The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast
The Women in Cannabusiness podcast is a platform dedicated to highlighting the stories of women who are breaking barriers and making significant contributions in the cannabis industry. Hosted by Olivia, a seasoned marketing professional and advocate for women in cannabis, the podcast delves into the journeys of female entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of cannabis. Each episode offers listeners a deep dive into the personal and professional experiences of our guests, covering topics such as entrepreneurship, overcoming industry stigma, and the unique challenges faced by women in a male-dominated space. Our mission is to inspire...
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#59 - S7:E1 - Daryn SantaMaria: From Creative Arts to Cannabis Marketing for Brooklyn Dispensary
<p>In the Season 7 premiere of Women in CannaBusiness, Olivia sits down with Daryn SantaMaria, Head of Marketing at Kaya Bliss Dispensary in Brooklyn, New York, to talk about turning a creative background into a career in cannabis marketing, events, and community building.</p> <p>With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a background spanning visual arts, photography, animation, web design, and early childhood education, Daryn never necessarily planned on building a career in cannabis. A visit to Kaya Bliss ultimately opened an unexpected door, leading her from creative work into a leadership role overseeing marketing operations across the dispensary’s...
#58 - S6:E14 - Sophia Carrion: From Studying PR and Legalization at SDSU to Building a Career in Cannabis
<p>Season 6 Finale: Owning Your Power in Cannabis with Sophia Carrion of E10 Labs</p> <p>Recorded live on Day Two of Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026, we’re closing out Season 6 of Women in CannaBusiness with Sophia from E10 Labs.</p> <p>Sophia’s path into cnnbis started in an unexpected place: a LinkedIn post. With a background in public relations and an academic interest in legalization dating back to her senior project, she found an opportunity to turn that interest into a career in the industry.</p> <p>In this conversation, Sophia shares how she got her start, what has...
#57 - S6:E13 - Aubrey Amatelli | From JPMorgan to Building PayRio: Solving Cannabis' Payments Problem
<p ></p> <p >Recorded on-site at Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026, this episode of Women in CannaBusiness features Aubrey Amatelli, Founder and CEO of PayRio, a payments company built for the cannabis industry.</p> <p >Aubrey’s career has taken her from the fast-paced Silicon Valley startup world to JPMorgan and ultimately back to entrepreneurship, where she combined her experience in payments with her passion for cannabis and alternative medicine to build PayRio.</p> <p >In this conversation, Aubrey shares what it was like experiencing a $70 million startup acquisition, transitioning into corporate life while raising three kids and serving as the brea...
#56 - S6:E12 - Sabrina Noah | The Lobbyist Lady: Building a Career in Cannabis Policy
<p>Recorded live from the pre-show Hall of Flowers Ventura mixer hosted by Beard Bros, this episode of Women in CannaBusiness features Sabrina Noah of Poppy Public Affairs, better known as The Lobbyist Lady.</p> <p>Sabrina has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of politics, healthcare, government affairs, and cnnbis. She shares how her career began in politics and healthcare, and how a deeply personal experience with medical cnnbis ultimately changed the way she viewed the plant and led her to become an advocate.</p> <p>We talk about Sabrina's transition into cnnbis government affairs, helping secure...
#55 – S6:E11 - Christina Wong | Fruit + Flower: Fostering Cannabis Community Through Food & Connection
<p>Recorded on-site at Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026, this episode of Women in CannaBusiness features Christina Wong, founder of Fruit + Flower Co., food and gardening expert, storyteller, and longtime advocate for more thoughtful, intentional cnnbis culture.</p> <p>Christina shares how she moved from more than a decade in food, hospitality, PR, and branding into the cnnbis industry, and how her early experience working with craft farms and plant medicine completely shifted the way she thought about the plant.</p> <p>We talk about the origins of Fruit + Flower, from infused baking and food blogging to community events designed around...
#54 - S6:E10 - Kate Miller: From Entertainment Executive to Creating Miss Grass, the “Goop of Cannabis”
<p >Recorded on-site at Hall of Flowers, Olivia Castaldy sits down with Kate Miller, co-founder and CEO of Miss Grass, for a short conversation about her journey from working as a budtender to building one of the most recognizable women-led brands in cannabis.</p> <p >Kate shares how her early experiences with the plant, followed by a decade-long career in entertainment, ultimately led her to leave the industry and launch Miss Grass. Today, Miss Grass products are available in dispensaries across the country, while the brand continues to make cannabis education and culture more approachable for modern consumers.</p> <p >...
#53 - S6:E9 - Jackie Bryant: From Cannabitch to Writing Cannabis Culture Into the Mainstream
<p >Journalist, editor, educator, and Cannabitch creator Jackie Bryant joins Women in CannaBusiness to share how she went from selling w**d in college to becoming a leading voice in c*nnabis journalism.</p> <p>Jackie traces her path from personal involvement with the plant to reporting on the business, policy, history, and culture surrounding it. She shares some of the most memorable stories she has investigated, including the social and marketing history behind “Danksgiving,” unusual research involving lobsters and THC, and the cultural moments that reveal much bigger stories about the industry.</p> <p>We also explore how Jackie find...
#52 - S6:E8 - Krista Zaragoza: From Brand Ambassador to Leading Territory Sales at Rosin Tech Labs
<p >From Budtender to Cannabis Industry Leader: Krista Zaragoza’s Journey into Hash and Rosin</p> <p >In Season 6, Episode 8 of the Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Krista Zaragoza, Account Executive for Rosin Tech Labs’ Northern California territory, live from Hall of Flowers Ventura.</p> <p >Krista’s cannabis career began as a brand ambassador which helped her develop a deeper understanding of the plant, consumer preferences, and the sensory experience behind choosing quality products as well as retail. s. She shares how that foundation led her into brand representation, cannabis sales, and eventually a leader...
#51 - S6:E7 - Meet the Four Women Behind Uncle Arnie’s California Sales Team | Women in Cannabis Beverages
<p>What does it take to build and grow one of California’s leading cannabis beverage brands?</p> <p>In Episode 51 / Season 6: Episode 7 of Women in CannaBusiness, Olivia Castaldy sits down live at Hall of Flowers with four women from the Uncle Arnie’s California sales team: Christine Riedel, Lexi Salas, Amanda Jacoby, and Tara DoBucki.</p> <p>It is rare to meet four women working at the same cannabis company, let alone within the same department and region, who are willing to come together and share their experiences. At Uncle Arnie’s, however, women make up more than half of the...
#50 - S6:E6 - Wendy Baker: From Humboldt Grower to Award-Winning Solventless Edibles
<p>In Episode 50, Season 6 Episode 6 of the Women in Cannabusiness Podcast, Olivia sits down with Wendy Baker, Founder and CEO of Love Gem Inc., DBA Space Gem, an award-winning cannabis edibles company rooted in Humboldt County while at Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026.</p> <p>Wendy shares how she began building Space Gem in 2013 and why she chose to focus on premium solventless edibles made with ice water hash. She discusses the intentional approach behind Space Gem’s products, including thoughtfully formulated edibles featuring functional mushrooms designed around focus, vitality, wellness, and sleep.</p> <p>The conversation explores what it takes to...
