Soul Survivor

Soul Survivor

Author: David Bienenstock December 4, 2025 Duration: 1:22:23
In January, Martin Olive was shot seven times outside the Vapor Room dispensary, which he co-founded in San Francisco in 2004.  Located in the legendary Haight Street neighborhood, the Vapor Room was known for its extensive compassion program offering free cannabis to patients in need, and for the vibrant community of mutual support that took root in its on-site consumption lounge. Over the past year, Martin has made a truly miraculous recovery. We discuss his shooting at the end of the interview, including his very intentional approach to integrating cannabis into the healing process. But first, we talk at length about his journey from slanging bags and smoking head stash as a teenager, to operating one of America's most respected and enduring first wave medical cannabis dispensaries. PATREON Please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support Great Moments in Weed HIstory on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Supporters get exclusive access to video versions of this podcast and private seshes, plus cool rewards like a signed book. And it truly helps us make the best show possible. EPISODE ARCHIVE Visit our podcast feed for 150+ episodes of Great Moments in Weed History, and subscribe now to get a new weekly podcast every Weednesday. 

Great Moments in Weed History delves deep into humanity's 10,000+ year relationship with cannabis (a.k.a. marijuana) to explore the humor, heart, and historical importance of the planet's most revered and maligned plant. Hosted by David Bienenstock.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Great Moments in Weed History
Podcast Episodes
Can 'High Times' Rise from the Ashes? (w/ Josh Kesselman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:05
When a bunch of vulture capital d-bags ran High Times into bankruptcy, the magazine's illustrious fifty year history appeared to be burnt out. But then, in June, Raw Papers founder Josh Kesselman announced that he’d boug…
The 'Mayor of Oaksterdam' Fought the Man to Free the Weed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:26
Richard Lee's life changed forever in 1990 when he slipped on a catwalk while setting up the lights for an Aerosmith concert, suffering a spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A Texas native raised b…
Meet the Founder of An Iconic 1970s Weed Magazine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:46
Charlotte Parker started Head magazine while working an entry level publishing job at Penthouse, in order to cover the world of weed in depth at a time long before legalization. Looking back at a few covers from those 19…
How A Weed Outlaw Became The Ultimate Cannabis Connoisseur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:00
After being incarcerated as a teenager for weed, Kevin Jodrey joined the military and trained as a deep sea diver, only to end up conscripted into performing anti-drug interdiction raids out in the middle of the ocean. F…
High Times, Free Weed, and Home Grown: The Danny Danko Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:31
From judging the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, to touring Northern California during harvest season, to seshing with the steady stream of growers, dealers, breeders, smugglers, rogues, outlaws, musicians, celebrities, and a…
Celebrating Weed, Pride and Weed Pride w/ Laganja Estranja [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:32
What does it mean to talk about Pride when it comes to cannabis? First and foremost it means celebrating the central role that the LGBTQ+ community has played in the global struggle for weed liberation. Pride also has a…
A Weed Expat Inhales Amsterdam's Glory Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:52
Adam Dunn first arrived in Amsterdam as a teenager, and quickly found himself at the center of the city's famed international cannabis scene. In time, Adam would launch his own innovative ventures, including T.H.Seeds, w…
How  'Appellations' Will Put Cannabis on Par With Champagne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
Much how wine, cheese, and other agricultural products are authenticated as coming from their traditional geographic zone of origin, a new program about to launch is California will help old school growers in traditional…
John Lennon's Hash Bust Set Off an Immigration Battle for the Ages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:19
In 1971, John Lennon performed publicly, for the first time in five years, at a rally decrying the injustice of Michigan police targeting a radical political activist for an elaborate undercover sting operation, resultin…