1st Lady of the West Coast joins Diana to talk about what isn't talked about - how we need a stronger whisper network in the cannabis space. They also talk about the complexities of protecting proprietary information while trying to network and take up space..
1st Lady of the West Coast joins Diana to talk about what isn't talked about - how we need a stronger whisper network in the cannabis space. They also talk about the complexities of protecting proprietary information while trying to network and take up space..
Unknown Speaker 0:00
Welcome to Your Highness podcast, a show where we get comfortable with the uncomfortable uncover areas of cannabis where accessibility and inclusiveness are lacking and elevate conversations about ways to affect real change in this space with a specific focus on folks who identify as women
Unknown Speaker 0:36
you're listening to your highness podcast and this is your host Diana crash I got a little sidetracked there by the beautiful music of First Lady of the West Coast. Who is joining me today. How are you doing today? First Lady.
Unknown Speaker 0:51
I am doing good god is how are you doing today? I'm excited.
Unknown Speaker 0:56
I guess I can't be anything but good after that. That's like what I talk to you every day
Unknown Speaker 1:07
I'll see you a jingle every day.
Unknown Speaker 1:09
Like I mean really though, I should be if I had money I would pay you a lot of money to do that. Record I'm not trying to get you to give me free money. I mean free music sorry.
Unknown Speaker 1:21
Free money is basically what it is right. We're just taking up anyway. Sorry. Now can you tell I smoked a little bit before we started today
Unknown Speaker 1:37
so we are going to start this episode as we do every episode with our fav pot and fav not pot. So I'm going to begin with my favorite part. Well I'm what I'm really liking right now. So plain Jane, I talked about them all the time. It's one of my favorite CBD hemp brands. And I thought it was fitting to talk about them with you being on here too. You know the connection we have. Anyway, so I just recently bought their Delta eight hemp rolls like their I'll usually just get their regular hemp barrels and I really liked them. So that's my I usually smoke them at night because they do make me a little bit like a tired but like I guess a little bit more tired. I can still smoke them during the day because you know, yeah, but anyway, that's mine. What's yours?
Unknown Speaker 2:40
My favorite. I mean, come on, of course, is going to be black girl magic OG, one of my second genetics created by duco verb. She is a hybrid indica, because I am bipolar depression. I don't deal with the bipolar and has all the time y'all. But depression is real. And it's a miracle. Black girl magic is just a miracle for me, because it just takes that depressant away. You don't get a lot of that for me in this. But it does. It takes it away. It allows me to just reconnect with the calm side of myself to remember what I am doing. And just to say just that light that needs to be in this dark as world. So I would say for me to grow magic, not just because it is mine, but because it does help me medically wise.
Unknown Speaker 3:29
I mean, but if you if yours can't be your favorite than like, then how can you be passionate about it? Right?
Unknown Speaker 3:36
That's true. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 3:39
so my fav not pot is a book that I am reading called Word slet. And I'm just going to read a couple of paragraphs about it or just a couple. Yep. So it says the word bitch conjures many images, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to me and a female canine bitch didn't refer to women at all. It originated as a gender neutral word for genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant housewife and slet, which meant an untidy person, and was also used to describe men. These are just a few of history's many English slurs hurled at women. So it is called again, it's called Word sloth. It's a feminist guide to taking back the English language and it is fascinating.
Unknown Speaker 4:39
Hmm, that is fascinating. Yeah, I'm happy to check that out.
Unknown Speaker 4:42
Yeah, it's by Amanda Montel. Yeah, so what's your fav nonfat? Not pot?
Unknown Speaker 4:51
I really like no, I really liked what you said. Um, the book that you're reading, how it has different languages because when you send it at first I was like, wow, I'm not with the BI tch word. But for me, I would say probably my favorite word my favorite pot, not pot.
Unknown Speaker 5:13
It's just like not cannabis related something just like yeah, anything it could be literally
Unknown Speaker 5:19
paying forward. Man seeing somebody else just smile because I'm smiling back at them. That's right there. That's, that's, that's everything for me. So I was saying, because that's that's important, you know? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 5:33
What's so nice?
Unknown Speaker 5:36
Yeah, I know maybe like, oh, there's there goes your cotton candy side. Your big heart, you know? You that would be one of my honest it's one of my favorite thing. That's why I'm doing everything that I do. It's not about me, it's about giving back and paying it forward. If it's through cannabis, if it's through my music, if it's me, just speaking and spreading some, you know, positivity. That's important.
Unknown Speaker 6:03
That's amazing. That's why I like you so much. I just knew that right away about you. So before we just start making out over the airwaves, let's get to what we're going to talk about today. Switching gears. So a whisper network is I'm going off of the Wikipedia. definition here is an informal chain of information passed privately between women. It is typically a list of powerful people in an industry alleged as being sexual harassers or abusers. While this episode is not about sexual abuse, or harassment, there are other types of whisper networks. And we definitely need a stronger one for women and non binary folks in cannabis. First Lady, I know you can speak to this there is a lack of support for creative entrepreneurs who have to protect their private proprietary work or material. Can you talk about some of the struggles you were having with navigating networking while also protecting yourself?
Unknown Speaker 7:13
Yeah, of course. Um, it's, it's very important that we actually speak about this. Because it gets spoken about a lot.
Unknown Speaker 7:22
No, it can't be safe to talk about it. And that's one of the problems we don't have any safe spaces to really say anything even anonymously.
Unknown Speaker 7:32
Yeah, there's a lot of specially
Unknown Speaker 7:37
I know you don't have to name any names or say anything specific here.
Unknown Speaker 7:43
I mean, we all see it. It's It's It's a man's world, but women, we run it, right? Men tend to think that these men groups that they're creating within the cannabis industry is damaging, because you have men that get to these higher power levels within their company or within just accomplishments. And they forget where they started, where they come from, who they Mama is how they were. And I get some of them were not brought up correctly, they weren't taught to treat woman or speak to women properly. And it's out there you have men that you know, no, it's not about that your show is about that. But it is sexual harassment. It is taunting women. It is Anna guy. What is the word? antagonizing? Am I saying you're
Unknown Speaker 8:30
right, okay. agonizing Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 8:32
Right? Yeah. And that's just not okay. I've had it done to me. recently. I will not mention the gentleman's name. But he is somebody that I do know of. He was somebody that was supposed to be working with me. And every time I have an accomplishment, he has something negative to say. Every time there's an interview or article, he always has something to trash the article or the writer. There's never a congratulations, there's never man keep up. The good work I'm proud of you is just how can you talk me with your negativity. And it goes on a lot in the cannabis industry. And I know it's just not the cannabis industry. It's in the nine to five, it's it's anywhere business allows itself to be it's going to be there. But make a difference. What we're doing right now is speaking about it and holding people accountable. And a lot of people are not holding these people accountable. And they need to be held accountable because it's necessary to hide in a field that some of us feel unsafe, or not protected by men. I'm not saying you need to be my daddy. I'm not saying any of that. But there has to be a level of respect where we understand that protection on any human being that's living is important. And the moment that we crossed that line and don't think of that and just go into this evil pride. You know who I am. You better suck my dick. Hey, I'm around men that beat that they can tell like that because of where they're at, and it needs to be shut down. I'm not a fan of it. I'm not cool with it. Um,
Unknown Speaker 10:08
yeah, because how can we really make this industry different? Right? If we don't have, like, as a writer, you know, I know, we have had lists for journalist about like editors to avoid and things like that, well, we need that type of list in cannabis. And because there are a lot of different types of toxic behaviors that undermine your power, as a woman as a non binary person. And it a lot of it is still happening, like, quote, unquote, behind closed doors, because this industry is like every other industry right now. And the only way that we can make a difference is if we call out the bad behavior. And I'm not even talking about just businesses, I'm talking about individuals, right? Because they can really suck a lot of energy and time. And space.
Unknown Speaker 11:01
Yeah, it's very true. All of its true. Um, and I'm glad, like I said, I'm glad that you're bringing this up. Because it's, it's it's important. You know, there's a woman right now that we just gained inspiration to speak up and tell her story. Because if we don't speak up, and if we don't tell these stories, then then what are we doing? We're allowing, allowing people in and sometimes it's women to
Unknown Speaker 11:25
a lot of times it is oh, my god, I can't tell you I, like I have said to people there, I've have several episodes that I have not aired, because the behavior is just so alarmingly, like, just, it just reeks of just the patriarchy and the toxic masculinity, you know, that's just like, inherent and so many of us that haven't unlearned, really bad behavior. And say that, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you
Unknown Speaker 11:57
off. No, you're going you can't say what?
Unknown Speaker 12:00
I can't say that, like I am supporting women without being honest about other women is basically I just saying that it's not just men. And I think that we need to be more comfortable saying that, and having these conversations without having to be so fearful of financial loss, because a lot of us are freelancers, a lot of us, people or entrepreneurs are just starting out, or they're, you know, in the beginning, you know, whatever it is, they have limited resources, right?
Unknown Speaker 12:33
13 female, you know, if you move and operate like that, I'm gonna tell you right now, do not associate associate yourself with me, if you're a woman that says that you're for women and the metoo, or you're always talking about molestation and rape and how that's not okay. And women should never have to go through that. But then you're surrounding yourself with men that still do this or taunting women. I can't, I can't deal with it. There's women that I know, that know that men are bad that know that there. I've done bad things, but continue to associate themselves with that. I can't be a fan of that. Because you're saying that's okay. And that's not okay to me. And I'll tell anybody that No, no, that is not okay.
Unknown Speaker 13:17
I'm not. There are several red flags that I see. Like if you are purporting to want to support women in this space, and then you randomly bring up how you don't think that we should exclude all men just randomly. That's a big red flag for me. You know, like, we we don't need to say that, right? Like, that's like, we don't need spaces for men. Okay, I said it.
Unknown Speaker 13:47
Yeah. It's, I mean, it's been the truth. It's, How can you be and what you said was, it's imagery that I haven't worked a nine to five. So I understand that that corporate, but I still have to show up. I still have to know you do not? You show up and tell this story about what they did wrong. So we break. We break that, you know, I'm saying that that that coating on what men are out here doing behind the scenes, and even women too. Yeah, I'm not a fan of it. So if you if you're surrounding yourself with people that and not the half of the time, what they'll say is what they didn't do it to me. Well, what, what is it going to take because you see them doing it to everybody else? Eventually, it's going to happen to you. But I guess you're one of the ones that have to learn on your own. And I tell myself that sometimes and that's why I associate myself from a lot of people because it's like, I can't relearn that lesson again. You're gonna have to learn on your own. So continue to associate with that continue to do that continue to say, Well, that didn't happen to me, but it happened to somebody that you say that you support.
Unknown Speaker 14:51
Right? Right, exactly. Tell the truth. Tell the truth about just be transparent like what's the worst that can happen honestly, Like, what are you afraid of? I don't get it. Honestly, people,
Unknown Speaker 15:03
or still telling stories on people. And then later on, it comes out that these people were doing bad stuff to now, people are looking at you like, Well, you didn't know that they were doing this, right? People do know this. So my thing to them is, well, what are you really going to say is? Are you going to say what you told me? Well, that was my problem. They didn't do it to me.
Unknown Speaker 15:21
No, but I believe women, I believe women, I believe people period, when they say that they've had a bad experience, I go to believe first, you know, and so until you show me otherwise. And so when I hear like, oh, well, this so and so because there's a very, very, very popular nonprofit that's out there right now getting a lot of attention by a lot of companies. And I hear things like, oh, so and so. You know, so they're not really that great to deal with and up, up, up, up, you know, they're problematic, but no real detail, no actual specifics. So I, I have nothing to go on. And that is severely problematic. Because if we are going to make this industry really about helping people, I mean, which is really laughable at this point, but we have a shred of it left, you know, because there's people like you in it. And, you know, it's just like, if we're going to the we really have to be vigilant about accountability. I mean, I know you, you deal with a lot of this, because what you're dealing with has a lot of moving parts.
Unknown Speaker 16:35
Just like what you said, I have people always try to tell me what's on sale said this, so and so's asking me why this, you don't have this? Why black girls not here, why they're not doing this that. And I just be thinking, Well, what did you say? Because apparently, I felt comfortable enough to have this conversation with you. And I'm concerned on why they even felt comfortable coming to you, instead of coming to the founder, CEO, oh, here, oh, they were scared of you or this or that house. And it scared me. And they don't even know me. But they follow Me. And they they like what I do, but now they're afraid to talk to me know, what are the discussions are you having with people, and this is what I always tell people, if you're not a part of my company, you should not be speaking on the behalf of my company. If somebody is asking you about my company, you need to have them come my way. And I'll be gladly to let them know about my company. But the moment you start telling me what somebody else did, or, or what somebody else said about me or this or that, and I always tell people, well, who are they? Because you're comfortable enough to tell me he she know who are they? Because my thing to them is is what's your solution to the problem? I see that your your concern? Well, how can you help me? Are you in that market? Can you teach me how to get in that market? Are you around people, I hear people that are around people that can't get me in the market. But because I'm not where they feel I should be? Or black girls, not where it should be? I've been told to my face that they will not help me. But you're complaining about something that I need that help. I'm from California? Yeah, I'm in Vegas, because my genetics are coming to that market. So I'm studying those two markets. I can't tell you nothing about the east coast or the Midwest. But if you're in that market, or you know people, why would you send those people to me to help me? But oh, they'll say no, I can't do that. I won't even volunteer you as. And this is stuff that goes on in the cannabis industry by other black women that say that they are for their community. And I be mind boggled on how you're for your community. But you're trying to down talk me instead of saying, Hey, I see. I see you're having a problem getting into the Midwest and the East Coast. Let me connect you with some people that can get you into that market. What's so hard to do that?
Unknown Speaker 18:40
Exactly. I mean, D I can't even count how many times I have heard. There's enough for everybody. Well, well, where is it? Because honestly, I don't get it. I don't see it. And like you said, if that is really the case, then what is the big deal about just saying, hey, you know what? I maybe maybe you might need this help. If you don't, let me just pull back. But maybe this could be a thing I could help you with, you know, if you see that, instead of offering unhelpful information or like, very like coded messaging, where you're like, I have to sift through this for hours to figure out what you're trying to say.
Unknown Speaker 19:22
I don't have time for that. Because I think that I know what I'm doing. But if you don't know what I'm doing, and you're not asking, but you're trying to ask somebody else about my company, that's not even a part of my company, you've already felt I don't even want to associate with you because you hadn't even took the proper, proper steps to get in contact with the source. And I would always do that with somebody that's like me, hidden. Let's make up a name that everybody knows that's like me hitting Jennifer Lopez. I don't got to remember y'all, but just saying, I'm hitting Jennifer Lopez to have a discussion about your podcast. Yeah. Why are you hitting JLo up? She knows nothing about your podcast. I need to be contacting you.
Unknown Speaker 19:57
Right? Period. Wouldn't that be you? Wild, I mean, the only thing we have in common is that we're both Leo's
Unknown Speaker 20:09
you know, but it'd be stuff like that, you know, you know, you got opinion. And this is to anybody, if you're going through is yourself if somebody has an opinion about what you're doing, but they're not asking you, but they're asking everybody around you. And they're trying to stiffer information through other people. Those are not the people you want to work with. Because real people that really want to help people reach out to the individual, and they ask him, How can I help? What do you need? Yeah. And if you can't be like that, get out of my way. You're being messy. You're being nosy when I know what's going on. In my business. Everybody got seeds, I know, I got a couple mustard seeds that are still growing. So why am I rushing? My harvest is a success, because you feel I need to be here, or I need to be doing this that doesn't work like that. So yeah, but that's in the cannabis industry, the stuff that I've ran into that I'm not a fan of I don't I don't appreciate it. And I think it's fucking tacky. It's messy. So I just stay away, I just go back to my business and lend to the ones thinking that I'm not doing anything, or I ain't got nothing going on. Okay, keep thinking that because those are gonna be the same ones, they're going to want to backtrack and be like, girl, you know, I believed in you, girl. No, you did not. You talked about me instead of helping, and how to negative opinions, instead of bringing positive opinions, and bringing those positive affirmations that I would want to put back into the universe. So that's what it's hearing, not your negativity.
Unknown Speaker 21:33
I, I have so much to say about everything that you just said, I just love it. But I don't want to keep taking, taking away from me, I just really appreciate that you're so honest, because that's exactly what we need. I mean, we need stronger whisper network, for sure. Which is why one of my plans for this podcast in the future is to have a whistleblower series. So be on the lookout for that. But we also need somebody who's like a web developer or something to create an awesome anonymous website where we can all submit, you know, tips about people who were moving around in this industry and sucking energy and time and space from people. And when I say people, I mean, especially people who are the most marginalized, who were suffering supposed to be helping the most in this industry, right? Like, that's what everybody claims to want to help, right? Like, let's change the way things are. Currently. That's the messaging I get everywhere I go, right. That's the only way we can really make it make a difference. If we like keep talking about it. Use our spaces, you have your music and you have a lot of other platforms. So tell us where we can find you. How can the cannabis community best support you,
Unknown Speaker 22:59
man spread the word if you're a cultivation. My biggest thing for me is is I can't come to all these different states getting a license, I don't have that million dollars. I mean, it's there, but it's not here physically yet. So I can't come to all these states, you know, opening cultivations and stuff like that, so I would love to partner with other cultivations I would love to partner with dispensaries to get the genetics in and just taking you to you know, a percentage off of my genetics of what you guys sell. That would be the biggest thing for me as far as getting into the east coast or the Midwest. My music Spotify, iTunes title, any place you love listening to your music, I promise you it's gonna be there just put first lady of the West Coast in and check out some of my tunes at a song right now out with Rick Ross black girl magic OG. So go check that out y'all. And as soon my see will be dropping with a con so look out for that. You can find me at first to the west coast on Instagram. First on the west coast on Facebook. I'm blocked right now because marks just with that funny stuff. But you can find me there. And I'm on Twitter, you can find me there at FL O T. WC that shortened for first lady on the West Coast. Follow me. I'm hella cool. I got into the cannabis industry because it saved my life. So if you're about saving lives or looking into dabbling in plant based medicine, follow your girl. That's what I'm all about giving back plant based medicine, smoking it.
Unknown Speaker 24:37
Well, you're a beautiful spirit. I mean seriously, I don't usually say things like that. I just love what you're about. I love that you have so much just creativity flowing from you and you create so much beautiful music and hopefully I'll get to try your genetics someday. I am super excited about that. possibility. Please come back anytime seriously, it was so much fun talking to you today.
Unknown Speaker 25:06
Anytime, anytime you keep up the good work, I thank you for allowing me to be on here. And that's just to be able to speak and speak on things that it's hard for a lot of women to do because they're scared, they're scared, they're going to lose people. But sometimes the people that you lose are the people that don't need to be there anyway, with the next chapter or the next journey that you're about to move on to.
Unknown Speaker 25:24
Right. What is the saying? It's like, sometimes people or people come into your life for a season, or a season or lifetime, but there's always a reason I just messed it up. I know, that's not the way it denotes those. Like, yeah, it's like, sometimes it's a season sometimes it's a lifetime. I screwed it up again. Look, I'm going to remember it later on after I end this. But yeah, basically, the gist is sometimes people are only temporary, but they're there for a reason. You know, and even if it was a negative experience, it teaches you something right. So anyway, thank you so much. Until next time, stay high and beautiful. Bye. Peace. Thanks for listening. You can find us on Instagram at Your Highness podcast, or on Twitter at Highness podcast. Be sure to rate us on iTunes and subscribe.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai