Highly Enlightened, hosted by Jon Purow

Christine Apple is the Founder and CEO of Grön, one of the fastest-growing edibles brands in the U.S.

Before launching Grön from her basement in Oregon, Christine spent years working with jurisdictions and regulators, developing an early grasp of compliance that proved invaluable as the cannabis sector evolved.

Her leadership has been marked by impressive expansion and product innovation. Grön was early to single-serve edibles w...

Samuel Brill is the CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings, where he first served as Lead Independent Director and now leads the charge at one of the country’s largest multi-state operators.  He is a veteran of capital markets, private equity, and corporate transformation - with nearly three decades of experience guiding businesses through high-stakes moments.

Before stepping into the cannabis space, Sam led private equity efforts at ...

 In this second round of One Hitters, I hit the floor with quick, punchy interviews from some of the most interesting voices in cannabis. From brand builders to community leaders, each guest brings a fresh perspective — all in under five minutes. If you want a fast take on where the industry’s heading, this episode’s got you.

Featured Guests:

Jordan Mackenzie Whittaker
The Weedaker Group

Mitch Pfeifer...

As the former CEO of both Cookies Management and Connected Cannabis, Kevin Brooks recognized early on that plant health was the largest vulnerability in the cannabis supply chain.

His experience building one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis companies in California, as they successfully developed some of the most well-known, super-premium cannabis products on the market, led him to form Conception Nurseries. Co...

"One Hitters Compilation – Volume 1"

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

Ricky Williams won a Heisman Trophy at Texas and rushed for over 10,000 yards in 11 NFL seasons. 

He is now the President and Co-Founder of Highsman, a lifestyle brand that Ricky personally curates from the cannabis to the accessories.  Ricky launched Highsman to provide communities of sports fans and herb enthusiasts everywhere with a platform to own their relationship with cannabis and its ability to unlock true, person...

Bryan Gerber ("King of Cones") is the founder and CEO of HARA Supply, directly operating over 250,000 square feet of the highest-quality pre-rolled cone production using the world’s finest European rolling papers. 

It spans 15 facilities with over 4,000 personnel based in India, along with HQ office and warehouse located in Las Vegas, NV. They currently produce over a billion pre-rolled cones per year for the can...

Jonathan Black is an accomplished business attorney and entrepreneur, with experience in real estate, entertainment, tech, retail, cannabis, and law. Jonathan earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of San Diego and after completing law school, he founded Weston Law Group PC.

In 2010, he took on the role as compliance director and advisor. As compliance director and advisor, the company gained larger government con...

Socrates Rosenfeld is the Co-Founder and CEO of Jane Technologies. A U.S. Army veteran and former Apache helicopter commander, he turned to cannabis to help re-acclimate to civilian life after leaving active duty in 2011.

Frustrated by the lack of legal access in Massachusetts and the unreliable black market, he co-founded Jane Technologies with his brother Abraham to create a trusted e-commerce solution for cannabis reta...

Tiffany Chin has 13 years of experience in the entertainment space, working with world famous talent including Snoop Dogg, Eddie Murphy, and Martha Stewart. She has helped artists and talent traverse out of their traditional lane(s) of fame by way of strategic branding partnerships, including brands such as Adidas, AirBnB, Reddit, Tanqueray, Netflix and HBO.

In working closely with Snoop Dogg, Chin co-founded Casa Verde Capital in 2...

In this episode of Highly Informed, host John Puro speaks with Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc, the leading provider of cannabis regulatory technology in the U.S. With over 345,000 users, Metrc's solutions ensure the safety and security of the legal cannabis market by tracking products from growth to sale.

Michael discusses the challenges of cannabis regulation, the importance of compliance, and how technology fosters trust ...

Peter Barsoom, founder and CEO of 1906, discusses the mission of his cannabis edibles company and the importance of ending the prohibition of cannabis. He explains how 1906 products are designed to mimic the effects of smoking cannabis, with a focus on fast-acting, specific effects, and high-quality ingredients. Barsoom also discusses the incorporation of minor cannabinoids and other supplemental ingredients to create a personalize...

In this episode, host Jon Purow interviews Arthur de Cordova, CEO of Ziel, about the company's microbial reduction technology for the cannabis industry. They explore Arthur's diverse background, the adaptation of Ziel's technology from textiles to cannabis, and the evolution of their business model. The conversation delves into regulatory challenges across states, the importance of microbial control in the supply cha...