High Minded with McCarter

*Hemp* blunts are back, we mean! With the same nostalgia as a traditional blunt but none of the tobacco, Gentleman Quinns Blunt Co. is celebrating 10 years of bringing the best "blunts" to Colorado. Gage Quinn, head roller of Gentleman Quinns, sits down with McCarter for a lively discussion from moving away from tobacco, what it takes to be in business as a cannabis brand for ten years and McCarter's former hand-modeling days. Find more information at GentlemanQuinns.com or on Instagram @gentlemanquinnsbluntco.

This episode is sponsored by Healthy Honeys ~ McCarter's favorite THCA Rosin pens that can be shipped nationwide (certain state restrictions apply). Use code "MCCARTER" to save at HealthyHoneys.shop!

John Shute joins the podcast for a serendipitous episode 109, a long way from episode 9 together in 2020! John, Co-Founder and CEO of PufCreativ, an award-winning, community-focused cannabis marketing agency based out of Denver, CO, discusses all the ways the cannabis industry has changed over the last five years, in Colorado and across the country.

This episode is sponsored by Healthy Honeys ~ McCarter's favorite THCA Rosin pens that can be shipped nationwide (certain state restrictions apply). Use code "MCCARTER" to save at HealthyHoneys.shop!

MSU Denver Cannabis professor Shannon Donnelly comes back for a second time to blow McCarter's mind! Hemp is cannabis, cannabis is hemp. This episode is a deep dive on the difference between how the plant is labeled, and how the government will use that to their advantage.

This episode is sponsored by Healthy Honeys ~ McCarter's favorite THCA Rosin pens that can be shipped nationwide (certain state restrictions apply). Use code "MCCARTER" to save at HealthyHoneys.shop!

In the final episode of 2025, McCarter chats with Orion Hurley, owner of Boulder Built, cannabis dispensary and flower brand based in Boulder, Colorado. Orion explains growing up in Boulder in the 1980s, and the unconventional path that shaped his future. Orion shares what it was like being raised by a father who grew cannabis long before legalization, and how those early experiences sparked his cannabis-fueled entrepreneurial mindset. He walks us through the transition from underground culture to a fully legal business, the challenges of operating in a highly regulated industry, and what it takes to build something authentic while staying true to your roots. This is a candid conversation about family, risk, resilience, and turning passion into a legitimate brand.

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

The esteemed Jordan Wellington joins the podcast for episode 106! Jordan is a true scholar, but mainly a Deadhead with a law background who helped Colorado cannabis legalization become what it is today. Jordan is policy consultant and partner at Strategies64, along with Mason Tvert from episode 98. For a deeper dive into cannabis policy with Jordan, check out his podcast "Weed Wonks."

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

Aaron Shaw is back for a FOURTH time on the pod to grace our ears in episode 105! A brilliant guest and long-time cannabis industry veteran, Aaron walks us through what's going on currently in the Colorado cannabis industry; and let me tell you, it's not great! He tells us what it's been like hustling pounds to dispensaries as small shops and grows are closing their doors every week due to the rising costs of operation and lack of profits. Buckle up for another hilarious episode filled with laughs, dabs and endless cannabis industry insights!

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

Ryan Ashby (@ryan_hashby on Instagram) christens the new podcast setup with McCarter and lots of hash! Fun and informative, this conversation flows from Ryan's younger years, to working in the sketchiest of cannabis operations, to helping run and manage one of the most successful dispensaries in Denver: Reefer Madness. A man of the community, he also hosts events to bring stoners together to get high and give back. BONUS: Ryan spills the tea on testifying in court for selling weed to a man now on trial for murder. For more information on Reefer Madness, go to ReeferMadnessDenver.com.

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

In Episode 103, McCarter chats with Ben Owens, a professional cannabis ghostwriter and home grower, who has worked in the illicit Missouri and legal Colorado markets for over a decade. The conversation explores how Ben's journey has evolved from selling weed in college to using his years of accumulated knowledge to help clients in the current cannabis industries tell their stories. Ben talks about what ghostwriting really involves, how he captures a client’s authenticity, and the specific challenges of writing in a field that’s constantly evolving.

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

Bradleigh Turner has one of the most unexpected jobs: she professionally rolls blunts for celebrity rappers and artists that come through Denver on tour. In episode 102, McCarter chats with Bradleigh about how she carved out space in a world that’s usually closed off and male-dominated, what it’s like working behind the scenes with high-profile clients, and how she turned a niche talent into real business. No smoke and mirrors, just a raw look at cannabis culture, hustle, and the reality of working in the shadows of fame.

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! They press their rosin with stainless steel, never nylon, so you don't have to worry about micro-plastics. Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.

What is your purpose? In episode 101, McCarter sits down with coach and “human awakener” Zachariah Kral for a transformative conversation about what it means to awaken to your purpose and live it every day. Zachariah shares his own journey, how he helps others peel back the layers of conditioning, and why so many of us feel stuck in a world that wants us to be scared. We dive into what it means to manifest and take practical steps towards walking your true path. In this episode, McCarter mentions the Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast episode #314 with Damien Echols.

High Minded with McCarter is sponsored by Good Trees, McCarter's favorite rosin brand in Colorado! Find more information at TheGoodTreesCo.com or on Instagram @youcantteachgoodtaste.