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...
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Nov 13, 2026 · 1:01:40
How do you make cannabis edibles that are consistent, properly dosed, and backed by science? What actually happens during decarboxylation, how long should cannabis infuse into…
Oct 30, 2026 · 52:42
What is living soil cannabis cultivation, and how do soil microbes, mineral balancing, and growing environments influence cannabis plants? On this episode of the Bioactive…
Oct 16, 2026 · 1:02:30
What are cannabis terpenes, how do they influence aroma and consumer experiences, and what do we know about their safety? On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk…
Oct 3, 2026 · 1:04:35
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Miyabe Shields for a deep dive into cannabis real-world data, cannabis consumption patterns, dosing, neurodivergent cannabis use, and the…
Sep 18, 2026 · 1:12:32
What if carbon is one of the most overlooked inputs in plant nutrition? In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Nik Nikolayev, CEO of Rooted Leaf…
Sep 4, 2026 · 1:04:15
Dr. Riley Kirk has Dr. Denise Valenti on the podcast to discuss cannabis and driving, cannabis impairment, THC testing, and the challenges of determining whether someone is…
Aug 25, 2026 · 52:53
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Rick Pescatore, board-certified emergency physician, Editor-in-Chief of Emergency Medicine News, and…
Aug 7, 2026 · 1:04:05
What actually happened inside the DEA’s cannabis rescheduling hearing? In this timely episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Max Jackson, former…
Jul 30, 2026 · 1:03:18
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with cannabis research scientist Ben Cleary to unpack groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports…
Jul 10, 2026 · 51:00
Cannabis seed laws are changing, and the consequences could reshape home grow, hemp, cannabis breeding, and the future of plant genetics in the United States. In this episode of…
Jun 27, 2026 · 1:00:26
Cannabis tissue culture, plant genetics, micropropagation, and pathogen testing are transforming modern cultivation. In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk is…
Jun 13, 2026 · 1:34:02
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Anna Schwabe to the Bioactive Podcast for a deep dive into cannabis genetics, cultivar identity, plant chemistry, and the challenges of making sense…
May 29, 2026 · 1:21:10
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Brandon Rust, founder and CEO of FulCrop Sciences, for a fascinating conversation about the hidden…
May 16, 2026 · 1:11:17
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Kyle Boyar to the Bioactive Podcast for an in-depth conversation on cannabis testing, mycotoxins, analytical chemistry, biohacking, and the evolving…
May 2, 2026 · 58:14
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Tessa Dattilo to the Bioactive Podcast to break down what it really means to be a budtender and how cannabis education translates to real-world consumer…
Apr 17, 2026 · 1:22:29
On this episode, Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Emily Gogol to the Bioactive Podcast to discuss the science, cultivation, and accessibility of cannabis from both a research and…
Apr 4, 2026 · 55:22
On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Dr. Codi Peterson and Megan Mbengue to discuss their newly published paper on Cannabinoid Hyperemesis…
Mar 20, 2026 · 59:46
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Nikki Lawley to the podcast to discuss the transformative role of medical cannabis in managing traumatic brain injury (TBI), sharing her powerful personal…
Mar 6, 2026 · 1:10:33
There are all sorts of misconceptions about coffee — that it dehydrates you, that it’s bad for your heart, or that caffeine is the only thing happening in the cup. Dr. Riley Kirk…
Feb 20, 2026 · 57:45
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Harold Han, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Vertosa to explore the fascinating world of the science powering modern cannabis beverages and…
Feb 6, 2026 · 1:04:58
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes cannabis attorney and legalization advocate Tom Howard to unpack the complexities of cannabis law and regulation…
Jan 23, 2026 · 1:12:18
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Hemant Bid joins Dr. Riley Kirk discussing the often-overlooked world of acidic cannabinoids aka Raw or Unactivated cannabinoids,…
Dec 12, 2025 · 53:45
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk shares a 2025 year-in-review and announces exciting news about teaching a cannabis chemistry and pharmacology course at…
Nov 28, 2025 · 1:23:19
Dr. Riley Kirk has Jordan River on the podcast to discuss the intricacies of indoor cannabis cultivation, sharing personal experiences and insights on various aspects of growing.…
Nov 14, 2025 · 1:26:30
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Miyabe Shields dive into the world’s largest study on infused cannabis beverages, exploring how cannabinoid-based…
Oct 31, 2025 · 1:01:49
Alex Eckman shares his journey in the cannabis industry, from being a medical patient to pursuing a degree in cannabis chemistry at Lake Superior State University. He discusses…
Oct 17, 2025 · 48:24
CONTENT WARNING: IF YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH A DIFFICULT BIRTH EXPERIENCE THIS STORY MAY NOT BE BENEFICIAL TO LISTEN TO Dr. Riley Kirk shares her postpartum journey, discussing…
Oct 3, 2025 · 50:46
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes international cannabis consultant, researcher, and author Russ Hudson to explore the fascinating world of flavonoids—an often overlooked but powerful…
Sep 19, 2025 · 50:42
In part two of Dr. Riley Kirk's conversation with Dr. Janice Makela, MD, they delve into the complexities of cannabis use among the elderly, discussing its potential benefits and…
Sep 5, 2025 · 53:27
Host Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Dr. Janice Makela, MD for part one of a two part episode; the conversation was so interesting they couldn't cut it short! They discuss the…
Aug 22, 2025 · 1:11:45
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, I sit down with Jürgen Bickel, Managing Director and Co-Founder of STORZ & BICKEL, the legendary German company behind the Volcano,…
Aug 8, 2025 · 48:00
Devin Melnyk shares his journey from the gray market of cannabis cultivation to working with one of the largest licensed producers in Canada. He discusses the evolution of the…
Jul 25, 2025 · 46:57
This week we are headed to Germany, this podcast was recorded at the world's largest cannabis expo called Mary Jane Berlin. I had the opportunity to jointly host and record a…
Jul 11, 2025 · 58:39
In this conversation, host Dr. Riley Kirk and guest Dr. Jaap De Roode discuss the fascinating field of zoo pharmacognosy, exploring how animals medicate themselves using natural…
Jun 27, 2025 · 1:40:43
Join us for a deep dive into the world of cannabis science with Dr. Miyabe Shields and host Dr. Riley Kirk cofounders of the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy. NAP is a nonprofit…
Jun 13, 2025 · 1:24:37
In this conversation, Dr. Michele Ross discusses the complexities of cannabis use during pregnancy, sharing her personal experiences and insights as a neuropharmacologist and…
May 30, 2025 · 54:09
In this episode, Riley Kirk shares her personal journey through pregnancy, focusing on her experiences with cannabis use, tapering down her consumption, and the emotional and…
May 16, 2025 · 59:07
In this conversation, Host Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Anurag Agrawal discuss the intricate relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed, exploring themes of coevolution,…
May 2, 2025 · 1:03:21
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Allyn Howlett—renowned neuroscientist and pioneer in cannabinoid research—shares her groundbreaking journey into the study of…
Apr 18, 2025 · 1:09:21
In this conversation, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Josh Kaplan delve into the complexities of cannabis research, particularly focusing on CBD and its therapeutic potential for…
Apr 4, 2025 · 59:29
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk interviews David Sandelman from Cannatrol, delving into the intricate processes of drying and curing cannabis. David…
Mar 21, 2025 · 1:11:50
In this conversation, Jordan River shares his journey into the cannabis industry, emphasizing the importance of home growing and the concept of Overgrow, which advocates for more…
Mar 7, 2025 · 57:29
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dan Nelson from Happy Valley Genetics discuss the importance of home growing cannabis and the various types of seeds…
Feb 21, 2025 · 58:33
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk speaks with Dr. June Chin, Chief Medical Officer at Leafwell, about the evolving landscape of medical cannabis. They…
Feb 7, 2025 · 1:02:23
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, host Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Elizabeth Sage who is a certified Ganjier- which is essentially the weed equivalent to a sommelier in…
Jan 24, 2025 · 1:05:04
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, host Dr. Riley Kirk dives deep into groundbreaking cannabis science with world-renowned molecular biologist Dr. Ali Bektaş. Dr. Bektaş…
Jan 10, 2025 · 50:50
On this episode of Bioactive, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Megan Mbengue, RN, MS. Megan is the owner of the cannabis company The Trusted Cannabis Nurse. She formulates custom…
Dec 27, 2024 · 26:21
🌱 In this episode of Bioactive, host Dr. Riley Kirk dives into her favorite cannabis research publications from 2024, sharing groundbreaking insights that advanced our…
Dec 13, 2024 · 1:12:41
In this engaging conversation, Ken Behr shares his remarkable journey from a dyslexic child who struggled in school to a successful writer and former drug smuggler. He discusses…
Nov 29, 2024 · 54:24
Host Riley Kirk interviews Sarah Burke, the founder of Women in Media Network and her new producer! They explore the intersection of cannabis, science, media, and the evolving…
Nov 15, 2024 · 1:12:09
Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk: Leaders in Cannabis and Natural Products Research Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk, co-founders of the nonprofit organization The…
Nov 1, 2024 · 1:53:09
🌱 The Science and Magic of Sungrown Cannabis | Bioactive Podcast 🌱 Join Dr. Riley Kirk and an inspiring panel of experts — Tina Gordon, Lindsay MaHarry, Colleen King, and…
Oct 18, 2024 · 37:47
How Consumption Methods Affect Cannabis Chemistry | Dr. Riley Kirk | Bioactive Podcast In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk breaks down how cannabis…
Oct 4, 2024 · 1:07:32
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, we dive deep into a lesser-known but serious condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Join host Dr. Riley Kirk and…
Sep 20, 2024 · 1:07:40
In this video, Riley interviews Jini Glaros, the Chief Science Officer (CSO) at Modern Canna, about groundbreaking research on the relationship between water activity and…
Sep 6, 2024 · 1:47:55
Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Jason Wilson, MS on this episode of Bioactive. The two share many interests in self-exploration of the brain with drugs, navigating their own paths in…
Aug 23, 2024 · 54:18
Riley sits down for the second time with reserach scientist Twinkle Paryani from Abstrax Tech. Twinkle recently wrote a paper titled "Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis…
Aug 9, 2024 · 55:07
On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses microbial testing for cannabis products in the legal industry. This is a different conversation than living soil which will be a…
Jul 26, 2024 · 1:14:52
In this episode Dr. Riley Kirk interviews researcher Dr. Whitney Ogle about using cannabis for exercise, Dr. Ogle is passionate about this subject because she has found the…
Jul 12, 2024 · 46:19
On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses illegal pesticides found in legal California cannabis products with Alex Halperin, the founder of WeedWeek and one of the main…
Jun 18, 2024 · 4:23
Dr. Riley Kirk here letting you know that I'm taking a quick focus break to hit some deadlines for the book I'm writing, but I do have a few announcements! In the meantime, get…
May 17, 2024 · 1:19:22
Welcome back to another episode of #NAPTIME with Dr.Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk (host of Bioactive). On these episodes the two stoner scientists recount cannabis industry…
May 10, 2024 · 1:03:02
In this week’s episode Dr. Riley Kirk and guest Tanya Funk dive in to the basics of providing nutrients to cannabis plants. This can look many ways depending on how you like to…
May 3, 2024 · 1:03:09
Todays episode is all about oral health with the talented educator and communicator Stacy Bobak. Stacy is a Registered Dental Hygienist and Certified Cannabis Educator in…
Apr 26, 2024 · 1:16:50
How do we standardize an industry that is known as the wild west? It's definitely difficult to implement standards in the cannabis industry but people like todays guest, Darwin…
Apr 12, 2024 · 1:33:20
The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy is a reserach non-profit formed by Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk. The goal of the nonprofit is to provide a more nuanced and holistic…
Apr 2, 2024 · 51:08
Kimberly Hooks, CEO of Frenchy Cannoli Brand and Kevin McGovern owner of First Harvest Hemp join Riley to talk about the history of hashish and the process of making quality…
Mar 29, 2024 · 1:37:22
Where does cannabis play a role in end-of-life care? Today Riley speaks with Dr. Rasean Hodge, MD. Dr. Hodge has worked with a large diversity of patients and is an open consumer…
Mar 21, 2024 · 1:13:39
If there's two things Jake and I love talking about its moose and chaga! This episode we finally dive deep into both subjects. Jake talks about his graduate research with moose…
Mar 12, 2024 · 37:37
The Science of Smokeability is a collaboration study between Dr. Allison Justice & Ashley Manning from the Cannabis Research Coalition Dr. Miyabe Shields & Dr. Riley Kirk from…
Mar 9, 2024 · 1:08:26
The THCA market is taking the US by storm, but what is it? and how is it legal? Todays guest is Liz Peterson who is the head of operations at Canvast Supply Co. in Nashville, TN…
Mar 5, 2024 · 1:31:31
This episode is funded by our cannabis reserach and education non-profit called the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP). If you want to learn more about NAP or donate check…
Feb 23, 2024 · 1:13:10
Dr. Jonathan Fields discusses the connection of cannabis and metabolism. He recently authored a paper in AJEM (American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine) discussing the wide…
Feb 16, 2024 · 55:49
Karen O'Keefe is a lawyer and an advocate for cannabis. Karen works for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) that aims to change laws across the US associated with Cannabis. Karen…
Feb 10, 2024 · 1:24:24
Nothing in this podcast is EVER medical advice, consult your physician before adding or changing your routine. This episode is all about the pharmacists role in the cannabis…
Feb 3, 2024 · 1:23:59
NAPTIME with Dr. Miyabe Shields. Thank you to MCR labs for sponsoring this episode and donating to NAP: https://mcrlabs.com/ Nothing in this podcast is ever medical advice,…
Jan 26, 2024 · 1:23:31
Nothing discussed in this podcast is ever medical advice. Zeus Tipado is a Ph.D. candidate researcher at University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. He is studying DMT and…
Jan 20, 2024 · 55:54
Nothing discussed in this podcast is EVER medical advice, consult your physician for medical needs. Recent article summarizing Dr. Bryan's reserach:…
Jan 12, 2024 · 1:14:44
Welcome back to season 3 of Bioactive! As always, nothing discussed in this podcast is medical advice, this is only opinion. Consult your doctor for any significant changes to…
Dec 22, 2023 · 1:05:49
Nothing in this podcast is medical advice EVER. THE LAST EPISODE OF 2023, JUST IN TIME TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE BOARD. Thank you all for listening and your support for…
Dec 19, 2023 · 1:31:41
Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, consult your doctor for that. In this episode we learn about some new research with fiber cannabis, veteran use and access to cannabis,…
Dec 8, 2023 · 1:40:12
In this episode Riley and Miyabe dive into the most recent peer reviewed study on CBG and anxiety, our recent trip to Vegas for the largest cannabis event in the US (MJBizcon),…
Nov 22, 2023 · 1:37:52
Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, personal opinion only. Thank you to the patrons of this podcast for making it possible and everyone who has left a 5 star review.…
Nov 10, 2023 · 57:30
Recent news stories by CNN and other big media companies have began publishing fear-mongering articles about two recent ABSTRACTS that have not been fully published or presented…
Nov 3, 2023 · 1:21:25
This weeks episode is all about our newly launched Cannabis research nonprofit called the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP). Miyabe and I co-founded this non-profit to…
Oct 27, 2023 · 1:08:55
Weed has an unmistakable and iconic smell. There has been various research that highlights the different molecules responbsible for the smell like volatile sulfur compounds…
Oct 20, 2023 · 46:45
Fall is our favorite season in New Hampshire. We are almost done with preserving the garden, and we get to witness mother nature preparing for a long cold winter. Animals and…
Oct 6, 2023 · 1:21:37
This episode features Dr. Mary Clifton, MD. Dr. Clifton is a physician, a best selling author, a cannabis advocate, a social media educator & more. In this episode Dr. Clifton…
Sep 29, 2023 · 1:18:45
With any substance we use regularly, wether it be weed, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine or something else it's important to evaluate your relationship with it and make sure its…
Sep 11, 2023 · 44:37
On this episode I am joined by my other half Jake. We have a very dynamic relationship as he studies wildlife biology and I study natural product chemistry. Jake works as a…
Sep 1, 2023 · 1:00:02
In this episode Riley talks with Dr. Allison Justice and Ashley Manning at The Hemp Mine/ The Cannabis Research Coalition (CRC). The three discuss some research the team is doing…
Aug 25, 2023 · 1:24:09
Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, we recommend talking to a physician before starting or stopping any medication or herbal product. Women have been using cannabis during…
Aug 18, 2023 · 1:07:12
Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, this is information presented as personal opinion. Always contact your personal medical professional(s) before adding/changing your…
Aug 11, 2023 · 25:25
A deep dive into why THC and Cannabis have SO MANY MEDICINAL BENEFITS. In this episode Riley describes the different components of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the reason…
Aug 7, 2023 · 1:04:45
NOTHING DISCUSSED IN THIS PODCAST IS MEDCAL ADVICE In this weeks episode of Bioactive Riley (@cannabichem) talks with Chris Witowski the CEO and cofounder of the biotech company…
Jul 28, 2023 · 33:31
Nothing in this video is medical advice. Talk with your doctor before starting any new medications and if you have any serious health issues. In this episode Riley dives into the…
Jul 21, 2023 · 57:02
Join the Bioactive Community: patreon.com/cannabichem Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, ask your doctor before trying any new products. For centuries indigenous cultures…
Jul 14, 2023 · 1:42:05
DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this podcast is medical advice, ask your doctor before trying any new products. Not all natural products are safe nor effective and should be heavily…
Jul 7, 2023 · 12:53
The first episode isn't a reallll episode, but it is a topic I have had requested A TON of times. This is an introduction to the podcast and a little more information about host…
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