Shows
To Be Blunt152 Cannabis Marketing Summit: From Seed to Brand"There are many ways to kind of establish and build your brand. I think if you don't have these things, now is a great time to be inspired to figure out: ¿What is my brand? ¿Why? ¿What are my brand values? ¿What's my mission statement? To continue to get that buy-in internally for your team to live and breathe it." - Katherine WolfWith more competition than ever in the cannabis industry, building a strong brand identity is critical to success!In this episode, Shayda Torabi joins Joe Hodas, Katherine Wolf, and John Shute...
2023-07-171h 01
To Be Blunt151 Unraveling The Hemp Fiber Supply Chain with Brianna Kilcullen of ANACT"The more that we de-stigmatize cannabis, the more that we all win." - Brianna KilcullenAre you aware of Hemp's Potential to Revolutionize the Textile Industry?Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Brianna Kilcullen, who offers valuable insights on how hemp can reshape the US textile market and contribute to sustainable infrastructure. This valuable information serves as a guide for investors, farmers, innovators, and engineers, providing practical advice on how to collaboratively build a robust and thriving infrastructure for the burgeoning US hemp industry....
2023-07-101h 01
To Be BluntThe T(HC) Break: Unraveling The Intersection of Synthetic Psychedelics and Synthetic Cannabinoids"It's not that synthetics are inherently bad. It's there are bad ways to synthesize, and there are good ways to synthesize." - Shayda TorabiDo you want to know how Cannabis and Psychedelics Converge?Join Shayda as she explores the overlap between cannabis and psychedelics. Experience her accounts from the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference and the Cannabis Marketing Association's Summit. Uncover the efforts to legalize psychedelic therapy and the implications for medical use.Discover challenges around regulation, competition for market share, and use of synthetic cannabinoids, and hear best pr...
2023-07-0149 min
To Be Blunt148 From Legacy to Licensed: Building a Vertically Integrated Business with Willie McKenzie of Left Coast Holdings"The only difference between an entrepreneur who's successful and an entrepreneur who is not successful is that an entrepreneur who's successful doesn't quit." - Willie McKenzieEver wondered what it takes to thrive in the ever-evolving world of cannabis entrepreneurship?Join Shayda as she interviews Willie Mackenzie, an experienced cannabis entrepreneur. Willie, CEO of Left Coast Holdings, discusses his transition from legacy to regulated markets, essential strategies like branding and vertical integration, and pressing industry issues. He also announces the launch of a mastermind group for aspiring entrepreneurs. Tune in for enlightening insights into the...
2023-06-1259 min
To Be Blunt147 Cooking up a Brand: Personal Branding and Cannabis Content Creation with Christina Wong of Fruit & Flower"Know your why. Who is your target audience, and what is your why? Not your what, not your how." - Christina WongEmbark on an inspiring journey with Christina Wong, a cannabis business owner and brand marketer. Discover how she transitioned from publicist to content creator for cannabis brands. Gain insights into cannabis content creation, marketing strategies, and navigating the industry's highs and lows and the upcoming Cannabis Marketing Summit. Don't miss out on Christina's valuable tips for successful content creation and managing an idea bank. Tune in now for an enlightening discussion!
2023-06-051h 03
To Be Blunt144 Purely Green: The Journey to Clean Cannabis with Guy Rocourt of Papa & Barkley"It is on us to push this industry forward." - Guy Rocourt"What got us here what got us through a prohibition is what was grown in grandma's garden and made in grandma's kitchen natural simple formulations." - Guy RocourtThis episode of the To Be Blunt podcast features an insightful conversation with Guy Rocourt, co-founder and CEO of Papa and Barkley, a California-based wellness company that believes in the whole plant as medicine and safe access to cannabis. Guy talks about misinformation in the industry, artificial separations foisted...
2023-05-151h 03
To Be Blunt134 Building a Cannabis Friendly Website For Conversion with Reagan Hatch of CannaSite“If you wanna play the game, do your research.” - Reagan HatchIn this episode of To Be Blunt, Reagan Hatch, co-founder of CannaSite, shares her knowledge on the importance of performative websites for businesses and how to optimize them for speed, plugins, SEO, email marketing, blogging, and content integrations. She explains the value of web hosting and how businesses can maintain their own websites without extra help. Reagan and Shada Torabi discuss the importance of having a website for cannabis brands and tips for setting up e-commerce solutions. They also talk about continual maintenance, data...
2023-02-1355 min
To Be Blunt133 Did You Know The Majority of CBN in the Marketplace is Manufactured? With Alleh Lindquist and Robert Jensen, Ph.D of FloraWorks“Cannabinoids are not toxic as we know today.” - Alleh Lindquist“Everyone's trying to come up with the right way to move forward because I think everyone knows that we need to move forward.” - Robert Jensen, Ph.DJoin us on this episode of the Be Blunt Podcast as host Shada Torabi sits down with Rob Jensen, CEO and Co-Founder of Floor Works, and Alleh Lindquist, VP of Research and Development at Floor Works. They are at the forefront of developing innovative cannabinoids to meet unmet medical needs. Using cutting-edge technology, they del...
2023-02-061h 04
To Be Blunt127 How to Create Your Own Website“I know sometimes people are like, I don't wanna toot my own horn. Well baby toot your horn. This is your chance. Like this is the whole point of getting featured in an article or speaking at a conference. ” - Shayda TorabiWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda talks about relaunching her website and why it's important as content creators to have a website where they can promote not only the products they sell but also market themselves.[00:00 - 02:38] Identity Crisis
2022-12-1231 min
To Be Blunt126 Podcast Update + Pivot Pivot Pivot“We know that cannabis is a remediator , so it's sucking up things that are in the soil and so how it's grown, if it's organic living soil or, or there are pesticides used, you know, those are all factors that determine the end product. ” - Shayda TorabiNew Website:https://theshaydatorabi.com/Free 20 min call:https://calendly.com/theshaydatorabi/free15?back=1&month=2022-1260 min AMA:https://calendly.com/theshaydatorabi/60min?back=1&month=2022-12Social Media Brand Audit:https://calendly.com/theshaydatorabi/socialmediaaudit?back=1&month=2022-12...
2022-12-0530 min
To Be Blunt122 Avoiding Marketing Risk and Remaining Compliant with Asa Waldstein of Supplement Advisory Group“Go through all old social media posts and make sure there's not any high risk word lurking. This includes infographics, and hashtags, because the FDA and FTC go back several years on company social media posts.” - Asa WaldsteinWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Asa Waldstein. Asa shares about his “Warning Letter Wednesday” emails, where he breaks down the FDA warning letters. He also talks about what an FDA warning letter might be and how it plays a major role in regulating CBD products right now as hemp is...
2022-10-2457 min
To Be Blunt121 This Episode Has Not Been Evaluated By The FDA with Marty Marion of Mountain Smokes“But this industry is very fragmented. There are a lot of egos at play. There's a lot of money at stake, and it makes people crazy. We have to stop stabbing each other in the back and doing stupid things, and we have to come together as an industry to make a happier planet, a healthier planet, to help people live happier, healthier lives, and to get quality products.” - Marty MarionWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Marty Marion to talk about how the cannabis industry is f...
2022-10-171h 10
To Be Blunt120 Building Brands for Target Consumers with Kristi Palmer of KIVA“There's nothing more important or more powerful than staying fresh and staying relevant. There's just a lot that you have to do with your communication and your marketing and your branding to achieve that.” - Kristi PalmerWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kristi Palmer of Kiva, currently the number one edibles brand in California. Kristi tells the story behind their innovative products and elevated branding and marketing. She also takes us through how they are navigating out-of-state operations and continuing to expand on the untapped potential of cann...
2022-10-1056 min
To Be Blunt119 The North American Weed Tour with Mitch Pfeifer of Respect My Region"Selfishly, it’s about growth, whether it's revenue or relationships. Externally, it's about content output, showcasing what legal cannabis looks like, the nuances of experience for consumers, and patients, and the brands that are available, the products that are available, the discussion…” - Mitch PfeiferWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Respect My Region’s Mitch Pfeifer to talk about cannabis content creation, the importance of building relationships with brands, and being relentless in pursuing opportunities. He shares how he was able to turn his side hustle into a bu...
2022-10-031h 15
To Be Blunt118 What Does Regulation in Cannabis Look Like and How To Prepare with Kim Stuck of Allay Consulting“If you create those relationships and you just show that like, Hey, I really am trying. Sometimes that's all it takes ‘cause so many people are not trying at all.” - Kim StuckWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kim Stuck of Allay Consulting. As the first cannabis specialist for the Denver Department of Environmental Health and now a leading compliance expert, she gives an insider perspective on cannabis regulation and certification standards. She offers actionable advice on best practices to be certified, including how to improve facilities, ensure...
2022-09-261h 14
To Be Blunt117 The Global Cannabis Market and Why Germany is Poised to Lead with Michael Sassano of SOMAI Pharmaceuticals“If Germany goes recreational, everybody's going to follow them to some extent. If the leader says, look, this is how I'm addressing the product, the issue that I see at hand, you can pretty much be sure all the bigger countries will come in line like France, Portugal… And a few others are going to really move quickly because there's no reason for them to be disadvantaged if the rules are already set.” - Michael SassanoWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Michael Sassano of SOMAI Pharmaceuticals to take a broad...
2022-09-191h 14
To Be Blunt116 Redefining Microdosing Edibles with Lauren Gockley of Coda Signature“You’ve probably been consuming alcohol since you were a young person and you know a lot more about how your body reacts to it than how your body's going to react to cannabis. So having that platform for new consumers to be able to be introduced to our products and then move their way up the scale so that we're kind of holding their hand a little bit and saying, ‘It's totally cool. You want to try one milligram and see where you're going?’ We encourage that in a lot of ways.” - Lauren Gockley Welcome b...
2022-09-121h 13
To Be Blunt115 User Generated Content and Maximizing Your Brand Intellectual Property with Maggie Wilson of FRUIT SLABS“People relate more to user-generated content than they do an influencer telling them they should buy a product because there's no authenticity from the brand to the influencer. When you've got a UGC creator, they make the content, give it directly to the brand, and then the brand directly puts it out.” - Maggie WilsonWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Maggie Wilson of FRUIT SLABS, California’s first kosher-certified and vegan edible. We get to know how she went from growing up anti-cannabis to becoming a cannab...
2022-09-051h 12
To Be Blunt114 Colorado's Original Craft Cannabis Company with Jon Spadafora of Veritas Fine Cannabis“Find what makes you tick. Find what's authentic to you. Focus in that world and be impactful in that world because it’s a big enough world as it is that you don't need to do everything.” - Jon SpadaforaWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Jon Spadafora of Veritas Fine Cannabis, the first recreational wholesaler in Colorado. He shares how they have differentiated themselves from the competition by offering variety and curating unique experiences for consumers. He also gets real about the challenges cannabis businesses face on social media...
2022-08-291h 17
To Be Blunt113 Groundbreaking Human Clinical Research for Cannabis Consumption with Missy Bradley of Ripple“We didn't see anybody else in the industry who was studying the effects of the product in humans. We wanted to come from a place of truth. That's always been very important to us, that we were the truth-tellers in the industry.” - Missy BradleyWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Missy Bradley, VP of Marketing and co-founder of Ripple. She takes us through their pioneering research to formulate a water-soluble form of THC, proven to hit 2x faster than the competitor. She also talks about their commitment to cons...
2022-08-221h 10
To Be Blunt112 Marketing a Passion-Driven Brand Growing Small-Batch, Flavor First Flower with Katherine Wolf of Malek’s“Everyone is really dedicated to the cannabis industry as a whole and wants to advance legalization, education, and access to cannabis, and really believes in what we're doing as a brand to bring something that's really high quality, that's more premium, that's flavor first.” - Katherine WolfWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Katherine Wolf of Malek's Premium Cannabis to discuss how to build a strong brand that stands out from the competition, how to keep up with industry trends, and more. She believes that collaborations can help the bran...
2022-08-151h 04
To Be Blunt111 How To Get To 1 Million Subscribers with Bryan Gerber of Hemper“People and consumers are getting smarter in identifying the companies that are just trying to take advantage of the situation. And I think why we've serviced millions of customers in the last seven years is because we really truly provide value. We always make it a hundred percent satisfaction guarantee.” - Bryan GerberWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes the “King of Cones” Bryan Gerber of Hemper and Hara Supply. He and his team have produced over 85 million pre-rolled cones per month in the cannabis industry and toda...
2022-08-081h 00
To Be Blunt110 Cannabis Potency Testing at Home with Peichen Chang of tCheck“We spoke with hundreds of people and the response was overwhelming. It was like, how has this not been in my life already? How come somebody hasn't invented it? And so from that, we decided to build the product. The need is out there. We have the ability to fulfill it. Let's go for it.” - Peichen ChangWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Peichen Chang, co-founder & CEO at tCheck. tCheck is a device that helps home edible makers and DIY cannabis growers measure the potency of their flower and...
2022-08-0154 min
To Be Blunt110 Cannabis Potency Testing at Home with Peichen Chang of tCheck“We spoke with hundreds of people and the response was overwhelming. It was like, how has this not been in my life already? How come somebody hasn't invented it? And so from that, we decided to build the product. The need is out there. We have the ability to fulfill it. Let's go for it.” - Peichen ChangWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Peichen Chang, co-founder & CEO at tCheck. tCheck is a device that helps home edible makers and DIY cannabis growers measure the potency of their flower and...
2022-08-0154 min
To Be Blunt109 High Quality Cannabinoid Ingredients with Nicole Brown of Open Book Extracts“Nature is our muse. Those ratios that are found naturally in the plant, well, let's recreate that so that you can consistently have that same experience every time you have a product. so that you're not buying a product one month and then three months later, and you're like, was that the same product? And that's happening because of that lack of consistency which now we're able to solve and I think what's going to help lay the foundation for this industry to reach its potential.” - Nicole BrownWelcome back to the To Be Blunt...
2022-07-251h 07
To Be Blunt108 Professionalizing Cannabis through Journalism Objectivity with Chris Walsh of MJ Biz“What we felt would help legalization and move the needle with cannabis was sticking to some key tenets her and it's objectivity. It's professionalism. It's journalism ethics.” - Chris WalshWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Chris Walsh of MJ Biz to talk about the impact of media in the fight for legalization and how it shapes not only the opinions of the consumers but also of the policymakers. He also gives his take on the resistance against mainstreaming cannabis and the importance of supporting the small players in t...
2022-07-1155 min
To Be Blunt107 The Fight to Legalize Cannabis in Texas with Attorney Lisa Pittman“The strategy is different for different clients because it depends on how much you're willing to push that envelope. Some are more willing. It depends on what the product is. It depends on how it's marketed because there's that tight rope between you want to get your brand out there, and you want to get market share, and you want the consumer to understand what the product is. But on the other hand, you don't want to paint a target on your back. It's a risk-tolerance business decision.” - Lisa PittmanWelcome back to the To Be B...
2022-07-041h 19
To Be Blunt106 Mastering Influence and the Need for Innovation With Olivia Alexander of Kush Queen“I hope that young people and newcomers to the industry know that innovation is the way to slide in. Innovation is the way to really make a name for yourself, and these big companies are too big to do it. They can't do it, and they're never going to do it. - Olivia AlexanderWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Olivia Alexander, CEO of Kush Queen. She paints an honest picture of how she built a brand from scratch, the challenges she faced, and the success she found leveraging so...
2022-06-271h 14
To Be Blunt105 HHC and The Future of Chemically Derived Cannabinoids with Tyler Roach of Colorado Chromatography“I'm glad that we have the innovation that we do, and I think that the process of synthesis is going to lead us to even greater discoveries.” - Tyler RoachWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Tyler Roach, “The HHC Guy” and VP of Sales of Colorado Chromatography, to share a dialogue about synthesizing cannabinoids. Tyler goes in-depth about understanding HHC and the cannabinoids alphabet soup, tailoring medicine through synthesis, and bringing innovation into the industry in the safest way possible.[00:00 - 018:05] Opening...
2022-06-201h 21
To Be Blunt104 Culinary Cannabis Expertise, Exploration, and Education with Rachel Burkons of Smoke Sip Savor“Until we have either the tools to purchase these cannabinoids in different ratios in the marketplace or have the ability to have really fine-tuned science on the culinary side, it's gonna just always come down to matters of individuated preference, and personal understanding, and intolerance.” - Rachel BurkonsWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Rachel Burkons, a culinary cannabis expert and educator who is passionate about developing the concept and culture around cannabis hospitality. She shares her background in wine and spirits and how it has influenced her view of b...
2022-06-1359 min
To Be Blunt103 The Global Feminist Community for Active Cannabis Culture with Lisa and Samantha of Tokeativity“We feel really excited about the idea of people personally, empowering themselves to balance their own feminine and masculine, and for that to be reflected outside as well through social justice, creative campaigns, all the things that we love to do.” - Samantha MontanaroWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lisa Snyder and Samantha Montanaro, Co-Founders of Tokeativity, to talk about the work they do to bring cannabis feminists together and push for radical positive change. They also focus on the evolution happening in the industry and leveraging technology to c...
2022-06-061h 00
To Be Blunt102 Prolific Cannabis Brand Marketing with Sam Arellano of ABC Brand / Design“Without question, consumers are incredibly savvy and I caution any and all brand marketers to underestimate them at their own peril. They're tuned in. They're educated. They're paying attention. They're asking questions and you never want to take consumers lightly. You want to, evoke excitement. You want to compel them to action. And that's not easy to do in this sort of digitally equipped world that we live in so authenticity plays through.“ - Sam ArellanoWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes ABC Brand / Design Founder Sam Arellano. He share...
2022-05-3055 min
To Be Blunt101 From Legacy to Legends with Christine De La Rosa of The People's Ecosystem“There are huge tropes around people of color to not look for holistic medicine. And you have to first work through the tropes, the propaganda tropes around people of color and the use of cannabis.” - Christine De La RosaWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Christine De La Rosa, CEO and Co-Founder of The People’s Ecosystem. Christine is a well-respected business leader, advocate, and activist. Everything changed after she was diagnosed with lupus, and she shares she was able to take her life back with the help of can...
2022-05-231h 11
To Be Blunt100 A Decade of MMJ & Recreational Marijuana Experience with Eric Leslie of Cheeba Chews“Your ability to respond, your resiliency to find new avenues that aren't existent is what allows you to sustain in an industry and to create a legacy that will last forever.” - Eric LeslieWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Eric Leslie, CMO of Cheeba Chews, to reflect on the brand's journey over the past decade and how it evolved in response to the changing legal parameters for cannabis and the dosage and tolerance of their products. As the edible industry began to standardize, Cheeba Chews continue to be the...
2022-05-161h 00
To Be Blunt099 The Journey, Responsibility, and Opportunity of Becoming Jane West with Jane West“I think one of the things that I've learned over time is that, you know, people associate legalization with freedom with like, ‘Oh my god, we get to do this and we get to do that.’ And in reality, what's happened is legalization is a lot more regulation, and taxation, and rules, and limiting opportunity, limiting access.” - Jane WestWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Jane West, one of the most prolific icons in the cannabis industry. From starting a passion project to sparking a movement, she shares the stor...
2022-05-091h 06
To Be Blunt098 Contemporary Cannabis Branding and Ecommerce Designed by Women Who Smoke Weed with Hayley and Lana of Sackville & Co.“We immediately got pigeonholed into this wellness thing which I think cannabis places women in so if you're a woman or you're a female-run brand or something, you can only really have this aesthetic of wellness… We just happen to be women who are running this brand and, designing and producing these pieces, but it's meant for anyone.” - Lana Van BruntWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt of Sackville and Co., a lifestyle brand made by women who like to smoke weed. They ta...
2022-05-0258 min
To Be Blunt097 Together We Cann, Making an American Glass Company with Chris Piazza of CannaDevices“If you're going to have good cannabis, why don't you have good glass, right? I mean, it just kind of goes hand in hand.” - Chris PiazzaWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes CannaDevices CEO Chris Piazza to discuss the art of glass blowing and how it serves the cannabis industry. Chris believes in the need to educate consumers about ingesting cannabis in a different way and enhancing the experience with a high-quality product. As a glass blower himself, he also highlights the importance of supporting local artisans and givi...
2022-04-2556 min
To Be Blunt096 From Grey to Green, Growing the Largest Cannabis Competition in The World with Tim and Taylor Blake of The Emerald Cup"If you win the competition, you get tremendous props and financial rewards coming through there. So it is friendly, but it's also become a very serious thing now, because now its business, its branding. And so it's become something that everybody really works to put their best foot forward and win." - Tim BlakeIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Tim Blake, the founder of the Emerald Cup, a competition showcasing the best of the cannabis industry for years. He is joined by his daughter and The Emerald Cup co-producer Taylor to discuss how they champion the...
2022-04-191h 02
To Be Blunt095 Cannabis Should Be Boring with Samuel Richard of Arizona Dispensary Association“We have a lot of work to do to start to reintroduce society as a whole to the idea that cannabis can be a part of our daily life without it being completely monumentally destructive because it never has been, and it never will be.” - Samuel RichardIn this episode, Shayda Torabi is joined by Samuel Richard of Arizona Dispensary Association as they discuss an interesting perspective of cannabis – that it should be boring. Samuel argues that this theme encompasses the effective ways to address the politics and destructive societal views of the plant. Listen as he sha...
2022-04-1157 min
To Be Blunt094 The "P" in Consumer Packaged Goods with Elizabeth Corbett of AE Global Packaging“What's the most sustainable thing I can do [about packaging]? And I always like to say there is no one thing. There are many, many little things that you can do along the way.” - Elizabeth CorbettIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Corbett of AE Global Packaging as she shares her observations about packaging and the framework for sustainability. She uncovers the truth about both the opportunities and barriers to CPG and how the players in the cannabis industry can navigate for better brand positioning. [00:01 – 05:47] Shayda on Brand Redesign versus Brand Refresh
2022-04-041h 01
To Be Blunt093 California Cannabis Highs and Lows with Skip Motsenbocker of Pacific Stone“Here's the thing, though. If you're the kind of person who really masters things quick, and you like that challenge, then this [cannabis] space is perfect. If you really like repetitiveness, and you don't like change, then you really don't want to enter the cannabis space at all, period. Because it will change. It perpetually changes.” - Skip MotsenbockerIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Skip Motsenbocker of Pacific Stone to paint a clearer picture of the Californian market, taxation, and regulations. Despite the numerous challenges in this landscape, Skip believes that considering customer experience and delivering the b...
2022-03-281h 04
To Be Blunt092 Authentically Crafting Your Cannabis Marketing Playbook with Lisa Buffo of Cannabis Marketing Association“We've seen brands who, you know, maybe they have great products, but they have really inauthentic marketing, and that hurts them. And I think that authenticity, the understanding of your core values, your mission statement, your North Star, the why you do what you do, people want to support that.” - Lisa BuffoIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lisa Buffo of Cannabis Marketing Association. She discusses what it takes to determine the best practices industry marketers should implement. With the dizzying laws, policies, and loopholes determining the cannabis marketing playbook, it all boils down to identifying your...
2022-03-211h 15
To Be Blunt091 New Mexico State Speculations and Getting Into The Industry with Nate Lipton of GrowersHouse“I don't want people to think getting in [the cannabis industry] now is a bad idea whatsoever. I think the industry right now is still really looking for a lot of smart people, people that are interested in the kind of like cannabis movement and its progression to maybe full legalization.” - Nate LiptonIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Nate Lipton of GrowersHouse as he pushes the cannacurious to jump right into the industry and consider scaling to seize the opportunity. Also, listen closely as he shares his valid insights about federal legalization and its effects on i...
2022-03-141h 01
To Be Blunt090 A little Bit of Luck and a Long Play building a Celebrity Cannabis Brand with Elizabeth Hogan of Willies Reserve“When we build brands that are secure and positioned securely and have meaning, they have a lot of opportunities to go into new places… We've got to show up in certain ways and participate in certain ways.” - Elizabeth HoganWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Hogan of Willies Reserve as she shares her experience of working with the legendary cannabis advocate, Willie Nelson. Her insights reflect the value of collaboration and artistry in pursuit of establishing a noteworthy brand presence. [00:01 – 10:46] Shayda shares the magic of So...
2022-03-071h 01
To Be Blunt089 A Marketing Approach With Driving Sales in Mind with Walter Boyd of RedBird Bioscience“There's no secret sauce. I looked at the cannabis market, I saw the work ethic of the people involved… The hardest worker in every company is the person who owns the company. Once you get to a certain size, especially in the Oklahoma market, the ability to scale is really as fast and easy.” - Walter BoydWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Walter Boyd of RedBird Bioscience. He reminds us of the fundamentals of running a business built for success - understanding your market and staying consistent. He shares...
2022-02-2858 min
To Be Blunt088 New England Cannabis Brand That Sells Good Buds To Great Neighbors with Alex Mazin of Bud's Goods“As you think through product development, it needs to be well thought through with the intent of how does this help the retailer, and how do we get bud tenders to support it, and not necessarily focus on the consumer, because I'll say this, further, you don't need to focus on the consumer. Because if you're passionate about this industry, you yourself are a consumer. And thus you should create something for yourself.” - Alex MazinIn this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Alex Mazin of Bud's Goods as he shares the way to building a brand that can...
2022-02-2154 min
To Be Blunt087 Connecting Brand Values and Vision to the Consumer Journey with Allison Disney of Receptor Brands“A brand has always been so much more than a logo… It's really about, how are you connecting your values and your vision as a brand and a company with your consumer’s values? How do you mirror them? Or how are you finding the right core audience? And then how are you making them feel about your brand, ultimately? And that comes through all the different touchpoints in a brand experience.” - Allison DisneyWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Allison Disney of Receptor Brands, as she disc...
2022-02-1457 min
To Be Blunt086 The Cannabis Farm of The Future: Powering Brands From The Ground Up with Jesus Burrola of POSIBL“I think the biggest equity opportunity for a brand is for somebody to come in and build a national brand, a powerful brand in cannabis. And I think folks that have learned how to operate in this way through partnerships and asset-lite model and understand the opportunity of licensing in other states… I think they've done a phenomenal job.” - Jesus Burrola Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Jesus Burrola, Chief Executive Officer of POSIBL, as he tackles the future of cannabis in the lens of agriculture. He explo...
2022-02-0756 min
To Be Blunt085 What a Legacy Tobacco and Accessories Company is Doing to Innovate in Cannabis with Scott Grossman of Turning Point Brands“Using cannabis from a health and wellness perspective, that can cure and help ailments that are otherwise being treated with other drugs that may or may not be good for you. And so from much perspective, I think that's the way I approach it, right or wrong, it's being branded as the health and wellness drug of our generation.” - Scott GrossmanWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Scott Grossman of Turning Point Brands, as he shares the parallelisms between the tobacco and cannabis industries in the aspec...
2022-01-3152 min
To Be Blunt084 Baking Up The Future of Cannabis Tech and Adoption with Shanel Lindsay of Ardent“At the end of the day, cannabis businesses are just like any other businesses, right? They need all of the services and support that anyone needs. And obviously, our lane is in helping with consumption.” - Shanel LindsayWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Shanel Lindsay, founder and president of Ardent Life, Inc., to discuss the bright future of cannabis made possible by technology, how her profession as a lawyer got her involved in legalization, the importance of homegrowing and testing, and empowering our customers through presenting the science.
2022-01-2455 min
To Be Blunt083 Lessons in Branding from The Largest Single Site Dispensary in California with Chris Lane of Airfield Supply Company“The best brands are the ones who constantly look at how can they provide value to an individual, whether that's value to a partner, and sometimes that's impossible, right? But your value to a customer is always viable…Value doesn't have to be some gigantic experience.” - Chris LaneWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Chris Lane, Chief Marketing Officer of Airfield Supply Company, as he shares the systems and processes they employ in bringing value to customers, the landscape of elevated brand building in the industry, and the signif...
2022-01-171h 03
To Be Blunt082 The Evolution and Arrival of Cannabis Events and Hospitality with Jenn T of Cannect Hospitality“I don't think that these [cannabis events] types of events and venues should be considered a free for all just because it's cannabis. It should be taken seriously… Guest interactions with the staff should be looked at as the same level as the bartenders’ responsibility.” - Jenn TramaglinoWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Jenn Tramaglino, founder and CEO of Cannect Hospitality, to discuss the evolving cannabis hospitality. She shares how it is like to navigate the legalities, the ways to create a safe space, the SOP’s for successful...
2022-01-1058 min
To Be Blunt081 The Future of Cannabis with The Father of the Legal Cannabis Industry Steve DeAngelo“You have people in our scene now who are motivated not primarily by love of cannabis, but primarily by love of money. And that creates a real conflict, right? Because I think that one of the lessons that cannabis teaches us is to value love over money.” - Steve DeAngeloWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Steve DeAngelo, to discuss cannabis through the years and the coming future, expound his thoughts on societal changes, and remind us of the essence of the advocacy - promoting love and harmony.
2022-01-031h 02
To Be Blunt080 Staying On Top Of Cannabis Trends and Making Industry Speculations with Bryan Fields and Kellan Finney of 8th Revolution“So in my experience, the best way to do that (staying up-to-date) is to just dive headfirst in, read everything you can and figure out what information is relevant through just trial and error.” - Bryan FieldsWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Bryan Fields and Kellan Finney of 8th Revolution, as they share the inner workings in consolidating the monthly Playbook consisting of up-to-date industry information, using both scientific and business approaches in navigating the cannabis businesses, and how business owners can take advantage of the opportunities out there...
2021-12-271h 04
To Be Blunt079 The Land of Opportunity and Building a Vertically Integrated Cannabis Business in Oklahoma with Arshad Lasi of The Nirvana Group“And it's very difficult for brands to be successful here if they're not able to adapt very quickly to how things change here… But this has also allowed for a very quick, innovative period here...because you can't always compete on price, you have to also be a better product and be a cooler product, and fit more with the culture.” - Arshad LasiWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi and guest Arshad Lasi of The Nirvana GroupLC discuss the cannabiz landscape in Oklahoma - the legalization process, distribution channels, market...
2021-12-1348 min
To Be Blunt078 Marijuana Hospitality Licenses Pave Way for Cannabis Friendly Hotels and Experiences with Chris Chiari of The 420 Hotels“Decriminalizing, legalizing, creating a space for patients, creating a space then for recreational consumers...The stepping stones were part of a strategy to try not to bite off more than the state and voter populace could chew.” - Chris ChiariWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Chris Chiari, Founder/CEO at The 420 Hotels Inc, to share his insights on cannabis tourism, the undefined freedom to consume, and how lawmakers are treading with caution in policy enforcement. [00:01 – 07:44] Perspectives on Safe Cannabis Consumption in Differing Premises[07:45...
2021-12-061h 03
To Be Blunt077 Cannabis Social Media Censorship and What We Can Do About It with Ariana Newton of The WeedTube“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 NewtonWelcome 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 system despite the uneven playing ground. [00:01 – 09:06] Targeting Barriers to Entry th...
2021-11-291h 04
To Be Blunt076 The Road to Becoming The Most Trusted Name in Cannabis with Dennis O'Malley of The Parent Company“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'MalleyWelcome 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 awareness. Dennis talks about his insights on building informed customers to have the brand become a trus...
2021-11-2246 min
To Be Blunt075 How Tina Ulman built the Chamber of Cannabis as an Agent For Change in the Nevada Cannabis Industry“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 UlmanWelcome 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 people, knowing whether you are reactive or proactive in the advocacy, and the domi...
2021-11-1553 min
To Be Blunt074 Garden Parties, Rosettes, and Growing a Sonoma Cannabis Brand with Karli Warner of Garden Society“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 WarnerWelcome 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 customers patronizing your brand. [00...
2021-11-0148 min
To Be Blunt073 What Data Capturing and Experiential Marketing Have in Common with Peter Huson of Backbone“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 HusonWelcome 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 brand positioning, utilizing marketing opportunities for product awareness, and creating a uni...
2021-10-2545 min
To Be Blunt072 Cannabis Careers, Copywriting, and Using Your Voice to Make Change with Author Andrew Ward“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 WardWelcome 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 into the realities of political impact, and the significance of small communities in giving an impact to the advocacy thro...
2021-10-181h 02
To Be Blunt071 What We Can Learn and Compare from the European Cannabis Market to the United States with Steven George of Kaya Advisors“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 GeorgeWelcome 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 current licensing processes painstakingly hinders effective global commercialization. ...
2021-10-1157 min
To Be Blunt070 Branding Bud and The Commercialization of Cannabis with David Paleschuck“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 PaleschuckWelcome 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 – 07:06] Shayda shares why October is special[07:07– 14:29] Cannabis Branding and David’s Story on Cannabis [14:30 – 24:33] Brand Positioni...
2021-10-0451 min
To Be Blunt069 Using Written Word to Educate and Inform The Canna Curious with Author Lauren Wilson“[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 WilsonWelcome 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 education, and the importance of fact-checking to enhance cannabis experience. [00:01 – 10:16] Lauren talks about Becomin...
2021-09-271h 00
To Be Blunt068 Chicago Cannabis Lottery System Storytime with Mike Malcolm of Weed Travel Food“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 MalcolmWelcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Mike Malcolm, founder of Weed Travel Food, to talk about the disorderly legalization processes, how the cannabis lottery system works, and how he e...
2021-09-201h 01
To Be Blunt067 The Future and Innovation of Cannabis Dry Spirits with Matthew Cohen of purejuana“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 CohenWelcome 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 culture alive through innovation. [00:01 – 05:34] Introducing purejua...
2021-09-1354 min
To Be Blunt066 Founding an Edible Brand and Getting Acquired by an MSO with Ryan Crandall of MariMed“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 CrandallWelcome 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 broadening our perspective on the opportunities within the cannabis industry.[00:01 –...
2021-09-0654 min
To Be Blunt065 Top Industry Insights From a Cannabis Digital Marketer with Liz Udell of CannaCraft“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 UdellWelcome 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 cannabis industry, the huge role of digital marketing, and the works behind creat...
2021-08-3056 min
To Be Blunt064 Re-Defining Marijuana Law and Taking On The Michigan Supreme Court with Earl Carruthers of G3 Cannabis Therapy“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 CarruthersWelcome 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 journey in his business and pioneering change from the...
2021-08-2354 min
To Be Blunt063 Optimizing the Human Creative Performance with Cannabis from Art, Business, and Life with Shawn Gold of Pilgrim Soul“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 GoldWelcome 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 with a strong belief system, challenging default thinking, and embracing creative thinking in marketing.[00:01 – 05:23] How Shawn...
2021-08-1657 min
To Be Blunt062 Behind the Scenes of Publishing and Press with Kathee Brewer of mg Magazine“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, and being able to personally navigate all kinds of press. ...
2021-08-091h 01
To Be Blunt061 Cannabis Trade Shows and Measuring the Return on Investment of Event Marketing with George Jage of MJ UnpackedWelcome 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 Canvassing for a Star CPG Brand[52:35 – 53...
2021-08-0253 min
To Be Blunt060 Navigating Cannabis Technology, Integrations, and METRC with Justin Lipchitz of Realistic ConsultingWelcome 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 Solve[34:35 – 52:34] What’s Happening With Technology for THC & CBD[52:3...
2021-07-261h 01
To Be Blunt059 A Lesson in Cannabis History with Etienne Fontan of Berkeley Patients Group“Go back to the basics, learn your history, learn the rules, so that you can break them properly.” - Etienne FontanWelcome 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 Cut Through the Sensationalism and Properly Educate the Masses on Cannabis ...
2021-07-191h 02
To Be Blunt058 The Science of Cannabis and Making Sense of It In Relationship To Our Biochemistry with Anita Sommers of CBD GenieIn 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 and Qualifying New Research[28:59 – 35:00] Let’s Talk About T...
2021-07-1256 min
To Be Blunt057 How to Cement Your Status as the Go-to Brand for Designer Weed With Craig Lyon of ConnectedIn 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 Their Launches[46:38 – 56:58] Company Values When Staying in t...
2021-07-0559 min
To Be Blunt056 Building a Healthcare Technology Brand for the Medical Marijuana Industry with Anthony Dutcher of VerihealOn 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 – 00:00] Connecting Consumers, Physicians, Pharma and Cannabis [46:45 – 51:34] Veriheal Creating Relevant, High-Quality Content...
2021-06-2853 min
To Be Blunt055 Vape Industry Deep Dive (Vape Quality, Vape Crisis, PACT Act) and Nevada Cannabis Update with Tyler Prough of Rokin VapesOn 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 Cutting Edge of the Vape Industry [21:42 – 29:17] How We Got Into...
2021-06-2151 min
To Be Blunt054 Disrupting the National Cannabis Beverage Category with Blair Markell of CannOn 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 global cannabis beverages market stood at 367 million in 2019. It is projected to reach 1520 1 million by 2027.
2021-06-1450 min
To Be Blunt051 How to Save the Terps and Why We Should Talk About Terpenes More with Jonathan Schwartz of BovedaJonathan 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 Ancillary Businesses [17:24 – 30:24] Boveda; The Brand, Backstory and Journey [30:25 – 39:15] What Are Terpenes and Why Do We Want To Save Them? [39:16 – 52:57] F...
2021-05-2455 min
To Be Blunt050 What Does It Mean to "Build a Brand" with Matthew Herrold of Headstash Marketing and Good FeelsMatthew 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 Spectrum[27:24 – 37:38] Shayda and Matthew Discuss Branding 101 [37:39 – 44:48] Creating Connection Through Marketing, Changing...
2021-05-1759 min
To Be Blunt040 State Level Cannabis Advocacy with Jax Finkel of Foundation for an Informed Texas and Texas NORMLJax 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] Cannabis in Texas from a Legal Perspective[46:30 – 5...
2021-03-0858 min
To Be Blunt025 How We All Can Be Cannabis Educated and Educators With Emma Chasen[00:01 – 09:25] Emma’s Story and Passion for Educating People with the Power of Cannabis[09:26 – 26:55] How We All Can Be Cannabis Educated and Educators[26:56 – 34:03] The Cannabis Industry – A Consumer-Driven Industry[34:04 – 49:26] The Legal Side of Things and Running an Education-Centered Business[49:26 – 53:52] Final ThoughtsEmma Chasen has a mission to educate people on the science behind cannabis, so that they may take charge of their own healing. After graduating from Brown University in 2014 with a degree in Medicinal Plant Research, Emma went on t...
2020-11-2353 min
To Be Blunt024 Navigating Cannabis Social Media Restrictions with Grace DelgadoGrace Delgado is the Editor-in-Chief at Texas Cannabis Today. In today’s episode, Grace walks us through tips, strategies in how cannabis business owners, marketers, and influencers can navigate through the cannabis social media restrictions. [00:01 – 09:07] Grace’s Story and Establishing The Texas CBD Blog[09:08 – 32:19] Navigating Cannabis Social Media Restrictions[32:20 – 48:59] Grace’s Best Practices to Navigate Social Media[49:00 – 56:52] Final Thoughts and Call to Action Grace Delgado is the Editor & Chief at The Texas CBD Blog and is a digital marketer...
2020-11-1656 min
To Be Blunt023 Cannabis: How High Can It Grow, The Consumer VC Summit Interview with Catharine Dockery of Vice VenturesCatharine Dockery is a founding partner at Vice Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund conquering stigmas and striving towards superior returns by investing in good companies operating in "bad" industries. Today's episode is special as I go back to my interview with Catharine on The Consumer VC Summit. [00:01 – 09:53] Catharine's Story[09:54 – 19:10] How High Can It Grow? The Story of Vice Ventures[19:11 – 27:18] Evaluating and Partnering with The Right Brands[27:18 – 32:29] The Products in Vice Ventures Portfolio and The Importance of Brand Development[32:30...
2020-11-0947 min
To Be Blunt022 Legacy Cannabis Brands and Marketing Artisanal Concentrates with Claudio Miranda of Guild ExtractsClaudio Miranda is the CEO and co-founder of the Guild Extracts. He has a background in the natural products industry, mastering brand marketing consultation, and advising startups. In today’s episode, Claudio gives us a peek at what it takes to build a family of artisanal brands.[00:01 – 07:24] Claudio’s Story and How Guild Enterprises was Born[07:25 – 19:00] Legacy Cannabis Brands – creating a family of artisanal brands[19:01 – 33:36] Guild Extracts: Marketing Artisanal Concentrates[33:37 – 49:44] Continuing Innovation Even After Reaching the Top[49:44 – 57:54] Claudio’s Favori...
2020-11-0257 min
To Be Blunt021 Creating the Cannabis Brand of your Wildest Dreams with Harlee Case and Jade DanielsHarlee Case and Jade Daniels are the Co-Founders of Ladies of Paradise. They specialize in branding, creatives, events, social media, and operate their own brand of pre-rolls called Lady Jays. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like being women in an industry dominated by men and how we are rising up to that challenge.[00:01 – 11:18] The Story of Ladies of Paradise + Lady Jays[11:19 – 15:37] The Oregon Market[15:38 – 38:17] Creating the Cannabis Brand of your Wildest Dreams[38:18 – 44:15] The Lady Jays Brand[44:16 – 49:53] Closing Segm...
2020-10-2649 min
To Be Blunt020 Cannabis Delivered and How COVID is Pushing Cannabis Forward through Technology with Zach Lipson of DutchieZach Lipson is the Co-Founder & CPO at Dutchie. In today’s show, we dive into Zach’s story about how Dutchie is paving the way to online deliveries of cannabis products and how COVID is pushing cannabis forward through technology.[00:01 – 09:01] What is Dutchie?[09:02 – 20:11] Cannabis Delivered[20:12 – 35:08] Technology Pushing the Industry Forward[35:09 – 42:45] Dutchie 2.0[42:46 – 50:55] Investing in the Cannabis Industry[50:56 – 56:24] Closing Segment From an early age, Zach has always had a passion for merging his artistic purs...
2020-10-1956 min
To Be Blunt019 Cannabis the Community and Learning to Tell Your Story with Tiffany WatkinsTiffany Watkins a.k.a. LadyCanna is the founder of Vanguard Media, built to give women power and a voice in the cannabis industry. In this episode, Tiffany walks us through the journey of building something that is more than just a platform, but also a movement for all the outliers and advocates of cannabis.[00:01 – 09:36] What is Vanguard Media?Giving women power and a voice in the cannabis industryTiffany shares her story, LadyCanna (Lady of Cannabis)[09:37 – 22:53] Cannabis the Community and Learning to Tell Your StoryTiffany talks about the journey of p...
2020-10-1256 min
To Be Blunt018 Thinking Creatively to Make Your Dispensary Stand Out with Jeff Starling of The Source Medical DispensaryJeff Starling is a managing partner at The Source, and in today’s episode, Jeff walks us through how they keep a vibrant image for their brand and maintain a good image for medicinal marijuana.[00:01 – 13:41] Opening Segment[13:42 – 25:02] Medicinal Marijuana[25:03 – 40:35] Thinking Creatively to Make Your Dispensary Stand Out[40:35 – 52:37] Innovations in the IndustryOriginally from the Chicago suburbs, Jeff Starling spent much of his youth living the ex-pat life, with stops in numerous cities throughout the United States, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Panama. In...
2020-10-0552 min
To Be Blunt017 Cannabis, Marketing, and Data: A Love Story with Jocelyn Sheltraw of HeadsetJocelyn Sheltraw is the Director of Strategy at Headset, the leading, unparalleled cannabis data, and analytics company. On today’s show, we dive into the love story between cannabis, marketing, and data; how these three key components working together will help push the industry to a brighter future.[00:01 – 10:44] What is Headset?Jocelyn talks about how she got into the industry, her role, and what Headset is all about[10:45 – 20:29] The New EraJocelyn differentiates Cannabis 1.0 and Cannabis 2.0The effects of COVID on the industry[20:30 – 27:15] The Next Generation of Cannabis Consumer...
2020-09-2846 min
To Be Blunt016 Betting the Farmacy and Crowd Funding on Your Woman Owned Cannabis Brand with Franny Tacy of Frannies FarmacyFranny Tacy is the owner of Franny’s Farmacy and the first female hemp farmer in North Carolina. On today’s show, Franny walks us through how crowdfunding for businesses works and what it’s like being a woman in an industry dominated by men.[00:01 – 10:03] Betting the Farmacy and Crowd Funding on Your Woman-Owned Cannabis BrandFranny talks about her journey from working in pharmaceuticals to founding Franny’s FarmacyThe first in the country to do crowdfunding for a business[10:04 – 24:22] Welcome Transition for the BrandWhat Franny’s Farmacy is all about.
2020-09-2350 min
To Be Blunt015 Establishing Cannabis Industry Standards and How You Can Get Involved with Cary BlackCary Black is one of the chair members of the D37 cannabis committee of ASTM International and a principal consultant and CEO of CK Black Group, Inc. On today’s episode, Cary guides us on how we can get involved in establishing the cannabis industry standards.Things you will learn in this episode:[00:01 – 09:07] ASTM D37 Cannabis CommitteeCary talks about what ASTM is and its D37 Cannabis Committee[09:08 – 25:43] Establishing Cannabis Industry StandardsCary talks about how ASTM is leading the way to standardizing regulations for the cannabis industry...
2020-09-1453 min
To Be Blunt014 Marketing the Largest Cannabis Greenhouse in the US and Its Family of Brands with Allie Marconi of Copperstate FarmsAllie Marconi is the Director of Marketing for Copperstate Farms, and in today’s episode, we will be discussing the Copperstate Farms operations and how they became the largest cannabis greenhouse in the US.[00:01 – 12:42] What is Copperstate Farms?Allie talks about her story before Copperstate Farms and what Copperstate Farms is all about.[12:43 – 22:01] Marketing the Largest Cannabis Greenhouse in the US and Its Family of BrandsAllie shares what it’s like managing a big organization and what it means to be the biggest cannabis greenhouse.[22:02 – 34:32] What is the market...
2020-09-0748 min
To Be Blunt013 Normalizing the Joint and hemps 50,000 uses with Amos LozanoAmos Lozano is the founder of Emjayze Hemp and Famous Juice Company. He is also the co-founder of The ReUp Station. On today’s show, we dive into Amos’ story about how they are pushing an eco-friendly and sustainable way to produce their products. We also discuss destigmatizing the culture around cannabis and hemp’s different uses and applications.[00:01 – 07:09] Famous Amos, The JuicedUpNinja[07:10 – 18:07] Normalizing the Joint[18:08 – 29:35] Hemp’s 50,000 Uses and Raising Awareness[29:36 – 51:54] We are Just Scratching the Surface[51:55 – 57:15] Closing Segment Amos Lozano is a cannabis enthusiast...
2020-08-3157 min