Canna Connect Show
The Canna Connect Show provides an open window to the Canna Connect brand.
Episodes
44 episodes
Season 2, Episode 07 | Travis Cullen: From Federal Prison to Minnesota Cannabis License Holder
Before Minnesota legalized cannabis, Travis Cullen spent eight years in federal prison for cannabis offenses after being sentenced to 11 years at just 21 years old.Today, Travis is a licensed cannabis operator, owner of Hopkins Dispensar...
Season 2, Episode 06 | Benjamin Matsuda (Grow Pros Solutions): Building Smarter Cultivation Facilities
What separates a good cultivation facility from a great one?According to Benjamin "Bench Plug Benny" Matsuda, it starts long before the first plant goes into the room.Recorded live at CannaCon, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Ben...
Audio Version | What Every Minnesota Cannabis Consumer Should Know with Aidan McCluskey | Season 2 Episode 05
Minnesota's cannabis industry continues to evolve, but many consumers still have questions about how the market works and where it's headed.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann is joined by comedian Aida...
Audio Version | State of the Show: Brainerd, Duluth & The Future of Canna Connect | S2E4
Where is Canna Connect headed next?In this special State of the Show episode, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Creative Director Spencer Ploessl to reflect on the growth of Canna Connect and share what's ahead for the organ...
LED Rebates, Buildouts, and Smarter Cannabis Grows with Alexis Dubourdieu and Tony Beeman | S2E3
Before a cultivator buys lights, orders HVAC equipment, or signs a lease, there are a few important questions worth asking.Does the building have enough incoming power? Does the equipment qualify for a rebate? Is utility preapproval requ...
Audio Version | Jacob Affeldt of Frostbite Dispensary on Building Minnesota's Cannabis Retail Experience | The Canna Connect Show S2E2
Minnesota's cannabis retail market is evolving quickly, and few people have had a front-row seat like Jacob Affeldt.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with the Vice-President and Co-Owner of Fro...
Audio Version | Tara Falk (Aim & Fire) | Cannabis Marketing, Events & Building Brands in Minnesota | S02E01
What does it take to build a cannabis brand that stands out?Season 2 of The Canna Connect Show kicks off live from CannaCon St. Paul with the return of Tara Falk, Founder of Aim & Fire.In her...
Episode 37 | How Minnesota Cannabis Businesses Are Saving Thousands on Cultivation Buildouts | Brad Obermueller, CEE
As Minnesota's cannabis industry moves from licensing into active cultivation, operators are discovering that power, energy efficiency, and facility planning can make or break a project.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Steven E...
Episode 36 | The Future of Cannabis Jobs in Minnesota with Local 49's Patrick Doran & Benjamin Mike
What role should organized labor play in Minnesota's emerging cannabis industry?In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Patrick Doran and Benjamin Mike of Local 49 to discuss workforce development, emp...
Episode 35 | Tanner Berris Returns: The Past, Present & Future of Minnesota Cannabis
What has changed in Minnesota cannabis over the past year?In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann reconnects with longtime friend, former co-host, and Minnesota cannabis historian Tanner Berris for their first record...
Episode 34 | Jen Reise on The Biggest Challenges Facing Minnesota Cannabis Businesses
As Minnesota’s cannabis industry moves closer to a fully operational adult-use market, operators are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape of legislation, licensing, compliance, and competition. In this episode of The Canna Conne...
Episode 33 | Mark Carlson on Cannabis Packaging, Leadership & Building Brands in Minnesota
What role does packaging play in the future of cannabis?In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Steven Eigenmann sits down with Mark Carlson of The John Roberts Company to talk about the intersection of packaging, branding, e...
Episode 32 | Brandon Padget on Cannabis Banking, Compliance & Building Careers in Minnesota Cannabis
What does it actually take to bank a cannabis business in Minnesota?In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann talks with Brandon Padget, Chief Deposit Officer at Union Bank & Trust, about the realities of cannabis ...
Episode 31 | Tony Beman on Cannabis Energy Costs, Grow Lighting & Minnesota’s Infrastructure Challenge
The cannabis industry in Minnesota is evolving quickly, and behind every cultivation facility is a major conversation about energy, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann...
Episode 30 | Evolving the Industry with Don Raleigh III of Evolve Payment
Minnesota cannabis is no longer just an idea. It’s becoming a real industry in real time.In this special episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann sits down with Don Raleigh III of Evolve Payment to talk about the evolution of...
Episode 29 | THC Drinks, Cannabis Quality & the Ganjier Movement | Elizabeth Sage
Elizabeth Sage’s cannabis story starts long before the Ganjier Guild.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, we sit down with Elizabeth live from Lucky Leaf to talk about cannabis beverages, hemp regulation, product quality, education...
Episode 28 | Building NativeCare: Community, Culture, and Cannabis in Minnesota
Cannabis in Minnesota isn’t just about business.It’s about people, culture, and creating something that reflects the community it serves.In this episode, recorded live at Lucky Leaf Expo, we sit down with the team behind NativeCar...
Episode 27 | Inside Tokahe Distribution: Building Minnesota’s Cannabis Supply Chain
Before products hit shelves, before brands grow, before consumers ever walk into a store, there’s a system behind it all.This episode pulls back the curtain.Recorded at Lucky Leaf Expo, we sit down with Chad Stout and Brock Friese...
Episode 26 | From Banking to Cannabis Retail with Teresa Sorensen of Unwind
Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never planned for.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, we sit down with Teresa Sorensen, founder of Unwind, to talk about how a 33-year career in banking unexpectedly led her into M...
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Episode 25 | Building from the Ground Up with Bridgette Pinder of Grounded Gardens
Some people find cannabis. Others build their life around it.Bridgette Pinder has done both.In this episode, recorded live at Lucky Leaf Expo, we sit down with the founder of Grounded Gardens to talk about what it really takes to ...
Episode 24 | Building Smarter Cannabis Retail with Ryan Ogorek of Sweed
Ryan Ogorek didn’t plan on building a career in cannabis, but once he found it, everything clicked.In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, recorded live at Lucky Leaf Expo, Ryan shares his journey from traditional sales into the canna...
Episode 23 | Powering Cannabis Retail with Gus Sevastos of Dutchie
Cannabis markets move fast.One year ago, Minnesota was still asking basic questions about supply, access, and who would enter the space. Today, the conversation is evolving into something more complex.In this episode of The Canna ...
Episode 22 | Why Cannabis Businesses Break: Payroll, People, and Poor Infrastructure | Shawn Worth
Most cannabis businesses don’t fail because of product.They fail because of what’s underneath it.The systems. The people. The infrastructure.Live from Lucky Leaf in Minneapolis, we sat down with Shawn Wirt...
Episode 21 | Cannabis Accounting, Taxes, and What Operators Still Don’t Understand | Mark Waller & Betsy Morem
There’s a moment where every cannabis business has to get serious.Not about branding. Not about product.About the numbers.Live from Lucky Leaf in Minneapolis, we sat down with Mark Waller and Betsy Mooreham of SAX ...
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Episode 20 | What Cannabis Operators Get Wrong About Risk | Cory Lake & Jim McErlean
Most people don’t think about insurance until something goes wrong.At Lucky Leaf in Minneapolis, that conversation came to the forefront in a way that felt real, grounded, and necessary.Cory Lake of World Insurance and Jim McErlea...
