The Smoking Spot

Welcome to the Smoking Spot! This week's episode features Amanda's newest project: TRIPPER Magazine! The first cannabis tourism magazine for the wanderers, the weedheads and the canna-curious travellers. Light up and look around! Tripper is the path less travelled for the path less travelled. In fact, there is no path. We’re here for the weird and wonderful sesh spots, chasing graffiti across alleyways and exploring a new city after the joint’s lit.Every issue is a new destination city, and this one brings us to Toronto aka the 6ix. One of my favourite cities, it's a weedsmoker's dream: walkable neighbourhoods, parks on every corner, and more dispensaries than Tim Hortons. So, whether you're here for a farm tour, the dankest strains, unforgettable meals or unhinged public art— Welcome to the 6ix. Let's Trip.Tripper Cover Artist: Spencer Charlton @cratercrater Support Toronto's cannabis industry artists, creatives, contributors, and local businesses! Get your copy at www.trippermagazine.com or find it on instagram @tripper.magazine The biggest THANK YOU to Tripper Magazine's Print Sponsors: Paper Chase Press & Hemlock PrintersFind The Smoking Spot Podcast on instagram @the.smokingspot

Are you "noseblind" to some of the most popular scents? Amanda and Ryan dive deep into the world of long-chain musks, the secret ingredient behind fragrances like Another 13, Baccarat 540 Extrait, Cloud 2.0, and Juliette Has A Gun. Explore the fascinating phenomenon of musk anosmia, uncover why these scents drive some wild (hint: it's primal), and learn about the historical impact of our obsession (we did hunt the musk civet to near extinction). Get ready for a scentsational journey into a hidden fragrance category you never knew existed.

Amanda and Ryan have been holding it down in the industry for over a decade, witnessing its evolution firsthand. Now, we're bringing our combined experience to the table—or rather, to the jar—with actionable advice for breaking into the business. We’ll show you where to start, how to stand out, what you should be earning, and how to recognize when it’s time to level up or move on. Whether you're ready to replace your manager or finally launch that hash-rosin company you’ve been dreaming about, we’ve got you covered. We’ll walk you through landing roles with real growth potential and even break down how to start your own consulting business—using nothing more than your phone. So grab your clearest Sativa and dust off that résumé. This week on The Smoking Spot, we’re showing you how to get in, stand out, and start getting paid what you’re worth.. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

We disappeared for a hot minute but we're back! After taking a couple months to launch some new projects, Ryan Herron and Amanda Breeze are back in the studio with some new book recommendations for 2025 Weed: Cannabis Culture in the Americas by Caitlin Donohue Chill: The Wine Lover's Guide to Cannabis by Jackie McAskill Buzz Kill: The Corporatization of Cannabis by Michael Devillaer All the books featured on this episode were released in 2024 and part of the Cannabis Literary Showcase! New! Get your Cannabis Aroma Wheel Poster! www.ScentelligenceProject.com Find us on insta @the.smokingspot FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE!

Essentially a cheat sheet for how to start a vape brand. Cannabis purists step aside, the vape market is dominated by botanical terpene profiles, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Amanda Breeze and Ryan Herron discuss how vape brands can set themselves apart from their competitors and muse over the fact that most don't put the effort in. We talk about the restrictive effect descriptions Canadians are dealing with, what exactly Houndstooth tastes like, and what to do when the terps you ordered smell like a literal garbage fire. Finally, we quick-fire some questions we ask our clients when starting a new vape project and discuss common pitfalls when launching a new flavor. Hit a few blinkers and start writing that business plan you told your Dad was already a done deal, we're launching Vape brands this week on The Smoking Spot. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

We sit down with Marge from the Bite Me podcast to discuss this summer's Camp Canna. Amanda tells us the (tragic) story of being disqualified from the stoner-lympics, Marge tells us why summer camp fosters the best community, and Ryan listens intently while mentally practicing his archery skills. Stick around to hear the ladies' rating for this year's camp and details on the next. After camp, we bite down on the topic of creating your own edibles and the balancing act between creating something delicious that also has a precise dosage and desired effect. Let's just say, it's not as easy as it looks. Marge talks us through her interview process and some of the heavy hitters she's had on the show. This episode is going to make you hungry, encourage you to munch an edible, and finally subscribe to the Bite Me podcast. Grab the strongest cookie in the cabinet and join us for this sweet little baker's dozen of an episode. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

We sit down this week with David Jacob Kramer, author of Heads Together to talk about the underground press culture of the 60's and 70's. At a time when artists, psychedelic explorers, and activists came together to optimistically smoke pot and push back against government control, we saw an explosion of creative material hit the streets. As ephemeral as newsprint is, some of these publications survived long enough for Kramer to go digging through the archives and share the best-of-the-best. We talk about the state of microfiche, how digging through records became a career, and how hoarding old newspapers is actually a righteous act of rebellion. Grab some loose-leaf, twist one up, and join us for this illustrative trip through the archives.

We're back from our hiatus with a round-up about the latest scent-based news. We talk about A.I. perfume and why they're going to suck for a while. Amanda presents some newly trending scents in fragrance production and we both explore what "Opal" might smell like. Stick around and hold your nose while we try to describe that teen-boy smell (body spray, that is). No worries, herb fanatics, we focus on cannabis scents in everything from luxe perfumes to hard seltzers. Let's explore how we might someday be able to add the Headspace app to our phones and fax our friends a smell. Oh! The possibilities. Lastly, we sneak in some weird topics and discuss fat-washing rum with ham, WD-40 perfume, and the Tajinification of the grocery store aisle. Twist open a cannabis-flavored seltzer and top it with an exotic citrus garnish for this week's bouquet of scent stories.

On this episode, Ryan and Amanda relive their tangie-scented trauma and talk about those big bright citrus profiles found in our favourite plant and the compounds that contribute to it. Despite the prevalence of Limonene-rich cultivars, we uncover why they don't always dominate citrus profiles as expected. Drawing from Leafly's compilation of limonene-dominant strains and Abstrax's insightful analysis, we dissect the draw of citrus profiles and how terpene tests are doing a disservice to the profile. From the celebrated past to the present day analysis, we trace the lineage back to the days before Cali O and Skunk. We unravel the complexities of scent preferences, exploring why some prefer a subtle breeze scented with orange blossoms and others go out of their way to drive by the garlic processing plant. Let's explore the essence of exoticism in cultivars and how certain traits can elevate something ordinary into a luxury product. Reach beyond the bottle of orange cleaner and grab a jar of something that smells like a candy-scented candle. Light up, and listen in, you can practically smell the Tropicanna-Sulphurs from here.

Join Ryan Herron and Amanda Breeze as they delve into the complexities of ADHD and focus for both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals. Together, they sift through available research and draw from personal anecdotes to explore the impact of plant medicine on those affected by ADHD. Discover how our brains respond to stimuli, the nuances of our reward centers, and the role of plant medicine in this intricate equation. Ryan shares his journey of receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and walks us through how his use of plant medicine became an issue during the diagnosis process. Meanwhile, Amanda elaborates on the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of these substances, emphasizing the delicate and uniquely individualized balance required for an optimal outcome. Grab a jar of something rich in alpha-pinene, twist one up, and ignore those distractions. Better yet, set everything aside and procrastinate with us as we discuss how terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavourants influence brain function, focus, and memory.

Amanda Breeze and Ryan Herron sit down with an owner of Crop Circle Chocolate for an in-depth look at the last ten years in the Oregon edibles market. Jeremiah talks us through what it was like diving in head-first and admits, "I didn't even know what a logo was until we needed one." A decade ago, we were still eating mystery mg space cake and dreaming of the day we could open a box of truffles that didn't taste like stems and seeds. Today, we can stroll into any decent dispensary and walk out with a box of chocolates that would make a fitting Mother's Day gift. Though that didn't happen by chance, the hardworking crew at Crop Circle were in the commercial kitchen, putting in their 10,000 hours. Like the truffles, Crop Circle Chocolate's journey has been a delicate balance of trial and error and sweet success. Grab a jar that might contain a golden ticket and tune in to hear how this small team was able to take their ideas from a stoned plan to full-on fruition.

Amanda is fresh off the Literary Showcase and Ryan wants to hear all about it. We touch on Germany's recent legal push and Thailand's retreat back toward prohibition before settling in and talking about the Expo. The book fair of our youth has been reimagined to showcase our favorite plant! Amanda talks about the months she spent sourcing the cream of the crop of our industry's best authors, educators, and storytellers. The trials and tribulations of setting up a portable library, and how finding the perfect furniture really tied the room together. Get a J and a pencil to write down recommendations as Amanda talks us through her favorites and shows off the folks pushing the conversation forward. Do us both a favor and take a stoney stroll to your local book dealer to pick up one of these hand-selected recommendations or buy one from the list of booksellers we've curated. https://www.emeraldtempleliving.com/books Photos by @digitalstashboxmedia Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

This week we've swapped out the pink couch for a boardroom table and invited the women making an impact on the Canadian industry to share their individual stories. With more knowledge than most C-suites, these founders cover everything from regulations to what it takes to gain major traction in the industry. Herb-inspired heartfelt moments are shared along with highlighting the shifts we'll need to see in the industry to continue leading global legalization. Hear what goes on the scenes when creating packaging, pushing back against regulators, and how to establish your own rules in an industry with rigid mandates. Focus that feminine energy and twist up your best bouquet of high-quality flower, light up, and listen in on how these ladies continue to kick ass on the daily. Keep in touch with our guests: Marijane Baker, Noobie and the Doobie @thenoobieandthedoobie Winnie Clark, Disciplined Stoners @disciplinedstoners Alexis and Jolyn, Blunts and Beans @bluntsandbeans Annie and Amanda, High Ladies Podcast @highladiespodcast Amanda Breeze @the.smokingspot Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

Spice is tickling our taste buds this week on the vintage pink couch. Experts Amanda Breeze and Ryan Herron explore the Spicy wedge of the aroma wheel this week and delve into the nose-tingling and sneeze-inducing compounds found in our favorite plant. Dessert flavors are all well and good, but spice highlights the variety of life! We highlight some of our favorite spicy cultivars, smoke some Larry Bubba, and then go on a sprawling convo that starts with Beta Caryophyllenes unique properties as both a terpene and a cannabinoid, touches on the spice trade, and culminates with Ryan judging what you fill your pepper grinders with. Cozy up next to us on the couch while we wax poetic over getting peppercorns in our eyes, wonder if dogs like spicy foods, and give away our best lazy-girl self-care tips. Grab some herb that wouldn't be out of place on the spice rack and join us for this heated discussion. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

The cases are laid out neatly with brightly packaged prerolls and uv jars of flower. Refrigerators line the wall with bevvies with names like Mellow Melonade and assuredly, the budtender has dreads. Though suspicions mount, you can't get a look inside that bag of "Cookies OG". There's no THC percentage in sight, and you're a hop, skip, and jump away from Caesar's Palace. You've stumbled into a fake dispensary, the increasingly common tourist trap that exists to sell dressed-up hemp products to vacation goers caught up in the excitement of legal weed. Amanda and Ryan catch us all up on the fresh news in the herb world. We cover Germany's latest push to legalize, how the tradition of Dry January affected the canna-beverage market, the dangers of programs like CPEAR, and how we can protect mom-and-pop farms by supporting initiatives like the Parabola Center. Like opening the newspaper and catching a whiff of something dank alongside the updates, we cover the news with a hint of pot-snob. Grab the ISO and clean your favorite piece in anticipation of this quick and stoney news round-up. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

For thousands of years, humans have reached for herbs that help them sleep, wake, focus, relax, and elevate their moods but it only takes a week working at a dispensary before someone inevitably asks, "Will this make me horny?" So where does our favorite psychoactive plant fit in? Experts Amanda Breeze and Ryan Herron laugh their way through the important question, is this an aphrodisiac? Our conversation starts with prehistoric plants that are just starting to develop flowers and ends somewhere on this side of cracking a jar of some headstash as a mating call. It's a touchy subject that has us rolling our eyes, laughing awkwardly, and finally answering some age-old questions. Tear a square off that Valentine and roll up something nice as you join us on the pink couch for a lighthearted conversation about bad smells, attraction, and where our favorite herb fits in. Check our professional work educating on and formulating scent and flavor profiles @Scentelligence Follow us on Instagram @the.smokingspot to join the conversation. Amanda is on Instagram @emerald.temple.living Ryan, too @theloud100

Ryan and Amanda sit down on a variety of pink couches as they go over their last year of podcasthood. Before the two hosts go through their past year of projects, Amanda launches the Cannabis Literary Showcase and Ryan goes to see Santa Claus. We talk virtual formulation, finally finishing that f*ckng writing project, and how Scentelligence and the aroma wheel came together. We promise it's better than a clip show! Grab a mix of jars from the head stash and roll up a plethora of interesting flavors for this 2023 roll up.

Join hosts Amanda and Ryan as they sit down with Leafly Editor, David Downs, in an engaging conversation about the standout strain of the year—Permanent Marker. We explore Leafly's meticulous criteria for selecting the flower, shedding light on the intersection of data and sensory evaluation in their decision-making process. For this episode, each of us tracks down a sample of Permanent Marker, sharing our unique perspectives and experiences on this stand-out strain. Don't miss out! Grab your own jar of Permanent Marker from a local cultivator and join us as we unwind the highs of 2023.

Join hosts Amanda and Ryan in this fresh episode as they embark on a captivating journey with the esteemed cultivator, Brave Hearts. Together, they unravel the rich tapestry of craft cannabis history in Oregon, exploring the roots of the industry and its evolution from a breeder's refuge to the rosin capital of the world. Brave shares invaluable insights into how small farms can carve their niche and compete on a grand scale. Discover the secrets, tips, and tricks that growers leverage to clinch prestigious awards while gaining a deeper understanding of the meticulous planning that goes into cultivating exceptional cannabis. Roll up something hard to find and settle in for this very special episode that offers a glimpse of what it truly takes to cultivate top-tier cannabis.

Amanda and Ryan go backstage with Eric as he walks us through his colorful history of being a magician, what it's like performing for an altered audience, and the time a guest marched out of the theater in the middle of a set (spoiler alert: the rest of the party stayed for the rest of the show). Catch an intimate look behind-the-scenes of his mega-popular Smokus Pocus show and hear more on why weed and magic are well-suited buds.