First Smoke of The Day

He ranks environment above everything else, and says around ninety five percent of the operations he walks into do not have enough dehumidification.In this episode he lays out his rule for building a room. Spec it for week nine, not for day one. Sixty pints per day per light fixture. And understand that the colder you run, the less capacity that equipment actually delivers, to the point where a cold room may be getting a small fraction of what it was rated for.He also covers keeping a room flatlined so pressure swings stay minimal, the numbers he targets through veg and into early flower, why he keeps veg rooms hot rather than cooling them down for the crew, light levels by variety, and the overnight failures that nobody catches until the next morning.fsotd.com has the complete episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He can tell how a room is doing before he looks at a single plant. He walks in, notices how his skin feels, and says that alone tells him whether it is going to be a long day.In this episode he breaks down how he actually diagnoses a grow. Reading plant architecture after the stretch to work out where the room was overwatered or dried back too hard, and roughly when it happened. Why environment is the most common failure by a wide margin, and why so few operations own a light meter now that the industry has moved to LED. What he checks when the numbers all look right and the plants still look wrong.He also gets into building a real pest program with multiple modes of action instead of spraying the same thing until it stops working, how to spot hop latent viroid by leaf angle and stems that snap without pressure, and the hardest call in cultivation: when a room is no longer worth saving.Catch the full sit-down at fsotd.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harrison was on a call with a consulting client when his phone started blowing up. Joe Rogan had played one of his videos on air. He told the client he had to go, hung up, and decided to start taking the work seriously.In this episode he explains how videos about California infrastructure turned into about a thousand new followers a day. It started with an unfinished airport train, then the high speed rail, roughly eighteen billion spent with projections reaching far higher and no train to show for it. He makes a point of keeping it out of party politics. His argument is simply that people are paying for something they are not getting.He also talks about the politicians who have reached out since, why he has turned down every paid promotion offered to him so far, an honest answer on manufacturing overseas, and the trip to Mexico that is becoming his next video.The whole thing is at fsotd.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harrison sold bongs. He never touched the plant. The police still showed up at his house and federal investigators still looked into him, because people assumed anyone shipping at that volume had to be moving product too.In this episode he lays out what it actually costs to run a cannabis-adjacent business under federal prohibition. Banks that froze and closed his accounts as a matter of routine, to the point where the only institution that would take them was overseas. Thousands of units seized at customs over the years through random inspection, all of it destroyed. And the morning his social account with six hundred thousand followers vanished while he was on a plane to pitch investors, leaving him to pitch the next day with nothing.He also talks about finding one of his own custom designs sitting unbranded on a shelf across town, and why he thinks the major platforms change their position the day banking opens up.Head to fsotd.com for the full conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harrison built the largest online head shop in the country. Over 50 million dollars in revenue, a thousand bongs a day for a year, and more than a million sold. His salary when he sold it was ninety thousand dollars, the highest it ever reached.In this episode he traces the whole build. Launching a one dollar subscription box on Reddit and waking up to a hundred subscribers, then quitting his customer service job the same week. Twenty months of putting nothing into his own bank account. Getting burned by supplier after supplier until a test order with a brand new seller came back perfect, and building that factory alongside them from two hundred pieces to two hundred thousand.He also talks about the community volunteers who turned packing into a party, the meme page partnership that ended with him at Tommy Chong's house and moving his whole team to California, and the one thing he thinks most people get wrong about cold outreach.Catch the full sit-down at fsotd.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full episode is up at fsotd.comHarrison sold his company for $10 million. A third of it was cash and two thirds was stock. Then the stock fell from around $8 a share to $1.In this episode he breaks down the full acquisition. The buyer had just purchased three of his biggest competitors, and when the offer came in around $9 million, he said ten or he walks. They agreed. What followed was two years nobody saw: a seven figure tax bill on money he didn't have yet, staff who couldn't be told about the deal in advance, and a real possibility of walking away with a fraction of the headline number.He also talks about the $15 million valuation offers he passed on years earlier, the non-compete that kept him out of the industry he loved, and what the money actually changed once it finally landed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The whole thing is at fsotd.comHopelord's first paycheck in cannabis came from Puffco. The job was seeding and talent relations, which in practice meant handing Puffco products to artists he met while touring.In this episode he traces the whole relationship. Finding Puffco through a producer friend in the ASAP camp, visiting their second office in Carroll Gardens when it was seven or eight people and Roger lived upstairs, leaving to focus on Talking Terps, and coming back years later as the brand behind Puffco's first co-branded collab. He also gets into PuffCon taking over entire city blocks and why he thinks 420 should move to Miami.Then a real argument about New York: he believes it already has the best cannabis laws in the country, lounges or no lounges, and explains why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TP Crawford took close to a year. 3D render first, then find a factory that'll actually take the call, then prototypes, then shipping, air or sea. Hopelord walks through what it really costs to turn an idea into something physical.He also went to the RAW factory with Josh and saw the scale up close. One mill supplying essentially the whole world, and damn near pre-sold out while they were standing there.The detail he's proudest of isn't the look, it's the feel. The lighter sleeves are made in the USA and finished so they're almost velvety in the hand. Blazy said on a podcast that when he buys a lighter sleeve he buys Talking Terps, specifically for the texture. Hopelord's point: most people stop at the 3D print. Push the design all the way through and you get something people actually want to hold.Plus the collab list, Puffco, Alien Labs, Kumba and Pake from Japan, a bicycle with Dos Noventa in Barcelona, and how each one came together on its own timeline. The Toad Venom drop with The Flowery, which went to their black tier first at about 100 half ounces. Pulling the brand back for a year and a half to respect what's in people's pockets. And red hot 1,100 degree nails in 2013 with Action Bronson, which he'll be the first to tell you was horrible.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hopelord's father taught art for 47 years. He passed six years ago, and Hopelord only learned his most repeated lesson by reading what former students wrote on his Facebook wall.One of them, 36 years later, was still applying it: steal from everyone. Get up from your seat, walk the room, see what everybody else is doing, take what you like and make it your own.That's the lens he uses now when people copy Talking Terps. He made a toy, and within a year other people were making toys. He posted a lighter case and started seeing ads for them from companies in France. His read is collective consciousness, not theft. Inspiration is free and what matters is execution.The brand itself started by accident. A line in a song Juice and Erick the Architect were making after a Red Rocks show. It became a hashtag, then a logo, and the first person to wear a Talking Terps shirt was Snoop Dogg. He couldn't design shirts, so he made a two foot plush instead, and TP Crawford came out of that. The name came from a creative partner who's a boxing fan and was thinking of Terence "Bud" Crawford.His dad got a signed first edition before he passed.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It started with a tweet. Someone in the ASAP mob posted that he'd just gotten a G Pen and was looking for wax. Hope saw it, brought some over, and by the end of that week he was with the whole crew after the show.That one post turned into years of access. Touring with Flatbush Zombies from Seattle to Santa Ana. Meeting Ted before Alien Labs was Alien Labs, back when it was Lemon Fuel OG and a six lighter in Reading. Running around High Times Cups collecting flavors like Pokemon cards and coming home with fifteen jars at a time.Then the Mendo run. In 2016 he convinced Greener Fields to sell the original Skittles cut, took $20,000, called Ted, and drove up in the middle of the night. That cut plus an OZ Kush seed became Brainwash, the collab they finally did last year.He also has a documented photo from backstage at a Smokers Club show at Best Buy Theater, him with Rocky, Playboi Carti, Ian Connor and others, showing them Skittles for the very first time while everyone was still on OG.Plus the Toad Venom deal with The Flowery in Florida, and how the Talking Terps merch relationship turned into a strain drop.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LMC made the documentary on how Cookies got built. He says what Berner created is legendary, and the timing may never be repeatable.Still illegal, then legal. Streetwear first because it moves across borders easier and costs less to support. The Wiz vlog era that put Berner in front of an entire generation, including LMC himself, who watched it in middle school. And Berner walking on stage with the plant, a clip he still remembers.He breaks down what he sees now that he's had the curtain pulled back. Berner as a promoter and a selector is elite, and LMC is direct that he's genuinely from the culture. Where it gets complicated is the back end, and what happens when you're managing over 200 licensing partners through other people.They also get into the DOA and Ryan situation, the trademark that should have been locked down, and why LMC thinks the whole thing has become a waste of resources for both sides.Then the bigger lesson: maybe long-term full partnerships between two public-facing people in weed just don't work. LMC makes the case for short-term collabs instead, the way two actors do one movie and then go their separate ways.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LMC estimates he's spent three to four thousand hours on the phone with people in cannabis, hearing their version of events. His read: a lot of them are straight up lying, and most of the rest are incentivized to shape it.He talks about why he's developed a strange compassion for some of the people this industry treats as villains. Not all of them, some earn it. But walk back far enough on most and you see how they got there.Lance gets into his own version of the problem. Someone says something on the podcast that stops the room, and within 24 hours he gets the call. On our friendship, on everything we've built, do not let that go out. Some of these are people he's known ten years before they ever sat down. He says the show would be fifty times bigger if he just ran everything unedited.They both talk about what doesn't make it out and why. Manic episodes. Fiancés calling. Two weeks of footage documenting somebody's life falling apart that neither of them will ever publish.Plus the real reason LMC has stepped back from investigative work: the model doesn't pay. Thousands of hours, real enemies, and no revenue at the end of it. He explains what he's rebuilding first.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.RAW Rolling Papers. King size wides, the uncreased fatties, the RAW king size blacks, and the Phoenix flintless lighter with a windscreen and poker. Grab authentic through https://rawthentic.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrity weed brands keep dying and LMC has a theory about the room where those deals get made.Everyone at that table is incentivized for the deal to close. Nobody gets paid to say no. So even when someone in there knows cannabis works nothing like liquor licensing, there's no reason for them to speak up.He walks through why the ones that survive all have the same thing in common: they live it. Wiz with Khalifa Kush. Method Man out there in the story feeds gifting boxes. TCA reps working events. Compare that to Jay-Z and Monogram, where the D'Ussé playbook got copied into an industry that doesn't work that way.Then the Drake and Canopy Growth story. LMC interviewed Bruce Linton, Canopy's founder, who told him the deal was a promo vehicle. Canadian rules block direct brand advertising, but you can advertise through news, so every press release about Drake was the actual product. He doesn't think they ever seriously intended to launch a brand.Plus why running a cannabis company like a tech company doesn't work, and his actual advice if a celebrity asked him how to enter the space.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.Faven Lighting. Under canopy lighting that's changing how facilities and grow rooms get built. They'll put together a full layout for your setup, whether you're running HPS, double-ended, fluorescent, or LED. Use code FSOTD. https://favenlighting.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LMC dropped a documentary warning people about spray packs. It hit 400,000 views in two days. Then YouTube age restricted it.He appealed. It's journalistic, it's educational, it's not promoting anything, it's literally warning people about a dangerous product. Denied. In the year and a half since, that video has done under 50,000 more views. Age restriction cuts off suggestion and advertising entirely, so growth just stops.He looked up what a video with those numbers typically pays a creator. Just under a million dollars. He's been paid $50,000 in AdSense across everything.Lance gets into FSOTD's side of it too. They archived 150 videos and applied for monetization, denied. Archived 500 videos, reapplied, denied again. The reasons they were given: smoking on camera, breaking down flower on camera, and pointing people toward where to buy. When they asked whether federal legalization would change it, the answer was essentially no.Meanwhile CNBC runs cannabis coverage fully monetized. Both of them break down what that double standard means for anyone building in this space, and why relying on AdSense makes creators fragile in the first place.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Super Chill, there were medicated fortune cookies. Vanilla or chocolate, 50 milligrams, five bucks, sitting in a jar right by the register at TLC and Zen Healing.They pitched dispensaries on customizing the fortunes. Put a promo inside, a free joint on the next visit, $25 off, and suddenly every patient walking out has a reason to come back. One shop in Marina Del Rey ran a quarter pound giveaway through them every month.The very first fortune was an Eddie Huang quote from Fresh Off the Boat. They wrote the rest themselves, keeping a notepad while watching movies and listening to music, collecting anything that could work.They were also early on rosin. Their first R&D jar came from Hash Era, he dropped it on the floor, and there wasn't any more for months. Food grade rosin barely existed for edible makers at the time.Plus the 500mg tie-dye cookies, poured in five separate batters by hand. The Art Basel Vice party where a DJ described his fortune cookie like a mushroom trip and got them written up. And why Super Chill started as a throwaway project while they waited on fortune cookie licensing, then became the whole thing.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.Brands that we only trust: SlapHub LA. Custom bags, mylars, jars, branding, logos, and 3D imagery, all designed and produced in house in Los Angeles. Use code FSOTD. https://www.slaphub.la/Woodward Collective. Custom cut and sew hoodies, shirts, hats, plus brand design and packaging. Low minimums, big or small. Use code FSOTD. https://www.thewwco.com/fsotdChapters0:00 It started with fortune cookies1:32 Discovering rosin early3:44 The jar he dropped5:20 The friend with lupus6:06 How they found edibles7:46 There's no money in edibles8:50 They said nobody wants this11:40 The first fortune ever sold12:32 Who wrote the fortunes13:41 Five bucks by the register14:03 The 500mg tie-dye15:18 The Art Basel writeup#SuperChill #FSOTD #FirstSmokeOfTheDay #CannabisEdibles #FortuneCookie #CannabisHistory #Prop215 #LiveRosin #HashRosin #CraftCannabis #cannabispodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lance brought in a tray of the cheapest edibles he could find, 50 cents to a dollar each, different brands across the board. Super Chill's read: most of them are coming out of the same manufacturers running the same SOP. Same recipe, different mold.They explain how it actually works. Mold companies publish recipes on their websites. You can buy pre-flavored, pre-colored gelatin in bulk with instructions telling you to mix in rosin or distillate. Link up with a graphic designer and you have a brand. That's the whole barrier to entry.They also get into why nobody in edibles gets critiqued. The space is all pats on the back and gassing people up, and they've been blocked and unfollowed just for posting about natural coloring and their own process. Not naming anyone, but people take it personally.Plus the blue raspberry story, a flavor that only exists because of a red dye shortage and was never a real fruit at all. Why they've never had to reformulate for the no-artificial-color trend, since they never used it. And a hard look at monocrop agriculture versus growers like Murray Farms running 400 varieties.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.One of the brands we trust: RAW Rolling Papers. King size wides, the uncreased fatties, the RAW king size blacks, and the Phoenix flintless lighter with a windscreen and poker. Grab authentic through https://rawthentic.com/Chapters0:00 The dollar edible tray1:17 Same SOP, different mold2:26 Making a tier system3:10 Nobody critiques anybody3:30 Blocked over ingredients5:09 RAW Rolling Papers5:48 Underground sets the trend6:51 Blue raspberry isn't real8:18 Reverse engineering flavors9:01 Built for shelf life10:01 The booth stands out12:09 You can buy the whole recipe12:55 Don't be afraid to look dumb#SuperChill #FSOTD #FirstSmokeOfTheDay #CannabisEdibles #CannabisGummies #ArtisanEdibles #RealFruit #FoodDye #Red40 #CannabisIndustry #CraftCannabis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone told Super Chill real fruit wouldn't pass testing. Too expensive, too unstable, not worth it. They did it anyway.Their process starts at the Hollywood Farmers Market on a Sunday morning, not in a kitchen. Baby Crawford peaches from Ryer Farms, a third generation grower whose stand runs $10 a pound with a sign telling you not to touch the fruit unless you're buying it. Wiser Farm melons. Harry's Berries. Wong Farms mangoes with a line 40 people deep before the market even opens, and they still got sold out two people ahead of Jen.Then it goes into a hydraulic press. They clarify the juice with agar, a red seaweed that pulls the pulp out and leaves a concentrated essence of the fruit. The new line runs 45% juice with nothing but sugar and tapioca syrup. No flavoring at all.The herbs come from their own backyard: eight garden beds, roughly 90 herb varieties, 25 to 30 fruit trees, and 80 to 90 vegetables. Strawberry two basil. Mango serrano rosemary. Raspberry thyme. Peach and sage.Lance has traveled Germany, Spain, and Italy chasing food. He said these are the best gummies he's ever had, weed aside.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.Faven Lighting. Under canopy lighting that's changing how facilities and grow rooms get built. They'll put together a full layout for your setup, whether you're running HPS, double-ended, fluorescent, or LED. Use code FSOTD. https://favenlighting.com/#SuperChill #FSOTD #FirstSmokeOfTheDay #CannabisEdibles #ArtisanEdibles #RealFruit #FarmersMarket #CannabisGummies #CraftCannabis #CannabisPodcast #WeedPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They did the walkthrough and the office was fully staffed. Graphic designers, compliance officers, the whole team. The day they moved in, everyone was gone. What was left was the owner's little brother and his friend from high school.Super Chill had just landed a statewide Stizzy launch across 50 stores plus delivery, with Catalyst and others already placing orders. All they needed was a kitchen and SOPs. Instead they found out none of the compliance had been filed. Three months of production got logged in a single weekend, the BCC flagged it, and an audit came down.Two days after they showed up asking questions, the facility got robbed. Only the facility's product was touched. Theirs was untouched.Then Jen went into labor. She was prepped for a scheduled C-section, in the room, fielding texts about batch sizes, labels, and metric tags. Product took two to three months to hit shelves. They never got paid.They also get into why kitchens are so hard to partner with in the legal market, the pay-to-play shelf system they refuse to participate in, and why after seven deals that didn't work, they now look at it as a superpower instead of a loss.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.HGV Elevated. Nutrients built for heavy yields, strong terpene profiles, and consistent quality batch after batch. Tested through every stage so there's no guesswork. Use code FSOTD for 10% off. https://hydrobuilder.com/pages/fsotdChapters: 0:00 So many promises1:00 Zoning maps and landlords1:55 Every kitchen fell through2:47 The one year saga3:38 Everyone jumped ship4:30 The Stizzy launch5:20 No compliance was filed5:43 Flagged by the BCC9:08 Why kitchens won't partner11:54 We don't pay for shelf space12:36 Then the spot got robbed13:17 In labor, working compliance15:14 Why it's a superpower now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turtle named a strain Giant Fuyu after a Japanese persimmon. The state told him he couldn't put it on a label because it appeals to children.His response: what kid in America is asking their mom for persimmons. The samurai artwork had to go too. Two Chinese food boxes smoking blunts for Purple Sticky Rice, gone. Now most of his strains are just words on a bag, and he says it's taken a lot of the fun out of making packaging.He came up from retail, stocking end caps at a grocery store, and learned that bright and flashy is what people grab on the way out. That instinct built the brand. Now the regulations have taken the tool away.He also gets into the era when a strain had to be named after a dessert or it wouldn't sell, how they took cues from Cookies coming up in Frisco, why he refuses to just mash two parent names together, and where Black Orchid actually came from: sitting at the symphony watching West Side Story with his daughter, taking notes instead of paying attention.Plus how he works with his designer Kevin, why he sits on a logo for two days before responding, and the trick for finding the right designer when you're starting from nothing.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.One of the brands we trust: Woodward Collective. Custom cut and sew hoodies, shirts, hats, plus brand design and packaging. Low minimums, big or small. Use code FSOTD. https://www.thewwco.com/fsotdSlapHub LA. Custom bags, mylars, jars, branding, logos, and 3D imagery, all designed and produced in house in Los Angeles. Use code FSOTD. https://www.slaphub.la/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turtle smokes for how weed makes him feel, not how it tastes. He says the market stopped caring about that a long time ago.He gets into the two things killing good flower: THC percentage and the camera. Strawberry Melon sold fine for years until numbers became the deciding factor. It never got past 26%. Green Dog's verdict was blunt: it's good weed, it tastes good, it gets you high, nobody buys it. And if a jar doesn't photograph well, people won't post it, and if they won't post it, it's almost not worth running.He tells the full Turtle Pie origin story too. One anomaly OG plant in a room of cookies back in 2010. A tiger stripe nobody could explain. They thought they'd found new Kush genetics. It became Sweet Cooks, got crossed back to SFV, and turned into Turtle Pie right before the gelato wave pushed gas cookies out of favor.Plus the Harborside red light day that changed how he thought about selling, why an 18.5% OG was once the best they'd ever seen, and the two strain blend he swears by: a gram and a half of Turtle Pie with a half gram of Skittles.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.RAW Rolling Papers. King size wides, the uncreased fatties, the RAW king size blacks, and the Phoenix flintless lighter with a windscreen and poker. Grab authentic through https://rawthentic.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turtle ran 105 phenos with the Green Dog team. Six made the final cut.The reason wasn't yield or structure. Keegan set one rule: if it's not better than Purple Sticky Rice, it doesn't get garden space. Doesn't matter how many A's or A minuses it pulled. When your competition is already that high, you can't afford to run it.Turtle breaks down the whole hunt. Why the 30s hit hard for three rounds and then fizzled by the fourth. Why 69 looked like nothing early and became the one he's most excited about. Why you have to run a pheno three or four times before you trust it. And the moment Keegan and Drew sat him down and told him they didn't want their name on 20 of his strains, because people know who grows his weed and they'd get judged for it.He also gets into showing up with 60 clones when he was told to run all of them, why every seed in a pack is its own snowflake, and what he actually wants from anyone who bought one: if you got a pack, bring him on the journey.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.Faven Lighting. Under canopy lighting that's changing how facilities and grow rooms get built. They'll put together a full layout for your setup, whether you're running HPS, double-ended, fluorescent, or LED. Use code FSOTD. https://favenlighting.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dispensary went under owing $300,000 across their entire vendor roster. As the buyer, he was told to call 40 people and tell them they weren't getting paid.He quit on the spot. Then he went to both dispensaries, pulled all the Green Dog off the shelves and out of the vault, took the Gold Drop carts and a topical from a vendor named Canicare, double bagged it, and walked out. His words: call the cops, beat my ass, I'm leaving with this.He called Drew in tears. They owed him 30 bands. He got 22 of it back in product. That single move is why, a year later, Drew offered him 10% of the business and a spot on the market.He also gets into the harder lesson that came after: the partnership that nearly folded the company. Why starting a brand with your homies is one of the worst things you can do, how share-everything turned into eat-what-you-kill, and what happens when some partners are risking everything and others are doing water changes and getting lunch. Plus the test his stepdad taught him for whether someone should be a partner at all: knowledge, time, or money, and if they only bring one, that's a loan, not a partnership.Want the stuff we can't put on YouTube? Unreleased content and early drops weeks in advance at FSOTD.com.Subscribe for new episodes every week.One of the brands we trust: HGV Elevated. Nutrients built for heavy yields, strong terpene profiles, and consistent quality batch after batch. Tested through every stage so there's no guesswork. Use code FSOTD for 10% off. https://hydrobuilder.com/pages/fsotd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 years old. Staten Island. No label. No manager. Just beats and a vision.JBoogz pulls up to First Smoke of the Day and breaks down what it actually takes to build an independent music career from scratch in 2026. He flipped a Mac DeMarco sample on TikTok and hit 2 million views. Now he is in LA cooking with artists and stacking percentages over upfront cash.We get into how sampling actually works, why the MPC changed everything for independent producers, how TikTok built his career before Instagram did, why he takes royalty percentages over upfront money, and what a 24 year old producer from Staten Island would tell anyone starting from zero right now.For the music heads, the producers and anyone building something real without asking permission.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture and the realest conversations in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

70 plus phenos. One room. The most elite pheno hunt panel we have ever assembled. Jordan from Trinity Association brings 900 popped Oishi seeds worth of work to the table. This is what real pheno hunting looks like with the right people in the room.Trinity Association, Blueprint Cannabis, HYTEK Michigan, Exotic Matter, Twist and Wizard Trees.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, genetics deep dives and the realest conversations in the industry.Members get early access and unreleased content at fsotd.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No investors. No outside money. No compromise. Ever. That is the Green Dog way and it is exactly why the weed hits different.Drew from Green Dog and Barney sit down with First Smoke of the Day for one of the most honest conversations about building a craft cannabis brand that actually lasts. Self funded, multi state, 350 plus genetics in the library and zero intention of changing the formula.We get into why they never took investor money, how they failed in Arizona and won in Florida, the real MSO blueprint, ego death as the biggest SOP gap in craft cannabis, why they run old ugly green genetics nobody else wants, the Frog Poison and Drama Weed breakdown, how to build a team you want to see leave and win, and why the lore behind a strain builds a brand faster than any marketing ever will.If you know Green Dog you already know. If you do not this is where it starts.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture and the realest conversations in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

250 plants hanging in the back of a U-Haul. Cops right behind him on the hill. He busted a left and drove all the way to safety.That was the last day Jay from Phresh Harvest grew in California. Within four months he packed his life in a box and moved to a dirt lot in Oklahoma with no building and no plan. 259 days later he had a facility up and his first harvest in the ground.This is one of the rawest grower stories we have ever sat down with.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture and the realest conversations in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Smoke of the Day pulls up to a secret location in Detroit with Travis from North Coast, Mike the hashmaker from Fathead Farms, and Zoot from Zoot Rolls. While the chefs cook dinner and we work through the Z Olympics LA box, we get into one of the most real conversations about building a brand, why big names fail in Michigan and what it actually takes to make hash worth smoking.We get into why Cookies showed up with wet weed and got sent home. Why only 4 to 5 percent of cannabis on the market is actually top shelf. The post harvest secrets most growers ignore that destroy your hash before you even start washing. How one joint at a Christmas party opened every door Travis ever walked through. And what makes Michigan cannabis culture completely different from anywhere else.This one is for the growers, the rollers and the hashmakers.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture and the realest conversations in the game.Chapters:0:00 - Welcome To The Secret Location8:20 - Why Big Brands Fail In Michigan22:45 - The Z Olympics Box36:10 - Building North Coast52:30 - Hash Secrets And Post Harvest1:06:15 - The Christmas Party Story1:18:40 - Michigan Culture And Shout Outs#NorthCoast #ZootRolls #MichiganCannabis #MichiganHash #FSOTD #FirstSmokeOfTheDay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michigan hash is not playing around anymore. And this event proves it.First Smoke of the Day pulls up to Bring Your Best Bag and Bring Your Best Dab in Detroit for a two day live event featuring some of the best hash, flower, edibles and cannabis innovation in the Midwest. This is not a West Coast thing anymore. Michigan is in the conversation and everyone in this room knows it.We sat down with four different brands and operators that each represent a completely different side of what Michigan cannabis is building right now.Michigan is building cars and filling carts with rosin. Both at the highest level.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations and the realest voices in the industry.#BringYourBestDab #BringYourBestBag #MichiganCannabis #MichiganHash #FSOTD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He got kicked out for smoking weed. He quit. Now he spars with UFC champions.Bryce from Up The Hill is back on First Smoke of the Day three years after his first episode. When we first met he was running loads up and down the state. Now he owns one of the top cannabis brands in California, just made his pro MMA debut in front of 21,000 people, and is training alongside Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan.This is what three years of full send actually looks like.This one is for the fighters, the growers, the brand builders, and anyone who has ever decided to go all in on something that mattered.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, strain drops and the realest conversations in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cali weed is now on a shelf in New York City. And we were there for it.First Smoke of the Day pulled up to Torches by Palanco Brothers on 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan for 420 weekend. Right above us, Alien Labs and Connected flower legally sitting on a shelf in one of the most historic buildings in New York City. A 100 year old cigar lounge where Frank Sinatra, Giuliani and every major hedge fund in New York once had a box. Now it belongs to the culture.We sat down with Ted from Alien Labs, Malik the product brand manager at Connected and Alien Labs, and the Palanco Brothers Jose and Santana who fought for over a year just to get this location approved and got denied four times before they made it happen.This is history. First time. New York City. 420 weekend. Alien Labs. Connected. Torches. All in one room.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, strain drops and the realest voices in the industry.Brands we trust:HGV Elevated — https://hydrobuilder.com/pages/fsotdFaven Lighting — https://favenlighting.com/RAW Rolling Papers — https://rawthentic.com/SlapHub LA — https://www.slaphub.la/Chapters:0:00 - Welcome To Torches6:30 - Meet The Team14:20 - Building The Menu24:45 - The Fight To Open36:10 - Cali Weed In New York48:30 - The NYC Consumer58:15 - Favorite 420 Memories1:08:40 - Best Munchie Spots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You are probably doing it wrong every single time you get pulled over.The Pot Brothers at Law are back for Part 2 and this one could literally keep you out of handcuffs. Whether you are driving through a legal state, crossing state lines, heading to a 420 event, or just going about your day with weed on you, this conversation covers everything you need to know right now.Most people think cannabis is legal so they are protected. It is not fully legal. It is semi legal. And the moment you open your mouth to a cop, you are doing their job for them.This is required watching before 420. This is required watching before you ever drive with weed again.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, legal education, growing conversations and the realest voices in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody knew his name. Now everyone wants his pack.Ron from Elusive has been one of the most quietly influential figures in the Los Angeles cannabis market for years. Growing for some of the biggest names in the game, hunting strains that move markets, and building a facility that cost seven figures to get right. This is the full story and it has never been told like this before.From buying a dispensary with fake paperwork, getting robbed by the same two cops every single month, blowing the power on a seven figure rebuild, to paying fifty thousand dollars for a single cut that changed everything. Ron has been through every version of this industry and came out the other side with one of the most respected brands in Los Angeles.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations, strain drops and the realest voices in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is 420. Mendo Dope is here. And they brought 10 year old hash made with Frenchy Canoli.This is the 420 special First Smoke of the Day has been waiting to do. Mendo Dope pulls up on the most important day of the year with their brand new album Censored dropping today, the first episode of Battle of the Trees Season 2 dropping today, and a jar of hash made a decade ago under the moonlight with the legendary Frenchy Canoli. Triple drop on 420. This is what it looks like when the culture shows up for itself.Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations, and the realest voices in the industry.Early access and unreleased content at fsotd.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The man who built the Secret Cup, launched Chalice, and has been at every major hash competition in the world sits down with Lance to judge the American Autoflower Cup live and he doesn't hold back.Jeremy breaks down the real history of hash competitions, why he thinks rosin ruined the BHO market, and what autoflower is about to do to the entire cannabis industry. Plus — live judging on camera. Watch him go through the entries in real time.Whether you're a grower, a hash maker, or just love the culture, this one's for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's different.Episode 200 and we had to bring in someone who's been moving behind the scenes long before most people were paying attention.G PUT isn't just part of the culture, he's helped build it.From streetwear to cannabis, music, branding, and real business moves, this episode breaks down what most people never see:• The real power of teams• How brands actually get built• Why relationships hype• And how to turn passion into something that paysThis isn't surface-level talk.This is about longevity, legacy, and knowing your lane, then mastering it.If you're building something, trying to break in, or figuring out your next move…This episode is for you. Tap in. Roll up. Episode 200.

In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we sit down with Robertson Glass, one of the most respected glass artists in the cannabis industry.From building high-end custom glass pieces to navigating the evolution of glass rigs, tips, and smoking culture — Robertson shares his full journey. We get into how the glass industry grew alongside cannabis, what makes certain pieces worth thousands, and how innovation like glass tips is changing the game.He also breaks down the business side of glass blowing, global demand, collaborations, and the reality of selling luxury functional art in today's market.This episode dives deep into:The connection between cannabis culture and glassThe rise of high-end glass pieces and collectorsHow glass artists develop their style and brandThe future of glass tips, rigs, and smoking accessoriesReal stories from the early days of the industryIf you're into cannabis culture, glass art, or the business behind it — this one is packed with insight.Tap in and see how the glass world really moves.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Glass Culture Origins03:45 First Glass Pieces & Early Cannabis Influence10:20 How the Glass Industry Evolved18:10 High-End Glass & Pricing Explained27:30 Glass Tips & New Innovations36:40 Business, Collabs & Global Market47:50 The Future of Glass & Closing Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is something special.We brought together some of the most respected genetic hunters and breeders in the game to break down one thing: the art of the pheno hunt.At the table we've got Raw Genetics, Elusive, the Cannabis Brothers, and OG breeder Umami — all sitting down with Lance to go through jars, smoke through fenos, and talk about what it really takes to find the next legendary strain.We're talking 100+ years of combined growing experience in one room.This episode dives into:• What a real pheno hunt looks like• How breeders select winning genetics• Why Z / Skittles-style terp profiles changed cannabis breeding• The difference between bag appeal, flavor, and true smokability• Why some strains become legends while others disappear• How breeders chase the next evolution of flavorYou'll hear stories about legendary strains, lost genetics, breeding strategies, and the constant hunt for something better.This is the kind of conversation that usually happens off camera in grow rooms and breeding labs — and today we captured it.If you're into cannabis culture, breeding, cultivation, or just want to understand how the best genetics in the world are found… this one's for you.Roll something up and tap in.Chapters:00:00 Intro – The Pheno Hunt Special02:18 What Is a Pheno Hunt?07:46 Meeting the Breeders at the Table15:12 100+ Years of Growing Experience24:30 How Breeders Select Winning Phenotypes34:05 Smoking Through the Fenos46:22 The Search for the Perfect Z Terp Profile58:40 Bag Appeal vs Real Smokability1:10:55 Why Some Strains Become Legendary1:22:10 The Future of Cannabis Breeding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humboldt Seed Company joins First Smoke of the Day for a long-awaited conversation about legacy, breeding, and the story behind Blueberry Pancakes and Blueberry Muffin.This episode is three years in the making.Blackleaf sits down with the father-and-daughter team behind Humboldt Seed Co to talk about modern seed development, large-scale phenohunts, global expansion, and what it actually takes to build elite genetics from the ground up.We dive into:• The origin of Blueberry Muffin & Blueberry Pancakes• How large phenohunts really work• What separates stable genetics from hype• Building a seed company from Humboldt to worldwide• The evolution from small mountain grows to global distribution• Why family still matters in modern breedingHumboldt Seed Co has become one of the most recognized names in seed development, with cultivars now grown across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. This conversation breaks down how it started, how it scaled, and what it takes to maintain quality over time.Follow First Smoke of the Day for more conversations with breeders, growers, and leaders shaping the future of plant genetics.Website: https://fsotd.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstsmokeoftheday/Business inquiries: family@firstsmokeofthday.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marigold Sweets joins First Smoke of the Day to break down everything you've ever wanted to know about edibles. From her time on Bong Appétit to becoming a leading voice in cannabis cooking, Vanessa dives deep into infusion techniques, dosing, decarboxylation, temperature control, concentrates vs flower, and how to make edibles that actually taste good. We talk about the science behind infusing butter, oils, tinctures, and concentrates, common edible mistakes, how long infusion really takes, and why most people are doing it wrong. This episode covers cannabis cooking for beginners and experienced consumers alike, including how to calculate potency, avoid overconsumption, improve bioavailability, and cook with intention. Whether you're into infused savory dishes, desserts, nano-emulsions, or just want to understand how edibles work in the body, this conversation is packed with real knowledge backed by testing and experience. We also get into the cannabis industry, legalization, labor conversations, and the future of infused dining. Tap in for one of the most informative edible discussions we've had on FSOTD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of First Smoke of the Day, Blackleaf sits down with Ridgeline Farms and Huckleberry Hill Farms for a real conversation about cultivation, standards, and protecting the culture.This isn't a sales pitch. It's growers talking about process, pressure, and what it actually takes to maintain quality in today's cannabis industry.We get into:• Craft vs large-scale production• Sungrown and indoor cultivation philosophies• Why consistency matters more than hype• The realities of operating in California• Legacy farms and the responsibility of carrying the culture forwardRidgeline brings precision and discipline. Huckleberry Hill brings legacy and roots.Different approaches, same respect for the plant.We highlight the operators who care about the details, the standards, and the long game. This episode is about cultivation done with intention, not shortcuts.Subscribe for more real conversations with the growers and brands shaping the industry from the inside.Let's connect!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstsmokeo...Business inquiries: family@firstsmokeoftheday.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, Blackleaf sits down with Mean Gene and Biovortex for a deep, no-nonsense conversation about genetics, breeding discipline, and why real results take time. This isn't surface-level talk or recycled opinions. It's a grounded breakdown of what actually separates long-term builders from people chasing quick wins.Mean Gene and Biovortex get into the realities of working with genetics, the mistakes most people make early on, and why consistency, patience, and experience matter more than hype or trends. They talk openly about trial and error, the importance of learning through reps, and how old-school knowledge and modern tools intersect when things are done the right way.This episode is for anyone interested in breeding, cultivation, genetics, or the behind-the-scenes process that rarely gets discussed publicly. If you're curious about what holds up over time, why shortcuts don't work, and what it really takes to build something lasting, this conversation delivers.Tap in for one of the most honest and experience-driven discussions we've had on the show.For exclusive episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and early access, visit fsotd.com and join the First Smoke family.Like, comment, subscribe, and share this with someone who actually cares about doing things right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karma Glass joins First Smoke of the Day for a real conversation on how glass became the heart of cannabis culture.This episode dives into the evolution of functional art, the rise of the modern glass scene, and what it actually takes to build a brand that lasts in an industry driven by craft, community, and credibility. We talk art versus business, collaboration, legacy, and how the glass world has grown alongside cannabis itself.Karma Glass breaks down the mindset behind the work, the culture that shaped the movement, and why authenticity still matters in a space that's constantly changing. This isn't surface-level talk, it's about the grind, the passion, and the long game.If you're into cannabis culture, glass art, or the people pushing the scene forward, this episode is for you.For extended content, behind-the-scenes access, and the FSOTD community, visit fsotd.com.Like, subscribe, and tap in with the First Smoke family.#karmaglass #glasscannabis #cannabis #fsotd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Smoke family - this episode goes all the way in.We sit down with Blacklist for a candid conversation about what's unfolding inside the cannabis industry right now. From rumors and behind-the-scenes stories to raids, robberies, media influence, and the growing divide between the legal and underground markets, this discussion covers topics most people avoid addressing publicly.We talk through how power actually operates in cannabis, why many operators feel pushed to the margins, what federal pressure looks like away from the headlines, and how silence and selective narratives continue to shape public perception. The conversation also touches on legalization, Schedule 3, market control, and the frustration many in the community are feeling.Some portions of this episode can't fully live on YouTube without limitations. For extended and uncensored content, visit fsotd.com and connect directly with the community.Like, comment, subscribe, and share with those who want to understand what's really happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Synch Angel breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in modern cultivation: plant health, disease pressure, and what actually works long term.In this episode, we sit down for a grounded, science-based conversation around IPM, crop protection, and common myths that continue to confuse growers at every level. From powdery mildew misconceptions to why some grows fail despite “doing everything right,” this episode cuts through the noise.No hype. No fear tactics. Just real knowledge from real experience.If you care about plant health, clean production practices, or understanding how top facilities manage risk and consistency, this conversation is worth your time.Whether you're running a small garden or overseeing large-scale operations, this episode gives you clarity on what matters, what doesn't, and how to think long term.Tap in, take notes, and listen all the way through. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step inside one of California's most advanced grow facilities as First Smoke of the Day takes you behind the scenes with Super Dope.This exclusive tour breaks down what it really takes to run a large-scale, high-performance operation, from clone health and veg strategy to precision irrigation, lighting setups, and data-driven decision making.This isn't hype. This is process, discipline, and execution at scale.If you're into grow tours, facility design, cultivation strategy, or understanding how top brands stay consistent run after run, this one is for you.

Cloning is where most growers lose genetics and it's usually not the flower room's fault.In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we sit down with The Clone Coach, one of the most trusted voices in cannabis propagation, to break down exactly how successful growers clone, preserve, and scale genetics without stress.We cover real-world cloning SOPs used by commercial facilities, plus practical methods home growers can apply immediately. From mother plant prep to dome management, nutrient strategy, humidity control, and common mistakes that ruin clone trays—this is a full walkthrough of what actually works.No fluff. No bro science. Just repeatable systems that keep genetics alive and healthy.If you're a cultivator, breeder, nursery operator, or serious home grower, this episode is required listening.

Rolling a joint is easy. Making it smoke right is the real skill.In this video, we break down the art, technique, and details behind rolling and smoking a proper joint—from grind and roll to burn, airflow, and overall experience. This isn't about shortcuts or trends. It's about understanding why certain methods work and how small adjustments completely change the way a joint performs.We sit down with Proper Doinks to talk through rolling fundamentals, smoking etiquette, and the subtle techniques that separate an average roll from a truly dialed one. Whether you're rolling for yourself or passing something around with friends, this guide covers the things most people overlook.If you care about craft, quality, and getting the most out of every roll, this is one of those episodes that sticks with you.This video is for:• Rolling better, more consistent joints• Understanding burn, airflow, and structure• Learning proper smoking etiquette• Appreciating the craft behind a clean roll• Anyone who wants their joint to smoke the way it's supposed toTap in and learn why how you roll matters just as much as what you roll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This isn't just another grow tour.We stepped onto a 100-year-old family farm in Michigan, built on an ancient glacial riverbed, where generations of soil, water, and intention have shaped one of the most unique cultivation sites we've ever visited.Everything grown here is purpose-built for rosin. No shortcuts. No mass production. Just sungrown plants, living soil, and genetics that have been carefully collected, preserved, and refined over decades.In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we walk the fields just weeks before harvest, from massive papaya rows and legendary Z genetics to in-house pheno hunts and a sacred garden once used to feed a family generations ago. Today, that same ground produces some of the most sought-after strains in the world.You'll hear the full story behind the land, why this specific terroir matters, how water, soil, and placement affect flavor expression, and why this farm has committed 100% to a fresh-frozen rosin process from day one.This is about legacy, cultivation, flavor, and respect for the plant and what's possible when tradition and modern genetics work together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we sit down with the minds behind High Supply to break down how the cannabis industry really moves behind the scenes.From building trusted relationships to curating high-level industry events, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to grow a brand, navigate production, and create long-term impact in cannabis, without the hype.We talk legacy thinking, why human connection still matters more than ever, how real partnerships are formed, and what separates brands that last from brands that disappear. This is about culture, consistency, and doing things the right way, even when it's harder.If you're into cannabis culture, brand building, industry events, production strategy, or just want to understand how the business side truly works, this episode is for you.This isn't theory. This is lived experience from people in the field, putting in real work and shaping what's next.Tap in and learn how the cannabis industry is being built quietly, intentionally, and with purpose.

DOJA stepped away from the spotlight… and built something nobody expected.We flew out to see it firsthand — a field filled with some of the most unique, finely developed genetics we've ever walked through. No hype. No noise. Just real work, real selection, and years of quiet progress finally being revealed.This is the DOJA era the community has been waiting on. From early breeding selections to global collaboration, to projects he's kept behind the scenes… this tour shows why DOJA stays “years ahead” instead of “loudest online.” The focus, the intention, the direction — it's all here.If you're into genetics, cultivation, phenotype selection, brand-building, or plant culture, this is one of those episodes that sticks with you after it ends. Tap in and walk the field with us.

Purple City Genetics pulled up and dropped game on the entire clone world. This episode goes deep into the business of genetics, the reality of running a nursery, global smuggling stories, preservation, rare landrace lines, citrus & cherry breeding, and the emotional rollercoaster behind cultivation.If you care about clones, genetics, breeding, nurseries, Bay Area culture, legacy cannabis, cultivation challenges, or the future of flavor, this conversation is going to hit different. Oren breaks down how Purple City built their name without shortcuts, from family smuggling roots to moving 20,000 cuts a month, to traveling the world collecting lines that would've been lost forever.We get into the hard truths behind keeping genetics alive, the pressure farmers face, clone quality, what makes a cultivar worth running, why nurseries are the backbone of the industry, and how real growers stay connected through global circles.This is one of the most raw, honest, and educational looks into genetics you'll find anywhere, straight from a team actually doing it.Tap in, roll up, and learn something the industry doesn't put on IG. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.