Broccoli Talk

What does it take to launch a CBD brand from Mexico City? Over the course of our show, Broccoli Talk listeners have heard snippets of conversation about Xula, a CBD brand co-founded by Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey (our very own co-host!) and Karina Primelles. As Xula prepares to officially launch their first collection of products, Mennlay chats with Lauren about the journey so far, discussing the legislative and the creative challenges that come up with language and art direction when creating a “borderless” brand.

In North America, Canada is leading the way with federal cannabis legalization. Progessive laws are just the first step, though—creating an equitable system for Black and Indigenous communities harmed by cannabis prohibition will require deeper work. In this episode, Lauren speaks with Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, the director of research at the Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty, about what’s being done in Canada to improve the fairness of their legal cannabis framework. This episode is presented in partnership with Superette, your neighborhood high variety shop.

Cannabis can connect us in surprising ways, bonding friends, partners, colleagues, and even strangers. In today’s episode, Mennlay chats with Paige Greene, director of marketing at Superette, about her favorite weed memories and how they intersect with her identity as a mother, a professional, a friend, and a partner. This episode is presented in partnership with Superette, your neighborhood high variety shop.

If you’ve ever tried a CBD tincture or eaten a professionally made edible, you owe a hearty thanks to a scientist. So what is it like in the weed lab? On today’s episode, Lauren chats with Alisia Ratliff, technical director of Avient Biosciences and founder of Victus Capital Ventures. Alisia talks about her journey to finding cannabis, and how that led to her work building cannabis and hemp extraction facilities. She also gets real about what it’s like to be the only woman of color in the lab and in the investor’s circle.

Cultural appropriation is rampant in the weed world, from so-called “white lions” (white people wearing dreadlocks) to brands who put on another culture’s face to sell their products. Cannabis has roots across many continents, but in our modern era of legal weed, there are new layers of commercialization and commodification to consider. In this episode, Lauren and Mennlay share their experiences and offer advice to weed brands and weed lovers who want to understand the line between appreciation and appropriation.

Spark up a joint, make yourself a snack, and join us as we process the experience of summer 2020.

Equity is the buzzword right now in the cannabis industry, but what does it really mean? Natalie Papillion, founder of the Equity Organization, talks us through the multifaceted layers of true equity: redressing the harms of the war on drugs, reforming the racist justice system, holding elected officials accountable, and making space for Black-owned businesses to launch and thrive.

Cannabis history is an incomplete puzzle—this ancient plant has traveled the globe, but knowledge of how it moved from culture to culture is piecemeal, distorted by colonial perspectives and the erasure of Indigenous and Black voices. In this episode, Mennlay talks to Lauren about her research into cannabis in Africa and Mexico, and how learning the plant’s history affirms her understanding of herself.

Cannabis and nail polish might not appear to have much in common, but for Janine Lee, the meditative experience of creating art on her fingertips after a of couple puffs was an inspiration. It’s part of what drove her to co-found Floss Gloss, a beauty brand with a massive cult following. In this episode, Lauren interviews Janine about the the stoner femme experience and her professional path, from starting her first business to stepping into the CBD scene.