’s come since we last connected on episode 25 back in 2021.
Mario truly pulls back the curtain on the global weed market in this episode, dropping gem after gem after gem after gem of insider knowledge on how to effectively scale your brand to the highest level. We’re talking big-boy mergers, preserving genetic libraries before the viroid hit, moving WEIGHT in and out of Canada, elevating your IP, and connecting with some of the true originators of the culture across Europe.
Along the way, you’ll get to hear Mario talk about his business endeavors and close calls with scammers and snakes with his significant other, some adventures in Milan that turned Mario off to the high fashion and fragrance world forever, as well as his exclusive seed activation with MJ BizCon happening in Las Vegas this year. He might even make some crazy announcements before the end…we’ll give you a hint, it has to do with the oldest seed bank in the world, Sensi Seeds.
Also, if you’ve been curious at all about weed events in places like Berlin, Barcelona, and more, you can’t miss a second of this pod. Mario weighs in heavily on why Spain is still gaining momentum, how Europe still hasn’t figured out how to move rosin properly, and how Canada is currently the global hub for indoor cultivation.
On a mental health note, you’ll also hear a lot of refreshing realizations from Mario on this episode since we last spoke with him in 2021. He details what it was like having “fame” and quickly growing tired of celebrities and Hollywood parties, losing his 200k+ IG account, finding happiness away from social media, and putting his heart and soul into his newest project, Voice of the Plant.
This episode is nothing short of inspiring, and we encourage everyone with a passion for weed to take a moment to hear Mario impart some of his wisdom, experience, and vast knowledge of the plant.
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Try not to lose your lunch when you hear some of these crazy stories from one of the most globetrotting stoners we’ve ever met who’s lowkey building a food empire.
BlackLeaf and PackGods manage to catch Jerry Chu aka @vibewithchu between his insane personal content schedule and worldwide traveling efforts in support of @TFIL, a YouTube channel focused on travel and helping others with over 4 million subscribers.
Sit tight as Jerry deep dives into spending time between Bangkok and LA, soaking up the blossoming canna culture across Thailand while supporting Elton Castee’s channels on global scale. Learn how he’s been able to hop on countless flights and capture magic while still building his own social media empire off of cooking dank food, blowing big tree, and bumping incredible tunes.
You might want to take notes while @vibewithchu delves into how he found his content niche, got un-shadowbanned, and made the algorithm work in his favor to accrue over 100k new subscribers in a month. And this is just free game not even accounting for the crazy stories he has from working with Elton.
It all began with Jerry taking a PA job on Elton’s other channel, Haunted Homies, where he literally hunted ghosts with this guy until he brought him onto the @TFIL project. Your jaw will drop countless times during some of his travel stories like when they got a private tour of Afghanistan from the Taliban themselves, including an inside look into the caves Osama Bin Laden hid in.
You might even catch a little relationship advice from Jerry along the way about how to maintain a solid connection when you’re traveling almost non-stop. There’s a little bit of something relatable for everyone in this podcast alongside some of the fantastic things Jerry’s been able to experience and achieve at a young age.
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If you feel like you know the real story of the cannabis scene exploding in Europe in the early 90s and 2000s, prepare to rewrite your history books with this episode with one of the true godfathers of herb.
Blackleaf is joined by international cannabis icon and lore keeper, Julian of TH Seeds, to hear his first-hand accounts of trapping indoor grows in Paris, moving packs to Amsterdam during its hay day, learning under Scott Blakey aka Shantibaba himself, and winning over 18 cannabis cups over his career since the early 1990s.
Julian dives deep into the formation of the famous Greenhouse Seeds, arguably the most successful cannabis business in the world, and winner of over 42 High Times Cannabis Cups since 1985. Along the way, you’ll hear never-before-heard origin stories of other legendary seed banks like Mr. Nice and Archive Seed Bank, and the relationship that Mr. Nice, Julian, Arjan, and Neville all shared during those times.
Blackleaf comes swinging with some huge questions during this episode such as whether or not Skunk is dead and whether good weed needs to even be over 15-18% THC. Julian responds with his in-depth opinion on the European weed market, highlighting the booming Barcelona market, and reassuring Blackleaf that iconic cultivars like Skunk, Haze, G13, White Widow, and White Rhino all still have original cuts floating around Europe from the OGs that are either still on shelves or could be revived.
Throughout this pod, Julian weighs in heavily on his opinions on the state of the American weed market, claiming it moves too quickly and doesn’t pay enough homage to the time-honored commercial genetics that has spawned the designer hybrids we see come and go so quickly today, as well as why Barcelona has become the new hub for all of the seasoned Dutch growers.
This is hands-down one of the most interesting guests we’ve ever had on FSOTD in terms of stake in the culture. Julian easily has over 30 years of experience hunting genetics, feminizing seeds, cultivating fire weed, and is now working with his partners to help enormous commercial grows around Europe hunt their own proprietary genetics and maximize their systems.
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