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

Kyla de Clifford
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 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. 5D AGO

    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. 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

  2. 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. 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

  3. MAR 4

    43 - Two Rooms, One Industry with Kyla de Clifford.

    This week on Canna Curious, I’m reflecting on 48 hours that revealed the tension inside Australia’s medicinal cannabis space. From hosting a candlelit launch centred on women, story and nervous system safety…to having a thoughtful dinner conversation with Professor Kylie O’Brien about the TGA and AHPRA review…to walking the floor at UIC 2026 - one of the country’s major industry conferences. On paper, the conference program was rigorous and impressive, with respected clinicians and researchers presenting on addiction, hormones, endometriosis, regulatory frameworks and real-world data. Speakers like Justin Sinclair, Dedi Meiri and Dr Shabnam Sarshar are doing important, evidence-based work. And yet, walking through the exhibitor hall, I kept asking one question: Where were the patients? This episode explores the shift from movement to marketplace, the evolution of the industry over the past decade, and why lived experience still matters in rooms where regulation, research and commerce intersect. This isn’t a takedown. It’s a reflection on growth, memory, and the importance of keeping care at the centre. "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. 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

  4. FEB 25

    42 - From Parliament to Plant Medicine: Bee Mohamed on Advocacy, Integrity & Reform.

    In this episode, Kyla sits down with Bee Mohamed for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation on health policy, patient advocacy, and the realities of building change inside broken systems. Bee shares her journey from working in Parliament House under the Minister for Women, to frontline advocacy work during the rise of prescription medication dependency and overdose, to entering the medicinal cannabis sector with a simple hope: access, affordability, and human rights for patients. Together, Kyla and Bee unpack the difference between “advocacy” as branding versus advocacy as lived experience, why harm reduction conversations can be uncomfortable (but essential), and what brave leadership looks like when profit pressures collide with patient care. This episode touches on heavy topics including female genital mutilation (FGM) and medication-related deaths  with care, context, and a strong focus on how change actually happens. Content Note This episode includes discussion of: Female genital mutilation (FGM)Prescription medication dependency, overdose, and deathPlease take care while listening. What We Cover What it’s like to witness “political will” actually create changeThe rise of prescription dependency: opioids, benzodiazepines, and polypharmacyWhy reforms like real-time prescription monitoring matter (and what they can/can’t fix)How Bee entered medicinal cannabis — and what she hoped would be differentThe ongoing barriers for patients: access, affordability, stigma, and driving lawsWhy roadside drug testing debates often miss the point (presence vs impairment)What “patient advocacy” really looks like in practiceThe tension between values and commercial structures — and how misalignment shows up in the bodyCan harm reduction exist inside a commercial model?“Corporate cannabis” and the missed opportunity to build true patient educationGrief, integrity, and the moment you realise you can’t self-compromise anymoreBee’s definition of brave leadership: remembering why the industry exists at allLinks & Resources  Bee Mohamed: @mata_gatheringHarm Reduction Australia: Harm Reduction Drive Change campaign (drug driving reform): https://www.drivechangemc.org.au/tag/drug-driving/SafeScript / real-time prescription monitoring (Vic): [link]If this episode hit something in you  send it to a friend who’s tired of “just coping.” And if you’re a clinic, brand, or organisation in this space: come talk to us. Harm reduction doesn’t have to be scary. Patient safety is not optional. Subscribe to the podcas "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. 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.

    51 min

  5. FEB 17

    41 - They Burned the Women, Not the Wisdom with Melanie Wentzel.

    A History of Women in Cannabis - with Melanie Wentzel Before prohibition. Before pharma. Before THC percentages became a marketing strategy. Cannabis lived in women’s hands. In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla is joined by healthcare strategist, bestselling author of Cannabis Queens, and women’s health advocate Melanie Wentzel to trace the history of cannabis through a female lens. Together, they travel back through: Ancient China and early medical pharmacopoeiasAncient Egypt and recorded cannabis suppositories for period painMedieval Europe and Hildegard von Bingen’s writings on hempThe witch trials and the destruction of women’s medical knowledgeThis is a lineage story. It’s about remembering that women were clinicians long before we were allowed degrees. That tending plants, tending bodies, and tending community were never separate practices. And that the knowledge of this plant survived — even when the women who carried it were persecuted. If you’ve ever felt like the modern cannabis conversation is missing something  this episode explains why. There is a golden thread running through history. And we are still holding it. In This Episode We Discuss • Cannabis in ancient medical texts • Women as early healers and apothecaries • Suppositories and formulations used in Ancient Egypt • Spiritual and ritual uses of cannabis across cultures • Why high THC is a very modern obsession • The erasure and survival of women’s plant knowledge Resources Mentioned Cannabis Queens by Melanie WentzelHistorical references to Hildegard von BingenPapyrus Ebers (Ancient Egyptian medical text)If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs reminding that this story didn’t begin yesterday. And if you’re loving these deeper dives, subscribe, rate, and leave a review - it helps more women find this conversation. Let’s keep tracing the thread. You can find Mel @h.i_m.e.l__ "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. 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 17m

  6. FEB 11

    40 - Balance, Boundaries & Are Gummies Really Medicine? with Jess Peros.

    In this episode, Kyla is joined by her friend Jess for a wide-ranging, honest conversation that starts with balance - and quickly reveals how complicated that word really is. What does balance actually look like for women today? How do nervous systems stay regulated in a world of constant immediacy, technology, and responsibility? And where does the plant fit into that picture when used intentionally - not as an override, but as a support? From there, the conversation turns to a topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant in Australia: gummies as medicine. As edible formats become more popular, Kyla and Jess unpack the questions that aren’t being asked loudly enough - around safety, formulation, harm reduction, and whether all “medical” formats truly support health. This episode isn’t about telling you what to think. It’s about slowing down, zooming out, and asking better questions. In this episode, we discuss: What “balance” actually means for women - and why juggling everything isn’t the same as being wellThe impact of technology, immediacy, and accessibility on the nervous systemBoundaries as a form of balance (especially with phones, work, and availability)How intentional cannabis use can create pause, presence, and spaceWhy balanced THC:CBD products can be a powerful starting point - and often an ongoing toolThe role of hormones, perimenopause, and changing cannabinoid needs over timeCBD flower, balanced flower, and why “stronger” isn’t always betterThe rise of gummies in the medical market - and the risks that come with lolly-like formatsSugar, distillate vs rosin, and how formulation matters more than people realiseWhy some people feel low or flat after certain gummiesChild safety, packaging gaps, and real harm-reduction conversationsWhether gummies should be considered medicine - or something else entirelyWhy anecdotal experience still matters in emerging health spacesThe importance of asking better questions of prescribers and productsWe also introduce a new recurring segment: “What has weed taught us this month?” A reflective check-in on lessons, friction, community dynamics, and what the plant continues to reveal  not just biologically, but culturally and personally. 💬 Join the conversation: Kyla and Jess invite you to send through questions, experiences, or topics you’d like them to unpack in future episodes. Debate is welcome. Curiosity is encouraged. You can find Jess @jessica.inherbloom "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. 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.

    35 min

  7. FEB 3

    39 - Alethea Wallace: When The System Takes Someone You Love.

    In this episode of Canna Curious, Kyla is joined by her close friend Sandrine for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about their friend Alethea (Leath) — who has been incarcerated for cannabis-related charges for just over a year. This is not a legal analysis or a political debate. It’s a human conversation about friendship, shock, grief, love, anger, and the quiet resilience required when someone you love is caught in a system most of us never expect to encounter. Leath cannot speak freely on the podcast right now, but when she is released later this year, she will be invited on to the podcast to share her story in her own words. Until then, this episode holds space for her, and for all the people left on the outside trying to make sense of the inside. In this episode, we talk about: Who Alethea is beyond her sentence — her heart, warmth, and devotion to communityThe shock of finding out a close friend is in prisonHow little most of us understand the justice system until we’re inside itWhat contact with someone in prison actually looks like (calls, visits, letters, costs)The emotional toll of limited access and constant uncertaintyThe strange mix of powerlessness, guilt, and love felt by friends on the outsideSelf-censorship, stigma, and why people struggle to talk about incarcerationThe realities of prison healthcare, communication, and overcrowdingLearning to live inside constraints you didn’t chooseHolding hope for release, parole, and life on the other sideA note to listeners This conversation may be emotional to listen to. We speak candidly about incarceration, systemic injustice, and the personal impact of these systems on real people. Listener discretion is advised. We’ve been careful not to share details that could compromise Alethea or anyone else. This episode is shared with love, respect, and care. Want to support Alethea? If you feel called, Alethea loves receiving letters - they bring her enormous joy and help her feel connected to the outside world. 📬 Mailing details: Alethea’s public mailing address and prisoner number are listed below  Alethea Wallace Numimbah Correctional Centre Private Mail Bag 1  Nerang QLD 4211 (Please keep letters simple: no stickers, metallic ink, or extras - plain paper and pen are best.) If you’d like to send a message of support but aren’t sure where to start, reach out to Kyla via socials and she’ll help guide you. You can find Sandrine @marquisedesark "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. 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 4m

  8. JAN 27

    38 - I’m Not Interested in Being “Responsible” Anymore with Kyla de Clifford.

    In this episode, ’m unpacking why I’ve started to push back on the idea of “responsible use” — at least the way it’s so often applied to women. Because when we really look at it, “responsible” rarely means neutral or supportive.It usually means self-monitoring, self-correcting, and self-blaming — layered on top of bodies that are already expected to manage pain, emotion, cycles, stress, and capacity without much support. This conversation isn’t about encouraging recklessness.  It’s about questioning why women are so often asked to carry extra moral weight when it comes to their bodies and why cannabis has become another place where we’re expected to prove we’re doing it properly. In this episode, I explore: How “responsibility” has become a gendered expectationWhy women are taught caution while men are given permission to experimentThe emotional cost of constant self-surveillanceHow self-monitoring disconnects us from pleasure, rest, and trustWhere this messaging comes from — medicine, regulation, and wellness cultureThe difference between compliance and agencyWhy I’m more interested in discernment than rulesThis is a quieter but firmer episode.  Less about advice.  More about power, agency, and what it means to be in relationship with your body without supervision. If this episode feels uncomfortable, that’s okay. And if it feels relieving — you’re not alone. "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. 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.

    19 min
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About

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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