Kaya Cast

In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Andrew Bish, president of the Hemp Feed Coalition, to navigate the regulatory labyrinth facing industrial hemp and the broader cannabinoid space. Andrew shares his front-row view on how federal policy—especially the 0.4 mg THC cap and the farm bill’s gaps—affects grain and fiber hemp, seed byproducts, and downstream products. They expl...

On this Kaya Cast episode, host Tommy Truong sits down with Rob Sanchez of Apartment 113, a cannabis software veteran who began as a cultivator and hash maker before becoming one of the industry’s most sought-after tech consultants. Rob shares practical lessons from implementing software for more than 100 operators, focusing on day-to-day operator needs, end-to-end inventory, multi-location scalin...

On this Kaya Cast episode, host Tommy Truong sits down with Dr. Bonni Goldstein of Goldstein Wellness to unpack the science, medicine, and business of cannabis in epilepsy and beyond. Dr. Goldstein is the Chief Medical Advisor for Neurotech International, helping to develop effective cannabinoid-based formulations for autism and other pediatric neurologic conditions. From the endocannabinoid syste...

In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Sara Gullickson of CB Advisors, a strategist who has helped secure more than 75 cannabis licenses and orchestrated successful exits. Sara breaks down the enduring licensing formula—local alignment, capital, industry know-how, and real estate—and shares why the four ingredients hold true whether a state uses a lottery or a merit based s...

On this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Jake Kuczeruk of ILGM to unpack why education, community, and old-school cannabis genetics matter in building a sustainable cannabis business. Jake describes ILGM's Grow Club—a nationwide program of home-grow workshops, local mentors like Danny Danko in New York, Jungle K in Chicago, and Christina Wong in LA, plus an online hub that he...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Lucas Gould, co founder and CEO of Spendr, to unpack breaking cannabis news and what it means for operators across the country. They dive into the federal move to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III, its potential impact on medical vs recreational markets, banking, 280E tax relief, research funding, interstate commerce, and...

Join Kaya Cast host Tommy Truong for a deep dive with Ryan Hunter of Spherex Labs. From Colorado to multi-state expansion, Ryan shares the playbook behind a disciplined, retailer-focused cannabis brand. Learn how Spherex wins at the shelf through authentic budtender relationships, in-store merchandising, and a full-stack marketing program that travels with retailers across markets. Discover why th...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong chats with Jeremy Berke, founder of Cultivated News, about turning a passionate cannabis beat into a full-fledged media platform. From launching Cultivated News from a Substack in 2023 to building a daily briefing, live streams, and a growing community, Jeremy shares the founder’s journey, the emotional realities of leading a cannabis business, a...

On this Kaya Cast episode, host Tommy Truong chats with Jason Reposa, founder of Good Feels, the team behind the Good Vibes fast-acting tinctures and hemp beverages. Jason shares his founder journey—from selling a media business to embracing a mission-driven cannabis tech company—and how a focus on liquid formats delivers fast, precise dosing across high- and low-dose customers. Learn how Good Fee...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong talks with Wally Daniel of Green Garden Consulting, an Oregon-based firm focused on plants, processes, and people. They dive into the biggest pitfalls cannabis growers encounter—often thinking they’re optimizing when they’re not hitting industry benchmarks—and outline a practical path to sustainable scale: rigorous vetting of vendors and...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Darrin Potter, co-owner of Cultivation Structures & Equipment for a practical, no-nonsense look at building scalable cannabis production. Darrin shares his 20-year journey—from indoor grows to full-service greenhouse builds and retrofit projects—pulling back the curtain on the real costs, tradeoffs, and operational realities of...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong chats with Sandra Bergman, founder of ESBE Marketing, to unpack how cannabis retailers can launch, grow, and sustain loyalty that actually moves the needle. Sandra shares her journey from traditional marketing into cannabis, why retention beats pure acquisition, and how to translate sophisticated loyalty tech into real world results for d...

Tommy Truong of KayaPush joins the Kaya Cast for a forward‑looking conversation about 2026 for cannabis operators. We explore Schedule III uncertainty and what it could mean for banking, cross‑state commerce, and whether big players from pharma or beverage will enter the space. Beyond regulatory shifts, Tommy shares his take on building resilient dispensary operations in a world of debt and curren...

Join Kaya Cast as we sit down with Tommy Truong of KayaPush to unpack the entrepreneurial journey in cannabis commerce. Tommy offers a candid look at the early survival phase every founder faces, how overcoming those hurdles sets the stage for scale and product–market fit, and why he relentlessly seeks clever, practical solutions to tough problems. He also shares how discovering DynaVap changed hi...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Matt Ritchey, founder of Inner Circle Community, to explore how neuroscience, NLP, and conscious leadership intersect with the evolving plant medicine and cannabis spaces. Learn what NLP really is, how the unconscious mind influences decisions, and practical ways to show up with presence, connection, and integrity while sca...

On this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with John Shute, founder of Puff Creative, a cannabis marketing agency committed to changing lives through thoughtful branding and community impact. John shares his unlikely journey from the service industry to cannabis marketing, shaped by personal loss from the opiate crisis and a strong belief in social justice. He explains how Puff Crea...

Join Kaya Cast host Tommy Truong for a candid conversation with Jimmy Young, founder of Pro Cannabis Media and WPCM TV. Jimmy shares his journey from traditional broadcasting to building a nationwide cannabis media network, and why media matters for dispensaries looking to educate customers, build trust, and scale their brands. We dive into the current legal maze—24 states with adult-use, 16 with...

Join Kaya Cast host Tommy Truong for a data‑driven conversation with Ed Keating, co‑founder and Chief Data Officer of Cannabiz Media. Ed shares Cannabiz Media’s origin story—from a bike ride in 2014 to building a nationwide, normalized database of cannabis licenses and owners, and evolving into a CRM with an embedded email tool. You’ll learn how they aggregated state by state data, surfaced multi‑...

On the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong chats with Julian Rose, the world-class chocolatier behind Insa, about redefining cannabis edibles through culinary craftsmanship. Julian walks through his journey from a Montreal pastry chef to leading a premium edible program that features real chocolate, fruit purées, and meticulously tempered confections, all while navigating the science and business...

In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Marianne Cursetjee, founder of Alibi, to share a candid look at building a multi-state cannabis business from the ground up. Marianne reveals how her e-commerce and marketing background shaped a data-driven, yield-focused cultivation operation, the missteps that taught her to hire the right people, and the realities of growing through...

In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with George Breiwa, founder of DynaVap, the pioneering mechanical vaporizer that bakes rather than burns. George recounts the origin story—from a 2012 realization that electronics add cost and complexity, to a simple, battery-free device designed for mass affordability. Learn why it's called DynaVap (no electronics, no batteries) and how a...

On this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Noel Burkman, co-founder of StrainBrain, to explore how AI and advanced data science are reshaping cannabis retail. Noel explains StrainBrain's meta-analytic approach - combining COAs, consumer sentiment, regional preferences, and product data - to move beyond generic marketing toward personalized, needs-based recommendations. Learn ho...

On this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Adelia Fakhri, co-founder of Blunt Brunch and EventHi, to explore how smart events can help cannabis brands launch, grow, and scale. From Blunt Brunch’s origins as intimate, women-focused conversations to EventHi’s evolution into a nationwide platform that powers cannabis-focused events, we dive into practical, battle-teste...

In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Mark Kazinec, founder of Best in Grass, to share the founding story behind the cannabis competition that puts everyday consumers in the judging chair. Mark traces his path from traditional marketing and High Times to building a nationwide, consumer‑driven awards platform that makes cannabis contests inclusive, transparent, and data‑ric...

In this episode of the Kaya Cast Podcast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Warren Harasz, Chief Compliance Officer at Cannaspire, an end-to-end cannabis consulting firm that helps operators license, design SOPs, source vendors, build facilities, and stay compliant. Warren brings 18 years of cultivation experience and a professor’s approach to turning complex regulations into practical, living play...