The Ganjapreneur Podcast

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Dr. Gil Fanciullo, a longtime physician specializing in pain management and palliative care, about his early experiences recommending cannabis to patients well before it was legally accepted. Drawing from decades in medicine, including his work at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Fanciullo reflects on the risks physicians...

In his "One Hitters" series, host Jon Purow connects with cannabis luminaries on the road! Recorded onsite at MJ Unpacked Missouri, in this episode Jon sits down for a few quick Q&A's to hear about multiple facets of the cannabis industry.

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Blake Johnson, president of Prairie Island CBH, and Ben Halley, COO and founder of Honest Cannabis. Together, they explore how the Prairie Island Indian Community developed Island Peži, a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise in Minnesota, built on tribal sovereignty, Indigenous values, and regenerative agriculture. The...

Christine Apple is the Founder and CEO of Grön, one of the most recognizable edibles brands in the U.S. Before launching Grön from her basement in Oregon, she spent years working with jurisdictions and regulators—experience that gave her an early, practical understanding of cannabis compliance as the industry took shape. Under her leadership, Grön has expanded its footprint and product range, intr...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Aaron Riley, founder of Certified Testing and Data, to explore the development of the Cannaleptic Rating—a new product scoring system designed to help cannabis consumers better evaluate quality across product types. Drawing from his years of experience in lab testing and cannabis compliance, Aaron explains how the system wa...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Shea Coakley and Jarrod Jordan of Green Street Beverages, a Massachusetts-based brand exploring the emerging THC beverage space. Coakley, a seasoned food and wellness entrepreneur, and Jordan, a CPG marketing veteran, share how their personal journeys away from the alcohol industry shaped their mission to normalize low-dose...

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt sits down with Christie and William Ashabranner, the husband-and-wife duo behind The Herb Cave, a licensed cannabis dispensary in Plattsburgh, New York. Built on values of inclusivity, kindness, and education, The Herb Cave stands out not only for its product selection and interior design, but for its genuine community connection and em...

In this episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow connects with Samuel Brill, CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings. Prior to becoming CEO, he he first served as Lead Independent Director and now leads the charge at one of the country’s largest multi-state operators. He is a veteran of capital markets, private equity, and corporate transformation—with nearly three decades of experience guiding busin...

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, Damien Cornwell — President of the Cannabis Association of New York and owner of Just Breathe dispensary in Binghamton — joins host TG Branfalt for an unfiltered conversation about what it takes to survive and lead in New York’s chaotic cannabis landscape. Drawing from his background in logistics, media, and community activism, Damien offers a candid pe...

In this compilation episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow hits the road—capturing quick, insightful interviews with leading voices across the cannabis industry. Recorded at NECANN Boston 2025, this lineup showcases perspectives from founders and experts from a variety of different niches in the cannabis space. Featured Guests: Jordan Mackenzie Whittaker The Weedaker Group Mitch Pfeifer Dir...

When cannabis fails a microbial test, the consequences can be costly—lost product, damaged reputations, and in some cases, a total recall. But what if the entire process could be de-risked? In this episode, Jeff Adams, founder and managing director of XR Pure, and national sales manager Joseph Bancheri join TG Branfalt for a conversation about how their X-ray-based decontamination tech is offering...

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt speaks with Laura Trujillo and Amanda Terpstra, co-founders of BestBuds, a woman- and Hispanic-owned dispensary based in Woodbury, New Jersey. Lifelong friends turned business partners, Laura and Amanda share their remarkable story of bootstrapping a licensed cannabis retail business from the ground up—navigating community pushback, law...

Kevin Brooks, former CEO of Cookies Management and Connected Cannabis, identified plant health as a key vulnerability in the cannabis supply chain based on his experience leading vertically integrated cannabis operations in California. This insight led him to establish Conception Nurseries, a Sacramento-based company that provides commercial-scale tissue culture services to the cannabis industry....

In this fast-paced compilation episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow hits the road—capturing quick, insightful interviews with leading voices across the cannabis industry. Filmed at MJ Unpacked Missouri 2024, the WomenGrow Leadership Summit 2025, and the Benzinga New Jersey Cannabis Market Spotlight, this lineup showcases perspectives from founders, marketers, security experts, and more. T...

When it comes to moving federal cannabis policy forward, progress requires coordination, persistence, and strategic advocacy. In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, Edward Conklin, Executive Director of the U.S. Cannabis Council, and Saphira Galoob, Executive Director of the National Cannabis Roundtable — join host TG Branfalt to discuss the historic merger of their organizations into the U....

Ricky Williams won a Heisman Trophy at Texas and rushed for over 10,000 yards in 11 NFL seasons. He is now the President and Co-Founder of Highsman, a lifestyle brand that Ricky personally curates, from the cannabis to the accessories. Ricky launched Highsman to provide communities of sports fans and herb enthusiasts everywhere with a platform to own their relationship with cannabis and its abilit...

In this episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow connects with Bryan Gerber, the founder and CEO of HARA Supply, a supplier of custom preroll cones and packaging. HARA Supply spans 15 facilities with over 4,000 personnel based in India, along with HQ office and warehouse located in Las Vegas, NV. They currently produce over a billion pre-rolled cones per year for some of the cannabis industry...

Insurance is a crucial yet often overlooked corner of the cannabis and psychedelic industries. As businesses navigate complex regulations, raise capital, and manage risk, securing proper coverage can make the difference between success and failure. In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, Joe Ziolkowski, CEO and founder of Relm Insurance, shares insights on the unique challenges cannabis and p...

In this episode of Highly Enlightened, host Jon Purow interviews Jonathan Black, the CEO of Cheech and Chong's Global, a seasoned business attorney and entrepreneur with expertise across real estate, entertainment, tech, retail, cannabis, and law. After earning his degree at the University of San Diego and completing law school, Jonathan founded Weston Law Group PC. Over the years, he has also wor...

In this episode of Highly Enlightened, Jon Purow is joined by Socrates Rosenfeld, the Co-Founder and CEO of Jane Technologies. A U.S. Army veteran and former Apache helicopter commander, he turned to cannabis to help re-acclimate to civilian life after leaving active duty in 2011. Frustrated by the lack of legal access in Massachusetts and the unreliable black market, he co-founded Jane Technologi...

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Regina Smith, founder and co-owner of The Plant, a licensed dispensary in Yonkers, New York. Regina shares her journey from a background in retail and baking to navigating the challenges of the cannabis industry. She discusses the complex social equity licensing process in New York, how The Plant is building trust and commu...

Ganjapreneur is pleased to introduce our first syndicated episode of Highly Enlightened, hosted by Jon Purow. With this show, Jon interviews cannabis business leaders and investors to shed light on what it takes to survive and thrive in this industry. You can find more episodes of Highly Enlightened on Buzzsprout. Tiffany Chin has 13 years of experience in the entertainment space, working with wor...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Brandon Wyatt, Esq. and Todd Hughes, co-founders of BCB Mastermind, an executive training program designed to propel minority-owned cannabis and hemp businesses to new heights. In this episode, they discuss the critical barriers that entrepreneurs face in the cannabis space, from access to capital and regulatory challenges...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Josh Wurzer, co-founder of SC Labs, one of the longest-running cannabis testing laboratories in the industry. In this episode, they explore the evolution of cannabis testing, from measuring cannabinoids and terpenes to detecting contaminants like pesticides and mold. Josh shares insights into regulatory challenges, lab frau...

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Witt Rabon, co-founder and COO, and Jamar Brown, co-founder and President of Brand Development for DRO, a Colorado-based cannabis lifestyle brand that has been redefining cannabis culture since its launch in 2014. DRO stands out by weaving authentic storytelling, cultural identity, and bold design into its clothing and cann...