Under the Microscope with Jenny

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, sits down with Chris Van Dyke, Partner at Cogent Law, to break down one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of the cannabis industry: banking. Chris brings a rare, dual-perspective background, having helped launch one of the early cannabis banking programs and serving as a state regulator during the rollout of t...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Dina Nagib, Principal Consultant at Grass Goddess Consulting, to break down one of the biggest operational pain points in cannabis - software overload. Dina brings a unique perspective from her background in pharmaceuticals and software development. Together, Jenny and Dina explore why dispensaries in particular...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, welcomes Amanda Eastling, Founder of Eastling Services. Amanda shares her path into cannabis HR, starting with a Minnesota-based, tribally owned cannabis startup where she built HR systems from the ground up developing policies, procedures, and operational frameworks tailored to the industry’s unique and highly regulated envi...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano continues her Cannabis Operator Series with Anthony “AJ” Mollins, Founder of AJ’s Craft Cannabis Farm in Colorado, for a deep dive into legacy cultivation, innovation, and what it really takes to build a sustainable cannabis operation in today’s market. AJ shares his journey from California’s legacy market, including launching...

In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting, shares lessons learned from operating vertically integrated cannabis facilities in Colorado during the early days and from years of experience guiding operators nationwide. She outlines the most common pitfalls quietly hurting cannabis businesses. Jenny emphasizes the difference between winning a lic...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Evan Bliss, Owner and Design Director of Studio Bliss, to discuss what it really takes to design cannabis facilities in emerging markets. Evan shares his journey from traditional architecture into cannabis starting with extraction labs in California and expanding into cultivation and dispensary projects across t...

🎙 In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano continues her Cannabis Operator Series with Joey Coleman, Founder and CEO of KAI Dispensary. Joey shares how a paragliding accident in Colombia that caused a severe spinal injury led him to cannabis and ultimately into the industry. He discusses transitioning from operating a 40-acre hemp/CBD farm and extraction business to l...

🎙 In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano breaks down the growing wave of scams and fraud targeting licensed cannabis operators across the U.S. Drawing from her experience operating vertically integrated cannabis facilities in Denver since 2009 and her work through ICS Consulting for over the last 10 years, Jenny explains why cannabis businesses are uniquely vulnerab...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano sits down with Michael Andrud, CEO and Founder of Lüt., to break down operational best practices for cannabis retail payments. Michael shares his background in financial services and how that experience informs his approach to navigating payments in highly regulated cannabis environments. The conversation explores the real ris...

In this episode of Under the Microscope, host Jenny Germano sits down with Alex Hearding, Founder and President of Red Wolf Risk, to break down what’s next for the cannabis industry. From upcoming federal rescheduling and the possibility of full descheduling in the future and what these shifts mean for day-to-day operations. The conversation focuses on how operators can prepare for a more regulate...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano delves into the topic of common inventory tracking mistakes that put cannabis operators at risk. With over 16 years of experience and helping cannabis facilities navigate the regulatory landscape across the United States, Jenny shares valuable insights into how to prevent common mistakes related to the Metrc seed-to-sale tra...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano discusses the increasing issue of cannabis recalls with special guest Carly Bader, Director of Science at Willow Industries. Carly shares her experiences from working in both the cannabis industry and the field of infectious diseases. Jenny shares recall data from 2025, illustrating the scope of recalls across various states...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano welcomes Nohtal Partansky, the CEO and founder of Sorting Robotics, to discuss the impact of robotics on the cannabis industry. Nohtal shares his fascinating journey from aerospace engineering at NASA to pioneering automation solutions for cannabis manufacturers. The conversation covers key topics such as the economic benefi...

🎙In the first episode for 2026 of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano welcomes Cassie Tomaselli, Founder and Creative Director of Tomaselli Media and The Green Room, to discuss the critical role of a brand voice and effective marketing strategies for cannabis operators. They delve into the unique regulatory challenges faced by cannabis businesses across the US market, the importanc...

🎙In the final episode of 2025, host Jenny Germano of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny' addresses preparation for a compliant 2026 for cannabis operators. Drawing from her extensive background, Jenny offers action steps on record-keeping standards, navigating the rescheduling processes, preparing for potential state and federal regulatory changes, and improving overall compliance best practices. Sh...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano sits down with Jessica Velazquez, CPA, CFE, and Principal Cannabis Practice Leader at Beach Fleischman. Jessica shares her extensive background and experience as a CPA in the cannabis industry. Jenny and Jessica dive into some of the challenges faced by cannabis businesses in 2025, the impact of market trends, and the signif...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano leads an in-depth discussion with Katherine Golden, CEO and founder of LEAF411, and Maureen Dube-Savage, Ambassador and Community Educator for LEAF411. Both guests share their journeys into the cannabis industry driven by personal and professional experiences. They highlight the importance of cannabis education, and how medi...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano sits down with Tiana Woodruff, the CEO and Founder of the cannabis wellness brand, Queen Mary. Tiana shares her intriguing journey from the entertainment industry and party planning to navigating the highly regulated cannabis industry and launching her brand in California and Colorado. She shares the challenges and triumphs...

🎙In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano discusses the complexities of the hemp and cannabis markets with Aaron Tucker, a business attorney and founder of Shadow Mountain Law and Fire Business Strategies. They explore the legal and regulatory distinctions between hemp and cannabis, consumer perceptions, and the opportunities and risks for operators in both markets. K...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' for our Cannabis Operator Series, host Jenny Germano welcomes Brendan McKee, Co-Founder of Silver Therapeutics, to discuss his journey and insights into running a cannabis business. Brendan shares his extensive background, starting from working in their family business, professional football in Europe to entrepreneurship and launching cannabis...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano is joined by Andy Shelley the Founder of CannXperts to discuss the critical issue of receivership in the cannabis industry. Andy, a former Law Enforcement Officer and Oregon Liquor Control Commission Regulator turned cannabis consultant, delves into his transition into the industry. The conversation focuses on the nuances of...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope,' host Jenny Germano welcomes Ernest Toney, founder of BIPOCann, to discuss the keys to building a sustainable cannabis business by focusing on working on the business and not just in it. Ernest shares his journey from working in sport health and wellness to entering the cannabis industry and founding BIPOCann in 2020. Jenny and Ernest cover a wide range o...

🎙In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny,' host Jenny Germano welcomes her guest, Alex Hearding from Red Wolf Risk, who brings expertise in environmental science and worker safety. Alex and Jenny explore critical topics of protecting employees in cannabis cultivation operations by understanding Worker Protection Standards. Their discussion covers the specifics of Worker Protection Stan...

 In this episode of 'Under the Microscope with Jenny', host Jenny Germano discusses the top compliance mistakes that cannabis operators commonly make and provides insights on how to prevent them. With over a decade of experience in cannabis operations, Jenny covers a broad range of topics including the top violations in the US, the importance of maintaining a culture of compliance, and best practi...

🎙 In this episode of ‘Under the Microscope with Jenny’, host Jenny Germano welcomes Jeremy  Shechter, founder of Open Source Horticulture, who shares his extensive experience in cannabis and horticulture. The conversation covers Jeremy's unique background in aquaponics, the key principles for cultivation, common pitfalls in facility design, the importance of staff satisfaction, and the future of c...