{"podcast":{"title":"BIOACTIVE","slug":"bioactive-6545085","podcast_index_feed_id":6545085,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/bioactive","website_url":"https://bioactivepodcast.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/1b9102fc-2359-11ef-b492-d766a942e4cd/image/aefeaefa99852c82e07c128f3e985279.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Riley D. Kirk, Ph.D.","episode_count":91,"summary":"Dr. Riley Kirk is a cannabis research scientist and educator. She obtained her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, specializing in natural product chemistry, studying the traditional and contemporary uses of hundreds of medicinal plants. She is currently an assistant associate professor at the University of Rhode Island, has worked as an immunology scientist in the biotech industry, and works in the cannabis industry studying the chemical complexity of cannabis smoke. Riley is also the co-founder of the cannabis research and education non-profit organization called the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP). Through NAP and on her podcast, Riley uses science as advocacy to research and communicate findings that highlight the unique power of natural products. The goal of Riley’s work is to unite people in the Cannabis industry, academia, and consumers to further the reach of Cannabis education and reduce harm. Riley is passionate about making Cannabis science accessible through social media channels and alternative media which lead to Bioactive; an educational podcast which disseminates the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products. On this bi-weekly podcast, she covers current…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-31T08:18:58.543133+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bioactive-6545085"},"episode":{"title":"A Deep Dive into Tissue Culture with Nathan Johnson","slug":"a-deep-dive-into-tissue-culture-with-nathan-johnson","published_at":"2026-06-27T22:47:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bioactive-6545085/a-deep-dive-into-tissue-culture-with-nathan-johnson","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bioactive-6545085","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/p.podderapp.com/8355482824/pscrb.fm/rss/p/prfx.byspotify.com/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/SOMC8640494924.mp3","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/p.podderapp.com/8355482824/pscrb.fm/rss/p/prfx.byspotify.com/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/SOMC8640494924.mp3","summary":"Cannabis tissue culture, plant genetics, micropropagation, and pathogen testing are transforming modern cultivation. In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Dr. Nathan Johnson, President & CEO of Verne Bio, for a fascinating deep dive into one of the most powerful—and misunderstood—tools in cannabis cultivation. Together they explore how tissue culture is helping preserve elite cannabis genetics, eliminate plant pathogens, improve cultivation consistency, and solve some of the industry's biggest challenges. Drawing from Dr. Johnson's extensive background in molecular biology, microbiology, bioinformatics, and plant science, the conversation breaks down how tissue culture works, why it's becoming essential for commercial cultivation, and what growers should know before adopting it. The discussion also examines cannabis testing, microbial contamination, remediation methods, irradiation, and the science behind maintaining healthy plants without sacrificing quality. They unpack how beneficial microbes interact with cannabis, why current testing regulations remain controversial, and the differences between qPCR, culture-based testing, sequencing, and pathogen detection. The episode also explores THC testing variability, why cannabinoid percentages aren't always the best indicator of quality, and how cultivation practices influence the chemistry consumers ultimately experience. Whether you're a home grower, commercial cultivator, cannabis scientist, breeder, laboratory professional, or simply curious about the future of cannabis science, this episode is packed with practical insights and evidence-based discussion. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:00 Nathan’s Background and Mission 01:59 Why Mother Plants Decline 03:28 Tissue Culture Or…","meta_description":"Cannabis tissue culture, plant genetics, micropropagation, and pathogen testing are transforming modern cultivation. In this episode of the Bioactive Podc…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3626,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bioactive-6545085/episodes/a-deep-dive-into-tissue-culture-with-nathan-johnson/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bioactive-6545085/a-deep-dive-into-tissue-culture-with-nathan-johnson.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}