CBD With Guest Susan Crews

Mariana 0:00  

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome, everyone. This is Mariana Thomas, your host of the Mindfully Recharged podcast. In today's episode, I am talking with Susan Crews. Susan is a trusted entrepreneur and a speaker whose mission is to educate people, especially midlife women about the industrial hemp plant and the benefits of quality CBD products. Susan is the President and CEO of Huntsboro Hemp Company - a company dedicated to producing high-quality CBD products to help improve the well-being of customers globally. Yes, she is amazing. And she's here with me and this episode to answer all the questions that I know you and I have about CBD. I am super excited to bring this topic to you. So without further ado, let's get to it. See you there. 

Intro Speaker 1:22  

Welcome to Mindfully Recharged with Mariana Thomas. In this podcast, Mariana brings you mindful conversations and people that will develop and recharge you from the inside-out so that you can increase productivity in your personal and professional life. This is Mindfully Recharged. 

Mariana 1:43  

Hello, Susan, and welcome to the Mindfully Recharged podcast. How are you, my friend? 

Susan 1:51  

I am doing great today, and thank you, thank you so much for having me today. I'm looking forward to being here with you. 

Mariana 1:58  

I don't think you are looking forward as much as I am. This is one of those topics that I have been looking forward to talking to my audience about. But I needed to find the right person. And I am 100% sure that you are the right one, my friend. This topic is amazing. I love, love, love what you do. And I want to ask you how this CBD, you know, story or journey started? 

Susan 2:33  

Oh, that's such a fun question, and thank you for asking that. You know, when my son-in-law was in college at North Carolina State University, he came home he had been learning about CBD and the industrial hemp plant. And I had been in the health and wellness space for about 16 years. And he said Susan, we've got to start a CBD company and my husband who's a lifelong farmer. He's like Jimmy, you need to grow industrial hemp. And I looked at it and I just said, I think CBD is snake oil. 

Mariana 3:08  

Oh, my goodness. 

Susan 3:10  

Yes, that is what I thought. I'll tell you why in just a second. And my husband said, “You know, I've been farming certain crops for forever. And we've tried a variety of different things and they just didn't work. So I don't think we'll grow industrial hemp.” But what we did, this is when North Carolina was starting their industrial hemp program, my husband and his brother who are partners started researching about growing industrial hemp. And what I did as my son-in-law was getting more and more and more excited, I decided to start studying about CBD. And so, I started attending medical conferences where there were doctors who were using, already using CBD with their patients. I found webinars online, I started attending CBD expos and industrial hemp meetings to learn about CBD. And what I learned was CBD is the real deal, because you have the endocannabinoid system in your body. And we weren't taught about that in nutrition school or in health coaching school and doctors and nurses, because it was really discovered back in the 80s. And well, back in the 60s, there were some discoveries, and then in the 80s, and then now it's being really educated on and so when you understand the endocannabinoid system, and that you already have cannabinoids in your body, and then what the CBD can do in your body, you realize it's the real deal. 

Mariana 4:47  

Wow, that's incredible. So when did you start going with that, Susan? 

Susan 4:51  

That I started studying about it? So I started gosh, it was about 2015, 2016. So the thing about it is, in the spectrum of life that is not that long, right? But in the spectrum of the CBD space and the industrial hemp space, that is a long time ago, because it was in 2018, that the farm bill was passed by our federal government that allows CBD to be legal and allows the industrial hemp plant to be grown in the United States. 

Mariana 5:29  

I am so glad you mentioned that. Because I was about to ask you. Because you know, there are so many controversial stories sometimes. So I'm so glad that you mentioned that, Susan, because just the other day, I heard something, you know about CBD. And so that's why I wanted to bring someone that truly knows this topic. And not only knows about CBD but produces CBD. 

Susan 6:02  

Right. And so the beauty of it is, I always like people to understand, I am not a grower of the industrial hemp plant. But I happened to be married to the farmer who does grow and has grown it for me since he started growing. So I have the privilege and the benefit of seeing the plant from the time it goes in the ground until the time I purchase it from him and take that plant and have it processed into the CBD. And so that actually happens about five miles away from our farm. And then we pick up our CBD and bring it into our facility and create the products that we ship out to you. So I don't actually oversee the growing as far as me being the grower, but I do get to see it the whole way. And it excites me so much. Because I know exactly what is put on that crop when it's growing. I get to go out there and get my own clippings for testing. 

Mariana 7:10  

And that’s the most important thing I believe, you have to know exactly what’s in it. I believe that’s incredible. 

Susan 7:17  

It's very, very important. And you know, I know that it is organically grown, I get to see that. And so it just is very comforting and knowing exactly where my CBD has come from. 

Mariana 7:32  

Absolutely. And by the way, thank you for the beautiful package that I received. Guys don't be jealous; I have a beautiful gift from Susan. And so I can’t wait to use my products. And of course, she's going to teach me how each product is meant to be used, which I'm very excited about. And with that, Susan, I want to ask you, what are the different types of CBD products out there? Because I get, you know, because of my background and what I do, a lot of people reach out to me wanting me to kind of promote CBD and CBD products. And I had to say no, up until now. Yeah, so it is very interesting for me, but so for that reason, this is the question I have. That's why I want to know, what are the different types? You know, because you have it, you have you know exactly where it's coming from, you know, the process, you see it into the end, but I'm not really sure that everyone has the ability to do that. 

Susan 8:52  

Right. Yeah, everybody does it. And it's a very, very confusing marketplace. If you don't know much about CBD because it's the modern-day Gold Rush, right? Many, many people started hearing about CBD and they just thought, Oh, I can start a CBD business by doing this or doing that, and I'm going to become a millionaire. And that's far from the truth. So it's very important to understand to think there's a two-fold answer to this question, understand the different types of products. And I'm going to explain that in a second. And then you also want to understand the different delivery methods like the different ways you can get CBD into your body. So the first thing to understand about the different types of products, is there are three products out there on the market, there's one called a full-spectrum CBD product. Then there is a broad-spectrum CBD product. And then there is an isolate-based product. Now at Hunstboro Hemp company, we have isolate-based products, all of our products are that and I'm going to explain it. So if you go out and you're looking at a full spectrum, that product has up to the legal limit, which is 0.3% THC in it. And it has all of the cannabinoids that are in the industrial hemp plant and there are over 100 of them. So there's like CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDA, so there's a bunch of them out there. Did you have a question? 

Mariana 10:39  

Every time you say the word cannabis? 

Susan 10:46 

Cannabinoid. 

Mariana 10:48 

Yes. Explain to the audience for those who don't know exactly what that means, you know, just like me. I'm like, “Is she talking about a hormone that we have in our body?” You know, I mean, maybe I'm a little ignorant in this. So what is it exactly? 

Susan 11:06  

Yeah, CBD is, and I always have trouble when I have to when I've said one and try to say the other… CBD is cannabidiol, okay, it’s what that is. All right. A cannabinoid is like an umbrella word for all of the cannabinoids that come out of a plant. And they are, how do you describe them? They are part of the industrial hemp plant or the cannabis plant that have properties that do different things in your body. 

Mariana 11:50  

Got it? Okay. 

Susan 11:52  

That’s the best way to describe it. 

 
Mariana 11:56  

So, they are in the CBD, and they are also in our bodies? Correct? 

 
 Susan 12:03  

Yeah, they're in the hemp plant, and they're in your body. And CBD is only one of the cannabinoids. 

Mariana 12:16  

Oh, interesting. Okay, got it. And now I'm getting this a little bit better. So I want to make sure that we don't confuse the audience and they know exactly what we're talking about. You know, we talk about maybe technical words, but now we know. Okay, that's one kind. 

Susan 12:41  

CBD is one of the cannabinoids, there are over 100 of them. Okay. So when you get a full-spectrum oil or product, whether it's gummies, or whatever, when you get a full-spectrum, that full-spectrum has all of the cannabinoids that were in the particular plant that it was extracted from. Plus, it has up to the legal limit of THC, which is 0.3% that will not get you high or anything at all like that. That's the government's threshold. 

 
 Mariana 13:19  

Good. 

Susan 13:21  

So that's your full-spectrum - all the cannabinoids and THC. Your broad-spectrum oil or that base that you use does not have any THC in it. But it will have all of the cannabinoids from that particular plant. Okay? And so you're getting a group or a bunch of cannabinoids, not just CBD. Okay? You're getting more. Then an isolate-based, which is once again what we use at Hunstboro Hemp, think about it like this: We have taken that plant and when it has been processed into the cannabinoids, then we take it a step further and we pull out just the CBD. 

Mariana 14:17 

Hmm, got it. 

Susan 14:19  

Right? So in an isolate-based product, you've got only one cannabinoid, and the most common one - the most well-known one is CBD. 

 
 Mariana 14:35  

Right. Okay, that is a lot of information. Well-explained, my friend. Well-explained. Thank you so much. 

 
 Susan 14:45  

So I want to say one other thing before I move on to the next part of this question. If you were someone that is randomly drug tested. When you are out in the market, you need to choose a broad-spectrum, or an isolate-based product, because you are not getting any THC in your body, and the random drug testing is testing for THC. And the tests that are given this day and time, THC is THC, it's delta 9…it will pink. And your employer doesn't know if you're getting it from industrial hemp or you're getting it from marijuana. 

 
 Mariana 15:32  

Oh, wow. Okay. 

 
Susan 15:34  

So that's very important to know that if, you know if you are randomly drug tested. So that's one of the things that people don't understand that when you go out in the marketplace, what are you looking for? Are you looking for a broad-spectrum a full-spectrum, or are you looking for an isolate-based product? And that drug testing is a big thing because you need to know that. 

 Then the second part of it that I wanted to answer about the different types of products would be your delivery methods: How do you take it? So the best way to take CBD is in tinctures - that's the liquid. The little jar that you got that says “relief”, that is a CBD tincture. You take it and you put it under your tongue, and you hold it for 30 seconds to a minute and it absorbs sublingually. And that really gets into your body and starts working systemically. 

 
 Mariana 16:38  

Okay. 

 
 Susan 16:40  

So that is the best way to take it. You can also ingest it with gummies through food products, honey products, lots of different ways. And when you ingest it, it is digested, and it does get into your system and it also works systemically. So that's the second way. You can take it topically by just using a cream, or an ointment, there's cosmetics out there on the market and the topical products absorb through your skin. And the one thing to know about topical products is they're working locally. Whereas when you take it orally or through food it’s working systemically. 

 
 Mariana 17:26  

So what you're saying is they don't go into your bloodstream? 

Susan 17:31  

Not… they might get into your bloodstream but not near as much. You know, it's really working, like if you have arthritis in your hands or you have hip pain or knee joint pain, or you know, like we have some yogis or runners people who will use the cream on their large muscles after exercising to help relax the muscle, so it gets into your body but in a different way. 

And then the last way, you know there is vaping and people do smoke the buds by rolling them into a cigarette or joint or whatever. We just hang out in the health and wellness space. And I don't mean to step on anybody's toes because I have been married to a tobacco farmer. But we don't believe smoking is good for anybody anything, smoking anything. So at Hunstboro Hemp, we do not sell a smokable product. 

Mariana 18:35  

Oh, I'm so happy to hear that. You know, I don't think that smoking is good for you. I have seen people die from smoking. You know, back when I was, I remember my first memory is seeing someone die from smoking and this is, I'm talking about cigarette and this point you know not even talking about anything else. One of my really good friend’s mom was so addicted to cigarettes that she was coughing and smoking all at the same time. Do you know what I mean? 

Susan 19:24  

Yes, yes. So you know, there are companies out there that sell the vape products and the smokable ones,, but we have just chosen as a company that we would not, we would not go down that path that we believe either using a tincture in your honey or a gummy or something of that sort, or a topical were the best ways to use a CBD product. 

Mariana 19:53  

So will you say that that's one of the values for the company? Like it’s one of the values you guys commit to? Like the integrity when it comes to not producing this type of product, you know. So I love that. 

Susan 20:10  

Exactly. We are deeply ingrained in the health and wellness industry. We have, one of our leaders in product development was a nutritionist prior to moving into product development here. And then we've got the leader of our marketing department actually was, or she still does work with pulmonary physical rehab, her master's degree was in that. And so, we just really want to help people to feel good and to lead a healthier, happier life. And we believe that CBD can help you with many things. It will cure nothing. That's one thing to understand upfront, it will cure nothing. But it can…’ 

Mariana 21:05 

Listen to do that friends. This is not a cure for any disease. But it will help you to live a healthier life. I love that. Thank you for saying. 

Susan 21:21  

Yeah, it's very important to understand that. 

Mariana 21:34  

Okay, my next question is, and we have a little pause there. You know, with everyone trying to sell CBD. My question is, what are the benefits? 

Susan 21:57  

Yeah. And that, you know, we were talking about the health and wellness space. And that's really where the benefits are. What CBD does when it gets into your body is it reduces inflammation. And whenever you can reduce the inflammation that is in your body, it helps to alleviate the symptoms of many of these diseases, right? So because it's working with that endocannabinoid system, which is throughout your body, and that system is working with your immune system, it's working with your nervous system, and it's helping to balance your body bring it back to homeostasis. You know, when your body is balanced, it is the happiest and it can work at its optimal levels. So the CBD gets in your body, it helps to reduce the inflammation and that's where you see the benefits of reduced pain or alleviated pain, you see anxiety reduced, you see sleep issues begin to disappear. You see headaches, you know, people with migraines have reported that you know, it's helped them with migraines, some of them. Some people with migraines have told us that they no longer have migraines. Well, hallelujah, right? 

 
 Mariana 23:24  

That’s incredible. Yeah. 

Susan 23:25  

But there are others who have suffered from migraines and say, it hasn't made my migraines go away, but it's made them bearable, made it where I can live, or where I could function. 
 

Mariana 23:37  

And that's what we say, it helps you live a better and healthier life. It is not going to cure your headache. But it will allow you to manage your headache. 

Susan 23:51  

Yes. So the benefits, the health benefits are just unbelievable, reduces that inflammation, and just helps you to reduce pain, reduce anxiety, reduce trouble sleeping, to have better focusing, there have been some studies that show it helps with brain functioning, and the list goes on and on and on. But it just is really a healthy product that can benefit you in those ways. 

Mariana 24:24  

That's incredible. Susan, I just love, I love your honesty and integrity when it comes to the product, and the farm is in North Carolina, correct? 

Susan 24:36  

That's correct. 

Mariana 24:40  

You know, and you are from Atlanta where I'm from, incredible. My last question, because, you know, we are educating the audience right now, to those who are listening to this episode about CBD. And it has been fantastic. Because when it comes to a problem like this, people have a lot of questions, and that's what we have exactly answered for them. Okay, now my question is when it comes to making that purchase, right? Where is the best, you know, where's the best place? 

Susan 25:27  

Well, you know where I'm gonna tell ya. Of course, I would tell you to go online to huntsborohempco.com but you know, the truth of it is, you need to be able to find someone that will be very transparent with you, you need to be able to ask them, you know, do you know where this industrial hemp was grown? Because you don't want to buy a product that's coming out of a foreign country, you want a product that's coming from right here in the United States. 

Mariana 25:59  

So let me rephrase a little bit that question. What is something I need to really make sure, you know, when it comes to purchasing, you know, I'm going to buy this product. Right? So what is the one thing that I need to be sure of in order to buy this product? So I'm not just buying CBD in every location? Because I mean, even the place when I take my dog to get home, I mean, they were selling CBD! 

Susan 26:37  

Yes, for your pet. 

Mariana 26:39  

For your pet, yeah. 

Susan 26:41  

You want to make sure that any product that you're looking at has a certificate of analysis. And, you know, we are not handing out certificates of analysis. But what we're finding for like, our ingestible products on our label, we have a QR code that you can zap. And that will take you to the certificate of analysis. And that is what will let you know that if I'm telling you there are 500 milligrams of CBD in that product, then that is exactly what is in that product. And that is what you want to check. And it doesn't matter whether it's for you, or your pet, or your aging parent or your child, you know, if you're gonna ingest something, that certificate of analysis is a very important thing. And many, many places, they can either email it to you, or they have a QR code, or they might have a link where you can Google it and look it up, but just knowing what's in your product. 

Mariana 27:43  

Yeah. You know that's is a great answer. Because not only I will say, not only is CBD, you know, it's always so good to know, what is it that you are eating? What is it that you're drinking, what is it that you're taking? Because it can tell you yeah, it has 5 mg, 50 mg, 500 mg of the ingredient you are looking for. And it may not be true. So that can be very deceiving, right? And one thing that I love about your company and about you, and that's why we are having this conversation today, is the integrity of the product. Like I told you in the beginning, I've been approached by many people about CBD, but I always follow my intuition. And I wanted to make sure that if I was going to really represent a product, bring into my podcast or even sell it, you know, I needed to make sure that its integral that the person behind that has some values, you know, and is making sure that the product is 100% what it says it is. And you, my friend, are that, and that’s incredible. 

Susan 29:14  

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me today and for asking these great questions. 

Mariana 29:21  

I love it. I truly enjoyed the education. Because for a long time, I wanted to know what CBD was. I have all these question marks you know; people tell you it’s great for you. But they don’t tell you why and explain all the ins and out of what CBD is. 

Susan 29:53  

And it’s very confusing. You know, you can get it online from a bunch of different companies. You can go, you know, into a gas station, you can go into a grocery store, you can go into a vape shop, you can go into so many different places and you see CBD, but you're right, it's just confusing. You have to find someone that you can talk to you that you trust, that will help you understand your product and what you're getting. 

Mariana 30:27  

And that's pretty dangerous. You know, when you say you can go into your gas station and buy CBD, oh my god, that just gives me chills. So, what I'm saying to you, those who are listening today and will listen later, just make sure that if you are going to get into CBD oil or a product that you are trying to buy, make sure that you look into something that is right for you, that has integrity, that has values, that the person behind the product is doing the work. And Susan is doing the work. Susan Crews is doing the work. She owns the company. She knows exactly what's in the product. She knows the difference between CBD. She knows the benefits. She knows that it’s not going to cure your disease, but it is going to help you and allow you to live a healthier life and happier life. Because when you are healthier, you are happier. So, I think that is what I got from this conversation, Susan. 

Susan 31:51  

Thank you. And you can live totally recharged and ready to go right? 

Mariana 31:57  

And that's how you mindfully recharge with CBD. So, Susan, where will the audience find you? Even though the show notes are going to have your information, I want you to tell them your website. Where can they find you? 

Susan 32:19  

Yep, so our website is www.huntsborohempco.com and you can also find us on Instagram or Facebook @hunstborohempcompany and don't forget to check the show notes because there'll be a link there. 

Mariana 32:36  

Yes, absolutely. We're going to have a link in there with Susan, you can find all the good stuff in there. And who knows? There may be a link as well, it may be an affiliate link, we know we're talking about this. For you to purchase your products and trust me. I am a picky person when it comes to buying hemp products. So if I'm telling you that I'm trusting Susan, believe me. Okay, I will not be putting myself out there in my name behind something that I don't believe in. So, Susan, thank you so much for the opportunity, and grateful for you, my friend. And any final words for the audience? 

Susan 33:24  

I would just like to say thank you. And if you have any questions, you can always reach out to me through Instagram, or Facebook, or info@huntsborohempco.com. And we always are willing to help answer questions so that anyone can make a wise decision when they are ready to start using a CBD product or add it to their daily regimen. And thank you, friends. 

Mariana 33:49  

Absolutely. And the good thing, guys is that Susan has Southern hospitality. So, you know the customer service is going to be at the top. So, make sure you reach out to Susan, make sure you share this episode with your friends, your families, or anyone that's interested in knowing everything about CBD. And with that my friends, thank you for listening. And I'll see you on the next episode. Bye-bye. 

Closing 

Thank you for listening, everyone. And don't forget to go to the show notes and click to download your free Mindful and Energetic Living Guide. Also, don't forget to share this podcast with your friends, families, and everyone up there. I want to get this out there to everyone. So, thank you for your support, and I'll see you next week.