James Loud Podcast

On this episode of the James Loud Podcast, James sits down with Nate from Higher Heights, a Mendocino-based cultivator and breeder with decades of experience rooted in legacy outdoor growing and modern genetic development. Nate’s journey spans from early East Coast guerrilla grows in the ‘90s to building a respected presence in Northern California, where he’s become known for his deep knowledge of plant genetics, long-term breeding work, and commitment to quality over hype.Higher Heights represents a philosophy centered on authenticity, community, and craftsmanship—focusing on unique terpene profiles, strong effects, and flower that truly smokes. In this episode, Nate shares incredible stories from the early days, the evolution of genetics culture, and how his breeding work has quietly influenced modern Mendocino strains over the years. From hunting rare phenotypes to preserving legacy genetics through seeds, this conversation is packed with real insight from someone who’s lived every phase of the industry’s growth.James and Nate also dive deep into the science and art of breeding, discussing topics like terpene dominance, hybrid vigor, phenotype selection, and why modern trends like bag appeal may be taking the industry in the wrong direction. It’s a raw, honest conversation about what actually matters—flavor, effect, and the overall experience—plus why sun-grown flower deserves more respect in today’s market.If you’re into cultivation, breeding, genetics, or the deeper culture behind plant-based industries, this episode delivers knowledge, history, and perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.Subscribe to the James Loud Podcast for long-form conversations with growers, breeders, and innovators shaping the future of plant culture.Follow James Loud:Instagram: https://instagram.com/JamesLoudInstagram: http://instagram.com/jamesloudpodcast/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-loudFollow Higher Heights:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higherheightsmendo2.0/Produced by Gears and GritInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gears.and.grit/About the James Loud Podcast:Hosted by award-winning breeder, author, and innovator James Loud, the show explores the art, science, and culture of modern plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and community storytelling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, James brings decades of experience, creativity, and insight to every episode.In 2024, the show was honored as Podcast of the Year by the International Industry Awards for its commitment to education, storytelling, and innovation. Each week features voices from across the creative and agricultural worlds — all united by passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship.Join us on this award-winning journey as we explore the future of cultivation, creativity, and culture.

If you’re into golf, entrepreneurship, content creation, or building something from the ground up, this episode is packed with real insight and motivation from someone making it happen in real time.On this episode of the James Loud Podcast, James sits down with Dominic Denucci, founder of Eighth Iron, a fast-rising lifestyle brand blending golf, culture, and plant-based community into one unique movement. What started as an idea to merge two worlds—golf and modern plant culture—has quickly evolved into full-scale events, branded merchandise, and a growing network of supporters across Southern California and beyond .Dominic shares his journey from becoming a golf pro in record time to launching Eighth Iron and hosting standout golf events that bring together people from completely different backgrounds. From country club golfers to creative entrepreneurs, Eighth Iron is creating a new lane where networking, competition, and culture collide. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, building a brand from scratch, content creation using just an iPhone, and the challenges of scaling events in a rapidly changing industry.They also get into the deeper parallels between golf and life—discipline, mindset, and staying focused under pressure—along with how community and collaboration are key to long-term success. Dominic breaks down his vision for expanding Eighth Iron into new markets, launching product lines, and continuing to push the boundaries of what a modern lifestyle brand can be.Subscribe to the James Loud Podcast for long-form conversations with founders, growers, athletes, and innovators shaping culture and business today.Follow James Loud:Instagram: https://instagram.com/JamesLoudInstagram: http://instagram.com/jamesloudpodcast/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-loudFollow Eighth Iron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8th_iron/Produced by Gears and GritInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gears.and.grit/About the James Loud Podcast:Hosted by award-winning breeder, author, and innovator James Loud, the show explores the art, science, and culture of modern plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and community storytelling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, James brings decades of experience, creativity, and insight to every episode.In 2024, the show was honored as Podcast of the Year by the International Industry Awards for its commitment to education, storytelling, and innovation. Each week features voices from across the creative and agricultural worlds — all united by passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship.Join us on this award-winning journey as we explore the future of cultivation, creativity, and culture.

Episode 150 of the James Loud Podcast!In this milestone episode, James sits down with Kyle Loucks, the inventor and founder of RollPros, to talk about engineering, automation, and how precision machinery is transforming the pre-roll category. Kyle built RollPros with a mission to solve one of the industry’s toughest challenges—producing perfectly packed pre-rolls at scale while maintaining the consistency and quality of hand-rolled products.RollPros’ flagship machine, the Blackbird, has become one of the most respected pre-roll systems in the market, used by operators around the world to produce thousands of premium cones with remarkable accuracy. James has used the Blackbird extensively in his own production workflow, and in this episode he and Kyle break down why the machine stands out—from compression control and fill consistency to the engineering philosophy that went into designing it.Kyle shares the story of inventing the RollPros system, the problem-solving that went into building a reliable high-volume solution, and how thoughtful engineering can elevate product quality rather than compromise it. The conversation dives into manufacturing innovation, scaling production without losing craftsmanship, and what the future holds for automation in modern cultivation and product development.If you’re interested in cultivation, pre-roll production, engineering solutions, or scaling quality products in a competitive market, Episode 150 delivers a fascinating look behind the machines powering today’s industry.Subscribe to the James Loud Podcast for long-form conversations with growers, engineers, founders, and innovators shaping the future of plant culture.Follow James Loud:Instagram: https://instagram.com/JamesLoudInstagram: http://instagram.com/jamesloudpodcast/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-loudFollow RollPros:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollpros/Produced by Gears and GritInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gears.and.grit/About the James Loud Podcast:Hosted by award-winning breeder, author, and innovator James Loud, the show explores the art, science, and culture of modern plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and community storytelling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, James brings decades of experience, creativity, and insight to every episode.In 2024, the show was honored as Podcast of the Year by the International Industry Awards for its commitment to education, storytelling, and innovation. Each week features voices from across the creative and agricultural worlds — all united by passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship.Join us on this award-winning journey as we explore the future of cultivation, creativity, and culture.

On this episode of the James Loud Podcast, James sits down with David and Jane Sandelman, the innovators behind Cannatrol. Their company has become widely known for bringing scientific precision to one of the most misunderstood parts of the growing process: post-harvest drying and curing. Instead of relying on guesswork, Cannatrol systems use controlled temperature, humidity, and vapor pressure dynamics to stabilize moisture levels and preserve quality.David, an engineer with decades of experience in environmental control technology, originally developed the Cannatrol system to solve a common problem growers face—how to consistently dry and cure plants without losing aroma, structure, or potency. Alongside Jane, the company has helped both small craft growers and large facilities rethink how curing works by focusing on measurable moisture science rather than traditional trial-and-error methods.In this conversation, James, David, and Jane go deep into the science of moisture control, vapor pressure deficit, terpene preservation, and the critical role curing plays in final product quality. They break down why traditional drying rooms often fail, how controlled environments can dramatically improve consistency, and why post-harvest handling may be the most overlooked factor in producing top-tier flower.If you’re interested in cultivation science, post-harvest technology, drying techniques, or the future of controlled environment agriculture, this episode delivers a fascinating deep dive into the technology changing how growers approach the final stage of production.🎙️ Subscribe to the James Loud Podcast for in-depth conversations with growers, breeders, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of plant cultivation.Follow James Loud:Instagram: https://instagram.com/JamesLoudInstagram: http://instagram.com/jamesloudpodcast/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-loudFollow Cannatrol:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannatrol/Produced by Gears and GritInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gears.and.grit/About the James Loud Podcast:Hosted by award-winning breeder, author, and innovator James Loud, the show explores the art, science, and culture of modern plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and community storytelling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, James brings decades of experience, creativity, and insight to every episode.In 2024, the show was honored as Podcast of the Year by the International Industry Awards for its commitment to education, storytelling, and innovation. Each week features voices from across the creative and agricultural worlds — all united by passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship.Join us on this award-winning journey as we explore the future of cultivation, creativity, and culture.

On this episode of the James Loud Podcast, James sits down with Amanda Geritano, brand builder and executive at Packs Los Angeles, to talk legacy culture, scaling a premium pre-roll brand, and navigating today’s rapidly evolving adult-use market Amanda has been instrumental in building Packs into one of the most recognizable blunt and pre-roll brands in the space, known for its proprietary hemp wraps, signature glass tips, and bold red drip branding. Originally rooted in New York’s legacy scene, Packs expanded into multiple states through strategic licensing partnerships—balancing authenticity with large-scale growth. In this conversation, Amanda breaks down what it really takes to maintain quality while entering new markets, the challenges of automation vs. hand-rolled production, and how buyer psychology shapes today’s shelves.The discussion dives deep into pre-roll innovation, manufacturing technology, white labeling, brand knockoffs, expansion strategy, and the future of ready-to-consume products. From New York to Colorado to emerging markets across the country, Amanda shares firsthand insight into what’s working, what’s not, and where the industry is headed next.If you’re interested in cultivation, branding, pre-roll production, market expansion, or the business side of plant culture, this episode delivers real game from someone who’s built at scale.Follow James Loud:Instagram: https://instagram.com/JamesLoudInstagram: http://instagram.com/jamesloudpodcast/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-loudFollow Packs:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packs.us/Produced by Gears and GritInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gears.and.grit/About the James Loud Podcast:Hosted by award-winning breeder, author, and innovator James Loud, the show explores the art, science, and culture of modern plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and community storytelling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, James brings decades of experience, creativity, and insight to every episode.In 2024, the show was honored as Podcast of the Year by the International Industry Awards for its commitment to education, storytelling, and innovation. Each week features voices from across the creative and agricultural worlds — all united by passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship.Join us on this award-winning journey as we explore the future of cultivation, creativity, and culture.