Arkansas Cannabis Podcast and lifestyle brand

In this episode, Payton Weatherford, Sr. Account Manager at Natural State Medicinals, gets R&R co-hosts Rochelle and Wendy fired up for the future of the Arkansas cannabis industry, all while recounting stories from the past of finding his calling in cannabis. Payton's passion for the plant is as palpable as Arkansas medical marijuana patients' love for the earthy indica strain, Blackwater, cultivated by NSM. Also in this episode, Payton takes The Source on a tour of the NSM cultivation facility in White Hall, Arkansas and into the very room where Blackwater flowers in all her green glory.

Where there is reggae, there is Rochelle wowing a crowd with her god-given talents, and making it look absolutely effortless. Where there is reggae, there are roots - Rochelle's roots. In this episode, Rochelle bashfully recalls rockstar moments, like walking inside a too-smoky-to-see studio to record with crucial members of the reggae dynasty whom she considers family. Rochelle's roots are grounded in the culture of love, reefer, and reggae sowed by Bob Marley and cultivated and deepened by many reggae musicians, including her own father.

For Rochelle, where there is reefer, there is therapy, there is medication. Cannabis has continually proved to be Rochelle's vehicle to nurture and grow from the traumas of her past and to manage and significantly reduce a life-long threat to her physical health. With the help of Wendy's therapeutic guidance, Rochelle reveals vulnerable and brave moments from past and present of this one love life she's got to live.

These days, she shares her talents with the world on tour with Stephen Marley, and she's won an award or two along the way. Right here in the state that Rochelle calls home, she's undeniably rooted reggae to permanence. Rochelle Bradshaw and her band, Hypnotion are no strangers on the music scene in the natural state.   

In celebration of Bob Marley's 79th birthday, The Source is getting everybody together to feel alright! Good times are guaranteed on Saturday, February 10th at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Performances by: Rochelle Bradshaw & Hypnotion, The Irie Lions, Butterfly, Patti Steel, and more!

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A snip here. The sound of leaves rustling there, hear the sounds of harvest as if you were there. Imagine a room filled with 50 towering marijuana plants. Witness Wendy and Rochelle's pure joy as they speak with a familiar voice, Arianna Pascoe, a lead grower, and with Brandy Hogan, harvester & Production Coordinator at The Source Craft Cannabis.

The amount of time it takes to cycle through each process in cannabis cultivation from seed to harvest to sales floor varies from grow to grow. Arianna explains that because Arkansas's medical marijuana laws only allow for a small number of plants, it allows her and her like-family team of growers to pay attention to every detail. Listening, watching, and responding with intention to each plant makes what could be a monotonous routine into a 2-3 month cycle that brings new challenges and celebrations.

Harvest itself? The Source's team can harvest and hang to cure in just a couple of days. After about a week of hanging out in the cure room, the time consuming work of trimming the ladies to perfection begins.

Though the flowering female plants, affectionately referred to as "the ladies," may be few in number, they leave nothing to be desired when experiencing a cannabis harvest. The largest plant of this harvest weighed in at a whopping 28 pounds.

At the end of the episode, Rochelle grows eager to smoke the freshest of fresh. And in just 2.5 months time (give or take), she would do just that.

Down home and easy to talk to, there's no wonder why Ryan wins the popular vote amongst his peers in leadership positions in the cannabis industry of Arkansas. Listen as Wendy and Rochelle get to know him better and understand why he is so deeply respected by his peers.

In this episode he tells the story of one of the state's most important cannabis products, ArkanRAW. ArkanRAW is an RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) formulated to treat severe medical problems, including cancer. Ryan reveals his personal connection to this product in this episode with an emotional story that brings humanity back to the business of cannabis.

Ryan is creative in his approach to product design, always taking mindful steps to center the patient experience and elevate product offerings in the RVR catalog, including bringing in the largest edibles company in North America, Wana, to Arkansas through a licensing agreement.

Not only does Ryan care about the impact that the cannabis plant can have upon patient's lives, Ryan is an exemplary neighbor, friend, and a whole lot of fun to be around. At the end of the episode Ryan reveals to Rochelle his deep love for reggae music, solidifying their friendship and our belief that reggae and reefer hold great power to help us form true connections.

Get ready for an exciting dive into the heart of the Arkansas medical cannabis scene with our latest episode, 'Bringing People Back into the Cannabis Conversation.' 

This time, Rochelle and Wendy have a rich conversation with Annie Iselin, where Annie talks about her journey from OG Colorado player to national consultant to being the leader of the Arkansas company, BOLD Team. Annie is a trailblazing figure and one of the most influential women in the Arkansas cannabis industry. 

This episode also offers a raw and passionate look into the challenges and triumphs of managing a major commercial cannabis operation in the quaint, remote town of Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Annie shares stories of how cannabis and her work are weaving new social and economic fabrics in the town, bridging communities, and reshaping perceptions.

But there's more – Annie is embarking on a groundbreaking new venture: “Ask Ethel.” This activism project is set to revolutionize the medical marijuana conversation in Arkansas, placing patients at its heart. Ask Ethel isn't just an event; it's a movement aimed at empowering patients and destigmatizing the cannabis plant and its use. Tune in for an episode that's not just about the business of cannabis, but a profound journey of community, change, and empowerment. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

Step into a world where love, compassion, and care transform the art and science of cannabis cultivation in our 2nd episode, 'Cultivating Cannabis with Love and Intention.' 

Wendy and Rochelle bring you into an intimate conversation with Arianna Pascoe, a visionary cannabis grower. Arianna unveils the secret behind nurturing cannabis with a mindful approach, sharing the inspiring tale of Siouxise, a plant that defied the odds. Once the smallest 'runt' of the lot, Siouxise flourished under Arianna's loving affirmations and dedicated care, growing to become the largest and most robust in the group. This lesson carries so much depth and crosses over into how we  care for all living things and the impact. 

This episode goes beyond the science of genetics and cultivation techniques. It delves into how the emotional environment, from positive intentions to attentive care, plays a pivotal role in the wellbeing of cannabis plants, significantly enhancing their cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Join us as Arianna reveals how integrating emotion and intention into cultivation practices can revolutionize the industry, promising not just growth, but a thriving journey for each plant that benefits all who indulge in the medicine it provides. 

This episode is an enlightening experience that might just change the way you think about plant care and cultivation.

In episode 1, prepare to be inspired by the transformational tale of Jeremy Hodges, an enthusiastic cannabis patient turned member of the Arkansas cannabis industry. Jeremy is the early-rising, lawn-chair wielding, very first patient of The Source dispensary back when it opened in 2019. 

Wendy and Rochelle take you on a journey with Jeremy who transformed himself from the first patient into a respected patient consultant. Discover how he traded his career in education for a career in cannabis, perfecting his knowledge at St. Louis University to become a master budtender.

Tune in as Jeremy unfolds his own personal evolution with cannabis. You'll travel from the shadowy days when even mentioning cannabis was taboo, to his eye-opening first visit to a legal dispensary in Las Vegas, and finally to his current role in Arkansas at The Source. This episode is not just a story—it's an adventure into the heart of cannabis culture. 

It is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the plant's positive impact on individual lives, and anyone considering taking a leap into the cannabis industry themselves.