The Conversation, Cannabis & Christianity podcast

Dick Wilkinson is a retired Army veteran who currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He served 20 years as a military intelligence analyst with a specialty in communications and space technology. Now, he is the chief technology officer, and co-founder of Proof Labs, a cyber security company focused on space technology. He lived in New Mexico when the cannabis industry converted from medical to adult use, and he co-founded a cannabis farm. He started a network of veterans that were entering the cannabis industry and helped them connect with business resources and a community of support to get their businesses up and running, and they are still running today. It's a good listen with Dick Wilkinson.  

Join Dr. Lissa Skitolsky and Aaron Weil for a conversation focused on a Jewish heritage tour in Israel cultivated specifically for medical professionals in the cannabis industry. Scheduled for June 2025 (date change after recording).

Includes: Unprecedented access to world renown industry innovators, site visits to licensed producers, hand-picked guides and culinary experiences.

Dr. Lissa Skitolsky is an author, grower and advocate with an academic background in Jewish philosophy. Born in Washington DC, Lissa moved to Nova Scotia in 2019 and completed a post-secondary program in Cannabis Cultivation.  As the Founder of Cannabis JewMagazine, she provides Jewish educational outreach to Licensed Producers. Lissa is the author of Hip-Hop as Philosophical Text and Testimony (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020) and the forthcoming Chosen Stoners: A Joint History of Jews and Cannabis.

With decades of experience in leadership and advocacy roles within the American Jewish community, Aaron recently returned to Israel after an 18 year stint in the United States as the CEO & ED of Hillels in Pittsburgh and Orlando. Hillel is the world's largest Jewish campus based organization with over 500 locations worldwide. Prior to this, Aaron worked for AIPAC and the Jewish Federations of America, Washington Action Office. He is active in philanthropy efforts for a number of US and I Israeli-based non-profits and is working on a new book. Weil resides in Ra’anana, Israel with his wife, Sharon. Weil is a native Floridian and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

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.

Dr. Xanqunnes Singh is a medical doctor passionate about the nexus between psychedelics, the mind, and AI. He's on a mission inspired by the hero’s psychedelic journey and has a message to share. When he's not sharing his message, he enjoys picking up heavy objects and putting them down.

https://youtube.com/@cosmicbuddhamd?si=AeAFRkhrw2G7XnVF 

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.

Lena is a Medicine Woman, Transpersonal Psychotherapist & Transformational Speaker, offering the ancient practices of meditation, energy medicine and psycho-spiritual healing to the modern world. Lena is a global teacher and speaker with areas of expertise including conscious leadership, meditation, energy medicine, longevity, holistic health, human optimization, plant medicine, shamanism, sacred reciprocity and ecosystem consciousness, supporting people to embody their highest human potential as they step into their purpose. Lena interweaves her medicine lineages from South America, Central America and Asia into her ceremonial plant medicine work, supporting the healing and transformation of humanity and our earth by being an instrument of energetic harmony.

Raised in a hybrid Buddhist/Christian home, Lena was introduced to meditation as a young child and now integrates Eastern philosophy with Western neuroscience in her healing and teaching work. Formally trained with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Social Work both from The University of Georgia, Lena is dedicated to guiding others on a journey of embodied purpose, presence and liberated wholeness. Additionally, Lena has studied and trained in Asia, Central America and South America, weaving her lineages of Mahayana Buddhism, Mopan Maya Ancient Medicine, Q'ero Peruvian Shamanism and Shipibo Medicine Wisdom into her global work as a speaker and medicine woman.

Lena is the founder of The BEING Method ~ a systematic method for igniting your highest human potential through mindfulness & meditation and The Meditation Membership ~ a curated membership of audio and video meditative teachings channeled by Lena, interweaving meditation, mindfulness, energy medicine and breath.

An essential part of Lena’s healing work is hosting transformational workshops and immersions in sacred lands all over the globe. Throughout her career, she has guided thousands to transform their suffering into strength by accessing their multi-dimensional existence as souls in human form.

Lena has been featured in Vogue, The NY Times, Telegraph, World Travel Magazine and has graced the cover of Yoga Magazine three times. Additionally, she has been featured on TV networks such as Bravo and Lifetime. Lena is the host of The Medicine Wisdom Show where she discusses a variety of holistic medicine and healing modalities with other leaders in the field. Visit her websites to learn more about her healing programs, transformative workshops and international immersions: lenafranklin.com

José Pereira is an international speaker, leadership

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

Jack is a Boston-based investigative reporter covering the psychedelic and cannabis legalization movements in New England and nationwide. His reporting has been published by the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism (BINJ), by Talking Joints Memo, DoubleBlind Magazine, Filter Magazine, Psychedelic

Legacy 420 is Canada's first indigenous medical marijuana production and dispensary company and has been in business for over a decade. Tim Barnhart is Legacy 420's founder and current owner, and he is putting Legacy 420 up for sale. Tim tells the story of how Legacy 420 came to be and offers his contact information for serious buyers in our conversation.

This podcast asks guests personal questions that many people are not willing to answer for public consumption. Thank you VERY much to Season Four guests!

April Lemon

Trent Hancock

Mary Jane Oatman

Sherry Bennett

Tim Barnhart

Ken Watkins

Hunt Priest

Faye Smith

Sergiy Kovalenkov

Lonnie Kessler

James O'Hara

Dr. Randall S. Hansen

Cole Butler

Alan Wiederhold

Gooey Rabinski

Rod Kight

Monica Olano

Dr. Chris Slininger

Cesar Marin

Julie Ann Mejia

John Bailey

Jake Housdon

Jay Naidoo & Lucie Page

Tracey Tee

Michelle Samuels

Natasha Kerry Smith