Bite Me, Six Years Later.

Margaret 00:00:05 Hello friends, and welcome back to episode 304. Today's episode is very special as we take a walk down memory lane as we celebrate six years of Bite Me! Welcome to Bite Me, the show about edibles where I help you take control of your life. I'm your host and Certified Ganjier Margaret and I love helping cooks make safe and effective edibles at home. I'm so glad you're here. Hello, friends. Welcome back to the podcast that explores the intersection of food culture and cannabis helping cooks make great edibles at home. I am your host, Margaret, and I am very excited to have you here today because it's a special episode, in my opinion, because this episode marks six years of my podcasting journey, and we're going to get into that during today's episode. But I just want to give a big shout out to listeners, new and OG who have been with me. Whether today's your first episode or whether you've been here for all 304. I appreciate you, and I'm so glad that you're here sharing these special moments with me.

Margaret 00:01:12 And there will be lots of recipes and interviews to come, but I thought it would be fun to take a minute to take this episode to acknowledge and celebrate. Not only that, it shows sixth anniversary, but also it's my birthday and I will take gifts in the form of five star ratings and reviews and donations made on behalf of Bite Me to your local food bank. So just to give you a quick teaser of what's coming up in this episode, we're going to take a trip down memory lane. We're going to look at some highlights and milestones, lessons from the journey, what's next? And of course, a little listener love. It feels like a long time since I started the podcast and it has been it's been six years. And the interesting thing about this particular episode, episode 304, six years later, is that it falls on the actual date that I recorded my very first episode. That was June 19th, 2019, was when I recorded or was it released one or the other? I think it was released, but regardless, I am counting.

Margaret 00:02:24 June 19th is the as the when I started the podcast. And also fun fact tomorrow is my birthday. So the anniversary of the podcast always comes around my birthday. Whether that was intentional or not six years ago, who knows. I've eaten a lot of edibles since then, but the fact of the matter is, I started this podcast six years ago not really knowing what to expect. And of course I didn't really know. Like I knew about cannabis edibles. I knew that I loved them, I knew how to make them. But the edibles scene looked a lot differently six years ago. This was also months prior to legalization in Canada, where I reside, and also edibles were not to come out onto the legal market. Initially, they came out later after legalization had commenced, and I don't remember exactly when that happened, but I remember being a little disappointed that I couldn't get them and then later being further disappointed that they were capped at ten milligrams per package, making them not necessarily a financial good choice in a lot of cases.

Margaret 00:03:26 As someone who can consume, you know, in the neighborhood of 20 to 30mg, depending on how I'm feeling or how I want to feel, the sentence setting, if you will. It gets pretty expensive to consume edibles that way. And of course, we've been following this show for a while. You know that I'm a big proponent of a little radical self reliance where you can grow your own, make your own, you know, just just having the ability to take control of your life on your own terms is a pretty wonderful thing. And the nice thing is, is you learn, you start to meet other people who are interested in the same things, hence the podcast. But that's not really why I started the podcast. I started it because I loved podcasts, and I said that in the past tense, which is erroneous because I still love podcasts. I listened to them all the time, every day, even if it's just for snippets here and there between other things that I have to do.

Margaret 00:04:17 But if I'm driving, if I'm cleaning, if I'm cooking, there's there's lots of things where I can be listening to podcasts. And so it felt natural to me as an audio file, someone who enjoyed that platform or that medium. So much for me to explore podcasting. And I had also gotten into edibles and found that I really liked how they made me feel. I know when I first started, my setup looked a lot differently. I had a second hand microphone that I inherited from my sister after she tried a stint of reading audiobooks for companies like Amazon, and then she ended up getting a different job and didn't continue with that line of work. So she gave me her microphone. And then I used free software. I think it was audacity that I had to work a little hack in in order to open it properly, because the computer I had at the time didn't necessarily like to communicate with that piece of software, but it was free and it allowed me to do the editing I needed to do.

Margaret 00:05:14 Although there were a ton more features in that software that were necessary for me because it was more music editing software, but it still worked. And so I started out with a pretty inexpensive setup, a mic that had been gifted to me, free audio software, and I already had the laptop. And for my podcast host, they because I was just starting out, I started out on their free plan, so it didn't really take a lot to get set up. Over time, this little hobby of mine grew to become a little more serious, if you will. And this is something that I love to do, and I've been putting out nearly weekly episodes ever since, and I never thought I'd see the day where I get to over 300. That's kind of wild to me, but I want to shout out especially those early supporters who were able to listen through some of these episodes that I'm sure if I go back and listen to some of them are absolutely cringe worthy. I haven't done that in a while, maybe because my ego is not prepared for it, but I like to think that I have maybe polished up a little bit over the years, and I've also gotten better at hosting the interviews that I also love to do.

Margaret 00:06:31 So I thought it would be interesting to talk a little bit about some of the highlights and milestones over the years. Some of the episodes that really were meaningful to me are probably mostly around having guests on the show. When I did my first Cannabis Confessions, I've done a few more for the Bite Me Cannabis Club, but the first one I put out as an episode on Bite Me was with Jack, who also lives in the same city as I do, and he shared very vulnerably about his journey with cannabis from a young child teenager sneaking out of the house, as many of us did To later transitioning, and having cannabis be such an impactful and helpful tool to guide themselves through that process. I also loved having I remember when I when Jamie Evans, the author of numerous books, especially around cannabis cocktails. Jamie Evans is the herb, and she started out in the wine industry and then transitioned into the cannabis industry. And she kind of bridges both worlds. Not surprising, because there are a lot of similarities between cannabis and wine when you dig into it.

Margaret 00:07:37 I remember when she finally said yes to coming out on my show. That was a big moment for me, because that was a moment when I. I had been asking Jamie a few times to come on the show over the years and she, you know, she is a much bigger influencer, if you will. I hate the term influencer, but has a much bigger audience than I do, and I felt like it had to take that much time or that amount of time, probably 3 or 4 years in. I think it was four years in before she said yes, but it was a real milestone for me because that was somebody that I'd been really wanting to have on my show. And she finally said yes. Other notable guests that I've had on over the years, jacki MacAskill of the co-founder of Sheesh Sodas, was also a wonderful guest, and she did work for the Lcbo Liquor Control Board of Ontario for many years as a buyer and product developer, and then discovered edibles and made a hard pivot.

Margaret 00:08:34 And what a bright spark of a person to have in the cannabis industry advocating for this plant now. And I just find that meeting people like that is always inspirational. But those are two really strong women that I had on my show that I am really grateful for, because it just also tells me that I've hopefully honed my interview skills enough to be able to have people like that on my show, because I learned so much from having these guests on. Which brings me to Vanessa Lovato. Her episode Transforming Your Edibles. And she also taught me about the 30 minute infusion time, which is a game changer as well. And having Mike Davila on to talk about the corporatization of cannabis and the things that we should be aware of in this industry as it grows, not just in Canada but elsewhere as well, was also super informative. And of course, I've done some collaborations. I've appeared on other podcasts. I'll link to some of those in the show notes. I've written some articles for magazines, and that's been kind.

Margaret 00:09:40 That's been a lot of fun as well. Launching the Bite Me Cannabis Club was probably the next biggest thing that I've done in the last year. And I would say that that has been really rewarding. The people that have have been contributing to the club have been pretty amazing. The vibe of that space is really welcoming and accepting and fun, and we're all there for the same purpose. And it's interesting because there are people there who have very little experience with cannabis, and then there's people there who have lots of experience with cannabis. Everyone melds together pretty beautifully. That is something, something else that I've been really proud of. I never thought a show about eating weed would take me to where I am right now. What does podcasting taught me over the years? Well, a lot of it has been about consistency. The consistency of showing up week after week to put out an episode because there was an expectant audience on the other end. And that consistency, well, I think is good for growing the show, albeit, however slowly it grows, because I would say this is a pretty niche podcast and I don't have a huge budget.

Margaret 00:10:53 I don't have any budget to to advertise and share it. So a lot of it's just my own efforts and the word of mouth from listeners. The consistency has been good for me. Before 2019. If I had attempted to run a weekly show, there was no way I would have been able to be consistent enough to do it. And that's been a big thing for me is that consistency, because perhaps that's something I've struggled with a little bit in my life over the years. And also it's showing up and being a little bit vulnerable. Sometimes I wonder how much I should talk about my personal life on here. It feels a little strange to be putting myself out there. I'm Gen X, so my desire to really put my entire life on display online is not strong with me, and I know people who do it beautifully, and I follow these people and enjoy their content, but I'm not necessarily one of them. So sometimes being vulnerable is a really big deal for me. And I'm sure there's lots of you out there who probably resonate with that sentiment.

Margaret 00:11:53 And of course, it's also learning out loud in public. I'm learning right alongside you folks, but I'm out there talking with the folks that we're learning from, and that's definitely puts me outside of my comfort comfort zone. But when you do things that you love, sometimes it requires you to be a little bit uncomfortable. And if we're not uncomfortable from time to time, maybe we're not doing things quite right. Maybe you need to push yourself a little bit more. I had a mantra at the beginning of this year that I shared with a couple of people that I work with, and it the mantra was simple. It was just fucking do it. Because so often we like to hem and haw and pro and con a thing and find all the reasons why we shouldn't just do it now. Wait for it to be perfect. I mean, there's a whole list of reasons why we don't just fucking do it. Just fucking do it. I leave that with you because I'm sure there's something in your inbox or something that you're working on or difficult conversation you, you know, you need to be having.

Margaret 00:12:51 Just fucking do it. It has served me well many times already this year. Now the cannabis industry has definitely shifted over time. And legalization tech, a little bit of misinformation, but community building, I think I keep coming back to community building, especially with a lot of people that I talk to within the cannabis space. And people are looking for communities because a lot of the traditional stoner cannabis community vibe is very different than what I'd say building over at the Cannabis Club. And I think there's a space for everybody, and that's one of the things that I've been observing as as the cannabis market becomes more accepted and in Canada, as legalization has transpired and things have changed. It really does show that there's space for everybody in this, in this industry. And my favorite quote really has become, I don't even know. It's a quote. It's a saying because I can't I would have to look up. I would have to attribute it to somebody. Maybe I can put that in the show notes as well.

Margaret 00:13:53 But rising tides lift all ships, and that's what I'm trying to foster. And of course, edibles have evolved themselves. I mean, the the availability of edibles on the legal market is pretty astounding. The selection that you can get of it still has its limitations, because if you're somebody who prefers savory edibles, then it's not necessarily going to be as easy to get on the legal market. At least where I reside. This, of course, may be different in other jurisdictions that have a legal or a legal edibles market that looks different. But of course, we're always learning new things about edibles, for instance. Again, shout out to Venice Lovato with the 30 minute infusion time, tested it out myself several times and found that that does in fact work. And in fact, I was making a recipe recently before recording this, and I had to infuse some milk for this recipe, and the recipe called for me to infuse it for two hours. And guess what? I did it for 30 minutes, and I got a real nice buzz off of what I was making.

Margaret 00:14:52 So saving you time. So edibles have evolved and people are looking at using concentrates also to make edibles for better potency, not just better potent, stronger edibles necessarily, but also to dial in the potency level or the actual dosing. Just the beverages market has exploded over the last several years, and I've interviewed numerous people on both sides of the border, Canada and the US. And that seems to be even though a very small market share. Still, it seems to be one in which people are super interested in. And I think as, as a lot of folks move away from alcohol, rightfully so, because we're finding out the science is also showing that alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is really not that great for us. People are looking for healthier alternatives that will also allow them to blend in and not have to deal with the social stigma of saying, I'm not drinking now. Of course, I have gone through periods in my life where I haven't drank at all. An opportunity to hold a cannabis beverage when you're out is, I think, a pretty big game changer.

Margaret 00:15:54 And of course, a lot of people who are new to cannabis. And because we're in a legal place now in Canada, a lot of people who are curious about cannabis are coming out to discover more about cannabis through food and drink. And so it's a huge opportunity to sort of change stigma, change stereotypes and get people interested in this wonderful culinary world that is cannabis. If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you know you can infuse almost anything, which is why making your own edibles is also so freeing. And you can infuse your favorite savory dish. You can infuse your dips, you can infuse butters and sauces. You can infuse anything at any potency level that you require. And that is freedom, my friends. So what's next for the podcast? Well, as I see it right now, I still see myself doing recipes for the show that I've made in my own kitchen as a non-professional chef, because I like to think that if I can do it, you can do it.

Margaret 00:17:01 I'm always looking to have more guests on. I do have some exciting episodes coming up. Guest wise, I have already interviewed and will be releasing the episode very soon with Christina Wong, who puts on incredible events in California, and I will be interviewing as well. Angelina Blessed, who is a boy Tie fighter and also has a line of edibles so we can expect those coming out. And I'm looking always to have more guests on my show. That can really add to the conversation around culinary cannabis, around the cannabis industry about the concept of rising tides. Lift all ships. These are the things that really interest me, so I would love to interview people who resonate with those messages. Of course, the Bite Me Cannabis Club, I'm still working on that community building. I do exclusive episodes over there. I need to record another batch of those called Highly Educated, which are short form educational podcast episodes around cannabis education. We're doing events, so I hope you might consider checking that out because we would love to have you.

Margaret 00:18:06 I'm always working on some new things. I have the journal that I should probably push some more because I have 50 000 hats that I'm usually wearing. I have bought me merch now that I am also working on, and I'm looking to create new resources and workshops for you as well. So the future of edibles is bright and I'll be here helping you make every bite count. So bite me. I love how Bite Me is very much like the F-bomb. It can be used in a variety of contexts. I've had a lot of people send really nice messages over the years, whether it's personally through Instagram, through the fan mail button in your podcast player, and I'm just going to read one message that I got from a listener in Rochester, New York. Margaret, what was the spark that caused you to hit record on your first podcast? Do you feel that you changed over the years doing your podcast, and do you feel that your podcast has changed right along with you? Please explain. That is a really great question I mentioned already what caused the spark to first hit record and as I mentioned, a love of podcast and a love of edibles.

Margaret 00:19:19 It seemed like a match made in heaven. But have I changed over the years doing the podcast? 100%. I think if people aren't changing and growing, then they're becoming a little stagnant, and I have personally learned so much from listening from other podcasts. I've learned so much from doing this podcast. I have definitely changed as a human being and you know, my kids have gotten older. Sadly, my dad has been getting a little bit older as I do reside with him. I got out of a huge, I shouldn't say a huge relationship, but I did get out of a long term relationship and I've done a lot of growth and I'm packing from that, and I've been able to zoom out and see how I really have changed over those years. And I moved out of the house that I lived in for 15 years as well, to come to a whole new place. A person can't not change with all that kind of personal disruption, and I understand that a lot of people are going through that kind of personal disruption.

Margaret 00:20:13 All the time. This isn't unique to me, of course, but has the podcast changed over the years as I have? I think I can't help but think that it has, because maybe the focus of the guests that I'm having will change the focus of the episodes themselves. But I think in particular with the guests, like having, again, Mike Davila on the show to talk about the corporatization of cannabis. That has changed, along with a lot of my own political worldviews over the years. And that's not a conversation I was probably prepared or willing to have or reading about, you know, six years ago or prior to the podcast. But as things have changed, as I've changed my opinions about a lot of things and I've grown personally. Those are the types of conversations, sometimes difficult that I that I enjoy having now. I invite listeners to send in their edible wins and questions for future Ask me anythings if anyone is interested. I always welcome messages because you are a part of this journey. I couldn't be I wouldn't be doing this six years on if it wasn't for the amazing listeners of Bite Me.

Margaret 00:21:20 So I would love to hear I'm going to turn it back on you now. What are you personally celebrating this year or this month? Do you have a favorite edible birthday treat that I might be able to try out, or just a favorite episode that you really enjoyed, or a recipe that you really enjoyed? I would love to hear about it. And I want to thank you so much for being part of Bite Me if you would be so kind. Leave a rating or review. Join the Bite Me Cannabis Club. I would love to have you over there, because we can continue this conversation over at the club where we can interact directly and with other amazing, like minded cannabis lovers, and I think that's it for this week, my friends. Please share your favorite episode or memory. I will shout you out on a future episode. That's it for this week my friends. On this anniversary birthday episode, I am your host, Margaret. And until next time, stay high.