High Functioning Podcast

From Dorm Hustle to Enterprise with Joe Khoury

Joe Khoury went from 3D-printing rolling-tray phone cases in his college dorm to architecting data and ERP platforms behind $850 million+ in regulated-tech transactions. Along the way he survived a $10 K customs seizure and co-launched AI compliance agents for multi-state operators.
What You’ll Hear:- Dorm-room prototype & pre-sell validation- Customs-seizure lessons in risk management- Building middleware and ERP at scale- Launching AI-powered compliance toolsBootstrapping hacks for regulated startups
🔗 Full Episodes: highfunctioning.show🎧 Spotify: tr.ee/highfunctioningspotify🍎 Apple: tr.ee/highfunctioningapple🔔 Subscribe: tr.ee/highfunctioningsubscribe

Seeds, Scandals & Smash Hits with Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski

Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski is a craft pioneer whose influence spans decades. In this episode, Greg shares how a 1991 Grateful Dead show, a handful of mystery seeds, and his underground passion led to one of the most influential brands in modern craft history. But the journey hasn’t been smooth from a 2011 federal raid to rebuilding under Massachusetts’ adult-use framework, Greg’s story is one of legacy, resilience, and craft done right. Today, as Director of Cultivation at Canna Provisions, he’s leading Smash Hits: a brand rooted in authenticity and the same genetics that started it all.
🎙️ What you’ll hear:• How Chemdog genetics began at a Dead show• A candid look at his 2011 raid and comeback• Why Smash Hits is about preservation, not trends• Insights on legacy, quality, and leadership
📆 RSVP on LinkedIn: tr.ee/chemdogevent🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & highfunctioning.show🔔 Subscribe: tr.ee/highfunctioningsubscribe

Scaling Labs Without Cutting Corners with John Nathan

John Nathan, founder of Bay State Extracts, turned a 3,400 ft² hemp lab into Massachusetts’s top minor-cannabinoid facility on a shoestring budget. Learn how he built ISO-7 clean rooms for 70% less, pioneered CBN production, and scaled smart, without blowing through capital.
You’ll Learn:• DIY clean-room construction for massive savings• Smart scale strategies for regulated lab ops• The rise of minor cannabinoids and why they matter• Turning hyperfocus into profitable R&D productivity
🚨 Disclaimer: Adult-use hemp topics. 21+. Please engage responsibly.

Breaking Barriers in Cannabis with Todd Dahn

Todd Dahn built Massachusetts’s smallest licensed cannabis farm on 800 ft², bootstrapping with no-equity loans, staying cash-positive through a four-and-a-half-year licensing wait, and turning each harvest into community grants. Todd digs into his music-industry and banking roots, and his advocacy for LGBTQ wellness as a man living with HIV.
💡 Episode Takeaways:• Smart debt structures for startups• Launch small to scale fast• Cash-positive operations best practices• Grant strategies that give back• Music & finance hacks for cannabis• Building inclusive, wellness-forward brands

Empowering Farmers Through Cooperative Cannabis with Avery Leveston

Avery Leveston built Cowboy Kush: a cooperative distribution model that pays farmers premiums, cuts out middlemen and ensures on-time payouts. Learn how a “farmers first” approach is changing the game in Massachusetts.

How to Grow a Real Brand with Marcus Johnson-Smith

On this episode of the High Functioning Podcast, we’re joined by Marcus Johnson-Smith, co-founder of Kush Groove, who shares the real story of building a purpose-driven brand with staying power.
From a college hustle to a multi-location business, Marcus breaks down the journey step by step, highlighting what too many founders skip: operational clarity, consistency, and customer-first thinking. We dive into the traps of rushing, the myth of competition, and how teaching and mentoring is now a central part of Marcus’s mission as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Tufts.
🎧 You’ll hear:✔️ What it takes to grow something real✔️ The power of culture in retail✔️ What most entrepreneurs miss before launch✔️ How to build slow—and last longer
🚨 Content for 21+ audiences. This episode discusses adult-use business strategy.

What CPAs Won’t Tell You w/ Charlotte Cathro

Charlotte Cathro has been in the trenches with cannabis operators since the beginning and she’s here to tell you what most accountants won’t.
From botched license deals to last-minute audit scrambles, Charlotte has helped companies fix the messes no one warned them about. This episode is a deep dive into the finance, compliance, and accounting realities of running a cannabis business. If you're still trusting your cousin’s bookkeeper with your monthly reports, this one's for you.
 
🎙️ You’ll Learn:• Why cannabis accounting is not plug-and-play• How red flags can cost you your license• What real operators are doing to stay audit-proof
🔗 Watch and listen: https://tr.ee/highpodlinks
🚨 This content is intended for adult audiences 21+. Please operate responsibly and stay compliant.

Burning Man to Biotech Boss with Megan Dobro

Megan Dobro left her tenured professor role and never looked back. Today, she runs SafeTiva Labs, one of the most respected cannabis testing labs in Massachusetts.
In this episode, Megan and Jason talk about her transition from science professor to startup founder, the chaos behind inflated THC results, and the cannabis bills being worked on by state lawmakers. It’s a deep dive into what’s broken, what’s working, and how real change happens.
In This Episode:
Megan’s journey from academia to cannabis
The truth about inflated test results
What’s happening with cannabis lab reform in MA
Why she’s proud to build a better system
💡 Perfect for operators, regulators, scientists or anyone ready to shake things up with integrity.

What Legacy Operators Know That You Don’t with Derek D’Ambrosio

In this episode, we sit down with Derek D’Ambrosio, Social Equity Licensee to talk real cannabis business no filters.
Derek shares his journey from Boston’s underground market to running licensed operations, navigating corruption, and scaling with purpose. From his mother’s cannabis use during cancer to the politics of zoning, this is the wisdom most founders don’t have and legacy operators live by.
🎙️ Highlights:✔️ Real legacy experience, no PR spin✔️ Lessons from trap houses, city hall, and beyond✔️ Why storytelling and survival matter in business
🔗 Watch the full video + more: https://tr.ee/highpodlinks
🚨 21+ only. Please engage responsibly.

Building a People-First MSO with Brendan McKee

Brendan McKee didn’t start in a boardroom, he started in a warehouse, moving furniture and learning the value of hard work. Today, he’s the COO of Silver Therapeutics, a multi-state retail brand known for keeping people at the center.
In this episode, Brendan shares how that early hustle turned into a leadership style built on empathy, clarity, and long-term retention. From offering therapy to building culture in every store, this is what people-first business really looks like.
🎧 You’ll Learn:
How Silver Therapeutics maintains 90%+ retention
Why benefits and listening drive loyalty
What MSOs can learn from staying human
🔗 Listen now: https://tr.ee/highpodlinksAvailable on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.