The Canna Curious Podcast: Conversations on Cannabis, Wellness & Women’s Health

Kyla de Clifford
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  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

A podcast exploring medicinal cannabis, plant-based healing, and women’s health. Host Kyla de Clifford shares real stories, expert insights, and conscious conversations about chronic pain, nervous system support, advocacy, and natural medicine. For curious minds redefining healing. Note: Canna Curious is an independent educational podcast. Content is for general information only and does not promote or advertise any therapeutic goods. Always talk to a qualified health professional about your individual circumstances.

  1. 1D AGO

    51 - No Placebo, Just Proof: What Animals Reveal About Cannabinoids with Emma Delaney.

    What happens when you take expectation out of medicine? In this episode, Kyla sits down with pharmacist-turned-veterinary cannabinoid specialist Emma Delaney to explore the rapidly emerging world of cannabinoid therapies for animals. From chronic pain and anxiety to seizures and palliative care, cannabinoids are increasingly being used in veterinary medicine—but the real insight comes from something deeper: animals don’t have a placebo effect. This conversation unpacks what that means for how we understand cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and therapeutic outcomes—both in animals and humans. What We Cover Why animals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) just like humansThe key difference: why dogs are more sensitive to THCCBD vs full spectrum vs isolate—what it means in practiceCommon conditions treated in animals:Chronic pain (e.g. osteoarthritis)Anxiety (especially post-COVID separation anxiety)SeizuresSkin conditions (like atopic dermatitis) What to do if your pet accidentally consumes THCThe role of CBD as a potential “buffer” or antidoteWhy journaling your pet’s behaviour is criticalDosing principles: start low, go slowWhat animals can teach us about:Placebo vs real effectObservable outcomes Important Notes Always speak to a qualified veterinarian before giving your pet any cannabinoid productAnimals are more sensitive, particularly to THC Resources & Links Research Papers Is cannabidiol (CBD) effective to ease separation anxiety?  Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal intervention studies  Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel Scientific Validation of Cannabidiol for Management of Dog and Cat Diseases Learn more about Emma’s work Website: kindredcbd.com.auInstagram: @kindredcbd This episode of the Canna Curious Podcast is bought to you by Azure Health https://azureh "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    29 min

  2. APR 29

    50 - From Opioids to the Plant: A Story of Survival with Debi Wimberley.

    What happens when the system you trusted… walks away? In today’s episode, I sit down with Debi Wimberley — a former oncology professional who went on to live with one of the most severe chronic pain conditions imaginable. For years, Debi was prescribed high-dose opioids to manage her pain. Then, almost overnight, that support was removed,  with no real plan, no transition, and no safety net. What followed wasn’t just withdrawal. It was a complete unraveling… and then a rebuilding. This conversation explores what it looks like to navigate pain, autonomy, and healing when you’re forced to take your health into your own hands — and how the plant became part of that process. This isn’t a simple “before and after” story. It’s complex. It’s messy. And it’s incredibly important. What We Cover Debi’s early work in oncology — and first exposure to the plant before the ECS was even discoveredLiving with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — one of the most severe chronic pain conditionsLong-term opioid prescribing and what high-dose use actually looks likeThe abrupt withdrawal of care during the opioid crisis — and what that means for patientsWhy regulation without education creates harmNavigating cannabis with no clinical guidanceTrial, error, and real-world patient experimentationUnderstanding the endocannabinoid system in practiceReducing polypharmacy (25+ medications)The shift from outsourcing health → reclaiming body autonomyA Note on This Episode This episode discusses chronic pain, opioid use, and medical system failures. Debi’s story is her own lived experience.  It is not a universal outcome, and it’s not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you’re navigating medication changes or chronic health conditions, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional. Resources & Further Learning Endocannabinoid System basics https://effectivecannabis.com/about-effective-cannabis/You can find Debi @debwimberley  🌿 Support the Podcast If this episode resonated with you… and you want to support the work behind Canna Curious: You can buy me a coffee  (or realistically… help fund more conversations like this) "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    45 min

  3. APR 22

    49 - My Daughter, The Plant, and the Anxiety That Followed with Kyla de Clifford and Ruby Skues.

    This episode is a little more personal than usual. Today, I’m sitting down with my daughter, Ruby and we’re having a conversation I’ve been quietly avoiding for a while. Because while I spend my life educating people about the plant… Ruby had an experience that changed her relationship with it completely. We talk about: what it’s like growing up with a parent in this spacethe stigma that still exists (especially in younger years)her first experiences with cannabisand the moment everything shifted after a difficult “greening” experienceBut this isn’t just about one night. It’s about what came after the anxiety, the fear of it happening again, and how that feeling can linger long after the plant has left your system. We also explore: why edibles can hit differently (and sometimes unexpectedly)the importance of dose, timing, and environmenthow CBD can be used as a harm reduction tooland what honest, open conversations about drugs actually look like in real lifeThis episode isn’t here to convince you of anything. It’s here to show the nuance that the plant isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that education, safety, and self-awareness matter more than anything else. If you’ve ever had an experience that didn’t feel right…or you’re navigating this with your kids, your friends, or even yourself this conversation is for you. IN THIS EPISODE Growing up around cannabis: stigma, secrecy, and shifting perspectivesFirst experiences with the plant (and expectations vs reality)What “greening out” actually feels likeHow one experience can lead to ongoing anxietyThe difference between THC and CBD (in real-life terms)Why edibles require a completely different approachHarm reduction: what we wish more people were taughtThe gap between school education and real-world drug useNavigating this as both a parent and a young adultA NOTE FROM KYLA This one stretched me. It’s one thing to talk about the benefits of the plant it’s another to sit across from your daughter and hear how it impacted her in a way you didn’t expect. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it. You can find more conversations like this at Canna Curious — where we explore the plant with curiosity, not assumption. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    43 min

  4. APR 14

    48 - When Pain Starts at 13: Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia & Fighting to Be Heard with Grace Ker.

    In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with Grace Ker to explore her deeply personal journey with endometriosis and fibromyalgia,  a story that began at just 13 years old and unfolded into years of chronic pain, medical intervention, and self-advocacy.  Grace shares what it was like to: Be dismissed in early medical appointmentsNavigate multiple treatments, including hormonal therapies and surgeryEnter medical menopause as a teenagerExperience chronic, debilitating pain that conventional treatments couldn’t resolveLater develop fibromyalgia following burnout and physical stressThe conversation also explores how alternative approaches  including Chinese medicine and plant-based therapies  played a role in symptom management, and how Grace learned to trust her intuition in a system that often didn’t listen.  This episode is as much about emotional resilience as it is about physical health — touching on identity loss, grief, and what it means to rebuild your life when your body changes. Key Topics Early onset endometriosis and symptom dismissalChronic pain and the limits of conventional treatmentMedical menopause in adolescenceFibromyalgia onset and full-body painOpioids vs alternative approachesThe role of the nervous system in pain perceptionPlant-based medicine and symptom regulationSelf-advocacy in healthcareGrief, identity, and chronic illnessThe importance of education and body literacy🌿 Resources & Links Grace Ker on Instagram: @spencergreenRecommended Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Richard Best, Chinese Medicine House of Natural Health HendraSupport the podcast: Buy me a coffee!From Kyla This episode really stayed with me. There’s something about hearing a story like Grace’s that reminds you how many women are navigating pain quietly… and how often they’re told it’s normal. It’s not. And conversations like this are how we start changing that. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    38 min

  5. APR 1

    47 - I’m Tired of How We Talk About Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.

    Somewhere along the way, the conversation around cannabis got… distorted. Depending on who you listen to, it’s either: dangerous and life-ruining or a cure for everything. And neither of those are helpful. In this episode, I unpack the gap between those extremes and why so many people are still confused, even with more access, more products, and more information than ever before. Because the issue isn’t the plant. Maybe its body autonomy and intention. What I cover: Why cannabis is still misunderstood (just in a different way)The shift from fear → hype (and why both miss the point)The role of context: nervous system, stress, environmentWhy people think they’re “doing it wrong”The gap between clinical messaging and real-life useWhy more information hasn’t led to better outcomesJournaling + tracking A beautiful journal for handwriting and keeping with your stash https://www.rubymarybotanicals.com.au/products/cycles-journal Australian designed and decentralised - Online app tracking with @ontrackaapp  "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    14 min

  6. MAR 25

    46 - Hemp as Fuel - Why Aren’t We Using It? With Kyla de Clifford.

    This week, we explore a question that seems simple… but isn’t: If hemp can be used as fuel then why aren’t we using it? Particularly during this very planned war and outage of oil with far reaching implications. In this episode, I break down: The history of hemp as an industrial cropHenry Ford’s plant-based car and early biofuel explorationWhat hemp fuel actually is (biodiesel + ethanol)Whether it really works — and where it falls shortWhy it didn’t scale (policy, infrastructure, economics)Where hemp fits in today’s energy conversationAnd the bigger question: how systems decide what gets adopted… and what gets left behindReferences & Further Reading USDA Hemp for Victory archive  https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43843001/PDFHemp biomass & biofuel potential (Bioresource Technology)  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096085241830306XIndustrial hemp for energy (Energies journal)  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5810Bioenergy crop comparison review  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118304983Hemp and phytoremediation (Frontiers in Plant Science)  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00359/fullFor more on Australia's Oil production, petrol etc  and who is and isn't paying tax follow @punterspolitics on instagram If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support these conversations, you can do so here: Buy Me a Coffee  If this episode made you think differently, send it to someone who still thinks this plant is one-dimensional. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    21 min

  7. MAR 18

    45 - Cannabis Research: The Story We Were Never Told with Kyla de Clifford.

    Cannabis research often feels confusing. One study says the plant may help with pain, sleep or inflammation. The next headline warns about risk. So what’s really going on? In this episode of Canna Curious, I unpack why cannabis science has been so difficult to interpret for the past 70 years. From the Nixon-era report that recommended decriminalisation but was ignored… to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system by Raphael Mechoulam… to modern case studies in epilepsy, endometriosis and chronic pain. I also explore how research bias, funding incentives and media headlines can shape the way cannabis science is interpreted. Most importantly, I look at how to read cannabis research with a more critical and curious eye. Because the science around this plant is still evolving. And in many ways, the most important questions are only just beginning to be asked. In this episode we discuss • The 1972 Shafer Commission and the research that was ignored • Raphael Mechoulam and the discovery of THC and the endocannabinoid system • Why cannabis was placed in Schedule I and how that shaped research • How media headlines can misrepresent cannabis studies • Case studies in epilepsy, endometriosis and chronic pain • Practical tips for how to read cannabis research Support the podcast If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support the research and production that goes into each episode, you can buy me a coffee via the link in the show notes. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    18 min

  8. MAR 11

    44 - Everyone Is Just Trying to Cope: A Psychiatric Nurse’s Story with Megan Simpson.

    In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla sits down with psychiatric nurse Megan Simpson for an honest and deeply human conversation about mental health, stigma, and healing. Megan has spent years working on the front lines of psychiatric care, supporting people through crisis, trauma, and severe mental illness. But behind that professional role was also a personal story — one that includes burnout, PTSD, and navigating her own path toward recovery. Together, Kyla and Megan explore what happens when the people caring for others also need support themselves. This conversation covers: The realities of working in psychiatric nursingTrauma and burnout in healthcare workersHow alcohol is often normalized as a coping mechanismThe stigma surrounding substance use and mental healthWhy understanding the root cause of coping behaviours mattersThe importance of community, connection, and compassionate careThroughout the conversation Megan reflects on what helped her rebuild her life and how her experiences now shape the way she supports patients.This episode is raw, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful. Content Note / Harm Reduction This episode includes discussion of: PTSD and mental health challengesAlcohol use and coping mechanismsSuicide and suicidal ideationIf you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Australia support services Lifeline — 13 11 14  24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention  https://www.lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636  Mental health information and support  https://www.beyondblue.org.au Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467  https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au If you are in immediate danger, please contact 000. Disclaimer The information shared in this episode is for education and discussion purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified medical professional. Experiences shared by guests reflect their personal perspectives and may not apply to everyone. If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect with Kyla de Clifford Instagram: @cannacuriousaus TikTok: @cannacuriousau YouTube: @cannacurious If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you. Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.

    1h 11m
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A podcast exploring medicinal cannabis, plant-based healing, and women’s health. Host Kyla de Clifford shares real stories, expert insights, and conscious conversations about chronic pain, nervous system support, advocacy, and natural medicine. For curious minds redefining healing. Note: Canna Curious is an independent educational podcast. Content is for general information only and does not promote or advertise any therapeutic goods. Always talk to a qualified health professional about your individual circumstances.

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