Kava with Morgan Smith — Tradition, Pharmacology, and Healing Ritual
From A Functional Approach with Dr. Jim Chialtas by Jim Chialtas, DACM, L.Ac.
February 16, 2026 · 59 min · Episode 153
About this episode
Dr. Jim Chialtas interviews Morgan Smith about the benefits and traditions surrounding kava.
In this 153rd episode, I speak with Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, founder of Pu'iwa Hawaiian Farms, and Board member of the International Kava Organization. We discuss concepts about how kava came into his life, and how this herb helped him manage the ever-increasing stresses of work and family. We discuss how this herb, kava, works in the body, where and how it is grown, some cautions of its use, and some traditional ceremonial practices used by indigenous people of the Pacific Islands. If you have never heard of kava before, I encourage you to listen in on this one. Morgan is a wealth of information, and we had a wonderful discussion. My apologies for the audio static in the very beginning of the episode. We got it sorted out quickly, so hang in there! You can find Morgan and his products through his website and social media links here: www.kalmwithkava.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalmwithKava Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=Calm%20with%20kava Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/kalmwithkava/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Drinkkalm
People in this episode
Host: Jim Chialtas
Guest: Morgan Smith
Topics covered
- kava
- herbal medicine
- stress management
- traditional practices
- indigenous cultures
Keywords
- kava
- stress relief
- Pacific Islands
- herb
- ceremonial practices
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Kalm with Kava, Pu'iwa Hawaiian Farms, International Kava Organization
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