The Conversation, Cannabis & Christianity podcast

James’s story is not a simple narrative about cannabis—it’s the chronicle of a man who spent decades enduring physical damage, failed medical treatments, and a profound emotional collapse before discovering a tool that allowed him to rebuild. His journey stretches across childhood illnesses, industrial work injuries, chronic digestive disease, nerve damage, and even a near-death car accident. Over time, these experiences carved both the wounds and the wisdom that shape how he sees health, humanity, and the future.

JP Donahue started his professional life with a law degree from St. John's University and a big job at a big firm in New York City. He quit one year in to write movies and television scripts. People thought he was nuts, but that choice began a 15-year run as a screenwriter in Los Angeles. He's authored over 25 original, for-hire, and uncredited rewrites for film and television at companies like Warner Bros., Dreamworks, CBS and NBC.

He left Hollywood for cannabis in 2009, and after a decade in cultivation, he co-founded, Tropicana Dispensary, created the brand, and grew it into a $20M Superbrand in 18 months. His bold branding broke the mold and still influences cannabis branding today. In 2021, he exited Tropicana and moved to Costa Rica where he currently resides and operates, The Stoned Ape.

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 hisMS-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.

Brendan Delaney is a 15-year cannabis industry executive, consultant, and founder of Water Leaf Consulting. His career began in Northern California’s legacy market, where he operated multiple cultivation sites across Trinity and Mendocino Counties — experience that shaped his deep understanding of genetics, plant health, and real-world cultivation environments.

As the industry evolved, Brendan transitioned into licensed operations and went on to lead large multi-site cultivation and post-harvest programs, including serving as Vice President of Cultivation at Solar Cannabis Co., the first energy-independent commercial cannabis facility in the United States. He later became Senior Vice President of Operations at Hennep Cannabis, overseeing end-to-end operations and scaling the organization through rapid growth.

Brendan is also a co-founder of Monarch Emulsions, a THC ingredient and formulation company focused on delivering consistent, stable, and high-quality water-soluble cannabinoid emulsions for beverage and infused product manufacturers.

Today, through Water Leaf Consulting, Brendan partners with operators across the U.S. and internationally to design facilities, optimize production systems, develop leadership teams, and build disciplined, scalable operations that deliver quality, consistency, and profitability.

Robert Davis is a creative strategist, systems thinker, and founder of the marketing incubator, Official Agency, in 1999 where he works at the intersection of intelligence, design, narrative, and institutional alignment . With a background spanning cryptologic operations, early infrastructure technologies, brand architecture, and large-scale IP development, his work focuses on pattern recognition, governance clarity, and restoring coherence within complex systems.

Today, Robert applies this lens across strategy,writing, and creative production - examining how perception, narrative pressure, and structural incentives shape outcomes in culture, policy, andhuman behavior.

In the land of the living, you have more than a thread of hope.

Christopher Amy is a Highly skilled Cannabis Cultivation Specialist with expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and a proven track record of successfully maintaining optimal cannabis plant health, managing pests, diseases, and environmental factors to maximize yields.

Chris has grown marijuana for more than 25 years,  mostly black market but the last five years he's been in the commercial industry in New Mexico. He makes his own cultivars/ breed cannabis strains, believes Jesus is who He says He is and Chris hasn't had a sip of alcohol in almost four years.  Cannabis helps him remain alcohol free.  

A life lived on both sides of the millennia, Michael Vecchione has crafted a life through the U.S. Coast Guard (his first retirement), the production and distribution of craft cigars and the delicate details of roasting quality coffee for the Norfolk/Tidewater Area and its universities and businesses. Connecting the dots of life and helping others do the same as he lives a full life that continues to move forward.

Janice's journey began when she hosted wellness gatherings on her lavender farm, where she discovered the power of aligning health with purpose. Since then, she has dedicated her work to helping others unlock their potential, build joyful living, and design lives that feel both vibrant and sustainable.

She is a transformational leader at the intersection of holistic wellness and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. She helps empower women to experience radiant health, vibrant energy, and aligned success by blending science-backed nutritional rebalancing with heart-centered business mentorship.

Through her 90-Day Reset and the Art of Living Joyfully community, she guides busy professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs to restore confidence, improve skin and hair health, and create scalable income streams rooted in authenticity and integrity.

Janice believes true transformation starts within—and when your wellness and business are aligned, you can create impact, freedom, and a legacy of empowerment that inspires others to rise.

Colin lives a life built upon foundational change. Currently, he is the owner/founder of a resilient technology application called, Upling, and he is also a social-impact entrepreneur who turned personal adversity into industry innovation. After surviving multiple gunshot wounds and wrongful cannabis-related incarceration, he rebuilt his path through prison ministry, community advocacy, and entrepreneurship - going on to become a recognized business leader and a Top 40 Under 40 honoree.

He founded Upling to expand safe, compliant access to cannabis and alternative wellness through technology, AI, and patient-protected delivery systems, with a strong commitment to second-chance hiring and inclusive economic development. His work sits at the intersection of cannabis, data, and social equity — building infrastructure that improves access while creating opportunity for underserved communities.