Educating the world one voice at a time As part of the research for her book The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CBD Oil', Mary Biles conducted hundreds of interviews. As one of the top Europe-based medical cannabis and CBD writers she was troubled that she could not include most of the inspiring content behind the stories in her book so she decided to launch a podcast. She joins Dan Humiston to explain how Cannabis Voices gives her guests a platform to share their stories in their own voices. Produced by PodConX Potcasters - https://podconx.com/podcasts/potcasters Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston Mary Biles - https://podconx.com/guests/mary-biles Cannabis Voices - https://podconx.com/podcasts/cannabis-voices The CBD Book - https://www.amazon.com/THE-CBD-BOOK/dp/0008403066 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ava-incurable-reluctant-activist-campaign/dp/1781176833#:~:text=For%20Ava%3A%20An%20incurable%20illness,Amazon.co.uk%3A%20Books
Educating the world one voice at a time
As part of the research for her book The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CBD Oil', Mary Biles conducted hundreds of interviews. As one of the top Europe-based medical cannabis and CBD writers she was troubled that she could not include most of the inspiring content behind the stories in her book so she decided to launch a podcast. She joins Dan Humiston to explain how Cannabis Voices gives her guests a platform to share their stories in their own voices.
Produced by PodConX
Potcasters - https://podconx.com/podcasts/potcasters
Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston
Mary Biles - https://podconx.com/guests/mary-biles
Cannabis Voices - https://podconx.com/podcasts/cannabis-voices
The CBD Book - https://www.amazon.com/THE-CBD-BOOK/dp/0008403066
PC Cannabis Voices
Dan Humiston: . [00:00:00] All right, everyone. Thanks for joining us. And welcome back. We have another great show in store for you today. Mary Biles is here to talk about her podcast, cannabis voices, Mary, welcome to the show.
Mary Biles: thank you for having me. I'm really honored to be able to take part in your podcast. On the other side of the mic.
Dan Humiston: I'm sure it's feels a little awkward to
be the, guest versus the host. I'm certainly glad that you could join us today. You're one of the few Europe based writers that specializes in medical cannabis and CBD, and you're also the author of the CBD book, the essential guide to CBD oil.
So your written word is having a big influence on the way the world sees cannabis. What prompted you to bring your spoken word to life with your podcast?
Mary Biles: Do you know what it came from the book. So I wrote a book that came out last year which was, as you mentioned, the CBD book, and as part of the book, I interviewed various people about their [00:01:00] stories. And, as a writer, when you write an article , or a book in this case, you kind of stitched together the best bits, basically a bit of cutting and pasting , and linking together with your own words and having.
So they're interviews. I just thought, well, that's a deep shame because, they've got fantastic stories to tell with great emotion and I didn't really do justice in the book. I had to kind of summarize things really. , and as we're going to sort of discuss , with one particular person, Vera who, whose story does feature in the book with her daughter, Ava, it's like, you need to hear these people's stories in their own words.
So that was it. And I woke up in the middle of the night. With the two words, cannabis, voices,
and that's how it came about. I felt kind of compelled really. It had to be,
Dan Humiston: I appreciate the way that you're willing to tackle some really heady conversations as well. And I think that this platform gives you that opportunity. , you talk about the healing power of the plant with patients and caregivers and cannabinoid scientists and [00:02:00] doctors and activists.
But the thing I find most refreshing is how you're able to break down these complex topics and make them understandable and relatable. Did you think the training as a journalist helps you develop that skill?
Mary Biles: I guess so, , I think I've always been a bridge really in all the different kind of stuff that I've done in my life. I used to work in TV production, as a producer, I've been a complementary therapist, so I've always. Being that bridge between two worlds and I, I'm not a scientist, so I've had to really get to grips with quite complex terms.
And so I figure if I can understand it and I can, put it into , the words that I understand, then that's helpful somehow for other people who are lay people like myself. So I could call it a talent. I'm going to pat myself on the back. I think it is something that.
That I'm just good at really. And, and I'm glad that it's helpful for others because, I remember when I first started, kind of submerging myself in pub med papers could barely get through the abstract and it's tough [00:03:00] going, it's tough. Yeah.
Dan Humiston: Yeah, well, it makes a big difference especially for. Like somebody like me. If there's somebody along the way that can explain what's you said it makes a big difference. And you mentioned the name of your show, cannabis voices, and really is your show. , I think the best way to educate people is through storytelling and
your show.
It's really moving because you let people tell their story in their own voice.
Speaking of moving you talk about your interview with Vierra and we have a clip from that show and maybe just give everybody a little bit of the backstory before I play it.
Mary Biles: well, they say nothing moves mountains, like a mother's love and Ava, Ava really was kind of, Ireland, Charlotte Figgy based city. She has the same condition. Dravet syndrome is, as Charlotte says, obviously, people listen as in the U S unfortunately Charlotte passed away, just last year, so, Ava was having catastrophic seizures that weren't controlled by, traditional, conventional epilepsy medicine.
[00:04:00] Vera was determined to make sure that the AC. Got the medicine , that she thought she needed. There was no proof at this point only really children might Charlotte who'd responded positively. So, Vera is this tremendous force of nature who actually even just like thinking about her makes me want to cry because her way of talking about her own struggles and plights and Ava and everything that she went through, you'd have to.
A heart of stone, not to be moved by her story. , I think there should be a movie about her, frankly.
Dan Humiston: Well, get the Kleenexes ready? Let me play this clip.
That. Oh my gosh. Every time I hear that I will up that is
Mary Biles: I know I'm as well. It's like,
Dan Humiston: oh my God, you can hear the pain in her voice. It is so moving and, You didn't even mention that she walked like 200 miles
Mary Biles: Yeah, she lives in this , little kind of village , in Southwest of Ireland. And Politicians are making promises, nothing was happening. And so with no preparation, not even any walking shoes, you have to leave.
Someone like gave us and [00:05:00] trainers on route. she walked like yeah. Over 200 miles to, to Dublin, to the Irish parliament and let initially it was just her starting. I was just why this should be a movie. It was just her starting out with a couple of people following her. By the end, it was covered on the local radio.
People were coming out, children were coming out of their schools or marching bands. By the time she got to Dublin, there were hundreds, if not thousands of people behind her, shouting for Vera and, and Eva, her daughter. And, and, finally now it's taken quite a few years. I mean, A few weeks ago, really very much about the everything that that Vera has done finally.
She was allowed to get the prescription for Ava's medicine, but they were having to pay for it. And literally only weeks ago now the Irish government is funding this life-saving medication. And actually again, Book, she wrote this amazing book. It's like tear, jerking all the way, but for me, there's stories. Not only about the science, obviously about, the patients, the carers, even the scientists, something, one thing is to kind of cut and [00:06:00] paste, a little bit of information you get from the abstract.
But I love speaking to the scientists as well and hearing their stories. And, the backstories of the research that they've done, I find it all so fascinating and all stories that deserve to be told.
Dan Humiston: And they're just as passionate sometimes. Feel like they're pushing a rock up a hill and it's great when you can let them just, their passion just comes through. I just love it like I said, I think. The name of your show is so appropriate for what you do. And it makes such a big difference, but we're about to wrap, , but before we do, I always like to talk a little bit about podcasting and since we are in the cannabis industry, I guess it's acceptable for hosts and guests to join a little cannabis, to take the edge off before an interview.
Do you have any advice for aspiring podcasters about mixing cannabis and podcasting?
Mary Biles: Would, actually I think I know where you're going with this story and it actually, it wasn't cannabis. It was actually mushrooms because I'm really interested. , in medicinal mushrooms, [00:07:00] psychedelic, psilocybin, et cetera, but I'm quite sensitive,
well, anyway, someone had given me some microdosing capsules that I suppose to have No.
effect whatsoever, not supposed to feel a thing. And you're supposed to be able to get on with your day as per normal. Not the case in my situation. So, about an hour before I was due to do a podcast everything started to feel a little bit fuzzy.
And then when it came to doing the podcast, More or less sort of held things together. And so I realized that the end that the microphone was actually pointing in completely the wrong direction. So, so yeah, so, I mean, I, I know some people just like do it just they're on fire. But it's, I guess, if your podcasts, , listen to your body and maybe try out before you actually do a proper podcast before, with my crew dosing,
Dan Humiston: Yeah, you have finished the podcast. You're like, oh my God. That was so good. And then the next day you listened to him, like what, what? Oh, that's great. That's great. Well, you can check out new episode of canvas voices at all. Major podcast sites, including pod [00:08:00] connects, where you can also apply to be a guest.
Mary. This is great. Getting to know you. Thank you so much for being on the show.
Mary Biles: Oh, my pleasure. And it's great to be kind of representing Europe and the UK.