To Be Blunt

“It's time for legalization. We are normalizing the plant and things are moving. And people are learning about it and educating themselves. And that's what's most important.” -  David Paleschuck

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes David Paleschuck, author and Founder of PALESCHUCK LLC, to expound his insights about branding for the cannacurious, attributes to a standout brand, and pointers to best serve our unique target demographic.

 

[00:01 – 07:06] Shayda shares why October is special

[07:07– 14:29] Cannabis Branding and David’s Story on Cannabis 

[14:30 – 24:33] Brand Positioning  - More than Basic Benefit

[24:34 – 38:54] Presenting a Standout Brand

[38:55 – 49:09] Types of Consumers in the Cannabis Space

[49:10 – 51:59] Food for Thought: How do you best serve your unique target demographic?

 

With 15+ years of brand-building and consumer marketing experience serving American Express, MasterCard, PepsiCo, and Microsoft, David has participated in developing and marketing many of today’s best-known brands. His career focus has been on brand strategy, brand development, brand management, and integrated marketing. He has developed, activated, and led comprehensive marketing programs designed to connect brands with relevant communities in consistent, credible, and meaningful ways. Since entering the cannabis industry in 2012, David has created profitable partnerships while working as the VP, Licensing & Brand Partnerships at DOPE Magazine and crafted award-winning, cannabis-infused products as the Chief Brand Officer at Evergreen Herbal. David is perhaps best known for his writings and thought-leadership on cannabis branding and marketing. His writings have been featured in Forbes, Kiplingers, The Brookings Institution, The Green Report, Green Entrepreneur, Dope Magazine, High Times, PROHBTD, Cannabis Dispensary Magazine, MG, The Cannabis Industry Journal, A Different Leaf, Skunk Magazine, and New Cannabis Ventures, among others. David’s book, “Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis” – the first book on cannabis branding – released in April 2021 and ramped to be the #1 best-selling book on Amazon in the “Branding & Logo Design” and “Green Business” categories. As Founder of PALESCHUCK, LLC (www.paleschuck.com), David consults within the legal cannabis industry on product development, branding & brand licensing, positioning, packaging and promotions.

Connect with David

Visit www.brandingbud.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @brandingbud

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“There's a key path that businesses need to take to transform into a brand.” -  Shayda Torabi

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“[Customers] have said CBD didn't work. For me, that's a lost customer, that's money down the toilet. That's a lost opportunity because either they didn't know how to best use your products, or they didn't know how to tailor their experience with the plant.” - Lauren Wilson

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lauren Wilson, bestselling author and freelance writer, to discuss the process of obtaining reliable information, the power of customer education, and the importance of fact-checking to enhance cannabis experience.

 

[00:01 – 10:16] Lauren talks about Becoming a Cannabis Nerd

[10:17 – 20:24] Utilizing Varying Media to Publish Content

[20:25 – 30:50] Ensuring the Reliability and Validity of Information

[30:51 – 39:48] Lauren discusses facts about THCO

[39:49 – 58:20] The Power of Consumer Education on Cannabis

[58:21 – 01:00:16] Food for Thought: Who do you turn to for a gut check?

 

Lauren Wilson is a bestselling author and freelance writer. With three CBD books under her belt, Lauren is passionate about shifting the social landscape and moving the industry forward through consumer education. As a well-rounded nerd she likes to lead with science, but believes cannabis can be a tool in a more holistic toolkit for health and wellness. Her latest books, done in partnership with MERRY JANE, are part of The CBD Solution series and can be found wherever books are sold.

Connect with Lauren 

Visit www.laurenmwilson.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @laurendoesthis

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“It's not just cannabis, it's information in general, it's become so much harder for folks to parse out what's real and what's not.” - Lauren Wilson

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“The majority of people that qualify for social equity didn't qualify like myself. And one of these licenses, they didn't qualify because they were arrested for cannabis or their immediate family members have and they qualify based on where they live. Now, there's some truth to that, that neighborhoods have been targeted and people suffer because of that.” - Mike Malcolm

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Mike Malcolm, founder of Weed Travel Food, to talk about the disorderly legalization processes, how the cannabis lottery system works, and how he equipped himself through the challenges.

[00:01 – 09:56] Mike Shares his Cannabis Journey

[09:57 – 24:09] The Mystifying Processes of Social Equity

[24:10 – 38:55] Inside the Cannabis Lottery System

[38:56 – 59:29] The Flawed Legalization Processes

[59:30 – 1:01:54] Food for Thought: Prepare for the highs and lows in the industry.

I'm Mike. I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago! ⁣⁣⁣I’m a real estate investor since I graduated high school in 2000 and a Realtor w/ @atproperties since 2012.⁣⁣ I’ve always been passionate about cannabis, travel, and food so I founded the @weedtravelfood brand where I operate my media production company “WTF Media LLC” and my cannabis industry consulting firm “WTF Consulting LLC”, as featured in major media outlets like the Chicago Sun-Times, FOX News and ABC News.⁣⁣ I work with cannabis companies and brands across the country on everything - product development, content creation, community engagement and outreach.⁣⁣⁣ I’m a social equity applicant and currently have 10 dispensary license applications under review by the state of Illinois.⁣⁣⁣ I’m an equity partner of the @cronjaculture cannabis brand. My partners have distribution, manufacturing, and delivery licenses based out of Los Angeles, California. We currently have ancillary products for sale online, dispensaries in LA and Chicago, and we’ll have cannabis products on California shelves in 2021.⁣⁣⁣  In March 2021, I created a syllabus and course about Cannabis Marketing and Branding for Olive Harvey College. I'm currently an Adjunct faculty member there, teaching my course weekly and I sit on the City of Chicago College's Cannabis Advisory Council.⁣⁣⁣ I’m a proud member of Chicago NORML, Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition, and National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Connect with Mike

Visit https://www.weedtravelfood.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @weedtravelfood  

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“Because we're in cannabis, a lot of it is really unclear on how to proceed and move forward. And so I think it's really cool to hear these kinds of new and interesting ways to navigate the system.” - Shayda Torabi

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“When we build this [position in the cannabis industry], we're building it for the future, you know, we're building it for the long haul, and we're taking a bold position on what we think the future will hold.” - Matthew Cohen

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Matthew Cohen, CEO of purejuana to talk about the journey to pioneering the spirits category in the industry, introducing a new need in the market, and how he kept the pure cannabis culture alive through innovation.

 

[00:01 – 05:34] Introducing purejuana and Changing the Cannabis Game

[05:35 – 16:46] Facing Raids and Pioneering the Spirits Category

[16:47 – 30:19] Challenges of Entering the Category and Proper Positioning

[30:20 – 39:28] Educating the Customers the Cannabis Experience Pathline

[39:29 – 51:44] Mindful Marketing Towards Clarity for Clients

[51:45 – 54:45] Food for Thought: How do you innovate while keeping the culture pure?

 

Matthew Cohen co-founded Lively Spirits, a psychotropic spirits company leveraging nature's bounty of plants and fungi to craft euphoric beverages in 2020, and currently helms the Company as its Chief Executive Officer. A serial cannabis entrepreneur with nearly three decades rooted in the industry, Cohen got his start advocating for medical cannabis use among patients in the late 1990s, as California’s medical marijuana program was in its infancy. In 2009, Cohen founded Northstone Organics, a farm-direct entity that became the first licensed cannabis producer in the state of California until it was abruptly raided and shut down by the DEA in 2011. As California’s regulatory framework continued to emerge, Cohen went on to lead a number of successful cannabis ventures, including the Emerald Growers Association, a not-for-profit association of medical cannabis cultivators, business owners, and patients advocating for public policies that foster a more sustainable medical cannabis industry. He also helped lead Harborside Health Center, and he founded TRiQ, an industrial solutions provider focused on growing, processing and manufacturing cannabis with innovative technology, which included Cohen’s own invention, the Vulcann50 industrial drying machine. Cohen’s series of disruptive innovations is predated by a history of activism and patient care.  Cohen was named one of the 100 most influential People in the Cannabis Industry by Cannabis Business Executive and has been featured in the New York Times, This American Life, Slate, The Week, Rolling Stone, and Frontline.

Connect with Matthew

Visit https://www.purejuana.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @purejuanaofficial

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

SPONSORSHIP is brought to you by Restart CBD. Check them out for your CBD needs

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RESTART CBD is an education first CBD wellness brand shipping nationwide.
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Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tobebluntpod.substack.com

“Bear through obstacles. Everything is a speed bump, nothing is a brick wall. And I think if you have an optimistic attitude and you're not willing to take no for an answer, it's not about ‘it's never gonna happen’, it's ‘when is it going to happen?’.” - Ryan Crandall

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Ryan Crandall, co-founder of Betty’s Eddies, to share his story of MSO acquisition, the impact of varying state laws on business operations, and broadening our perspective on the opportunities within the cannabis industry.

[00:01 – 07:00] Ryan Shares his Experience on Medical Cannabis

[07:01 – 12:56] Filling the Void of Quality Products

[12:57 – 23:22] Understanding MSOs and the Acquisition Process

[23:23 – 32:15] Market-based Approach in Branding Towards Consistency

[32:16 – 38:09] Understanding Laws and Becoming a Multi-State Operator

[38:10 – 45:11] Innovation Opportunity for Big and Small Businesses

[45:12 – 54:49] Food for Thought: How Do You Broaden the Opportunities in the Industry?

Ryan Crandall is the co-founder of Betty’s Eddies, a premium all natural products and confections brand, which he launched in 2013. Betty’s Eddies was acquired by MariMed Inc. in September 2017. Since the acquisition, Crandall has been the Chief Product Officer & SVP of Sales for MariMed Inc. MariMed designs, develops, finances, and optimizes medical cannabis cultivation, production, and dispensary facilities as a management service. MariMed's team has developed or is in the process of developing state-of-the art regulatory-compliant facilities in DE, IL, NV, MD, MA and RI. These facilities are models of excellence in horticultural principals, cannabis production, product development, and dispensary operations. MariMed is on the forefront of precision dosed branded products for the treatment of specific medical symptoms. MariMed currently distributes its branded products in select states and is expanding licensing and distribution to numerous additional states encompassing thousands of dispensaries. MariMed Inc., is one of the 17 top-performing public cannabis companies in the U.S. tracked on the U.S. Marijuana Index.

Connect with Ryan

Visit https://marimedinc.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @marimed_inc

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“You just have to be willing to look at the data when you do have it and be able to make quick decisions and be malleable to what the market is telling you needs to happen.” - Ryan Crandall

“We are all about patients. We're all about our customers, and we're all about trying to improve their lives every day.” - Ryan Crandall

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“So whenever you just get the chance to, you know, kind of be a little creative, be scrappy, and take your own photos. I make my own content. I make content for my channels that we use. And that's definitely the route like marketing you can totally make happen.” - Elizabeth Udell

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Udell, Digital Marketing Manager at  CannaCraft, Elizabeth joins us to share her invaluable perspectives on scaling in the cannabis industry, the huge role of digital marketing, and the works behind creating a legacy brand.

 

[00:01 – 08:02] Shayda’s CBD Discovery and Updates

[08:03– 18:06] Digital Marketing and Liz’s Story on Cannabis 

[18:07 – 24:38] Understanding and Engaging in the Groundwork

[24:39 – 28:49] Realizing the Need for Guidance in the Industry

[28:50 – 38:09] The FAQs of Creating a Legacy Brand

[38:10 – 53:09] Acknowledging the Realities of the Cannabis Industry

[53:10 – 56:23] Food for Thought: How do you create freedom with your brand? 

 

Elizabeth Udell is a digital marketing manager based in Los Angeles. Born in New York City, she moved down to South Florida as a child and ended up at the University of Florida studying Public Relations and Mass Communications. While at UF, she started writing for the 2nd highest trafficked electronic music blog at the time, EDMTunes which landed her a role at Insomniac Events as a social media manager in Los Angeles. Over the years she has pivoted from music to cannabis and brought her marketing experience with her. Once she mastered the digital marketing of medical and adult-use cannabis in 10 states, she brought her services to clients all over the world in various markets. Her brands include MedMen, CannaCraft, West Coast Cure, Houseplant, Kush Queen and Advanced Nutrients. She also teaches social media management and content writing part time at San Diego State University.

Connect with Elizabeth

Visit https://www.cannacraft.com/ and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @lizoodell @cannacraftbrands

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“It's very poor planning on my part to have these big grandiose dreams without knowing what is actually the potential possibility for me to have.” - Elizabeth Udell

“You just got to be ready to play. Like if this is your dream like this. You gotta make it a reality and just no head in the clouds.” - Elizabeth Udell

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“This war on drugs is like really trying to turn lives upside down. It's like they're almost creating this criminal out of thin air... You're creating people to be criminals. And I didn't want to be a statistic. I just don't want to be another black man who goes to jail, comes back out, and goes back to jail again.” - Earl Carruthers

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Earl Carruthers, founder of G3 Cannabis Therapy, to talk about his intense journey in his business and pioneering change from the community up to influencing the legislation on marijuana law.

[00:01 – 07:57] Earl Carruthers’ Powerful Story in the Medical Market

[07:58– 19:23] Discovering the Loopholes, Discrimination, and Stigma on Marijuana Law

[19:24 – 23:16] Engulfing in a Movement Affecting the Legislation

[23:17 – 29:23] Repercussions Due to Ambiguous Policies

[29:24 – 38:54] Establishing Support Systems Via Communities

[38:55 – 53:09] The Timeframe of Marijuana Law Revisions to Commercialization

[53:10 – 54:30] Food for Thought: Do you feel afraid or empowered on moving forward with cannabis in your city or state? 

Since 2010, Earl Carruthers has been a pioneer in the Cannabis Industry. He is a business owner, the first POC dispensary owner in Michigan and has been party to two State of Michigan Supreme Court cases, one changing the legal definition of “edibles.” Earl has spent the past decade as a Cannapreneur, owning and operating a grow, 3 dispensaries and processing Cannabis into many different products for his patients and customers. In January 2011, Earl was apprehended during a traffic stop leading to a lawsuit that ultimately ended with a change in Michigan Cannabis law. The following year, Earl’s dispensary was raided after being visited by an undercover cop. So as you can see, Earl has had some very unique and undesirable circumstances along the way while navigating the shifting tides of Michigan’s ever changing laws. But like every good entrepreneur, Earl kept his chin up, head down and moved forward. From then on he made it his mission to restore the use of Cannabis for Therapy. That’s why he founded The Cannabis Therapy Network in partnership with his sub-brands The Craft Cannabis Club and Tiggity. He is also the co-host of the Cannabis Therapy PotCast providing Cannabis resources, knowledge and community for Cannabis consumers, advocates and connoisseurs.

Connect with Earl

Visit https://www.cannabistherapynetwork.org/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @cannatherapynetwork 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“It comes down to the local level and understanding what they stand for as far as what your beliefs are.” - Earl Carruthers 

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LEAVE A R

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“People buy products from companies that believe what they believe. If you don't start off with a strong belief system, then it's really difficult to create an authentic brand. In this internet world where people see through everything and have access to everything, authenticity is really essential.” - Shawn Gold

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Shawn Gold, founder of Pilgrim Soul, to share his strategies in establishing an authentic brand with a strong belief system, challenging default thinking, and embracing creative thinking in marketing.

[00:01 – 05:23] How Shawn Gold Started in Cannabis

[05:24 – 18:19] Pilgrim Soul and The Creative Perspective and Ideation in Market Positioning

[18:20– 28:24] Utilizing Product Features for Branding Perspective

[20:00 – 34:21] Influencing Loyalty in the Brand

[34:22 – 43:08] Fostering an Emotive Experience with Customers

[43:09 – 56:04] Leveraging Media and Tools to Effectively Market

[56:05 – 57:43] Food for Thought: What Prompts You to Connect to Yourself Deeply?

Shawn Gold is Founder and CEO of Pilgrim Soul, a mission-driven cannabis brand focused on optimizing human creative performance to gain a competitive edge in business and life. Until recently, Shawn was CMO of Lowell Herb Co., one of the fastest-growing cannabis companies in North America. He has been an advisor to other leading cannabis brands including MedMen and Charlottes Web. Previous to Lowell, he was CMO at TechStyle Fashion Group in its growth to over $1Billion in sales.  Before TechStyle he was head of entertainment brand partnerships at Wattpad.com. Before Wattpad, he oversaw sales, marketing, and content development as CMO of Inside Studios. In the early days of social media, Shawn was CMO, head of marketing & content for MySpace, spearheaded the development and implementation of marketing initiatives and campaigns during its growth from 25 to 110 million users worldwide. Prior to MySpace, he was a partner and the founding publisher of Weblogs, Inc., a network of popular blogs that included Engadget, Joystiq, and Autoblog, now part of Verizon. As head of communications planning for Rare Medium, Shawn helped launch digital communications strategies for brands at P&G, General Mills, Nestle, Mattel, and other international brand marketing companies.

Connect with Shawn

Visit https://www.pilgrimsoul.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @pilgrim_soul_creative & @CreativityOnCannabis

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“The general concept of finding your big ideal as a brand or even as a human being all goes back to who you are, what you stand for, and what your role in society is as a brand.” - Shawn Gold

SPONSORSHIP is brought to you by Restart CBD. Check them out for your C

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RESTART CBD is an education first CBD wellness brand shipping nationwide.
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tobebluntpod.substack.com

“Everybody has sort of a different perspective on what's going on in the industry and where the industry's going from here. So we want to get as many different voices in the magazine and on the website as we can.” - Kathee Brewer 

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Kathee Brewer, award-winning journalist, and author, to discuss how large of a role media plays in cannabis going mainstream, what it’s like to be a publisher in the cannabis space, and being able to personally navigate all kinds of press.   

 

[00:01 – 11:23] How Kathee Brewer Started in Cannabis 

[11:24 – 17:52] Background on mg Retailer and the Diverse Channels They Cover 

[17:53 – 28:24] How A Story Goes From an Email Pitch to Published  

[28:25 – 35:52] The Differences Between Digital and Print Media 

[35:53 – 47:06] Is All Press Really Good Press? Navigating Negative Media Attention and the Differences Between Criticism and Conversation 

[47:07 – 57:58] Where Is The Cannabis Industry Headed? 

[57:59 – 1:01:26] Food For Thought: What Is Your Unique Perspective?  

 

Kathee Brewer is the editorial director for Incunabulum Inc., a business-to-business media company serving cannabis professionals with award-winning publications including mg Magazine and CBD Today. An Air Force veteran and award-winning editor, columnist, and author, she shares her home in Austin, Texas, with two tiny but fearsome rescue dogs.

Connect with Kathee 

Visit https://mgretailer.com/ and follow mg Retailer on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @mgretailer

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

 

Key Quotes:

“One of the directions we see cannabis going is becoming a mainstream consumer packaged goods company just like cereal or any other category that you can think of. Cannabis is heading in that direction. And it probably won't be that long before it's completely accepted by society as that kind of thing.”  - Kathee Brewer

“It would be a very dull world if everybody agreed about everything.” - Kathee Brewer

“Cannabis is obviously a threat to be reckoned with. But when you look at the landscape for navigating the industry; trade publications, media publications, resources, technology, it's all still very new.” - Shayda Torabi

 

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LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to join me for episodes featuring some serious cannabis industry by sharing this episode or click here to listen to our previous episodes. You can listen to my podcast on Spotify, Stitcher, Buzzsprout, and Itunes.

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RESTART CBD is an education first CBD wellness brand shipping nationwide.
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Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi chats with Geroge Jage on maximizing the benefits of trade shows for your unique goals and what makes a great CPG Brand.  

[00:01 – 16:09] George’s Story, Getting Started in the Trade Show Space, and MJ Unpacked

[16:10 – 33:42] MJ Unpacked’s Role in Bringing Brands to Market and The Benefits of Trade Shows

[33:43 – 43:30] Elevating Consumer Packaged Goods Through Storytelling and Content

[43:31 – 52:34] MJ Unpacked Canvassing for a Star CPG Brand

[52:35 – 53:52] Food For Thought

 

George Jage is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Jage Media and Jage Media’s national, cannabis CPG Trade Show MJ Unpacked. Jage Media also operates MJ Brand Insights, providing sharp, substantive, and reliable industry intel for cannabis brands and retailers. George Jage is widely revered as a B2B growth specialist and business builder with a proven track record of identifying new markets and opportunities to scale national businesses. George excels in navigating complex landscapes and accelerating financial performance and asset growth for his clients and peers. Before founding Jage Media and its properties, George was Co-founder & Exec VP of the Off-Price Show (1993 - 2001), Co-founder & CEO of World Tea Media (2002 - 2012), and Group Director of the Beverage Group at F&W Media (2013 - 2014). During their substantive growth years, George served as President of Marijuana Business Daily (2014 - 2017), and Chief Executive Officer of Dope Media (2017 - 2019) leading the six-year-old startup to its acquisition by High Times. 

George is recognized by Trade Show Executive as an Elite Leader and is the recipient of the Jerry Valen Award of Distinction for Hospitality & Convention Executive of the Year by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He’s been awarded the Nevada Entrepreneur Award by Business Magazine, named Top 20 Under 40 by Gourmet News, and the Next Generation of Leaders by Tradeshow Week Magazine. George holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. He enjoys quality time with his family, camping, hiking, golf, and is continually awarded #1 DAD by his kids.  

Connect with George and visit https://mjunpacked.com & https://www.jagemedia.com or follow on Instagram @mjunpacked

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quotes:

“What really creates success in events and trade shows is having this feeling of an executive conference when you have a chance to sit down and have a conversation with somebody, and get to know them, their challenges, and their opportunities. And that is what ultimately leads to a transactional event because people don't do business with companies, they do business with people.” - George Jage 

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