Apples in Winter

Cait Curley

5.0 (2)
Society & Culture
Updated Weekly

Apples in Winter is a conversational podcast by Cait Curley.

5d ago

Episode 11 - Oleg Maryasis

Oleg Maryasis entered the cannabis industry in 2012, beginning with vaporizer technology before shifting his focus to cannabinoids, education, and the science behind cannabis. Today, he serves as Director of Education at Lock and Key Remedies, Director of Education and Compliance at NYCBUD, a licensed New York dispensary, and earned his Master's Degree in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2024. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Oleg also hopes to use his education and experience to help advance the future of medical cannabis and hemp in his home country. In this conversation, we explore the evolution of both the cannabis industry and our own relationship with the plant. From the early days when the conversation centered largely around THC and getting high to today's growing emphasis on education, science, and responsible use, Oleg shares how his own journey, including using cannabis to come off prescription medications after 15 years, completely changed his perspective on what the plant is capable of. We also discuss New York's rapidly evolving cannabis market, why education is more important than ever, and how the industry can continue to mature without losing the culture and community that helped build it. Oleg offers a perspective that blends real-world industry experience, scientific education, and a thoughtful look at where cannabis is headed next. Whether you've followed cannabis for decades or are simply curious about where the industry is going, this conversation explores how the plant, and the conversation surrounding it, continues to evolve.

52 min
Jun 23 · Bonus

Special Release — Cardinal Rules of the Cypher

Fresh off a trip to Mary Jane Berlin, now the world's largest cannabis trade show and conference with more than 85,000 attendees from around the globe, I've been reflecting on one of the things that always stands out at events like this: community. As cannabis continues to evolve through research, policy reform, medical programs, and expanding markets around the world, it's easy to focus on the headlines. But at the center of it all are still people sharing stories, exchanging ideas, and building connections across cultures, languages, and borders. That spirit reminds me of the Cardinal Rules of the Cypher, shared with me years ago by Coach Mike, whose full episode of Apples in Winter will be released soon. A cypher is a gathering, a circle where people come together to share stories, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. In many cannabis communities, it often includes the passing of the plant, but the idea is simple: everyone contributes, everyone learns, and everyone has a place. While in Germany, I found myself sharing these rules with some of the new friends I met along the way and realized they were too good to wait for the full episode. In this special release, Coach Mike shares five of the ten Cardinal Rules of the Cypher.

4 min
Jun 10

Episode 10 – David Sergi

David Sergi is a Texas-based attorney who has spent decades working at the intersection of hemp, cannabis, and regulatory law. In this episode, we unpack the legal battles shaping the future of hemp, from the high-profile fight unfolding in Texas to the broader questions surrounding THC definitions, federal oversight, enforcement actions, and regulatory uncertainty across the United States. We also discuss David's involvement in a federal lawsuit challenging the DEA over a rule that bans the hemp-derived cannabinoid HHC. The groups involved argue the DEA exceeded its authority and violated the intent of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing low levels of THC. David shares his perspective on what's actually happening in Texas, why the state has become a focal point in the hemp debate, what is at stake for businesses and consumers, and how ongoing litigation could influence policy far beyond state lines. We also discuss international approaches to regulation, common misconceptions about hemp, where the industry has gotten things wrong, and what businesses should be watching most closely in the year ahead. Whether you're deeply involved in the industry or simply trying to make sense of the headlines, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the most important legal and policy discussions facing hemp today.

41 min
May 26

Episode 09 — Micaela Machado

Micaela Machado is a sustainable designer, hemp building advocate, and artist whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, natural materials, and environmentally conscious building. This conversation explores hemp as a building material, what makes it so unique, and the growing momentum behind hemp construction. We also discuss the incredible projects Micaela is involved in through her work in sustainable design and green home builds, along with her background in art and sculpture, the spark that first drew her toward hemp, and how those creative foundations evolved into a career centered around sustainable design and regenerative construction. Micaela graduated from The University of Arizona with a degree in Sculpture and Business Management. After years working in California with Cemrock as an artistic fabricator, she returned to Arizona to earn her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, a path that ultimately led her deeper into hemp building and green home construction. She is the qualifying party for Old Pueblo Hemp Co.’s General Residential Contractor’s License, current President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, Arizona Chapter, and a member of the United States Hemp Building Association.

43 min
May 19

Episode 08 — John Roulac

John Roulac is the founder of Nutiva, one of the earliest companies to help bring hemp foods into the mainstream in the United States. Over the course of several decades, his work has spanned entrepreneurship, regenerative agriculture, environmental advocacy, policy, and media, including serving as an executive producer of the film Kiss the Ground. More recently, he’s focused on rethinking everyday consumer products through his company Coco Clean. In this conversation, we discuss the early days of hemp in America, what it was like fighting for legitimacy in an industry that existed far outside the mainstream, and the legal battle that led John to sue the U.S. government to help keep hemp foods legal. We also get into regenerative agriculture, environmental health, consumer products, and the progression of his advocacy over time. This conversation moves through entrepreneurship, conviction, public perception, and the importance of staying rooted in genuine passion and truth, even when the broader culture, industry, or political climate may be pushing against it.

35 min
May 13

Episode 07 — David Bush

Attorney David Bush has practiced law for more than 34 years and is widely considered one of, if not the first, hemp attorneys in the United States. Having represented both cannabis and hemp clients through major periods of industry change, David offers a rare firsthand perspective on the early days of cannabis legalization, the emergence of hemp regulations, and the rapid rise of the Colorado hemp boom. In this conversation, we discuss what it was like navigating industries that were being built in real time, often without clear legal frameworks or public understanding. David reflects on the evolution of cannabis and hemp from fringe industries to major economic and cultural forces, along with the risks, opportunities, and challenges that came with that transformation. This conversation moves through business, law, resilience, shifting public perception, and the strange reality of witnessing entire industries evolve across multiple decades of change.

1h 27m
May 5

Episode 06 — James Johnson

James Johnson’s path moves from military service into the evolving world of hemp and cannabis, carrying with it a perspective shaped by discipline, structure, and lived experience. In this conversation, we get into the realities of cannabis and hemp within military culture, the contradictions surrounding alcohol, and how those systems influence perception and access. We also touch on his work in hemp education through Hemp 101 and his product line Active Duty RX. This is a conversation about navigating transition, questioning long-standing norms, and creating new lanes where clarity, access, and education can exist side by side.

56 min
Apr 28

Episode 05 — Priya Mishra

Priya Mishra is the founder of Hempvati, working at the intersection of industrial hemp and medical cannabis in India, where the conversation around the plant is still layered with stigma, history, and complexity. Her work spans farmer education, patient support, research, and policy, all grounded in a deeper effort to reshape how cannabis is understood and accessed. In this conversation, we get into how Priya found her way into this space through her own health journey, and how that experience now informs the way she approaches advocacy, business, and care. We talk about the realities of navigating cannabis in India today, the gap between perception and science, and what it looks like to build something meaningful in a system that hasn’t fully caught up yet. This is a conversation about challenging narratives, working within constraints, and slowly shifting a culture around a plant that has always been there.

49 min

Trailer

Trailer

Apples in Winter. A conversation podcast. Launches March 20.

Feb 22

•

13 sec

5

out of 5

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Apples in Winter is a conversational podcast by Cait Curley.

Creator

Cait Curley
Years Active

2K
Episodes

13
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Cait Curley
Show Website

Apples in Winter