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Canna Connect Show

Canna Connect Show

Written by: Canna Connect
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The Canna Connect Show provides an open window to the Canna Connect brand.

© 2026 Canna Connect Show
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Mark Carlson on Cannabis Packaging, Leadership & Building Brands in Minnesota
    May 27 2026

    What role does packaging play in the future of cannabis?

    In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Steven Eigenmann sits down with Mark Carlson of The John Roberts Company to talk about the intersection of packaging, branding, entrepreneurship, and Minnesota cannabis culture.

    After decades working in printing and packaging across markets like Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington, Mark witnessed firsthand how cannabis evolved into a billion-dollar industry and how packaging became a major part of compliance, branding, and customer experience.

    The conversation explores:

    • Cannabis packaging and compliant branding
    • Minnesota’s growing hemp-derived THC beverage market
    • Why packaging matters in a competitive cannabis industry
    • Leadership lessons from athletics and business
    • Mentorship, trust, and relationship-building
    • Supporting small cannabis businesses
    • The evolution of print and packaging technology

    Mark also reflects on his time at the University of Minnesota, learning from leaders like Tony Dungy and Mike Shanahan, and why trust remains the foundation of both business and leadership.

    The Canna Connect Show highlights the builders, innovators, and community leaders helping shape Minnesota cannabis from the ground up.

    Chapter Markers

    00:00 Disclaimer
    00:45 Introducing Mark Carlson of The John Roberts Company
    01:00 Minnesota Cannabis Growth & Hemp Beverage Packaging
    02:55 Early Exposure to Cannabis Packaging Through Heidelberg
    04:20 Watching Cannabis Markets Grow Across the U.S.
    05:40 Why Packaging Matters in Cannabis Branding
    06:35 Supporting Cannabis Businesses Through Print & Packaging
    07:45 Joining The John Roberts Company After 34 Years
    09:25 Growing Up in Chicago & Winning a State Championship
    11:20 Leadership Lessons from Sports & Business
    12:00 Tony Dungy, Recruitment & the Big Ten
    14:25 Mike Shanahan & Coaching Leadership
    16:30 Athletics, Business & Life Lessons
    18:20 How Printing & Media Have Changed
    19:00 Leadership, Mentorship & Building Trust
    22:00 75 Years of The John Roberts Company
    23:00 Packaging for Minnesota Cannabis Brands
    24:00 Why Customer Service Still Wins
    25:00 Hemp Beverages Are Exploding in Minnesota
    25:30 The Future of Cannabis Packaging & Regulation

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    32 mins
  • Brandon Padget on Cannabis Banking, Compliance & Building Careers in Minnesota Cannabis
    May 20 2026

    What does it actually take to bank a cannabis business in Minnesota?

    In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann talks with Brandon Padget, Chief Deposit Officer at Union Bank & Trust, about the realities of cannabis banking and the infrastructure needed to support a growing legal market.

    Brandon shares the story behind Union Bank & Trust’s approach to cannabis, why their team believes banking should be accessible for entrepreneurs, and how thoughtful financial systems can help businesses grow sustainably.

    The conversation explores:

    • Cannabis banking compliance
    • Supporting cannabis entrepreneurs in Minnesota
    • Banking fees and financial accessibility
    • Workforce development and union values
    • Building long-term cannabis careers
    • The role of community partnerships
    • Cannabis as a professional and skilled industry

    This episode offers an inside look at one of the least understood but most important parts of the cannabis industry: access to financial services and the people working to make that access better.

    The Canna Connect Show highlights the builders, advocates, entrepreneurs, and organizations shaping Minnesota cannabis culture from the ground up.

    #CannaConnectMN #MinnesotaCannabis #CannabisPodcast #CannabisBanking

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    28 mins
  • Tony Beman on Cannabis Energy Costs, Grow Lighting & Minnesota’s Infrastructure Challenge
    May 13 2026

    The cannabis industry in Minnesota is evolving quickly, and behind every cultivation facility is a major conversation about energy, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.

    In this episode of The Canna Connect Show, Stephen Eigenmann is joined by Tony Beman of the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to explore how cannabis businesses can reduce costs through lighting rebates, energy-efficient systems, and smarter facility planning.

    Tony shares insights on:

    • LED lighting rebates for cannabis businesses
    • Why energy infrastructure matters more than most operators realize
    • Real estate challenges facing Minnesota cultivators
    • The economics of cannabis cultivation
    • How Xcel Energy programs support microbusinesses
    • Long-term planning for cannabis entrepreneurs
    • Why efficient grow design can dramatically improve runway and profitability

    This conversation offers a practical look at the business side of cannabis and the systems helping shape Minnesota’s emerging market.

    The Canna Connect Show highlights the people, businesses, and conversations building Minnesota cannabis culture from the ground up.

    #CannaConnectMN #MinnesotaCannabis #CannabisPodcast

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    20 mins
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