In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Jenna Star, COO of Lucky Elk, whose path into the cannabis industry looks nothing like the typical origin story. Raised in rural Colorado within a conservative ranching family, Jenna’s early life was grounded in tradition, resilience, and survival — far from dispensaries, cultivation, or cannabis culture.

Her journey eventually led her across the country, through Denver, Harlem, San Francisco, and Portland, where new environments, perspectives, and lived experiences challenged everything she thought she knew. From anthropology lectures that shifted her worldview to her first introduction to cannabis in Humboldt County, “the Wild West” of cultivation, Jenna describes a learning process that was slow, humbling, and transformative.

Today, as COO of Lucky Elk, she brings that lived wisdom into leadership, operations, and storytelling, honoring the plant’s legacy while helping shape legal cannabis with intention, ethics, and humanity.

✨ In this episode:

• Growing up in rural Colorado & navigating cultural shifts

• Humboldt County’s cultivation scene — chaos, beauty & learning

• How exposure, empathy & curiosity reshape belief systems

• The evolution of cannabis culture across regions

• Finding identity, purpose & resilience through change

📲 Connect on Social Media:

Follow Women in CannaBusiness – ⁠@womenincannabusiness⁠

🌿 Season 4 Gold Sponsor: Lucky Elk Support our sponsor at ⁠luckyelk.com⁠ and enjoy 15% off your purchase with code WiCB15.

In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Sharon Cohen, a seasoned CPA, CFO, and business leader whose unexpected path into the cannabis industry became a career-defining chapter. With decades of financial experience across tech and emerging markets, Sharon now applies her expertise to building operational integrity, compliance, and strategic growth in cannabis — an industry still earning its legitimacy.

Sharon shares her passion for the plant, the importance of understanding the full cannabis ecosystem, and why women in business should bring their lived experiences, leadership styles, and unique problem-solving strengths into the space. She offers grounded career advice, highlights the realities of working in a male-dominated industry, and reflects on the role mentorship, networking, and community support play in empowering women to rise together.

Rooted in honesty, practicality, and wisdom earned over time, this conversation is a reminder that confidence is built — not gifted — and resilience grows through small wins, curiosity, and showing up authentically.

✨ In this episode:

• How Sharon transitioned from tech finance to cannabis accounting
• The value of mentorship, networking, and community support
• Bringing professional experience into a developing industry
• Navigating male-dominated spaces with confidence and clarity Work-life balance, boundaries, and leading with authenticity

📲 Connect on Social Media:

Follow Women in CannaBusiness – @womenincannabusiness

Follow Hefestus @Hefestus_1

Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn

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🌿 Season 4 Gold Sponsor: Lucky Elk Support our sponsor at luckyelk.com and enjoy 15% off with code WiCB15.

In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, we sit down with Ericka Padilla-Toro, also known as The Ganja Goddess, founder of GG’s Garden, a cannabis lifestyle and education brand rooted in empowerment, accessibility, and community.

Ericka shares her powerful journey into the legal cannabis industry, from her early experiences with the legacy market to building a platform centered on uplifting consumers, especially women, through knowledge, confidence, and stigma-free education. As a legally blind single mother and multi-degree scholar, Ericka embodies resilience, purpose, and the belief that cannabis is not just a plant, but a path toward self-understanding and wellness.

This episode explores what it means to stand firmly in your worth as a woman in business, navigate a male-dominated industry, and use education as a tool for liberation, inclusion, and empowerment.

✨ In this episode:

• Ericka’s experience and background before the recreational market in NJ began

• How GG’s Garden is redefining cannabis education

• Building confidence and claiming space in the industry

• Why terpenes, science, and consumer knowledge matter

• Sisterhood, community, and supporting women in cannabis

• Finding balance, fulfillment, and purpose in entrepreneurship

📲 Connect on Social Media: Follow Ericka Padilla-Toro – ⁠@ggsgarden_⁠ Follow Women in CannaBusiness – ⁠@womenincannabusiness⁠

🌿 Season 4 Gold Sponsor: ⁠Lucky Elk⁠ Support our sponsor at luckyelk.com and enjoy 15% off your next purchase with code WiCB15.

In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Caitlin Kiarie — better known as CannaCait, a pediatric registered dietitian with nearly 20 years of experience and the creator of Mom-n-Pot. After decades of guiding families through evidence-based nutrition, Caitlin entered the cannabis industry to support parents seeking stress relief, balance, and wellness without stigma.

Caitlin shares how her professional background, personal journey, and experience in motherhood led her to create a resource where parents can learn about cannabis safely, confidently, and judgment-free. She opens up about entrepreneurship, networking, education, and what it means to be a woman in business — all while managing the daily realities of parenthood.

This episode is honest, compassionate, and empowering — offering valuable insight for anyone exploring cannabis, parenting, or wellness from a place of curiosity and care.

✨ In this episode:

• From clinical nutrition to cannabis entrepreneurship
• How parents can intentionally use cannabis for stress and wellness
• The importance of education, community, and open conversations
• Balancing motherhood, business ownership, and self-care
• Reducing stigma and supporting women in the cannabis industry

📲 Connect on Social Media: Follow CannaCait (Caitlin Kiarie) – @mom.n.pot Follow Women in CannaBusiness – @womenincannabusiness

💬 “Start low, go slow.”

🌿 Season 4 Gold Sponsor: Lucky Elk Support our sponsor at luckyelk.com and enjoy 15% off your next purchase with code WiCB15

In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Danielle Wildstein, Founder & CEO of Blue Oak Dispensary in New Jersey, a pioneering woman in cannabis with over two decades of experience in leadership, operations, and human performance.

Danielle shares her journey from a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry to building a community-centered dispensary rooted in education, compassion, and women’s empowerment. Through her lens as both a business owner and mother, she reflects on how cannabis plays a transformative role in health and wellness, and why creating a welcoming environment is essential for breaking stigma and fostering connection.

In this powerful conversation, Danielle opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of women’s voices in a male-dominated industry, and her mission to make Blue Oak Dispensary a safe, educational, and inspiring space for all.

In this episode:

• Danielle’s path from corporate leadership to cannabis entrepreneurship
• The role of education and compassion in building customer trust
• Creating a welcoming dispensary rooted in community and connection
• How cannabis can enhance health, balance, and self-awareness
• The importance of women defining success on their own terms

📲 Connect on Social Media: Follow Danielle Wildstein – @blueoakofficial Follow Women in CannaBusiness – @womenincannabusiness

Episode Sponsor: CannaContent This episode is sponsored by CannaContent, a women- and LGBTQ+-owned creative agency elevating brand storytelling in the c^nnab!s space long before it was cool. From content strategy to paid ads to navigating marketing in a censored world, CannaContent is a leader in thoughtful, impactful brand-building across the industry.

In this episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Ali Bianco, Founder & CEO of Pinks Products, New York’s first canna-couture brand merging high fashion with premium cannabis.

Ali shares how her connection to cannabis began as a source of calm and creativity during her teenage years and evolved into a purpose-driven, luxury brand redefining what femininity, empowerment, and authenticity look like in the cannabis industry. From rose-petal prerolls to eco-friendly packaging designed with women in mind, Pinks brings intention, beauty, and confidence to every detail.

In this conversation, Ali opens up about her journey from waitressing to entrepreneurship, navigating a male-dominated space, and building community through authenticity and collaboration. Her story reminds us that cannabis can be elegant, expressive, and empowering — when led by women who dare to do it differently.

✨ In this episode:

• How Ali turned her passion for cannabis into a thriving business
• The inspiration behind Pinks’ signature rose petal prerolls
• What authenticity and purpose mean for women entrepreneurs
• Building community and confidence in a growing cannabis industry
• Why femininity and creativity can be powerful disruptors in business

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📲 Connect with Ali on Social Media: Ali Bianco on LinkedIn

Follow Ali Bianco on Instagram @puffinpinks Follow Pinks Products – @pinksproducts ----

Follow Women in CannaBusiness:

Instagram @womenincannabusiness

TikTok @womenincannabusiness

LinkedIn: Women in CannaBusiness

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🌿 Season 4 Gold Sponsor: Lucky Elk Get 15% off your next order at luckyelk.com with code WiCB15.

In this inspiring episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, host Olivia Castaldy sits down with Liliana (Lili) Hollandt, founder and owner of Lady L Cannabis, a woman-led dispensary on Jersey City’s West Side.

An immigrant from Bulgaria and long-time Jersey City resident, Lili brings over 20 years of advertising, project management, and retail experience to New Jersey’s legal market. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose — proving that representation, mentorship, and community can transform an emerging industry.

Lili opens up about her journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business in a new market, and the importance of creating an inclusive, welcoming space for women and local residents. She shares how her deep-rooted passion for people and education continues to shape Lady L Cannabis into more than a dispensary — it’s a community hub focused on empowerment, connection, and authenticity.

00:00 — Introduction to Lady L Dispensary

00:31 — Lili’s Journey to Cannabis Entrepreneurship

04:44 — The Importance of Community and Connection

07:38 — Passion for the Plant and Industry

12:44 — Advice for Women in Cannabis

17:28 — The Role of Women in Cannabis

21:08 — Education and Innovation in Cannabis

26:46 — Family Perspectives on Cannabis

28:22 — Navigating Family Dynamics and Cannabis Acceptance

31:53 — Overcoming Gender Bias in the Cannabis Industry

39:13 — Building Resilience and Confidence as a Woman Entrepreneur

45:28 — Balancing Work and Family Life in the Cannabis Sector

Liliana (Lili) Hollandt is the founder and owner of Lady L Cannabis, a woman-led dispensary located on Jersey City’s West Side. Born in Bulgaria and now a proud Jersey City local, Lili combines two decades of expertise in advertising, retail, and project management to redefine what community-driven cannabis retail looks like. Her mission centers on education, empowerment, and local impact — ensuring Lady L Cannabis serves as a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to learn, grow, and connect.

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Follow Lady L Cannabis Jersey City on Instagram: ⁠@ladyljersetcity⁠

Lady L's Website: ⁠ladyljerseycity.com⁠

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This episode is brought to you by our Season 4 Gold Sponsor, ⁠Lucky Elk Hemp⁠. Lucky Elk Hemp cultivates craft-grown, small-batch hemp products from the Pacific Northwest — made with care, integrity, and a commitment to community. Visit⁠ luckyelk.com⁠ to learn more and use WiCB15 at checkout for 15% off your order.

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Follow us on Instagram⁠ @womenincannabusiness⁠ for more stories celebrating women leading with purpose in the plant-based industry.

In this moving episode of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, we sit down with Heather Steinberg, Patient Care Specialist at Jewish Sauce Boss, to talk about resilience, healing, and the power of cannabis to transform lives.

With over 15 years in healthcare and a lifelong passion for helping others, Heather shares her powerful journey — from navigating chronic pain and multiple surgeries to discovering cannabis as a life-changing alternative to traditional medicine. As someone who cannot take NSAIDs or Tylenol, Heather’s personal experience as a medical marijuana patient opened the door to a new career in patient advocacy and education.

Now, through her work at Jewish Sauce Boss, Heather helps patients across Pennsylvania and New Jersey access their medical cards and find the relief they deserve. Her story is one of strength, purpose, and compassion — a reminder that breaking the stigma starts with one honest conversation at a time.

00:00 — Introduction to Heather Steinberg 01:30 — From Healthcare to Cannabis: How Heather’s Medical Journey Began 03:40 — Living with Chronic Pain, Weight Loss Surgery & Knee Replacements 05:30 — Getting Her Med Card and Discovering Cannabis as Medicine 07:30 — From Social User to Medical Advocate 09:00 — How Cannabis Filled the Gaps in Traditional Healthcare 10:30 — Understanding the Endocannabinoid System 11:00 — Joining Jewish Sauce Boss and Finding Her Purpose 14:00 — The Evolution from Brand Ambassador to Patient Care Specialist 17:00 — Helping Patients Navigate Medical Cards & Strain Education 18:30 — Women’s Health, Endometriosis, and Finding Relief with Cannabis 20:00 — How Cannabis Changed Heather’s Life — and Her Relationships 23:00 — Breaking the Stigma & Sharing Her Story Online 30:30 — Advice for Women Entering the Cannabis Industry 33:00 — Trusting Your Journey and Knowing When You’re Ready 35:00 — Breaking the Stigma: Why She Calls It “Weed” 36:00 — What It Means to Be a Woman in Cannabis 38:00 — Finding Support and Belonging in a Male-Dominated Industry 40:00 — A Day in the Life: Helping Patients Access Relief 45:00 — Finding Balance, Car Culture & Self-Care 47:00 — Who Inspires Heather & What Fuels Her Work in Cannabis

With over 15 years in healthcare, Heather Steinberg has dedicated her life to helping others, from navigating complex insurance systems to guiding patients through the medical cannabis process. As a Patient Care Specialist for Jewish Sauce Boss, she helps patients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey access their medical cards, understand strains, and find alternative wellness options. A patient herself, Heather brings empathy and firsthand experience to every interaction, advocating for natural healing and reducing stigma around cannabis use.

Follow Heather on Instagram: @jsb_heather420 Learn more about Jewish Sauce Boss: @officialjewishsauceboss

This episode is brought to you by our Season 4 Gold Sponsor, Lucky Elk Hemp. Lucky Elk Hemp cultivates small-batch, craft-grown hemp products from the Pacific Northwest created with care, intention, and integrity. Visit luckyelk.com and use WiCB15 for 15% off your order at checkout.

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Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn at @womenincannabusiness for more stories of women leading with heart, purpose, and passion in the cannabis industry.