Finding calm can feel impossible, especially when living with anxiety or depression. In this episode, Barb Smalt — a stay-at-home mom who manages bipolar II disorder — shares how cannabis helped her find relief. She describes discovering the right strains and routines, how cannabis allowed her to be more present with her children, and how it opened the door to new hobbies and a healthier lifestyle.
Features
- Release Date: Monday, May 8th, 2023
- Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 12
- Special Guest: Barb Smalt
Listen To The Episode
Click the play button above to listen to the episode.
Listen to all podcast episodes →
Why You Will Love This Episode
Meet Barb Smalt, a stay-at-home mom who has navigated bipolar II disorder for years. About a year ago she began experimenting with cannabis and found significant relief from anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Along the way she also adopted lifestyle changes that contributed to a 20-pound weight loss.
Barb’s journey wasn’t without setbacks — an early experience with Delta‑8 caused panic — but she persisted and learned which strains and consumption methods worked best for her, including homegrown flower.
Today she encourages others to try cannabis thoughtfully and to explore options until they find the right fit. For Barb, the biggest benefit has been the ability to be more present as a parent and to enjoy daily life with less worry and more patience.
Meet Our Special Guest
Barb Smalt is a stay-at-home mom who discovered relief from bipolar symptoms through careful cannabis use. After finding a combination that worked, she experienced greater calm, improved sleep, and increased presence with her children even when the house was messy.
Barb still takes prescribed medication, but she integrates cannabis into her routine to manage anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression. Her path included experimenting with various products and ultimately growing her own plants to ensure quality and consistency.
She tried multiple consumption methods — smoking, dry herb vaping, edibles, tinctures, and concentrated extracts — before settling on the approaches that suit her lifestyle and needs.
Full Transcript (Excerpt)
Teaser – Barb: I want to be the mom who says, “Come over, let’s smoke a bowl and watch the kids play while our partners grill and hang out.” It’s okay for moms to connect over cannabis and enjoy time with their kids without constant stress.
Announcer: Welcome to the Well With Cannabis Podcast, a show sharing life-changing stories of people who live well with cannabis. Meet your host, Emily Kyle, a registered dietitian and certified holistic cannabis practitioner who changed her life with the plant and now helps others do the same.
Each week the podcast shares uplifting stories and practical knowledge for anyone curious about cannabis — from newcomers to lifelong users — with the goal of helping listeners feel informed, inspired, and supported.
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for adult audiences. Episodes may include sensitive topics such as mental health, substance use, and explicit language. Content is for educational and informational purposes and is not medical advice. If the episode raises concerns, please seek support from a professional or someone you trust.
Emily: Welcome to another episode of the Well With Cannabis Podcast. Today we talk about motherhood and cannabis with Barb. Hi, how are you?
Barb: I’m good, thanks.
Emily: Tell us a bit about your family and how you came to cannabis.
Barb: I’m a stay-at-home mom of a four-year-old and a two-year-old. I’d been curious about cannabis for years but had an overwhelming first experience. After a second chance and careful exploration, I found calm — enough to sit in the bathtub, let the kids play, and stop replaying my to-do list in my head.
That shift — moving from panic to calm — made it possible to enjoy parenting without constant anxiety and guilt. Cannabis helped me be present instead of obsessing about chores and tasks.
Emily: That presence change is something many parents describe: less resentment, more patience, and more enjoyment of messy, real-life moments.
Barb: Exactly. It’s about putting the to-do list aside and simply being with my kids. I crochet, I can set my phone down, and I don’t feel the constant pressure to multitask.
I also discovered cannabis helped with severe motion sickness that nothing else relieved. Now I can ride amusement park rides and travel without debilitating nausea — a quality-of-life change I never expected.
Emily: That’s a powerful example of how cannabis can address issues beyond mood, improving daily activities and family experiences.
Barb: It also changed how I view consumption. After trying lab-made products that caused side effects, I and my husband decided to grow our own flower. Growing became a hobby — a satisfying, private way to ensure consistent medicine and to learn new skills.
I set up a discreet indoor tent with ventilation and filters so there’s no noticeable smell or exposure to visitors. That privacy made me comfortable experimenting and learning.
Emily: You mentioned methods you prefer. What do you recommend for moms who want discretion and control?
Barb: Two practical options are tinctures and dry herb vaporizers. Tinctures are easy to dose and discreet to carry. Dry herb vaporizers give the smoking-like effect without as much odor or harsh combustion, so they’re convenient for parents who want to avoid smelling like smoke.
If you grow and cure your buds, you can make tinctures, oils, or edibles for more controlled dosing, or use a small vaporizer for quick, discreet relief. Learning decarboxylation and proper dosing is important, and starting in a safe environment with a support person can prevent anxiety on early attempts.
Emily: You’ve also found cannabis supported a healthier routine. Tell us about that.
Barb: Since starting cannabis I lost about 20 pounds. It helped me manage the “munchies” by planning healthy snacks and changed my relationship to movement — exercise felt more doable, pain tolerance improved, and I was motivated to be active. Cannabis became a tool that complemented better eating and consistent activity.
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be: use it sooner. And if I’m remembered for anything in this space, it would be fostering acceptance among moms — normalizing the idea that caregiving and cannabis use can coexist responsibly.
Emily: Thank you, Barb, for sharing such an honest, practical story. Hearing real experiences like yours helps other parents feel seen and informed.
Barb: Thank you for having me. I hope other moms feel encouraged to learn and find what helps them live better.
Announcer: You’ve finished another episode of the Well With Cannabis Podcast. Thank you for listening. Visit the podcast site for show notes, recipes, and resources to support your cannabis journey. Consider joining the private community to connect with others focused on health and wellness through cannabis.
More Episodes
Growing Cannabis
The Kyle Family 2023 Cannabis Harvest
Podcast Episodes
From Law Books to Cannabis Plants: A Lawyer’s Journey to Becoming a Cannabis Coach
Podcast Episodes
Getting Insurance Reimbursement for Medical Cannabis in Germany
Podcast Episodes