Inside Cultivation

The cannabis industry was built by legacy growers… so why are so many of them disappearing?

In this powerful episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Lorien Curran from POET (Producer Owners of the Emerald Triangle) to talk about the harsh reality facing small cannabis farms — and the fight to keep craft cultivation alive.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
🌱 Why legacy growers went ...

Tune into the latest episode of Inside Cultivation for a sharp entrepreneurial story in the cannabis space — and a real look at what most operators still get wrong about pre-rolls.

BigMike sits down with Adam King — entrepreneur, podcaster, political activist, and long-time cultivator — who invented a cutting-edge rolling machine that changed how pre-rolls are made.

In this eye-opening conversation, ...

In this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Shane Ponto, co-founder of Maven Genetics—one of California’s most respected cannabis genetics and cultivation brands.

What started as a passion for exceptional flower has grown into a fully vertically integrated operation with more than 150 employees, global demand, and a reputation built on quality. But behind every winning strain is a process most p...

In this special episode of Inside Cultivation, the script is flipped — BigMike sits in the hot seat for the first time.
Interviewed by ACT specialist Eljay, BigMike reveals the raw, unfiltered truth behind the journey that built Advanced Nutrients, the world’s most trusted cannabis nutrient company.

From a childhood shaped by pain…
…to scientific breakthroughs that changed the industry…...

How did Texas build a $10 billion recreational market — without legalization?

In this eye-opening episode of Inside Cultivation, host BigMike sits down with Colton Luther, commercial cultivator and host of the Texas Growers Podcast, to uncover how the Lone Star State quietly turned hemp into a booming cannabis economy.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How Texas transformed hemp into a $10B industry

From underground roots to a legal cannabis empire—this week BigMike sits down with Ben Green of Grow Motion, one of Europe’s leading cultivators. With over 4,000 growers in his community, Ben is reshaping the future of cannabis cultivation across the continent.

🌍 In this episode, you’ll discover:
✔️ Ben’s journey from black market beginnings to running one of Europe’s most advanced facilitie...

In this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Bobby Forde, Terrral Mapp, Candy Fraser, and Kevvian Black to explore why St. Vincent and the Grenadines is fast becoming cannabis cultivation’s next frontier—and the host of the epic CannaBliss SVG Festival, October 2–5, 2025.

🌋 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How volcanic soil gives St. Vincent a unique edge over other isla...

The success of your grow starts with your ability to lead.

In this game-changing episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with renowned business fixer Chris Collins to break down exactly how to turn a struggling cannabis facility into a profitable, high-performance operation.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to reset a burned-out, dramatic, or disengaged team
✅ Why most leadership advice keeps you stuck
✅ Th...

What separates top-tier cultivators from those just getting by? In this game-changing episode, BigMike sits down with Matt Roseman—aka Michigan Matt—a seasoned cultivation consultant who’s helped dial in commercial grows across the country.

Together, they unpack what actually works in today’s high-pressure cultivation environment and how to turn chaotic operations into smooth, scalable systems.

In this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Kevin and Brendan McKernan of Medicinal Genomics to unpack what the cannabis industry is still getting wrong about genetics—and what that means for your grow, your business, and the future of plant science.

From CannMed breakthroughs to the hemp loophole, AI-driven research, and the myth-filled cannabis-schizophrenia debate, this is the ultimate deep-dive fo...

On this episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Dr. Riley Kirk — cannabis scientist, TikTok phenom, and author of Reefer Wellness — for one of our most revealing conversations yet.

As the lead researcher behind the largest cannabis study in the world (30 million+ data points!), Riley breaks down groundbreaking insights on terpene delivery, tolerance, brain chemistry, and why so many people are getti...

Before legalization.
Before tech.
Before anyone dared to say craft cannabis out loud…

There was Bob Cain and BigMike — two outlaw growers rewriting the rules from deep in the shadows.

In this never-before-told conversation, BigMike reunites with his original grow partner from 37+ years ago to reveal the wild, risky, and brilliant roots of what would become a global cannabis empire.

💥 From ba...

If you're serious about leveling up your grow game, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

In our latest Inside Cultivation podcast, we sit down with James Donnelly, a third-generation cultivator who started growing at 12—and at just 27, he's already cracked the code on high-performance craft cultivation at scale.

James consistently pulls 4.5 to 5 pounds of premium indoor bud per light—and in ...

In this powerful and mind-expanding episode, BigMike sits down with Stephanie Karzon Abrams, a neuropharmacologist and leading voice in the psychedelic therapy movement. Together, they dive deep into the science, personal experiences, and emerging future of psychedelics in medicine, therapy, and consciousness.

🔥 In this episode, you'll discover:

• The truth about MDMA, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin, cannabis, ayahuasca...

This week, BigMike sits down with cannabis industry OG and 818 Brands mastermind Rami Vardi—an innovator who’s been pushing boundaries and setting standards for nearly two decades.

In this power-packed episode, Rami shares how he scaled 818 from 550 lights to 4,500+ while maintaining true craft quality—all without falling for industry hype.

🌱 Here’s what you’ll learn:
How 818 scaled w...

In this must-watch episode, BigMike sits down with John Casali, founder of Huckleberry Hill Farms, a multiple Emerald Cup winner and a true Humboldt legend.

John has spent 55 years in the same Humboldt home, learning the craft of cultivation from his mother. After serving 10 years in federal prison for a first-time nonviolent cannabis offense, he returned to his passion—growing some of the finest sungrown bud in Califo...

BigMike sits down with Jack Whipple, legendary cultivator and author of the CCI Black Book and the new Crop-Steering Super System. 🌱🔥

Jack shares his incredible journey from Quaker roots to becoming a top authority on scaling craft cannabis—and how YOU can maximize profitability in your commercial grow.

In this tell-all episode, you’ll learn:
✅ How to design the perfect grow room at scale
✅ The key...

In this game-changing episode of Inside Cultivation, BigMike sits down with Guy Rocourt, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Papa & Barkley, to uncover the secrets behind the booming clean cannabis movement. With over $100 million in clean cannabis product sales under his belt, Guy shares exclusive insights to help you increase your profits and enhance your brand’s reputation.

🌿 What You’ll Learn in This Epi...

In this game-changing episode, BigMike sits down with Bryan Lanza, senior advisor to Trump’s 2024 campaign and a lobbyist for the U.S. Cannabis Council. With decades of experience in legalization and direct ties to Trump, Lanza delivers exclusive insights into the future of cannabis policy.

💡 Topics Covered:
✅ Trump’s stance on medical cannabis and legalization
✅ The strategic steps toward federal legaliza...