Navigating the Missouri Cannabis Market with John Pennington After a brief hiatus, Karson Humiston returns with an engaging conversation with John Pennington, the co-founder and CEO of Proper Cannabis in Missouri. John shared his early entrepreneurial spirit, from shoveling driveways as a kid to running a business in high school and college. His tr…

State of Cannabis Employment: A Deep Dive into the 2024 Jobs Report Karson Humiston discuss the release of the Vangst annual cannabis industry 2024 jobs report with Bruce Barcott, a seasoned writer in the cannabis space, and Beau Whitney, the chief economist at Whitney Economics. The trio share insights into the current state of cannabis employment…

Crafting the Perfect Smoke: Inside the World of Cannabis Accessories with Bryan Gerber Karson Humiston welcomes Bryan Gerber, co-founder and CEO, of Hemper and Hara Supply, also known as the "King of Cones." The nickname stems from a Forbes article that highlighted Bryan's success in building a $75 million pre-roll empire. Both Karson and Bryan rem…

Behind the Scenes of Cann Beverage: From Startup Struggles to Market Dominance Karson Humiston is joined by Luke Anderson, co-founder of Cann, where he discusses the journey of founding and growing the company. Initially, Luke reflects on the early days of Cann, highlighting the challenges and milestones of launching a microdose THC beverage in Cal…

"Navigating Highs and Lows with Aaron Miles: Verano's Investment Strategy Unveiled" In the latest episode of the "Proud to Work in Cannabis" podcast, listeners were treated to an engaging and insightful conversation with Aaron Miles, the Chief Investment Officer at Verano. Aaron talks to Karson Humiston about his unexpected journey into the cannabi…

"Navigating the Wild West of California Cannabis: A Founder's Journey" Live from MJBizCon 2023 in Las Vegas, Karson Humiston is joined by Dave Holmes, founder and CEO of Clade9. The conversation kicks off with a candid discussion about Dave's early exposure to cannabis, starting from a young age due to his older brother's involvement in selling wee…

Petalfast and the Evolution of Cannabis Distribution: A Conversation with Jason Vegotsky In this episode, CEO of Vangst, Karson Humiston, had the pleasure of sitting down with Jason Vegotsky, the visionary founder of Petalfast, a company that's revolutionizing the cannabis distribution landscape. Jason's journey is a fascinating one, and he shared …

From Challenges to Opportunities: Unpacking the Cannabis Market with Delta Emerald Ventures Karson Humiston reflects on the recent CannaDataCon conference with the show's organizer, Ian Dominguez, the founder and chief investment officer at Delta Emerald Ventures. The conference, held in Miami, aimed to address the repetitive nature of cannabis con…

Navigating the Highs and Lows of Cannabis Business with Frank Perullo Broadcasting live from MJ BizCon in Las Vegas, Karson Humiston had the pleasure of sitting down with Frank Perullo, the co-founder of Ascend Wellness, a name that's become synonymous with success in the cannabis industry. They dove into a rich conversation about the evolution of …

"Building a Cannabis Business: Persistence, Leadership, and the Rebrand" Karson Humiston is live from MJBizCon in Las Vegas with and guest Nick Vita, co-founder and CEO of The Cannabist Company (formerly known as Columbia Care), to discuss the journey of building a successful cannabis business. They delve into topics such as the challenges faced in…

Building a Cannabis Giant: Jason's Leap from Pharma to Pot In this episode of the Proud to Work in Cannabis podcast, host and fellow entrepreneur, Karson Humiston, sits down with Jason Wild, the chairman of TerrAscend one of the large publicly traded company in the cannabis industry. The episode is recorded live from MJBizCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. …

The National Cannabis Roundtable Discusses Historic Recommendation to Reschedule Cannabis The team from the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) joins the Karson Humiston to discuss the recent historic recommendation to reschedule cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. The episode begins with an overview of the background and context of the recommen…

From Assistant Store Manager to CEO: The Journey of Matt Darin in the Cannabis Industry In this episode of the "Proud to Work in Cannabis" podcast, Karson Humiston had the pleasure of interviewing Matt Darin, the CEO of Curaleaf, the largest public cannabis company in the United States. They recorded this episode live at MJBizCon, one of the bigges…

Vangst Partners with the Cannabis Business Office to Launch a Technical Assistance Program In this episode, Karson Humiston announces a breaking partnership between Vangst and the Cannabis Business Office to launch a new program. Karson is joined by Emma Howard, the program manager of the Cannabis Business Office, and Tristan Watkins, the Deputy Di…

"Creating Economic Mobility in Low-Income Communities: The Urban Upbound Model" In this episode of the Proud to Work in Cannabis podcast, Karson Humiston is joined by Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound. They discuss the journey of Urban Upbound, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in public …

Setting the Stage for MJBizCon 2023: Insider Tips with Jess Tyler Discover the insider insights you need for MJBizCon 2023 with Jess Tyler, Chief Revenue & Experience Officer at MJBiz, and host Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst’s. Uncover expert tips on navigating the event, including dos, don'ts, and must-see features. Don't miss out on thi…

How Chelsea Kossower Became PuffCo’s VP of Global Expansion Dive into the extraordinary journey of PuffCo's success with Chelsea Kossower, who started as Employee #1. From humble beginnings to global expansion, Chelsea's story is a testament to dedication and innovation. Hosted by Karson Humiston, join us for an inspiring adventure in the cannabis …

Lessons learned while working for a startup. Meet Claire Moloney, the first woman to work in cannabis tech and the first employee at LeafLink. Claire joins Karson Humiston to share her story and discuss her journey as LeafLink's first hire and all of the lessons she has learned along the way. Claire shares advice for other women looking to break in…

Unlocking $100 Million Success in Cannabis with Mood CEO David Charles Embark on a thrilling journey with David Charles as he reveals the incredible ascent of Mood, a Delta-8 cannabis ECommerce powerhouse set to achieve a remarkable $100 million in revenue. Join host Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst’s in unraveling the secrets behind Mood's…

Charting a New Course: Cannabis Legislation's Future Unveiled Explore the future of cannabis legislation with Saphira Galoob, Executive Director of the National Cannabis Roundtable and host Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst’s. From the recent strides made in SAFE Banking to the potential impact of cannabis rescheduling; discover the key insi…

Unlocking the Cannabis Industry's Secrets with Christine Hogdon Dive into the intriguing world of cannabis with Christine Hogdon, COO of Highway Cannabis, as she joins host Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst. Discover the hidden secrets behind the high turnover rates in the cannabis industry. Gain insights into leadership, culture, and the journey o…

Hear from the Founder & CEO of Frontier Risk, the sole cannabis technology firm to secure VC funding in 2023. Step into the future of cannabis insurance with James Whitcomb, Founder & CEO of Frontier Risk, in this episode hosted by Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst. Explore how Frontier Risk is reshaping the industry, tackling issues like limited c…

Cannabis Rescheduling: Economic Boom or Bust? Expert Insights Revealed! Host Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, dives into the Health and Human Services’ recent letter to the DEA recommending that cannabis gets reschedule to Schedule III with cannabis industry experts Jeremy Berke Founder, CEO & Chief Editor at Cultivated News, and Beau Whitney, Ch…

Cannabis Trailblazer: Soc's Journey from Military to Jane Technologies Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, delves into Socrates Rosenfeld's remarkable odyssey from military service, where he flew Apache helicopters, to becoming the visionary force behind Jane Technologies in the cannabis industry. Discover how Socrates's journey unfolds, blending mi…

A Milestone Episode with Kyle Sherman, CEO & Founder of FlowHub Join host Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, as she celebrates 50 episodes, featuring special guest, Kyle Sherman, CEO & Founder of FlowHub. Journey through FlowHub's evolution, challenges, and triumphs as a pioneering cannabis tech company. Explore how Kyle's visionary leadership tran…

Unveiling Miss Grass: A Cannabis Brand Journey with Kate Miller Dive into the captivating journey of Kate Miller, CEO & Founder of Miss Grass, as she unveils the secrets behind building a powerhouse cannabis brand. Discover her evolution, community empowerment, fundraising tactics, and more. Don't miss this insightful podcast episode with host Kars…

Inside GlassHouse's Cannabis Revolution: A Journey from Seed to Ashtray Uncover the remarkable journey of Graham Farrar, President & Chief Cannabis Officer at GlassHouse, as he shares insights with host Karson Humiston. Join the cannabis industry's evolution, unity, and transformative strides. Tune in and be part of the thriving cannabis community!…

Learn from the Nancy Whiteman the CEO behind North America's best-selling cannabis gummies, as she spills the trade secrets to cash-flow success and navigating mega-acquisitions. Join Karson Humiston in this mind-blowing episode as she delves into the extraordinary journey of a cannabis game-changer. Buckle up for an eye-opening ride into the futur…

The Story of How Brett Gelfand is Making Debt Collections Cool Join host Karson Humiston in a captivating episode with Brett Gelfand, Founder & Managing Partner at CannaBIZ Collects, the first-ever full-service collections agency devoted to the cannabis industry. Discover how Brett's entrepreneurial journey paved the way for innovative debt collect…

Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, hosts an eye-opening episode featuring Beau Whitney, Chief Economist at Whitney Economics, and Jeremy Berke, Founder of Cultivated News. They delve into the detrimental effects of 280E on the cannabis industry, discussing the challenges faced by businesses and the urgent need for federal taxation reform. Discover …

Discover the inspiring journey of Wendy Bronfein and Rebecca Bronfein Raphael, the sisters behind Curio Wellness, as they share their success story in the Maryland cannabis market, including their instrumental role in the launch of the state's adult-use market. Join them and host Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, for an inside look at how these dy…

In this captivating episode hosted by Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst, dive into the success story of Missy Bradley, the Co-Founder and Head of Marketing & Sales at Ripple. Explore how Missy's entrepreneurial spirit propelled Ripple to become a dominant force in the cannabis industry. Gain insights into their innovative products, marketing challe…

Tracy Brady Sets the Record Straight on Multi-State Operators in Cannabis Tracy Brady, Senior VP of Global Communications at Curaleaf, debunks myths about multi-state operators (MSOs) in the cannabis industry. She joins Karson Humiston the CEO of Vangst to share her journey and emphasizes the power of storytelling. Tracy discusses navigating challe…

Insights into the Current State of Cannabis From Todd Harrison's Perspective In this episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis, host Karson Humiston interviews Todd Harrison, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at CB1 Management. They discuss Todd's journey into the industry, the Mission [GREEN] campaign, insights into the current state of the…

Unleashing the Power of Cannabis – Charlie Bachtell’s Journey of Social Impact, Entrepreneurship, and Advocacy Join host Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst, as she sits down with special guest Charlie Bachtell, CEO & Founder of Cresco Labs. Discover Charlie's inspiring journey into the cannabis industry, his passion for social impact, and his…

CEO Michael Johnson on shifting perceptions while improving compliance processes. Join Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst, in an intriguing conversation with Metrc's CEO, Mike Johnson. Discover how Metrc is transforming compliance, shifting negative perceptions, and becoming a crucial partner for cannabis businesses. Gain valuable insights in…

Changing the Game – How 1906 is Redefining the Cannabis Industry Join Peter Barsoom,, CEO & Founder of 1906, as he walks through the groundbreaking journey of building one of the cannabis industry’s fastest growing edibles companies. With host Karson Humiston, this episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis is filled with insight into building one of the…

Want to Know How Native Roots Transforms Cannabis Retail? Tune in to This Week's Episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis We’re back with another exciting interview! This week, host Karson Humiston interviews Denise DeNardi, Chief Sales Officer at Native Roots Cannabis Co. Denise shares her journey into the cannabis industry, discusses transforming ret…

Insights from Karan Wadhera, Managing Partner at Casa Verde on Thriving in a Dynamic Business Landscape In this week's episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis, hosted by Karson Humiston, CEO & Founder of Vangst’s, special guest Karan Wadhera, managing partner at Casa Verde, shares his journey from leaving his investment banking job in Asia to becoming…

Jennifer Fisher, Co-Chair of the cannabis practice at Goodwin, a leading law firm in San Francisco, and Vangst’s personal lawyer, joins Karson Humiston. She discusses her background in handling complex cases for highly regulated industries, Jen shares her journey into the cannabis industry and her passion for supporting resilient clients. Learn abo…

Join host Karson Humiston on this week’s episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis as she speaks with Bruce Barcott, creator of the 2023 Cannabis Jobs Report – The leading resource for cannabis employment data. Hear the fascinating story behind the report’s inception, gain insight into the state-by-state analysis of this year’s data, and learn about pre…

Join Vangst's Proud to Work in Cannabis podcast as host Karson Humiston chats with LeafLink's Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Ryan Smith, and the company's President and CEO, Artie Minson, on how they achieved 50% market share in the cannabis industry. Discover how LeafLink's innovative marketplace technology replaced outdated transaction method…

Get ready for another insightful episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis, featuring special guest, Jeremy Berke, the Founder & Lead Write at Cultivated. He joins Karson Humiston, Founder & CEO of Vangst, to shares his experiences of building the Business Insider cannabis vertical from the ground up, and the best ways for cannabis companies to get noti…

At the intersection of marriage and business sits Karen and Matt Mayberry, CMO & CEO of Trym, who along with their third co-founder, Benjamin, have built a cannabis technology platform for growers and cultivators that has revolutionized the cannabis industry. And the best part? They’re doing it together as a team, and loving every minute of it! In …

Last quarter cannabis Venture Capitalist Emily Paxhia was less than pleased with the response from SVB when talking about the financial potential of cannabis; now along with her brother, Morgan Paxhia, co-founder of Poseidon Asset Management, she’s breaking down why SVB could have taken a lesson from the industry on this week’s episode of Proud to …

At the center of the New York cannabis community sits a female changemaker who is walking the walk when it comes to creating space and opportunities for everyone. On this week’s episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis, Co-Founder & CEO of Humble Bloom and Honeypottt, Solonje Burnett, sits down with host Karson Humiston, Founder & CEO of Vangst, to tal…

Five years ago, three female cannabis leaders learned the true power of women supporting women. The (unofficial) name of this group? “Rosilyon,” a combination of Rosie, Emily, and Karson – The names of the 3 leaders who make up the group. This week on Proud to Work in Cannabis Founder & CEO of Mattio Communications, Rosie Mattio, and Poseidon Inves…

From entry level sales rep to co-founder of one of cannabis industry’s top data companies, in less than a decade, Taylor Jones has seen it all. Taylor Jones, Pistil’s Co-Founder & VP of Revenue, sits down with host, Karson Humiston, Vangst’s CEO & Founder, on this week’s episode of “Proud to Work in Cannabis,” where these long-time industry friends…

What happens when a neuroscientist, turned Employee #1 at one of the country’s first cannabis brands, takes on a government role? Find out on this episode of Proud to Work in Cannabis with host Karson Humiston, Vangst’s Founder & CEO, featuring special guest Tristan Watkins, Program Manager at Colorado Office of Economic Development and Internation…

Have you ever wondered what two cannabis founders talk about on their monthly catch-up call? Founder & CEO of Vangst, Karson Humiston, sits down with Founder & CEO of Headset.io, Cy Scott, to discuss the past, present, and future of cannabis. They also address the elephant in the room: layoffs. With a lack of federal momentum in banking for the can…