Lit And Lucid

Welcome to the season finale of Lit & Lucid Season 14! Joining us is Milan Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of PathogenDx. PathogenDx has been an Arizona-based provider of microbial testing technologies since 2014 and has created an easy to use swab test for testing cannabis crops for over 30 pathogens with results in 6 hours. Milan explains more about creating efficiency with cannabis pathogen testing in Episode 149. Milan shares with us the importance of consumer safety when it comes to what we consume. He explains the science behind PathogenDx's cannabis pathogen testing technology and how it differs from others on the market. This technology is currently being used in many cannabis testing labs across the U.S. quickly detecting pathogens such as aspergillus, powdery mildew, ecoli, listeria and more. PathogenDx has also expanded their offering into food safety and most recently in 2020 pivoted to work on COVID-19 variant testing. Milan shares with us more on the ground-breaking work they are doing in the fiel

For all of our listeners interested in investing in cannabis this episode is for you! We sit down with Jason, Wilson, Cannabis Banking and Research Expert at ETFMG. Jason previously worked for INFOR Financial Inc., leading boutique investment bank in Toronto Canada that worked with a number of companies in the cannabis industry including, advising Canopy Growth with their strategic relationship with Constellation Brands. For those who aren't keen on investing Jason provides an easy-to-understand explanation of how to invest in cannabis companies. Jason tells us more about what an ETF is and more on his ETFMG's offering including a full-suite of cannabis ETF's for investors. Jason provides his perspective on cannabis legalization in Canada, the U.S. and even globally. He also reminds us of the wide-range of uses for the cannabis plant from textiles, infrastructure, medical cannabis and recreation. We finish up the show talking about the evolution of cannabis research and how Jason honed in on the field. If you

E.147 features Heather Jackson, Co-Founder of Realm of Caring Foundation and Unlimited Sciences. Realm of Caring is an internationally acclaimed nonprofit primarily serving families who are dealing with life-limiting and chronic health conditions. Today RoC is committed to improving lives through research, education and community. Heather knows first hand about the benefits of cannabis plant medicine as she was able to help navigate her son’s medical condition from hospice to health. Heather shares her own riveting story of seeing first hand how cannabis plant medicine can improve one's quality of life. RoC was also started by Charlotte's Figi's mother, a very well known cannabis patient who touched the lives of many. We discuss the research RoC is doing and how that data is now being shared with medical professionals so that patients are connected to the best resources for their own medical condition. Sparked from her own mental health journey, Heather also started Unlimited Sciences, a non-profit focused on

Welcome everybody to a new year with plenty of amazing guests ahead on the Lit & Lucid Podcast. We are starting this year off with Chris Piazza, Founder of CannaDevices. CannaDevices is a glass distribution company that was started in 2018. Today the company is supplying many of the largest dispensaries in the US including 10 publicly traded cannabis companies. We talk to Chris about how his passion for glass blowing starting and what it takes to work in production glass. Chris explains that CannaDevices was started from his own experience as an artist and the need to offer consistent work to those in the industry. Today CannaDevice's glassblowing efforts are 100% U.S. based. Chris provides insight into what that means supporting local artists through CannaDevices and how consumers can spot an American-made glass piece. We finish the show talking about Startup Syndicate, non-profit where Chris is a founding member offering entrepreneurs tools and capital to start their new business. Tune in to E.146 to fi

E.145 - Cannabis and Fitness + Michigan Cannabis ft. Lamar Byrd Jr. Founder of Kush Pump --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/support

Episode 144 is one heartfelt story just in time for the holidays that truly showcases the injustices our criminal justice system has created for non-violent cannabis offenders. Stephanie Shepard knows first hand how unjust this system can be as she spent 10 years of her life incarcerated for a cannabis crime as a first time offender. We discuss in-depth the numerous issues this caused her both personally and professionally and all the in-betweens from technology challenges, to getting a job after being incarcerated and more. Stephanie is now proudly a Development Associate with the Last Prisoner Project working towards changing the system and helping those behind bars find justice. This year Stephanie was able to create the postcard for the Last Prisoner Project Holiday Letter Drive where you can send letters of hope to cannabis offenders. If you'd like to donate another way check out PAX's latest drop of limited edition LPP apparel where all proceeds benefit this critical mission. If you are in the cannabis

Episode 143 features Marion Mariathasan, CEO of Simplifya in Denver, CO. Marion is a serial entrepreneur having invested in 22 domestic and international companies. Simplifya is the leading regulatory and compliance software company in the cannabis industry. We discuss the features of Simplifya's cannabis compliance software and the importance of having these mechanisms in place especially as company's are expanding as MSO's. We also discuss the solution's Simplifya has created for financial institutions by streamlining cannabis compliance monitoring and the good work they are doing with regulators. We wrap up the show learning a little bit more about Marion's background as an immigrant from Sri Lanka and how those experiences helped shape who he is today. Marion also provides some great advice for entrepreneurs in the industry offering tips on how to adapt to the ups and downs of entrepreneurship! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/support

In Episode 142 of the show we sit down with Amanda Reiman to discuss the importance of growing your own plant medicine. Amanda is the Founder and CEO of Personal Plants which is an online platform that’s been deemed the “food network for mushrooms and cannabis” focusing on providing education for consumers to grow therapeutic plants at home. Amanda has committed over two decades of her academic and professional career to advocating on behalf of plant medicine. We have an in-depth conversation about why growing your own is an important right to have as an individual. Amanda shares with us how this topic relates to social and economic justice issues and some of the downfalls that have occurred with over-reaching regulations in some states. We also discuss the topic of commercialization of both cannabis and psychedelics and what that impact has and will have on the future of plant medicine. Amanda provides insight into what she thinks will happen with the psychedelic movement with legalization and how that diffe

On today's episode we had the honor to sit down with Steven Jung, COO of PAX Labs. Steven brings a wealth of knowledge to the cannabis industry spending time working in Silicon Valley before transitioning to the CEO of Weedmaps and most recently as the COO of PAX. We discussed the latest PAX brand collaboration, the Veterans Releaf Era Pod in honor of Veteran’s Day. Steven explains more about the importance of access for Veterans and how PAX is supporting Weed for Warriors Project and Wounded Warriors Project with these efforts. We discuss how many Veterans are turning to plant medicine over prescription pills and how there are some restrictions to accessibility from monetary to education and acceptance. It's important that Veterans have support from these organizations so they can receive the assistance they need to help deal with PTSD and other medical conditions related to their service. If you are interested in supporting PAX this Veterans Day check out their website to learn more about the bran

Welcome to Season 14 of Lit & Lucid Podcast! We are kicking off the season with Jeff Chilton, President of Nammex, Organic Mushroom Extracts. As a true expert in the field,  Jeff sat down to chat with us about all things mushrooms. Jeff started his journey with mushroom cultivation in the 1970's after studying mycology at the University of WA in the late 1960's. In 1983 Jeff co-authored, The Mushroom Cultivator and then started his own company Nammex in 1989 specializing in mushroom extracts. Nammex introduced medicinal mushrooms to the U.S. nutritional supplement industry offering the first line of certified organic mushroom supplements to consumers. Having been in business for over 30+ years as an innovator in the industry Nammex is truly the gold standard of mushroom extractions in the U.S. Jeff provides listeners with a wealth of knowledge about mushrooms and their medicinal benefits, as well as tips on cultivating your own. We also discuss how Jeff spent ample time in China working with tru

Almost one year ago to the date we celebrated our 100th episode chatting with Jim Belushi discussing the new TV Series on Discovery Channel, Growing Belushi. This year we had the honor of speaking with Jim's cousin, Chris Karakosta, General Manager of Belushi's Farm. Chris shares his background as a serial restaurant entrepreneur and more on how his journey and skillset led him to becoming the GM at Belushi's Farm. We discussed his relationship with Jim and how they have grown closer over the years considering each other brothers, enjoying their time together on the farm. Chris very candidly shares with us a touching story visiting medical marijuana patients in Colorado and the impact these sick children had on his perception of cannabis. We wrap up the show with some updates on the new brand releases by Belushi's Farm including Good Ugly Weed (Chris's Stash), Chasing Magic (Jim's Secret Stash) and a few teasers into Season 2 of Growing Belushi. Catch Season 2 on the Discovery Channel in the near future!

Tune in to E.138 as we chat with Jesce Horton, founder and visionary behind LOWD, craft cannabis cultivation in Portland, Oregon. Jesce shares how he got started in the industry after being unhappy working a corporate job. He took a leap of faith using his passion for horticulture and began cultivating cannabis. Since then LOWD has become a leader in the cannabis industry in Oregon known for seeking the best genetics and growing them to their greatest potential. Jesce has also spent much of his time in the industry as an advocate co-founding The Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) committed to creating equal access and empowerment for cannabis business owners, patients, and communities affected by the war on drugs. In 2019 Jesce and his wife founded NuLeaf Project, a historic initiative financially seeded in part with the City of Portland. Today NuLeaf is committed to providing financial, education and entrepreneurial assistance to minority cannabis business owners. Check out the latest episode of L

Co-hosts Lit & Lucid sit down to discuss the very important topic of conscious consumption and mental health. Jarrod and Lucy take an in-depth dive into the conversation around the importance of mental health and the need for conscious plant medicine consumption. We discuss the various forms of plant medicine used for mental health including cannabis and psilocybin, as well as elevate the importance of being aware of your own body's needs consuming only with intention. Jarrod and Lucy provide insight into their own path of plant medicine wellness with the hopes of inspiring others to take a conscious look at their own consumption methods! If this episode inspired you let us know! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/support

Tune in to E.136 featuring Tim Schlidt, Co-Founder and partner at Palo Santo as we discuss investing in psychedelics. Palo Santo's diversified investment fund is helping to increase the supply of clinically effective and accessible mental health and addiction treatment solutions in today’s world. We discuss the  rising mental health conditions facing people around the world and how psychedelics are well positioned to address this problem. Tim also explains how many of the companies in Palo Santo's portfolio are taking an authentic and innovative approach to healthcare. We have an in-depth conversation about big Pharma's role in this evolution and the idea of synthetically deriving these compounds. Tim explains what the implications of this will be for both patients as well as the indigenous communities who utilize these compounds for ceremonial purposes. The show wraps up discussing some of the creative work these companies are producing in the field and where the future of psychedelics might be in

Tune in to Episode 135 featuring Brooke Burgstahler, a cannabis creative, actress, and founder of Budding Mind as we catch up on cannabis. Budding Mind is an online platform designed to expand the mind and heart through the exploration of plant medicine, alternative healing, science, and spirituality. We chat with Brooke about her journey in cannabis and how she utilizes the plant in her own health and wellness routine. Brooke tells us more about the wide variety of topics she covers on Budding Mind as well as the star of Big Mike's Morning Show. We discuss the implications of being a cannabis consumer in Hollywood and how that could affect potential job opportunities. Brooke reminds us that regardless it's always important to be your authentic self living life for you and not worry about the "what ifs" in life. We close the show talking about the future of cannabis consumption and whether it is infused beverages, canna bumps (let's hope not), vapes or flower. If you are looking for a good laugh and some

Tune in to E.134 featuring Philip Wolf, Co-Founder of the Cannabis Wedding Expo as we discuss upcoming expos in Las Vegas (August 29th), Denver (October 10th), and Boston (November 7th). Philip has been working in the cannabis industry advocating for the plant for over 11 + years and provides a wealth of knowledge about conscious cannabis consumption. We discuss the pitfalls of alcohol consumption and how many people are becoming more in-line with their authentic selves looking towards including cannabis into their big day. We chat about ways the Cannabis Wedding Expo is looking to break down stigmas about the plant by providing sophisticated ways in which to incorporate cannabis into a wedding day without totally shocking grandma. If you are a bride-to-be or just interested in the creative ways you can include cannabis into an event check out the Cannabis Wedding Expo. Stay tuned for a ticket giveaway by Lit & Lucid for the Denver show! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/suppor

Tune in to Episode 133 ft. Terri MacDonald Reidle, CEO of Civilized, lifestyle brand dedicated to the overall health and wellness of the cannabis and canna-curious community. Civilized recently relaunched in the midst of COVID; the relaunch was focused on compiling all of Civilized's content in an easy-to-use database for consumers offering one trustworthy source of cannabis information online. We also discuss the bright future of Civilized including a partnership with Tumblr, pairing up to launch their first cannabis centric blog. It's their hopes that expanding the cannabis conversation on Tumblr will help combat many censorship issues companies face on other social media platforms. Terri provides insight into the lessons she's learned as a female entrepreneur in the cannabis industry offering a wealth of knowledge for young entrepreneurs. If you are looking for a trusted source of information look no further than Civilized. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/support

Tune in to Episode 132 featuring Andreas Neumann, Chief Creative Director at Jushi Holdings as we discuss cannabis and design. Dre's creative background comes from many years of working as the Head of Content at Idean with clients such as IBM, HP and Rolls Royce. Through his work with Apple Andreas realized that one of the biggest pain points in design is reducing friction. As the Chief Creative Director Andreas uses these same concepts when designing retail spaces and new products in the cannabis industry. Understanding the consumers wants and needs is also at the core of the creative design process. Outside of working in cannabis Andreas' true passion is photography. Dre is a world-renowned photographer having captured many familiar faces from Iggy Pop, Anthony Bourdain, Johnny Depp and more. We discuss the key to his success which was focusing on one type of photography and not letting the fan fare of the celebrities go to his head. Learn more about the creative mindset and perspective Dre offers for creat

Tune in to E.131 featuring Christina DiPaci, Founder & CEO of Paradiso, one of the largest independently owned craft-cannabis farms in California. With a background in fine arts, Christina tells us more about the creative process in creating this brand that evokes a vacation from the everyday, a blissful retreat from the ordinary. We talk about Christina's journey in the cannabis space learning from the OG's in the industry in Humboldt County, CA and the level of creativity it takes day in and day out to make it. Being a women-owned company, focused on providing consumers with high quality craft-cannabis is definitely one the fore-front for Paradiso Gardens. Learn more about this brand, their sister brand, DoveTail and where to find them on the latest episode. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lit-and-lucid/support

Welcome to Season 13 of the show! Kicking off the season with George Jage, CEO of Jage Media. George has a proven track record in cannabis working for MJBiz Daily and Dope Magazine. He previously spent ample time in Las Vegas running trade shows as well as creating the first World Tea Expo. Today George's team is excited to announce MJ Unpacked (Oct 21-22, 2021), the first cannabis trade show in Las Vegas focused on cannabis retailers and THC CPG's. We chatted about the differentiations between this trade show and the well-known MJ Biz Con event taking place the same week in October 2021. MJ Unpacked is focused on offering a more personable experience for attendees to connect, collaborate and access capital. We even heard there's a gong in the middle of the trade show floor where you can celebrate every time you make a deal! George's energy about the cannabis industry and his vision for this event is truly infectious. If you are looking for a change of pace from the typical Vegas experience all of us can