Mouth-Numbing Relaxation Without the Hangover (with Kalm with Kava CEO Morgan Smith)
About this episode
Michele O'Connor interviews Morgan Smith about kava as a non-alcoholic alternative to alcohol, discussing its effects, cultural significance, and ethical sourcing.
Mouth-Numbing Relaxation Without the Hangover (with Kalm with Kava CEO Morgan Smith) Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast as an insider guide to Key West food, drinks, events, and local guests, then interviews Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, about kava as a non-alcoholic alternative. Morgan shares how, after negative experiences with benzodiazepines and avoiding dependency, he found kava's relaxing, euphoric effects without hangovers or physical addiction and later took over his late friend Mike's kava company, expanding a Hawaii farm from 100 to about 15,000 plants. They explain kava's 3,000-year South Pacific cultural role, preparation as a root tea, expected mouth numbness and relaxation from key kavalactones, differences among noble vs "two-day" kavas, sourcing by region (Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga/Hawaii), bar ordering basics, ethical sourcing, market demand, and beginner advice to start with a sampler pack. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:26 Meet Morgan and Kava 05:19 Morgan's Origin Story 11:11 What Kava Actually Is 15:22 How It Feels 17:10 First Time Tips 19:37 Kava vs Alcohol 23:12 What Kava Is Not 26:40 Noble vs Two Day 29:24 Nighttime Kava Choices…
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