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

Kyla De Clifford
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  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
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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.

  1. 2D AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. JAN 21

    37 - Tolerance, Breaks & the Nervous System with Kyla de Clifford.

    Do I Need a T-Break? Tolerance breaks are usually framed like a punishment. Like you’ve done something wrong. Like you need to reset, detox, or start again. But for many women, that framing doesn’t fit real life - or real bodies. In this episode, Kyla takes a slower, more body-led look at tolerance breaks and what they’re actually for. This isn’t about abstinence or discipline. It’s about understanding when a break is helpful, when it’s not, and how to approach it without destabilising your nervous system — especially if you’re navigating perimenopause, pain, sleep disruption, anxiety, or chronic stress. In this episode, we cover: What cannabis tolerance actually is (and what it isn’t)Why tolerance isn’t failure — it’s feedback from the bodySigns your system may be asking for spaceHow pain, trauma, and nervous system load change the T-break conversationWhy stopping THC suddenly can feel awful for some peopleDifferent ways to take a tolerance break — from full breaks to gentler resetsWhether CBD has a place during a T-break (and when it helps vs. when it doesn’t)What a successful T-break actually looks like — beyond white-knucklingThis episode draws on both clinical research and lived experience to offer a more compassionate, realistic approach to tolerance one that prioritises regulation, safety, and relationship over rigid rules. A gentle resource  If this episode sparked the thought “I know I need a break, but I don’t know how to do it without falling apart”, Kyla has created a 21-day tolerance break guide you can download it here Support the show If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy Kyla a coffee here No pressure - it simply helps keep these conversations going. "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.

    27 min

  6. JAN 13

    36 - Nobody Told Us Cannabis Would Feel Different in Perimenopause with Kyla de Clifford.

    Women, Hormones & Cannabis: Why Your Body Changes How the Plant Feels. In this episode, we explore why so many women notice that cannabis feels different depending on where they are in their cycle, throughout perimenopause, or during periods of stress and hormonal change. We unpack what’s actually happening in the body, why this experience is common (and normal), and how women can work with their changing physiology instead of blaming themselves or assuming something has gone wrong. This episode builds on last week’s conversation about the endocannabinoid system and brings the focus specifically to women, hormones, and lived experience. In this episode, we cover: Why cannabis can work beautifully one month and feel overwhelming the nextHow the endocannabinoid system interacts with estrogen and progesteroneWhy midlife women notice these changes more clearlyThe difference between microdosing as restriction versus microdosing as body literacyWhy timing and nervous system state matter more than strain namesPractical ways women can adjust their approach during hormonally sensitive timesKey ideas discussed The endocannabinoid system plays a central role in regulating mood, pain, sleep, inflammation, and stressEstrogen has been shown to influence cannabinoid receptor sensitivity, particularly CB1 receptorsHormonal fluctuation, rather than hormone loss, is a major factor in why experiences change during perimenopauseWomen often experience stronger subjective effects from THC at lower doses compared to menCannabis tends to amplify the existing state of the nervous system rather than override itLearning to work with context, timing, and subtle dosing can make cannabis feel more supportive and less destabilisingSupport the show Canna Curious is produced independently. If you’d like to support the podcast, you can Buy me a coffee Share this episode If this conversation might help someone you love — a friend, a partner, a patient  feel free to pass it on. Thank you for listening, and for being part of this community. Research and further reading Cannabis, estrogen, and the endocannabinoid system The Endocannabinoid System and Sex Steroid Hormone Signalling  A comprehensive review exploring how estrogen and progesterone interact with endocannabinoid signalling pathways.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3863507/ Sex Differences and the Endocannabinoid System  A review outlining biological sex differences in cannabinoid metabolism, receptor expression, and subjective effects.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8216879/ Estradiol Regulati "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.

    17 min

  7. JAN 6

    35 - What’s Actually Happening in Your Body When You Take Cannabis with Kyla de Clifford.

    In this episode of the Canna Curious Podcast, Kyla slows things right down and returns to the foundations. Before conversations about strain names, dosing, or delivery methods  before stigma, shame, or opinion  this episode asks a simpler question: What is actually happening inside your body when you take cannabis? This episode is for patients. For women who turn to this plant not to escape their lives - but to cope with pain, stress, hormonal change, burnout, grief, or nervous system overload. At the centre of this conversation is the endocannabinoid system (ECS)  a regulatory system that exists in all of us, whether we ever take cannabis or not. In this episode, Kyla explores: What the endocannabinoid system is - and why it’s not a “weed system,” but a core biological regulatorHow the ECS was identified in the 1990s through cannabinoid research by scientists including Ally Howlett and Raphael MechoulamThe three key components of the ECS: receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymesThe roles of CB1 and CB2 receptors, and how THC and CBD interact with them differentlyWhy your body makes its own cannabinoids — and even passes them through breast milkWhy relief from cannabis looks different for everyone, and why variability is expected - not failureHow hormones, stress, nervous system state, and life stage (including perimenopause) influence responseThe difference between regulation and escape, and why many women use cannabis to stay present  not numbWhy dosing can feel unpredictable, and why curiosity works better than rigid rulesHow one-size-fits-all advice often creates shame and what a body-literate approach offers insteadSupport the show Canna Curious is produced independently. If you’d like to support the podcast, you can Buy me a coffee Resources & Further Reading Understanding the Endocannabinoid System These sources support the explanation of the endocannabinoid system as a regulatory system involved in balance, pain, mood, sleep, inflammation, and stress: Di Marzo V, Piscitelli F. (2015). The endocannabinoid system and its modulation by phytocannabinoids.Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 692–698. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-015-0376-6Lu HC, Mackie K. (2016). An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biological Psychiatry, 79(7), 516–525. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322315002127Pertwee RG. (2015). Endocannabinoids and their pharmacological actions. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 231, 1–37. "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.

    24 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    34 - When Women Stop Whispering with Kyla de Clifford.

    As the year draws to a close, Kyla pauses - not to summarise, but to sit inside what this season of listening has actually revealed. Recorded from Melbourne, in a softer and more honest state than usual, this solo episode reflects on thirty-three conversations about women’s health, relief, regulation, and the quiet ways women learn to manage their bodies inside imperfect systems. At the centre of the episode is a question Kyla has been carrying since the very beginning of the podcast: What actually happens when women stop whispering about medicine? This is not an episode about trends, tips, or solutions. It’s about: why women whisper in the first placehow shame still shapes the way relief is accessed and talked aboutwhat Kyla has noticed listening to women across diagnoses, ages, and livesThroughout the episode, Kyla speaks candidly about: whispering as a learned survival strategyand the steadiness she witnessed when women were given language, curiosity, and trustRather than positioning the plant as a fix, this episode explores what cannabis use revealed:  the gaps in care, the lack of education, and the unmet needs women have been navigating for years. This conversation is for anyone who has: softened their language to be taken seriouslyquestioned whether their relief was “allowed”carried shame alongside something that helpedor felt like they had to work it out on their own"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.

    10 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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