Give and Toke
On this podcast, you’ll hear stories from industry experts, medical professionals, policy makers, cannabis users and others across the world who can teach us a thing or two about cannabis. Weed, pot, dope - Cannabis has many different names and frequently people's perception of it is negative. Sometimes from a first hand encounter, but far too often from the tall tales we are told as we grow up. Despite the stereotypes of lazy potheads and reefer madness, over a third of Australians have tried cannabis, and 1 in 10 Australians use it regularly.
Episodes
Justin Lee is the founder of Ay Papi, a California-based craft cannabis company focused on solventless, single-origin products made in collaboration with regenerative legacy cultivators.
Before entering the cannabis industry, Justin worked in entertainment as an actor and producer, and competed as an MMA fighter. His path into cannabis was shaped by firsthand experience with injury, chronic pain, and recovery, which led him to explo...
Julian Stefanou is the founding partner of West Coast Palms, an Australian medicinal cannabis producer and importer that sits at the intersection of cannabis culture and clinical medicine.
With a national footprint across Australia and a growing international outlook, West Coast Palms is now expanding product availability into key global markets including the Netherlands, Thailand and Barcelona, reflecting a belief that cannabis is ...
Rachel Payne returns to Give & Toke for a candid and wide-ranging review of cannabis policy in 2025.
Rachel reflects on the year’s most significant developments, including Victoria’s long-awaited drug driving reforms, the government’s continued refusal to legalise cannabis despite overwhelming evidence, and what this means for the thousands of Victorians still being arrested each year.
We also unpack the TGA consultation process,...
In this episode, Paul is joined by the Interim CEO and Founder of SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, Michael Sassano - a man with a track record for global market predictions. Together they look back at 2025, and explore what's in store across the world in 2026.
In this episode:
Trump Reschedules Cannabis in the US (1:30)
Not All Pharmaceuticals are the same (4:30)
Regulatory Curveballs across the world - UK, Germany and Australia (7:45)
Au...
Mimi Sener is one of the most respected and quietly influential leaders in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry.
Mimi’s journey into cannabis was shaped by lived experience, supporting a partner through cancer and questioning the limits of traditional pharma. Since then, she’s built a career spanning early-stage industry growth, clinical education, consulting and senior leadership, including her current role as General Manager...
In this special episode of The Catch-Up, Christina and Paul reunite to unpack their recent trip to Thailand. They share insights from their visits to Iridescent Med and the facility cultivating Cookies California genetics, reflect on the world-class standards they witnessed, and express gratitude for the hospitality extended by the teams. Expect thoughtful reflections, genuine appreciation, and excitement about the innovation shapi...
This week on Give & Toke, Paul is joined by Angus Murray - a cultivator who’s taken lessons from Vancouver to Victoria and everywhere in between. From his time growing in Canada’s legendary BC cannabis scene to shaping cultivation in Australia, Angus brings a unique perspective on what it takes to deliver consistent, high-quality medicine to patients.
Paul and Angus stroll down memory lane in Vancouver, dive into the realities o...
Dr Bryce Joynson is a neuro-affirming Specialist GP based on the Gold Coast, with a practice that blends clinical rigour and holistic care. Known for his work across ADHD, autism, hyper-mobility disorders, and medicinal cannabis, Dr Joynson is at the forefront of progressive medicine in Australia.
From pioneering Australia's first paediatric cannabis prescribing protocols to developing brain imaging strategies for mental health,...
With over a decade of experience spanning both the legacy market and the medical industry, Jessica Peros brings a rare dual perspective to Australia’s evolving cannabis space.
In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul sits down with Jessica to talk about her journey from co-founding The Green Room Hydro to creating The Green Room HQ - a space for patient advocacy, industry insight, and community connection.
We explore how Jessica’s wo...
From community pharmacy to cannabis advocacy, Jessica-Li Verschoor is redefining frontline care in the medicinal cannabis space.
In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul speaks with the 2025 Cannabiz Awards Industry Newcomer of the Year about her journey into plant medicine at Green Street Dispensary and Plant Pharm in Western Australia.
Jessica-Li shares how her pharmacy background shapes her approach to cannabis, the role o...
We're Ruth and Paul - the husband and wife duo behind Give & Toke. Join us as we sit down for a candid conversation about cannabis, relationships, and the power of shared purpose.
While Paul’s passion for the plant is no surprise to regular listeners, Ruth brings a unique perspective as a non-consumer who’s become an advocate for reform. Her support is rooted in education, empathy, and a deep belief in cannabis’s potential for b...
In this powerful episode of Give & Toke, we’re joined by healthcare strategist, author, and global cannabis advocate Melanie Wentzel.
From working with governments and peak bodies to rewriting the narrative around women and weed in her groundbreaking book Cannabis Queens, Melanie brings sharp insight and deep heart to the conversation around equitable, person-centred care and the plant that’s changing lives.
We explore the ra...
In this episode, we're joined by two industry trailblazers who’ve gone from the frontlines of patient care to the frontlines of cannabis supply. Bashar Al-Humrany (a pharmacist) and Joel Green (a nurse) first crossed paths at Melbourne’s Astrid Dispensary, one of the first dedicated medicinal cannabis dispensaries in the country.
Together, they saw firsthand where the system was helping... and where it was falling short. No...
In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Patten, former Victorian MP and current Senate candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party, to discuss her run for the Senate in the lead up to this weekend's federal Australian election, the future of cannabis legalisation in Australia, and why legalising cannabis is not a "single issue".
Learn more about the Legalise Cannabis Party: legalisecannabis.org.au
Sean Maloney is the sole Legal Counsel and Commercial Manager for MediCann Health - an Australian based medicinal cannabis company focussed on improving the quality of life of people in need through the use of affordable, reliable and science backed medicinal cannabis products.
With a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Western Australia, Sean has worked as a Senior Consultant & Solicitor at a Big...
Rhys Cohen is a self-confessed “drug nerd” who has held countless cannabis-related roles over the past decade as he has become a trusted voice within the industry. With a Masters in Research and Sociology, Rhys has been a cannabis consultant, editor, advisory board member and today is the Policy Officer at Penington Institute.
Penington Institute is an independent drug policy non-profit that is currently developing a comprehensi...
James Yodgee is the General Manager of Partnerships at Biortica Agrimed, along with Matthew Turner who is the co-founder and Chief Global Officer of the organisation.
Biortica Agrimed operates one of Australia’s largest cultivation operations in Australia with greenhouses in Victoria and New South Wales along with a library of over 1,000 cultivars through Canadian-based Apollo Green.
In this episode:
Matthew’s pathway to cannabis/...
Kate Avruch is the founder of Operator Academy and is a seasoned expert in the cannabis industry having dedicated her career to scaling business operations in Massachusetts and beyond. With a unique blend of technical expertise in facility design, cannabis chemistry, and extraction methodologies, Kate brings a holistic understanding of the industry’s complexities.
In this episode:
Is The Town the best Boston movie? (1:00)
Pathway to c...
Sara Payan is a cannabis educator, public speaker, policy advocate, and the award-winning host of the Planted with Sara Payan podcast. She’s an expert in consumer trends, product development, and building relationships in the cannabis industry.
Sara has trained cannabis professionals, consulted for brands on product development and marketing, and worked with various committees, including the California Cannabis Advisory Committee a...
In this episode of Give & Toke, we sit down with Victorian MP Rachel Payne, for an insightful conversation that marks two years since entering parliament along with 50 episodes of this show.
We discuss the transition from Dan Andrews to Jacinta Allan and what it means for cannabis reform (3:00). We talk about the recent win for Victorian patients who drive (5:45), before looking back at two years of navigating hemp reform, pill...
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