High Minded with McCarter

Double Blind psychedelic magazine co-founder Shelby Hartman jolts us with knowledge in episode 114. Hard launching her new book "The Double Blind Guide to Psychedelics," co-wrote with Madison Margolin, we dive into our own experiences with entheogens like psilocybin and acid. This episode is brought to you by Gentleman Quinn's Blunt Company, High Class Big Ass Blunts. Every blunt is hand-rolled in...

Brad Bogus, cannabis activist, punk, storyteller, and host of Find the Helpers podcast, graces us with some full-stomach laughs and electrifying empathy in episode 113 to chat about getting banned from LinkedIn, standing up to the man and holding people (and companies) accountable. This episode is brought to you by Gentleman Quinn's Blunt Company, High Class Big Ass Blunts. Every blunt is hand-rol...

A conversation with Max Vansluys, President of Dialed In Gummies, the rosin brand that's taken off! Their products are available in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio, find more information at DialedInGummies.com. This episode is brought to you by Gentleman Quinn's Blunt Company, High Class Big Ass Blunts. Every blunt is hand-rolled in Denver in custom hemp-wraps, whole bud only —...

Briefly stepping away from cannabis to chat about laser-tattoo removal! McCarter chats with Mike Panic from Removery, the partner for her tattoo removal journey. This episode is brought to you by Gentleman Quinn's Blunt Company, High Class Big Ass Blunts. Every blunt is hand-rolled in Denver in custom hemp-wraps, whole bud only — no trim, shake, or tobacco. Just clean, Colorado grown flower from t...

*Hemp* blunts are back, we mean! With the same nostalgia as a traditional blunt but none of the tobacco, Gentleman Quinns Blunt Co. is celebrating 10 years of bringing the best "blunts" to Colorado. Gage Quinn, head roller of Gentleman Quinns, sits down with McCarter for a lively discussion from moving away from tobacco, what it takes to be in business as a cannabis brand for ten years and McCarte...

John Shute joins the podcast for a serendipitous episode 109, a long way from episode 9 together in 2020! John, Co-Founder and CEO of PufCreativ , an award-winning, community-focused cannabis marketing agency based out of Denver, CO, discusses all the ways the cannabis industry has changed over the last five years, in Colorado and across the country. This episode is sponsored by Healthy Honeys ~ M...

MSU Denver Cannabis professor Shannon Donnelly comes back for a second time to blow McCarter's mind! Hemp is cannabis, cannabis is hemp. This episode is a deep dive on the difference between how the plant is labeled, and how the government will use that to their advantage. This episode is sponsored by Healthy Honeys ~ McCarter's favorite THCA Rosin pens that can be shipped nationwide (certain stat...

In the final episode of 2025, McCarter chats with Orion Hurley, owner of Boulder Built, cannabis dispensary and flower brand based in Boulder, Colorado. Orion explains growing up in Boulder in the 1980s, and the unconventional path that shaped his future. Orion shares what it was like being raised by a father who grew cannabis long before legalization, and how those early experiences sparked his c...

The esteemed Jordan Wellington joins the podcast for episode 106! Jordan is a true scholar, but mainly a Deadhead with a law background who helped Colorado cannabis legalization become what it is today. Jordan is policy consultant and partner at Strategies64, along with Mason Tvert from episode 98. For a deeper dive into cannabis policy with Jordan, check out his podcast "Weed Wonks." High Minded...

Aaron Shaw is back for a FOURTH time on the pod to grace our ears in episode 105! A brilliant guest and long-time cannabis industry veteran, Aaron walks us through what's going on currently in the Colorado cannabis industry; and let me tell you, it's not great! He tells us what it's been like hustling pounds to dispensaries as small shops and grows are closing their doors every week due to the ris...

Ryan Ashby (@ryan_hashby on Instagram) christens the new podcast setup with McCarter and lots of hash! Fun and informative, this conversation flows from Ryan's younger years, to working in the sketchiest of cannabis operations, to helping run and manage one of the most successful dispensaries in Denver: Reefer Madness. A man of the community, he also hosts events to bring stoners together to get h...

In Episode 103, McCarter chats with Ben Owens, a professional cannabis ghostwriter and home grower, who has worked in the illicit Missouri and legal Colorado markets for over a decade. The conversation explores how Ben's journey has evolved from selling weed in college to using his years of accumulated knowledge to help clients in the current cannabis industries tell their stories. Ben talks about...

Bradleigh Turner has one of the most unexpected jobs: she professionally rolls blunts for celebrity rappers and artists that come through Denver on tour. In episode 102, McCarter chats with Bradleigh about how she carved out space in a world that’s usually closed off and male-dominated, what it’s like working behind the scenes with high-profile clients, and how she turned a niche talent into real...

What is your purpose? In episode 101, McCarter sits down with coach and “human awakener” Zachariah Kral for a transformative conversation about what it means to awaken to your purpose and live it every day. Zachariah shares his own journey, how he helps others peel back the layers of conditioning, and why so many of us feel stuck in a world that wants us to be scared. We dive into what it means to...

Episode 100 is joined by Ariana Foote, aka @indicawife on Instagram, for some hilarious commentary on being a content creator. Ariana started her content creation journey on WeedTube with cannabis photos and videos, but it wasn't until she combined cannabis, food and her dry humor that made her go viral. Based in Baltimore, she’s shifted gears into food content — think ASMR, chaotic cravings, and...

Data and numbers are essential to backing up anecdotal evidence, especially when it comes to cannabis medicine. Dr. Jonny Lisano, a cannabis researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder, joins High Minded to explore how cannabinoids like THC and CBD affect pain, sleep, recovery, and overall health. Dr. Lisano shares insights from his latest studies, including how different cannabinoids interac...

McCarter sits down with Mason Tvert, longtime cannabis advocate, strategist, and one of the key architects behind Colorado’s landmark Amendment 64, making it the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. Mason, now a partner at Strategies 64 based in Denver, takes McCarter through his history in cannabis, the origins of the Colorado legalization movement, political battles behind the scenes,...

Think greener: McCarter chats with Shawn Naughton, founder of Green for Green , Colorado's pioneer cannabis packaging recycling business to dive into the world of cannabis sustainability. As the legal cannabis industry grows, so does its environmental footprint—especially when it comes to single-use plastic and child-resistant packaging. Shawn shares how Green for Green is tackling this issue head...

Stefani Lucas, founder and CEO of Workhorse Global, a contract manufacturing and white labeling company for the cannabis industry in Denver, joins McCarter on the podcast for episode 96! A true force in the Colorado cannabis industry, Stefani is a self-made CEO, and unapologetic hot mom who built her MIP (Marijuana Infused Products) manufacturing and processing company from the ground up. She shar...

Edibles made with flower? YUP. In episode 95, McCarter chats with brand owner and founder Jon Spadafora of Flower Union, a bold new cannabis gummy brand making its debut in Colorado and New Jersey. From navigating complex state regulations to crafting a unique product identity, Jon shares what it really takes to launch in two of the most dynamic cannabis markets in the U.S. We dive into the brand’...

Sit down with McCarter as she chats with Oli (@oli.seventen) and Katie (@710katie), the visionaries behind "Safe Sesh" (@safes3shnight), a unique series of pop-up events creating safe consumption spaces for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities in the Colorado cannabis scene. Hosted at rotating venues across the Denver area and powered by partnerships with local cannabis brands, these gatherin...

In episode 93, McCarter chats with Adrian Garcia, founder of Shisha Leafa, a bold new brand that's redefining the hookah experience using cannabis fan leaves. Instead of tobacco and nicotine, Shisha Leafa offers a natural, hemp-based alternative designed for a smoother, cleaner smoke. Adrian shares his journey as a cannabis and hemp entrepreneur, the inspiration behind his innovation, and what it...

In Episode 92, McCarter chats with Travis Michalowski, founder of Grateful Grove, a Boulder-based cannabis cultivation company powered entirely by the sun. Travis shares how his team combines sustainable energy, organic practices, and a deep respect for the plant to produce high-quality cannabis with a lighter environmental footprint. We discuss their recent win of first place at the 2025 Rooster...

Geoff Livingston, founder of Stone Street Canna, joins us to talk about his path from growing up in San Diego, California to running a quality, small-scale cannabis grow in Colorado. Known for their hands-on pheno hunting and careful genetic selection, Stone Street Canna recently took home honors at the Rooster THC Classic for their standout flower. Geoff shares what it really takes to stay indepe...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with James Granger — an Ohio native who grew cannabis in California’s legendary Humboldt County cannabis scene. From growing in the rugged hills to surviving a near-death experience that reshaped his life and meeting patients first-hand that benefit from cannabis medicine, James shares his incredible journey from legacy cultivator to cannabis industry advocate...