Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Jared Nieuwenhuis, Founder and CEO of Cannabis ChemLab, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory serving medical cannabis programs and national USDA hemp growers. Drawing on over 11 years of experience in laboratory development, environmental testing, and commercial farming, Jared brings an authoritative, science-first perspective to the complex world of analytical testing. Jared pulls back the curtain on why cannabis potency test results fluctuate so wildly across the industry. He breaks down groundbreaking internal research from Cannabis ChemLab that tested over 30 different accredited reference standards, demonstrating how slight variations in calibration curves can cause the exact same flower sample to test anywhere from 14% to 25% THC. In addition to potency variability, the conversation tackles heavy metal contamination, exposing why popular ocean-based soil amendments like fishbone meal frequently cause high arsenic fails, how cannabis hyperaccumulates toxins, and how growers can use plant biology to mitigate heavy metal risks in living soil systems.

In this episode, I sit down again with Bryant Mason of Soil Doctor Consulting for a fast-paced, practical conversation on the fundamentals growers often overlook. We dig into low-tech monitoring tools, pH behavior in organic systems, water testing basics, under-canopy lighting, and smarter phosphorus and nitrogen management. If you want a grounded look at what actually moves the needle in cultivation, this one delivers.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Hawley to talk about what plants actually care about when it comes to light. We dig into how to think in DLI instead of just chasing PPFD numbers, why uniformity matters more than raw power, and how spectrum fine-tunes rather than defines your grow. David breaks down what far-red and UV really do (and don’t do), how to manage leaf temperature as light intensity climbs, and why clean lenses and smart dimming often beat a fancy new fixture. It’s a practical, myth-busting chat about using light as a tool—not a trophy—and it’s packed with tips you can apply right away whether you’re running a living soil facility or just trying to dial in a tent at home.

In this episode, we sit down with Connor Ockfen, a seasoned cultivator and propagation lead at Collective Elevation in Montana. Connor manages a large-scale cloning and vegetative program that produces over 15,000 clones a year. He shares actionable insights into mother plant care, clone uniformity, rooting protocols, environmental management, and how to maintain genetic integrity across a commercial cultivar library — all while staying in compliance with Montana’s state tracking systems. This is a must-listen for anyone involved in propagation, veg, or commercial-scale plant production.

In this episode we talk about a recent calibration issue and Logan Labs and what the implications are, what are the limitations and benefits of soil testing, nitrogen management, and a new educational course Bryant is working on.