Planted with Sara Payan on Radio Misfits
“Planted” with Sara Payan, is an ongoing conversation encompassing the vast world of cannabis, with a focus on education. Sara Payan, educator, policy advocate & author, engages policy makers, media professionals, industry leaders and more, about their relationship with cannabis in the era of legalization.
Planted – James Leitz
California cannabis is more than a product. It’s agriculture, culture, history, and community. This week, James Leitz of the California Cannabis Awards joins sara to talk about celebrating craft farmers, breaking stigma, and why quality matters. [Ep 215]
Planted – Jack Casady
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jack Casady joins Sara for a conversation about the early days of cannabis in San Francisco, Jefferson Airplane, creativity, aging, music, and the stories behind an extraordinary life. [Ep 214]
Planted – Dr. Pavel Kubů
What happens when cannabis policy is driven by science instead of stigma? Sara sits down in Prague with Dr. Pavel Kubů to discuss medical cannabis access, European reform, scientific bias, AI in healthcare, and a hemp innovation with global implications. [Ep 213]
Planted – Cannabis Europa London: Barry Laxer & Simone van Breda
What can Europe teach the rest of the cannabis world? This week on Planted, two live conversations from Cannabis Europa London with Barry Laxer of Cielo Verde and Simone van Breda of the Union of Coffeeshop Retailers. [Ep 212]
Planted – Aladdin Khalifa
What happens when we lose the original genetics that shaped modern cannabis? Sara talks with Aladdin Khalifa of Khalifa Genetics about landraces, biodiversity, preservation, and why cannabis history matters. [Ep 211]
Planted – Robb Harmon
Sara sits down with Robb Harmon, founder of Veterans Cannabis Care, to talk about veteran access, medical cannabis, and the barriers patients still face when trying to get care. [Ep 210]
Planted – Anna Schwabe
Sara sits down with cannabis geneticist Dr. Anna Schwabe for a deep dive into cannabis science, genetics, breeding, THC hype, and the disconnect between marketing and reality. [Ep 209]
Planted – Lester Black
Sara sits down with journalist Lester Black to explore the legend of Big Sur Holy Weed, cannabis mythology, and the fight to preserve legacy cultivation in California. [Ep 208]
Planted – Jamie Pearson
What does US federal cannabis policy mean for the rest of the world? Global strategist Jamie Pearson breaks it down — and why most companies aren’t ready. [Ep 207]
Planted – Double episode from ICBC Berlin
Sara sits down with Ed Wells (Cannatrol) on post-harvest innovation, then Jillian Reddish (GCNC) + economist Beau Whitney break down global market data, pricing trends, and what’s ahead. [Ep 206]
Planted – Chris Ahern
Planted on location at ICBC Berlin! Sara sits down with Chris Ahern, CEO of PAX, to talk about building a global cannabis brand, navigating regulation, and what’s next for innovation in the space. [Ep 205]
Planted – Russ Hudson
Sara sits down with phytochemical researcher Russ Hudson to break down terpenes, flavonoids, and the real science behind cannabis. From street legacy to lab research, this one challenges bro science and dives deep into how plants actually work. Science = normalization [Ep 204]
Planted – Bob Hoban
Sara sits down with cannabis attorney and global policy expert Bob Hoban to break down rescheduling, hemp vs. cannabis, and the evolving global market. From personal stories to supply chains and stigma, this is a deep dive into where the industry is headed next. [Ep 203]
Planted – Rich Magaña, Scott Schmidt & Beau Whitney
Planted @ the Sunset Social Club! From queer legacy to economic reality, who built this industry and where is it headed? Rich Magaña + Scott Schmidt on visibility, advocacy, & why cannabis has always been queer… plus Beau Whitney on market shifts, taxes, & the real numbers. [Ep 202]
Planted – Congresswoman Dina Titus
Congresswoman Dina Titus joins Sara to break down the future of cannabis policy- from banking + federal reform to the fight for small businesses and medical access. 70% of Americans support legalization… so what’s holding it back? [Ep 201]
Planted – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
For our 200th episode, Sara sits down with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. From legalization to equity and banking- this is where cannabis policy is headed. “Puff, puff… let’s pass these bills.” [Ep 200]
Planted – Alex Rogers, ICBC
Sara Payan sits down with ICBC founder Alex Rogers to unpack Germany’s cannabis reforms, Europe’s emerging markets, and why Berlin is now the global crossroads for cannabis. The international cannabis story is just getting started. [Ep 199]
Planted – Fire King Hash
Planted podcast, Sara Payan, Fire King Hash, Jonny Zaglin, Carey Grafmiller, Jordan Watts, MJ Bowl, solventless hash, cannabis concentrates, hash culture, Emerald Triangle farmers, cannabis craft producers [Ep 198]
Planted – CA State Treasurer, Fiona Ma
On location at the Cannabis, Culture & Change conference in West Hollywood, Sara sits down with CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma. They dive into banking access, over-taxation, and what it takes to make California’s cannabis industry sustainable. [Ep 197]
Planted – Heather Pasternak
Sara sits down with Heather Pasternak — comedian behind Confessions of a Weed Mom & judge on Cooking on High — to unpack cannabis, comedy & motherhood. Why are wine moms cute, but weed moms controversial? Let’s talk about it. [Ep 196]
Planted – Shahar Yamay
Sara talks pre-roll innovation, automation and quality with Shahar Yamay, CEO of Hefestus.[Ep 195]
Planted – Brendan McKee
Sara sits down with Brendan McKee, Co-Founder & COO of Silver Therapeutics, for a thoughtful conversation on cannabis retail with heart—community engagement, compassionate leadership, and why the customer experience truly matters. [Ep 194]
Planted – Terry Mendez and Dan Herer
We continue our MJBizCon coverage—recorded live at the Lights Up Las Vegas party Featuring conversations with Terry Mendez of Safe Harbor Financial on cannabis finance & access to capital, plus Dan Herer on culture, legacy & the movement’s evolution. [Ep 193]
Planted – Darren Gleeman
Why are cannabis businesses still failing- even as demand grows? Sara talks 280E, rescheduling, and survival strategies with Darren Gleeman of MBO Ventures. A must-listen from MJBizCon. [Ep 192]
Planted – Daniel Cook
What if we’ve been thinking about cannabis all wrong? Daniel Cook, CEO of @TrueTerpenes, joins Sara for a live MJBizCon conversation on terpene science, sensory language, and the deeper experience of the plant. [Ep 191]
Planted – MJ BizCon: w/ Jane Sandelman & Jimmy Brinkerhoff
Sara sits down with Jane Sandelman of Cannatrol and Jimmy Brinkerhoff from Edun to talk about innovation, sustainability, and what leadership looks like when it’s more than just a slogan. [Ep 190]
Planted – Hemp for the Future Conference
Planted with Sara Payan was recorded live at Hemp for the Future in Reykjavík, Iceland, capturing the energy of a truly global conversation. The setting brought together voices from around the world, each offering a different perspective on where hemp and cannabis are headed.
Across six conversations, the focus stays on health, science, sustainability, and the real work happening behind the scenes to move the industry. It’s a snapshot of a movement in motion, recorded in a place that underscored just how international and interconnected this space has become. [Ep 189]
Planted – Dr Bonni Goldstein
Sara Payan sits down with Dr. Bonni Goldstein for a thoughtful, clear-eyed conversation about the realities of cannabis use in children. Drawing from her work and her feature in Fat Nugs Magazine’s “Kids & Cannabis” issue, Dr. Goldstein breaks down a complicated topic with clarity, care, and a strong focus on real-world medical context. [Ep 188]
Planted – Angela Cheng
Sara sits down with Angela Cheng, CMO of Kanha, to talk about plant-based innovation, leadership, and the future of wellness. Don’t miss Angela’s insights and inspiring journey! [Ep 187]
Planted – João Mattos
On this week’s Planted, Sara Payan sits down with João Mattos of @8000Kicks to talk about innovation, sustainability, and the journey behind creating the world’s first waterproof hemp shoes. [Ep 186]
Planted – David Tran
This week on Planted, Sara is joined by the legendary David Tran, founder of Farechild Events and Dope Magazine. They get into legacy roots, building community through events, and where cannabis culture is headed next. Tune in and let the conversation roll. [Ep 185]
Planted – HCGA
Closing out Craft Farmer Month, Sara digs into policy, community and the future of small farmers with the Humboldt County Grower’s Association. [Ep 184]
Planted – Neukom Family Farm
For #CraftFarmerMonth, Sara chats with Amy Neukom of Neukom Family Farm about regenerative farming, and the heart behind craft cannabis. [Ep 183]
Planted – Alpenglow Farms
Celebrate #CraftFarmerMonth with Sara Payan on Planted! This episode features Alpenglow Farms—hear their story, passion for sustainable cannabis, and what makes small-batch farming special. Don’t miss it! [Ep 182]
Planted – Emerald Spirit Botanicals
Sara Payan visits Katie Jeane & Joseph at their inspiring farm, Emerald Spirit Botanicals for #CraftFarmerMonth. Discover the passion, innovation, and heart behind craft cannabis cultivation. Don’t miss this journey from soil to spirit! [Ep 181]
Planted – Nat Pennington
Sara sits down with Nat Pennington, founder of Humboldt Seed Company, to talk about the evolution of cannabis genetics, pheno-hunting 10,000 plants, the legacy of Prop 215, and why THC % isn’t everything. Hear the full story behind one of Humboldt’s most iconic seed companies — and the love, science, and rebellion that started it all. [Ep 180]
Planted – Dale Sky Jones
Sara welcomes back Dale Sky Jones of Oaksterdam for a powerful discussion on the women who shaped cannabis reform, the unfinished work of legalization, and the global future of education in the space. [Ep 179]
Planted – Bryan Gerber, Hara Supply
Sara sits down with Bryan Gerber, CEO of Hara Supply, to talk innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of cannabis culture. [Ep 178]
Planted – Salvador Santana
Sara chats with Grammy award-winning musician Salvador Santana at The Woods in WeHo! Dive into a conversation about music, creativity, and community. [Ep 177]
Planted – Nohtal Partansky
Sara records live from MJ Unpacked with Nohtal Partansky, a former NASA engineer and the CEO of Sorting Robotics. Discover how he’s bringing space-age innovation to cannabis tech! [Ep 176]
