How to Do the Pot
How to Do the Pot

How to Do the Pot

Ellen Scanlon

Overview
Episodes

Details

An award-winning cannabis podcast for women, by women. Hear joyful stories and useful advice about cannabis for health, well-being, and fun—especially for needs specific to women like stress, sleep, and sex. We cover everything from: What’s the best weed for sex? Can I use CBD for menstrual cramps? What are the effects of the Harlequin strain or Gelato strain? And, why do we prefer to call it “cannabis” instead of “marijuana”? We also hear from you: your first time buying legal weed, and how to talk about cannabis with your family.  How to Do the Pot is hosted by Ellen Scanlon. Ellen’s mission is to inspire women to make more informed choices about their health and well-being. Join Ellen as she talks to medical professionals for practical tips, experts for cannabis recommendations, and listeners for funny and intimate stories. www.dothepot.com

Recent Episodes

313. Why I’m Pausing the Podcast — and What’s Next
NOV 25, 2025
313. Why I’m Pausing the Podcast — and What’s Next
After six years and more than 300 episodes, host Ellen Scanlon is pausing How to Do the Pot. In this special episode, she shares why — and what’s ahead. Ellen breaks down what’s shifting in cannabis and podcasting, from the ban on intoxicating hemp to the podcast industry’s move toward video and bigger-budget shows. She also revisits the episodes that defined the show, including: The Sleep Series The Menopause 101 series with Dr. Lauren Streicher The Webby-nominated series on the AIDS crisis and medical cannabis Weed & Workouts Ellen talks about the topics she’s exploring next — women’s health, menopause, changing views on alcohol, and AI — and why they’re showing up in so many of the conversations women are having right now. While the podcast is pausing, the conversation isn’t - you can still follow along with Ellen on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/. Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: @dothepot FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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7 MIN
312. How I Finally Got Better from Mold Illness, with Ariana Thacker of MoldCo, part 2
NOV 4, 2025
312. How I Finally Got Better from Mold Illness, with Ariana Thacker of MoldCo, part 2
After years of unexplained illness, How to Do the Pot host Ellen Scanlon finally found answers. In this episode, she shares what helped her recover from mold illness, and what testing and treatment really look like — with Ariana Thacker, founder and CEO of MoldCo, the first virtual clinic focused on mold-related illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). In this episode, you’ll hear: • Testing, simplified: which lab markers matter, what dust and home tests reveal, and when to test the home versus the person • Treatment in the real world: from prescription binders to nasal sprays to VIP peptides — what’s actually helping patients heal • Costs and access: why traditional care often misses mold and how new virtual models are making treatment more affordable • Recovery isn’t linear: what setbacks can look like and how to rebuild trust in your body after illness “By seeing you here today and as healthy as you are now, I think it gives a lot of patients a lot of hope.” — Ariana Thacker, MoldCo This episode continues a powerful conversation about an overlooked illness that may affect one in four people. It offers practical insights, real hope, and a path forward for anyone living with relentless fatigue, brain fog, or mysterious symptoms that just won’t go away. Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: @dothepot FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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28 MIN
311. Mold and Me: The Health Story I Haven’t Told Until Now, with Ariana Thacker of MoldCo
OCT 28, 2025
311. Mold and Me: The Health Story I Haven’t Told Until Now, with Ariana Thacker of MoldCo
In one of her most personal episodes yet, How to Do the Pot host Ellen Scanlon opens up about her years-long experience with mold toxicity — a hidden condition that affects millions but is often overlooked by traditional medicine. Ellen was inspired to create this episode after meeting Ariana Thacker, the founder of MoldCo, the first virtual clinic focused on mold-related illness and chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). Together, they explore the science, the symptoms, and the path to recovery. In part 1, you’ll hear:  Ariana’s story of getting sick from hidden mold and how it led to the creation of MoldCo. Ellen’s experience uncovering mold exposure and what she’s learned along the way. New insights and treatments helping people heal from mold and other chronic inflammatory illnesses.This episode sheds light on a growing health issue that may impact one in four people, and offers hope for anyone living with relentless fatigue, brain fog, or mysterious symptoms that just won’t go away. Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: @dothepot FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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19 MIN
310. Alcohol vs. Cannabis Drinks: 3 Things Women Need to Know
OCT 14, 2025
310. Alcohol vs. Cannabis Drinks: 3 Things Women Need to Know
Curious about trying a cannabis drink instead of reaching for alcohol? This episode of How to Do the Pot is your quick, no-stress guide. Host Ellen Scanlon shares what she’s learned from being soberish and counts down the top 3 questions women ask about low-dose cannabis drinks as an alcohol alternative. You’ll learn: 1. How to start slow with THC drinks — including the best first dose and timing — with tips from Katie Nessel, aka Soberish Mom. 2. What the buzz feels like and how long it lasts compared to alcohol, with insight from Anita Loomba of Cycling Frog. 3. Easy swaps and simple rituals that make THC seltzers a fun, approachable option for socializing, winding down, or joining Sober October. If you’re curious about cannabis drinks for women or looking for a practical, alcohol-free option, this episode is your cheat sheet.  Want a FREE DRINK? Cycling Frog is offering you a free cannabis seltzer, in Ruby Grapefruit, Black Currant, or Wild Cherry flavor. Just pay $2 shipping. Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: @dothepot FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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15 MIN
309. Pain Relief That Lets You Move Again
OCT 7, 2025
309. Pain Relief That Lets You Move Again
Are you or someone you love looking for safer ways to ease pain—especially the kind that keeps you from moving or exercising? In this episode, host Ellen Scanlon talks with Anna Symonds, a former elite rugby player who first discovered the pain-relief benefits of cannabis after years of sports injuries, and Dr. Deondra Asike, an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist. You’ll hear Anna’s firsthand story of shifting away from prescription painkillers, and Dr. Asike’s clear explanation of how cannabinoids work in the body’s pain pathways—and why cannabis is often a safer option than opioids. We also look at the bigger picture: why chronic pain sidelines millions of Americans, the risks of relying on opioids, and how more athletes and doctors are leading a move toward plant-based recovery options. Liked this episode? Try these: 304. Can Cannabis Actually Make Exercise Easier? 306. Practical Tips from Cannabis Experts on Exercise & Recovery Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: @dothepot FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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24 MIN