To Be Blunt
206 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago -An honest conversation about taking cannabis packaged goods to market with Shayda Torabi, business owner (@restartcbd), advocate (@texashempcoalition), and thought leader (@theshaydatorabi).
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Episodes
077 Cannabis Social Media Censorship and What We Can Do About It with Ariana Newton of The WeedTube
November 29, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB“That's [social media] where you grow your communities. And that's where you showcase your brand and kind of give people behind the scenes of what your products are and who you are so that they can have a better trusting relationship with you.” - Ariana Newton Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes WeedTube Executive Ariana Newton to dive into social media censorship, creatively targeting the barriers to entry, and the strategies to use to beat the...
076 The Road to Becoming The Most Trusted Name in Cannabis with Dennis O'Malley of The Parent Company
November 22, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB“Over the lifetime of a consumer within cannabis, it's a complex journey where there's a lot of experimentation. And we really wanted to create an ecosystem where they felt safe, where they felt educated.” - Dennis O'Malley Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Dennis O'Malley of The Parent Company, as he shares the principle behind effective engagement with the customers and how brands can integrate a creative approach to marketing for more brand ...
075 How Tina Ulman built the Chamber of Cannabis as an Agent For Change in the Nevada Cannabis Industry
November 15, 2021 11:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MB“It [noise on social media] is irrelevant. You have to build relationships with your lawmakers...if we're not going to help educate them, who will?... Everyone's got an idea, but who's really coming down to executing it?” - Tina Ulman Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Tina Ulman, Co-Founder and President of Chamber of Cannabis, as she shares her story on how they pushed for policies in favor of cannabis consumption by connecting with the right ...
The T(HC) Break: Is Delta 8 THC a Synthetic?
November 08, 2021 16:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBWelcome to a brand new segment on the To Be Blunt podcast! The T(hc) Break is here to accomplish two things: 1. Encourage more transparency in the cannabis industry as it relates to HOT TOPICS and 2. Spill some piping hot T(HC) and talk about controversial issues so we can better work towards a solution together, as an industry. I have and always will be here to speak as bluntly as possible, and yes this is still a marketing and business podcast, but I also believe in the power of educati...
074 Garden Parties, Rosettes, and Growing a Sonoma Cannabis Brand with Karli Warner of Garden Society
November 01, 2021 16:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MB“To just know that there are all these ways that we can help, you know, change and highlight ways that people can bring more joy into their life is really exciting.” - Karli Warner Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Karli Warner of Garden Society, to talk about how she built a standout brand while keeping the dignity of advocacy with the use of creative ideas and the processes she used in scaling up while ensuring the quality of products to keep...
073 What Data Capturing and Experiential Marketing Have in Common with Peter Huson of Backbone
October 25, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB“Cannabis is providing the opportunity for tech companies, for operators, and for everybody to stand up and say that, you know what, this is an opportunity to do things a little bit differently. We do not have to follow the way other industries have gone... We're gonna do it our way.” - Peter Huson Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Peter Huson, Chief of Operations at Backbone, to discuss how he applied his background on music and technology in...
072 Cannabis Careers, Copywriting, and Using Your Voice to Make Change with Author Andrew Ward
October 18, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MB“You have companies talking about social equity and needing to create restorative justice, things like that, the real question is, how many of them are actually going to put it into action afterwards?” - Andrew Ward Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Andrew Ward, cannabis author, writer, and freelancer, to talk about the different aspects of recognizing opportunities in the cannabis sphere, embracing and utilizing the diversity of it, delving in...
071 What We Can Learn and Compare from the European Cannabis Market to the United States with Steven George of Kaya Advisors
October 11, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MB“I truly believe that in the end, by giving people access to this plant, we have the ability to help a tremendous amount of people. End of story. Simple as that.” - Steven George Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Steven George, advisor and founder of Kaya Advisors, to talk about the dichotomy between the aspects of the cannabis industry in Europe and America and the limitations attached to the legalities. He also shares his thoughts on how the...
070 Branding Bud and The Commercialization of Cannabis with David Paleschuck
October 04, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB“It's time for legalization. We are normalizing the plant and things are moving. And people are learning about it and educating themselves. And that's what's most important.” - David Paleschuck Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes David Paleschuck, author and Founder of PALESCHUCK LLC, to expound his insights about branding for the cannacurious, attributes to a standout brand, and pointers to best serve our unique target demographic. [00:01 –...
069 The Power of Written Word to Educate and Inform The Canna Curious with Author Lauren Wilson
September 27, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MB“[Customers] have said CBD didn't work. For me, that's a lost customer, that's money down the toilet. That's a lost opportunity because either they didn't know how to best use your products, or they didn't know how to tailor their experience with the plant.” - Lauren Wilson Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lauren Wilson, bestselling author and freelance writer, to discuss the process of obtaining reliable information, the power of customer edu...
069 Using Written Word to Educate and Inform The Canna Curious with Author Lauren Wilson
September 27, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MB“[Customers] have said CBD didn't work. For me, that's a lost customer, that's money down the toilet. That's a lost opportunity because either they didn't know how to best use your products, or they didn't know how to tailor their experience with the plant.” - Lauren Wilson Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lauren Wilson, bestselling author and freelance writer, to discuss the process of obtaining reliable information, the power of customer edu...
068 Chicago Cannabis Lottery System Storytime with Mike Malcolm of Weed Travel Food
September 20, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MB“The majority of people that qualify for social equity didn't qualify like myself. And one of these licenses, they didn't qualify because they were arrested for cannabis or their immediate family members have and they qualify based on where they live. Now, there's some truth to that, that neighborhoods have been targeted and people suffer because of that.” - Mike Malcolm Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Mike Malcolm, founder of Weed Travel Foo...
067 The Future and Innovation of Cannabis Dry Spirits with Matthew Cohen of purejuana
September 13, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MB“When we build this [position in the cannabis industry], we're building it for the future, you know, we're building it for the long haul, and we're taking a bold position on what we think the future will hold.” - Matthew Cohen Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Matthew Cohen, CEO of purejuana to talk about the journey to pioneering the spirits category in the industry, introducing a new need in the market, and how he kept the pure cannabis cultu...
066 Founding an Edible Brand and Getting Acquired by an MSO with Ryan Crandall of MariMed
September 06, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MB“Bear through obstacles. Everything is a speed bump, nothing is a brick wall. And I think if you have an optimistic attitude and you're not willing to take no for an answer, it's not about ‘it's never gonna happen’, it's ‘when is it going to happen?’.” - Ryan Crandall Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Ryan Crandall, co-founder of Betty’s Eddies, to share his story of MSO acquisition, the impact of varying state laws on business operations, and ...
065 Top Industry Insights From a Cannabis Digital Marketer with Liz Udell of CannaCraft
August 30, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MB“So whenever you just get the chance to, you know, kind of be a little creative, be scrappy, and take your own photos. I make my own content. I make content for my channels that we use. And that's definitely the route like marketing you can totally make happen.” - Elizabeth Udell Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Udell, Digital Marketing Manager at CannaCraft, Elizabeth joins us to share her invaluable perspectives on scaling in the ...
064 Re-Defining Marijuana Law and Taking On The Michigan Supreme Court with Earl Carruthers of G3 Cannabis Therapy
August 23, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MB“This war on drugs is like really trying to turn lives upside down. It's like they're almost creating this criminal out of thin air... You're creating people to be criminals. And I didn't want to be a statistic. I just don't want to be another black man who goes to jail, comes back out, and goes back to jail again.” - Earl Carruthers Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Earl Carruthers, founder of G3 Cannabis Therapy, to talk about his intense jou...
063 Optimizing the Human Creative Performance with Cannabis from Art, Business, and Life with Shawn Gold of Pilgrim Soul
August 16, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MB“People buy products from companies that believe what they believe. If you don't start off with a strong belief system, then it's really difficult to create an authentic brand. In this internet world where people see through everything and have access to everything, authenticity is really essential.” - Shawn Gold Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Shawn Gold, founder of Pilgrim Soul, to share his strategies in establishing an authentic brand wit...
The Power of Publishing and Navigating The Media and Press with Kathee Brewer of mg Magazine
August 09, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MB“Everybody has sort of a different perspective on what's going on in the industry and where the industry's going from here. So we want to get as many different voices in the magazine and on the website as we can.” - Kathee Brewer Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kathee Brewer, award-winning journalist, and author, to discuss how large of a role media plays in cannabis going mainstream, what it’s like to be a publisher in the cannabis space, a...
062 The Power of Publishing and Navigating The Media and Press with Kathee Brewer of mg Magazine
August 09, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MB“Everybody has sort of a different perspective on what's going on in the industry and where the industry's going from here. So we want to get as many different voices in the magazine and on the website as we can.” - Kathee Brewer Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kathee Brewer, award-winning journalist, and author, to discuss how large of a role media plays in cannabis going mainstream, what it’s like to be a publisher in the cannabis space, a...
062 Behind the Scenes of Publishing and Press with Kathee Brewer of mg Magazine
August 09, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MB“Everybody has sort of a different perspective on what's going on in the industry and where the industry's going from here. So we want to get as many different voices in the magazine and on the website as we can.” - Kathee Brewer Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kathee Brewer, award-winning journalist, and author, to discuss how large of a role media plays in cannabis going mainstream, what it’s like to be a publisher in the cannabis space, a...
061 Cannabis Trade Shows and Measuring the Return on Investment of Event Marketing with George Jage of MJ Unpacked
August 02, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi chats with Geroge Jage on maximizing the benefits of trade shows for your unique goals and what makes a great CPG Brand. [00:01 – 16:09] George’s Story, Getting Started in the Trade Show Space, and MJ Unpacked [16:10 – 33:42] MJ Unpacked’s Role in Bringing Brands to Market and The Benefits of Trade Shows [33:43 – 43:30] Elevating Consumer Packaged Goods Through Storytelling and Content [43:31 – 52:34] MJ Unpacked C...
060 Navigating Cannabis Technology, Integrations, and METRC with Justin Lipchitz of Realistic Consulting
July 26, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi chats with Justin Lipchitz about the nuances of the cannabis regulations, especially its interpretation, the predatory nature of cannabis consultants, THC and CBD technology, and so much more! [00:01 – 14:29] Justin’s Background and Consulting is a 4-Letter Word in the Industry [14:30 – 26:09] Regulation in Oregon Today and the Value METRC Serves in the Industry [26:10 – 34:34] Problems That New Tech is Trying to S...
059 A Lesson in Cannabis History with Etienne Fontan of Berkeley Patients Group
July 19, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MB“Go back to the basics, learn your history, learn the rules, so that you can break them properly.” - Etienne Fontan Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi talks with Etienne Fontan about the Cannabis industry’s rich history, BPG medical cannabis, using hemp fiber and hemp textiles, and so much more. [00:01 – 15:14] Etienne Shares His Experience in Cannabis [15:14 – 33:55] Hemp Fiber and The Lack of Needed Infrastructure [33:56 – 50:13] How We Can Cu...
058 The Science of Cannabis and Making Sense of It In Relationship To Our Biochemistry with Anita Sommers of CBD Genie
July 12, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBIn this episode of To Be Blunt, Shayda Torabi and Anita Sommers, aka the CBD Genie, get a little nerdy and get into the science of how cannabis functions with our bodies, and reacts to our biochemistries. Our convo crucial for anybody who is selling a cannabis product and communicating the value of cannabis to a consumer. [00:01 – 05:49] Anita Introduces Herself and Her Journey Into Cannabis [05:50 – 18:03] How Does Cannabis Work? [18:04 – 28:58] The Industry & Science; How It’s Evolving ...
057 How to Cement Your Status as the Go-to Brand for Designer Weed With Craig Lyon of Connected
July 05, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBIn this episode of the To Be Blunt Podcast, Shayda Torabi and Craig Lyon discuss Craig’s expertise from Nike and brand building, understanding the psychosis of what makes someone want to buy something, and so much more. [00:01 – 10:09] Introducing Craig Lyon and Why He Landed at Connected Cannabis Co [10:10 – 25:59] What It Takes to Build a Brand of Luxury Weed [26:00 – 39:07] Pushing Every Part of the Cannabis Experience Forward [39:08 – 46:37] How Connected Cannabis Co. Thinks Through ...
057 How to Cement Your Status as the Go-to Brand for Designer Weed With Craig Lyon of Connected
July 05, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBIn this episode of the To Be Blunt Podcast, Shayda Torabi and Craig Lyon discuss Craig’s expertise from Nike and brand building, understanding the psychosis of what makes someone want to buy something, and so much more. [00:01 – 10:09] Introducing Craig Lyon and Why He Landed at Connected Cannabis Co [10:10 – 25:59] What It Takes to Build a Brand of Luxury Weed [26:00 – 39:07] Pushing Every Part of the Cannabis Experience Forward [39:08 – 46:37] How Connected Cannabis Co. Thinks Through ...
056 Building a Healthcare Technology Brand for the Medical Marijuana Industry with Anthony Dutcher of Veriheal
June 28, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBOn this episode of the To Be Blunt Podcast, Shayda Torabi and Anthony Dutcher discuss what’s it’s like to work through and around the unknowns of Cannabis in the medical industry, getting Physicians and Pharma to take Cannabis seriously and the value of moving, thought-provoking and high-quality content as an art form [00:01 – 08:57] Introducing Anthony Dutcher and Diving into Veriheal [08:57 – 33:27] How Veriheal is Navigating the Newness of the Cannabis Medical Market [33:28 – 0...
055 Vape Industry Deep Dive (Vape Quality, Vape Crisis, PACT Act) and Nevada Cannabis Update with Tyler Prough of Rokin Vapes
June 21, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBOn this episode of the To Be Blunt Podcast, Shayda Torabi welcomes Tyler Prough, the West Coast Sales Manager for Rokin, Inc, to talk about everything vape related from Nicotine or THC vapes, to legislative laws and regulations against vaping, to the Texas smokeable ban and more! You don’t want to miss this episode! It’s packed with juuls and golden nuggets. [00:01 – 09:44] Introducing Tyler Prough [09:45 – 21:41] The Start of Rokin Inc; A Family Owned and Operated Business on the Cutti...
054 Disrupting the National Cannabis Beverage Category with Blair Markell of Cann
June 14, 2021 10:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBOn this episode of the To Be Blunt Podcast, Shayda Torabi has on Blair Markell, the Head of Strategy for Cann, one of the best-selling cannabis beverages in the country, to talk all about the cannabis beverage space, D2C channels and navigating delivery, and how social tonics are changing the landscape of cannabis beverages. There is so much attention, excitement, and consumption for cannabis canned beverages; it’s capturing a new consumer. According to Fortune Business Insights, the glob...
053 Grass Attracts Snakes and a Whole Lot of Other Stuff About Cannabis You Should Know by Brett Puffenbarger of Good Highdeas
June 07, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBThe truth ain’t pretty. Today, Brett Puffenbarger, and I are bringing the truth, in all its ugliness. Brett tolerates no b******t, he speaks his mind, he challenges opinions, and he knows Cannabis. We talked about a ton of stuff that's going to blow your mind regarding MSO’s, federal legalization, and how it might not be a good thing for small business owners like myself and cryptocurrency. [00:01 – 05:16] Update on The Texas 87th Legislative Session [05:17 – 12:04] Introducing Brett Pu...
053 Grass Attracts Snakes and a Whole Lot of Other Stuff About Cannabis You Should Know by Brett Puffenbarger of Good Highdeas
June 07, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBThe truth ain’t pretty. Today, Brett Puffenbarger, and I are bringing the truth, in all its ugliness. Brett tolerates no bullshit, he speaks his mind, he challenges opinions, and he knows Cannabis. We talked about a ton of stuff that's going to blow your mind regarding MSO’s, federal legalization, and how it might not be a good thing for small business owners like myself and cryptocurrency. [00:01 – 05:16] Update on The Texas 87th Legislative Session [05:17 – 12:04] Introducing Brett Pu...
052 Bridging the Cannabis as Medicine Conversation with Nurse Katherine Golden of Leaf411.org
May 31, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBThere are over 160 different cannabinoids, multiple ways to consume CBD and various factors that contribute to the benefits, effectiveness, and experience of the Cannabis products you consume. That’s why Leaf411.org, a nurse-staffed, free cannabis hotline for anyone in America to reach out, gets me so excited. On this episode, with my guest, nurse and CEO of Leaf411.org, Katherine Golden, we discuss the de-stigmatization of Cannabis and how we can bridge the gap between medicine and Cannabis...
052 Bridging the Cannabis as Medicine Conversation with Nurse Katherine Golden of Leaf411.org
May 31, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBThere are over 160 different cannabinoids, multiple ways to consume CBD and various factors that contribute to the benefits, effectiveness, and experience of the Cannabis products you consume. That’s why Leaf411.org, a nurse-staffed, free cannabis hotline for anyone in America to reach out, gets me so excited. On this episode, with my guest, nurse and CEO of Leaf411.org, Katherine Golden, we discuss the de-stigmatization of Cannabis and how we can bridge the gap between medicine and Cannabis...
051 How to Save the Terps and Why We Should Talk About Terpenes More with Jonathan Schwartz of Boveda
May 24, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBJonathan Schwartz is the Sales Executive Rep for Boveda. In this episode Jonathan walks us through Boveda's journey and we talk all about terpenes and get a good understanding about how as the industry evolves we will evolve by creating products that help support and create longevity for our cannabis consumption. [00:01 – 05:34] Delta-8 and Other Cannabinoids Are Threatened To Be Banned [05:35 – 13:28] Jonathan Shares His Background [13:29 – 17:23] The Anomaly of Cannabis Anc...
050 What Does It Mean to "Build a Brand" with Matthew Herrold of Headstash Marketing and Good Feels
May 17, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBMatthew Herrold is the Director of Marketing for Good Feels, a health and wellness cannabis brand, and the Founder of Headstash Marketing. In this episode we discuss the cannabis landscape in Massachusetts, what it’s been like building and operating cannabis brands, As well as branding; how to create Sentiment, and how to attract and build a loyal customer base. [00:01 – 15:40] Matthew Herrold Shares His Background [15:41 – 27:25] Embracing Marketing From Both Ends of The Spectru...
050 What Does It Mean to "Build a Brand" with Matthew Herrold of Headstash Marketing and Good Feels
May 17, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBMatthew Herrold is the Director of Marketing for Good Feels, a health and wellness cannabis brand, and the Founder of Headstash Marketing. In this episode we discuss the cannabis landscape in Massachusetts, what it’s been like building and operating cannabis brands, As well as branding; how to create Sentiment, and how to attract and build a loyal customer base. [00:01 – 15:40] Matthew Herrold Shares His Background [15:41 – 27:25] Embracing Marketing From Both Ends of The Spectru...
049 Manufacturing the Artisanal Cannabis Experience in Texas with Greg Autry of Sweet Sensi
May 10, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBGreg Autry, a Texas hill country native, has been cultivating cannabis since 1996. Since 2001 he has been building and managing commercial indoor grow from 400 plants up to his most recent largest facility of 20000 square feet in Desert Hot Springs which totaled 8000 plants and several thousand cuttings and mothers. [00:01 – 13:33] Greg Autry’s Background and Sweet Sensi [13:34 – 30:58] The Gap In the Market That Sweet Sensi is Bridging [30:59 – 43:02] How Sweet Sensi Keeps Up with...
049 Manufacturing the Artisinal Cannabis Experience in Texas with Greg Autry of Sweet Sensi
May 10, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBGreg Autry, a Texas hill country native, has been cultivating cannabis since 1996. Since 2001 he has been building and managing commercial indoor grow from 400 plants up to his most recent largest facility of 20000 square feet in Desert Hot Springs which totaled 8000 plants and several thousand cuttings and mothers. [00:01 – 13:33] Greg Autry’s Background and Sweet Sensi [13:34 – 30:58] The Gap In the Market That Sweet Sensi is Bridging [30:59 – 43:02] How Sweet Sensi Keeps Up with...
048 Digging through the Canna BS (bull s**t) with Kristen Yoder of Soil to the Oil
May 03, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MBYou can’t spell cannabis without the BS. That’s just a part of it. Kristen Yoder, featured in Vanity Fair, Forbes, USA Today and named one of Marijuana Venture Magazine's “40 Under 40 Rising Stars of Cannabis”, is a 15 year Los Angeles industry veteran, strategic advisor, and radio and podcast personality who has managed successful businesses in every sector of the cannabis industry. In this episode, we discuss touchy subjects such as overdosing on cannabis, the setbacks Kristin has obs...
048 Digging through the Canna BS (bull shit) with Kristen Yoder of Soil to the Oil
May 03, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 43.2 MBYou can’t spell cannabis without the BS. That’s just a part of it. Kristen Yoder, featured in Vanity Fair, Forbes, USA Today and named one of Marijuana Venture Magazine's “40 Under 40 Rising Stars of Cannabis”, is a 15 year Los Angeles industry veteran, strategic advisor, and radio and podcast personality who has managed successful businesses in every sector of the cannabis industry. In this episode, we discuss touchy subjects such as overdosing on cannabis, the setbacks Kristin has obs...
047 Vertically Integrated Marketing with Alexis Mora of Harborside Group
April 26, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBAlexis Mora is the head of marketing at Harborside Group. Harborside Group was one of the first operating dispensaries in the state of California. They have since grown to be a leader in cannabis in California and beyond, evolving their business model to be vertically integrated. In this episode, Alexis and I will be discussing vertical integration; What it takes to be a vertically integrated business, and how you can vertically integrate your marketing efforts. [00:01 – 04:20] Guest In...
046 Marketing the Dispensary Experience with Robbie Wroblewski of Seed & Smith
April 19, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBRobbie Wroblewski currently manages company branding, marketing, and community involvement for Seed & Smith Cannabis. Focused on humanizing cannabis, Robbie has made it his mission to empower consumers with knowledge. [00:01 – 06:00] Guest Introduction and Events Coming Up on 4/20 [06:01 – 11:43] Robbie’s Background & The Brand That Seed & Smith Has Built [11:44 – 25:52] Educating and Empowering The Consumer to be Advocates of Cannabis [25:53 – 32:08] Anecdotal and Inaccurate Info...
045 Cannabis Technology to Empower the Ecosystem from Consumer to Dispensary with Socrates Rosenfeld of Jane Technologies
April 12, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBSocrates Rosenfeld is the CEO of Jane Technologies. They created the I Heart Jane platform that enables both consumers and dispensaries to search for products and let the dispensaries leverage Jane Technologies to empower them to connect their products to the right consumers. [00:01 – 05:12] Updates in the Cannabis Industry / Introduction of Topic and Guest [05:13 – 09:10] The Story of Jane Technologies [09:11 – 19:22] E-Commerce in the Cannabis Industry [19:23 – 28:00] Cannabis and Tec...
044 Conscious Consumers, Contextual Commerce, and Community Building with Varuni Palacios of Miss Grass
April 05, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBVaruni Palacios is the Head of Marketing and Growth at Miss Grass, a brand on a mission to help the world get good at weed. They educate on the science, history, culture, and products involved with cannabis, all in the spirit of conscious consumption. [00:01 – 09:56] Intro and Varuni’s Background / What is Miss Grass? [09:57 – 20:21] What It Means to Be the Head of Marketing and Growth at Miss Grass [20:22 – 37:16] Navigating the Waters of E-Commerce / Going Digital / Women in Cannabis [...
043 Debunking Delta 8 and Sativa vs Indica with Andrew Marlatt of Pharmlabs Texas
March 29, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBAndrew Marlatt is the General Manager at Pharmlabs Texas. If you’re new to cannabis, or even if you’ve been in the industry for quite some time, you must still be wondering about the different types of cannabinoids, edibles, smokables, and other products derived from cannabis. If the answer is yes, you’re in the right place. Join us in this episode as we debunk Delta 8 and Sativa vs. Indica. [00:01 – 04:17] Introduction of Topic and Guest [04:18 – 05:10] What is Pharmlabs? [05:11 – 11:...
042 Content Curation, Leveraging Influencers, and Going Viral on TikTok with Andrew Tychsen of Levo Oil
March 22, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBAndrew Tychsen is the Director of Marketing at LEVO Oil. With the help of Andrew, LEVO has had huge success on TikTok, going viral multiple times and using the platform as a marketing tool to boost their revenue. In this episode, Andrew gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at how they work their magic that provides them their success on TikTok. [00:01 – 03:59] Introduction of Guest and Topic [04:00 – 10:02] The Story of Levo Oil [10:03 – 26:08] Content Curation and Leveraging Influencers ...
041 A Lesson In Branding, Networking, Persuasion, and Pot with Jon Cappetta of High Times
March 15, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 43 MBJon Cappetta is the VP of Content at High Times. He is responsible for developing and executing holistic content plans across their increasing brand portfolio. In this episode, Jon gives us a masterclass on branding, networking, persuasion, and pot. [00:01 – 12:36] Jon shares his story [12:37 – 21:06] What is High Times? / The Importance of Branding [21:07 – 35:45] Live for Live Music / Other Brands That Are Making A Difference [35:46 – 44:50] Injustices in the Cannabis Industry / Whe...
040 State Level Cannabis Advocacy with Jax Finkel of Foundation for an Informed Texas and Texas NORML
March 08, 2021 11:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBJax Finkel is an Executive Director at Foundation for an Informed Texas and Texas NORML. In this episode, we talk about the progress of the Cannabis Industry in Texas from a legal and political perspective. [00:01 – 05:53] Shayda on the Smokable bans happening at Texas [05:54 – 08:07] Introduction of Topic and Guest [08:08 – 13:39] Jax’s Background / The Current State of the Cannabis Industry in Texas [13:40 – 25:59] Advocating for the Industry and Educating the People [26:00 – 46:29] C...
039 Politics and Pot in the Pacific North West with Bess Byers of @ImCannaBess
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBBess Byers is the founder of Blaise Creative, a Seattle-based digital marketing agency. Bess is a passionate advocate of the plant, and in this episode, we tackle the legalizations and politics behind the industry. [00:01 – 03:07] Introduction of Topic and Guest [03:08 – 08:15] Bess’ Story and the Founding of Blaise Creative [08:16 – 20:14] The Politics Behind the Industry [20:15 – 29:30] Home Grown Brands / Bigger vs. Smaller Brands [29:31 – 39:39] Trends and New Products [39:40 – ...
038 The Power of Promotions and How Lightshade Dispensary Markets to Denver with Krista Nichols
February 22, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBKrista Nichols is the Manager of Marketing, Promotions, and CSR at Lightshade, a cannabis dispensary based in Denver and the largest independently owned dispensary in Colorado. In this episode, Krista gives us a glimpse of how they keep themselves ahead of their competition with the power of their promotions and marketing strategies. [00:01 – 04:00] Opening Segment / Introduction of Guest and Topic [04:01 – 09:45] Krista’s Background / What is Lightshade? [09:46 – 21:01] The Power of Prom...