It just so happens that August is national wellness month. I normally don’t know that kinda crap but saw it while skimming a newsletter procrastinating from writing this post. I took it as a sign from the Universe that I’m in the flow since I already had a month’s worth of wellness content comin’ atcha.

Feeling in sync with self, nature, community, and the universe is the ultimate high. And since it’s inevitable to ebb and flow between isolation and connectedness in all areas of life, developing a healthy handle on your shit is the adult thing to do. Because I prefer plants over pills and solutions over fixes, I’m exploring practical and safe alternatives to the mental health and wellness protocols we’re used to.

On my birthday this year, my mom welcomed me into the prime of my life. I spent a lot of time while packing up the studio examining where I’ve been, the new chapter I’m in now, and imagining the places I’ll go. I happen to be in the age bracket where folks are coming to terms with their life circumstances, looking at and dealing with their shit, and embracing who they are - warts and all. 

Today’s guest on the potcast is walking the walk and helping others do the same. Alli Waddell is a woman after my own heart standing for radical honesty, self-awareness, and self-love, and believes that only when we heal ourselves can we heal the world. During our chat, Alli gives us a 101 look at Ketamine and how it’s changed her life and the lives of her clients.

If you grew up like me being told that life’s a bitch and then you die. This potcast is for you. It’s also for anyone exhausted with the struggle - be it the thought loop from hell, PTSD, addiction, eating disorders, anger, anxiety, or depression. We’re going to learn the ins and outs of ketamine and how this altered-state experience is being used to treat both veterans and civilians with zero side effects. 

If you feel empowered by today’s conversation, I hope you’ll share this potcast with a friend. And if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind cannabis-infused getaway, I invite you to join me in the beautiful wine and weed country of Sonoma County, California. As a cannabis lifestyle guide, I’ve cultivated a one-of-a-kind farm stay experience where you can enjoy the casually baked lifestyle and the magic of sun-grown cannabis farms and vineyards. If you’re into wine, weed, or both, get ready to have a high time customized just for you. Click the link to learn more.

Kumbaya and cannabis, -Jo 💚

This Potcast Is Covered By MJ Relief

‘After the Show’ Notes

Alli Waddell has been recognized as an expert in the wellness industry for nearly two decades, empowering people to create and maintain healthy and happy lives. As a coach, speaker, and co-founder at Illumma, Austin's premier ketamine infusion clinic, Waddell is a lifeline of healing and holistic well-being. Everyone is put on this earth with a purpose and a mission, to express their light. But many times trauma and life circumstances can cause that light to dim, or to be blocked out by fear, depression, and anxiety.

At Illumma, Alli and the team provides tools for lifelong personal transformation helping people shine bright again. Patients rediscover, remember and reconnect with the amazing spirit that was previously just beyond their reach.

Ketamine is a tool to unlock your ability to see the transformation that is possible within you. In order to maximize your ketamine experience, we highly recommend adequately preparing for and integrating the experience.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Ketamine and EMDR therapy work well together.

Hot Tip from Alli: Taking CBD post-ketamine treatment can be helpful to transition back and ground you in your body and surroundings.

When I was growing up, one of my dad’s favorite ways to wake me and my sisters of a morning was to flip on the bedroom lights while announcing “it’s a cold, cruel world out there.” And I’m fairly certain the majority of us were programmed early in life to believe that the fight and struggle were necessary to earn what we want - or to give value to the success. And I can attest that you can indeed fight, struggle, and succeed. But as a grown ass woman whose done the work to deprogram and to heal old wounds, I certify that you can also relax, have fun, focus your intention, and let the journey be it’s own magical reward.

The definition of success and the path to meaning really is up to us as individuals. And most of the time, the difference between struggle and letting it be easy is a simple shift of perspective. For me, meditating with plant medicine is often the catalyst for flipping that switch. And as a public service announcement I want to add that there’s no time like the present to deal with your shit.

Whatya say? No more sweeping it under the proverbial rug. I encourage you to recognize any victim-centric story lines and negative thought loops blocking you from stepping into self-love, happiness, and personal power. I hope after hearing today’s chat you begin to find the negative narrative easier to recognize when you find yourself saying it. You might not be there yet and it may take a while longer, but at some point, the baggage you’re carrying will get too heavy to drag into another day. And I’m so excited for you to let that shit go.  If you think Ketamine therapy might be a good fit for you, continue your homework here!

Receive 10% off any service at Illumma when mentioning you heard Alli on Casually Baked.

The Sustainability Roll-up is presented by OCB Rolling Papers. In perfect harmony with natural, sustainable practices, it’s always been the OCB signature to provide the highest quality, responsibly sourced, and sustainably crafted rolling papers.

In my chat with Alli, we talk about the use of ketamine to treat soldiers on and off the battlefield. So I was drawn to horticultural therapy for this week’s roll-up. Horticultural therapy combines gardening and social services to improve the lives of people with physical and/or mental health problems. A horticultural therapist engages a patient in gardening and plant-based activities to achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals. These horticultural therapists can be found working in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, community gardens, retirement centers, and correctional facilities. They often collaborate with health care practitioners and mental health experts to help patients reach therapeutic and vocational goals.

I discovered a number of wonderful programs across the country at the intersection of healing and community - providing vocational skills in sustainable farming coupled with community and horticultural therapy. I want to tell you about a few of them and I’ll be sure to share links in the show notes.

Growing Veterans is one such organization based in Washington state, founded by a combat wounded United States Marine Corp veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, Christopher Brown, and a former mental health counselor turned farmer, Christina Wolf. Together, they agreed using the farm as the catalyst for human connection and veteran reintegration could have a powerful impact on the health and well being of not only vets returning home, but also the world. The fact one of them is a veteran, and the other a civilian is an important distinction to the Growing Veterans organization. They believe that only through the mutual engagement and support between veterans AND civilians, will we see veterans have a complete and holistic transition home into our communities after military service.

Nurturing Roots Farm is another farm in Washington utilizing horticultural therapy. Founded in 2016 by Nyema Clark, Nurturing Roots Farm is a Black-led grassroots organization that operates a Black community farm in the Beacon Hill community of Seattle. It is entirely volunteer-run and has been in service to the community for over seven years. Through physical toil and love, Nurturing Roots has created a garden healing space, along with a farming and education program that fosters wellness around the neighborhood. Since its establishment, Nurturing Roots has brought the local community together by hosting events, providing volunteering opportunities, and partnering with local restaurants. 

In Florida, GROW is a Veteran training program for Hydroponic and Aquaponic Sustainable Agriculture designed to assist veterans in pursuing a future in Sustainable farming and ag business. The program consists of classes with a curriculum created by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Farm field training, community involvement, and horticulture therapy.

Archi’s Acres, a California Benefit Corporation, is a farming enterprise that utilizes hydro-organic technology to grow certified organic produce. Headquartered in Escondido, California, Archi’s Acres grows basil, kale, and other herbs and produce. And the farm is home to Archi’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona, offering 6- and 12-week programs in organic agribusiness. AiSA has educated transitioning service men and women, as well as members of the general public, to be successful in the sustainable and organic agricultural industry. Since the program’s inception in 2007, Archi’s Institute has helped more than 450 graduates with job placement assistance and business creation after graduation. From successful farm owners and workers, soil-testing pioneers, restaurateurs, and owners of food companies.

Whether you’re curious about horticultural therapy or interested in joining the sustainable agricultural community or seeking to acquire fundamental, skills of sustainable farming and self-employment. Finding an organization like this in your area is a simple online search away. And if you’re searching for rolling papers worthy of that clean green you’re smoking, look no further than OCB. All OCB rolling papers are “plant to puff” and made in a facility that’s powered by 100% green energy. And all OCB papers are vegan, GMO-free, chlorine-free, and dye-free.

You’ll love OCB even more because they make no tear, even-burning, rolling papers with natural always-sticks acacia gum grown in African fields that OCB has been re-foresting for decades. Of course, you must be 21 and older to buy OCB rolling papers and to follow the natural wonders of OCB on social @ocb_usa. 

Roll With Me, a new video series launched on the Casually Baked YouTube channel in April 2021, is a collaboration with OCB Rolling Papers. Get lessons and insights on the craft of rolling while chatting about all things hemp and cannabis culture.

Complete This Form to Roll With Me On An Upcoming Episode

We all know practice makes perfectly smokeable joints so I’m engaging my cannabis industry friends to coach me. And if you’ve got some rolling tricks up your sleeve, perhaps you, too, can school me on an episode of Roll With Me.

If you too are a joint rolling novice and want to learn the craft alongside me, go ahead and get your supplies ready. Visit ocbusa.com/BAKED to get 4 booklets of OCB and a rolling tray for only $4.99! This bundle is worth 20 bucks and is around for a limited time. But the rolling skills and street cred we’re going to earn together, my friend, makes this bundle priceless as far as I’m concerned. As for you OG’s who can roll a joint one-handed, I challenge you to sample the entire line of OCB products and let me know your favorite.

Get 4 booklets of OCB and a rolling tray for only $4.99! This bundle is worth 20 bucks and is around for a limited time. But the rolling skills and street cred we’re going to earn together, my friend, makes this bundle priceless as far as I’m concerned. ✌️💚