Best WestWords Podcasts (2024)

1
Cannabis Journalism w/ Thomas Mitchell of Denver Westword 1:05:03

21d ago1:05:03

1:05:03

What is cannabis journalism? In episode 71, Denver Westword's News and Cannabis Editor Thomas Mitchell sits down with us for a fun chat! We discuss how Tommy got into his role at the 47-year old magazine, what his day to day is like, and his various preferences for strains and cannabis brands across the state of Colorado. With a circulation of arou…

1
Queer South Asian Representation and the role of the Creative Practitioner - Sheryl Fernandes Dixit interviews Sonam Mahatme 17:17

14d ago17:17

17:17

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives. In this episode, Academy alumni Sheryl speaks to Sonam Mahatme about her identity as Queer South Asian person living in Australia, and her experiences navigating family, community and culture. Together they discuss what role a creative pract…

1
Colorado Cannabis Testing w/ Julia Bramante 57:08

3h ago57:08

57:08

Tune in for an interesting and science-driven episode 72 with Julia Bramante! We discuss her career in cannabis testing with the state of Colorado, pushing the industry forward in more ways than one. Julia shares her journey and insights from working on the front lines of cannabis regulation, detailing how rigorous testing ensures product safety an…

1
Cannabis Careers & ADHD w/ Halley Cohen 1:13:13

1M ago1:13:13

1:13:13

Episode 70 is a hilarious episode all about being a cannabis professional with ADHD! Our guest Halley Cohen is a successful management, sales and operations professional having worked in Colorado cannabis for several brands for over a decade. She shares their personal journey and the hurdles she's jumped to thrive in this fast-paced, ever-evolving …

1
L'Eagle Service's Decade of Quality Cannabis w/ Amy Andrle 1:27:01

1M ago1:27:01

1:27:01

Episode 69 is another full circle moment! In this episode, McCarter chats with Amy Andrle, co-founder of L'Eagle Service's thriving organic cannabis cultivation and dispensary in Denver. Together with her husband John, Amy embarked on this journey over a decade ago, prioritizing quality over quantity. Tune in as we discuss her nearly 14 years exper…

1
From Opioids to Cannabis Success w/ Danny Murr-Sloat of AlpinStash 1:48:11

2M ago1:48:11

1:48:11

Buckle up for a great episode that is a long time coming! In episode 68, McCarter chats with one of her first content clients Danny Murr-Sloat, the visionary owner of AlpinStash Genetics & Consulting. Danny shares his inspiring journey from overcoming pain & prescribed opioid usage with the help of cannabis to becoming an important leader in the ca…

1
Extracting Excellence: Inside the Rosin Lab w/ Andy Dymock of Summit 59:26

2M ago59:26

59:26

Dabs, dabs and more dabs! In Episode 67, McCarter sits down with Andy Dymock, the lead rosin extractor at Summit in Colorado. Summit specializes in premium cannabis flower, solventless extracts, live concentrates, cured concentrates and 100% live resin vape cartridges (now available in Michigan). Andy takes us through the entire process, from harve…

1
Following Mom's Cannabis Footsteps w/ Molly Visco 1:00:19

3M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Join us in episode 66 as we sit down with Molly Visco, a recent college graduate with a powerful story. Molly’s mother, Chris Durante Visco, was a pioneering cannabis advocate in Pennsylvania, holding several licenses in the state. After her mother’s passing last year from a battle with cancer, Molly is determined to continue her legacy in Colorado…

1
Cacao, Mushrooms & Crafting Chocolate w/ Jennifer Caines of Moksha Chocolate 1:05:36

4M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Join us in Episode 65 as we delve into the rich world of chocolate entrepreneurship with Jennifer Caines, founder and owner of Moksha Chocolate in Boulder. She shares her journey from acquiring a cacao cultivation to crafting delectable chocolate bars in Colorado. Discover the fascinating fusion of flavors as we explore how she incorporates functio…

1
Veteran to Visionary: Blazing Trails in Cannabis & Politics w/ Wanda James 1:14:30

4M ago1:14:30

1:14:30

Join us in episode 64 as we delve into the remarkable journey of Wanda James, a true pioneer in the Colorado cannabis scene and beyond. From her upbringing as a military kid to joining the ROTC while she attended college at CU Boulder, to becoming the owner of the first black, woman, and veteran-owned cannabis dispensary in Denver, Simply Pure, Wan…

1
Writing a novel as your PHD - Zohra Aly interviews Hayley Scrivenor 31:28

5M ago31:28

31:28

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives. In this episode, Academy alumni Zohra speaks to Hayley Scrivenor about Hayley's experience writing her award-winning novel Dirt Town as a part of her creative writing PHD. Together they discuss knowing when your novel is finished, working ou…

1
Denver to Thailand: The Newt Brothers Artisanal Journey in Cannabis w/ Patrick & Jamie Stephenson 1:05:48

5M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

In episode 63, explore the journey of Newt Brothers Artisanal, a Denver-based cannabis brand known for their top-tier live resin, founded by two brothers Patrick and Jamie Stephenson. From their roots in Colorado to expanding into Thailand's newly opened cannabis market, discover how two brothers turned passion into a thriving international consult…

1
From Seed to Success w/ Buck Dutton of Native Roots Dispensary 1:08:48

5M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

In episode 62, join us as we delve into the fascinating story of Buck Dutton, a cannabis marketing executive at Native Roots, one of the premier cannabis dispensary chains in Colorado. From corporate marketing to cannabis, discover the unique insights and experiences that has propelled Buck to success in the ever-evolving cannabis industry. With 19…

1
High Stakes: Navigating the Cannabis Industry w/ Aaron Shaw 1:12:56

6M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

Join us for an eye-opening and hilarious episode 61 featuring cannabis industry consultant and veteran Aaron Shaw for a third time on the podcast! Get ready for a deep dive into the ins and outs of the ever-evolving cannabis landscape here in Colorado and across the country. Aaron shares his experiences, insights, and lessons learned from over 10 y…

1
Hash Lord Chronicles w/ Mikey Morris 1:26:16

6M ago1:26:16

1:26:16

In episode 60, McCarter brings "hash-lord" Mikey Morris (@mikeywashesit / @mikeydabsit on Instagram) back on the podcast where we dive deep into the behind the scenes world of hash production with a seasoned hash lord who has navigated the intricate landscape of the cannabis industry. Join us as we unravel the tales of a hash maker and washer who h…

1
How long does it truly take to learn to write a novel? - Elizabeth Walton interviews Trish Bolton 25:54

6M ago25:54

25:54

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives. In this episode, Academy alumni Elizabeth speaks to Trish Bolton about the release of her debut novel Whenever You're Ready. Trish details her journey to publication, how to build a CV as an emerging writer, upending ageist stereotypes, and …

1
Short & Stoned: Crafting Solventless Edibles w/ Kelly Graffin of Short & Stoned 1:18:52

7M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

Join us for an insightful episode 39 as we step into the fascinating world of Short & Stoned, a family-run, Queer, Disabled & Woman Owned solventless edibles company based out of Denver, CO. Our guest Kelly Graffin, the visionary entrepreneur behind the brand, shares her inspiring journey into the cannabis industry. Delve into the art and science o…

1
Songwriting and the distortion of meaning - Paul Traynor and Marc Stanislas interview Bryan Estepa 32:16

7M ago32:16

32:16

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives. In this episode, Paul and Marc speak to musician and songwriter Bryan Estepa about the emotions that inspire them to write, how words, lyrics and music allow us to distort meaning, imposter syndrome, and writing for yourself first. Bryan Est…

1
The Artistry of Cannabis-Infused Dining w/ Chef Roilty 1:07:07

7M ago1:07:07

1:07:07

Step into the world of elevated dining experiences with episode 58 featuring Chef Roilty (real name Jarod Farina), the master of personalized table side cannabis-infused private dining in Denver, CO. Join us as we unravel the craft behind how he makes each infused dish, where culinary expertise meets the therapeutic allure of cannabis. Chef Roilty,…

1
Vaping Wellness in the Mile-High City w/ Patrick Bitting of Ritual Colorado 1:15:39

8M ago1:15:39

1:15:39

Join us in this enlightening episode 57 of High Minded with McCarter as we delve into the world of cannabis accessory head-shops in Denver. Our special guest, Patrick Bitting, a passionate entrepreneur and owner of his own head-shop called Ritual Colorado, shares his journey and insights into the booming industry. Discover the art and science of va…

1
Motherhood, Migration, and Cannabis Chronicles w/ Wu Russell 1:10:51

8M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

In Episode 56, McCarter chats with Wu Russell (@wulanrussell on Instagram) about growing up in Indonesia with parents who went to jail for selling cannabis. She discusses how cannabis is viewed there, meeting her husband, moving to the United States, being a canna-mom and so much more. Wu touches on the differences between living in Indonesia versu…

1
Arts advocacy, and the Special Envoy to the Arts - Libby Hyett interviews Susan Templeman MP, and Michael Campbell 32:07

8M ago32:07

32:07

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy members, and Alumni, interview their favourite creatives. Susan Templeman MP is an Australian politician. She is the member for Macquarie in the Australian House of Representatives and is Australia's Special Envoy for the Arts. Michael Campbell is the Executive Director of WestWords. …

1
Identity, Standing-out, and Writers as Performers - Joanne Macias interviews Maria Tran 25:06

8M ago25:06

25:06

Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy members, and Alumni, interview their favourite creatives. Maria Tran is a Vietnamese-Australian actor, filmmaker, and martial artist who has won multiple awards for her work in film, TV, stage, and performance. She also specializes in fight action choreography and is the founder of Ph…

1
Cannabis Hospitality w/ Arend Richard of Cirrus 1:00:31

8M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Buckle up for a hilariously fun episode 55 with Arend Richard of Cirrus! Arend has been in the cannabis industry for several years ~ he outlines his initial success on YouTube and then starting the WeedTube, then we dive into his latest venture of Cirrus, a cannabis social club opening in Denver in 2024. This episode is sponsored by Toker Poker ~ t…

1
Cannabis, Nutrients & Fertilizers (Round Three) w/ Tim McCormick 1:51:46

9M ago1:51:46

1:51:46

In Episode 54, McCarter brings back Tim McCormick (Chemist + President of Cultured Biologix organic nutrient company) for Round Three and another mind-blowing discussion about the potential of the cannabis crop! We discuss the current state of the cannabis industry in Colorado, and it's potential for the future. Tim is the most informative and impr…

1
From Corporate to Cannabis w/ Hi-Curious's Lauren Mundell 1:02:45

9M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

In Episode 53, McCarter chats with Lauren Mundell, founder and owner of Hi-Curious, an online content marketplace where cannabis brands can connect and contract work from content creators. Lauren discusses her journey to the plant from a long corporate marketing career in New York City to finally moving to Colorado to pursue her cannabis and market…

1
Hash Holes w/ Kayne Perry of Red Roots Rolling Co. 58:33

11M ago58:33

58:33

In Episode 52, McCarter chats with Kayne Perry, founder and owner of Red Roots Rolling Company, a premier hash hole cannabis brand supplying the best to connoisseurs in Colorado. Not familiar with a hash hole? It's the latest invention in pre-rolled joints but with a worm of rosin in the middle ~ YUMMY! We talk all about Kayne's time growing up in …

1
Cannabis Pop-Up Events w/ Stoner Cinema Pop-Up 54:49

12M ago54:49

54:49

In Episode 51, McCarter interviews co-founders of the Stoner Cinema Pop-Up Nick Barreto (@cannabis.connoisseur.007 on Instagram) and Josh (@dew710sk8er on Instagram). We discuss their goals of trying to provide more immersive cannabis consumption events around Colorado, and bringing the community together. Find their events at www.stonercinema.org …

1
What is a Cannabis Influencer? w/ Tae Harned of @LifteddLadies 1:11:55

1y ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Episode 50 is here!! It's such a fun episode, too, featuring friend and fellow cannabis content creator Tae Harned of @LifteddLadies! We talk all about breaking stigmas using beautifully aesthetic cannabis content paired with other lifestyle aspects like cocktails and baking. Lots of laughs in this one. Thank you for your continued support after th…

1
Cannabis Business Highlight w/ Lauren Miele from Kush Kards 1:07:23

1y ago1:07:23

1:07:23

In Episode 49, McCarter chats with Lauren Miele, founder and owner of Kush Kards, a cannabis-themed stationary brand that's taking the industry by storm. After Lauren started her company in 2013 with the cannabis greeting card concept, she started going to dozens of trade shows a year, and talking to anyone she could about her products. Now, five y…

1
AUTHORSHIP, ACTIVISM AND ACADEMIA with Victoria Brookman 32:15

1y ago32:15

32:15

Victoria Brookman is an activist, author and academic from the Blue Mountains. In this interview with James Roy she describes how her own perceived inability to push through writer's block, along with a catastrophic natural disaster, led her to write her debut novel, Burnt Out (Harper Collins), a funny and angry look at climate change, activism and…

1
Hosting Cannabis Events w/ Kendal Norris of Mason Jar Events 1:21:48

1y ago1:21:48

1:21:48

In Episode 48, McCarter sits down with Kendal Norris, owner and founder of Mason Jar Events based out of Boulder, Colorado. As always, we discuss her first time using cannabis, how she started her business and what it's like running a cannabis-related small business. Find them on Instagram @MasonJarEventGroup and www.MasonJarEventGroup.com.…

1
"SIGNS OF LIFE" – FOURPLAY STRING QUARTET AND NEIL GAIMAN COLLABORATION (Pt 2) with Peter Hollo 29:26

1y ago29:26

29:26

Peter Hollo is a professional cellist and founding member of FourPlay String Quartet, a musical ensemble who recently collaborated to record a second spoken word/music album with writer and creative powerhouse Neil Gaiman. The title of the latest album is Signs of Life, and in the second half of this interview with James Roy and Paris Rosemont, Pet…

1
Starting a Cannabis Flower Brand w/ Chris Lynch of Loyalty Farms 1:27:16

1y ago1:27:16

1:27:16

In Episode 47, McCarter chats with Chris Lynch, who started the cannabis flower brand Loyalty Farms just over two years ago in Boulder, Colorado. We talk about his start and journey through the cannabis industry, to working from other people to finally starting a grow of his own. Find Loyalty Farms on Instagram @loyaltyfarms. Watch the full episode…

1
"SIGNS OF LIFE" – FOURPLAY STRING QUARTET AND NEIL GAIMAN COLLABORATION (Pt 1) with Peter Hollo 34:36

1y ago34:36

34:36

Peter Hollo is a professional cellist and founding member of FourPlay String Quartet, a musical ensemble who recently collaborated to record a second spoken word/music album with writer and creative powerhouse Neil Gaiman. The title of the latest album is Signs of Life, and in the first half of this interview with James Roy and Paris Rosemont, Pete…

1
Cannabis from Living Soil w/ the Dutch Botanicals Crew 1:08:58

1y ago1:08:58

1:08:58

This is one of the few episodes with THREE guests at once! In episode 46, we have a fun and informative conversation with Dutch Botanicals' owner Jenny Tran, sales representative Sam Fluegge and hash master Steve Laughlin. We discuss the differences between living soil compared to other growing techniques and why it yields a better product. We chat…

1
CHOOSE/SELECT/DETERMINE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE/EXPERIENCE/PLOT with George Ivanoff 28:39

1y ago28:39

28:39

George Ivanoff is a Melbourne writer who has written over 130 books for young people, including a series of tense and thrilling interactive adventure books. Listen to this podcast to find out how he does it, especially if for you (like the host, James) plot is harder to do than character. georgeivanoff.com.au NOTE: Opinions expressed in this podcas…

1
High Country Healing w/ Austin Carlisle 1:10:49

1+ y ago1:10:49

1:10:49

In Episode 45, McCarter chats with Austin Carlisle of High Country Healing cannabis brand in Denver. We discuss how to get started in the cannabis industry by finding a good company and working your way up from assistant in the grow to grower to manager to partner. For more information about High Country Healing visit www.highcountryhealing.com. Wa…

1
POSTCARDS FROM THE URBAN DESERT with Pete Shmigel 33:02

1+ y ago33:02

33:02

Pete Shmigel is a freelance writer and journalist who has just returned from his second visit to Ukraine in 2023, where he began to write the stories of the people on the frontline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this interview he talks about what compelled him to voluntarily enter a war zone, and what he took from the experience, both as a …

1
Cannabis, Nutrients & Fertilizers (Round Two) w/ Tim McCormick 1:27:13

1+ y ago1:27:13

1:27:13

In Episode 44, agriculture chemist Tim McCormick of Cultured Biologix, a Denver-based organic cannabis nutrients company, comes back on the podcast for the second time to drop some more knowledge. We talk all about the healing power of the cannabis plant, why organic fertilizers and nutrients actually matter and how they're different from tradition…

1
KEEPING ON KEEPING ON with Catherine Jinks 39:20

1+ y ago39:20

39:20

Catherine Jinks is a multi-award winning author of books for all ages, with over fifty books published in a 35 year career. In this conversation with James Roy, Catherine talks about trends in publishing and where writing might be heading as a profession, gives her theories on why royalties are shrinking despite books still being massively popular,…

1
Cannabis PR, Hash Rosin & Building a Community w/ Emily Trigg Meshell 1:07:44

1+ y ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Episode 43 features Emily Trigg Meshell, a cannabis publicist, fellow rosin-dabbing lover and friend of McCarter's! We discuss several facets of the Colorado cannabis industry from building a quality community through events and social media to how brands cut costs. We get into some sad truths that it's usually the more corporate brands that can af…

1
OWN STORIES with Fiona Murphy 36:07

1+ y ago36:07

36:07

Fiona Murphy is a journalist, memoirist and non-fiction writer. As a Deaf writer, she is very interested in the rise of Own Voices as an important consideration for any artist working in a diverse space, be that around race, language, culture, sex/gender identity, disability or any other of the many diverse stories that can be told. In this intervi…

1
LIFE IN THE PETRIE DISH with Augusta Supple 31:05

1+ y ago31:05

31:05

Augusta Supple is a playwright, theatre critic, one-time arts administrator, short story writer, screenwriter and amateur flautist. In this conversation with James Roy, Augusta talks about creative experimentation, artform diversity, the optimism and positivity of the arts, and the important lessons that COVID taught us as practitioners.…

1
THEATRE: THE EXTREME SPORT OF PERFORMANCE with Mary Rachel Brown and Jamie Oxenbould 31:21

1+ y ago31:21

31:21

The latest guests of the Mini-Masterclass podcast are Mary Rachel Brown and Jamie Oxenbould. Mary and Jamie operate in different spaces within the theatre scene: Mary writes for theatre, and Jamie is an actor. They were recently residents at Daffodil Cottage, and sat down with James at a cafe in Katoomba to talk about their current project, titled …

1
THE ARTIST'S LIFE(STYLE CHOICE) with Michele Freeman 25:20

1+ y ago25:20

25:20

Today we welcome Michele Freeman, a former WestWords Fellow and emerging writer from Western Sydney. Michele was recently at Daffodil Cottage for a week-long residency, and she and James had a wide-ranging conversation about working towards long-range artistic goals, what drives her as an artist, feeling like an imposter, and her approach to the st…

1
REMEMBERING MARGARET HAMILTON – the 2020 Pinerolo interview 31:19

1+ y ago31:19

31:19

Margaret Hamilton AM (1941-2022) was a publisher, advocate, writer, educator, curator and passionate supporter of children's literature, particularly picture books. She passed away late in 2022, so we felt it timely to go back to an earlier interview with James Roy, in June 2020 at Pinerolo in Blackheath, in which she talks about what makes a good …

1
WRITING FOR THEATRE (MUSICAL AND OTHERWISE) with Hilary Bell 32:43

1+ y ago32:43

32:43

Welcome back to the WestWords Mini-Masterclass podcast, a fortnightly series of conversations with creatives. To kick off 2023 we welcome Hilary Bell, who is a highly respected and multi-awarded playwright, writer, librettist and children’s book author. Hilary was one of our WestWords/Daffodil Cottage residents in 2022, where she was working on her…

1
Quartz Bangers w/ Banger Supply's Stephen Paternoster 1:10:12

1+ y ago1:10:12

1:10:12

Episode 42 is basically a mini lesson on quartz bangers with Stephen Paternoster, founder of Banger Supply, with assistance from Summer Morris, wife to hash lord Mikey Morris (see episode 37). In this episode, we learn how closely the glass industry & community has worked along side the concentrate & hash community to grow symbiotically. Another fu…

1
Cannabis Public Relations w/ Kim Ring 57:51

1+ y ago57:51

57:51

In episode 41, McCarter and SK chat with Kim Ring, Cannabis Publicist and friend of McCarter! Kim shares some incredible insights into how she got into PR, how she creates relationships with key journalists at publications like Forbes, and how she gets her clients in those publications. We talk about what it's like to create the news and work with …

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