In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Ishqa sits down with Rachel Xin and Jean Tran at Hall of Flowers to explore the origins and mission of Juāna, a women-focused wellness brand rooted in Chinese heritage. From the thoughtful design and healing intent behind every product to the integration of Chinese medicinal herbs and adaptogens, Juāna offers more than cannabis—it offers a multi-sensory experience of balance, healing, and beauty.
Rachel and Jean speak on representation, intentionality, and inclusivity in the industry, all while building a brand that speaks directly to women from all backgrounds, especially those often left out of the cannabis conversation.

What We Talk About:

• The meaning behind the name Juāna and how it connects cannabis with Chinese culture 🌸

• How Rachel’s personal wellness journey and professional background led to Juāna’s creation

• Jean’s creative vision and how fashion, beauty, and wellness intersect in their brand identity

• The importance of offering women-focused products in a male-dominated industry

• The role of Chinese medicinal herbs and adaptogens in their formulations

• Their non-cannabis lifestyle line, including scented candles and hemp clothing

• Why creating a professional, inclusive brand space is essential for women and AAPI communities

• How motherhood, entrepreneurship, and balance fuel Rachel’s drive

• The launch of Juāna’s new pre-rolls and their plans for growth in both cannabis and lifestyle markets

Mentioned Products:

• Six signature effects: Sleep, Calm, Recover, Uplift, Focus, Arouse

• Juāna’s pre-rolls, vapes, and edibles

• Non-cannabis lifestyle items like candles and hemp loungewear

Follow Juāna:
🌐 juana.org
📸 Instagram: @juanasociety

Transforming Cannabis Retail: An Interview with Lauren Fontein of The Artist TreeIn this episode, we meet Lauren Fontein, co-founder of The Artist Tree, at the Hall of Flowers event. Lauren discusses the mission behind The Artist Tree to create a warm and welcoming community space for cannabis consumers. The conversation explores the evolution of the cannabis retail experience, highlighting The Artist Tree's approach to break stereotypes and offer an inviting, gallery-like shopping environment. Lauren also shares her journey from a corporate lawyer to a cannabis entrepreneur, her expansion plans, and her focus on female-friendly cannabis events. The episode concludes with exciting developments and potential new locations for The Artist Tree.00:00 Introduction to Hall of Flowers00:36 Creating a Welcoming Cannabis Space03:00 Lauren's Journey into Cannabis05:16 Expansion Plans for The Artist Tree07:10 Challenges and Community in the Cannabis Industry09:02 Future Collaborations and Events11:01 Conclusion and Future Visits

In this episode, I sit down with PR specialist and author Tara Coomans from Avaans Media to discuss the power of earned PR and storytelling in the cannabis industry. We dive into the challenges of cannabis marketing, how brands can navigate stigma, and the importance of building trust with consumers—especially women, who are often overlooked in dispensary buying decisions.

Tara shares insights on how brands can position themselves for media coverage, what it really takes to attract investors, and why cannabis PR is about serving the journalist and the audience, not just promoting yourself. We also explore the lack of research and education around women’s health, how perimenopause and menopause impact entrepreneurs, and the need for more transparency in cannabis products.

Along the way, we get personal—talking about dating, female empowerment, and even my new app idea, "First Dates Only" (because low-stakes, high-fun dating should be a thing!).

If you're a cannabis entrepreneur, brand, or just someone who wants to understand the art of PR and authentic storytelling, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of The Canna Boss Babes, host Ishqa welcomes Fame from Exhale Social Pro, a dynamic East Coast-based platform that shares a similar mission of supporting and empowering the cannabis community. The conversation dives into the inspiration behind Exhale Philly and the evolution of Exhale Social Pro, which offers resources, events, and professional networking opportunities designed to foster inclusivity in both the cannabis and wellness spaces.

Fame shares the challenges and triumphs of curating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities in cannabis while also tackling broader industry issues like legal protection, business strategy, and personal wellness. The discussion explores the importance of protecting assets, setting clear business agreements, and learning from past mistakes—turning experiences into valuable lessons for others through the platform’s blog and resources.

The two also reflect on their experiences at MJ BizCon, where Fame and her team covered the event as official media for the first time. They discuss the unique atmosphere of the Canna Boss Babes Content Suite, which provided a much-needed retreat from the overwhelming conference setting while fostering genuine connections and high-quality content creation.

With a packed year ahead, Fame teases exciting plans for the Exhale Tour, a multi-city event aimed at furthering cannabis education and professional development. She also announces the upcoming launch of Exhale Social TV, a show airing on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, expanding the platform’s reach and influence.

This episode is packed with insight, real talk, and shared experiences that highlight the importance of integrity, discernment, and community-driven impact in the cannabis industry.

In this powerful episode, multimedia journalist, host, and reporter Jackie Rae (@jackieraetv) joins us for a conversation you’ll want to listen to more than once. Known for her dynamic storytelling and commitment to social issues, Jackie shares her deep love for Long Beach while pulling back the curtain on the systemic issues that often go unnoticed.

We dive into the importance of REAL news sources like @lbwatchdog, which reports on stories many mainstream outlets are paid to suppress. Jackie highlights her latest initiative—raising awareness about the anti-Blackness that continues to permeate Long Beach. One glaring example? The annual MLK Day parade, where not a single Black person was honored this year. In a city as diverse as Long Beach, the decision to overlook Black-owned businesses and community leaders wasn’t just an oversight—it was willful ignorance.

Despite these challenges, Jackie’s commitment to Long Beach remains unwavering. She’s on a mission to share the untold stories, amplify marginalized voices, and support the people who need it most.

🎙 Want more Jackie?
Follow @jackieraetv and check out the first episode of her 2025 podcast season launching this Friday! (💵 Donations accepted—support the cause!)

Jackie Rae is more than a journalist; she’s a catalyst for change, using her platform to foster honest conversations about social justice, personal growth, and current events. From the moment I met Jackie—when she invited me on her show to share my own story of childhood abuse and homelessness—it was clear that she doesn’t just interview guests; she listens, she connects, and she creates space for transformative dialogue.

This episode is raw, real, and necessary. Tune in and be part of the conversation.

Exciting Cannabis Projects and Events with Tamara: Cannabis Queens Book, Canna Spa Series, and More! In this episode, Ishqa shares their excitement about receiving the 'Cannabis Queens' book featuring stories of cannabis queens from around the world. They highlight their personal note from Mel and the additional goodies included. The discussion transitions into an enthusiastic chat with Tamara about her upcoming Canna Spa event series in Long Beach, occurring on the last Friday of each month for the next six months. They delve into Tamara's long history of event planning, the unique pampering services, and exciting vendors lined up for Canna Spa. They also discuss the importance of aligning with the right brands for successful events. Tune in for an inside look at these empowering cannabis community initiatives! 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:08 Unboxing the Cannabis Queens Book 01:28 Excitement for Canna Spa Event Series 02:10 Tamara Joins the Conversation 03:11 Event Planning Insights and Experiences 13:09 Details of the Canna Spa Event 22:44 Catching Up with Yoko 23:09 Event Details and Vendor Information 24:40 Fun Activities and Unique Offerings 25:14 Personal Reflections and Confessions 31:50 Celebrity Guests and Experiences 40:52 Final Thoughts and Farewells

Hey Babes! Come meet Carl Saling from @gethighday This serial entrepreneur has been running his own businesses since his teens. He learned early on manual labor wasn’t for him and threw himself into door to door seafood sales - which he fervently believes every entrepreneur should do (with or without the seafood) because “if you don’t have sales you don’t have a business”
Many years of mastering other industries and businesses the plant continued to call to Carl and he opened a delivery service where he learned the true power of the plant, the healing and how much it truly impacts people’s lives. Carl eventually created Hollister 🍃 Co and during the pandemic used his essential business to create essential items for the community - hand sanitizer!
Now Carl has taken his decades of entrepreneurial experience, his long and personal experience with 🍃 industry and built @gethighday so that other retailers can avoid the “problems that can still be fixed” as an all in one marketing solution using AI to provide more of a concierge service for its user and their customers. From live website support to email marketing to a digital brand training platform - this babe is signing up for a demo because I can’t wait to learn more!
Be sure to follow Carl Saling III on LinkedIn Babes - he supports women, community and uses his entrepreneurial powers for good. He is also building out a new community app for us - because we deserve safe spaces too.
CARL IS WHY MEN ARE BABES TOO! 💚

Want to see what HighDay can do for you? https://gethighday.com/

Navigating Payment Processing Challenges in the Cannabis Industry with Aubrey Amatelli In this episode of The Canna Boss Babes Podcast, host Ishqa Hillman converses with Aubrey Amatelli about her journey and challenges in becoming the number one payment processor in the cannabis industry through her company, PayRio payrio.co They discuss Aubrey's background at JPMorgan Chase, the importance of reliable payment processing, and the unique hurdles faced in the cannabis sector. They also highlight Aubrey's efforts to maintain a work-life balance as a single mom, her dedication to empowering women within her company, and the future of payment solutions amidst evolving legalization efforts. 00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties 00:46 Meet Aubrey Amatelli 01:37 Aubrey's Journey and Challenges 02:47 Balancing Motherhood and Business 05:23 Building a Trustworthy Team 07:05 Understanding Payment Processing 12:03 Expanding Beyond Cannabis 20:06 Empowering Women in FinTech 23:41 Future Prospects and Challenges 30:38 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell Have a company you think would make a great fit for PayRio? Share their info and yours at payrio.co/referral and get $420 when your friend starts using PayRio!