The Conversation, Cannabis & Christianity podcast

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

‭‭

Tressa Silvey is a CPA and senior-level finance executive with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, where she honed her expertise in navigating dynamic and highly regulated environments. In late 2023, she leveraged this experience to launch her own accounting and CFO practice, specializing in serving the cannabis & CBD/hemp industry.

As a DOPE CFO Certified Advisor, Tressa guides companies through the unique financial and tax complexities of this emerging market. She empowers her clients to simplify their operations, gain valuable financial insights, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their businesses. Tressa is passionate about helping business owners build strong financial foundations, maintain compliance and achieve sustainable growth.

Mark and Michele’s path began in 2019 with their first ayahuasca experience — a moment that opened the door to deep healing, clarity, and transformation. What started as a personal awakening quickly became a calling to help others find the same freedom, connection, and inner truth.

 Walking this medicine path reshaped their lives, their purpose, and their relationship. Guided by the belief that healing should be accessible, safe, andsupported, they set out to build spaces where people could learn, connect, and grow together.

From that vision came The Plant Medicine Path, a thriving community dedicated to education, integration, and conscious living. Alongside it, theylaunched Mama Dose, offering micro-dosing support and high-integrity products for daily mental clarity — and Medicine with the Medals, a podcast sharing realstories, wisdom, and heartfelt conversations about plant medicine and personal transformation.

 Their mission is simple:

To empower others through education, community, and the healing intelligenceof plant medicines.

Because when people feel supported, informed, and connected, transformationbecomes possible — for individuals and for the world.

On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

José Pereira is an international speaker, leadership coach, resilience expert and advocate with over 35 years in the oil and gas industry. His life took a dramatic turn when he was taken hostage in a foreign country, enduring nearly five years of captivity. During this dark period, his faith in God became his anchor, shaping his resilience and purpose.

José shares his journey in his book, From Hero to Villain - My True Story of the CITGO6, where he explores lessons of faith, resilience and transformation. He has been featured on podcasts worldwide and hosts his own podcast, Building Resilience, inspiring audiences with insights on overcoming adversity and leading with empathy.

As an advocate for the hostage community, José works to raise awareness and support families affected by hostage diplomacy. He remains deeply connected to his faith, actively participating in church service and using his experiences to inspire and uplift others. Today, through his coaching, speaking, and advocacy, José empowers leaders to balance success with purpose and resilience in their lives.

All natural ingredients, no synthetics. Mandy Lile's dedication to safe, effective skincare began at a young age. Witnessing firsthand the transformative power of botanicals in her skincare spa, Mandy was drawn to the potential of cannabinoids. After incorporating this ancient ingredient into her formula, the results were undeniable. In 2018, Potency No. 710 was born with authentic ingredients, not synthetics.

Interestingly, Mandy’s Dad spent 14 years in prison on marijuana charges. Mandy grew up with stigma but never succumbed to it, she ascended.

the Religion Business is a docu-series that focuses on churches that expend great energy and efforts to ensure they do not have to be transparent with how they spend the tithes and donations people give, in the name of Jesus.

Ruth Fisher, Ph.D., is a systems design researcher, modeler, and analyst. She studies markets to determine how environments shape outcomes. Dr. Fisher has 30 years of experience in the technology and healthcare industries and has worked on behalf of technology companies, early-stage researchers, physicians, and technology start-ups.

Dr. Fisher came to cannabis in 2016 to help her brother figure out how to use medical cannabis to address his MS-induced neuropathic pain. Since then, she’s become an ardent researcher and advocate for medical cannabis use. As an economist, she’s also fascinated by cannabis technologies and market dynamics – how the industry is evolving for both medical and adult use, and how well the industry is serving the different market participants.

Dr. Fisher is author of,The Medical Cannabis Primer: Ushering in the Golden Age of Marijuana.

Ryan “420 Chief” Johnson is a 20-year retired U.S. Navy Chief who found new purpose through healing and advocacy. After leaving the service, he quit drinking and got off all prescription medications with the help of cannabis. That journey inspired him to write Strains for Pains, a book designed to educate others on the healing benefits of cannabis and help people document their own wellness paths.

 He later launched the 420 Chief Podcast, where he shares powerful veteran stories of recovery and transformation through plant medicine. His mission grew into Break Stigmas, a nonprofit that bridges the gap between veterans and civilians through meetups, education, and awareness of the veteran suicide crisis.

Ryan is also the founder of Sunnyside of Chief, a veteran-owned CBD brand focused on improving quality of life through natural healing. Whether through his podcast, his nonprofit, or his live “music therapy” sessions on TikTok, Ryan continues to lead with purpose — showing others that we are #NeverAlone, always #BetterTogether, and committed to #End22aDay.

A person's wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.