GDM Podcast

THCa + Hemp Payments Are About to Get Messy. Here’s What Survives | Sean Conley & Samuel FIsher

🤝 Cannabis + Hemp Payments That Don’t Shut You Down: MTXE Merchant Processing Sean Conley - / seanconley In this episode of the GDM Podcast, we’re joined by Sean Conley, CEO of MTXE Merchant Processing, to talk about the part of cannabis that can ruin your week in 1 email. Payments. If you’re running a dispensary, hemp brand, THCa store, CBD ecommerce site, or any “ancillary” cannabis business, you’ve probably dealt with at least one of these: Your funds got held. Your account got shut down. You got slapped with surprise reserves. You’re paying 4 to 5 percent in fees and don’t even realize it. Your processor ghosts you when something breaks. Sean has spent years inside the payment trenches running divisions at major cannabis tech companies, and now he’s building MTXE to be the “true partner” processors keep pretending they are. We break down what actually causes shutdowns, how underwriting really works, what contract traps to watch for, and why the next 12 months of hemp payments are going to be a hot mess for anyone relying on Stripe, PayPal, Square, or QuickBooks alone. 🎯 Using Stripe or PayPal for cannabis adjacent payments? 💸 Paying reserves that crush your cashflow for 180 days? 🧾 Want QuickBooks invoicing without QuickBooks pricing? ⚠️ Selling hemp or THCa and worried banks are about to tighten up? This episode is your playbook for stable, compliant-ish payments that don’t collapse the second risk teams wake up. 📖 Download Our Free Cannabis Marketing Cheatsheet: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... 💻 Sell More Ounces, Bongs & Premium Products: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... In This Episode, We Unpack: ✅ Why Stripe, PayPal, Square, and QuickBooks shut down cannabis and hemp businesses ✅ The real reason “they approved me fast” usually turns into “they froze my funds” ✅ What underwriting actually looks for (and why doing it upfront matters) ✅ How to avoid reserves and when reserves are actually justified ✅ Hidden contract traps: early termination fees, PCI fees, monthly monitoring fees ✅ What “sponsored banks” are and why offshore processing is a red flag ✅ How MTXE can integrate with QuickBooks while using MTXE pricing and support ✅ Vault + tokenized cards: charge clients in seconds without awkward chasing ✅ Recurring billing + automatic card updater so you stop losing subscriptions ✅ Text-to-pay invoices, fraud tools, chargeback protection, and ACH options ✅ What Sean predicts for hemp, CBD, and THCa payments over the next year ✅ Red flags every operator should spot before signing a processing agreement 🔥 Key Highlights: 📌 “If you’re using Stripe in high risk, it could be a matter of time.” 📌 Underwrite first, or you’ll process for a week then get nuked. 📌 Reserves can destroy cashflow even if you get the money back later. 📌 Most operators are paying way more than they think once the add-on fees hit. 📌 The real advantage is a partner who stays in the fight after onboarding. 👉 Like, comment, and share (And if you want an intro to Sean, drop a comment with what you sell and what platform you’re currently using.) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

How Cannabis Brands Can Finally Sell Direct (Without Breaking the Law) | Martez Knox & GDM

🤖 Autonomous Cannabis Commerce For Real Operators: BakedBot AI - https://bakedbot.ai/ [https://bakedbot.ai/] Martez Knox - / martezknox In this episode of the GDM Podcast, we’re joined by Martez Knox, founder and CEO of BakedBot AI, a Chicago based tech company building autonomous cannabis commerce. We get into AI agent budtenders, headless menus that fix iframe SEO, and how AI agents can run compliant email, SMS, and retention campaigns for a fraction of what you are paying humans and SaaS right now. From Smokey the AI budtender to growth engine segmentation, brand menus with direct checkout, and social equity pricing that actually means something, Martez breaks down how smart operators are turning their data into higher LTV customers instead of spray and pray discounts. 🎯 Tired of blasting the same discount to 5,000 customers? 📊 Want to segment VIPs vs broke college kids automatically? 🌿 Curious how an AI budtender can lift basket size without replacing humans? This episode is your playbook for turning your menu, data, and messaging into an autonomous cannabis growth engine. 📖 Download Our Free Cannabis Marketing Cheatsheet: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... 💻 Sell More Ounces, Bongs & Premium Products: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... In This Episode, We Unpack: ✅ What “autonomous cannabis commerce” actually means in real life ✅ How Smokey, the AI agent budtender, uses terpenes, cannabinoids and purchase history ✅ Why getting customers to 5 to 7 visits is the retention breakpoint ✅ The growth engine: segmenting VIPs, deal hunters, and everyone in between ✅ Why blasting the same discount to everyone kills your margins and your list ✅ Headless menus vs iframe menus and why SEO visibility matters so much ✅ How brands can run true ecommerce on their own site, then route to nearby dispensaries ✅ The AI agent stack: Smokey for recs, Debo for compliance, Craig and Pops for growth ✅ Replacing expensive email and SMS labor with AI agents that run 24/7 ✅ How BakedBot supports social equity and minority owned operators with 50 percent off ✅ Current POS and data integrations plus what is coming next 🔥 Key Highlights: 📌 “You should not be sending the same message to all 5,000 customers.” 📌 AI agents segment, price, and personalize faster than any human team. 📌 Headless menus keep your traffic and data on your own domain, not Weedmaps. 📌 Equity operators get real discounts on tech, not just lip service. 📌 AI is here to scale budtenders, not replace them. 👉 Like, comment, and share Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Why 95% of Cannabis Apps Suck (And How to Fix It) | Brady Halse & Samuel Fisher

🔥 Build Apps That Actually Drive Revenue: Digital Awesome - https://www.digitalawesomeapps.com/ [https://www.digitalawesomeapps.com/] Brady Halse - / bradyhalse In this episode of the GDM Podcast, we’re joined by Brady Halse, co-founder of Digital Awesome, the team behind 300 live dispensary apps and a new wave of brand apps. We dig into what makes an app convert, why webview wrappers fail, and how to use push notifications without risking 10DLC SMS fines. From true POS and rewards integrations to Target-style promo UIs, raffles, and Android shopping that actually works, Brady breaks down what top operators are doing to turn app users into higher LTV customers. 🎯 Thinking about an app but worried it won’t get used? 📲 Wondering if push beats SMS for cannabis retention? 🤖 Curious how they got vapes and Android checkout approved? This episode is your playbook for apps that sell, not just apps that exist. 📖 Download Our Free Cannabis Marketing Cheatsheet: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... 💻 Sell More Ounces, Bongs & Premium Products: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... In This Episode, We Unpack: ✅ 300-dispensary milestone and what the data says about adoption ✅ Why custom, fully integrated apps beat webview apps every time ✅ Push notifications as the safe retention channel vs risky SMS 10DLC ✅ Brand apps 101: product locators, drops, Discord-style communities, rewards ✅ Budtender tabs, training, and virtual farm tours inside the app ✅ True POS, ecom, and rewards integrations for one-tap checkout ✅ Target-style promo browsing that maps deals to live inventory ✅ Raffles, reorder buttons, and “you might also like” carts that lift AOV ✅ Multi-store search so customers find in-stock products across locations ✅ Android shopping solved - how Digital Awesome handles it ✅ Launching as an update when you already have an app and users 🔥 Key Highlights: 📌 “If you can’t shop natively, it’s not an app. It’s a shortcut.” 📌 App users open 7-12 times a week on average and buy more often 📌 93% of downloads stay active at 90 days with the right UX and promos 📌 The real cost of bad apps: support time, churn, and lost brand trust 📌 Why you should download a vendor’s live apps before you sign 👉 Like, comment, and share Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

There's a Better Way to Do Loyalty (Experiences Beat Discounts Every Time) | Steph Vrona & GDM

🔥 Learn Loyalty That Actually Works: https://www.highdef.studio [https://www.highdef.studio] Stephs Course: https://highdef.studio/product/clarif [https://highdef.studio/product/clarif]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazhWZzBYT0QyVC1rX0pNYm4tVTRqcGFFZWUyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsOFRnM00zTUxDOVpDOXdoZHJIVmQ1bkMyNW80QURndXd1OXE5OUNFSmw5cERjRXhiaGQ0bERBYTYwczExMVRoZk5wcVpHZ2kzT3RuTF9yTTBJMDQySC1FektnMzhMRzBKSy1nRXZxWkdQeVpRemVLOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighdef.studio%2Fproduct%2Fclarify-your-dispensarys-market-position-in-10-steps%2F&v=IJa7b8OSH0A] In this episode of the GDM Podcast, we’re joined (again) by Steph Vrona, founder of High Def Studio — the retention and loyalty architect behind some of the best-performing dispensary programs in the country. From six-month promo calendars to experiential reward systems that make customers want to come back, Steph breaks down why 90% of loyalty programs fail — and what the smart dispensaries are doing differently. 🎟️ Ever wondered why your “$5 off next visit” promos stop working? 🤝 Want budtenders who actually build your SMS list for you? 📲 Debating whether a dispensary app is worth the cost? This episode is your full-stack playbook for building retention, not just repeat discounts. 📖 Download Our Free Cannabis Marketing Cheatsheet: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWpfMGItYkdiUFJ4eFpWNGw5OEVfYWRLVWpXUXxBQ3Jtc0tsSVZseGlDdjYyM0J4SjhJdndkbHJnOUJwUDJXWjFsUTk2TklfRzNDZ1N6SW9aTHc1RW53TVpGX2J1UTVTdjlUdHh3NXo0SkF1MWUtX1phNFZ5VGNiMVBBS3NtdTVDQkx1TDE1aXJEdWFTdHh3U0wzMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgreendispensarymarketing.com%2Fdispensary-marketing-cheatsheet&v=IJa7b8OSH0A] 💻 Sell More Ounces, Bongs & Premium Products: https://greendispensarymarketing.com [https://greendispensarymarketing.com] In This Episode, We Unpack: ✅ How to clarify your dispensary’s market position in 10 steps ✅ Why most loyalty programs train customers to wait for sales ✅ How to turn budtenders into your highest-ROI marketing channel ✅ The $200 movie-ticket hack that outperformed every discount campaign 4 ✅ How to build partnerships with local, non-cannabis businesses ✅ Why browser push + SMS is greater than generic apps every time ✅ The hidden cost of underpaying budtenders 🔥 Key Highlights: 📌 “DISCOUNTS BUY ATTENTION. EXPERIENCES BUY LOYALTY.” 📌 The truth about app fatigue and brand-first marketing 📌 How Taco Bell’s drop model can revolutionize dispensary retention 📌 What 2026 means for THCa brands and national growth 📌 Why community is the new competitive edge 👉 Like, comment, and share if you’re ready to turn one-time shoppers into fans for life. Because in 2025, the real flex isn’t traffic — it’s retention. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

What Every DC Dispensary Owner Needs to Hear For 2026: Compliance Insider Tera Josephine Gabriel

🎓 Get Certified with CannaPlan: https://www.cannaplan.co [https://www.cannaplan.co] In this episode of the GDM Podcast, we’re joined by Tera Josephine Gabriel, founder of Cannaplan—one of only three ABCA-approved cannabis certification providers in Washington, D.C.—and Pharaoh Leaf, her new cultivation brand blending ancient Egyptian roots with modern craft cannabis. From launching DC’s first AI-powered compliance bot to designing SOP libraries that keep dispensaries inspection-ready, Tera isn’t following the rules—she’s rewriting them. This conversation is a crash course in how to stay compliant, scale faster, and protect your license in one of the country’s fastest-changing cannabis markets. 💼 Confused by DC’s new annual certification requirements? 🤖 Want a bot that automatically tracks every rule change for you? 🌿 Curious how an Egyptian founder is merging mysticism, AI, and cannabis? This episode is a must-watch for dispensary owners, compliance officers, and East Coast operators serious about staying ahead of the curve. 📖 Download Our Free Cannabis Marketing Cheatsheet: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXpTaVF5SDNwTzV0OERsQmZCaHRHUUo1ZEhKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsSjdqUkVOSkh1V3pKbXkySnJMT2J6Zk1acms3NUI3ZTIta2ZXU1lLaXE3dTRCVzBGYXU5OVpDZnVZa0dHc19rRVlqdU5lZDdTSWhXZVN1SWhVMktCZ0tfMERrR3FJZkZKbU9maVRYQ2R1a0cwNW9acw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgreendispensarymarketing.com%2Fdispensary-marketing-cheatsheet&v=jdYNWHXCDY8] 💻 Sell More Ounces, Bongs, and Premium Products: https://greendispensarymarketing.com/ [https://greendispensarymarketing.com/] In This Episode, We Unpack: ✅ How Canaplan became DC’s go-to compliance certification system ✅ The real reason dispensaries fail audits (and how to fix it fast) ✅ Why the East Coast is 10 years behind California—and how that’s your edge ✅ The tech behind Canabot and its live regulation updates ✅ How Pharaoh Leaf brings back classic OG genetics and North African hash craft ✅ Why partnerships—not paranoia—will define the next era of cannabis 🔥 Key Highlights: 📌 “Compliance isn’t paperwork—it’s leverage.” 📌 How AI can make cannabis regulation human again 📌 The goddess behind Pharaoh Leaf’s branding (and why it matters) 📌 Why DC’s cannabis market is about to explode 📌 How to future-proof your dispensary before corporate money floods in 👉 Like, comment, and share if you’re ready to turn compliance into your competitive edge. The future of DC cannabis isn’t gray—it’s gold. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.