The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Produced at Hatch Fairhope, it’s where bold ideas take flight.
The Founders Series dives into the journeys of startup founders building the future of business, technology, and innovation across the Gulf South.
The Music Accelerator combines professional music industry guidance with spiritual mentorship, creating a unique environment where artists can grow both creatively and personally. Hosted by music industry veteran Chris Estes, this series features conversations with artists and insiders who’ve spent years shaping the sounds and stories of modern music.
The Bioscience Innovation Series explores breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science — with founders and researchers driving life-changing discoveries in labs across the region.
Around the Table features conversations with Alabama’s most forward-thinking companies and creators, from startups re-imagining industry to leaders building stronger communities.
And throughout the year, The Hatch Podcast Network introduces new limited series spotlighting the people and ideas transforming the Gulf Coast economy — one story at a time.
Find out more at hatchfairhope.com
Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
The Hatch Podcast
Inside Alabama’s Cannabis Testing Lab: Natalie Siracusa, Lab Director at Green Health | Bioscience Innovation
What does it take to make sure every medical cannabis product in Alabama is truly safe for the patients who depend on it?
For Laboratory Director Natalie Siracusa of Green Health Laboratories, the answer begins with forensic science, public safety, and a commitment to unbiased testing. Before stepping into the cannabis world, Natalie spent years in forensic toxicology and clinical laboratory work, even helping generate the national data that guided the USDA as it shaped federal hemp regulations.
In this episode, she shares how her background in casework and chemical analysis prepared her to tackle one of Alabama’s most closely watched scientific challenges. You’ll hear what happens inside a medical cannabis lab most people will never see, why fraud has plagued the testing industry nationwide, and what it means to bring courtroom-level science to a growing field.
Natalie also breaks down the full journey of a cannabis sample, from intake to a defensible lab report, and offers a clear vision for what patient safety should look like five years from now.
💡 In This Episode
• Why forensic science was the foundation for her career
• How the opioid crisis and synthetic cannabinoids shaped her mission
• The early chaos after the Farm Bill and the data that guided the USDA
• Why fraud and bad science still threaten the cannabis lab industry
• What happens inside a medical cannabis lab from sample to report
• How Green Health is hiring and training the next generation of scientists
• Her vision for safe, high-quality patient care across Alabama
Learn more about Green Health Laboratories:
https://www.greenhealthlaboratories.com
About The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
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🔗 Learn more: hatchfairhope.com
📩 Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
Produced by Tim Scott for The Hatch Podcast Network.