This week I'm joined Artist TOM FOWLER (Gamemasters, Quantum and Woody, Dungeon and Dragons and Doodles), we have a big ol' chat about prog rock, fancy paper, the origins of his new book with Fred Van Lente GAMEMASTERS: The Comic Book History of Role Playing Games, and a very...unique find in his old art cabinet! Check out GAMEMASTERS: https://www.…

This week I'm joined Artist/Writer FELL HOUND (S.I.R., Commander Rao, And We Love You), We chat about the origins of her new romance/drama/motorcycle jousting book S.I.R. from BOOM STUDIOS, her developing art style , a ton of q's from social media, and a bunch more! Check out Fell Hound: https://www.fellhoundart.com/ Fell Hound's Socials Twitter: ⁠…

This week I'm joined Artist MARIE ENGER (Upcoming: DEATH TO THE WIZARD KINGS, FEN, FHTAGN AND LOATHING, THE BONES OF THIS PLACE), We chat about Nightwish, Fancy coffee makers, art style evolutions, b-stock books and a whole bunch more! Check out Marie's Website Here: https://www.so-engery.com/ Marie's Socials Twitter: https://twitter.com/so_engery …

This week I'm joined XANDER ARNOT and ANDREW LEAMON, the creative team behind the stellar comics CAMERAMAN! we chat the creation of the book, how their collaboration works, their individual work processes, and a bunch more! Link to the CAMERAMAN Campaign⁠: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/xanderflicks/camera-man-1 Xanders YouTube Channel: https…

This week I'm joined by JP AHONEN, the writer/artist behind the hilariovs comic, Belzebubs! We talk the newly release 2nd Volume, NO REST FOR THE WICKED, EVERGREY, some chat about the upcoming BELZEBUBS animated series, and a bunch more! Check out ⁠⁠BELZBUBS VOL. 2 HERE⁠: https://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/belzebubs-vol-2-no-rest-for-the-wicked/…

This week I'm joined by BALAZS LORINCZI, the writer/artist behind the amazing new Jazz Playing Werewolf Band RomCom Graphic Novel WOLFPITCH! We chat the origins of the book, bass guitars, making color choices for the book, and a whole bunch more!Check out ⁠Wolfpitch HERELinks to Balazs Socials/Website HERECOMICS-COFFEE-METAL is hosted by DON CARDEN…

This week I'm joined by the epic duo of GAVIN SMITH (Dead Legends, TMNT) and RICH DOUEK (Drive Like Hell, Wailing Blade) who chat about the debut issue of their new Dark Horse Comic HEARTPIERCER! Check out Heartpiercer! Website: Rich - https://linktr.ee/rdouekGavin - https://t.co/YZTpNmiCnLCOMICS-COFFEE-METAL is hosted by DON CARDENASTwitter: https…

This week I'm joined by the talented LESLY JULIEN who returns to the the show to chat about the second issue of his fantastic Barbarian turned Wizard book SAVAGE WIZARD! Back SAVAGE WIZARD here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leswrite/savage-wizard-1-2Follow Lesly Here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/LesWriteInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/…

This week I am joined by writers and creators of the new Image Comic's series THE CABINET, David Ebeltoft and Jordan Hart! Awesome dudes who can write one hell of a book! Check it! Additionally I check out some great coffee from RUSTY DOG COFFEE, great new LP's by AMARANTHE and LODESTAR, and a fun new comics series by Alex Osbourne and Hugio A.R.T.…

This week I have returning guests HEATHER ANTOS (Editor-IDW, MARVEL) and MICHELE ABOUNADER (Sharp Wit and the Company of Women, The Color Of Always) jump on to discuss the LGBTQIA+ Charity Comic Anthology, WHEN I WAS YOUNG (all profits going to the Trevor Project), as well as the landscape of crowdfunding, trying to bully Michele into making a news…

This week I am joined by modern master Phil Hester (The Wretch, The Anchor, Mythic, Green Arrow, Irredeemable Ant-Man)! We chat about original art collecting, Industrial Metal, the indie boom of the 80's, why the industry should listen to Phil about new artists, questions from social media, and much more! Also, I finally get back to some intros and…

Dave Jordan returns to the podcast to chat about his awesome pedal company, NON-HUMAN AUDIO, and we go in about his journey to making pedals, why having lots of guitars is cool, some questions from social media and a whole bunch more!Follow Dave Here:https://www.nonhumanaudio.com/Twitter:⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thatdavejordanInstagram:⁠⁠https://insta…

This week I am joined by Writer SCOTT BRYAN WILSON (TRVE KVLT, PENNYWORTH, KILL MORE)! Join us as we chat about Dungeon Synth, making comics, Scott's work and approach to his new book KILL MORE, and a bunch more!Follow Scott Here:www.scottbryanwilson.comTwitter:⁠https://twitter.com/scottbrwilsonInstagram:⁠https://instagram.com/scottbrwilsonCOMICS-C…

This week I am joined by Artist/Musician NELSON BLAKE II (BYTE-SIZED, THE DARKNESS, VARIOUS MARVEL/DC, LOCKED IN A VACANCY)! We have an in depth chat about Nelson's passion for guitar, working with Marc Silvestri at TOP COW, his journey back to LOCKED IN A VACANCY and making their killer new EP, and of course, a ton of gear chat!Locked In A Vacancy…

This week I am joined by Artist/Instructor SHADIA AMIN (SPIDER-HAM, SHINY MISFITS, AGGRETSUKO)! We chat about the band MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, the comics of Fabien Vehlmann and Marie Pommepuy (Beautiful Darkness), common pitfalls of beginning creators, and a whole heap more! Shadia's Store Pre-Order SHINY MISFITS ⁠Check out MONKEYGONG here!⁠ Follow Sh…

This week I am joined by ultra rad artist/writer KRAIG RASMUSSEN! We chat about his new comics subscription service MONKEYGONG, and a ton of great art, coffee, and metal chat! Kraig is great and you're gonna dig this convo! Check out MONKEYGONG here! Follow Kraig Here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kraigcomx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krai…

Are you afraid of the Dark Universe? No, that's not a question, it's the name of the amazing Podcast hosted by my 2 talented guests, Dylan Roth and Dalton Deschain! Join us as we chat about the behind the scenes work it takes to construct pitches for a cinematic universe (in podcast form), Dalton's now no so secret coffee shame, Dylan's process for…

"I didn't respect the plant, and when I finally learned to respect it and appreciate it, I was then able to find love and appreciation in myself to feel better and become a better version of me." - Kim Flores Everyone needs a minute, even if you're one of the top cannabis influencers. In this episode, Kim Flore shares how she started making treats …

"Our mission is to bring cannabis back to its pre-prohibition status, where it's a widely accepted plant medicine." – Peter Barsoom What does it take to be a pioneering brand in the rapidly changing cannabis industry? In this episode, I chat with Peter Barsoom, co-founder of 1906 New Highs. Tracing 1906’s origin story and unique path through the em…

This week I am joined by actor and creator TYLER MANE (HALLOWEEN, X-MEN, TROY)! After kicking butt on screen for over two decades he's setting his sights on comics with the adaptation of the John F. Saunder's THE LAST SPARTAN:RED TAPE! Come along as we chat Tyler's long history and love of comics, working with comics legends CHRISTOPHER PRIEST and …

"We push boundaries far past the status quo. We're not going to accept the status quo, but we choose to do that in a safe and calculated manner." – Chris Fontes In this episode, Shayda chats with Chris Fontes about his career journey in hemp, from initiating Hemp Exchange in 2018 to navigating challenges and market shifts. His innovations led him t…

This week I am joined by the artist/writer duo of JIMMY KUCAJ and EDDIE KLINKER! We talk about their new KICKSTARTER book THE DEVIL PAID MEN! Check it out now! THE DEVIL PAID MEN (CAMPAIGN ENDS 10/26/23) Find Jimmy and Eddie at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimmykucajart https://twitter.com/EddieKlink Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/jimmykucaj⁠ C…

“We produce cannabis where it should be produced and we sell cannabis where it should be sold – That's our thesis. That's what we've been fighting for. That’s our strategic pathway.” – Andrés Fajardo In my chat with Andrés Fajardo of Clever Leaves, we discuss how this Colombian-based company excels in the international cannabis market. Clever Leave…

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This week on the Podcast I am joined by the duo behind the amazing new book, THE DEAD AND THE DAMNED, writer SEBASTIAN GIRNER and artist KELLY WILLIAMS! Join us as we chat about the book and a bunch more! Before that, I have a quick Q & A with MARK BOUCHARD (Leaf Peepers, I Killed Luke) about their KILLER new book, THE SUMMER IN YOUR BLOOD! Also I …

“It was basically a perfect storm – There was only the black market. There was nothing legal about cannabis whatsoever. And so, thus began a fourteen-year journey of acquiring, dispensing, packaging, and transporting; Everything all in one. We were everything.” – Barry Foy Barry Foy, CEO of Gentlemen Smugglers, began his involvement in the cannabis…

"I think Texas has one of the most accountable medical programs in the country. Meaning we can tell you who prescribed that prescription, what their pain program was, who bought it, what day it was bought, and who provided it." - Pat Davis Tune in with Pat Davis from Weeds as he talks about the rigorous data analysis shaping the future of Texas' no…

Greetings! This week I have the talented writer of COOKING WITH MONSTERS and THE RELENTLESS ADVENTURE, JORDAN ALSAQA! THE RELENTLESS ADVENTURE KICKSTARTER! COOKING WITH MONSTERS VOL.1 Check Jordan out at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/endigomaster Instagram: https://instagram.com/jordanalsaqa COMICS-COFFEE-METAL is hosted by DON CARDENAS Twitter: @d…

"We were able to successfully train a system that could predict reasonably the outcomes that you might expect to feel from an arbitrary profile. And today we utilize that to do recommendation in store." - Joshua Mallett Ever wondered about the DNA testing or the power of terpenes in shaping your experience? In this episode, Joshua Mallet of BudBoar…

Welcome to a quick mini episode where I have a bunch of Kickstarter related stuff! First up, a couple Q and A's with Jon Westhoff and Steven Urena about their respective campaigns for CPS,BULLETPROOF CHICKEN, and DEPOWERED and FOUL MOUTH! Then! I give a quick post mortem on the Evie and The Helsings #2 campaign. Finally! We end with my thoughts on …

"We have this new appreciation for combining the CBD and the THC; historically, we made it a big deal to separate them. And it turns out when you put them together, the brain receptors like it." - Dr. Morris of Duber Medical From the early days of 1996 to the intricate landscapes of cannabis in medicine today, Dr. Morris delves deep into the transf…

Greetings! This week I have the very talented artist and writer ebhind the beautiful series MIRENDA, GRIM WILKINS! Join us as we chat about his process for MIRENDA, a big slab of coffee and metal talk, some awesome indie comics Grim is enjoying, and a bunch more! Also I give some recs for the new ORBIT CULTURE and SYLOSIS albums, EIGHT LIMBS from H…

"People should be able to make an informed choice about what they consume, especially when it has a potential therapeutic benefit." - Lara Fordis Knowing your target market is the first step in every successful business. In this episode, Lara Fordis, a consumer market research consultant specializing in insights related to CPG and the cannabis indu…

Check Jesse out at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoolestGeekJBS King of Kings Kickstarter Coolest Geek Alive Podcast COMICS-COFFEE-METAL is hosted by DON CARDENAS Twitter: @doncardenasart Instagram: @doncardenasart Website: doncardenasart.com EMAIL: comicscoffeemetal@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/comics…

"I'm a free market guy, but I look at this much like alcohol where you don't want 10 distributors of Bud Light in a specific market. So it's very similar to that." - John Mueller Jump into the latest 'To Be Blunt' episode with Shayda Torabi and cannabis bigwig John Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Greenlight - a vertically integrated, multi-state can…

"At the end of the day, I don't care what anybody tells you. Is a better experience, whether that dabbles concentrate, whether that's an edible tincture, you are capturing the true essence of the plant with this extraction. We're not adding anything; we're not taking anything away." - Cliff Haney Explore the Art of Solventless Extraction with Shayd…

This week I am joined by the Triple threat of Natasha Alterici (Heathen), Fell Hound (Commander Rao), and Michele Abounader (Sharp Wit In The Company Of Women) to chat about their blockbuster Kickstarter for SAPPHIC PULP! And of course there's a bunch of music chat as we swapped recommendations, coffee talk, and much more! 3 Legged Brewing SAPPHIC …

"I don't want us to have beverages go stagnant with beverages that are moving because they're high dose and cheap on the West Coast. Let's come up with some more functional beverages, whether they're high dose or low dose, and let's incorporate other pieces of the plant. I think that's a key differentiator." - Diana Eberlein Dive into cannabis beve…

This week we welcome the very talented artist and writer behind the new book, PORKCHOP ROBOT KILLER, TONY GREGORI (THE WORST DUDES, DUST PIRATES, TMNT, RICK AND MORTY...)! We discuss a whole heap of coffee, music, and the origins of the crazy but amazing PORKCHOP ROBOT KILLER! Check Tony out at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyGregori Instagram: h…

"The brand is kind of the representation of all of the good or bad things that the customer or the purchasing public perceives around the brand" - Seth Gardenswartz In this episode of To Be Blunt, host Shayda Torabi and guest Seth Gardenswartz, founder of Black Garden Law, explore the art of creating and safeguarding a compelling brand, understandi…

"Data is the new oil data is the new goal. So what we have in our database is a direct tie between COA and user outcome on a person-by-person basis. That's a highly valuable data set." - Eric Mercado Are you ready to tune in for a glimpse into the future of personalized cannabis shopping? In this episode of To Be Blunt, join Eric Mercado, the Co-Fo…

"You better get ready to play your A-game, and you'd better get tough and get a strong backbone and figure out who you can align with that can help you succeed because you can not succeed alone in this business." - Kim Prince Want to know how to get your Cannabis brand in the spotlight? In today's episode, Shayda Torabi shares valuable insights on …

CANNON TIME! Back for a long overdue 3rd time, TYRELL CANNON (BEEF BROS, ERIS, THE SCHLUB) stops by to butt heads with me again about MEGADETH, navigating being a full time artist and parent, a ton of coffee chat, and his work on the new IMAGE COMICS series, THE SCHLUB! THE SCHLUB Check Tyrell out at: Twitter: @tcannoncomics Instagram: @tcannoncomi…

"There are many ways to kind of establish and build your brand. I think if you don't have these things, now is a great time to be inspired to figure out: ¿What is my brand? ¿Why? ¿What are my brand values? ¿What's my mission statement? To continue to get that buy-in internally for your team to live and breathe it." - Katherine Wolf With more compet…

"The more that we de-stigmatize cannabis, the more that we all win." - Brianna Kilcullen Are you aware of Hemp's Potential to Revolutionize the Textile Industry? Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Brianna Kilcullen, who offers valuable insights on how hemp can reshape the US textile market and contribut…

Howdy Pardners! Sorry. Well, not too sorry, because I have an awesome episode for you all today with KEVIN, MATT, AND JAKE MINOR, the talented siblings behind the graphic novel NO REST FOR THE WICKED: DEAD MAN'S HAND! Join as us as we chat about the exciting process of their book being made into a Major Motion Picture starring STEPHEN DORFF (Blade)…

"We want to bring integrity and efficacy to an industry where there are a lot of people who choose to operate in a gray area and cause it's so consumer-driven, we have to be on the front lines." - Jesse Kerns Join Jesse Kerns, co-founder of New Bloom Labs, as he discusses about the critical role of lab testing in ensuring the safety of cannabis pro…

"It's not that synthetics are inherently bad. It's there are bad ways to synthesize, and there are good ways to synthesize." - Shayda Torabi Do you want to know how Cannabis and Psychedelics Converge? Join Shayda as she explores the overlap between cannabis and psychedelics. Experience her accounts from the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference and t…

This week I am joined by artist/streamer and all around rad person, MINERVA FOX (Heavy Metal Sailor Moon). We have a great chat about that good ol' comics, coffee, and metal. I recommend some bands to Minerva and we also field some great questions from Twitter! Also, a lot of food talk! So don't come into this one hungry. Also on this episode I rec…

"Follow your passion. There's room for it in the space, and may not be in a direct role and may be consultative, but it exists, and you just have to lean into what you're passionate about." Are you ready to unlock the hidden potential of cannabis SEO? Join us on the "To Be Blunt" podcast as Matthew Shterenberg, CEO of Deeproots Partners, reveals th…