Flourishin' In Cannabis

Vien sits down with Beck Rouke Mooney, Director of Sales and Operations at Supernaturals New York, a Hudson Valley micro business. Beck shares her unconventional journey from being a middle school English teacher and published young adult author to leading operations at a cannabis company. The conversation explores how her husband's serious illness introduced her to cannabis as medicine, leading t...

Join Vien as he sits down with Ben Wiener and Stacey Shurgin, the dynamic duo behind Hudson Valley Jane, one of New York's pioneering micro cannabis businesses. Ben, a former legacy grower turned general contractor, and Stacey, a real estate developer who discovered cannabis for wellness, share their incredible journey of building a fully vertically integrated operation in just 14 months. From nav...

For cannabis operators, brand leaders, and revenue teams, this episode gets practical about building a resilient business in volatile markets. Vien and Sabrina Naomi Wheeler unpack why AR and cash‑flow risk cripple California operators, how New York’s early credit protections change incentives, and what it takes to scale lean without bloating headcount. Sabrina compares CA vs. NY demand patterns,...

Vien Trinh sits down with Megan Jewett of Florette and True Harmony Company to explore her remarkable journey from pharmaceutical sales to building powerhouse cannabis brands. Megan shares hard-earned lessons from scaling Select during its explosive growth, launching Florette in New York, and now leading marketing and sales for True Harmony’s cutting-edge cultivation facility in Nevada. Together,...

In this episode, host Vien Trinh interviews attorney and advocate Jeffrey Hoffman, Co-Founder of the Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative. Together, they unpack New York’s messy cannabis rollout from regulations that clash with state law, to the dispensary zoning crisis threatening more than 150 businesses, and a stalled seed-to-sale technology system that has ground progress to a halt. Jeffre...

In this second episode of the Flourishin’ in Cannabis Podcast , host Vien sits down with Dr. CJ Segal-Isaacson founder of Growing Renaissance and Ruth Randall Co-Owner at Green Sugar Leaf Farms to explore the real struggles of cannabis microbusinesses in New York. From the devastating impact of “inversion” — where up to 80% of products on dispensary shelves come from out-of-state instead of New Yo...

In this first episode of Flourishin’ in Cannabis , host Vien Trinh welcomes Noomi Rana — founder of Inovysta and helped Zizzle NY establish its seed-to-sale software, Flourish Software.  Noomi shares his journey from growing up in Queens to going from legacy to licensed in the rapidly evolving New York cannabis market. He opens up about the challenges of navigating regulatory confusion, why c...

Brian Weber dives into the complex world of cannabis insurance with Michael DeNault, cannabis practice executive at World Insurance Associates. They break down five essential insurance policies that every cannabis business should consider, including product liability, crop coverage, and employment practices liability. They address common risks in the industry and how businesses can protect themsel...

Brian sits down with David Eagleson, a seasoned expert in data automation and the founder/CEO of Outlaw Technology Inc., to dig into the realities of running smarter cannabis operations. They explore the need for clean, precise data in cannabis compliance, revealing how human error can derail even the best systems. David explains why automation tools are essential but not a magic fix and breaks do...

Brian sits down with Vien Trinh, a veteran and cannabis industry professional, for an honest, no-holds-barred conversation on the unique paths veterans can take within the cannabis industry. Vien shares his journey from military service to his role as a product marketing manager, detailing the struggles, insights, and hard-won lessons he encountered along the way. They talk about the barriers vete...

Tony Gallo, a cannabis security expert, shares his experiences and advice on how to protect cannabis businesses from internal and external threats. From preventing employee theft in cultivation facilities to ensuring the safe transportation of products, Tony outlines key security measures every cannabis operation should have in place. If you're in the cannabis industry, this episode offers great i...

Brian Weber talks with John Manlove, CEO of Apex Trading, about the key trends and challenges facing the cannabis industry, especially in emerging markets. They discuss the common mistakes businesses make, like overproduction, and how understanding market dynamics can help brands succeed. John explains why staying focused on costs, using data to make decisions, and partnering with others are cruci...

Will Read, founder and CEO of CannaPlanners, shares his hard-earned lessons from a decade in the cannabis industry, offering his perspective on what it takes to succeed. He pushes back against common advice like "do what you love," instead pointing out the importance of doing what you're good at, knowing your weaknesses, and never giving up. Will breaks down the key values every cannabis entrepren...

West Paschal of Alpine IQ  discusses cannabis retail and the urgent need for retailers to truly understand their customers through smarter data use. He explains the pitfalls of relying solely on traditional marketing channels, which often fail in the unique landscape of cannabis. West argues that a deeper, more personalized approach to customer engagement is not just an option but a necessity...

Brian Mayfield of MJstack discusses the often-overlooked challenges that cannabis entrepreneurs face, from securing the all-important license to building a robust tech stack that can sustain long-term growth. Brian shares his insider knowledge on the crucial steps that can determine whether a cannabis business will thrive or falter, including the digital competition that many underestimate. Whethe...

John Shute is the CEO of PufCreative and co-founder of Cannabis Impact Fund, as well as  Cannabis Creative Movement. He is here to share the keys to successful cannabis marketing, and explain the need for genuine community engagement, strategic budgeting, and a solid tech stack. He discusses the pitfalls of rushing through branding and the importance of a comprehensive marketing approach to o...

Dan Mondello exposes the common pitfalls in dispensary marketing and website design. He argues that many dispensaries are too focused on their founders' stories, neglecting what truly drives customer purchases. Dan stresses the importance of convenience and design, using compelling data to show outdated practices in the industry. He gives tips to improve customer engagement and sales, making a str...

In this episode, David Vaillencourt discusses the complexities and controversies of cannabis standards and regulations. From the nuances of representative sampling in cultivation to the critical differences between compliance and quality, David sheds light on the often-overlooked details that define the cannabis industry. He talks about the potential impact of Schedule III reclassification and add...

Brian Weber sits down with Stu Zakim, a seasoned PR professional and advocate, to discuss the challenges and opportunities within New York's evolving cannabis industry. Stu shares his perspective on transitioning from the underground market to legal operations and the story of Happy Munkey's journey from a secretive speakeasy to a legitimate business. The conversation covers the impact of legaliza...

Peter Su, a seasoned expert in cannabis banking, discusses what goes on in banking within the legal cannabis industry. Peter also talks about federal and state legal contradictions, the challenges of securing banking services for cannabis businesses, and how banking regulations have evolved over time. Peter gives a look into the operational risks and responsibilities banks face under the Bank Secr...

 Brian Weber welcomes Tracy LeMarie, Co-Founder & Consultant at TAC CPAs LLC. She shares essential steps for achieving operational profitability in the cannabis industry, providing valuable insights into understanding market trends and pricing strategies, mastering the nuances of direct and indirect costs, and implementing advanced costing techniques. Tracy also discusses the implications of...

We’re going right into the heart of cannabis retail challenges with Tim Schmitt, a trailblazer in cannabis supply chain technology. Tim and Brian discuss the critical importance of disciplined inventory management and how powerful data-driven decision-making in the highly competitive cannabis marketplace is. Tim shares his insights and innovative solutions, from optimizing operations with AI-drive...

In this episode we are exploring the intricacies of extending credit terms within the highly regulated and capital-intensive cannabis industry. Adam Cavanaugh, President of the Cannabis Credit Association, explains the importance of the pressing issue of trade credit and its impact on cash flow. Adam shares his insights on instilling accountability and transparency, aiming to prevent the escalatio...

This episode provides a look into the world of cannabis real estate in 2024, presenting vital information for entrepreneurs navigating this complex landscape. Joined by Yarrow Lee Kubrin, a veteran in cannabis real estate, the discussion covers essential topics like zoning, setbacks, utility needs, building requirements, and the critical decision of buying versus leasing. Yarrow's extensive experi...

James Whitcomb is a trailblazer in the cannabis industry and today he is helping us navigate the critical intersection of data analytics and cannabis supply chain management. James takes us on a deep dive into his journey, revealing how leveraging data has become a game-changer in navigating the cannabis industry's unique challenges. From the nuanced impact of insurance on cannabis operations to t...